annoying unregistered posters

[Hawkflyer]

While I am relativly new to TBN, I have found it quite addictive. So as usual, I am going to stick my 2 cents in here. I typically would NOT register at BB sites I visit, but this one was different. Why? Because the information and full participation in the disscussion has value. I felt that any inconvience I might suffer by giving up my info to the site and in the profile was small compared to the service provided me and others by the venue of ideas. Now I don't have all the answers and no one here does, but I do have some, and I have had some experiances that some new folks might not have. If I am bold enough to express an idea, I should be man enough (sorry ladies but you know what I mean) to stand by that idea by revealing who I am and where I come from. Now I have to admit that I do not spend much time viewing other peoples profiles but like some of you I have looked before responding to a post just so my response is more meaningful. Frankly, I would support registration requirements, at least before a person is allowed to post. And remember, I don't like to register at places on the net. But if people find value in the information exchange, and want to participate, all of us have a right to see who it is we are talking with. Fact is I can see the argument about loosing potientially valuable participants, but for every one of those you loose you will have 10 more who won't mind registering.Our ideas should not be orphins. We are their parents, and any of them that we are bold enough to put forth, we should be proud enough of to admit parentage. Will registration change the occasional idiot into a meaningful contributor? No! But at least we all might know who they are and learn to avoid them.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

As an unregistered user, I'd like to comment. This site has been a favorite of mine for over two years. Within that time frame, I've posted perhaps a couple dozen times. Looking at it from a value add, I feel I don't have much to offer when it comes to tractor related experience. Being a self proclaimed dunce when it comes to computers, I'd hate to take up computer space by registering only to post on occasion. By registering (and posting every so often) would I not then fall into the category touched on by NJRQS on 3-12-02 under the topic "# of users who do not post"?

I apologize to Muhammad and everyone else if being unregistered causes some friction. I believe all my posts have been civil because I do not want to offend anyone and risk losing them as a member. It has happened, (anyone remember TomG) and I don't think being registered or not would of changed things.

If registration is mandated, I will do so but I'd hate to see someone shy away from using this site because they need to register.


Russ

 

[njrqs]

Hey Rus

I had too much time on my hands that day and got myself into trouble !!

I just sort of assumed that everyone who reads IS registered and that they also post.

I didn't realise there is a heap of people out there who just read only.

Hey btu Rus if you have posted quite a few times, you'd be OK.

I only saw the HUGE number who only posted once or not at all.

But yes, I support mandatory regustration before posting.

Heck I just had to register to post on a little Gardening forum. Nothing like the standard we at TBN have here !!

Cheers

 

[wroughtn_harv]

It never fails to surprise me at the numbers on line at any one time. And generally that breaks down fifty fifty to those resistered and those unregistered. (I just did a quick check and here at five thirty in the a.m. central standard time there's fourteen registered and fourteen unregistered reading, proddiing, poking. That's almost a fifty fifty split.)

I agree profile is a handy tool when considering the information in a post sometimes. I also am of the persuasion that if our opinion on something is strong enough for us to express it then it ought to be strong enough for us to claim it.

There are a couple of unregistered that I'd hate to see go away if their nature is such that they won't register. Franz is a good example. In just about any conversation you will see him and me at the opposite ends of the spectrum. But funny as it might seem his posts sometimes give me the most stimulation to think about the issue. To lose such a contrarian would be a loss.

I'm glad I'm not Mohammed. As dirty as some of these babies are I'm sure it must be hard to see just which is baby and which is bath water.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Sorry Neil, I didn't mean to single out you or your post but it was fitting for the occasion /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. As I stated, if registration becomes mandated, I'll register. But remember, you can't spell unregistered without RUS.

Now here is a question for Wasabi, Muhammad and MChalkley. I've been called many things over the years but what does troll and lurker mean as far as being an unregistered user? And what does SPAM mean?? I always thought that was one of the four basic food groups.



Russ

 

[knucklehead]

Rus SPAM actually satisfies TWO of the four major food groups, which are Sugar, Salt, Fat, & Alcohol. Add a Screwdriver to that SPAM sandwhich,and you're covered! Spit out the vitamins in the OJ, though.

 

[Golfgar4]

Quite frankly, I would support required registration also, for all of the reasons that have been previously stated.

However, I agree with wroughtn_harv that we might loose some very valuable "unregistered"people. I'm thinking of the dealers, like Spencer200, who provide just a wealth of information. I can understand why they wouldn't want to register as a dealer. I suppose they could register as an individual, but I think they might be somewhat more hesitant to respond because of their affiliations with a specific manufacturer. If required registration means that we loose these people who are great resources, then I'd be willing to put up with the "few" unregistered irritations that we occassionally have to deal with.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Rus, you are one of the regular unregistered posters to whom I was referring in the second reply on this thread. While you might register, as WroughtNHarv pointed out, there are some who, for various reasons, would never do so. Those are the ones we'd lose, and I'd hate to see that happen.

Now for my definitions as I see them.

A troll is generally a troublemaker who seeks only to cause problems on the board without making any real contribution. We recently had one who was upset at a post of his being deleted (probably deservedly deleted) and began a tirade about "Gestapo" tactics limiting his "rights" here. Then he attempted to post on marijuana legalization, etc. I think he may have been the one to spark this thread.

A lurker is someone who comes and reads without ever posting.

Spam is unwanted junk email.

I hope this helps. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Golfgar makes an excellent point. I can think of one unregistered user who is a John Deere dealer and has provided tremendous help to people by providing technical service bulletin numbers to JD owners to help them not only get problems handled but to get them handled under warranty.

Losing him and others like him as posters would be a tremendous loss to the forum.

 

[wasabi]

Guys,

The good news is, we, as a group, despite our philisophical differences, all clearly value TBN and do not want to see it trashed.

Mark is to be admired for recognizing that the best response to the occasional idiot is none at all. I should have such restraint. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

WHarv is equally wise in wanting to exercise caution so we don't chase off the next potential contributor, although I don't know anyone who will easily top him for entertainment value /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

RUS, it is not you or the many other unregistered, but nonetheless valued contributors to TBN that prompted these (recycled) contemplations....rather, as in soceity, it is the abusers of freedom who raise the ire of the otherwise civil, peace loving (even if gun toting) enjoyers.

I doubt that any of us has illusions about registration curbing all potential abuses...some will still attempt to stir the pot (pun intended) through bogus info or multiple registrations.

I simply became frustrated enough by what I viewed as uncivil invasion to lash out...I should have first listened to the underlying messages in two old adages I frequently tout: measure twice, cut once and the sharpest sword is rarely drawn ....and had confidence that the situation would be handled in an appropriate and timely manner, as it was.

 

[DocHeb]

Wasabi,

In your subject "annoying unregistered posters", did you intend the word "annoying" to be a verb or an adjective? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[wasabi]

Chris,

Yes! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Boondox]

<font color=blue>Losing him and others like him as posters would be a tremendous loss to the forum. </font color=blue>

I guess I just don't see why registration would result in losing these resources..?

Pete

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>I'd hate to see someone shy away from using this site because they need to register</font color=blue>

Me too, especially since there is abolutely nothing to lose by doing so.

I suppose the misconception is that by registering you are somehow selling your soul, or at least making it vulnerable to the world at large. As it stands now, all that happens is that you gain some nifty capability, like being able to post pictures and have a cool automatic signature.

When/if registration becomes a requirement, hopefully there will be a clear notice that:

- You will not be placed on any mailing lists
- You do not have to reveal any personal information
- You do not have to reveal your email address to the membership
- You do not even have to open yourself to private messages

In short, your anonymity will remain as intact as you wish it to be. It just becomes easier to participate.

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"Me too, especially since there is abolutely nothing to lose by doing so."</font color=blue>

I agree with both Boondox and Harv. There is no real reason why someone shouldn't want to register. Especially since it is very clear, IMHO, that privacy is all but guarnateed on TBN.

If there are other reasons why a person would want to remain unregistered, other than the "lurkers" who want to stir up a little trouble, I'd like to hear those reasons.

 

[Hakim]

Good points Harv. But I THINK that's all true now, isn't it?

Virtually every real problem poster hides behind the mask of anonymity. Like somebody else said, if you are willing to say it, be straight up enough to put your name on it.

If someone has hesitated to register for fear of people messing with their identity, well, TBN is as secure and pro-user as you can get.

You "give up" a lot more when somebody caller ID's you than here on TBN, IMO.

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>I THINK that's all true now, isn't it?</font color=blue>

Yep. That's what I trying to say, although I guess I did make it sound like a futuristic kind of thing, didn't I? /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

<font color=blue>You "give up" a lot more when somebody caller ID's you than here on TBN, IMO. </font color=blue>

So true, Hakim. Or when you hand your credit card to the waiter, buy a book from Amazon or sign up with Ed McMahon to become a millionaire hopeful.

 

[Steelfan]

Harv, I swore that I was done with this post. I felt it was all said before, but you brought up some great points. First I only register to select sites. Those certain few that don't use my Email address for their gain. We all know those types of sites. This forum allows you to <font color=red>chose</font color=red> what people see or not see when registered. I think that feature alone should tell people ,that the people running it are first class. I hope unregistered people understand "I've never paid a cent to be on this site, and I've learned more in 6 months on here, then I could have learned on my own in 20 years." These are my feelings, I hope I stated it so people can understand it. Thanks Kent

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"These are my feelings, I hope I stated it so people can understand it."</font color=blue>

Ditto, Kent! Well said! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[looch]

Muhammed wrote <font color=blue>It's really only a matter of time before we go to required registration.</font color=blue>

Why is it necessary to continue to argue the pros and cons? Clearly the decision has been made. Lets move on.