The future of the Forum and Message Board

[bwd]

Some people have complained about the anonymous "guest" postings on the Forum and the Message Board. Perhaps we would have less negative posts if we were all accountable for what we posted.

The Forum is easy to change to registered members only. The message board is a bit more work but it can be done (the On Site reporting would not be affected and would be available to everyone).

I've been a little reluctant to do it since it may cut down on some good posts, but it's doesn't take much effort to register and you can stay logged in forever.

If you care, please vote. Poll runs for 10 days.
dave

[downwind dave]

i dont think its a big deal, registering is easy, lots of sites do the same. if you dont reg youre not excluded in that you can still view everything.

the only place it would be a drag is in potential responses to buy/sell but if you post with an email or phone listed you wont have to rely on the forum or PM.

you guys (bwd, RG, JL, others?) do a great job so i support whatever makes it easier for you to run the site.
ps. donate $$

[KUS]

Ditto for me

while we are on touchy subjects and I know Dave doesn't like asking for $$, as well I don't know how things are going these days with funding BUT

I know things are not as clear cut and usually quite personal but perhaps people (members) need a minimum milestone or gauge for donating to the site: how about a suggested $1 per earnings of $2,000 per year if ya make over $35k, wouldn't be onerous now would it?

For those math challenged that would amount to $25 for a $50k earner (two bucks per month....think about how many times you check the cams etc. ), $0 pressure for a $34K earner.....I save that on one trip to Gordo's and back when I don't get skunked.....like I did today but I'll try not to think of that...

Hey, I just read the zoom and $$ thing, brilliant minds think alike, ha!

[JL]

I post @ work & don't want to log in there. So, I like to be able to just type jl & post on the message board. Hey Kus, would I be allowed to subtract from my income for supporting a wife & 2 kids ?!How about we donate say.............1 percent...............for all sales we make on the buy/sell forum?!

[Globetrotter]

I definately like the idea of login for many reasons,
however, I do think that we will reduce some of the input from random people from the community, people that are neither kiters nor windsurfers that occassionally post in the forum.
Anyway, I'm neutral overall...

[KUS]

I post @ work & don't want to log in there. So, I like to be able to just type jl & post on the message board. Hey Kus, would I be allowed to subtract from my income for supporting a wife & 2 kids ?!How about we donate say.............1 percent...............for all sales we make on the buy/sell forum?!

well you can work on your own equation I think....I got three of the riffraff and a coke habit ....I nevertheless use the site and I donate in excess of what the current suggested formula is, roughly 3X that.

I just think people are confused as to how much to contribute so they do nothing on occasion. Maybe this might help. I think making the buysell section available only to users would promote more ownership and donations as a full fledged member.....what you end up donating is of course entirely your business....even if you count the pennies. I'd rather have another webcam and be able to sell my gear than get the newspaper or have cable...just imagine how healthy that latter choice would be....what's cable worth, at least $30/mo eh? It could pay for a webcam service or pay a cam off in 2.5 years

[wind_dummy]

Say NO to anonymous/guest trollers looking for a reaction and others posting moronic comments ... If you really want to use the site, how hard is it to register?

My 2¢

[more force 4]

Thought I'd repost my earlier comment here. Leave some kudos when you vote! - these polls are common for commercial sites where the sponsor has a monetary interest in what the users think, but BWD just does this out of the goodness of his heart!

"But hey, BWD, its your ball and you can go home with it whenever. We REALLY appreciate your taking the time to ask our opinions on these kinds of questions. It is that kind of attitude that makes this such a great site in the first place!"

[JL]

One day Dave's site will be turned into cyber-trash as 'Jimmy Lewis' tries to pass on some meaningless & the site is never seen from again.

[voodmon]

i agree that guest postings can sometimes be a pain, but member postings and rantings especially about Kus's brooks peninsular, tongue in cheek..what is the name of that river anyway that passes so close to shakies ??? ..arrow not aimed at you kus...i've been guilty myself on occasion..but those days for me are past...let's just keep it a kite and windsurf site between members..let's keep the agro and name calling out of it..most of the members know each other one way or another anyway since we all share and the word here is "share" the water, wind and waves... let's keep the wind part in it..those not into wind, in my humble opinion would be better off going elsewhere to post thier gripes...and i think we know where that comes from..it can be difficult sometimes trying to be a surfer, a windsurfer, a dirtbiker etc...soo.. just a word to the wise....if you don't have something positive to say... don't say anything..i think it's a shame, like dave says, that this site would have to become by membership only, and yes i've been a bit remiss in contribution $$...for which my sig other has made me quite aware...sorry dave ...anyhow as we police ourselves on the water..perhaps..we could do it the same way on here..unwritten rules...and written ones..as in right of way etc...sooo that's my rant for today...cheers everyone...and think before you post..no kneejerks please....TT

[gwind]

nothing is free, we all need to donate to the site. period. I havent joined yet, but i just got a computer, can you believe it, i really enjoy this site,guests are great but regular users need to pay. fees need to be posted on the site .no pay, no play. thanks for all the hard work dave and friends. please ask if you need any assistance. thanks gene

[gwind]

JIMMY LEWIS BOY YOU NEED TO WORK AT WORK . NOT PLAY .

[Mattdog]

Registered posters only. This would eliminate cowardly guest posts. To my mind anonymous posts carry no legitimacy anyway.

[kitesurferdale]

Heh I posted to the other topic as well, but....

I like the idea of the forum being exclusive to registered users, here is why I believe it should be so:

If you got something to say then say it... really... if its positive great, you got a beef, great, so what. Were all adults (for the most part), and sometimes people disagree. If people could accept that, and not take things personal then you actually could have constructive debates which may evolve into really positive outcomes... or not. Everybody is an individual, we all have our opinions, so why should we be fearfull or "whatever" to express them? If your willin to post it, especially if it involves opinions, then you should be willing to at least entertain others viewpoints in a discussion. In my mind, this forum could be taking place around a campfire, were having a yak session, would what you say here be different than if you were in person sitting across from me?

[bwd]

So it looks like most people want to make the Forum "members only/no Guest posts" and leave the message board as is. But only 26 out of 367 members have voted (7%) so far...?
dave