Welcome Our "Guests" As "Members"

by Insurance Maze » Sat Feb 07, 2009 02:47 pm

We value the questions and concerns of those who stop by this insurance community and we will always do our best to help them in a non-professional way.

Many times I have posted a reply to a thread without logging in (far too many times) and when I hit the ole' "Submit" button the post appears as a "Guest".

Think about this for a moment - I could sit at my computer all day long and constantly submit posts to different forums without logging in. This would appear we have many guests making comments - right? But the truth is, I was responsible for all the posts (one person).

I suggest that we totally remove the entire "Guest" capability to make a post to any thread in any forum.

If a question or concern is truly important to the one asking, why would anyone have a problem with "logging in" as a Member? There are many professional forums on the internet and most of them require that a person be "logged in" to make a post.

Only our members are obligated to adhere to the Terms of Service for this community. People just "stopping by" are not.

If we are to help solve problems and answer insurance related questions, the we just need to know who we're talking to.

That's My Story, And I'm Sticking To It! :lol:

Total Comments: 59

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 02:55 pm Post Subject:

Thanks for the plug!

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 05:05 pm Post Subject:

Maze, I don't post on many other forums, I do read some others...I did not realize that all did not have guests or unregistered user/posters...really I had no idea...

I think the reluctance of some guests are that they are concerned with spam etc...since you have to register your email address...is there a way around that? Or maybe a disclaimer that this wouldn't happen..?

What would be the benefit or reason a person wants to remain a guest?

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 05:34 pm Post Subject:

I think the reluctance of some guests are that they are concerned with spam etc...since you have to register your email address...is there a way around that? Or maybe a disclaimer that this wouldn't happen..?


An e-mail address is no top secret personal information. If a person has registered to have an e-mail address, it is already out there, open to the world. This is supposed to be a professional insurance community that gives non-professional views, comments and suggestions on insurance related topics.
If a person wants to post, then become a "Member", period.

What would be the benefit or reason a person wants to remain a guest?



That's what I have always questioned. If the person is sincere about their problem, question, request for advice, etc., then come on in to the membership and let's discuss it.

I just see absolutely no benefit in allowing anyone who wants to drop in and disturb the forums to do so.

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 05:44 pm Post Subject:

Maze and Lori, I'm not sure if this has anything to do with me or not... I have read and posted here.. as a guest.. and I'm sure posted some of the info on other boards. If any of this has anything to do with me I would appreciate it if you could be more specific.

Lori, I have been meaning to mention to you that I did register a while ago and I know that even though I did fill it out correctly, my screen name and part of my e-mail address actually switched... I need to fix that.

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 05:58 pm Post Subject:

Dave,
I can't speak for Lori, but I can tell you that I had no particular guest or other individual in mind when I started this thread.

We appreciate your comments and advice in the forums.
Have you tried to re-register?

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:52 am Post Subject:

I suggest that we totally remove the entire "Guest" capability to make a post to any thread in any forum.


I agree.

It would eleminate the vast amount of one-liner non-sense threads that are started.

Most message boards do not allow anyone to post without registering.

Now the down side is that inhibits someone from posting and decreases activity.

My two cents.

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:32 pm Post Subject:

Oh no Dave this has NOTHING at all to do with you.... please don't get that idea..I'm not sure about the problem you had though....as maze said maybe re-register..

What would be wrong with (or maybe this is what you mean) guests can freely roam the boards reading, but to post you need to register?

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 07:34 pm Post Subject:

Okay, I think I'm in bidness now.

I would think you would want to make it as easy as possible for people who do need help to be able to quickly post and reply. I think this board is a little different than most. I'm sure it is a hassle for the moderators. Hey, I wonder if a prepared little message could be put together and posted after the posts of the guests, encouraging them to register?

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 08:04 pm Post Subject:

Hey Dave!!! Welcome to the insurance community - AGAIN!

I think this board is a little different than most.



I would have to agree. I write in other forums and "all" of them require a "log-in" to post. That's just the way it should be.

Hey, I wonder if a prepared little message could be put together and posted after the posts of the guests, encouraging them to register?



That's a very good idea. I think the "Sign Up" box appears after there is one post to an existing topic.

To become a member requires a "User Name" and an "E-mail" address, it's just that simple.

Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 08:19 pm Post Subject:

I think you have a very good point but I would tend to disagree. There are many times I want to post a question so I find a forum or I find a forum and want to make a quick reply just to add some important information. I find it can be a huge hassle to do this if the forum requires me to register. It's not that big of a deal but sometimes I forgo it as I don't want to spend 10 minutes just to make a 30 second post.

But with that being said, I think there is much more accountability in posts when someone is required to simply register. But I've not really seem a problem with that here. Almost all posts appears to be sincere. In that the forum was created 9not phpBB, etc.) I don't think its a big target for auto posters.

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