** BGAFD FORUMS (long version) **
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 4:56 pm
"If we want everything to remain as it is, everything must change."
The Leopard - Giuseppe De Lampedusa
as veteran users will know, the bgafd forums have come along way since they were first launched upon an unsuspecting world nearly three years ago. in that time we have had many thousands of visitors deriving benefit from a sympathetic environment where they can both seek and share information relating to the british adult entertainment.
"so what's with the fancy quote at the top?" you're probably asking...
a few months ago we introduced the o/t forum in an attempt to make things more user friendly for all concerned. despite some initial reservations, it has proven to be a popular success - certainly, if measured by the increased number of posts being made. where before there was confusion and frustration vis-a-vis the matter of off topic posts, things are now much clearer: the main forum is unequivocally THE place to go to if you wish to know or relate anything with regard to british models and the british sex industry; and the o/t forum has successfully taken wing as a place where forumites can socialise and talk absolute boll... er, about all the other things that interest them, aside from naked ladies. however...
while we welcome the additional traffic that has been generated by this change in format, it also takes proportionately greater amounts of time to moderate: time which could/should be spent managing and developing other aspects of bgafd if it is to continue growing. having weighed up the various pros and cons of either leaving things as they are, or taking the bull by the horns, we have decided that the most effective way to keep things secure for users while making it easier for us manage, is to do what just about every other forum on the net does - implement a registration scheme.
as of next thursday (24th july) forumites will be required to register in order to continue making posts. all that you need to provide in order to become a member are a unique name and a valid email address to which we can send your login password. failure to provide a valid email address means you don't get a password, which means you can't post. those who choose not to register will still be able to read the forums.
WHETHER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS VISIBLE TO VISITORS, OR WHETHER IT REMAINS HIDDEN, IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU. every registered member will be allocated their own profile page - nothing fancy, it must be said - but it does gives you total control over what information about yourself is made available to the public (or not, as the case may be). you can even add a picture of yourself to your profile! THE CHOICE IS YOURS!
aside from making the lot of the poor, bloody moderator a wee bit easier, there are some additional benefits to all forumites in this new arrangement... we have seen many trolls come to these parts but we have also seen them go. truthfully, it can be said that the various saddos, sickos, psychos and stupidos who have sought to damage these forums over the years, have amounted to nothing more than a few splattered bugs on the bgafd windscreen. but while our reasons for making this change are down to personal logistics and not the pathetic shenanigans of a few social inadequates, we are aware of some concerns which arise from the forums being open to all and sundry.
some forumites have had their identities hijacked - i.e. abusive posts have been made by someone using their identity. this practice can undoubtedly cause a lot of upset as it's usually done with the intention of abusing others and causing friction where none exists. this will no longer be possible under the new set up; all registrants will only be able to make posts using their registered handle, so anyone making abusive posts will have to do so using their own identity. if such abuse occurs the offender will have his/her membership cancelled and future attempts to register from their email address will be automatically rejected.
for the same reason, it will be that much harder for arthur daley types to continue their unlovely habit of replying enthusiastically to their own posts, while attempting to drum up business for their fantastic product (so fantastic they have to con people, apparently).
on a less positive note perhaps, it will no longer be possible to make posts using variations upon an established identity; once you have chosen your nom de porn that's yer lot. this will eliminate the potential for some good jokes but it does at least have the virtue of clarity.
a word of warning: while it is possible to register numerous identities if you have enough valid email addresses to go round (only one registration is permitted per email address), where multiple registrations by an individual are uncovered (and they will be) they risk having ALL of their profiles eliminated. members are allowed to have only ONE active profile.
for those of you that haven't fallen asleep by now, if you feel you still have concerns that haven't been touched upon, please post them to this thread rather than emailing them to myself, alec or phil. your concerns may well be someone elses and it is therefore more advantageous to answer them in public.
we sincerely hope that all forumites can spare the couple of minutes it takes to register and so help keep these forums the thriving hubbubs of activity that they are.
regards,
woodgnome
The Leopard - Giuseppe De Lampedusa
as veteran users will know, the bgafd forums have come along way since they were first launched upon an unsuspecting world nearly three years ago. in that time we have had many thousands of visitors deriving benefit from a sympathetic environment where they can both seek and share information relating to the british adult entertainment.
"so what's with the fancy quote at the top?" you're probably asking...
a few months ago we introduced the o/t forum in an attempt to make things more user friendly for all concerned. despite some initial reservations, it has proven to be a popular success - certainly, if measured by the increased number of posts being made. where before there was confusion and frustration vis-a-vis the matter of off topic posts, things are now much clearer: the main forum is unequivocally THE place to go to if you wish to know or relate anything with regard to british models and the british sex industry; and the o/t forum has successfully taken wing as a place where forumites can socialise and talk absolute boll... er, about all the other things that interest them, aside from naked ladies. however...
while we welcome the additional traffic that has been generated by this change in format, it also takes proportionately greater amounts of time to moderate: time which could/should be spent managing and developing other aspects of bgafd if it is to continue growing. having weighed up the various pros and cons of either leaving things as they are, or taking the bull by the horns, we have decided that the most effective way to keep things secure for users while making it easier for us manage, is to do what just about every other forum on the net does - implement a registration scheme.
as of next thursday (24th july) forumites will be required to register in order to continue making posts. all that you need to provide in order to become a member are a unique name and a valid email address to which we can send your login password. failure to provide a valid email address means you don't get a password, which means you can't post. those who choose not to register will still be able to read the forums.
WHETHER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS VISIBLE TO VISITORS, OR WHETHER IT REMAINS HIDDEN, IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU. every registered member will be allocated their own profile page - nothing fancy, it must be said - but it does gives you total control over what information about yourself is made available to the public (or not, as the case may be). you can even add a picture of yourself to your profile! THE CHOICE IS YOURS!
aside from making the lot of the poor, bloody moderator a wee bit easier, there are some additional benefits to all forumites in this new arrangement... we have seen many trolls come to these parts but we have also seen them go. truthfully, it can be said that the various saddos, sickos, psychos and stupidos who have sought to damage these forums over the years, have amounted to nothing more than a few splattered bugs on the bgafd windscreen. but while our reasons for making this change are down to personal logistics and not the pathetic shenanigans of a few social inadequates, we are aware of some concerns which arise from the forums being open to all and sundry.
some forumites have had their identities hijacked - i.e. abusive posts have been made by someone using their identity. this practice can undoubtedly cause a lot of upset as it's usually done with the intention of abusing others and causing friction where none exists. this will no longer be possible under the new set up; all registrants will only be able to make posts using their registered handle, so anyone making abusive posts will have to do so using their own identity. if such abuse occurs the offender will have his/her membership cancelled and future attempts to register from their email address will be automatically rejected.
for the same reason, it will be that much harder for arthur daley types to continue their unlovely habit of replying enthusiastically to their own posts, while attempting to drum up business for their fantastic product (so fantastic they have to con people, apparently).
on a less positive note perhaps, it will no longer be possible to make posts using variations upon an established identity; once you have chosen your nom de porn that's yer lot. this will eliminate the potential for some good jokes but it does at least have the virtue of clarity.
a word of warning: while it is possible to register numerous identities if you have enough valid email addresses to go round (only one registration is permitted per email address), where multiple registrations by an individual are uncovered (and they will be) they risk having ALL of their profiles eliminated. members are allowed to have only ONE active profile.
for those of you that haven't fallen asleep by now, if you feel you still have concerns that haven't been touched upon, please post them to this thread rather than emailing them to myself, alec or phil. your concerns may well be someone elses and it is therefore more advantageous to answer them in public.
we sincerely hope that all forumites can spare the couple of minutes it takes to register and so help keep these forums the thriving hubbubs of activity that they are.
regards,
woodgnome
