26 replies to this topic

[rk0r]

I have noticed that this website holds a lot of users throughout the day i.e. 1396 users are online and 8 members.
To increase the membership of the forum and have more productivity would it be better if the forums were locked in certain parts so that you have to sign up to see it. I feel that this website holds a lot of reference for coders yet people can use this forum without being apart of it...?

Just an idea...

[Snig501]

I think this is a good idea as there is usually quite a number of guests and very few members on here.
Maybe locking some tutorials may lead a decrease in guests and an increase in members. It could also lead to an increase in tutorials and general help being given around the forums.

[fread]

I think it should remain as is. Locking the site could turn away potential members. Regardless of how many members are online the vast majority of questions in most any section gets answered usually before the day is done (at least since i am here). Another reason why there could be so many users is, people usually run into similar problems especially when you a new to the programming and computer related stuff, so i'm guessing a lot of times they search for similar problems and existing solutions before they take a step like joining. Another thing is a member that is not logged in would also be a guest which would mean some of the guest are actually members.
E.g I am searching for help with reading files in java and google leads me here. I can see the tutorial that addresses the stated problem but i cant see b/c it is blocked. I'd go right back to google. but thats just me :-P:-P

[wim DC]

Would google be able to index the "protected" pages?

[fread]

Not sure. I doubt. But you know how some forums they will show you thread titles then tell you join to view. Something like that.

[wim DC]

Well titles like

• Need help with Java
  
• Very short code help
  
• Whois program
  
• can u find the bug for me ?

etc. won't be very useful.

[RhetoricalRuvim]

I disagree with the idea of locking the content to members only.

The thing is, you don't need to advertise your things for people to find out how good they are; good things speak for themselves. And if you want more members, you first need to show them how good the forum is, to get them to feel more positive about even signing up, so that they don't regret that afterwards - as they might have if you made them sign up before they can find out what sort of forum this is - , knowing what they're going for.

And also, if they don't find what they're looking for here, most would just go look elsewhere; I know this from personal experience, as sometimes I look for something, find a page that's locked, and continue looking more (because I don't want to sign up for anything just to maybe find an answer).

[Vaielab]

When I search for a solution for a long time (sometime hours) and I find a website that may have the solution, but ask to login, I simply close the page.
Knowledge is free, and everyone should have access to it anytime, anywhere

[fread]

Vaielab said:

When I search for a solution for a long time (sometime hours) and I find a website that may have the solution, but ask to login, I simply close the page.
Knowledge is free, and everyone should have access to it anytime, anywhere

I Agree!

[cdg10620]

I think that you should be able to see all of the content. If you've been on Codecall for any length of time you know who the go-to people are. For example, if you read a thread and @WingedPanther has been there, you know that there is probably a good answer there. (or a very clever insult for a moron who is trying to get us to do their homework) :)

[WingedPanther]

cdg10620 said:

I think that you should be able to see all of the content. If you've been on Codecall for any length of time you know who the go-to people are. For example, if you read a thread and @WingedPanther has been there, you know that there is probably a good answer there. (or a very clever insult for a moron who is trying to get us to do their homework) :)

Thank you for the flattery :) It'll get you everywhere.

[wim DC]

Haha, ,I love how you Like'd your own compliment ^^