too many guest in the forum.... Options

[jchung]

Is there a way to make it so that any guests that wish to post must put some type of name in username field?

I see too many threads with multiple posts by guest... but I dont know who these people are. I've seen threads that seem like there are 2 guests posting, but I dont know one post from the other :?

Why do you need to "know who we are"

I think it more so since somehow the username logged in by default gets logged out quite often and without knowing you have posted (thru the quick reply) and before you know it you (a registered member) are a guest.

I dont think that everyone really wants to post as a guest - its the unintentional log-out that causes this.

Oh and I caught it - before I do a submit, its actually me
nilch

See once you have written out a reply its too much of a pain to go back to login (i have been logged out this morning). so I am posting this as a guest

nilch again

[tumnus]

Why do you need to "know who we are"

It's not so much about knowing who you are specifically. If say for example a member is helping a guest with a problem and their setup/configuration is xyz, but then another guest comes along in the same thread and says "I've got a similar problem, but my setup/configuration is abc" it gets very confusing with who you are talking to.

The Desktop Linux distro or version of Windows you are running and the Zaurus ROM you are using, etc can all adversely affect problems and solutions. That's why its also nice when members put their setup in their signature, so then you don't have to bother keep asking or looking at the first page of a long thread for what they are using.

[n8a]

I agree. Perhaps it would be useful to a have warning page when you're going to post as "guest", which would stop us signed up users from doing so.

As for guests posting, since the sign up is so simple and asks for NO sensitive information, I really don't know why anybody would post without signing up. If I were ORG, I might require signing up in order for a user to post, but that's just me.

[Guest_tapjpa_*]

My big point as to people signed in a guest, I tend to trust some peoples opinions herre a little better than others.
Knowing the source helps discern fact from fiction.

[Greg2]

Let's put it to a vote like we tried in Dec.?

Greg

[DrWowe]

I used to post as guest before I decided I liked to forum enough to register. Part of it is a time/convenience issue,if I'm just surfing doesn't want to register just to post an opnion to some board I might never visit again, and there have been plenty of times when a board wanted me to register that I just didn't bother. I've seen lots of valuable contributions by guests here, and I hope the site admins will allow that to continue.

I do agree though that its too easy to post as guest accidently. I think an "are you sure" confirmation would be helpful. Also, it would be nice if logging in returned you to the same thread. Right now, after logging in you go back to the homepage regardless of what you were previously browsing.

[n8a]

Good point, DrWowe - some people certainly will decide it isn't worth the effort, especially if they're just interested in figuring out if they want a zaurus or not. As for z owners, I can't imagine why someone would prefer to stay guest (we're anonymous regardless), but everyone has their own prefs.

Since pretty much all other sites that I've posted at require a login to post, I didn't even try posting as a guest here. I guess I'm just used to that from other sites.

Greg - I would have to guess that the user population is considerably larger now than in December with DevNet's death - a vote would be interesting!

[revdjenk]

n8a...

I think that some Guests "guessed" that they were logged in. I see quite a few who immediately respond with a signed in apology!

[offroadgeek]

I think it more so since somehow the username logged in by default gets logged out quite often and without knowing you have posted (thru the quick reply) and before you know it you (a registered member) are a guest.

I dont think that everyone really wants to post as a guest - its the unintentional log-out that causes this.  
nilch again

I'd like to try and get a guage to see how much this really happens.... I use Opera or firefox on a windows box at work, and once I'm logged in, it seems to remember me for a good week or two before I have to log in again.

I also log into the site via my suse box at home with opera again, and with either opera or netfront on my 760. All of which remember my log in with little to no failure.

Personally, I would suggest that we disable the quick reply feature, which would allow all guests to see the "username" field in the post reply window.

And like the devnet, we could also allow guest posts only in certain forums. That way if you're try to post, and you're not logged in, then you will be prompted to.

I see one possible problem with this last suggestion - these forums that allow guest posts will become the primary/busy forums. Meaning people will just post there instead of registering and posting to the correct forum.

Lastly, we could easily take a poll on this, but guests are not allowed to vote in polls, so it may not allow for an accurate representation of our user base.

Either way, whatever the majority decides, we'll implement it.

offroadgeek

[n8a]

I think that some Guests "guessed" that they were logged in. I see quite a few who immediately respond with a signed in apology!

Yes, I know from experience! Yet there are still quite a few users here that I bet are regulars but haven't obtained a login for one reason or another. In any case, this board works well, and I for one would be upset to lose the quick reply! That's dang convenient! However, if that'll resolve the oops! guest posts, then I'm all for it.

[SFGREG]

Hi
I must take (blame) for being one of the "guests". Never did change the password when signed up and when I logged out, didn't go back through emails to remember , so just posted some as guest. I'll be more cognizant to signon when posting.

I agree with the thread, as I'm sure most of the other "guests" do.
This bulletin board rocks.

Greg

[realistic_dragon]

Or, the more simple answer, add another box to the quick reply area requesting a name. (Any will do.)

Don't accept the post until a name has been put in. That way it gets easier to keep track but no regestration is required.

I wouldn't have bothered joining this forum if I had to register to ask my first few questions. And the quick reply box makes it much easier to answer questions quickly when pressed for time )

[Guest_tapjpa_*]

I always use the quick reply and never have had a post go in as "guest". I am using Mozilla on Fedora & Win XP, as well as IE on WinXP and on Fedora using Crossover.
I do like the idea of guests only being able to post in certain topics as well.