Is locking out lurkers a good idea?

[shadeau]

This may have already been debated on the board, but if so, I missed it. If my points have already been brought up by others, I apologize.

I'm questioning the wisdom of locking people who aren't registered on TERB (lurkers) out of the review sections of the board. (They apparently still have access to the lounge.) I started out as a lurker and it took me awhile to get to the point where I considered posting reviews myself. I had to read a lot of reviews and get comfortable with the idea. If I was just coming to the board now for the first time, I don't know that the lounge by itself would be enough to get me to register. The lounge is about joking around, and politics, and what books we're reading, and whatever. All stuff that can be discussed on a million other boards. What kept me coming back when I was a lurker was the reviews -- they're the heart of this board. By keeping that heart shielded from lurkers, we're keeping future potential reviewers from seeing WHY they might want to join TERB.

The whole point of a board like this is sharing information -- not being restrictive or secretive with it. We should be willing to share our info with fellow terbites AND with lurkers. Yes, there are lurkers who will benefit from the board and never give back to it, but there are others who will benefit and will eventually start sharing info themselves.

Okay, I'm stepping down off the soap-box. I'm sure there are good reasons for locking out lurkers. I don't know what they would be, but there must be some. Perhaps someone can let me know what they are.

 

[xarir]

It was my impression that lurkers can read anything but they can't post nor can they access member profiles. Has something changed?

 

[zydeco]

Yes, try reading a review without first logging in.

 

[Fred Zed]

It was my impression that lurkers can read anything but they can't post nor can they access member profiles. Has something changed?

Lurkers can view posts in the General Area only.
All that's required of lurkers is a simple registration (they are not required to post) so, to be honest, I don't understand what the problem is.

 

[calloway]

Try looking from a different viewpoint... Terb is not locking them out... but rather simply asking them to participate in the future success of the board.

 

[buckminster]

I think is wise to know who the hell is reading this stuff - if I was the management I think it would just be practical, normal business procedure to register for something like this. Whats the problem, indeed, is somebody trying to hide something by not registering, what does it take, a few minutes for such a great database. It sure has made life a lot more fun for many people, no?

 

[George OTJ]

Registering isn't that big a deal and some will register just see what they can't see otherwise. That and the five post rule may prompt some of them to join in on the discussions.

 

[drlove]

Registering isn't that big a deal and some will register just see what they can't see otherwise. That and the five post rule may prompt some of them to join in on the discussions.

Agreed.

 

[red]

boy- that solution was quick and easy

 

[Anais North]

From an advertising standpoint, obviously, the more viewers the better. So, locking out lurkers is not in my best interest (as an advertiser). It has also been my experience that a great number of my bookings via TERB advertising are from clients who've never posted on here once... 95% of these clients are Americans. I don't think you can force people to contribute to a board--many people just aren't interested in participating. And just because certain people may never post, or register, it doesn't mean TERB isn't fulfilling its mandate. Profitability, presumably, is part of that mandate. And if you limit the number of viewers that can access the board, and by extension, its advertising, the advertising dollar loses its value and ergo, its appeal. JMHO.

Of course, TERB would be nothing without its reviewers, and the same goes for its advertisers.

 

[Cardinal Fang]

It has also been my experience that a great number of my bookings via TERB advertising are from clients who've never posted on here once... 95% of these clients are Americans.

It would be interesting to know how many of these clients while not posters here are registered as members.

 

[baci2004]

Just curious, what's the total membership?

 

[Cardinal Fang]

Could we get a total membership number that doesn't take into consideration Sheik's "other" handles?

 

[Cardinal Fang]

I've always said I'm happy. It's the gay thing I objected to. Not that there is anything wrong with that! Some of my friends are gay.

*Looks at Sheik and whistles*

 

[Anais North]

The real reason for forcing people to sign in in order to view reviews was to put a halt to those search bots.

I hadn't considered those evil "search bots"!

 

[shadeau]

well, I said there was probably a good reason, and this search-bot stuff does sound like a good reason.

Thanks for the answer, Sheik.