Registered Forum

[administrator]

Dear Posters,
We have tried to keep this forum as open as we possibly can, meaning that anyone can post without providing an email address. Most of the time it is not necessary for me to directly contact the poster, but over the last several months there have been a number of inappropriate posts in which it would have been very helpful to have contacted the posters directly.

Most forums have gone to a registration type of forum which this one will be converting to by the end of this week. All that means to you when you post is that the first time you post, you will be directed to a screen in which you will need to register, create your user name and password and provide an email address.

To use the forum you will need to logon with your user name and password.

Thanks for your patience as we make this transition. As always I can be reached at info@womeninwoodworking.com.

Kay Strait
Site Administrator

[Rodger Claren (Guest)]

This is truly the end...

With registration required, we will see a significant drop in those people quickly stopping by to ask for advice on a small home project or making a sign, etc. Most people who are not dedicated woodworkers are turned away at the message of registration required. It simply closes the door to the casual poster.

[Tom Hintz]

I have no problem with registered forums, in fact, I'd rather they be registered.
I had the misfortune to run a couple of sites with unregisterd forums during my racing employment and the results were nothing short of depressing.
While there might be a small dip in traffic when registration is enabled, I think once people realize that this is a safe place to visit and that the quality of the posts is high, traffic will return. It might even grow.

Tom Hintz
NewWoodworker.com LLC

[John Lucas]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-12-05 AT 03:39PM (CDT)

Roger,
With all due respect, one person got his jollies by coming on just like you with a very first post that was either misleading, crude or other. The administrator didnt create this new way without a great deal of thought. If there is, in fact, a traffic loss, maybe it will be him and the likes of him. Register Roger. It is a good group.
John Lucas
"only Johanna is from the land of the enchanted"

[lynn]

I agree with John. I remember when this forum was started. It was started for Women to have a safe place to ask questions. Beginners, women and men, often look at the 'net and find forum that are not as welcoming to beginners. As John stated, there was a poster that was misleading in his information and detracting from the purpose of this forum, which is woodworking.
I think, Rodger, that if a "casual poster" stops by, they are going to look over the forum to determine if it's worth their time. I think they will find that it is. And that is the bottom line, how can we be helpful to someone who has a woodworking question? Woodworking is a solitary pursuit, this forum helps ease some of that isolation.

lynn

"there are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle" - Albert Einstein

[Kelly (Guest)]

I'm going to have to agree with Rodger. I like to stop in and read posts and have asked for help on a few projects over the last 4 months. I really don't remember my "login" name and an just turned off from places I have to REGISTER and wait for a confirmation email or whatever! Its easier just to go someplace else than hassle with a registration process and confirming emails to ask a quick help question!

God Bless

Kelly

[administrator]

Good Morning Kelly,
I hope that you will continue to stop by! It's only when you want to post that you would have to login. Reading posts would continue as it is now.

We really did give it serious thought and have been mulling this over for quite a few months. An open ended forum allows anyone to post anything at anytime. Registration at least means that as an admin I can track and contact an inappropriate poster privately. Keeping the forum a safe and supportive place for all posters is very important to us. Asking that posters register, helps support that goal.

You can always email me your question, too, and I can post it for you.

Kay Strait
Site Administrator
info@womeninwoodworking.com

[pampine]

I think this will be a generally good thing, certainly the only response for the bob's of this world. However, I request that you set it up so that we can have our browsers log on automatically when we visit, some sort of cookie thing I suppose.

Pam

[Bonnie (Guest)]

I've dropped in for advice without much to offer except for my thanks, and I'll continue to do so. If registration is necessary, then it's very much worth it. With just one exception, I've never met a nicer bunch. Agree with Tom. Just don't stop the site or the forum! The advice and help given out freely here is a-one.

[Jill (Guest)]

I ditto John and Lynn's statements. I have no problem registering. I remember when this forum first started and it has been a great place to get information and make new friends.

Jill