Allowing guests to post

[CyberFreak]

Do you allow guests to post and do you think it is a good idea to allow? If a forum allows guest posts, do you ever post as a guest?

 

[MissTake]

Over all I don't allow guests to post but there are two sections in which they can, one is the affiliate request section, as it annoys me when you get someone sign up just to post an advert for their site or they then go around spamming the place with advertising. The other is in the graphics competition section where anyone can vote for our sig battles, all entries are anonymous and I like to drum up as much voting support as is possible, the competitors deserve to get their work recognised by more than just the other entrants. I do like the element of having a guest posting section, so long as you don't get too many spammers or trolls.

 

[David]

As long as you have active moderators ready on stand by and a loyal community to report any spam posts, guest posting isn't all too bad. Some guests may be more knowledgeable than most of community, so it gives them a chance to see how the community responds to their post.

 

[Nebulous]

If a person wants to post on a forum they should register an account.

 

[Cloverfield]

I only have one section open to guests and that's the 'ASk the Staff' section incase they have any problems registering or need to ask me anything before joining.

 

[AnAccount]

If a person wants to post on a forum they should register an account.

I agree. I don't allow guest posting on my forum as that is a good way to have people posing as someone else, even if that person already has an account on the forum.

For example, when Chatting Time first opened up in January, when we were with Fantastic Hosting, I made the mistake of allowing guests to post and someone posed as me saying that we were closing the forum down as I supposedly, "Forgot my password". I think he was referring to an incident we had when I was on Zetaboards. Anyways, we banned the IP the person used, and I explained that if I did ever have a problem like that, I would find a way around it. But then again, I messed up on the permissions, so that was kind of a bad example. But I don't allow guests to post as that is a good way to allow spammers.

 

[Nightmare]

Nah, I don't like it when guest have that permission, I think they should become a member to post.

 

[StriderTM]

I have to agree with Nightmare. I just don't like the feeling that anyone can make a comment without registering.

 

[thedudeman]

No way. It causes way too many headaches.

 

[el canadiano]

Well yeah. The Ask a Staff or Guest Post option might be good if something's up and a registered member can't do anything about it. I don't have it on my forums right now, but I would add it if something's up.

 

[xMasterdan]

I don't allow guest to post, that might decrease the amount of forum members.

 

[Kino]

I would never allow guests to post. If they want to post they can register. Not too hard of a process.

 

[Loopy Legend]

If I did allow guests to posts would only be in a add section or a help section thats it anywhere else please register.

 

[CubeBurn]

I frown upon allowing Guests to post on Forums. It just opens the door to spammers and the like.

 

[Justin]

Nope. You should be registered if you want to contribute

 

[P8I.com]

It's a bad idea. If they can take the time to post as a guest, why can't they just take the 30 seconds to create a full account? That's my opinion on it.

 

[Cam]

I don't allow guests to post, except in the advertizing board.

 

[David]

I frown upon allowing Guests to post on Forums. It just opens the door to spammers and the like.

Well if you did allow them to post, everyone would expect a good moderating team, ready to remove them, otherwise it would be your own fault for allowing it.

 

[Demon_skeith]

I believe it's a bad idea as you just basically make yourself a easy target for spammers. As far as I have seen, I have seen no forum using guest posting work successfully.

 

[SpacewardAsh]

the only ever forum I open up to guests is the suggestions & feedback section with them on moderation queue encase the spammers avoid the anti-spam settings.