? For DocJon and support team
 

A friend who runs another forum was asking for member suggestions. One of the things that came up is this; people join but never post. She asked us what we think she should do about this, should she leave these memberships valid? Give them a time frame?

I thought, since NT runs a tight ship, why not ask you how you do it?

I mean if you don't mind sharing.

Thanks!

DocJohn is the one to answer this specific to NT, but as far as I know once registered here, membership at NT remains open, whether or not posts are made.

From my observations, some people prefer to read, rather than post, and as membership opens up more of the site to them than would be if just lurking as a "guest, they join but dont post. so IMO it wouldnt be a good idea for members to be deleted simply for not posting. A better criterion might be whether they logged back in again, but even there I would think it is somewhat arbitrary for site admin to determine whether someone has left, simply because they havent logged in for some time

Cheri

Thank you for this kind of answer. Its exactly one of the reason's I love
this site.

Anyone can read, get ideas, and feel comfortable. And one day ask or
than someone for saying something they needed.

If it wasn't this kind of site, many wouldn't get the kind of support
they can handle on the many days, nights, years and sometimes
just the very night they might try to terminate their being.

Donna

Thanks Chermar!

It's not the people, lurking or what have ya. It's got something to do with spam, as I understand it. Not everyone who signs up is an *everyone*, lol.

But you're right, that's probably the best way to play it.

spammers become ex-members real quickly here :D
once they post what is clearly spam, we say "bye" ;)

One of the things people may not realize about many online communities is that there are usually far more members who simply read than post. Or post only very occasionally. There is a lot to be gained from other people's wisdom, opinions and insights, without having to contribute one's own (or feeling like you have nothing to contribute).

So I would never require a member to post, nor delete their account simply because they haven't. It's just not important to some people (yet they still want a sense of "belonging," hence the reason why they register)...

DocJohn

Very insightful Doc John... I like that you said it is a way of belonging :hug:

Hope

Ohhhhhhhhhh, I hadn't thought about it in that light! *whisper....so I need to get off the backs of the ALS lurkers. :rolleyes:

I have been
 

known to "lurk" myself! ;)

Another thing to add to this is the people who register but never validate their membership. Those people should be culled from the membership numbers. They are not true members, just a number in the total count. :(

Very good, Doc! Thanks! ;)

but see the thing is we cannot arbitrate who is or who is not "validating" their membership....how would one define "validate"
certainly not by posting, nor by absence etc.

If someone chooses to register, and never posts, nor logs in for a long time, how can we unilaterally declare their membership "invalid"

as Doc said, some may join to "belong"

some may forget they ever joined

it just isnt up to us to eliminate any member who joined and hasnt broken any guidelines.
registering and not using isnt against the ToS here

BTW.....in order to show up as a Member of NeuroTalk...you have to validate your membership by deciphering the code. so there would never be the problem of clearing out members who do not validate their memberships. we don't have unvalidated people showing up as members here. :D

brain, maybe your friend could look for a fix in her forum software that wouldn't allow people to show up as members before their account is validated? or even block known email servers of spammers. i'm open for pm's. i have some sites that can really help people who run forums. :hug:

I was addressing my post to Brain...not AT NT...sorry for the confusion, Cheri...:o

Ah, that might be the ticket.

That's what the thing is about. Not real people, but servers. She's all cool with real people who want to sign on, lurking or otherwise.

Thanks!