New Forum Structure, Please Vote

[Duke]

Lifesupporters.com was initially created to help all of us gain understanding of our daily lives through others that may have experienced what you may be going through. The topics we attempt to cover are structured in such a way to deal with as many aspects of human life as possible. Unlike many other sites, I hoped to create a site where age was also a non-issue and felt that children also needed a place to speak their minds.

I've yet to see another site on the net that focuses on having all members of the family, regardless of age, communicating what’s happening in the day to day. Since we are all very different and have all had very different experiences, it's very likely that no matter what you face today, someone else has already been there and may offer some insight. There are no guarantees of cure or insight, but there is always a guarantee of compassion and understanding.

I member at many websites and lots of them have strict "No spam" policies. Many of these websites also have policing issues, favoritism, member flaming, and heated debates; all requiring heavy moderation. I allow and encourage the light-heartedness because I think it helps deal with the heavy stuff while maintaining a positive, up beat, environment.

On to the reason for this topic:

That being said, I believe that a few of our forums seem somewhat silly in nature and may detract from the overall focus of this site. I want us all to have fun otherwise why would we return? The problem is that some of these forums tend to detract from the focus of this site and what it was created for which is a problem. I've thus hidden the Off Topic, Pets, Gaming and Entertainment and Links, Jokes and Other Stuff forums in an attempt to display more of the content that this site was meant to deal with. The forums are only hidden from guests and are viewable to everyone who is a member and is logged in. Since membership is, and will always be free, I think it's a positive move.

I may be Webmaster but I'm far from a perfect one so I need your help in voting on the following:

Adult, Teen and Child forums as well as General Issues Forums stay accessible to everyone from guests, to members to staff. Off Topic forums remain hidden and are only accessible to registered/logged in members.

I believe this will help demonstrate the true focus of this website while allowing members the same privileges as before to keep the overall mood light. Anyone wanting to join in is welcome to register and they'll all be greeted with open arms as we do with all our members.

[Merika]

I wonder if the members know the poll is here....since they haven't voted yet.

I can see the open and closed areas both ways. I voted open because it's usually the first part of a forum I would check before joining in order to see the character of the members and the lighter side. That's JUST ME though. Perhaps other people feel completely different about this.

[Duke]

I actually posted a link to this poll in the Off Topic area but I don't think anyones looked at it yet. I'll bump it to try and get everyone's attention.

[Star]

I think that keeping some forums hidden from the guest is a great idea. it gives people an incentive to join and become a member.

[Duke]

Originally Posted by star_64

I think that keeping some forums hidden from the guest is a great idea. it gives people an incentive to join and become a member.

Agreed.

It also becomes a perk and a friendly suprise when you login for the very first time IMO.

[Star]

I totally agree.

[Merika]

OK....FINE! hahaha!

[Duke]

I'm not trying to sway your vote at all Merika, you have a great point and I'm glad for the input. Again, nothing is set in stone.

[Fayebelle]

another thought is guests may get the impression that this site is full of moaners and complainers w/out access to the lighter topics

Like "man these peeps are serious downers"

[Duke]

True enough.

I have no problem keeping some of the lighter stuff accessible to everyone, I just don't want the site to look like we're a bunch of goofs who don't take anything seriously either.

[Merika]

Originally Posted by Duke

I just don't want the site to look like we're a bunch of goofs who don't take anything seriously either.

:smileyparty:

Okay....I'll behave!

[Duke]

I'm not asking for anyone to change their behaviour at all. The off topic area has more posts than all the other forums combined and it's not indicative of what the direction of this site is. It detracts from the focus of Lifesupporters which is why I believe it should remain hidden until registered.

[sn00py]

i dono cuzz if you have to join to read then ppl might not get to see what there joining

[Duke]

People can see what their joining for, I think you missed the point. I hid the spam/off topic heavy forums and left the issue related forums open to everyone. Logout, view the forums, and you'll see what I'm saying ;-)