I was just wondering what you guys think of locking forums to make visitors register so they can view posts? I personally think its a bad idea.

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I too feel that its not a good idea, although you could have a premium/VIP section which can be locked in.
Even if you keep it locked, just use the mod to hide the links so that the entire post is displayed except the links.

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I have mine on a 'soft' lockdown. The forums are opening for reading but as usual you have to join to make new threads and posts. I do have journals and sexually based boards closed for the public.

I also had to close part of my Intro board down. You can see the title of the thread but not the post material. I had a group of girls come over from another site. (One girl brought her girlfriends and it was very innocent.) The admin at that site would lurk and then harass these girl trying to find out if we used the PM system at that site to steal people. When it was word of mouth and myspace that helped us advance.

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I like to let visitors read all the posts, I think if they can't even read the posts it might turn them away. It also gives them a chance to find a post that they might want to register and respond to.

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I usually let visitors read all posts, except those in a special forum (such as 18+, advertising forums, etc) I find it most annoying when I visit a site only to find I have to register just to find out the quality, content and sometimes just what the site is about.

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I have forums view-only, no reply unless they register. I think it is a turn-off to have a private forum, or locked.

Although, depending on what kind of community you are building, you might feel it is appropriate. I belong to a couple forums that you have to register first, and answer some questions before joining. I don't mind, because they are smaller communities and more private in nature.

almost all of my forums we have view only and reg to post. i have one that is pay to reg so they can't even see it until they join

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