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Date Posted: 09:56:34 06/04/04 Fri
Author: CROSSPORTS
Subject: Passwords
Some posters have asked me to look into establishing a registration or password requirement for this board. Registration does not seem to be an option. We can, however, employ a system whereby a "password" field would appear in the posting template. Posters would have to know the password to post their message. To get the passwords, the interested party would have to contact the forum administrator (me), and I would email them the password. I would require a minimum amount of information to obtain a password (at the very least I would need an email address to send them the password). Is this what we want to do?
Pros: People would have to go through an extra step to get a password. This may eliminate the browsing web surfer who leaves stupid messages on a lark.
Cons: I am not constantly on email so it would take time to get a password (sometimes days if I am away). There are folks, especially from other teams we are about to play, who would like to leave a valid post but who will either not want to make the effort to get a password or, by the time I get it to them, the game is over, they lost interest or they forgot the point they wanted to make. I know I often visit other team's forums and post but usually give up if posting requires registration or a password.
Since I have no ability to screen the requesters, someone with mal intent could obtain a password, post objectionable posts, and could pass on the password (even post it on Crossports until I can delete it or put it on another forum where I cannot).
There are some very fine people who do not want to give out their email address or any other personal information (I can't blame them) who may choose not to participate.
The bottom line is I am not sure this would help all that much. It would eliminate some irritating and improper posts but would also eliminate many valid posts. It would also slow down the process for those who wish to post for the first time and may discourage them. Finally, everyone would have one more password to remember. Do you really want to be burdened with that?
One other option, I could establish two message boards. Leave this one the way it is and establish a new, registered one. This would take some time but I would be willing to do it if there was enough interest.
In closing, I have resisted requiring registration or passwords in the past because I wanted to make this easy for us all and to encourage new posters, most of whom are legitimate. Everyone should understands that this is a public forum and that occassionally someone will post an insulting or inappropriate post. I do try and delete these but sometimes am late or miss one.
Thoughts?
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Re: Passwords -- Xbo, 11:18:51 06/04/04 Fri
I can tell you that registration, passwords, etc dry up a board. As evidence, Pennlive.com (it is owned by the Express-Times, Harrisburg Patriot and other newspapers in that group) had a Patriot League board, open to anyone. Like here, a few immature posters started posting stupid stuff and Pennlive required registation and passwords. No one has posted on it in months. There are people who have access to information who do not want their identity known. I think a better solution is the one employed by Gary on the Colgate site. After the Delaware debacle, a few Blue Hen fans became obnoxious and Gary blocked their access. I'm to stupid to know how its done, but I'm sure he would help you out.
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Re: Passwords -- nomar schmomar, 13:13:44 06/04/04 Fri
I think registration would be a bad idea,many people from other sites and other teams like to post here and registration would make that a difficult process at the least. Keep it as it is and eventualy those poster who are here to only cause trouble will go away, ignore them and watch them vanish.
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Re: Passwords -- Midwest Alum, 16:45:40 06/04/04 Fri
I don't think passwords are a good idea for many of the reasons that you, Xbo & Nomar stated above. In my view, the strongest negative is the potential "chilling effect" it may have on candid, non-vulgar commentary. As for the occasional (and fortunately on this board, infrequent)stupid/obnoxious/offensive posts, I suggest the utilization by the readers of their respective "crap detectors", well-honed in most cases through yrs. of Jesuit education. Most of us can separate the wheat from the chaff.
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Re: Passwords -- lou, 09:14:31 06/05/04 Sat
...an interesting and lively board - check out Fordham. They discuss the team, recruits, the coaches, the school. Interesting stuff, usually humorous...and negativism is dispatched quickly. I believe Crossports was like that at one time not so long ago...
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Re: Passwords -- sader1970, 06:29:45 06/05/04 Sat
In the past, there have been posts from those identified with other colleges who have indicated that they come to this forum because it is more alive and interesting than their own schools' sports message boards. While the comments they make may often be at odds with the standard HC supporters' thoughts, the diversity of opinion they bring are what makes this board so valuable and part of our past liberal arts and Jesuit education - hearing different points of view and weighing for ourselves the merits of those viewpoints.
Challenging the status quo is vital to having an interesting message board. IMO, having passwords would discourage some and/or make access to this board more difficult. The price we pay for no passwords is the occassional person who truly has nothing valuable to say so simply writes drivel.
My concern is that Crossports is willing to set up a second, password protected site. That's a lot of extra work and would result in attracting those willing to post only the standard/acceptable positions and run the risk of "groupthink" with a bunch of folks all preaching to the choir.
Rather, let's keep one message board and keep our eyes open for the blowhards and the inane. And when they are identified, let's not overdo the reaction as I'm sure nothing gives them a bigger thrill than have a half dozen folks chime in about how outrageous they are.
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Come On! Make Posters Responsible! -- Zipp, 18:05:53 06/06/04 Sun
I disagree completely! Requiring passwords doesn't limit any legit posters. Look at how active the USCHO wed site is(college hockey). Bottom line we've lost control of this web site and its likely to get worse. Anyone with a real piece of information or comment will take the extra 2 seconds it takes to register; bogus posters most often won't bother. If bogus posters do register it then becomes easy to restrict them. If you're afraid about some freedom of speach thing, don't be.
Let's make people responsible for the things they post!
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It would have a significant impact. -- Gate Raider, 00:34:22 06/08/04 Tue
The success of these types of forums is largely due to their anonymous nature. Requiring more, as has been shown on similar boards, results in less lively dicussions. Of course, outrageious and inappropriate comments will appear from time to time but, that is the price you have to pay. That said, I probably couldn't resist staying here to read some of the outrageous comments that some frequent HC posters make concerning the PL, Ivy League, etc.
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Re: It would have a significant impact. -- Stan O'Callahan Colgate '91, 07:27:46 06/08/04 Tue
I'm against passwords. Shame on you, Zipp, for your obvious attempt at condoning censorship!
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Re: It would have a significant impact. -- Stan O'Callahan Colgate '91, 07:29:48 06/08/04 Tue
I'm against passwords. Shame on you, Zipp, for your obvious attempt at condoning censorship!
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This is not Ashcroft v. ACLU -- HC1843, 09:02:55 06/08/04 Tue
and I don't know when the Court ruled on libel/slander as protected speech.
Cheers.
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Re: It would have a significant impact. -- zipp, 08:56:05 06/08/04 Tue
registering to post STILL ALLOWS PEOPLE TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS! it just makes people responsible for their posts. And you think THAT will dry up a board? What do you think flaming and spreading intentionally false information will do? Continual bogus postings will dry up this board faster than anything. ie the moron who calls responsibility censorship.
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