Guests CAN post?

[Randy]

Have you ever been to a forum that allowed guest posting? As in, you do not need to make an account to make posts on the forum.

How do you feel about guest posting abilities? Is this a good thing or a bad thing and why?

 

[~KAGE-008]

Bad thing. It can even allow spambots to do whatever they want without "registering". Some people suggest a guestbook section so guests can post on forums too, but not recommended in my opinion.

 

[Darth-Apple]

I don't allow it primarily due to spambots. Spambots are hard enough to keep out even through a registration system. Allowing guests to post gives them free reign.

 

[Jazzy]

I saw this only one time. The 'Guests' had their own forum and could only post in there. It can be a good thing especially if the 'Guests' are being constructive and offering their opinions on how the overall board could be improved. It can also be a bad thing since it opens up the opportunity for the bots and trolls. Would also have to be heavily moderated to make sure the 'Guests' were behaving themselves.

 

[DrLeftover]

Sounds to me like you'd need a full time Mod just to clean that up.


sing along with me now.....

"spam, spam, spam, spam, SPAM, spam spam spam Lovely Spam, wonderful spam...."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8huXkSaL7o

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Its better to have registered members so you can have a community feel, chatting with people you are familiar with. Not just a crowd of anonymous random strangers.

I suppose it depends on the type of forum you are running though. Like it would work fine for a support forum for a product / service, people can easily ask their question and get their answer without having to join a forum.

 

[DrLeftover]

"spam, spam, spam, spam, SPAM, spam spam spam"