On 07/04/17, Kirkman said the following...

I think validation emails had their place back in the day, but I don't really see the need now.

If you want people to call and use the board and come back, I think the barriers to entry need to be as low as possible. When I got some
attention for my ANSI version of FiveThirtyEight's election tracker last fall, I got a bunch of first-time callers ... but it didn't translate
into posted messages, repeat callers, or any of the activity I
associated with a "successful" board. I think most of them were unsure
how to use the board.

Consider that the registration process may be a person's first look at
any BBS ever. It's pretty onerous! You have to fill out a ton of
personal data, read through several pages of announcements, AND the
sysop expects you to write an email? I imagine most folks would say "I can't imagine this will be worth the effort."

I know when I call boards these days I get annoyed by the logon process.
I wish boards would let you register with only a username, realname, and email address.

I agree 100%. We should be making it easier and less obtrusive if we want
to attract new users.

Immortal

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Tony,

Yeah I never got into warez either, just your garden variety shareware and V>info. Actually didn't keep a lot of files. I was more interested in V>developing the messaging side of the system from day 1. I did know some ware V>BBS sysops, but I stayed away from that scene myself.

To me, messaging was, and is, the original purpose of "bulletin board systems". I always do the messages FIRST, before I get to the files and doorgames...and I'm so glad for QWK Mail Processing.

Even when my late wife and Co-Sysop was alive, even she did NOT have access to the data...that's how SERIOUSLY I took that commitment.

Do you mean your wife was the co-sysop? That's pretty cool if so. I know a lot of wives aren't really into computer hobbies.

Not common, but cool. :)

It's the same way in other hobbies, such as square dancing and ham
radio (2 other hobbies I'm involved with). Usually, one spouse is
involved, and the other one couldn't care less...which brings to mind
a funny story regarding ham radio.

This ol' boy had his ham radio shack in the basement. His wife never
went down there, but laid down "a hard and fast rule"...NO NEW RADIOS!!

Well, he got a wild hare idea one day (he was lucky to have a "candy
store" (where they sold new and used ham radio gear, and did repairs));
so, he took an empty box up the stairs.

He told his wife that "The HF rig had bit the dust, so he was taking
it in for repairs". He added that "they have a great repair service, and
can lend me a loaner rig, if needed". She said "Fine...I'll see you at
dinner time".

Late that afternoon, he comes back home, beaming with joy...that "they
fixed the rig". What he did NOT tell her was that there was A BRAND NEW
RIG IN THE BOX!! That worked for a time...until she figured out what was
going on!! <G>

It also reminds me of a cartoon, where this ol' boy is washing the
dishes in the kitchen after dinner...and his wife is in the entrance
way, glaring at him.

She scolds him with "Look at you!! Tonight, you're doing the dishes!!
Last night, you vacummed the house. The night before, you did the
laundry. What part of YOU ARE NOT GETTING A NEW RADIO do you not understand??!!" <BG>.

Daryl, WX1DER

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Daryl Stout wrote to VK3JED <=-

It's the same way in other hobbies, such as square dancing and ham
radio (2 other hobbies I'm involved with). Usually, one spouse is involved, and the other one couldn't care less...which brings to mind
a funny story regarding ham radio.

Yes, that is usually the case, but not alaways. :)

He told his wife that "The HF rig had bit the dust, so he was taking
it in for repairs". He added that "they have a great repair service,
and can lend me a loaner rig, if needed". She said "Fine...I'll see you
at dinner time".

Late that afternoon, he comes back home, beaming with joy...that
"they fixed the rig". What he did NOT tell her was that there was A
BRAND NEW RIG IN THE BOX!! That worked for a time...until she figured
out what was going on!! <G>

Hahaha, now that is quite clever! :D I don't have that problem. :)

It also reminds me of a cartoon, where this ol' boy is washing the dishes in the kitchen after dinner...and his wife is in the entrance
way, glaring at him.

She scolds him with "Look at you!! Tonight, you're doing the dishes!! Last night, you vacummed the house. The night before, you did the
laundry. What part of YOU ARE NOT GETTING A NEW RADIO do you not understand??!!" <BG>.

ROFLMAO! Well, wouldn't wash with me, dictatorial methods don't work. :D


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