TOPIC:

Oh God, wasn't remotely offended by the spam/shilling/whatever, why would you think I was? <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

No, it can just be annoying if it happens in volume.

But content issue is more what I mean. 'Cos sometimes (as in this case with the Black Pearl), you're going to want to say something on the forum so, y'know, ICBers are aware that this is available. And aware that it's limited. And how else are you going to do it? But you don't necessarily want any oul' Joe Soap who can read the forum thinking "Oh I'll have that!" and taking it all on Geoff and Declan. Or worse, word getting out to those with the licence that this was happening.

Slim I know, and not really a big deal, but it was just idle musing <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

I'm not privvy to the hit counter, but I doubt we have that much of a profile.

Besides which, Geoff and Declan can smell proper beer geeks before they even open the door.

Good point microgirl, but I wouldn't want to turf out any lurkers there might be here that regularly read posts. Perhaps a members only section of the forum, as I have come across in other sites? Not sure if it would be put to much use though.

We definitely don't have that high a profile, but we do fill a niche market, so most people looking will be into beer. In the old site there was alot of potential for spambots, but the security mechanisms here mean that someone (as in, not a computer) has to sign up, follow the confirmation link in the mail, and then make a post. As such, we're not really open to spam, and if an individual chooses to "advertise" without contributing to the community, they can be shown the door easily.

Regarding making the entire boards area private, I'm dead against that as we have alot of non-members who learn alot from the forum and don't want to sign up, which is fine. It's very rare indeed that we'd want to discuss something private amongst members, but if that requirement does arise, then a members-only (or selected members-only?) forum could be created. We don't want to be elitist as well as beer snobs! <!-- s:lol: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_lol.gif" alt="" title="Laughing" /><!-- s:lol: -->

As far as I know, the Black Pearl isn't just for ICBers, but the lads in the B&C recognising an ICB face helps <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D --> Hmmmm, maybe wearing an ICB t-shirt should be a requirement? <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

&amp;quot;Adeptus&amp;quot;:2jevlgc7 wrote: We definitely don't have that high a profile, but we do fill a niche market, so most people looking will be into beer. In the old site there was alot of potential for spambots, but the security mechanisms here mean that someone (as in, not a computer) has to sign up, follow the confirmation link in the mail, and then make a post. As such, we're not really open to spam, and if an individual chooses to "advertise" without contributing to the community, they can be shown the door easily.

Regarding making the entire boards area private, I'm dead against that as we have alot of non-members who learn alot from the forum and don't want to sign up, which is fine. It's very rare indeed that we'd want to discuss something private amongst members, but if that requirement does arise, then a members-only (or selected members-only?) forum could be created. We don't want to be elitist as well as beer snobs! <!-- s:lol: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_lol.gif" alt="" title="Laughing" /><!-- s:lol: -->

As far as I know, the Black Pearl isn't just for ICBers, but the lads in the B&C recognising an ICB face helps <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D --> Hmmmm, maybe wearing an ICB t-shirt should be a requirement? <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->[/quote:2jevlgc7]

Yep, they're all perfectly valid reasons that I thought myself, but just wanted to idly muse anyway. <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

It's good to muse now and again, keeps us in check <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->