"you do not have permission", Starting new topics Options

[Mata]

Some of you might already have seen the message 'you do not have permission to write a topic in this forum' when you have tried to make a new thread. Here's why it's happening:

A little while ago there was an increasing problem on the forums where new members were posting topics that were either advertising, repeats of existing threads, or completely impossible to turn into a decent conversation. The number of these 'spam' threads got to the point where they were cluttering up the forums and making the place a lot less fun for regular members. For more info on what counts as 'spam' see this thread:

http://www.matazone.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=4454

Anyway, a new rule has been put in place for recently-joined members that means that, until a they have posted 40 times in existing threads, they cannot create their own topics in the most popular forums. There are forums in which new members can immediately create their own threads, such as Introductions, Personal Concerns, and Creations, but others are restricted until you've joined in with more conversations and got to know the posting style better.

In other words, join in with other people's threads, make new friends, and you'll soon be able to start your own topics.

[Righteous]

Hmm. Kinda harsh, but understandable. I take it this is one of those situations where you'd rather not do this, but it's necessary for the sake of the forum. It's a situation where the actions of a few affect the many.

[trunks_girl26]

Well, it's not really that bad if you think about it. Honestly, if they really have an original topic, they could, in theory, always PM one of the regular members to see if they'll start it for them. I'm sure if it was enough of a burning question for them, they'll live if someone else starts the topic

[Mata]

I have made an occasional exception where a person has sounded like they had a very interesting topic idea.

Existing members who haven't posted since the change over need to post a reply somewhere once before their permissions are upgraded. It's probably possible to work out how to upgrade everyone automatically, but neither myself nor Mr Fuzzy can accumulate enough will-power to work out how to do it. Anyway, it has revealed the interesting fact that there are currently 113 active members of my forum with over 40 posts, this is in comparison to 1600 people who have not posted 40+ times or who have not posted since the new rules were put in place. It might be a bit of a pain to start off with, and will possibly need tweaking, but I think that this system is overall a good concept and does give me an interesting insight into how many people are using my forums regularly.

[DarkInferno]

114 *grin*

I'm offline atm due to faulty modem..

You'll know when it gets fixed as my av will work again

[Mata]

Oo, hello matey. It'll be good to see you around here again!

[Tom]

I think its a good idea because i used to spam alot when i first started and also it will teach new
people what makes a good topic!

[{Gothic Angel}]

Tbh, Ri, I don't think that's harsh at all. I have a pretty high post count, and I can't think of more than a handful of threads I've actually started (and a lot of those didn't last anyway, but that's another story ). I certainly wouldn't have dared to start a new thread when I was a noob anyway. I was very much in awe of everyone else, and not wanting to start new threads cos, well... I wouldn't have presumed to, basically. Plus whatever new thread you think of it's often been done before, and just needs bumping or whatever. 40 posts is nothing, anyway. I had way more than that within my first week, even allowing for noob spammage.

[Astarael]

Same here. I think I got fifteen or twenty just in my first day, and probably a hundred before that week was out. When each thread is totally new to you, it's easy to rack up posts.

[trunks_girl26]

Same here. I think I got fifteen or twenty just in my first day, and probably a hundred before that week was out. When each thread is totally new to you, it's easy to rack up posts.

Or when you go to games because you're bored and end up having game wars with your friends, which is what I did

[Astarael]

Sometimes it seems as though two or three people are running the Games forum when there's a game war.

[Tremer]

I think the exception should be the Introductions forum. I would like to post and introduction so I can meet some of you folks but I cant until I post 40 times in which case most of you would have seen me already!

Plus it should be pretty easy to police one forum. Just a suggestion.

[Feyliya]

The Introductions forum is already the acception. I think Personal Concerns is also an exception, too.

[Mata]

Yes, those ones, and Creations.

[lyfgozon]

very harsh..40 posts then threads? wot if the person badly need some help> this is not done.

[Moosh]

very harsh..40 posts then threads? wot if the person badly need some help> this is not done.

If a person badly needed some help, then they could post in the Personal Concerns forums, as that is an exception to the 40 posts rule.

[Astarael]

That's right- I think that most of the problem was people starting absurd numbers of useless threads in Daft, with a frew problems in Issues.

[Great Bertram]

how do i set a darn avatar on this board? i'd like to put up a picture

[Mata]

There's a whole thread about that here: http://www.matazone.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=158

[Miss-Smiley]

Oh man I better get posting a lot but I understand why you have done it as I have seen that problem in other forums!