It seems to me that there is a lot of flaming on this forum that might be minimized if posters have to identify themselves by registering. Of course this wouldn't solve every problem but I think it would be an improvement over the current situation where it is very hard to follow one poster across a thread or multiple threads.

Also it would fix my problem, which is that I post before realizing that I'm not logged in and then I can't delete the post or associate it with my account.

Any thoughts? Please respond and take the poll.

- Jesse

Yep, you can register in less than 60 seconds (minimum is just a name & e-mail), go here
http://www.boof.com/forums/profile.php?mode=register

By registering you can post & reply to forums threads, post classifieds, upload photos, add reviews, and (soon) upload to the new online guide.

You can always edit your profile at http://www.boof.com/forums/profile.php?mode=editprofile
E.g. add avatars, 'hide' your online status, etc.

You don't need to register to post in the 'planner' forum.

-Brett
webmaster@boof.com

Thanks Brett for the fast turn around! I think, and it seems like the poll takers agree, that this will be a nice improvement to the site.

Jesse

Brett, I liked it the old way actually. I was totally fine with anonymous postings. Personally I think they add some character to some of the discussions. Everyone that reads a forum may need to actually consider that anonymous postings may be out there but what the heck why can't folks be required to consider the source of information and the quality of information they read on the internet. I don't think the quality of the information will necessarily improve either...we'll see. I personally don't give a shit if some anonymous smart ass has something rude to say either. Is everyone using boof really that thin skinned? Sometimes I actually get more entertainment out of those postings. Anyway my two cents (which I actually almost submitted anonymously but was snapped into line by the computer) are obviously too little too late.

Also to address Jesse' points:
1)Mention your name and that you forgot to log on if you've forgotten mid-post. What's the problem with that?
2)Seven responses is not the user's of boof speaking. Its barely a polling and certainly not a vote.
Well I guess I shouldn't get too bent out of shape. Boof is your deal and you make the calls.

1. the thin skin comment works both ways, my take is that the same people with worthwhile comments/thoughts/points will write them with their name attached, i mean why not? good writing SHOULD be provocative and either get nodding heads or shaking fists, too many people (even outside of internet forums) want to hide behind the wall yet stoke the fire? why?

2. obviously, it's easy enough to 'fool' the system (see the UCC trip report, you can just register a fake e-mail) but these are the same people that will tell you one thing and your friend another. why not just buck up & stand by what you say? in the end if you get THAT fired up about what people are writing you're probably not spending enough time away from the computer and actually paddling.

3. main reason is to try and get people to register, 80% of the options on the site (e.g. classifieds posting, photo uploads, reviews, etc.) require a registration.

also anonymous postings aren't really anonymous so the whole discussion is a bit moot-
brett

yeah maybe we should just expose everyone's IP address :-)

Hear, Hear..... Seig Heil!!!! The Fuhrer couldn't agree more with the above post....
You should do it like the anti-abortion activists do: not only should you publish the IP of any author posting "suspect" material (read: anyone who disagrees with the often rather narrow viewpoints experessed herein), but you should publish their phone number and home address. Furthermore, we should all contact our senators immediately and ask for a repeal of the first ammendment, and,demand that congress immediately fund a "thought police" branch of the Homeland securities department.... !!!!

At any rate, until these Orwellian events come to pass, I'll just post the occasional "unpopular" messages along with my other, more "conformist" ones, and watch people shriek and whine and act self important and so on....too bad 4 them. I have a mind of my own. I have been guilty of not bothering to "log on" in the past, but I'll be sure to be doing so from now on.

Hitler and Orwellian comparisons?

1. who is controlling what you say or post?
2. who is forcing you to use boof.com?

By all means, if 'logging on' is so restrictive to your ability to have a dialogue with such feeble minds I encourage you to start a new web page where higher intellects may reign free.

what do you trust more, what is said or the speaker who is saying it?
brett

First off, I'd like to point out that you "reacted" without paying attention to what I said (which was certainly sarcastic, and somewhat veiled), but let me clarify.

What I was saying, ( to keep it simple) is that doing what the above author suggested (posting everyone's IP address) could potentially make posters who make "non-status quo" statements targets to folks who like to do things like, say, frinstance, hmmmm....let's see.... Hacking.....

As for the "if logging on is so restrictive" business; try not to get your new hot pink 'Victoria's secret' undies in such a bunch. I don't really give a damn about logging on, one way or the other. It takes a couple extra seconds, which I have occasionally not bothered to do. Big deal.

And, yes, I have bumped into some folks herein who have a hard time with rational thought, as well as some who are articulate and intelligent; that's both the problem and the beauty, respectively, of democratic (as opposed to oligocratic) discourse. So don't take it so damned personally.

Four legs good, two legs better!! Yahoooo!

no no, hot pink VS thong goes much better on the 5'10" long-legged blonde with eyes bluer than the Futa that is unfortunately studying abroad in Costa Rica.

i'm a big fan of intelligent and articulate responses, that was one of the reasons for implementing the reg system. however i HATE the supreme intellect approach, e.g. but of course, when I was at Yale we would recite Shakespeare Sonnets 14-38 after having a discussion of the neopolitical, theological, geographial, xenological, and philosophical problems of Western civilzation and dialetical materialism.

I see this mentality every day in academia - as well as with wealthy "I spend as much in a month as most people make in a year" types. I'd hope the discussions on boof wouldn't degrade to that level.

Rather, I'd *like* the discussions to stay constructive, interesting, and provocative to the widest audience possible. I would hope they would provide a depth and objectiveness you don't see in the news media - and hopefully not show a bias meant to tap your wallet (i.e. thinking of some kayak and video reviews) or mundane 'bored at work' posts you see on other forums.

I do agree with Greg, some of the anonymous posts as of late have shown exceptional creativity, I would think these same folks wouldn't be discouraged by having to register, it's easy enough to have an alias. And incidentally the forum is pretty good about 'hiding' that info if you want, I have no interest in showing IPs as that *is* too Orwellian for my tastes. However, I do find it interesting that people like to throw the Malakoff and then go into Bin Laden like hiding.

fyi, I do applaud your ability to work 'oligocratic' into the discussion and I would say you've had some of the more articulate posts on the forum, I would hope similar folks would follow suit rather than standing by the wayside.

brett

Yah,
I get tired of the academician rants too. Yale, Schmale; Bush went to Yale, and look where we are now...and look at HIS "vokabalaree", so don't try to impress us with an endless string of polysyllabic wow-isms.

And if you're looking for Bin Laden, he's hiding out with Jenna at the Bush Ranch, counting the money his family sent him from the truly Huge profits his family made in conjunction with the Bush family after 9-11 from Carlysle group.
I still think you look good in that thong, though. I'll send another gift certificate.... but don't tell anyone...especially you know who...that's our little secret.

But seriously, I'll quit being a micro-dick and say: thanks for the website. Even though I say stuff on here occasionally that pisses some people off, such as the idea that alot of folks boating class V these days have the word "fatality accident" written all over their faces, due to the fact that they think it's a numbers game and they haven't paid their dues.
But, anonynmous or no, there have been a couple posts (eg Sir Oliver Howard) that went over the top. That's the price of free speech. Until they start making threats, anyway.

I don't see the reason for regulating users (posters) on this board. Most of the people in this world are already unsure as to having an identity, why confuse them by making them create personas for a whitewater website?

Don't be so quick to shun dialectic materialism: if I just consider the appearance of a big hole, I'll get worked, though if I can know its essence, I might better understand the genesis of rocks and water that has occurred, which will suck me back in for a third round of bodysurfing, proving that, I too, am nothing more than matter in motion.

I used to tangle with these ideas back at Harvard--er...I mean WVU.

For one requiring people to register would reduce the large amount of crap that Brett has to delete everyday. That alone would be reason enough for me...

I have seen some really good points made by "guests" as well as some iffy ones that seemed, well, pointless...but the same could be said about some of the members.

I became a member because I liked the idea that anyone could respond on this forum, member or not, kayaker or not, asshole or saint. I won't register on other forums because they require it of me (of course that may persuade more of you to vote for registration).

The arguments that some people "flame" one another or get upset because they've been "flamed" is weak. Boo Hoo! People do this all the time, it's human nature. The world is full of SOB's that want to puff themselves up by making you feel smaller. Don't give them the satisfaction. Besides, they will find a way around the system, register and still find a way to piss you off. My wife is a member of a womans' christian forum which requires registration. There is shit posted on that site that is worse than anything I've read on this one. I don't think reg will solve this issue.

Moreover, conveying one's ideas through a written media is difficult (no visual cues to tell when someone is joking, being sarcastic, or serious) makes the forum all the more interesting. You may piss someone off and not even know it and visa versa. Registering won't change that.

On the flip side, I can see the argument for keeping out the spammers and porno/pill pushers. I guess that's a small price for having an open forum.

Brett, just curious, how much time do you spend cleaning house on this site?

Tobias

I would assume that this poll is in response to some of the recent posts that have occurred on this website which have absolutely nothing to do with kayaking. Both times I noticed these posts was in the morning and I was curious to see if they would be deleted. They were by the end of the day. And while I like naked women just as much as I'm sure the rest of the male kayaking population does, I do feel that those posts do not belong on this website. All it does is open a can of worms as they say. I would hope that requiring people to register would discourage this.