Private board?

[catnapper]

I've been talking to someone about this - a private board where only people who are registered members can read the threads. A lot of us post photos of family and such... and you never know just who is looking at the photos. At least with a private section we can be relatively secluded and know most of the folks who are reading about our family -- whether its woes or triumphs.

Anyone else think this is a good idea? I know a lot of other message boards provide a private section for more personal threads.

[Kfamr]

While it may sound like a good idea, ANYONE can register and see it as well. There are many registered members who have never posted.
So, it's kind of pointless, IMO.

[jenluckenbach]

While it may sound like a good idea, ANYONE can register and see it as well. There are many registered members who have never posted.
So, it's kind of pointless, IMO.

Very good point. Is it possible to be limited to members who have "x" number of posts, or people who have been a member for "x" number of months. Or even a combination of both? (I ask because I don't even know if this is a real possibility)

[k9krazee]

I love, love private boards. I go to another forum and after a certain number of posts (I think it's 50) you're allowed to a private area, and after you have 100 posts you can see the next level. It just makes me feel much more secure if posting about personal issues or pictures knowing that only the members can see it.

[buckner]

Very good point. Is it possible to be limited to members who have "x" number of posts, or people who have been a member for "x" number of months. Or even a combination of both? (I ask because I don't even know if this is a real possibility)

The only problem with this is for members like me. I don't post much, but I'm always reading. And I believe I'm a pretty trusted member here. :/ So those private boards would prevent members like me to view them, which wouldn't be very fair, IMO.

[Jessika]

The only problem with this is for members like me. I don't post much, but I'm always reading. And I believe I'm a pretty trusted member here. :/ So those private boards would prevent members like me to view them, which wouldn't be very fair, IMO.

Well if it's a time issue (as in, you've been a member for X months, etc) then # of posts wouldn't be a problem

I forgot to add, I think this is a GREAT idea, and I also think it should be based off of how long you've been a member and not by the number of posts (if this is implemented).

[Kfamr]

The only problem with being allowed on said private board after X many months - ANYBODY can still read them.

Someone who has 1,000 (just an example) usually isn't just anybody, although we've had our fair share of creeps and liars.

[sweetpatata6]

I love the idea I know I dont post pictures of my self because you never know whos looking..........

I agree... Even if others can register, I would still concider posting pics of me.

[Randi]

At first I thought it was good idea, but after thinking about it, I'm not sure it is. There are some things to consider.... if I want someone who is not a member, and don't intend to join, to see a thread here, then I wouldn't be able to send a link to that thread. I sometimes send a link to John's family about Fister, instead of explaining it one more time and sending them the photo's in an e-mail.

As someone pointed out, anyone can just register and VIEW what they like anyway. I think we should all be careful not to post anything we don't want the world to see.

I think what we all want, is to avoid trolls coming here and posting BS, and Karen has already made changes to prevent that in the New User Policy.

[KittyGurl]

I think nobody can just get to use the private board. You should be a member for a certain number of weeks or a certain number of posts. OR Karen could get to decide who gets to go in the private board.

[sweetpatata6]

I think nobody can just get to use the private board. You should be a member for a certain number of weeks or a certain number of posts. OR Karen could get to decide who gets to go in the private board.

That's a good idea, but I think it'd get confusing

[Alysser]

That's a good idea but also a bad one at the same time. While we'd all feel more comfortable posting pictures of ourselves or family and other personal issues, there are some things to take into consideration. If you have to wait a certain # of months then someone who is a weirdo can just wait until their account is old enough and just go on the private board without caring about anything else on the forum such as pictures, debates, and general forums. If you have to wait till you have a certain # of posts, well I don't think that would be fair, because as buckner pointed out, some TRUSTED people don't post as much and such. As Kay, said anyone can register. So, there are some things to consider. While it is a good idea, it can be negative one as well.

[CathyBogart]

I'm part of one board where you have to pay a small fee to see their 'private' boards. I know that's WAY more work than Karen and Paul need, so it's not a suggestion, just me throwing out random stuff.

It works pretty well for that board and helps pay for their bandwidth. That board is another close-knit family, so I think new people paying for "platinum" membership need to be approved through a mod.

[Hellow]

I like that idea BUT how about that some people can't pay for that? I know that it was just a random suggestion but just giving you some facts. Also, how about the idea of having to know your regular PT username and password AND a special password only known by trusted pt people so that they can see the "special" parts of a form?

[Jessika]

Also, how about the idea of having to know your regular PT username and password AND a special password only known by trusted pt people so that they can see the "special" parts of a form?

This was confusing at first, but I think I understand what you're saying now -- meaning, a password would be required to have access to the private forum? That's not such a bad suggestion. But I know with vBulletin you can create "groups", and allow certain groups certain access to places, permissions, etc. I think that would be the best option in this case, Karen could hand-pick and manually allow people access, etc, regardless of how many posts they have or how long they have been a member.