Can you put in a passworded members only Off Topic board sub to around the table
that way if someone vents or rants (yes I know we have hopping mad) and doesn't want to share it with the rest of the world, they can

Oh, and I know that moderation here is more of the stern look and motherly nudge (have had a few of the aforementioned)
So I don't think that would be a problem

Ummm... this entire website is "members only", Jack.

Well, yes and no. Only members can post, anyone can read.

I'll pass this request on to Maggie, we have talked about having a private forum before. I'll let you guys know what's decided.

* Like * .......... ( as in i like the idea)

+ 1 on the private board thing!

I believe that a "Private" board will never work!
Nothing is private once it is posted on the internet.
If you want something to be private, I would suggest
going to private Emails.
Just a thought on the subject.
Ottersatin.

Ok, so less public subforum, as in you have to be a member to even know it exist, and you have to ask for the password before you can SEE or POST in it

__________ Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:28 pm __________

and since this is a pretty standard based of off V board, it's an option

just what would this private board be for? Just curious.

OT stuff you don't feel like sharing with the world

We're tentatively thinking that such a forum would be restricted not by password, but by postcount instead. Perhaps 200 posts to get in, with the thinking that by that point someone has adjusted and contributed to the board, and we have an idea who they are. How does this sound to you guys?

David,
that sounds like it is a GO!
Ottersatin.

Sounds good. ^ quickly checks to see what my post count is... ok i'm good *

David, putting a password on it keeps 3rd party programs from being able to pull it down, or at least adds another layer depending on how the board software is structured, Like I tried to cross post some photos, if you had access to the passworded forum I originally posted them in, you could see them here, BUT lacking that cookie, they just appeared as [image] from what I was told, I don't even know if you could see them or just the source HTML

Jack, I'm not sure what you mean by "3rd party programs" in this context. If you mean search engine bots, or something along those lines, they would have no access to it.

The drawback of a passworded forum is that anyone with access can post, email or otherwise distribute the password. It doesn't take long for the password itself to become indexed by the search engines, making it locatable to anyone interested.

Only people logged into their account on RT, while having enough posts to view the forum, would be able to interact with it. Otherwise, it would be invisible to both people and bots.

Obviously this doesn't provide a true level of privacy. Accounts get compromised or shared, whatever else, but it would give established members here a place to discuss things without the discussions being indexed, viewable to guests, or new members.

Huh...and the point of all this is? Ok so I am a little with ottersatin on this one, if it is online it is public. So what is it that you would need to say on a "private" board that you wouldn't say on a public one? Someone give my naive brain a hypothetical example. I just honestly don't really understand.