OK, recent cases of spam, unpaid ads, and allegations of STDs by first-time posters have got me thinking. Would it be easier to have a probationary period for new posters rather than having to go back and ban, delete, repeat?
My idea is to have the first couple of posts by a new poster require moderator approval before they actually get put on the board. Maybe even just the first post (and obviously, while that post is pending mod approval, the new poster wouldn't be able to make any other posts). That way the mods can look at the post, see if it's appropriate, and if not, just ban the handle outright, and keep the crap off the board. I think that this would be a big stumbling block for all but the very determined riff-raff.
Any thoughts? Would this just be adding way more work to the mods' plates? Or would it actually reduce their workload by pre-screening the undesirables? I really don't know, but I thought I'd throw the idea out there for discussion of the pros and cons. If the board in general, and the mods in particular, like the idea, then maybe we can take it up with Fred.
My idea is to have the first couple of posts by a new poster require moderator approval before they actually get put on the board. Maybe even just the first post (and obviously, while that post is pending mod approval, the new poster wouldn't be able to make any other posts). That way the mods can look at the post, see if it's appropriate, and if not, just ban the handle outright, and keep the crap off the board. I think that this would be a big stumbling block for all but the very determined riff-raff.
Any thoughts? Would this just be adding way more work to the mods' plates? Or would it actually reduce their workload by pre-screening the undesirables? I really don't know, but I thought I'd throw the idea out there for discussion of the pros and cons. If the board in general, and the mods in particular, like the idea, then maybe we can take it up with Fred.
