Professional show of hands please

Mudstar

I'm looking for a form of support on this thread of a show of hands about this site and if you believe that it should be for professional use only or allowed to be viewed by searches by google by any person that queries information on our profession.

I'm not looking for comments about anything else but a show of hands. A simple yes or no would be enough

1.yes for professionals
2.no for open to public searching through google of all your postings

Thanks

Muddauber

YES, pros only.

Everyone else can go to you tube for DIY tips. Some of those are pretty comical.

2buckcanuck

no,leave it up to the mods,cause then you will half to argue what constitutes a pro ,they stopped one person in particular who was getting a bit too racists THANK YOU
there's pro and cons either way,let the mods decide who's pro or not,let them kick the diy off
why what problems you seeing mudstar

proficient Mudder

I am just an old Kentucky Country boy that just joined up, I hope I can stay.
Bill

cazna

Well your ignoring me mudstar but what the heck, NO, leave it open for everyone, why is that you dont ask? Becouse even an apprentice on the first day might see or suggest something simple you have missed for the last 20 years, Its a free world, how could you police a forum and make it pros only. Its good to repeat things to reinforce what you supposedly already know, one small tip you may have let slip or didnt realise can make all the difference.

Of course you can stay bill, you seem like a good guy to me, welcome.

Scott_w

I haven't been here for long, but haven't seen all that many DIY posts. They can be dealt with easily enough.

If you are referring to guys that are not strictly drywall? Then I guess that would include me. I run my own business (legally, and insured), I do all my jobs start to finish and do everything I can to produce a quality product, including investing alot of time and money in the proper tools.

If that doesn't constitute me being a professional the I will gladly stop posting. But I don't want to get into a debate, as canuck said about what constitutes a pro. Many sites have tried and it is a losing battle.

Many sites will have a "backroom" that makes the pro atmosphere possible.

scott

2buckcanuck

scott and bill ,your two good examples,bill ,10 post and already some good post,and you like to type
scott ,you want to learn,that's ok in my books,when you become a master,hope you return the favour ,do you like typing alot

Muddauber

What neck of the woods are you from?

Scott_w

Will do for sure, THATS what I think these forums are all about. Helping brothers (and sisters in some cases) in the industry.

I appreciate all the help, even though it may seem elementary to some of you.

scott

cazna

Exactly, that is what a forum is all about Welcome scott.

Mudstar

I'm not really looking for details on why or why not on the question.
I don't have a problem with people wanting to learn the trade or joining the forum for professional advice because there in the industry or looking for advice for there projects.

Its the all the guest that are viewing the content we all post that don't sign up is what has access that should not till they sign up.

I feel that there not signing up because there not professionals because there looking for info to use against us based on our difference in opinions

If you go to the bottom of each topic you will see who's viewing the topics. There are guests and users listed and I see more guests then users using the forum a good part of the time. Or click here and see for yourself who's online

The question might not be understood so

Do you want guests to be able to access the forum or not?

1. yes I don't want guest viewing until they sign up so that the mods. or admin can manage this lurkers

2. no I don't mind anyone viewing the profession forum we contribute our trade secrets and have no control over this guests and have everything posted available through google.

Please post a yes or no answer please to make it easier for the mods and admin to make this a better place.

Thanks for your input

Checkers

Yes, that's the reason I come to this site.

Scott_w

Agreed, that clears things up. I would say YES you should be a registered member to view. Someone that can't take the time to register, won't be of benefit to the forum anyways.

scott

2buckcanuck

ok got you then .......yes

Nathan

In an ideal world you could block off all content and make it a "walled garden". Here's the problem with that set up though. How did you find this site? Most people find this site by doing a search in Google or some other search engine and then stumble across a thread that is listed in the results. They then read the content and decide to join. Yes, there are some pros who view the content and decide not to join and some non-pros who find the site as well. But that's just the way these things work and if it was totally closed off I can tell you there would be little to no activity here because no one would have ever found it.

This is the way we've been running ContractorTalk.com for the past 7 years now and while it has it's flaws it's the best system.

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Nathan

Nathan

Anther quick point. While anyone can view the site this site is just for pros and only pros should join. If you see a DIY Homeowner join and ask a question please press the button in the bottom left hand corner of their posts and report the post. I'll then close the thread and direct them to DIYChatroom.com.

Thanks.

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Nathan

cazna

Ahh i see now, in that case its a big fat YES from me, but i get nathans point.

Nathan

Another quick point. People rarely sign up for sites when they can't see the content of the site. If somehow you ended up on this site without finding it through search, and you couldn't see any content or what the site was about. Would you have signed up? Maybe some would but I've done tests and most wont.

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Nathan

taper71

And besides there are advertisements on this site that would dictate a big no from them who pay the bills lol

Nathan

You could sell ads to a private community. There just wouldn't be anyone there to see them .

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Nathan