Why is the "Speculative Ideas" forum only available if you log in?

[70014IronDuke]

What with the current (somewhat OT, but probably very worthwhile) discussion going on about the real meaning behind the "Speculative Ideas" forum in the unmentionable thread about re-opening some grassy way in West Wales, I'd like to ask this question.

I've only just looked in here, and found a batch of threads I'd like to look at. I've simply not noticed them previously, when merely browsing in lurker mode, as it were.

 

[furnessvale]

I wondered where the section had gone when I was recently visiting as a guest when banned!

 

[70014IronDuke]

I wondered where the section had gone when I was recently visiting as a guest when banned!

Ah, so it's not just me then? I was just about to edit my oroginal post, as I wondered if I had some sort of software glitch.
You were banned?
Ooeer. Maybe I'm banned, and don't know it?

 

[duffield]

Maybe the thinking is that due to the nature of the section, if visible it would encourage too many people to sign up purely for the purpose of posting their loopy/inspired/bizarre (choose appropriate word!) schemes?

 

[furnessvale]

Maybe the thinking is that due to the nature of the section, if visible it would encourage too many people to sign up purely for the purpose of posting their loopy/inspired/bizarre (choose appropriate word!) schemes?

I note the smiley so perhaps you are not serious, but surely this is the place for such ideas. Unless the site owners are worried about bandwidth etc, people can post any ideas. No-one is forced to participate or even read it if they don't want to.

 

[sprinterguy]

Maybe the thinking is that due to the nature of the section, if visible it would encourage too many people to sign up purely for the purpose of posting their loopy/inspired/bizarre (choose appropriate word!) schemes?

I assumed it was to keep the general public safe from the general nonsense spouted in here.

 

[Bevan Price]

What with the current (somewhat OT, but probably very worthwhile) discussion going on about the real meaning behind the "Speculative Ideas" forum in the unmentionable thread about re-opening some grassy way in West Wales, I'd like to ask this question.

I've only just looked in here, and found a batch of threads I'd like to look at. I've simply not noticed them previously, when merely browsing in lurker mode, as it were.

I have seen similar behaviour in forums elsewhere. Unless you log in, you can only see a partial selection of available threads / topics.

 

[ainsworth74]

A few posters have pretty much got the right of it. When we created the section we wanted something that would contain all the various ideas that people have in a section away from the more "serious" stuff so that it didn't get in the way of those that were not interested but gave those who were somewhere to express their ideas and also helped to develop something that was clearly popular (if not universally liked!).

However we also wanted to avoid the scenario whereby people who are not already members see the section and think "Oh! Here's somewhere I can post my excellent idea for HSTs on the Stourbridge Town branch!" and therefore risk the section getting flooded with, er, drivel I guess would be the technical term?

Hence the need to login and have at least five posts to view the section.

Hopefully that makes sense!

 

[Ian22012]

Not sure you do need to have at least 5 posts to view the section! Just FYI

 

[Calthrop]

I'm wondering whether fanciful "didn't happen, but might have..." stuff, would be acceptable in this "Speculative Ideas" forum...?

For instance: was recently reading a travelogue-type book, not primarily railway-centred. The author recounted the genesis of Skegness as a holiday resort -- interestingly and accurately, except that he attributed the whole business to enterprise on the part of the Great Eastern Railway; not the Great Northern, as befell in actual history. This prompted me to scheme out a -- not, I think, totally implausible -- way in which east Lincolnshire might have come to be on the GE system, instead of the GN one; maps roughed-out accordingly.

Might (detailed) material of such kinds, find a home in this forum; or would it be more appropriate for a fresh and extra one, titled "Drivel" or something similar ?

 

[70014IronDuke]

A few posters have pretty much got the right of it. When we created the section we wanted something that would contain all the various ideas that people have in a section away from the more "serious" stuff so that it didn't get in the way of those that were not interested but gave those who were somewhere to express their ideas and also helped to develop something that was clearly popular (if not universally liked!).

However we also wanted to avoid the scenario whereby people who are not already members see the section and think "Oh! Here's somewhere I can post my excellent idea for HSTs on the Stourbridge Town branch!" and therefore risk the section getting flooded with, er, drivel I guess would be the technical term?

Hence the need to login and have at least five posts to view the section.

Hopefully that makes sense!

Well, that has a certain rational, of course.

But what about doing it the other way around? ie allow the forum to be available like all the others for a trial period.
If such a move, indeed, promotes drivel - at least more than what we get already, that is - then I'd say 'hiding' the forum is justifiable. But if not, let it be like all the other fora/ums. After all, all the others are visible to the public, or are others hidden?