Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

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christopher:::
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Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

Post by christopher::: »

Hi. I was just wondering what the rationale is for making certain forums/discussions invisible to guests, while others are visible? I was surprised to find that the masterbation discussion has stayed visible while others such as the one dealing with Buddhism and tolerance was made invisible immediately.

I hope its alright if I ask, did you all have a discussion of that sort? I ask cause when we had the tolerance discussion going it was a strange feeling, to suddenly have the thread closed to the larger public, like a door had been closed.

Over at ZFI we do have a few forums not visible to guests. If I recall correctly our rational was to protect the privacy of members revealing personal information. If your purpose is similar I would suggest moving the masterbation discussion to a less "public" forum.


:namaste:
"As Buddhists, we should aim to develop relationships that are not predominated by grasping and clinging. Our relationships should be characterised by the brahmaviharas of metta (loving kindness), mudita (sympathetic joy), karuna (compassion), and upekkha (equanimity)."
~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009
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Ben
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Re: Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

Post by Ben »

Hi Christopher, hello all

A decision was made a few weeks ago to make some fora on Dhamma Wheel viewable to members only. The reason was because it would discourage lurking and encourage membership (and hopefully) contributions. My colleagues and I (Retro was on holidays at this point) went through the fora and nominated which fora would ideally be viewable by members who were logged in. Nothing new was added nor taken away. Its just a means to encourage membership and for members to log in. If you are logged in, you are more likely to join in the discussions - which was felt to be a benefit.

As the ex-privacy officer of a large municipality in Australia, my advice to all members is that one should only post or retain on their profile only personal information which one would be comfortable writing on the back of a post card. Be judicious - don't be paranoid.
Kind regards

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

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mikenz66
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Re: Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

Post by mikenz66 »

Which ones are invisible (to save me the trouble of working through them)?

Mike
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tiltbillings
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Re: Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

Post by tiltbillings »

mikenz66 wrote:Which ones are invisible (to save me the trouble of working through them)?

Mike

If you are signed, none of them. If you are not signed in, as would be so of a "guest", you will see that there is, for example, a Dhamma-free-for-all section, but you'll not be able to read unless signed in.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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retrofuturist
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Re: Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Mike, all,

Classical Theravada is another that guests cannot currently access.

It's all subject to change though (as is anything), so if there are any alternative methods by which to achieve the ends that Ben describes in his post above, then please let us know your thoughts.

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Jechbi
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Re: Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

Post by Jechbi »

Ben wrote:... and encourage membership (and hopefully) contributions.
You mean contributions as in thoughtful posts?
Rain soddens what is kept wrapped up,
But never soddens what is open;
Uncover, then, what is concealed,
Lest it be soddened by the rain.
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Ben
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Re: Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

Post by Ben »

Hi Jechbi
Jechbi wrote:
Ben wrote:... and encourage membership (and hopefully) contributions.
You mean contributions as in thoughtful posts?
Ideally, yes. However, i realise that the reality may be a little different and the ideal may take a little longer to actualise.
Cheers

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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Jechbi
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Re: Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

Post by Jechbi »

Cuz actually at first I thought you meant dana.
Rain soddens what is kept wrapped up,
But never soddens what is open;
Uncover, then, what is concealed,
Lest it be soddened by the rain.
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Ben
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Re: Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

Post by Ben »

Jechbi wrote:Cuz actually at first I thought you meant dana.
Oh, dear me! No no no no!!!!!!!
I wouldn't even make a hint that anyone should give dana!
Kind regards

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
Mawkish1983
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Re: Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

Post by Mawkish1983 »

Ben wrote:Oh, dear me! No no no no!!!!!!!
I wouldn't even make a hint that anyone should give dana!
... but if we wanted to donate some money via paypal without our wives (who might forbid all financial transactions of a selfless nature) knowing, is there a system in place? How much does this place cost to operate (or is it secret?)?
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DNS
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Re: Rational for Making Forums Invisible to Guests?

Post by DNS »

I have moved the discussion about dana and suggested places to make donations to the Announcements forum.

:anjali:
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