Logged in as guest

[Prairie Dog]

I was under the impression that you had to be a member to log in? Not complaining, just curious.

[awndray]

You don't have to be a member to read. It's all public, with the exception of the Marketplace I believe.

[Prairie Dog]

You don't have to be a member to read. It's all public, with the exception of the Marketplace I believe.

I've never been able to do that.

[Strewth]

I've never been able to do that.

It changed; if you log out and then come back to GOC, you can see posts. It kinda bugs me, but really, it's just like any of the other forums I Google; Rimfire Central, S&W forum, CZ forum, etc.
The only part I wonder about is if this makes the site more or less attractive to become a member of; I've signed up for a couple of forums because they were hidden, the open ones I just read, and don't sign up to.
I kinda think CGN has the right balance; as a Guest you can see the sponsor's forums, and the rest of the site is Googleable, but not immediately accessible like it is to members.

[Prairie Dog]

if you log out and then come back to GOC, you can see posts.

Just tried that, no go. I had to log in to see the forum. Could it be browser specific? I'm using Firefox.

[awndray]

Try again. It's the same for all browsers. I can read all but the Marketplace and the GOC Issues section when logged off.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I can look around without logging in. IE 11. Not the off topic area though.

I too am one that thinks it would be better to have to log in to read. Give a few things out but not the good stuff. Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free?
Like most things that come out of the hole under my nose....just my opinion.

[Lord Vader]

Guests include people just viewing the main site, as well as Google Bots.

[awndray]

I want to bump this topic.

As of right now, there are currently 219 users online. 104 members and 115 guests.

Why don't we privatize a few more sections so that people are forced to log on? We might even see a few new faces.

[Strewth]

I want to bump this topic.

As of right now, there are currently 219 users online. 104 members and 115 guests.

Why don't we privatize a few more sections so that people are forced to log on? We might even see a few new faces.

Still agree with this.

[Prairie Dog]

Why don't we privatize a few more sections so that people are forced to log on? We might even see a few new faces.

I'm in total agreement.

[harbl_the_cat]

I can't speak for the mods/site owners, but when it comes to website development, search engine optimization and page ranking is the key to attract traffic to your site and locking your site off is a great way to kill off search engine web traffic.

You'll notice CGN locks all their forums EXCEPT vendor forums. You'll notice CGN's ribbon bar has an enormous amount of sponsors and I'm pretty sure they still have a user base in the 100,000 range - ergo, they can probably (for now) get away with locking down their forums for non-registered users. They have a huge base of users and revenue sources and not much need to aggressively grow their forum.

If the GOC founders/owners aren't locking off their forums it's because they are actively trying to grow their site - which I think is a good thing.

So as an example, if I'm a gun loving brony googles "AR 15" "My Little Pony" and sees 10 threads started on GOC by a guy named Harbl_the_Cat, including thesis length analysis of individual episodes with philosophical analysis of each different pony and how each of them personify a particular technical feature of an AR 15, they are inclined to visit the page.

If they can read through Harbl the Cat's detailed and insightful posts and from each one they find a thorough comparison about the ballistic characteristics and terminal performance of apple pies versus party cannons, they are inclined to join in on the discussion, further contributing to increased page rank, greater short and long teal search engine hits, and more traffic drawn in, along with registrations.

In other words - more people need to write mega posts, at least 2000 words long, so that if someone does a search on Google for a related topic, GOC will be page ranked higher. I suspect that's one reason the mods only give me the occasional light flogging about posting random BS in huge quantity.

Case in point. As of today, Google search: "Canada Guns Bible study" guess what's page ranked second?
That's right: http://www.gunownersofcanada.ca/show...69-Bible-Study

Perhaps Jwire and Zulu have me on payroll as a GOC shill...

Seriously though - I don't think the sight owners should close off the forums - I don't think most of the members should want them to either.

Remember, the Tavor contest REQUIRES 12,000 members to join by December. GOC's at about 8500 and the year's half over - so there's quite a way to go...

[awndray]

...thesis length analysis...philosophical analysis...write mega posts...2000 words...

I'm not sure I agree with you. In my opinion, we won't gain new members if we let them access everything without registering. To be clear, I'm not proposing this just to reach the win-a-gun number. I sincerely want GOC to grow. Of course, with growth comes the inevitable barrage of nonsense, conflict, trolling and derailing. I don't want to attract the riff raff that pollute other forums. Such members only attract bad attention. What I would like to see is a place where we can have civil discussions; a place where like-minded people can share stories; a place where butting heads can share opinions and hopefully come together as one.

Granted, the site does benefit by allowing people to read everything without posting useless jibber jabber.

[jwirecom109]

We have had it open in the past and we have seen more growth since we opened the forum for most sections to read. People see how we conduct ourselves and join because they want to join in, not because they have to.

We would rather have open communication with those that want to be apart rather then those that are only members because they have to.

[Strewth]

We have had it open in the past and we have seen more growth since we opened the forum for most sections to read. People see how we conduct ourselves and join because they want to join in, not because they have to.

We would rather have open communication with those that want to be apart rather then those that are only members because they have to.

Makes sense, I didn't look at it that way.