I've got to say it seems fairly backward to me to force people to post in order to get access to certain areas, probably in order to stop spam. While forums need posts to survive they also need a good signal to noise ratio and by forcing people to make 25 posts before they can enter some areas your almost certainly encouraging people to post where they wouldn't normally.
While I do understand how you feel about the posting rule, I don't think the rule was created to force people to make at least 25 posts before they can participate in sections such as the Buy, Sell & Trade. You'd also have to be a member for a certain requirement of days before you can post in such areas. That wouldn't be good if you'd allow newly registered members to have easy access in places such as the BST, right? That would obviously be harder to moderate since; 1. The number of duplicate threads will increase. There's a high percentage that newly registered members don't come back since they can't spam in the BST section straight away. The rule lowers the chance of newly registered members from spamming the said section so easily. 2. You'd expect more replies such as "PM sent", "PM me details", etc... than what the forum currently has. Again, it doesn't encourage people to post where they wouldn't do normally. It is solely up to the user how he/she will abide with the rules. I know this has been argued long enough but one way or the other, spamming isn't something you really can control. It comes in all different types regardless of what rules are implemented. And thus, that is why DP has mods to moderate those people who spam.
The rule is very clear and designed to stop people gaining access to this area. I need some design work done yet have to A: post 25 posts, a chunk i'm sure will be worthless, and B: wait 14 days. So insist that new members use some escrow style service. This is already against the rules and would be punishable as such. Rubbish, 80% of the spammers can be weeded out by thier first post. Prehaps another 10-15% within the first 10. The other 5% are in for the long haul and this rule really wouldn't stop them. Anyway I've had a few posts deleted so i'm off to post some other pointless banal rubbish to satisfy some arbitary limit. Prehaps I should start a who's your favourite telly tubby thread.
That's just one part of the overall spam problem. Even moderating posts is already a huge task for a moderator. Well, it's not like we get to see a full list of moderators online everyday, right? The downside is that there are only a few left mods who cleans up the forum from time to time. I'd be surprised if you'd actually do that
I manage a few forums elsewhere so am aware of just how much thankless work it is, however personally I don't think mod's should be some mystery force like ninjas as they appear to be here. I just got an infraction but have no idea by whom (i'm really not that bothered) so it's not even like I can discuss it. I'm stuck it a position that I have to make 25 posts to access the area I want and need so what else am i supposed to do? I'm keeping my eye out for places I can help but in a couple of place they required links which I can't provide yet or i'll be reapeating what someone else has always said. I reduced to posting in what's your favourite... threads just to make ends meet. It's a sad day really
I'm sure you'll be able to find stuffs in here that falls under you 'genre'. Creating one of those "What's your favorite" type of threads will most likely get you another infraction IF duplicates and already existing one. It is what it is, mate.
So i'll do a search on telly tubbies Infractions / Bannings don't bother me, I know my worth if this or any other forum can't see it then it's more a case of thier loss not mine, there is always another way. Most forums I go too actively discourage from opening old threads unless it's very specificly regarding that thread It's odd that DP choose to go this way but whatever works for them.
Any other guidelines you dont approve of? Probably best to list them in one spot so they can fix them all at the same time.
I'm glad you've seen how much superior I am of everyone else robjones, I doubt that the DP admins will however agree and since i'm a busy man I'll save my effort for other projects, If DP wanted me as a consultant I might look at it.