Minimum participation before posting

1. 82

   Whitney05posted 13 years ago

   There are tons of forums and websites that have within their TOS that you must participate in some area for X-amount of times before allowed to post in the forum. Typically, you have to reply to other threads so many times before you're allowed to start your own.
   
   I think this would be a great way to prevent people from signing up just to talk in the forums, starting one forum thread, or just to ask 1 question and never come back. It may also prevent spam because a lot of spammers seem to sign up and spam tons of hubs or the forums.
   
   If people had to publish so many hubs following the guidelines before being allowed to ask questions or whatever.
   
   In a way, that would make people have to read before posting threads that have been answered many times before or are answered in the 'help' section. It may frustrate people because they can't figure it out right away, but search the forums, there are tons of threads answering just about any 'how to' question on writing hubs.
   
   To me, it may actually cut out the rif-raf, so to speak, who just post one time and never come back. This causes stats issues with hubbers and how many hubs are published, considered that most hubbers aren't productive or never actually publish anything. Again, it may potentially reduce spammers who post in the forums, and those who sign up to spam. It won't prevent spammers who mass spam hubs and don't sign up, but it may reduce something.

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   1. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent idea.  If it could be set up so the "Need Help? Ask Here" forum was an exception, it would be perfect.
      
      I don't think we should get too heavy-handed, though, and start making rules about writing Hubs first. That one rule would cut out the most annoying spam.

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2. 0

   girly_girl09posted 13 years ago

   This has been my thought exactly, for quite some time. However, I remember someone raising a good point - what if a new hubber genuinely needs help? My suggestion is to only allow them to post in one place. Maybe that section will get more spam, but at least it will be in one place and much easier to moderate.

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3. 68

   Pearldiverposted 13 years ago

   I Agree.... and it will stop spammers if they are locked out this way.

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      kimberlyslyricsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I love you PD

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4. 61

   Ohmaposted 13 years ago

   Great idea Whitney and great addition Girly.

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5. 85

   KCC Big Countryposted 13 years ago

   I totally agree.

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6. 86

   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   When I first joined up with AOL round about 1995 they had a new members forum and that was the only place you could post for about a month if I remember rightly.
   You could read the other forums but not post.
   I too think that would be a great idea for here:)

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7. 67

   alternate poetposted 13 years ago

   and a quota of posts per hub would not be a bad idea to keep down the noise from forum creepers only here to disrupt and annoy.

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   1. 63

      Mishaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you AP

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      1. 0

         Home Girlposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Can I annoy just a little, ple-e-ese?

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8. 78

   mega1posted 13 years ago

   and everyone should have to read at least 10 hubs by other hubbers before they can post a question - because reading other people's hubs really does answer most of these redundant questions newbies post.  However, I like very much that the only rules on HP are rules about treating each other fairly and using HP for good purposes . . . too many rules might make it not so nice and easy like it is now!

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      Home Girlposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Nice and easy, yes!

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   2. 71

      relacheposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      How would a rule like this 1) guarantee people are actually READING and 2) how would it guarantee that the 10 Hubs they read were quality ones that answered their questions? 
      
      I'd really like to see a question posting limit, especially in the Answer section.  People with low author score should not be able to crank out endless questions.  For instance, if your author score is 1, you should only get to ask one question per day at most.

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9. 68

   Pearldiverposted 13 years ago

   And they should have donated $20 towards our Xmas Party Fund & agreed to wash the dishes on the day.... We can Name the Newbies .... Helper Gnomes

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10. 93

    habeeposted 13 years ago

    Good idea, Whitney!

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11. 61

    Randy Godwinposted 13 years ago

    I'm all for it!  There, that's settled!

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12. 89

    mistyhorizon2003posted 13 years ago

    Excellent idea, let's hope hubpages staff are reading this and taking note

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13. 70

    wesleycoxposted 13 years ago

    I also agree with Whitney but in regards to GirlyGirl's post there is always the help section that they can use.

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14. 61

    Randy Godwinposted 13 years ago

    But sometimes I wonder of HP likes the trolls here.  You know, to stir up a little trouble and get the forums busy.  I've heard of other writing sites doing just this.  I know, I'll just ask HP staff.  Yes, that's the ticket!
    
    Hey Paul, Maddie, or other staff, does HP have their own trolls, paid or otherwise?  Perhaps you guys take turns being the trolls on the forums?  Yes? No?  None of my business?  What's the scoop? 
    
    Sincerely, your friend,
    
    The snake

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