No guest viewing permissions?

[Nebulous]

How do you feel about forums that are completely shut off to guest viewing?

You have to register and/or login to the forum to be able to see anything?

Is it a turn off or does it make you want to join to see whats inside?

 

[Nebulous]

I have joined a forum or two that was completely closed off to guest viewing because I knew/interacted the forum owner on other forums. If I don't know the admin then I wouldn't join. Normally I would need to get a feel for the board before I make the leap.

 

[Kane]

If guest viewing is not enabled I believe there is something fishy going in there, therefore, I wouldn't even bother to register in a forum like this. Usually, I do not like to be on forums where you take about sensitive issues or are not family friendly.

 

[Heatman]

I know that any forum owner have the right to run and manage their community the way they wanted but to me, it's a poor strategy for you to turn off guest viewing, thereby forcing people to actually register before they will see anything in your board.

I believe that allowing your visitors to actually see what is going on in the community will be something that is going to encourage them to actually register and once the registered, they will be interested in contributing to your community.