Would it be possible to force members to at least click on a predefined list of threads before they post in that respective forum? I think this would really improve the quality of posts and save _ a lot_ of time for mods and such.

Members are directed towards the forum rules page twice times during the registration process (once via PM and once via email) in addition to being told to read the rules throughout the site and in all of the forum announcements. Additionally, everytime anyone receives any type of infraction or infraction warning, and anytime any moderation action is taken upon a post or thread (i.e. code tags were added by a mod, a thread was moved, etc) they receive a PM with a link to the forum rules telling them to reread them.

In other words, in the ten minutes it takes for a new user to register, activate their email address, and start a new thread in the C++ forum leaving out code tags in their post, they've been warned about using code tags once via email, once via PM, once in a forum announcement directly next to the 'new thread' button that they clicked on, and in a watermark behind the editor they typed in.

After the post is made, as soon as a moderator sees it, they'll receive another PM saying their post was edited because of code tags and to reread the forum rules along with yet another PM saying they received an infraction warning for violating the rules and to reread them. Each of these PMs, of course, links directly to the forum rules page.

Requiring them to visit an extra page during the registration process couldn't possibly help anymore than is already being done and would do nothing other than add an extra step and deter users from completing the registration process. New users would see it as nothing more than an extra pain-in-the-neck click they need to make with their mouse before they can get started.

[Hard-handed response]
If they've been told about the rules that many times, infract them!
[/Hard-handed response]

I know it's not nice, but that's how I'm feeling today.

You could make them take a quiz... ;-)

It would be possible to force members to at least click on a predefined list of threads before they post in that respective forum. I think this would really improve the quality of posts and save _a lot_of time .

You have to wonder with so many "bullets" being fired at them how they manage to still get to the forum and still make a complete mess of it.

If they get an infraction (and a PM), they should not be allowed to post until they've read the PM and clicked on some "I acknowledge this infraction and will do better next time" link.

I like it, Salem!

They're like the Terminator of forums

Must
...
Post
...
Message
...

No matter what you throw at them, they just keep coming and coming until Dani finally gets them into the hydraulic press and they're history.

>No matter what you throw at them, they just keep coming and coming until Dani finally gets them into the hydraulic press and they're history.

And when is this time going to come?

Never... You see those people as pesky nuiscances.

Dani sees them as, I dunno, customers? And every new customer has the potential to earn her more revenue. I.e. more ppl going to potentially click on ads etc.

That's why her to attitude to newbies will never change.

-There will never be an automatic script that detects when code tags are not used.
-There will not be any extra scripts directing newbies to the rules page.
-Anything that makes it more difficult for newbies to post, will be ignored no matter how much sense it makes.

It's all about quantity than quality. Get used to it. Plus it also gives the mods a sense of purpose. Awww