New changes to MERB - Most sections are now MEMBERS ONLY
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A small visibility problem...
Only one thing: on TERB for example, the forums which are "members-only" appear on the main page, but are marked private. The way it is now on MERB, they are invisible. So, imagine your first visit to MERB as a lurker, you may think there are no reviews at all :eyebrows:. Bug fix, anyone?
I don't know the reason it was changed, but I am ok with it myself.
Only one thing: on TERB for example, the forums which are "members-only" appear on the main page, but are marked private. The way it is now on MERB, they are invisible. So, imagine your first visit to MERB as a lurker, you may think there are no reviews at all :eyebrows:. Bug fix, anyone?
Hi all
Fred Zed is doing some changes that might impact the way MERB is working. At this time, we have no word if the situation will become permanent or not.
I would not be surprised if it becomes permanent, since both TERB and PERB requires to become a member in order to see reviews. With MERB, all 3 boards have the same owner.
Thanks
Fred Zed is doing some changes that might impact the way MERB is working. At this time, we have no word if the situation will become permanent or not.
I would not be surprised if it becomes permanent, since both TERB and PERB requires to become a member in order to see reviews. With MERB, all 3 boards have the same owner.
Thanks
I agree with sapman.
If the goal is to increase registrations, you make it easy for folks to see the registration link...or to understand that some registration/sign-in is required. I guess the changes are in progress...
If the goal is to increase registrations, you make it easy for folks to see the registration link...or to understand that some registration/sign-in is required. I guess the changes are in progress...
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In any case, some sort of notification to members would be desirable.
Also, not sure how advertisers would see such a change. Forced registration will reduce the number of eyeballs looking at reviews and other content. That may affect their business, I would guess. Maybe I am wrong...?
Also, not sure how advertisers would see such a change. Forced registration will reduce the number of eyeballs looking at reviews and other content. That may affect their business, I would guess. Maybe I am wrong...?
Hello everyone,
This change was made at my request but it was made sooner than expected and I did not have the time to prepare a notice or announcement. One will be made once all changes are completed.
Most adult Internet review boards require registration to view the reviews and the majority of the content. This prevents those underage from viewing explicit adult content and is also a way to enforce our content ownership copyright. Any member discovered to be re-posting MERB content elsewhere without written permission will open themselves as well as the board that allows it to be posted to legal consequences.
The advertising forums will remain open to all visitors, guests as well as members, to maximize their visibility.
This is a work in progress and of course there will be other modifications to reflect these changes as well as a proper announcement of any and all changes.
This will bring MERB in line with both TERB and PERB regarding access to the main review content of the board.
Thank you,
Mod 8
This change was made at my request but it was made sooner than expected and I did not have the time to prepare a notice or announcement. One will be made once all changes are completed.
Most adult Internet review boards require registration to view the reviews and the majority of the content. This prevents those underage from viewing explicit adult content and is also a way to enforce our content ownership copyright. Any member discovered to be re-posting MERB content elsewhere without written permission will open themselves as well as the board that allows it to be posted to legal consequences.
The advertising forums will remain open to all visitors, guests as well as members, to maximize their visibility.
This is a work in progress and of course there will be other modifications to reflect these changes as well as a proper announcement of any and all changes.
This will bring MERB in line with both TERB and PERB regarding access to the main review content of the board.
Thank you,
Mod 8
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Thanks for the update Mod8 and Mod11 !
I guess that means the administrators` thinking about how MERB being in a smaller market that TERB meant that it needed to be an open board has changed.
See your post of April 5 (toward the bottom of the post):
https://merb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?69710-I-remember-when...&p=535160&viewfull=1#post535160
in response to my prior post (#6) in the same thread
https://merb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?69710-I-remember-when...&p=535107&viewfull=1#post535107
Let`s hope it does indeed increase participation and posting. :smile:
As far as barring minors from accessing content, I do not see how registration will help that much. Short of a true age verification system, minors can simply input whatever they want. I suppose that having a new registrant check a box certifying their age can offer some level of legal protection to MERB...
I guess that means the administrators` thinking about how MERB being in a smaller market that TERB meant that it needed to be an open board has changed.
See your post of April 5 (toward the bottom of the post):
https://merb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?69710-I-remember-when...&p=535160&viewfull=1#post535160
in response to my prior post (#6) in the same thread
https://merb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?69710-I-remember-when...&p=535107&viewfull=1#post535107
Let`s hope it does indeed increase participation and posting. :smile:
As far as barring minors from accessing content, I do not see how registration will help that much. Short of a true age verification system, minors can simply input whatever they want. I suppose that having a new registrant check a box certifying their age can offer some level of legal protection to MERB...
Since you mentioned it, I am reminded of a situation a few years ago in which ex-MERB poster, the notorious "Robertpal", copied a review posted on MERB by Rumpleforeskin (aka RegnaD), and then reposted it as his own review on another Board which, if I recall correctly, was the World Sex Guide. At the time, someone else discovered the plagiarized review, informed Rumpleforeskin of the plagiarism, and Rumpleforeskin complained about the situation (it was very obvious plagiarism, Robertpal did not even try to change some of the words), but I don't know whatever happened with it or if WSG took down the review. Robertpal was later banned from MERB, although it may have been for other mischief, as he had a litany of misdeeds that I could hardly keep track of.
It appeared that Robertpal's objective was to compile an extensive portfolio of reviews on that other board, which he would then use to leverage his position in getting favorable treatment, including (reportedly) BBFS service.
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EB,
When it comes to Robertpal, there was so much wrong with that individual that it is difficult to know where to begin. He was constantly on a search for BBFS, he posted images of himself and a girl he picked up at a bar on Crescent street, he broke our rules regarding the posting of personal information by posting his own personal information on MERB. And that is just scratching the surface of his genius. He was not one of the brightest lights to ever be a member here.
M8
When it comes to Robertpal, there was so much wrong with that individual that it is difficult to know where to begin. He was constantly on a search for BBFS, he posted images of himself and a girl he picked up at a bar on Crescent street, he broke our rules regarding the posting of personal information by posting his own personal information on MERB. And that is just scratching the surface of his genius. He was not one of the brightest lights to ever be a member here.
M8
Hello Athana,
Fred just began the modifications today. I am sure that there will be refinements to come. When everything has been properly completed, all the advertising sections will be open to guests. There will be no loss of visibility for advertisers at all.
Becoming a member of MERB will remain free as it has always been so there is no reason for anyone not to join if they wish to read the reviews. There is no requirement for them to post if they do not wish to but as they will have to register anyways, maybe some will take the opportunity to contribute to the community while they are here.
Mod 8
Fred just began the modifications today. I am sure that there will be refinements to come. When everything has been properly completed, all the advertising sections will be open to guests. There will be no loss of visibility for advertisers at all.
Becoming a member of MERB will remain free as it has always been so there is no reason for anyone not to join if they wish to read the reviews. There is no requirement for them to post if they do not wish to but as they will have to register anyways, maybe some will take the opportunity to contribute to the community while they are here.
Mod 8
Sort of non-competing. ISG does have a Canada section, but it's pretty dormant. BTW, have you noticed that Villa Vertigo in NRW is a merb advertiser?
Which board are you talking about? I paid Jackson my $20 some five years ago and have been PMing ever since.
There are a number of International review boards out there and I do not see much benefit to requesting yet another review section on MERB. I also do not think that Fred would be interested in a link exchange with any other review board. We do have the Other Cities forum that is not very busy as it is. I will give some consideration to requesting a Hotel section, however. I will have to give some thought as to how it would best be set up and exactly where to place it. And I will also have to check with Fred about creating the section as I have no idea how much work is involved and if he would be willing.
I did think of one other advantage of being required to log in to view the review forums and other popular sections and that is the ignore list will be much more useful. Members will no longer have to worry about seeing posts from members on their ignore list as it becomes active when you log in.
I did think of one other advantage of being required to log in to view the review forums and other popular sections and that is the ignore list will be much more useful. Members will no longer have to worry about seeing posts from members on their ignore list as it becomes active when you log in.
If I'm going to have to type in my username everytime I visit the site, can I change it to something with two letters?
YS
YS
The ignore list would be much more useful if I weren't constantly being bombarded with:
This message is hidden because lgna69xxx is on your ignore list.
It would be fabulous beyond words if the existence of the ignored party's posts were truly invisible to the eye. I suspect that vBulletin doesn't offer that opportunity, but I thought I'd ask.
The Other Cities forum can be used to review International cities as well. MERB is by definition a Montreal review board. We focus on the Montreal hobby scene and our advertisers are primarily based in Montreal. While creating an International section may bring more international viewers to MERB, it will not serve our advertisers in any way or provide any useful information for Montreal hobbyists.
MERB is also a business for Fred and international views have no bearing on the financial bottom line. Web sites do not make any money from the number of views or hits they receive, they make money from advertising. If any International agencies or providers were interested in advertising on MERB, then perhaps an International forum would make more sense. As we have no such advertisers, I assume that they have not contacted Fred in that regard.
MERB is also a business for Fred and international views have no bearing on the financial bottom line. Web sites do not make any money from the number of views or hits they receive, they make money from advertising. If any International agencies or providers were interested in advertising on MERB, then perhaps an International forum would make more sense. As we have no such advertisers, I assume that they have not contacted Fred in that regard.
I think it is a good idea to make MERB review forums private. This policy have been implemented since as long as I remembe on TERB. Hopefully, this policy will also help the board get more reviews. On the other hand, there are competing boards who implement all or part of the rules below :
1- It is impossible to see who is online unless you login.
2- It is impossible to see another member's profile unless you login.
I find both rules very annoying. Rule #2 is even unfair for paying advertisers as it norrows their visibility scope. I hope that none of these rules will be implemented on MERB.
HFE.
1- It is impossible to see who is online unless you login.
2- It is impossible to see another member's profile unless you login.
I find both rules very annoying. Rule #2 is even unfair for paying advertisers as it norrows their visibility scope. I hope that none of these rules will be implemented on MERB.
HFE.
Hello HFE,
For your first point, on line members can be viewed on the main forum page, at the bottom. The more detailed "Who's on line" page is restricted to members only.
For the second point, basic member profile is available when not logged in. This ads to member security as detailed information is only available to members. Advertiser profile information is fully available to all viewers.
M8
For your first point, on line members can be viewed on the main forum page, at the bottom. The more detailed "Who's on line" page is restricted to members only.
For the second point, basic member profile is available when not logged in. This ads to member security as detailed information is only available to members. Advertiser profile information is fully available to all viewers.
M8
Hi Mod8,
I have just made a test. It is still possible to access an advertiser's home page (read web site) as a guest. Probably, that's what most guests are looking for. Also, and I am pretty sure that Fred Zed already knows this, you should give GoogleBot an account so that it can crawl the private forums, otherwise MERB reviews won't be indexed.
HFE.
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