in attempt to let outsiders catch a small glimpse of the activity levels and social dynamics, i've left some sections with guest read-only access.

what i want newcomers to understand is that there's a lot more to this forum than that which can be seen from the outside. you won't be able to see the twenty more substantial and active sections unless you register and log in. the conversation topics on this forum cover everything. politics, religion and philosophy, science, physical health, sex and relationships, the art you make, the things you hate, the things you love... there's nothing that can't or won't be discussed here.

I don't know about the Hall of Shame being open to guests. If the point is to express the fact that this place is multi-faceted, I think showcasing a very ugly part of the board--which, a lot of the knock against the place is that it's perceived as being born from a negative womb--is a bad idea.

Plus, it isn't readily apparent that the users who have had their posts delegated to that section of the forum have been deactivated.

I Suggest That
The Shame Thread be Replaced
With the Introduction Thread

Maybe It Would Be Good
If Potential Voices Could
See Who's Already Here

the introduction section is kept members-only because some people are concerned about more private information being readily available on the internet. and that's something we understand.

what if the hall of shame's description was changed to something like "former members show what not to do on violating voices." would that make a difference, or would it still have the same effect as the drama section being available to the public? i think the hall of shame shows people the kind of trollish behaviour that we don't support here.

If it were apparent that the shitty posts in that section are why they're banned, then yeah, I'd be all for it.

I was suspicious of your choice at first, but this sounds good to me.

the new food section is also open for guests to read.

I saw that... but it says I dont have permission to access it

that's odd. it should work fine now.

But isn't it just the title of the forum that's visible?

oh. that's what it used to be. but now they are visible. hmm.

The Hall of Shame is visible to guests, right?

Just a suggestion, but maybe that "Oh, Katherine, You So Stupid" thread or whatever shouldn't be so public. For one, I have posts in that thread that, looking back 2 years later, I don't really want to be public. I would appreciate them not being so, anyway. Secondly, some of the pictures Jenn posted in that thread are very "What The Fuck??" and, though I appreciate your zeal for "keepin' it real," I'm not sure it's a good representation of what goes on here (yes, I'm aware it's a "what not to do here" thread, but still. . . I think that's the only time any behavior like that has ever existed on this forum, so I'm not sure it's really something any of us have to worry about).

Also, what does "wthigo" stand for? I noticed double-you-tee-eff was replaced with that.

wthigo = 'what the hell is going on?'

Pffftt. . . I am really bad with this online dialect.

Thanks for bringing that up, Drizzle.

I miss the good ole days. I am kind of bummed that a conversation as epic as the second part is stuck in the Hall of Shame though.

the hall of shame is now hidden from public view.

Thank you, Tara.