[Debate] Password Protected Boards: Good or Bad?

[doggonegood]

I think they can play an important role on a forum, but the can also break it.

I have two forums... one is about artwork and use to be open to the general public until I had a problem with someone stealing artwork I removed the ability for guests to view the forum and added in a couple of password protected boards to hold members artwork and stories without worry of others viewing and stealing them. I like the atmosphere in the forum a little better now because of this. It isn't the most active forum, with the most members but there is a good environment there and everyone seems a little more relaxed now.

My second forum is a dog training one and absolutely everything in it is open to the public, including guests. I'm the only staff member at the moment so there's no need for an admin section, though I think that is a good idea to have place for only staff members to go and discuss the board/problems etc. If/When the day comes I do decide to use this option I think it would be best to keep it invisible to the general public with a password protection. I've been on boards before where I didn't even know there was a specific section for staff members until after I learned (from someone who was on the staff) that the admins and mods were going there and talking about their members as if they were in some sort of higher up club. To me that's abusing this power and made me uncomfrotable to be there.

I'm not sure if all of this is making sense... I've only had one cup of coffee this morning ;D I think my point is basically there is and can be a place for password protected boards but it needs to be used correctly and the power shouldn't be abused

[LLlover]

I think password protecting forums is a pain. First and foremost my biggest problem is that I already have enough passwords to remember and I don't need to add anymore to it enough of the time. Plus I like easy access to stuff when I'm the admin. Plus if you don't want certain people viewing certain boards a lot of the time it's just easier to edit who has access to them. For me password protecting individual parts a forum is a major turn off.

[veggiegirl]

My staff room is not password protected. I have the board set to be viewed only by staff so password-protecting the board is unnecessary.

As for other boards, I find making them password-protected useless in the long run. This is the internet and a lot of deception takes place all the time. If someone really wants in, they will get in or get someone to give them the password.

[kat200]

Apr 9, 2008 11:14:04 GMT -8 doggonegood said:

I've been on boards before where I didn't even know there was a specific section for staff members until after I learned (from someone who was on the staff) that the admins and mods were going there and talking about their members as if they were in some sort of higher up club. To me that's abusing this power and made me uncomfrotable to be there.

Calling a staff area a higher club is nonsense.

We have a board for staff, most members will be unaware of its existence, but it is not in any way a 'higher up club'. It is an invaluable place where we can discuss problems, discuss new ideas, leave a message if one of us is going to be off line or away,with 8 members of staff using the pm system isn't practical. Our staff room can go for days without being used, but if we are planning new things for the board, or have a situation to deal with, we can come to a decision where all staff members input is heard.

We don't have any boards pass word protected, I think it a waste of time, members will pass the pasword on to their friends.

We have recently set up one board only available to members above a certain post count.

[Sentinel James]

I only have one password protected board, and thats only because I made a board for the Halo 3 clan that I am in.

It doesn't bother anyone, so its cool.

[Tini♥]

I think it's important to have password rotected boards.. I personally use a password only in two boards at all of my sites... The staff board, where only staff knows the password and is allowed to post. The other one which I usually name "Restricted Area" is the board where the more... mature threads are. If a member wants to make a thread like that simply pms me and I give them the code...

[Kyle]

Im staff at an RP where the character app board is protected.
The password is given out at the rules thread. This ensures you read the rules before RPing.

[matrix934]

I don't see why having password protected boards is a bad thing. It's perfect for a staff board where only staff members are allowed. I would put in a few or so password protected boards. What I do to have no member feel left out is that if I make one club board that is password protected, then all the members not in there will still have the chance of joining the other club board.

[Gylfie107]

A staff board is a nice thing to have, and I password protect character creation boards and hide the password in the rules. But I agree that having a privet board makes other members feel left out.

[luv2ride801]

Sometimes it's nice to have password protected boards, like on a Harry Potter site for the common rooms and Order/Death Eater Headquarters. Or to keep people out of a board that isn't open yet.

Other times it's not necessary.. like for a staff only board. On my site, (And on most sites) I created a Staff category that only a few select groups can see. That way, most of the members don't really know/care about it..

But I do think that there is a time and place for password protected boards, but it's not usually necessary.

[annamarialive]

I just wanted to say, the only reason I have put a password on my board to encourage people to keep returning to my own web-site and therefore get more hits, the password to my board is on my web-site where anyone can get it, and I change it regularly, so, people need to visit my site first to get the new password for my board.
I did the same with my cams, they are all password protected to encourage people to keep returning to my website to get the new password, if I did not password protect them, people would not need to return to my site often, they would just bookmark all my cam pages and therefore less hits for my site.

[Chibiusa // Sailor Mini Moon]

i have been on many adult RP sites that also have have young members o the passworded oards are nesserary so that the adults can RP out there mauture content without fear that the younger softer minded members wont accidently discovere treads. which is a great idea so that the site caters for both types of members, that way its target audence is younger rpers aswell as older ones which made the sites get more members and stay active, not many people used the mature board but it was there incase they needed it.

[kelly!]

I don't personally think that password protecting boards is a good idea. if you don't want a certain board to be seen by certain forum members, just hide it so that only the people you want to see it can see it.

but, on the other hand, sometimes this is tricky to do so password protection can sometimes be handy. in my personal opinion, i don't like it, but for others, it can be really handy.

[kelendria]

I have a password protected board now for the staff room.
But then there's only me & two other Mods & I trust them to not give it out easily.
Otherwise I don't really use them, & having such a board that you have to give out passwords to 50 people is a lot harder than just two.
So no I don't usually have them