Requirement to read the rules

**corocoro** · **Requirement to read the rules -** 11-12-2008, 04:55 PM

Okay, the problem is that there are some members who don't bother to read the rules at all. Some of them turn out fine, but many more start spamming/requesting in their introduciton thread/requesting in the chatbox/finding more creative ways to break the rules.
Now, the idea is to implement some sort of control mechanism to ensure that the rules are read. If members had to read them, they're less likely to break them, after all.

My idea would be to include a password in the rules (e.g. the second letter of each line). One of the rules then describes how to find the password.
The password itself then must be entered before people can post/use the chatbox/write pms.

Feel free to comment on my idea, put forth your own or just partake in the vote.

**Stony23** · 11-12-2008, 05:03 PM

	Quote:
	My idea would be to include a password in the rules (e.g. the second letter of each line). One of the rules then describes how to find the password. The password itself then must be entered before people can post/use the chatbox/write pms.

wow nice idea...
think so,too, becauseof all the new members that register and dont even read the rules
sowhy shouldnt be there a password like this

think it could be hlpful for mods and staffmembers, because there would be less reports then in the last few days/weeks
so i think we should give it a shot!

**Arizona** · 11-12-2008, 05:19 PM

Didn't vote, but couldn't hurt making them read the rules yes. Either for access to the chatbox or just for access to the whole forum. It can be done without a password. Signed up for a forum where only the rules were visible, after which (replying was necessary) the rest of the forum became visible. There were no moderators at that forum.

(ok, there were, but it sure helped giving them less work)

**JJJ** · 11-12-2008, 08:17 PM

Nice idea, but depends entirely on if robot can implement it,

personally i think its good, could use some tweaking, but good anyways

QRich · 11-12-2008, 11:38 PM

arizonas idea is a more common idea... i've seen it at other forums as well... and it does seem to work to some extent.. of course you will still get those who go to the rules but dont read them and quickly go somewhere else without even readin the first word of the rules... but i think it could help alot... even tho im not as active as i used to be, it never hurts to try to make a great forum a greater forum!!

**gedman** · 11-14-2008, 12:19 AM

its a nice idear but if you had to read the rules to find out how to get the password... i would have probably given up before i go that far. i think something like setting the homepage as the rules would suffise

DKLucidity · 11-14-2008, 08:56 PM

Well.. as one who tries to never underestimate the stupidity of the public at large.... I doubt any of them* would pay more attention then required to find what they needed to get in, and then disreguard eveything else they had read once they got in. After all.. the rules and links to them are all over the place now already.

*them being the kind of people who break the rules.

**phileditin** · 11-15-2008, 09:20 AM

a great idea, but I've seen it with software agreements, websites disclaimers etc that you need to scroll to the bottom before it activates the "I agree button"

The only way is as said, 1st thing you see is the rules, if you skip to the end, we can't stop that, but it should also have an auto ban bot if you break the rules within a set number of days as it's pretty obvious the person hasn't read the rules fully.

**Arizona** · 11-15-2008, 02:28 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by phileditin
	a great idea, but I've seen it with software agreements, websites disclaimers etc that you need to scroll to the bottom before it activates the "I agree button" The only way is as said, 1st thing you see is the rules, if you skip to the end, we can't stop that, but it should also have an auto ban bot if you break the rules within a set number of days as it's pretty obvious the person hasn't read the rules fully.

Agreed, can't hurt though and maybe does help a bit. Having 'fast rules' might help members to actually scan quickly through them.
Not sure about the autoban is a good idea. Many members make mistakes un-intentionally, like Stony did several times while he's a great member now. It takes a personal approach to decide if someone deserves the demotion or is just learning here imo. Demoting non-participators is still a good feature for the auto-bot though.

Manwhore · 11-15-2008, 05:19 PM

How about a madatory must read the rules check in the box before permitting one's potential advance to active status. It can be setup on the page during the registration procedure and implemented as a spot check as a questions and answers session once every 4 months or so for those members already in the system. Passwords as Arizona says i agree are unnecessary. I'm a newb, what do I know?