I think i pressed on an irritable nerver

Saad, i completely agree with whatever you have said. Your intentions are absolutely correct as in the end it is for the benefit of the forum members itself. However, making things MANDATORY really do make things less friendly if not unfriendly.

People loved PPCD for the freedom they have here. In many other forums, people get warning even for going slightly off-topic. Here at PPCD, we try to solve people problems and share ideas at the same time without being intervened or frowned upon. You see where i am going with this.... Its not about the 2 extra clicks to be honest, most people are just lazy or just don't care. Thats the reason i said that there should be some kind of suggestion when people register so that they fill the location field too

Still, if you feel that making it mandatory is the right thing to do, you have my full support

Docc.

quote:

Originally posted by Saad Al Haddad:
As for the Add city, I have some issues since we will end having so many names for one city. For example, you will end having the following names for Ras Al Khaimah City:

• Ras Al Khaimah
• RAK
• Ras Al Khaymah
• and many more

The country drop list will be the most important step we can make!!!

I rest my case

Absolutely, while the Country field is all we need to have an introduction to users, the city field is, I agree not too important, but quite desirable esp. as most operators have city-wise or province wise operations.

Regarding repetition of city names as Saad pointed out, I suggested the list to be "indexed" so that a user can quickly find his/her city and add only if it's not listed. Even if there are any repetitions, IMHO it's no big deal, since we still get to know his/her city no matter how it appears on his/her post - RAK or Ras Al Khaimah, Ras or Khyamah.

Docc, I agree with Saad in making Country mandatory to give the forum at least that minimal introduction about themselves. It also does not infringe on their privacy any more than the email address for login. Their country is already known via their IP headers.

I completely agree with you guys but this isn't about what is right and what is wrong, its simply about respecting one's decision (however lame!!!).

In my opinion, it is WRONG to make things Mandatory. There are plenty of ways to track down details of the persons posting or even browsing the forum, even to the extent of which part of the city they are from. If necessary, you can even track down the address from which they are posting!!!

The thing is, making things Mandatory is like telling them, "Either you tell us where you are from or you can't register on our website". Thats the thing which makes it all wrong. Its better to just put a suggestion in BOLD regarding the country of origin. If they wan't to add it, they will, if they don't, its their choice! Choices must be given, you can't just tell them what to do!

Docc.

quote:

Originally posted by Docc:
The thing is, making things Mandatory is like telling them, "Either you tell us where you are from or you can't register on our website". Thats the thing which makes it all wrong.
Docc.

Docc, PPCD can still welcome users to browse and even post comments as "Guest" without them giving any information. The choice can still be available to all users to continue as Guest. Only when they themselves want to graduate to a regular membership, and log Karmas, they could do so, by just giving some minimal additional bits of information.

Guys

Lighten up it's only one field

Who's got the time to play with the stats it would provide and what would we do with them

rgds
Steve

Don't you people see that others want to be a little discreet?My famous teacher once said it pays to always "HIDE" a little

quote:

Originally posted by SteveJ:
Guys

Lighten up it's only one field

rgds
Steve

Heck no, nobody's so uptight about it. A subject came up and it was debated. Points made, points taken. As long as the interaction is healthy, productive, to the point and within decorum, what's wrong with that?

As long as we are "Sophisticated" it does not matter if we remain "Intelligent" or not. (Dont get it? Look at my Karma.)

Asrar

quote:

As long as the interaction is healthy, productive,

Congrats on now being "Sophisticated" I was never sure about intelligent

Long interaction being the oprative word here

rgds
Steve