Should the feedback forum be visible to members only?

[gll99]

Why is the feedback forum public?

The feedback topics are frequently of interest to the membership but would have little interest for visitors.
ie ... improving the site, problems accessing features, gripes etc.... Let's face it if people are interested in giving feedback then they will have to join the team to do it.

Some topics or some of it's content just don't seem to belong in a public forum.

e.g. ..... the recent "Lots of banned" which names specific users and the sins they may have committed as users or mods"

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=306167

Now if this topic actually helped someone outside the membership then I would agree that it should remain public but frankly I don't see the point. It's an internal discussion as many other feedback topics are also.

At the very least one could look at splitting it in 2 for the few topics that may be beneficial to casual visitors.

If the content of the feedback forum was not visible to the public then when someone clicks on the feedback forum topic, a simple note saying that any feedback or suggestions to improve the site are welcome and that this feature is available to all members upon account registration.

[yoda313]

Well leaving it public gives newbies an eye in to the daily workings of the forum. It lets you know what behavior is accepted and what isn't. I don't think we have to be ashamed for "airing our dirty laundry". Let them see it so they are informed and can participate based on that.

Besides its a give and take forum. If a potential new member sees all the open interaction in the feedback forum that might entice them to register and we would all be better off with the addition of another member. As the BORG would say "we will add your biological and technological distinctions to our own" (paraphrase)

[gll99]

I was thinking more on the business and presentation side of things.

To Baldrick this is a business with advertisers and a well known site reputation to uphold. I don't have the stats but I'm sure a lot of visitors are not members of the site but still bring in advertising dollars. I don't believe the feedback forum would contribute much to enticing people to join. A structured and well run site will probably attract more $$$ than a site that gives an appearance of having many complaints and gripes. (not that all the feedback is complaints so no nasty notes }

I'm not saying that a feedback forum isn't necessary only that it would probably serve this site better if it was for the most part kept membership private.

[Cobra]

Perhaps, but then again the Feedback forum shows visitors that VideoHelp is listening and constantly trying to improve. I can see advantages to having it members-only as you say, but there's also an advantage in leaving it open.

[bendixG15]

yoda313 said it for me
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I'm for leave it open

[gadgetguy]

I'm for leave it open

Well, if we get to vote, then I vote for leaving it open.

[offline]

I'm for leave it open

Well, if we get to vote, then I vote for leaving it open.

Vote? This is a benevolent dictatorship - like Cuba with Castro in hospital. 8)

[Cobra]

gll99 - would you like to make this a vote? It's up to yourself.

[gll99]

gll99 - would you like to make this a vote? It's up to yourself.

Thanks for the idea ...but in the end there's really only one vote that counts on this one.

As you scan through the threads some would fit the "faq" type of subjects that may have value to outsiders also but many are clearly not that type.

I would prefer to see pro or con comments (like yours and Yoda) that would help the administration decide.

It's just an observation. I thought it might remove a detracting area (at times) from visitors who are here looking for video related help. Anyone logging in would see it so nothing would be hidden from members.

Either way it's decided, I'm fine with it.

edit:
btw) In addition to OTHER you could now have a MEMBERS ONLY section with Off Topic, Feedback and Test. The curiosity factor alone should be good for a few hundred new members.

[offline]

I think Feedback should be kept free. Airing the occasional bit of dirty laundry to the public is not such a bad thing imo. It was only a series of unfortunate incidents that led to the Off topic forum being locked from public access.

Feedback is also only about VH matters, whereas Off-topic contains all sorts of non video or non-board related matters.

[ZAPPER]

I got to go with Cobra on this one. I think that it shows that the members are working towards making this a better site. And like Offline says a little bit of dirty laundry in public isn't all that bad. I think it shows that we are all almost human and it even adds some personality to the joint.