10-26-2021, 11:54 AM
As an old lurker on this forum (been here since mid 2000's) but now a "registered" member, I thought I'd offer my two cents.
First, the registration process is far too much of a hassle. It's 2021. Things need to be quick and snappy. I understand the need for anti-spam measures, but if this comes at the price of irking and putting off potential new members, is it worth it? For example, my own registration.
Step 1: Create an account. OK, so far, so simple.
Step 2: Captcha.
Step 3: Somewhat ambiguous security question - How many men in a centuria? I'm not sure. Isn't there a discussion about whether it was 80 or 100? What if I came here to find the answer to that very question?
Step 4: Submit.
Step 5: Incorrect captcha. Please resubmit.
Step 6: You posted too fast compared to the minimum (30 seconds) required. Restart the whole process. (Yes, because the only field that needed changing was the captcha?)
Step 7: Redo everything.
Step 8: New security question - who was the first emperor? Augustus, but I know some will say Caesar and fall foul of Step 6.
Step 9: Incorrect captcha. Please resubmit.
Step 10: Starting to get a little annoyed now. Redo everything. Forget about Step 6 because I'm annoyed.
Step 11: Really start to breathe deeply and exhale in frustration here.
Step 12: Redo everything. Wait 30 seconds. Ensure everything is correct.
Step 13: Congrats! You can post now.
Step 14: But every post so far requires moderator approval...
You can see how for a new user, this is just too much. Then there is the obligation of having a real name (In 2021?) but you are not allowed to even have a signature before five posts, all of which need to be moderated. This post included. And this is OK if you have a moderator online for most time zones, like both sides of the US, Europe, maybe Asia, etc. But it's been more than 12 hours since I registered, and so far none of my posts are even public. I don't mean this in a nasty way, but again - 2021, this is just too much. This just reminds most younger users (I'm 33 by the way) why forums are in decline.
And it's a vicious circle - I come here, see only a few people online. OK, not a problem. Then I have a registration that is just waaay too complicated and annoying (by comparison with other platforms/sites) for it's own good. Then I am told a rule I can't even fulfil, that in itself seems very questionable for 2021. People value their privacy. There is nothing stopping myself or others from giving fake names, so I don't know why this is enforced. RAT isn't (or at least, doesn't want to be) a tiny community anymore. Perhaps changing that rule could be a part of this, because I gather most people simply use fake names anyway to get around this. And then when I finally register, I can't even post immediately. Then I check who is online - and there is only me, telling me there are no moderators online. Then I check again in 2, 4, 6 hours, and still see that my posts haven't been approved. And then I wonder if this is why as old members leave, lose interest, pass away and so on, why new members aren't joining too.
So yes, this is a little rant, but also I think many of the older members who haven't had to re-register don't know that the process right now is not conducive to new membership. It's not friendly and I can only imagine how many people give up halfway or think it's not worth the effort.
And of course, this is just one facet, besides the already mentioned competition from Facebook, other platforms, etc. These days, accessibility and ease of use are at the top of young people's needs when it comes to media, and forums (not just this one) have been very slow to adapt to this.
Anyway, I hope this helps.
First, the registration process is far too much of a hassle. It's 2021. Things need to be quick and snappy. I understand the need for anti-spam measures, but if this comes at the price of irking and putting off potential new members, is it worth it? For example, my own registration.
Step 1: Create an account. OK, so far, so simple.
Step 2: Captcha.
Step 3: Somewhat ambiguous security question - How many men in a centuria? I'm not sure. Isn't there a discussion about whether it was 80 or 100? What if I came here to find the answer to that very question?
Step 4: Submit.
Step 5: Incorrect captcha. Please resubmit.
Step 6: You posted too fast compared to the minimum (30 seconds) required. Restart the whole process. (Yes, because the only field that needed changing was the captcha?)
Step 7: Redo everything.
Step 8: New security question - who was the first emperor? Augustus, but I know some will say Caesar and fall foul of Step 6.
Step 9: Incorrect captcha. Please resubmit.
Step 10: Starting to get a little annoyed now. Redo everything. Forget about Step 6 because I'm annoyed.
Step 11: Really start to breathe deeply and exhale in frustration here.
Step 12: Redo everything. Wait 30 seconds. Ensure everything is correct.
Step 13: Congrats! You can post now.
Step 14: But every post so far requires moderator approval...
You can see how for a new user, this is just too much. Then there is the obligation of having a real name (In 2021?) but you are not allowed to even have a signature before five posts, all of which need to be moderated. This post included. And this is OK if you have a moderator online for most time zones, like both sides of the US, Europe, maybe Asia, etc. But it's been more than 12 hours since I registered, and so far none of my posts are even public. I don't mean this in a nasty way, but again - 2021, this is just too much. This just reminds most younger users (I'm 33 by the way) why forums are in decline.
And it's a vicious circle - I come here, see only a few people online. OK, not a problem. Then I have a registration that is just waaay too complicated and annoying (by comparison with other platforms/sites) for it's own good. Then I am told a rule I can't even fulfil, that in itself seems very questionable for 2021. People value their privacy. There is nothing stopping myself or others from giving fake names, so I don't know why this is enforced. RAT isn't (or at least, doesn't want to be) a tiny community anymore. Perhaps changing that rule could be a part of this, because I gather most people simply use fake names anyway to get around this. And then when I finally register, I can't even post immediately. Then I check who is online - and there is only me, telling me there are no moderators online. Then I check again in 2, 4, 6 hours, and still see that my posts haven't been approved. And then I wonder if this is why as old members leave, lose interest, pass away and so on, why new members aren't joining too.
So yes, this is a little rant, but also I think many of the older members who haven't had to re-register don't know that the process right now is not conducive to new membership. It's not friendly and I can only imagine how many people give up halfway or think it's not worth the effort.
And of course, this is just one facet, besides the already mentioned competition from Facebook, other platforms, etc. These days, accessibility and ease of use are at the top of young people's needs when it comes to media, and forums (not just this one) have been very slow to adapt to this.
Anyway, I hope this helps.
Julian M. Silva Cross
