More than software.
That's true, Jeff, but I don't think software makes a Discussion Board. Frankly, I enjoyed their old software. It worked well and was easy to use. However, last time I was there, the smiley page wasn't accessible, even with the new software. It would not surprise me if that Board loses some traffic from their new for-pay restrictions. Editing should not require payment.
I don't know if they have their spell checker, yet. It sounds like a good notion, but anyone familiar with that Board might wonder whether anyone cares whether words such as "whore," "moron," "*******," "mother******," and "****head" are spelled correctly. Oh, I forgot "****." (Censorship was my own, not by GunCo or the software filter).
Most members already have a spell checker in their word processor, so it may be a feature which really has no impact, except to increase costs to their ownership.
I think the other site has good rules. In my opinion, that Board would be better off if the following rules were enforced:
Rule Number 4: No pissing matches or flame fest discussions are allowed on The Guns Network LLC. The members of this site can keep our moderating to a minimum by exercising a little discretion, some common sense and self- control.
Rule Number 5: Pure trolling ~ Either to piss someone off or simply for your personal enjoyment. If you're here to cause trouble, it will be a very short stay...
Those rules are posted throughout the other Board, but frankly my experience was they were inadequately, if not rarely enforced, especially on their AK side. There was considerable consternation about repeated violations of the rules by a Moderator and Administrator whose exchange of insults, curses, and dirty words obviously made a shamble of the Board's rules. I hope we never see that here.
This Board has begun well, with intelligent and interesting discussions. I think that willdraw quality members and make it grow into very popular site - much more than a spell checker, or smiley faces. Good luck!
