Non-subcribers?

Why are they able to post in our Georgia Gardening forum? We waited so long for it and now have to share? I'm sorry, but I think they should subscribe if they want to be part of a family. If we want to make announcements, or swap amongst ouselves, I thought this was a safe way to do it. Having got some "extra mail" I'm very disappointed

I see other Regional forums are closed, why are we open?

All new forums introduced since we launched Home Talk at the beginning of the year have been free. (Forums that existed prior to that point remain as they were, whether they were free, subscribers-only to see past the first thread, or completely-invisible-to-all-but-subscribers.)

This includes several regional forums (Southwest, Carolinas, MidSouth, Georga, etc.) Some of our members have found this point helpful when planning roundups, so they can more easily announce, plan, and discuss their roundup with all who are attending, not just subscribers.

If you have received spam-type messages, please let us know. (That shouldn't be the case, as non-subscribers have VERY limited access to use dmail.)

Terry. How are they limited to use the D-mail. Is it for ex limited to a certain mails /week or what. Can be useful to know if one sends D-mail to a member or vise versa. Can one have a chat via D-mail or is that also limited for a non Sub?
Janett

Dave can answer more specifically than I can, but as I understand it, they can reply to an existing dmail unlimited times (no limits.)

But they can only initiate two new dmails per day.

Terry has it exactly correct.

dave

Is it common knowledge that the round up forum is private to subscribers only and postings and notices should only be made there? Is the plant trading the same way? I would not advise giving any personal info out; i.e. address, phone number, directions to home any where except in dmail.

I realize the subscription is pretty cheap, but there was always some sense of security in knowing there is a certain amount of privacy in some forums.

Dave, isn't that why you made the round up forum private back in '04 to keep, certain "characters" from getting the info?

Molly

Thanks Dave and Terry.
janett

It is up to the organizers to decide if they want to include non-subscribers to a roundup/get-together/plant swap, etc.; or if they want to limit their invitees to subscribers-only (in which case, they can keep all the info within the roundup forum.)

FYI In the Mid-South Gardening Forum, we welcome everyone to attend the RoundUps/Plant Swaps and even send out emails to both members and subscribers announcing them. We also encourage everyone to invite their garden club and friends to attend.

We have them in public places and we feel there are enough of us to take care of a problem should it arise. We've had a couple of members become subscribers because of this.

We are really having a good time.

Judy

Well, this seems like a good place to add my question.
Is it possible to get the Trading list where we can look at trade lists of just subscribers. There are SO many trade lists that are nonsubscribers that were put up years ago and the people aren't even around anymore. I'd love to have the option of just searching the trade lists of subscribers. Or an option where if the trade list isn't updated for 6 months or something it would disappear. Or some sort of dating system, like "This list was last updated 07-28-06", so if a list hasn't been updated for a year, we know that it probably isn't any good any more.
Also, I would like to be able to search the trade lists by "Trade only, SASE or trade, SASE only, etc...
Anyway, just thoughts....
much love,
mich

I too joined for the expectation of new garden families and friends AND privacy. I do understand and realize the benefits of allowing non-subs to search and participate, but some threads and posts i initiate or join in on i feel are better suited for members only access.

Couldn't an option be placed for "open to all" or "members only" be placed somewhere when a new thread is started. and a notice other than a small "*" be located on each thread. It was about 2 months after I joined that I learned about the "*". Seeing it in words is easier for all?

Just my thoughts, I will hush for now,

calvin

I certainly agree with the idea of having trade lists for subscribers only! I used to have a large list, but took it down because I was bombarded with Non S wanting things for SASE. I was getting hit with 3-4 a day, it was really irritiating and time consuming. Also, the only bad trade I ever had was a Non- S who never sent their trade. At Least if we are "real" members we have a sort of reputation to uphold, a Non subscriber has nothing to lose. There are not a lot of things I need or want these days, so I am not one to do a lot of trading, just once in a while I see something I would really like.

I don't even go look at the trade lists anymore, because it's just too much to wade through. I just watch seed and plant trading forums in case something goes through there. At the very least, I'd like to see a 'last updated' by the members name.

I would like to be able to see if a person is a Subscriber or Member by looking at the information beside their user name.. To me it's just as important as their Zone.

Judy

This message was edited Jul 29, 2006 9:38 PM

This message was edited Jul 30, 2006 8:55 AM

I agree with Judy. I still don't even know how to tell if a person is a member or a subscriber? When you go to their page and it says signed up on ... does that mean they are a subscriber or is this color coded? Thank you for educating me on this. :-)

If it just says "signed up on" then they're just a member. If they're a subscriber, it'll still have that line, but underneath it'll say "subscribed through..."

Also, underneath that, there is a brown circle that says Dave's Garden Subscriber.

Oh, thanks. :-)

It's bad enough that folks are afraid to post pictures on DG (because they are hit with requests) that we have to deal with non-subscribers also. I agree with nivlac, I joined to be part of a family, and strongly feel that folks should be subscribers to post. Guess I won't be posting much in this forum anymore, I'm very disappointed. I suppose they can read my Garden Diary also??

just reading through everyones posts and though I could edit what I wrote, I thought I would just do it this way instead.

Dave and/or Terry-- couldn't it be possible to add the option when one starts a new thread to select whether they want to allow open access (sub and non-sub, scribers) or subscibers "only". I sometimes post wanting it open to all, but then there have been those times where I haven't posted because I only want it available to subscribers only and I know that there is a chance for a non-sub to view and /or post.

I am not FOR eliminating the non-subs access. Heck they are future members! I just feel that some forums, threads, and posts should be subscriber access and viewing only (or atleast be given to option to choose who I want to see and respond to my threads). Currently, I use dmail to say things I want to with other subscribers only this causes me to have to retype over several times the same messge to multiple people.

So, (for sub-scribers) couldn't the option of access and viewing be selective and selected by the subscriber who posts? All non-subscribers activity would be open to all.

calvin

nivlac - you can write your message in a document etc. file, then just paste it over to each dmail, rather than typing the same msg over and over.

As with any internet site, regardless of whether folks are members or subscribers, you should not post anything you don't want to share with the world. Anything on-line can be accessed by the world.

I too subscribed to DG to be part of a gardening family that collectively helps each other learn more about their hobby of gardening. Whether or not they are members or subscribers doesn't matter me. I had to lerk on here about a week before I mailed my check just to see if this site was friendly and informative. And I admit I got carried away with excitement by going off topic and trying too hard to make friends by responding to posts by names. I guess alot of newbies make these mistakes before they get around to reading all about DG. I certainly hope I haven't offended anyone on my home state forum.

i do not see that hurts they maybe just cannot join yet... might become someones best friend also.. i know were couple bad eggs but they were subs. so one never knowes.. everyone deserves chance yes?? they proably want to be but can't manage at the beginning.. hope not on toes..

kooger never thought of that of option. I will have to start doing that instead. Thanks. I still would like the option of deciding who views my threads I start. Not that I am wanting to alienate non subs, but subs pay for the privelge of all benefits of DG, subs are limited I know, but dangling another carat out there by gaining full access by subscribing is a good thing.

I know some want to join and can't pay right now but Dave and Terry have set up Love offering account to help those who need a little financial asssistance. I think that there are still some people out there who join clubs to taunt and upset the apple cart. (If you have ever been plagued by them you will know what I mean) by allowing Subscribers to select who views their thread then ( sub only or open to all) then that is just one more security level.

calvin

For some people it may not be financial at all--I could have afforded the membership from the start, but I wanted to spend some time on the site first to see if I would use it enough that I wanted to pay for the membership, and without being able to read posts on at least some of the forums I probably never would have decided to pay for the subscription. Personally I've never had any problems with nonsubscribers dmailing me or anything, I think if you are I would report it to the admins and I'm sure they'll get rid of that person, same thing if they're posting stuff on forums that's inappropriate. I think if you made it so people could choose whether threads were subscribers only, then everyone would choose that option and nonsubscribers wouldn't be able to see anything anymore so I doubt that option will get made available to us. So I guess if it's really something you don't want nonsubscribers to see you'll have to stick with the subscriber only forums where all they can do is read the first post.

Dave and Terry do a good job deleting, advising, warning, blocking, etc. mischief makers. Report problem posts immediately by clicking on the 'contact us' link on the bottom of each page. Dave and Trish own DG so it's their call on who sees what. We can all whine and plead to our hearts content when we want a change or additions and usually Dave manages to accommodate everyone. :) Giving all subs the option of who sees their thread would be confusing, I think. I don't know but it seems like it would mess up the forums.

:some people out there who join clubs to taunt and upset the apple cart" Dave does an amazing job of keeping the apple cart in good shape!