Dear guests,

Unfortunately I did not realize that one of this forum features was a requirement for people to log in before they can view links.

I am trying to figure out a way to get rid of this feature so you wouldn't have to log in or sign up to see the links.

Until then we will just have to deal with this annoyance, I am afraid.

My apologies,
Elena

UPDATE: Ok, the forum tech support people said that this feature CANNOT be turned off! They recommened going around it by placing

Code:

[code][/code]

tags around the link, so the link would be visible at least (though no clickable)

This is afwul! Why would they even make links unvisible to guests in the first place? It's beyond me....

So, until I come up with a better solution, plase use CODE tags to make your links visible to everybody (code tags are placed by clicking on CODE button on the control panel of your message)

Here how it is going to look like:

Code:

http://russiandetective.forumup.org/

Sorry.

It looks like an email address posted in the normal format isn't display for visitors, either.

No it doesn't.

I am very frustrated with that, if I knew that beforehand I would think twice before signing up for this forum! Now I have 2 options: close this forum and start another one, or keep this one going and make everyone register if they want to see the links and email addresses...

I am not happy at the moment...

That's some feature unique to this free board service, which uses the phpbb software. It's not a feature of the phpbb software, itself, that I know of.
I run a couple of non-scam related boards, also using the phpbb program.
I don't know if the free board providers are harvesting email addresses by making people register, or what? Doesn't make sense, otherwise.

I sure hope not! Because if so, they won't be getting any more business from me, that's for sure.

I will ask the tech support if that's taking place.

I have not noticed any increase in spam amount to my mailbox though.

I think it's possible to migrate old messages from a phpbb format board, to another one. It may take some technical expertise that is beyond me.
I had an established board using another format, got disgusted with that provider, and switched to a phpbb format. There was a program to transfer the old messages, to the phpbb format, but I never could figure it out.
FWIW, I run my two board on separate websites using a webspace provider that is $9 a month. They have the phpbb embedded in your services, although it's an older version, and needs to be updated.
The updating process isn't too bad, but phpbb issues updates every few months, so you're never quite 'hands off'.
phpbb seems to keep up with security issues which can screw up boards.
I don't know how many 'controls' you have over the board using this 'free' service, but with a normal phpbb board, you can shape it exactly the way you want, what visitors can see, not see, post in, etc.
IF you're considering keep this open, and growing it, going to a more permanent setup may be smart. I lost 4 years of messages when I restarted one of my boards, with 2000 members.

I never had a forum before and I am not computer savvy at all, I need something of the plug and play type...

I don't plan to buy any space for the forum, be it $9, $90 or $.90. Since I don't get paid for doing all this (have not been for the last 4 years), I don't feel obligated to spend any more of my money (or time) on this then necessary.

I can edit user's rights ad far as viewing, posting, deleting, etc.
So this board is currently set on: View - All, Read- All, Post - Registered, Reply - Registered, Create Poll - Registered.. pretty much everything else is registered or Administrator. But there is only one setting for View and Read, and I set it to All already.

Ok. FWIW, if you get some traffic up, the revenue from a few affiliate programs, like the Googleads they insert at the top of every page here, can easily pay for the costs of the site and a little more.
It takes a while.
I also 'sell' the webspace to myself through an affiliate program, so the first year of space only costs me $30 or so. There are ways to do it, but it takes a little work.
I'm not computer or 'net savvy myself, either, and it's always a struggle.
Thanks for your effort, and work!

I am not even going to mess with any affiliation programs and all of that.. I am not doing this for money or any kind of future rewards... I just hate seeing people hurt. Because I have seen lots of people really, really hurt by these scammers.

I totally understand! My websites and board are 'hobby' sites, and I just seek to cover the costs so I don't have to ask directly for money. I don't really pocket any money from it. It just reduces the 'ouch' factor when a bill for web space shows up! Paying for webspace gave me more stability and options.
I should have talked about this in a PM. Feel free to delete the messages concerning this in this thread.

No it's ok. Thanks for sharing your experiences though.

Glad you two had that dialogue, it helps to learn all I can about the mechanics of paying for a web site. The only thing I have of that nature so far is a MySpace page (which I hardly go to anymore, spammers heaven there). I was wondering where I would go to give the e-mail addresses of some heavily suspected West African scammers to some scam baiters. These were initial first contacts I was sent, I told them to bugger off, I already have a GF (not, but they don't know that). I did read the commentary saying to leave it to the experienced, but I do want these jerks to have their time expertly wasted, and I don't want to give the show away by posting them here where they know they're found out too early. I'd like someone to get names, addresses, alternate e-mails, as much as possible before their cover is blown. One was so inexperienced as to send the declaration of undying love in the intro letter. All three came onto me on MyYearbook, and gave me Yahoo e-mails to write to. That really chaps me because there's a lot of Jr High and High school kids there, and they could get really messed up by these fiends. So who do I give them to for torture? Another wrinkle, just for giggles I tried searching those Yahoo ID's and got zero for results every time, and I'm not the only one with that problem. Apparently there's some folks that get the same thing on any profile they search, but not everyone has that problem and do get results. Any info on that? I know better than to ask Yahoo support and expect an answer, though I did post that question in Yahoo Answers, heh. With the part about support.