I understand there was good reason to implement the idea. I'm all for the board being more active, and I'm willing to help anyone who honestly wants to make the effort and is just a little afraid to make a post. But I think the evidence is in that this isn't working so well. Old members of every kind: lurkers, writers, ones who have left and come back have each weighed in on the issue, and there are legitimate concerns. New members may not like this place if they feel forced to participate. Yes NS is the only stable place one can find Chlex fanfiction, but it is dying either because no Lex on Smallville, or other Chloe pairings are getting a better push, or just because no one cares. I'd hate the reason that nobody came here anymore be because they didn't feel they had freedom to do as they wish. If a lurker wants to lurk, they are going to lurk, if they feel threatened, they will leave. No lurker will say to their friend, hey check out this site, it's a really great place to read some great fic, and those new people might have been someone who would review. Then we're a community of the same people posting on everything, and no chance of new people coming out when ready. Then everyone loses momentum, writers leave, and suddenly there is nothing left.
I understand that it is difficult to make scripts for every special thing, and I don't want you do so. I think that's a lot of effort for something that isn't your real life job. I don't want to push you do something, just as I don't want to push lurkers to do something.
My fear is that this will be more hurtful than helpful in the long run, and I'd hate to see the board dead. Even the irony wouldn't be enough to cheer me up and I love irony.
But all that said, if you keep this, I really think the paid memberships shouldn't be effected by this rule. They are paying so shouldn't have to deal with any of it. It's a benefit like not having to see ads. And I say all this not having a paid membership, but we wouldn't want another reason for people walking away is not feeling as though they are getting anything extra from paid membership. So yes I would get to work on that script soon.
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