Newbie restrictions (Please discuss forum policy here.)

[lost in the wild]

Given the stuff flooding the forums, I understand why this was done.

However, I'd also bet there are many non-troll, non-newbies who have not made 50 posts.  If the software allows it, I'd suggest opening posts for accounts that have existed since before the media coverage got tons of newbies interested in bitcoins.  Someone that has been on the forum for a month is probably not crap-flooding the forum.

NOTE:  This does not include me.  My userid was created today.  But, that change will probably relieve the potential upset of a number of users who are not going to troll and who may have useful insight if they decide to post.

It appears that many of the troll flood posts are either trying to simply drive people away or do things to help manipulate the trading.

Both of those should be stopped. 

Of course, some of the flood posts are legitimate newbies asking for help.  Unfortunately, the forum is not conducive to searching and the wiki's aren't non-geek friendly.  The recent press is driving many of those here too.  This is currently, THE place to get help and learn about bitcoins.  Unfortunately, the forum search does not make it easy to get at that collective memory for even those who bother to search before posting.  Think about the new user who is waiting hours for the block-chain to download but doesn't know what a block-chain is or why it has to complete.  Even if they are going to try searching before posting, they don't have the vocabulary yet to search, and I suspect that search would return many posts/threads that would not be helpful even if they had the vocabulary.

It's a challenge.  You risk driving people away, yet the current solution is better than the alternative.

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[RodeoX]

Thank you admins!
Just to clarify, if at 51 posts you decide to post childish threads like the ones we have been seeing, then a ban is in order. And for those surprised by this, it has been discussed for several days.

[foxcartier]

Tell me their name and your preferred method of contact outside of this forum, I'll try to get you guys connected.

[Valalvax]

Ooh the eBay thing might work, except still payment is a problem

[patboy247]

I think it was a very bad move that is going to push a lot of new, honest people away.
I second allowing replies and only blocking new posts for newbies

WIN 

Also i think a ticker for Mt.Gox somewhere on the page would be kinda cool.

[ansible adams]

I registered last summer and have done several successful trades via PM in the last few days. But I guess running at the mouth about nothing in particular is what I really should have done to be trusted!

[soades]

TSA agents hired to monitor Newbie forums.  Molestations to follow shortly.

[patboy247]

or a few days of logged in time?

[JellyfishRancher]

Perhaps the best way to deal with this situation is to grandfather in all existing users by whitelisting everyone, and then only applying the newbie rule to new accounts.

[ansible adams]

Was already in the middle of a trade via PM and now I have no way to let the other guy know details to complete it. Great. I'm out 10.5 BTC and get nothing in exchange. I suppose if I whine about it in every newbie thread until I hit the magic 5-0 I will be able to resolve it eventually.

[muyoso]

No, no restrictions on topics here.  This is just a place where you try to post as fast as you can so that you can leave and go to what you signed up for in the first place.

[ansible adams]

As someone who registered last summer, I heartily endorse this suggestion.

[jondecker76]

I also agree with an alternate time requirement

[ansible adams]

I need to contact CravenEconomics; we were in the middle of an exchange. I can be contacted as email@yahoo.com Done.

[HarryStamperOil]

I also agree. I was in the midst of communicating with someone via PM, and now I cannot continue until I meet this post requirement.

[extracool]

A strict post threshold is a little ham-fisted, but it is a quick solution. Maybe there is a better formula that could be used for lifting restrictions. Such as days-as-a-member + posts.

I have spent more of my time interacting on irc and mostly just reading threads here for the last month and a half. I want to be thoughtful and helpful when replying to posts, but I guess this is prodding me to be more active here. I'll just have to be a little less thoughtful.   

[bitcoinewbie]

This is much more than an attempt to keep trolls to a minimum, It is an attempt to keep anything out that disagrees with the whim of the current mod on duty. It is ironic to see this happen at a forum about an open-source program. I'm not saying the troll issue should not be dealt with, but a simple +/- system where too many minuses ends your thread or at least moves it to junk would suffice. what we are seeing is this - mods think trolls caused decline, mods obviously want btc to go up, mods begin censoring in hopes btc will go back up. however, artificial manipulation of the markets will not work long run. go ahead and delete this now if you must, if one person sees it is was worth it.

Yours truly,
the first and only bitcoin mascot

http://www.youtube.com/user/bitcoinewbie#p/a/u/2/GmrZQqBFV-k

now when i am out in my costume i must specifically add to my explanation that i highly do not recomend forum.bitcoin.org as they only allow opinions 100% in alignment with its mods.

[whirlpool]

I need to contact keefusm regarding a transaction. My email is email@yahoo.com. Done.

[pancakes]

Oh. Ok.

[THC84]

Hi
I am here to see if anyone can help me get to Silk Road. I can provide personal details like email as i know things cant be posted my email is jezero84@hotmail.com. I am uni student that likes his vices and would much prefer to get stuff online so please if anyone can help email me