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madboy · 2009 September 17th, 04:45 AM

Hi Erin,
I have read all about the download restrictions, rules and rationale.

I just wanted to bring to your table an issue , which I believe many members like me are facing. We discuss a lot of geometry problems in the Maths forum, many of which have diagrams associated with them. These diagrams are sometimes part of the information supplied by the very question itself and sometimes members prefer to share drawings and sketches in order to explain themselves better. Since this forum is not so advanced as to provide in-built drawing tools, and I wouldn't expect it to either, members often find it easier to upload figures and diagrams associated with a problem as a separate attachment. With the download/upload restrictions in place, some members are prevented from doing so and some others from downloading attachments uploaded by other members.

I personally believe, restrictions should be in place for dowloading proprietary content of the forum , but not content shared by members of the forum. I don't see a point in restricting attachment downloads when you are not restricting users from simply copying stuff posted in a thread. Similarly I don't understand the rationale behind restricting upload when you are not preventing someone from posting directly to a thread. I know much of these are technical restrictions rather than restrictions imposed by forum policy like the download/upload restrictions being bundled togther. But the fact remains that while preventing misuse of forum content by unscrupulous users, they are also restricting quality participation from well-meaning members.

If the intention of a forum is to help by enabling interaction and sharing of knowledge and ideas among its members, I firmly believe it should avoid having rules which are counter-productive.

This is not an expression of any personal frustration (I am already spending hundreds on prep material, including both books and online stuff, so I couldn't care less for not being able to download stuff from this site), rather just an honest feedback as one of your members. I really find this place stimulating, motivating and needless to mention, immensely helpful.

With best regards,
Madboy

joogle · 2009 September 17th, 08:16 AM

And I want to add that the very nature of the Internet is its 'openness'. Can you imagine if all sites placed restrictions of some sort. Well, there wouldn't be such a thing as the Internet.

I've worked in IT long (including installation and maintenance of social networking software including forums) to state that 'restriction' actually drives users away from a site rather than attracting. True, certain restrictions should be in place as the Internet is known to be ruled by the jungle law!

Rocky77 · 2009 September 19th, 02:10 AM

Hey guys! Please be aware that all these forums are using a generic script and template, which has set number of functions and abilities. Most forum sites are run the same way. In other words, it's not in the hands of the forum operator to add a new feature, such as the one you are requesting. Hence, what you want is not going to be possible. You may want to contact the company who designed this forum scrip to request the feature you are interested in. Hope this helps..........

**Erin** · 2009 September 22nd, 12:45 AM

Just so you know, this sort of post should be made in the feedback forum. I might not see it otherwise. I'll move it shortly.

I actually like the idea of sharing, and if people only uploaded their own material, that they created, it would be great for all concerned. I also never wanted the forums to be a file repository; the files should be incidental to the conversation, not the primary motivation to join.

At any rate, I've removed the restrictions. Let's see how this works for people.

Oh, I may try to add in something on the upload screen that makes people affirm that they have the right to upload the material.

madboy · 2009 September 22nd, 03:30 AM

Thanks, Erin. I really appreciate you giving this a thought. I am sure all others would respect the freedom offered herbey and refrain from any kind of misuse.

My apologies for making the post in the wrong forum.

Cheers,
Madboy.

sh_vivek · 2009 September 22nd, 06:36 AM

Thanks a lot Erin. Doctor has ordered exaclty what the patients wanted !!

mini_india · 2009 September 23rd, 02:53 PM

Madboy, thank you very much for your initiative. A big thanks to Erin, too, for responding promptly.

Best,
mini

2009 September 17th, 04:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
madboy 650 and aiming higher Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Lowell,MA,USA Posts: 349	Question to forum owner (about downloading) Hi Erin, I have read all about the download restrictions, rules and rationale. I just wanted to bring to your table an issue , which I believe many members like me are facing. We discuss a lot of geometry problems in the Maths forum, many of which have diagrams associated with them. These diagrams are sometimes part of the information supplied by the very question itself and sometimes members prefer to share drawings and sketches in order to explain themselves better. Since this forum is not so advanced as to provide in-built drawing tools, and I wouldn't expect it to either, members often find it easier to upload figures and diagrams associated with a problem as a separate attachment. With the download/upload restrictions in place, some members are prevented from doing so and some others from downloading attachments uploaded by other members. I personally believe, restrictions should be in place for dowloading proprietary content of the forum , but not content shared by members of the forum. I don't see a point in restricting attachment downloads when you are not restricting users from simply copying stuff posted in a thread. Similarly I don't understand the rationale behind restricting upload when you are not preventing someone from posting directly to a thread. I know much of these are technical restrictions rather than restrictions imposed by forum policy like the download/upload restrictions being bundled togther. But the fact remains that while preventing misuse of forum content by unscrupulous users, they are also restricting quality participation from well-meaning members. If the intention of a forum is to help by enabling interaction and sharing of knowledge and ideas among its members, I firmly believe it should avoid having rules which are counter-productive. This is not an expression of any personal frustration (I am already spending hundreds on prep material, including both books and online stuff, so I couldn't care less for not being able to download stuff from this site), rather just an honest feedback as one of your members. I really find this place stimulating, motivating and needless to mention, immensely helpful. With best regards, Madboy

2009 September 22nd, 12:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Erin Did it. Forum Admin Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: USA Posts: 8,716	Just so you know, this sort of post should be made in the feedback forum. I might not see it otherwise. I'll move it shortly. I actually like the idea of sharing, and if people only uploaded their own material, that they created, it would be great for all concerned. I also never wanted the forums to be a file repository; the files should be incidental to the conversation, not the primary motivation to join. At any rate, I've removed the restrictions. Let's see how this works for people. Oh, I may try to add in something on the upload screen that makes people affirm that they have the right to upload the material. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ ☼ It's BACK! Sentence Correction ☼ 98 fans on Facebook. 902 to go! Last edited by Erin : 2009 September 22nd at 05:34 AM. Reason: Oops. Sounded rude.

2009 September 22nd, 06:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
sh_vivek first attempt:timed out Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 842	Thanks a lot Erin. Doctor has ordered exaclty what the patients wanted !! _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. --The Alchemist

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2009 September 17th, 08:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
joogle Eager! Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 37	And I want to add that the very nature of the Internet is its 'openness'. Can you imagine if all sites placed restrictions of some sort. Well, there wouldn't be such a thing as the Internet. I've worked in IT long (including installation and maintenance of social networking software including forums) to state that 'restriction' actually drives users away from a site rather than attracting. True, certain restrictions should be in place as the Internet is known to be ruled by the jungle law!

2009 September 19th, 02:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rocky77 Eager! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 42	Hey guys! Please be aware that all these forums are using a generic script and template, which has set number of functions and abilities. Most forum sites are run the same way. In other words, it's not in the hands of the forum operator to add a new feature, such as the one you are requesting. Hence, what you want is not going to be possible. You may want to contact the company who designed this forum scrip to request the feature you are interested in. Hope this helps..........

2009 September 22nd, 03:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
madboy 650 and aiming higher Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Lowell,MA,USA Posts: 349	Thanks, Erin. I really appreciate you giving this a thought. I am sure all others would respect the freedom offered herbey and refrain from any kind of misuse. My apologies for making the post in the wrong forum. Cheers, Madboy.

2009 September 23rd, 02:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
mini_india Pay It Forward Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 89	Madboy, thank you very much for your initiative. A big thanks to Erin, too, for responding promptly. Best, mini

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