New Feature: Automatic Restriction of Posting in certain forums

[Erwin]

After 2 hours of programming (due to insomnia - I can't sleep!) I've coded the following changes into CF.

CF will now automatically allow or prevent you from posting in certain forums according to information you put in your profile.

Of importance:

1. Christian-only Forums
You need to specify in your User CP, Profile, that you are Christian and belong to a Christian denomination (Christian, Non-Denominational, Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Messianic) in order to post in these forums.

2. Age-specific Forums
Some forums like the Sexuality Forums (above 18), Men and Womens Forums (above 18), and Teen (General, Guys and Gals - between 12 to 21) Forums all have specified age limits. You need to specify in your User CP, Profile, your FULL birthdate, so that the site can calculate your age in order to post in these forums.

3. Gender-specific Forums
The Men and Womens Forums and the Teen Guys and Gals Forums are gender-specific. You need to specify in your User CP, Profile, your gender, in order to post in these forums.
NOTE: the Ladies' Bathroom Stall and Men's Sheds threads are still open to the opposite genders. :)

The Teen forums will remain off-limits for older members except for staff.

If you don't include the above information in your profile, you can still post in the Open Forums.

The above restrictions were already in place according to our Forum Rules - I've just made it automated. This should make it easier for the moderators to moderate these forums.

You can choose to hide the above information from other members by going to your User CP, Options, Privacy. Only Staff would be able to see it. Refer here:
http://www.christianforums.com/t67609


Enjoy! :)

[Erwin]

Let me know if there are any bugs! :)

[doofus125]

Now this is one idea you won't see any arguments about from me :) (well that and the no more negative rep thing :) ) hehe

[CeCe]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!



:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Buttermilk]

I can understand the age thing and on the whole agree with it, but as it stands, certain threads I have started I can no longer post in because of the new rules.

At the end of the day if a person really wants to post in a certain thread they will set up a user id so that they can, so this kinda defeats the purpose of the new settings.

I now can't post in my music thread which I started, which you incidently moved to a Christian only forum, because I refuse to give out religious details in my user profile.

I enjoy visiting this site,but may now have to go and look for another one.

[BigToe]

I don't like this at all. CF has decided that I am now not a Christian because I don't want the icon displayed. I do not hold to a denomination. I do not agree with making me pick one simply so I can post in a Christian Only section. You can even be in a denomination and not be a Christian for that matter. Also, I see this icon thing as a way for people to see what I believe, judge me and thus not listen to what I say at all. I highly disagree with this change.

Perhaps you can make it so we do it and conceal the info, like we can with age and gender and whatnot?

[Erwin]

Let me make it clear:

We have NOT added new rules, or changed any of our rules.

We are just ENFORCING the current rules.

If a member does not want to tell us their denomination, that is fine. As long as they tell us they are Christian at least, by choosing the "Christian" option.

[Serapha]

Let me make it clear:

We have NOT added new rules, or changed any of our rules.

We are just ENFORCING the current rules.

If a member does not want to tell us their denomination, that is fine. As long as they tell us they are Christian at least, by choosing the "Christian" option.
Hi there!


:wave:

If this member professes Christianity and posts the denomination of "nondenominational" then why am I being banned from a forum that stated that ALL Christians may post--including specifically "nondenominationals"?

I am not pleased that you have further isolated professing Christians because they don't fit your mold.


Could you please post a listing of forums where I "might" be able to post as a


"nonchristian"... since you have deemed me such?



~malaka~

[Serapha]

Furthermore,

Since I do have a public profession of faith in the Nicene Creed on this forum on more than one posting.... why am I suddenly classified as

nonchristian?

[doofus125]

Don't worry Erwin, I still love ya :)

[Erwin]

Furthermore,

Since I do have a public profession of faith in the Nicene Creed on this forum on more than one posting.... why am I suddenly classified as

nonchristian?
You need to follow the instructions in the error message, and read the first post carefully.

You need to go into your User CP, Profile, and choose "Christian" or a denomination under Faith Category.

You can choose to hide this from other members if you wish, by going to User CP, Options.

[Jenndiggy]

This has locked the women out of posting in the women's bathroom stall in the men's forum. I liked how women could go in there and ask men questions as well.

I was unable to post in the teen forum. I've posted in there from time to time (including witnessing to someone in there one night). I don't go there much, but I felt I had something good to add *from experience* to the teen suicide thread. Survior by the grace of God.

[Erwin]

This has locked the women out of posting in the women's bathroom stall in the men's forum. I liked how women could go in there and ask men questions as well.

I was unable to post in the teen forum. I've posted in there from time to time (including witnessing to someone in there one night). I don't go there much, but I felt I had something good to add *from experience* to the teen suicide thread. Survior by the grace of God.
Okay, the Ladies' Bathroom Stall and Men's Sheds are still open to the opposite genders. :) Fixed that.

The Teen forums will remain off-limits for older members except for staff.

[TCapp]

Awwwww....... that means I can't post in the cookie forum anymore. :sigh: c'est la vie. Oh well. :)

[Erwin]

Awwwww....... that means I can't post in the cookie forum anymore. :sigh: c'est la vie. Oh well. :)
What cookie forum?

[Pseud]

Talk about custom VBulletin! Good job on the coding Erwin ;)

[Inspired]

The only small problem I see is, is that the icon is no longer optional as it was originally. Because in order to be able to post, you are forced to choose one. Since the introduction of the Christian icon, I had no problem using it, just my thoughts on it though.

[TCapp]

What cookie forum?
That would be paulewog's Cookie Lover's Unite thread (sorry, I should have said thread, not forum)... in the teen section. Figuring it wasn't specifically a "teen issue", I didn't see the harm in having fun in the thread. And I don't recall anyone objecting. But that's okay. Not a big deal.

[draper]

Hmm, I really miss the Secular Music forum.

It's sorta silly that non believers can't post in it, seeing as how it is SECULAR music afterall, lol.

This leaves the book club as the only non-philosophy related forum I can post it.

Could you make the Secular music forum and open one, or at least create a seperate forum for secular music discussion?

[Deacon]

Hmmmmm there are good and there are some bad things about this....but its a good idea....hey maybe I will become staff in a couple of Months ;)

[Jenndiggy]

What about allowing men and women to post in the opposite forums for advice -- starting threads only but not replying.

Or maybe have a forum just for men/women advice (not nec. dating advice) that all could post in? That might actually be better.

[Erwin]

The only small problem I see is, is that the icon is no longer optional as it was originally. Because in order to be able to post, you are forced to choose one. Since the introduction of the Christian icon, I had no problem using it, just my thoughts on it though.
It's still optional. But to post in Christian-only forums, the staff needs to know the member is Christian. Everything is still the same, we are just enforcing our existing rules better.

[Erwin]

Hmm, I really miss the Secular Music forum.

It's sorta silly that non believers can't post in it, seeing as how it is SECULAR music afterall, lol.

This leaves the book club as the only non-philosophy related forum I can post it.

Could you make the Secular music forum and open one, or at least create a seperate forum for secular music discussion?
The Secular Music forum has always been a Christian-only area right from its creation.

[Erwin]

What about allowing men and women to post in the opposite forums for advice -- starting threads only but not replying.

Or maybe have a forum just for men/women advice (not nec. dating advice) that all could post in? That might actually be better.
The Men and Women's Forums are for those genders. Any other advice should go to the many other forums out there. Or the Bathroom or Shed.

[kukumot]

HELP!!!!

I changed my denomination to "Charismatic" in my profile, but I still cannot post in the Charismatic forum. I also tried "Assemblies of God", but that would not work either (it's back to "Charismatic" now).

I get this message:"The following errors occured when this post was submitted:
You need to be a Christian to post in this forum, as defined by Forum Rule 6 (read here). If you are a Christian according to Forum Rule 6, please choose your Christian Category Or Faith in your User CP, Profile, so that you are able to post in this forum."

I changed it...it doesn't work...what am I doing wrong? I am involved in a couple of really good discussions in that folder, and would like to be able to reply.

Thanks for your help...

[Erwin]

HELP!!!!

I changed my denomination to "Charismatic" in my profile, but I still cannot post in the Charismatic forum. I also tried "Assemblies of God", but that would not work either (it's back to "Charismatic" now).

I get this message:"The following errors occured when this post was submitted:
You need to be a Christian to post in this forum, as defined by Forum Rule 6 (read here). If you are a Christian according to Forum Rule 6, please choose your Christian Category Or Faith in your User CP, Profile, so that you are able to post in this forum."

I changed it...it doesn't work...what am I doing wrong? I am involved in a couple of really good discussions in that folder, and would like to be able to reply.

Thanks for your help...
Choose the Faith Icon, as Christian, Non-Denominational or Protestant.

[Erwin]

In fact, I'll do it for you now...

[Erwin]

Done. You should be able to post now...

[draper]

Well can the non believers please have somewhere to discuss music?

[kukumot]

This time my post was accepted! Thank you so much!

[Inspired]

It's still optional. But to post in Christian-only forums, the staff needs to know the member is Christian. Everything is still the same, we are just enforcing our existing rules better.

LOL I wasn't complaining, it was just another random observation, I think it will help out alot.

[Deacon]

Well can the non believers please have somewhere to discuss music?This is where I will agree....its pretty rediculous to not let non believers not talk about secular music. You should take that into consideration for those who like to talk about there own band. Talking about music shouldn't just be something Christians can do.

[SpiritPsalmist]

Warrior Poet was trying to post and he chose non-denom but it is still giving him a #6 error. I tried to change it for him too but it would not stay.

[Erwin]

Warrior Poet was trying to post and he chose non-denom but it is still giving him a #6 error. I tried to change it for him too but it would not stay.
I've fixed it for him. He had Non-Denom in his Christian Denomination, but not the Faith Icon section.

[SpiritPsalmist]

Thanks Erwin

[SolomonVII]

This is good to know. If I want to do a poll of Christian attitudes only , now I know how.

[Alice the Sister]

What's next Erwin? Bar codes on the back of our necks?

[Erwin]

What's next Erwin? Bar codes on the back of our necks?
:rolleyes:

[Alice the Sister]

You roll your eyes now, but I'll be the one laughing when it all comes true!

MWAHAHAHA

?? ^_^

[Shekinahs]

What's next Erwin? Bar codes on the back of our necks?
Oh my goodness that was too funny ^_^ ^_^ ^_^

But remember as always posting on message boards is always optional. If we post here we choose to post and therefore play by the rules when posting :pray:

But some of these rules are kinda interesting.

~ShekinahMoon~