[miso]

But if we had a [Hide][/hide] option, we would be able to let guests view pages but still protect the important content (like downloads, password, etc..)

Implementing the Hide tags, has been discussed a few times with mixed opinions.

Whilst I agree that protecting Important content will serve Its purpose well, It may will also lower the quality of replies such as "Thanks......". Yes, the minimum character length can be Increased to help prevent LQ posting, but It's not "what" you say but "how" you say It, that also deems a quality post.

Without naming specifics, I have first-hand experience with the Hide tags on a daily basis, and I'd say around 5% of replies are valued posts.

Nah I'm not suggesting a post to unlock the hidden content because i 100% agree with you, but maybe just liking the post could unlock it like @miso said. Or if that's too much, just prevent anyone who is not registered from viewing the content in between the [hide] tags. Either one will not increase spam and still serve the purpose of protecting the content of the posters.

it will fuck up the live member counter, will take space on the servers and might also ruin the experience while browsing through sinister.ly

a good mix of both should however do the trick, users having access to a [hide] tag is a good idea i think, most of the design can be taken from the quote tag, it however shouldn't be directly and a checkbox that says "Lock links for unregistered members with..." should do the trick, however, it shoudnt be automatically checked or it might increase the number of spammers in the reply section

I dont know on what sinister.ly runs on, but i think that if it needs to hold an enormous amount of spam accounts, the servers will probably slow down and it would be a hot mess to deal with. However, it might also bring real people that are actually interested in the forums (which is how i ended up here). You dont only need to see the negative side of thing, seeing both sides and having a good balance is a nice way to start, then after choosing the side you think is the best, i personally prefer having an option which can be used to prevent leachers than having none at all, sinister.ly doesnt have some measures but are way more tolerable (if can be called so) compared to other forums sites, you basically have a demo of the website here.

Hiding all link will increase the numbers of members, which might reduce the experience for other users due to the large amount of spam accounts created over time, but will bump up the stats (i really doubt @Oni wants to boost stats due to how he allows unregistered members have a preview of the website)

Allowing users to have access to a [hide] tag or a checkbox hidding all links will increase spam in the reply section/likes, which will also boost up stats, but will reduce the quality of replies. It will however keep download links away from leachers, which then can make thread-makers to post more content and creating threads on the platform because of the low numbers of leacher. Letting the thread-maker choose what other members needs to do to unlock links will also give the community a bit more control about the leachers and spam on their thread(s)

I think that giving members a [hide) tag would allow members to have a bit more control over unregistered users, they can choose if they directly have access to the links in threads.

a blocking link system should also be made, allowing thread makers to block links that members might post (this will for example make sure an alternative, unblocked link doesnt get released in the reply section)