Should we support login via social media (Facebook, Google, Yahoo, etc)?

[Laird]

In the founders' forum we've discussed the possibility of installing the MyBB Isango plugin, which supports OAuth2 login via various sites like Facebook, Google, etc (not yet Twitter).

What installing this plugin would mean in simple terms is that anybody with an existing account on one of those major platforms would be able to log in to our forum with their preexisting credentials for that platform, without needing to first register with us: an account on our forum would be automatically generated and tied to their account on the external platform. (An intriguing feature is that multiple accounts on those other platforms can be linked to a single account on our forum, so that it is then possible to log in to the same account with a variety of credentials).

The discussion in the founders' forum reached a point where it was suggested that we broach the possibility of installing this plugin for public discussion.

Here are a few of the potential pros and cons that have been raised:

Potential PRO: Easier sign-up. No need to fill in a registration form.

Potential PRO: More members. Eldenroot, who helped create the plugin, tells me that on his forum, the number of users joining each month jumped from around 10 to around 70 after installing this plugin, just because it makes it so much easier for new members to join.

Potential CON: Less serious members. It has been suggested that easier registration might only encourage members who want to play around rather than engage seriously with our subject matter. On the other hand, we already offer free and easy (for those who use it) sign-up via Tapatalk, and that hasn't seemed to have resulted in non-serious members.

Potential CON: Increased moderation load. More members potentially means an increased need for moderation. (I'm personally not too concerned over this possibility).

Potential CON: Incomplete defence against spammers. Two of the measures we use to eliminate spam registrations - reCAPTCHA on the registration form, and automated checks against the StopForumSpam database on registration - are not yet supported, although GitHub issues have just been created for them (#132 and #133), and it's been suggested that I might at some point implement them.

So, what do you guys think? Should we make use of this plugin?

Why would more members be a Pro?

It seems to me making the effort to sign up indicates a minimal desire for honest participation.

Tapatalk is a phone app AFAIK, most people aren't going to install an app just to troll a small forum like this one. But pseudo-skeptics already have multiple Google accounts is my guess, if the storming of Wikipedia is anything to go by.

[Laird]

Why would more members be a Pro?

Perhaps for the same sort of reason(s) that it is said that "two heads are better than one".

It seems to me making the effort to sign up indicates a minimal desire for honest participation.

OK. But does a quick sign-up inevitably indicate the reverse?

[Laird]

pseudo-skeptics already have multiple Google accounts is my guess

OK. But is the need to fill in a registration form the sole thing holding back hordes of pseudo-skeptics from swarming our board? [Edit: on reflection, that sounds a little facetious; no offence intended - genuinely just wanting to interrogate your view]

Perhaps for the same sort of reason(s) that it is said that "two heads are better than one".


OK. But does a quick sign-up inevitably indicate the reverse?

At this current juncture this is probably one of the few places where proponents [who aren't dedicated to isolated groupings like the Tom Cambpell forums, and also who don't/can't go to Esalen and other such places] don't have to endlessly debate pseudo-skeptic talking points and [can thus] discuss subjects at the "next level".

If someone really wants to get into the club they can make the less than 10 min. of effort IMO.

Any time you lower the barrier of entry into an online space you risk ruining the quality of that space. Seems far more likely that the person who benefits from removing an already easy sign up is a troll more than a proponent that has been lurking for years but only now will sign in with Google.

OK. But is the need to fill in a registration form the sole thing holding back hordes of pseudo-skeptics from swarming our board? [Edit: on reflection, that sounds a little facetious; no offence intended - genuinely just wanting to interrogate your view]

It doesn't take hordes of pseudo-skeptics to ruin the quality of a board, I've learned recently how it can happen with 1-3 of them.

[Laird]

Fair enough, Sci. Thanks for sharing your view. Hopefully others will share theirs too.

Fair enough, Sci. Thanks for sharing your view. Hopefully others will share theirs too.

Well I'd add that every old timer proponent - and a few skeptics too - produce quality posts.

And quality of thought is not only superior to quantity, it's an increasing rarity in the online and offline worlds.

I don't personally see a problem with at least trying it and shutting it off after a month or two if it poses a problem. Though I do agree with sci that the registration process I already pretty simple so it shouldn't be a real barrier.

Wouldn’t anyone with a genuine interest in PSI would have found this sight and joined up by now? 

Who knows, there might be lots of people that are open minded and interested that are on Social media that might be interested, but maybe a lot of the conversations here would be too complicated for a lot of them. They are for me. 

The important questions for me are...

1) Can it be tried and if it doesn’t appear to be working easily reversed? 

2) Will it attract enough open minded people rather than those that have made their minds up and want to impose their view by whatever means? 

Imo the forum is a bit stale and boring as it is, but is that preferable to having an influx of new blood? I would want more thoughts from current members before I made that decision if it were mine to make. My 2c.

1) Can it be tried and if it doesn’t appear to be working easily reversed? 

I'm sure technically it could be reversed easily. (I'm guessing). However there are human-beings involved, what would we do with people? It could end up causing bad feeling among those caught up in it. If we were intending to ban a particular member that would just be par for the course, but if we'd like them to stay, it might be more stressful all round. Just my opinion, I can't know in advance of course.