I think WHT could really benefit from the webhosting requests forum. Those forums were part of the original reason why I came here, and I believe the community as a whole could benefit from their recreation.

If they were to be re-created, I believe the following policies should be applied to it:

1) Don't display post count - Newbies are often influenced by post counts, and may believe it's a sign of host credibility. As such, a new template should be created that is based off the default template, but does not display post count.

2) Copypasta - The problem last time was hosts going to every single thread, and serving up copypasta on every thread. Ban hosts who do this from the requests forum.

3) Sales hording - Limit each user / company to 3 replies per week. Except for the OP, who may reply to their own thread as many times as they want.


A lot of the arguments against the forum don't seem to be very valid. A lot of hosts were upset because their competitors were getting more sales than they were. I believe that if a user has needs, and a host can provide a solution, then they should have every right to meet up on wht.

I know a lot of you are just going to say that they can go look in the webhosting offers forum, or that they can use the upcoming 'host quote' feature, and I think host quote could relate to this service. While the standard web hosting requests forum would have limitations, such as how often you can post, host quote would be the 'premium' equivalent to that service.

It would probably be really easy to tie into the forum. Consider this setup:

1) Hosts edit their profile to declare themselves a host, they have access to reply to threads in webhosting requests, but are limited to 3 replies per week.

2) Normal registrants who do not declare themselves hosts don't have access to reply in WHR, but they can create threads in WHR.

3) Template is setup for 'hosts' group members, that it doesn't display usernames, to prevent PM spam. normal registrants can't see the threads of others, but they can see their own threads. However, hosts can still view these threads just to see what requests are being thrown around, just so they'll be able to see if upgrading to a 'host quote' account is beneficial.

4) host quote users can see complete template with username, because they have no reason to PM spam when they can just view and reply to the threads.


I hope this thread doesn't get closed immediately, and the community can actually discuss the idea. I put a lot of thought into this, and I believe it's pretty much foolproof.

/me subscribes

This could be interesting :)

Things are fine as they are. There really is no need to return "webhosting requests" to the forums.

The problem wasn't only with PROVIDERS pasting everything (though that was an issue) in every thread, but individuals posting unrealistic requests too (unlimited bw, everything for $1, etc).

This setup was removed for a reason. Too many people were abusing it, it should be left out of the system. There are plenty of other forums for individuals who may want to request hosting for next to nothing.

Things are fine as they are. There really is no need to return "webhosting requests" to the forums.

The problem wasn't only with PROVIDERS pasting everything (though that was an issue) in every thread, but individuals posting unrealistic requests too (unlimited bw, everything for $1, etc).

This setup was removed for a reason. Too many people were abusing it, it should be left out of the system. There are plenty of other forums for individuals who may want to request hosting for next to nothing.

WHT is supposed to be the premier webhosting forum. If all those other webhosting forums have forums for requests, then wht should too.

It's interesting, a good idea. However, it can be debated.

However, I 100% agree with the following statement.


2) Copypasta - The problem last time was hosts going to every single thread, and serving up copypasta on every thread. Ban hosts who do this from the requests forum.

It's an interesting idea, but as ub3r has already pointed out, there has to be very strict guidelines for the board. I wasn't at WHT when there was a requests board, so I'm not exactly sure what happened before.

There were several issues.

First, it just became a bidding war between the responders to see who could go the lowest. Some of the responses got way out of whack.

Second, WHT has Host Quote. It's a paid service and brings in revenue for them. Why would people sign up with Host Quote if they could do it for free?

Personally I'd like to see them come back. I used to do alot of business there but I don't think it'll happen.

Not to mention that we have over 114,000 more members since we stopped that :eek:

Not a bad idea but I agree that would be real burden for Mods. If it is necessary, I would set up something like this:

Create a new usergroup: Webhosts
Users apply for the group
After review, mods will add those users to the group.
Webhosting request forum created
Permission-1: Webhosts cannot create threads in Webhosting request forum.
Permission-2: Webhosts can only reply 1 or 2 threads per day

Maybe make the forum so that anyone can start a thread, but only Premium members can reply. That would eliminate a lot of work for the moderators in having to approve individuals that can post. Maybe sell a few more memberships too.

I remember when the hosting request forums were pulled. That was a few years back. I think I was a fairly vocal supporter of them being pulled. It was like a slum down there, and I can't remember off the top of my head why they were pulled, but WHT has been better off for it, IMO. :)

Maybe make the forum so that anyone can start a thread, but only Premium members can reply. That would eliminate a lot of work for the moderators in having to approve individuals that can post. Maybe sell a few more memberships too.

The only thing that would do is sell more premium memberships. It wouldn't slow anything down at all, or make things easier on the mods.

Like others have said, there were reasons it was shut down, it should remain that way.

The only thing that would do is sell more premium memberships. It wouldn't slow anything down at all, or make things easier on the mods.
I don't really see how you'd figure that. There are less premium members than regular members. If it were only premium members replying, there would be less posts.

That was the whole premise of the original premium membership forum. There was level of membership called 'host leads' or something along those lines which gave premium members access to a 'webhosting requests'-like system.


If you read the layout of rules that I originally posted, and not just read the title, and skipped down to reply, my idea is the most fair, would probably result in wht selling more non-standard memberships.

That forum provided hours of entertainment. Bring it back.

I should have addressed a couple of questions about the OP yesterday... oh well.

On #3, I am not sure limiting a host to a fixed # of replies per week (or day/month/whatever) will work in practice. You're asking hosts to basically predict which posts are worthy of a reply and possibly having them forgo posts they're qualified to reply to because of an artificial ceiling.

Also, if I'm reading your section on PMs & SPAM right ub3r (specifically #3 on the second list), I'd propose a revised solution. Allow any WHT user to post and watch their own thread. Don't let anybody but Premium users even see the thread. If the requestor posts an email address or website, then the spammers can harvest that information and just fire off their crappy offers.