I've got to agree with Groo on this one, Mike- if you don't let people lurk, they won't know what the board in question is really about, and they won't sign up. That's great for secret clubs that meet in tree houses and don't allow girls, but for this kind of place, it doesn't work. I was probably going to sign up with a couple of forums in a few weeks, but if I can't lurk, I'm not interested.