[noppid]

Originally Posted by LJR

Create a coders' forum if you must but allow other members to apply for access to the usergroup which will allow them access to it. To me, as a simple peddlar of tin, a forum should only ever be hidden if there is sensitive information in there which should not be viewable by the general membership database (for example a staff forum). There is absolutely zero benefit to creating a forum, making it hidden, when the information could be of interest to those who have not yet written a hack. Make it viewable, even if it's read only unless you have posted a hack (in which case you can then create threads and reply to others too)

That's a good sugestion for compromise. At least people can do research.