Why register? | Flat Chat Forum

The problem with keeping a forum like this as open as possible is that it can allow spammers and other nasties to plague us with their junk mail and other bothersome nonsense. In recent weeks the problem got a lot worse when someone, somewhere decided it was worth hacking into this website to cause us and you, our readers, a lot of grief. Maybe it was a random attack by some kid somewhere. Maybe it was a lot more sinister than that. But that's the price you pay for empowering people that others would like to be kept uninformed about their rights.
By registering, you help me keep this forum manageable and free to anyone who wants to take part. You also become part of a wider Flat Chat community (Flatchatters, if you like) which will allow me to communicate directly with you on things that are relevant to this website. What won't happen, ever, is that your details will be passed on to a third party without your specific permission. This website is not part of any larger commercial operation - not even the Sydney Morning Herald - it's just me, Jimmy Thomson, working at my computer. So log on, join up and become a Flatchatter - even if it's just for today. If the whole registering and posting thing is proving tricky, click on the "How to post to the Forum" link below.