How to make sure user reads rules?

[nerfcats]

When the user registers and I activate their account I want them to read the rules and they have to accept that they read the rules and then they get full access to the forum. How can I do this?

Basically:
They register
I activate their account
They have to read and acknowledge the rules
I see that they acknowledge and let them access the full forum

[halil16]

By default, they already read and approve the rules when registering.

More simple:

They have to read and acknowledge the rules
They register
You activate their account

[nerfcats]

By default, they already read and approve the rules when registering.

More simple:

They have to read and acknowledge the rules
They register
You activate their account

But usually most people skim past it. I want it so that they read it throuroghly and acknowledge that they read it fully by sending some message to me (for example at the bottom of the rules)

[ssl]

Did you read the rules of this board yourself before registering?
You will never force people to read a rule, whatever you do

[AmigoJack]

If you ever change the rules one bit then you also have to make sure to know at which time/to which version the registrants accepted your rules - it'd be unfair to only refer to the most recent version and not even being able yourself to pull up old versions (not to talk about people informing about what changed with each new version). I myself save the texts of rules which I accepted at that time to later being able to tell how much they changed to the current version, which I didn't automatically accepted, too.

I remodeled the registration for my board and at the end of a short instructional text (it was not even the rules) I wrote "if you actually read this text then use the word [cryptic word] when contacting us". During 10-12 years only about 5 people ever used that word. People don't read, not even short texts.

[nou nou]

I'm curious to know what the specific rule is that you want your users to adhere to.

[P_I]

The simplest solution is to add the extension phpBB • Board Rules to the board.

Features:

• Require users acceptance of board rules prior to registration (optional)
• Notify users of board rules changes using the notification system

[halil16]

Rules are there as long as you follow them. You have God mode. You can remind them appropriately when they don't follow the rules. Send them notifications when something changes.
https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte ... ification/

[danieltj]

Not a fool proof solution and nothing really is unless you’re next to the user and ask them to recite the rules to you. However you can do the following;

• Set forum captcha to Q&A
• Define a question with an answer that is found in the rules
• Ask users what that word is

[AmigoJack]

ask them to recite the rules to you

I do that occasionally, something like "to make sure you both read and understood our [particular topic] rules please summarize them in your own words". Some registrants then get enraged, some never reply. But it also ensures the email address they provided during the registration is even used/noticed by them.

[halil16]

Give them freedom, warn them if they don't follow the rules. If they don't comply again, punish them.

[nou nou]

What @halil16 said - that's the very core of running a forum and building a community. Forums are not supposed to be "install and sit back".