Why does TBN need a registration pop-up at all?
I've been a programmer for more than 18 years and if experience has taught me anything, especially when it concerns web design, it's that content is king. In other words, the content of the forum is far more likely to encourage people to register than a pop-up.
Pop-ups, also known as nag screens, are universally hated and if there is any doubt, one need only do a Google search for the term "How to block Pop-ups?" to see the overwhelming number of results. If people are inclined to register, they will do so, eventually. If not, a pop-up isn't likely to change their minds.
Unfortunately, CSS and JavaScript based pop-ups like the one that's being employed by TBN have been spreading across the web like the plague, probably because they are more difficult to block. Note that I said difficult, not impossible. That said, many people simply choose to disable JavaScript altogether or take other radical action(s) for this very reason.
Personally, I have always followed this simple mantra with great success... Content good, pop-ups bad.
