Invite System?

While this system has its merits it also has its pitfalls. I wasn't invited here by any member, I found this forum on Google and joined on my own. I'm fairly sure that most other members here came the same way. The only way I'd support this is to have an application system where members who found us on Google can apply.

This sort of system is fairly narrow to communities that only cater to advanced users. Beginner freelancers or those who are thinking of starting would have no one to invite them and there is no reason we should let them in. Developers are also less likely to go with such a system since it is much harder to judge the ability of a coder than a designer.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. We need to clearly and decisively define what we are. Are we a design/development forum? Are we a general freelancing forum? Are we looking to attract beginners, advanced member or both? Decisions made vary greatly on this. Having an invite system would be ideal for a design forum that aims at an advanced crowd but would have little purpose on a freelancer forum that aims at beginners.