You have to sign in because you're signed in to a Google account but not Google+. If you were either signed in to Google+, or not signed into Google at all, you would see the article without a sign-in prompt.

That's just plain stupid and annoying. I didn't notice yet since I've abandoned my Google Account a few months back and am therefore not signed into Google at all.

However, why do they do that? Hasn't it occurred to them that not everybody with a Gmail Account wants to be on G+?

>Hasn't it occurred to them that not everybody with a Gmail Account wants to be on G+?

Of course it's occurred to them. Why else would they be trying to force them?

Oh okay, I was signed into work email. Really not interested in G+.

I can read it without being signed in to Google.