One point about the forum

WooDoggies

Bobby-Q,[p]I understand the occasional spammer and troll can be distracting but besides being extra work for the webmasters, they are harmless to this forum.... folks can simply choose to be riled by them or not.
I believe this forum would be losing too much just to counter them. [p]Creating a sign-in or a gated community or circling the wagons is not a step forward... besides a little dissent is a good thing.
If everyone is always singing the same song, things would get real boring real fast.[p]John

DobieDad

Nature Boy,[p]I agree with you, Chris. In the 6 months I've been following the forum I've seen no reason to guard against 'unwanted' posts. There haven't been many, and sometimes 'strangers' have made positive contributions - even if sometimes we haven't initially liked what they had to say or how they said it.[p]I think it's like the open-sourcing that created, and keeps improving, Linux and similar applications in the IT world. Input from all people raises the skills of all people, and it is self-policing. The floatsam just, well, keeps floating down the river.[p]I vote for keeping the BGE Forum open. An open forum increases all our skills.[p]Rodger

Salmon

<p />Nature Boy,[p]Thanks Chris, guess for now I'm just an egg wannabee.[p]Rick

mule

Nature Boy,[p]Right On !!![p]mule

HolySmokes

Nature Boy,
Good points.[p]My concern is the change in format getting in the way of reading the forum. I don't like that the focus of the current window is limited to the lower half and right of the screen. It limits the number of threads you can see, and requires you to page down every time the screen refreshes if you're below the initially visible screen when you click on something.[p]I probably missed something and there's a way to get rid of the ads, the calendar, etc. if you want, and make the forum the full window, but I couldn't find it in my first couple trips around the site. That doesn't mean someone can't set me straight, and will![p]I think this is a case where it's 'prettier' than the basic text version we're used to, but it sure isn't more useful (yet)?.
HS.

Ironbaugh

Nature Boy,
Not that any eggheads would miss me, I get on this site 8-10 times a day during the week between customers, but would probably only do once or twice a day if I had to log on each time. Thx

WMK

HolySmokes,
We can, and will, add a "full screen" version of the new forum, w/out the menus for the other site features.
Actually had intended to do it before anyone saw it.
We've noticed the near 50-50 split between "change it!" and "leave it alone!" anytime changing the forum comes up; so, our intent is to provide the best of both worlds.
Formats are easy. The messages can be listed in any conceivable order, with pagination done just about any way anyone likes.
Of course, it will take a little time to add these features. But once we do, we'll have our very own forum like no other!
Keep the feedback coming -- we are listening!
WMK

WMK

Nature Boy,
Since all the fuss has been about activating our member profiles, it has sometimes been overlooked that the new login is optional. Guests can post w/out sigining up. Probably some verbage somewhere to invite guests to post on our forum should be added. We don't want the login box to scare them away -- maybe "guests welcome" somewhere in the login box itself??
WMK[p]

WMK

Nature Boy,
I had intended to add an *optional* password to be added to the visitor profiles to allow ya'll to be sure that if a post says it's from your handle, that it is from you. At the moment, a blank password is not allowed, but I suppose that I could allow one. It's not my profile.
And, the occasional "CRACK DONGLE" is but the tip of the iceburg. We get 20-50 notifications a day of some automated spammer hitting our forum, or the guestbook.
Most don't get through because we fight a constant, and annoying, battle with these people to keep them away. I have to update our "ban" lists almost every day to keep up with them.
WMK

thirdeye

WMK,[p]I thought the activation was to allow member only access to other members e-mail address, profile information etc. That was why I never signed up before.[p]~thirdeye~[p]

HolySmokes

WMK,
'course there was an answer!
thanks. Overall I think the new design is great. Well planned and laid out, and easy on the eyes.
keep it up! HS

WMK

thirdeye,
That is just the default setup.
From there, we can set up "user lists" with whatever access we like; and, we can allow guests to view those user profiles that wish to permit it.
I'll just need to tweak the software a bit.
WMK

Hammer

Nature Boy,
While you have some very good points; I disagree with you on several as well; particularly the need to log in.
As you remember, several years ago, there was an issue of folks posting under someone else's name. The posts created some flame wars, and they continued until other actions were taken by several forum members including you, and outside folks who have the ability to track where the posts came from.
To me this is similar to idenity theft. In todays world, as you well know it is nearly impossible to cash a check; board an airline; etc; without idenity verification. There are numerous instances where there is double voting in the voting both because some states do not require identification, and a lot of dead folks vote.
I realize that I might be in the minority on this issue, but so be it.
Hammer

Unknown

Nature Boy,[p]I agree with you and would hate to see this great forum go to a sign in format of some type.[p]Dave

Sundown

Nature Boy,[p]Having been here almost as long as you old son, I tend to agree with you on this point. I enjoy the forum every day. I've learned a lot over the years too. I would like to hope I have contributed as well. This place goes through a morph evry so often. There are any number of PAST active pposters that thought that they owned the space here and that whatever they said was "the word". They're gone. I've watched conflicts grow, turn into firestorms and suddenly go poof. I've watched personalities clash for no apparent reason. Most of those parties aren't here now. Chris, you have stayed out of the clashes and firestorms except to help quiet them and I beleieve that should give you certain right and license to make your comments. [p]I think the forum should stay open and accessable with out restrictions. I'm comfortable here and that's one of the main reasons I continue to participate on a daily basis. Tweaking he mechanics is a good thing and I thank WMK for all of his efforts on our behalf over the years. But, when we get to the end of the day this will sort itself out and continue being a great place to come to relax with friends like you.

Nature Boy

Sundown,
Thank you man. Them is kind words, and much appreciated.[p]Funny, you mention about staying out of the firestorms. I always think about what someone told me years ago and it stuck purty good. "When you argue with an idiot, all you have is two idiots." I think they are good words to live by (though I often slip). I also agree that it is nice to have some tamer (or at least more controllable) egos on the board these days. Seems to be a great balance of folks here.[p]Cheers mang
Chris

Unknown

Salmon,[p]You and me both Rick... ;-) I always thought an egg would go nicely with my 20 other cookers... ;-)