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Topic: The Alternatives Future (Read 612 times) |
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Rogerm
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The Alternatives Future
« Thread started on: Nov 11th, 2007, 1:15pm » |
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This has been sent out via email to all our members and will be repeated via IM. This is to ensure that all members have been informed.
We have spent a considerable amount of time looking at other sites to ascertain the possibility of a move. We have reached a decision of which members should be consulted on our intentions.
The forum software that we have with Conforums has it's limitations and there have been a number of requests for modifications that were just not possible, or that didn't work particularly well.
We have been patiently waiting for Conforums to upgrade their software to at least the same level as Proboards, and are getting frustrated at the wait. The facilities that are offered here are adequate, but in some ways rather basic. One of the areas that we have been concerned is that of security. We had a spate of bots registering themselves on the forum that were a nuisance, simply because registering was out of our control except by closing the board to new members. With other forum software, we would not suffer the same problem.
Although we have kept a lid on this problem and been vigilant, we feel that bots are still a problem that could resurface at anytime. Also, the look of the site is pretty much determined for us. Although this is only a message board, there is something lacking in its appearance and feel. We can change colour schemes, but overall it remains much the same no matter what we do.
For these reasons, we have decided to change sites. What that means is that we will be starting afresh with a new forum on Smfforfree. The software offers more possibilities and we think that it will appeal to all level of users and allow a certain amount of custom-ability.
This site will remain in place, but at the change over point, new threads will be be locked out and only the possibility to reply will be in place. At that point, we would ask that you register on the new site and start threads there. There will be a banner announcing this for members that we cannot contact, but occasionally visit.
We are doing this as we feel that the new site will be more user friendly and we can offer all our members more say in how the site looks and feels. The new site does offer the possibility to change the appearance according to the members preferences. Although we will be sticking to one theme to begin with. It means that there will be custom themes that can be chosen, but that will come at a later date once we have become more accustomed to the software.
I hope that you will agree that this is a good move and are offering a preview of the site to those that maybe interested before we go live. Should you wish to look and use the site before we announce the launch, as members of this forum, you are entitled to do so. Please contact anyone in Admin, who will give you the address of where the forum can be found.
Thanks for all your support in the past, and i sincerely wish the same for the future as well.
Roger
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Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction. (Albert Einstein 1879-1955 )
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Electric Hermit
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #1 on: Nov 11th, 2007, 1:24pm » |
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on Nov 11th, 2007, 1:15pm, Rogerm wrote:| We have been patiently waiting for Conforums to upgrade their software to at least the same level as Proboards... |
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Can't happen. Conforums uses older versions of the ProBoards software.
on Nov 11th, 2007, 1:15pm, Rogerm wrote:| For these reasons, we have decided to change sites. What that means is that we will be starting afresh with a new forum on Smfforfree. |
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Good move! It is the Simple Machines software that I was lately testing on the EH forum. And it is undoubtedly the best that I have found.
Good luck with the transition. You know you will have whatever support I can offer.
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And hermits are contented with their cells;
And students with their pensive citadels ...
William Wordsworth
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Mrs P
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did i remember to starch his collars?
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #2 on: Nov 11th, 2007, 1:32pm » |
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i look forward to seeing the new board.
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Feminism is the radical notion that women are people. 
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Rogerm
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #3 on: Nov 11th, 2007, 1:34pm » |
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on Nov 11th, 2007, 1:24pm, Electric Hermit wrote:Can't happen. Conforums uses older versions of the ProBoards software.
Good move! It is the Simple Machines software that I was lately testing on the EH forum. And it is undoubtedly the best that I have found.
Good luck with the transition. You know you will have whatever support I can offer.
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Thanks EH, we may take you up on that. The site is ready for viewing and we don't think that it will matter too much if any members want to visit, register and use the board. There is a portal to the board, so you will find that you are faced with a Welcome page. From there you can register.
If you want to visit the site is to be found at http://alternative.smfforfree3.com/index.php
There is still work to be done, so i hope that everyone is patient while we finalise the layout. The boards have been condensed and there are features that you may not immediately notice. There is some help in the Reception Board.
Whatever you feel about this, we think this is the right thing to do. But please give us your comments as your feed back is important
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Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction. (Albert Einstein 1879-1955 )
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strawdogg
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not worthy...
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #4 on: Nov 11th, 2007, 1:43pm » |
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hi Roger
as an infrequent poster but regular lurker I hope you don't mind me giving up my 2 bobs worth. I just wanted to echo what Hermit is saying about SMF software... We've been running it over at the GWD for about three years now and it works well... a good move!
anything I can do to help...
cheers Straw
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You'll never have a quiet world till you knock the patriotism out of the human race...
O'Flaherty V.C.
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Rogerm
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #5 on: Nov 11th, 2007, 1:56pm » |
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Straw, thanks. I have to say the GWD look is quite stunning. You've done an excellent job on it.
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Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction. (Albert Einstein 1879-1955 )
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Electric Hermit
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #6 on: Nov 11th, 2007, 3:22pm » |
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on Nov 11th, 2007, 1:56pm, Rogerm wrote:| Straw, thanks. I have to say the GWD look is quite stunning. You've done an excellent job on it. |
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Your new forum is looking pretty good too. At last, the ghastly ghreen is ghone!
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And hermits are contented with their cells;
And students with their pensive citadels ...
William Wordsworth
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John
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Are you talking to ME ?
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #7 on: Nov 11th, 2007, 4:53pm » |
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I went over to have a look but it wouldn`t recognise my user name.
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nemo me impune lacessit
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zedhed
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #8 on: Nov 11th, 2007, 5:00pm » |
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John
I think you need to re-register.
Zed
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Spud
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #9 on: Nov 12th, 2007, 07:41am » |
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The new site looks good.
Can I suggest that some sort of banner announcement is placed on this site as soon as possible or the impact of the change may be lessened. Buried here is not enough, IMO, you need to encourage migration now.
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"Man is the only animal that blushes.
Or needs to."
Mark Twain
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Sunny
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #10 on: Nov 12th, 2007, 08:26am » |
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Hello Rogerm!
I like the picture, it looks fun! reminding me of the arguments with EH and Major at the recent world affairs board. 
Thank you for all the kind efforts for us!
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Rogerm
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #11 on: Nov 12th, 2007, 3:31pm » |
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on Nov 12th, 2007, 08:26am, Sunny wrote:I like the picture, it looks fun! reminding me of the arguments with EH and Major at the recent world affairs board.
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Sunny,
Thanks for your kind comments, as to the picture I was going to have a caption contest on those lines on the new board, i might just do that yet!
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Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction. (Albert Einstein 1879-1955 )
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Sunny
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #12 on: Nov 13th, 2007, 10:18am » |
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Whatever you decide!
Anyway, Congratulations for starting the new forum!
And thank you for having been letting us join this (soon to be) old forum.  @@
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Major Bloodnok
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #13 on: Nov 14th, 2007, 2:15pm » |
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And thank you, Sunny, for being a member of this soon-to-be defunct forum. 
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Sunny
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Re: The Alternatives Future
« Reply #14 on: Nov 17th, 2007, 6:10pm » |
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on Nov 14th, 2007, 2:15pm, Major Bloodnok wrote:| And thank you, Sunny, for being a member of this soon-to-be defunct forum. |
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Hello again, Major! Yes, I was lucky to join this forum again when it was closing soon.
Here are some pictures of sunset on Lake Erie.
Peaceful sailing to another place...
Good bye, this old forum and thank you!
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