Re: [AGA-mcm] Now you post it-- now you don't

Now I bluster, now I, well, now I still bluster but maybe a bit more clearly.

Honest. I don't want to suggest you do anything, Erik. I broadcast the question -- still thinking that there undoubtedly is some simple "swtich", flag, some conditional in phpbb somewhere that affects the thing I'm particularly interested -- I once thought it must be relatively easy to get to that because it seemed like the kind of thing one would want to be able to manage in a forum - sopmething that coders would have built into a well-reviewed open-code package. I've been through the manual, I've looked at the configuration settings (no I would never change those unilaterally), and I've been speaking to a few folks over the web, and I'm pretty sure that this is quirk in phpbb's coding and it's not something one can get to without recoding (screw that I say).

So, I'm *not* asking for anything to be done on my account. I'm doing some research to see if there's any simple way to do this and I jsut haven't hit upon it yet -- but at this point, I'm pretty sure not. I am not suggesting that we change to diff software because of me -- or for any other reason.

As for version 3; I would recommend changing to it if and only if you, as the AGA technoligy expert, feel the need and desire. Personally, I'd recommend against it unless it promised to bring you or the rest of AGA something solidly beneficial -- something besides lots or work and a few headaches. My prima facie position on major system upgrades is that they bring more trouble than benefit and so should be avoided. I only brought up ver 3 to note that the phpbb forum has locked out any further posts/discussions on it, and that I mentioned only to point out that it's harder to find out about this thing than I first reckoned. Didn't mean it as an argument for changing our software to 3.

For me the forum was a noble experiment -- maybe it will continue to be. For heaven's sake don't stop it on my account. I will even continue to view and moderate my sections. But beyond that, if anyone was hoping I would keep making major contributions to keep this thing alive, fuggettabowit -- let those who would still champion it be it's life blood, be the ones that type the keys. I don't want to do that there any more.

Truth is, I get more questions in my personal mail than from these forums (and yahoo software is more to my liking).

From: Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>
To: AGA Advisory Committee <aga-mcm@thekrib.com>
Sent: Friday, December 5, 2008 11:10:05 AM
Subject: Re: [AGA-mcm] Now you post it-- now you don't

On Fri, 5 Dec 2008, S. Hieber wrote:

> Listen. If it works for you. Terrif.I'm sure it works for many. It's just not a product I want
> to deal with anymore. There are alternatives that suit me much better. I spend 30 to 120 minutes
> each day on forums and I just don't need this one. I'm not trying to drive the market I'm just
> tired of trying to make this suit look like it fits me. I'll stay as moderator for what little
> work that involves but I don't feel like posting there anymore, that's all. Except may CR and
> Erik, I probably have been posting there more than most folks. It's not like like I'm the only
> person, or only AGA Board member to find other things better to do.

Actually, I'm trying to figure out where you're going with this line.

Obviously you're frustrated. Over the past couple years you've probably handled 50% of the replies on that forum, and Cheryl another 30%. Certainly the giant staff of moderators that was initially signed up have all evaporated.

But on the flip side, the big technical staff took off too (actually, never arrived). I have had no desire (or need so far) to upgrade to the bleeding-edge phpbb-3 during the last year and a half -- early versions of 2 were notoriously insecure, so I assumed that 3 would have a similar burn-in time. I don't know that there's a guarantee that any software will necessarily let you walk away for several hours and not log you out, so even upgrading may not help. Can you guarantee that another product such as vbulletin will do that, or will you have the same problems if the AGA opts to drop a grand on software (and finds another admin)?

I just don't know who's going to solve your problem for you right now. *I've* just come off two and a half solid weeks of work for the AGA (plus who knows how many before the convention). I'm taking a break and catching up on my real job before they fire me or something. So it won't be me.

I just don't see anything that's going to give you an adequate solution now.

- Erik

>
> sh
>
> ________________________________________________________________________________________________
> From: Phil Edwards <biotypical@hotmail.com>
> To: AGA MCM <aga-mcm@thekrib.com>
> Sent: Friday, December 5, 2008 10:20:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [AGA-mcm] Now you post it-- now you don't
>
> Scott,
>
> Just copy and paste what you've got written in the forum's editor. Writing in some other
> program's only good for when you're at work and want to look like you're doing something legit.
> *grin*.
>
> Regards,
> Phil
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________________________________
>
> Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 04:52:16 -0800
> From: shieber@yahoo.com
> To: aga-mcm@thekrib.com
> Subject: Re: [AGA-mcm] Now you post it-- now you don't
>
>
> I've tried that method and I don't write on it often enough to remember each time to start
> writing in some other editor and then going back to the forum to post it. and sometimes, I get
> interrupted while writing. So I think if we can't change this, then I'm going to quit the
> forum. I have hours wasted and frankly, there are forums that treat me better.
>
> The consumer votes with his dollar. The forum user votes with his posts.
>
> sh
>
> ________________________________________________________________________________________________
> From: Phil Edwards <biotypical@hotmail.com>
> To: AGA MCM <aga-mcm@thekrib.com>
> Sent: Friday, December 5, 2008 7:43:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [AGA-mcm] Now you post it-- now you don't
>
> When I've had a long session of writing on a forum I cut and paste what I typed first to avoid
> just what you're talking about. It's happened to me more than once. If we can't get the time
> increased somehow C+P's an easy work around.
>
> ________________________________________________________________________________________________
> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 10:18:42 -0800
> From: shieber@yahoo.com
> To: aga-mcm@thekrib.com
> Subject: [AGA-mcm] Now you post it-- now you don't
>
> Is there a way to change the time-out on the AGA forums? It's the only one were I run into this
> issue -- if I take too long to write a post, then after I finish wiritng it, it asks me to log
> in again but erases everything I've written. I know there are workarounds -- like avoiding the
> forum, but I'm hoping . . .
>
> ________________________________________________________________________________________________
> You live life online. So we put Windows on the web. Learn more about Windows Live
>
> ________________________________________________________________________________________________
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>

-- Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com