Forum upgrade and downtime notice

[Ms. Kianna]

Upgrade is over. This is how the forums will look from now on until further notice from Mark.
Thanks
Steve

Not if I can't read it. All this white, with tiny grey type is killing my eyes.

I agree. Even if we stick with the new format, which by the way I am opposed to, the colors at least need to be changed back. I do not like this new setup at all. Mark, I vote to change it back to the way it was yesterday. The only thing I ever wanted changed on the forum was to make it easier to attach a pic to a private message. This change you guys have done is not an "upgrade". It's a downgrade in my opinion. Please change it back before some decide to leave. I like talking with my friends on here.

For some of us, this is not a complaint about changes, and wanting our way. There are a lot of people out there that have trouble with computer screens. Headaches, blurry vision, etc, from looking at regular computer screens. The black background that Broke Straight Boys had, on all its screens, was soothing to people that have those issues. Taking that away from this forum will make it difficult for those people to use.

 

[scorpio]

I'm a bit surprised by the tone of your post Steve. You are usually more measured in your approach. Both Mark and WebMonkey have indicated that the system is going to be being tweaked and improved, after receiving our input, which I appreciate.

You seem to indicate that this is the way it is and we should "love it or leave it".

I'm just hoping that you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, and you will be back to your cuddly lovable self soon.

I'm just saying that I'm done working on the upgrade and that it's how it's gonna look as of right now, so that you guys know that there won't be any more changes this morning. Now once Mark acknowledges the new format, he'll let me know what to tweak/add/remove...

Now if Mark tells me to change it back... I'll be more than happy to do so.

 

[mikeyank]

I'm just saying that I'm done working on the upgrade and that it's how it's gonna look as of right now, so that you guys know that there won't be any more changes this morning. Now once Mark acknowledges the new format, he'll let me know what to tweak/add/remove...

Thanks for clarifying that Steve. I wouldn't expect immediate changes this morning based on a couple of comments and suggestions in the first few hours of the new look forum, but it is comforting to know that Mark does care, and will at least consider our requests, as we are the one's who "live" here, to use WebMonkey's analogy of a new house, or in my case, literally.

 

[scorpio]

Thanks for clarifying that Steve. I wouldn't expect immediate changes this morning based on a couple of comments and suggestions in the first few hours of the new look forum, but it is comforting to know that Mark does care, and will at least consider our requests, as we are the one's who "live" here, to use WebMonkey's analogy of a new house, or in my case, literally.

Of course he cares, we ALL care But sometimes changes are needed. The old Vbulletin (The message board software) was years old and we needed to upgrade it for like security reasons, stability... So we upgraded it and we cannot revert back to the old one. Now what we can change is the layout, so we'll see what Mark wants to do and we'll tweak around if needed

 

[rrhill]

Help where's the Blue Media Bar at the top? And without doubt I prefer this new software, but in the famous Broke Straight Boys look: that slick black and red design.

 

[Phantom]

I'm just saying that I'm done working on the upgrade and that it's how it's gonna look as of right now, so that you guys know that there won't be any more changes this morning. Now once Mark acknowledges the new format, he'll let me know what to tweak/add/remove...

Now if Mark tells me to change it back... I'll be more than happy to do so.

I don't blame you. I just hope that Mark reads our input on it and makes the necessary changes, and soon.

 

[scorpio]

Help where's the Blue Media Bar at the top?

WebMonkey will put the BluMedia bar back soon. It got deleted once we upgraded the theme

 

[another1]

I've been exploring our new home now for about an hour and other than the looks of the place, there is very little change that I can see.

I am one of the older aged forumites and have in recent years steered away from "change". I prefer my comfort zone over change. I'm sure this attitude will get me in trouble one day or at least leave me behind on a lot of new technologies as it already has in some cases. For example MY phone is used as a phone for calling people and receiving calls....not for cameras or exploring the internet or any other reason.

So, I have two questions about this new format.

1. How do I get back to the "home page" from the forum? I now have to leave the site and re-enter or use the "go back one page" arrow until I get back to the home page. The old format had a bar at the top with the home page on it.

2. Is there a way to go back to the black background? The reason I mentioned this is that the colors show up much nicer on a black background. I just this morning tried to read a post typed in yellow and could not see it well enough to read it. Perhaps it's just my old eyes. But my dear friend, Stimpy, uses a LOT of different colors and I don't want to miss a word that man has to say. He is an artist in creating posts here.

Those are my only concerns so far. I'll keep working with it and I'm sure in no time it will seem like home again, and I'll be back in my comfort zone.

as to the first question. at the top of the page is reads, 'forum' and 'members area'.
clicking on 'members area' you go to the homepage and go from there.
the second question is beyond my pay grade and assigned task, but if you highlight stimpy's yellow text, like you were going to copy and paste them, then you can read the words.
the bright white background early in the morning is like looking at the sun reflected off a tin roof. harsh on the eyes. perhaps, a tan or creamy color would soften the background.

 

[Buckeye1]

as to the first question. at the top of the page is reads, 'forum' and 'members area'.
clicking on 'members area' you go to the homepage and go from there.
the second question is beyond my pay grade and assigned task, but if you highlight stimpy's yellow text, like you were going to copy and paste them, then you can read the words.
the bright white background early in the morning is like looking at the sun reflected off a tin roof. harsh on the eyes. perhaps, a tan or creamy color would soften the background.

Another1, you're the greatest!!! I NEVER would have thought to highlight the yellow. It may be beyond your pay grade, but I think you deserve a raise. Thank you, my friend.

 

[another1]

Another1, you're the greatest!!! I NEVER would have thought to highlight the yellow. It may be beyond your pay grade, but I think you deserve a raise. Thank you, my friend.

thank you! really my reward is helping everyone to feel comfortable in this new house.

running with that analogy of a new house. i hate change. moving into a new house means deciding what to do about the color scheme.


that reputation button! adding points to my cred would be like getting that raise. that's my ego talking.

 

[joninliverton]

I'm quite upset at the lack of concern the management have regarding our comments. One of the reasons why I returned to Broke Straight Boys a few months back was because of it's unique management/member two way dialogue. Unfortunately, two things have happened over the last 48hrs that have made me rethink my decision. And all we get is - you've got it deal with it. At least Webmonkey reacted in a more professional way.

 

[Phantom]

I'm quite upset at the lack of concern the management have regarding our comments. One of the reasons why I returned to Broke Straight Boys a few months back was because of it's unique management/member two way dialogue. Unfortunately, two things have happened over the last 48hrs that have made me rethink my decision. And all we get is - you've got it deal with it. At least Webmonkey reacted in a more professional way.

You're not alone in this, Jon. I'm just hoping that Mark will do something before it is too late.

 

[mikeyank]

I'm quite upset at the lack of concern the management have regarding our comments. One of the reasons why I returned to Broke Straight Boys a few months back was because of it's unique management/member two way dialogue. Unfortunately, two things have happened over the last 48hrs that have made me rethink my decision. And all we get is - you've got it deal with it. At least Webmonkey reacted in a more professional way.

Jon, I definitely agree with you that Scorpio's reaction to our being dissatisfied with the sudden change was uncharacteristic for him, rather abrupt, and that is why I responded to his comments as I did.

But he did clarify that Mark is the boss, and he will respond to any changes that Mark requests for him to do. I do think that we need to show a bit of patience. This change to a new board has apparently been in the works for a while. In fact while you were absent, during the changeover to BSB2, I can recall Scorpio telling us that many changes are planned, including upgrading to a new message board, but they didn't want to spring too much change on us all at once.

Although Scorpio was not terribly diplomatic in his initial response to us, I think that the first fifteen hours of this change is not sufficient time for us to expect them to change things to our liking. I am however very suspect about yesterday's "change" with the "respect" button that I didn't even understand. WebMonkey told us it was a feature that was a part of the old board's software, all the time. But why did he choose to use that software, knowing that they were abandoning that whole board within the next few hours anyway. That is puzzling.

But overall, I've invested too many hours, and years into the Broke Straight Boys Forum to make any rash decisions today or even this coming week.

 

[Buckeye1]

I'm quite upset at the lack of concern the management have regarding our comments. One of the reasons why I returned to Broke Straight Boys a few months back was because of it's unique management/member two way dialogue. Unfortunately, two things have happened over the last 48hrs that have made me rethink my decision. And all we get is - you've got it deal with it. At least Webmonkey reacted in a more professional way.

If I might add just one more thing, Jon, in Scorpio's defense. He has probably been working ungodly hours and perhaps days trying to get this new system implemented. The poor man is probably exhausted which accounted for his short and almost rude sounding comments. He has never come across like that before.

I can relate to what he must be experiencing. After a hard day at work, the last thing I wanted to hear was a lot of unhappy customers' complaints an hour before quitting time. I'm afraid that I didn't seem too pleasant with them either.

I think it is much too early to start abandoning ship. The ship just hit the iceberg, and may not be as damaged as we might think. Just give it a little time and I'm reasonably sure we can plug the hole.

 

[BrokeStraightBoys]

The upgrade was completely necessary. If we don't do the upgrades the entire board is at risk from being hacked. I know you guys don't like change and I have a hard time with it as well but I assure you the update was needed since the software hasn't been updated in years.

 

[Buckeye1]

The upgrade was completely necessary. If we don't do the upgrades the entire board is at risk from being hacked. I know you guys don't like change and I have a hard time with it as well but I assure you the update was needed since the software hasn't been updated in years.

Can't argue with that. We'll get used to it, as you will.

 

[Phantom]

The upgrade was completely necessary. If we don't do the upgrades the entire board is at risk from being hacked. I know you guys don't like change and I have a hard time with it as well but I assure you the update was needed since the software hasn't been updated in years.

Alright, but why change the color scheme. The other one was easier to read. I understand updates have to be done from time to time to prevent the problems you mentioned, but did it have to look so different?

 

[*quasar*]

Alright, but why change the color scheme. The other one was easier to read. I understand updates have to be done from time to time to prevent the problems you mentioned, but did it have to look so different?

I don't want to sound like a 'Moderator' and speak on Mark's (or Scorpio's) behalf - because that's what I do over at JustUsBoys and BSB TV and it's nice to kick back and chill here - but having gone through the upgrade over there, I really feel for you guys and know exactly where you're coming from.

Again, going back to the new house analogy, Scorpio has just fitted the new kitchen, and it's a case of making sure everything works and is where it should be before getting the decorator's in.

This new version of the vBulletin software doesn't come in a great choice of colours. Any template adjustments have to be bought in or written. Like getting a new suit adjusted, you can't adjust it until you've tried it on and know where to take it in or let it out - and unfortunately, you can't write the code to adjust the template until you have the base code to edit or rewrite.

Scorpio has done the heavy lifting job of transferring all of the data across and flicking the switches that need to be flicked to get the forum this far - and he's probably been doing a load of prep work for the last few days. Over the next few days as the forum gets used, there may well be several glitches that crop up and need correcting.

Once everything is running smoothly, that is the time to look at getting the decorators in - if at all. It may be that Mark wants all of his forums to have a 'corporate' feel to them whilst still retaining a degree of individuality, or it may be that Mark gets a new black skin written for here. I honestly don't know, and I can't speak on Mark's behalf.

But the point is, by all means make your views known, but also take a step back and appreciate that not everything can be done in a flick of a wand, and the people concerned aren't intentionally trying to sabotage the forum or wreck the great community that you have here and that I'm wishing I'd joined earlier.

*steps off soapbox*

sorry....

 

[another1]

Jon, I definitely agree with you that Scorpio's reaction to our being dissatisfied with the sudden change was uncharacteristic for him, rather abrupt, and that is why I responded to his comments as I did.



But he did clarify that Mark is the boss, and he will respond to any changes that Mark requests for him to do. I do think that we need to show a bit of patience. This change to a new board has apparently been in the works for a while. In fact while you were absent, during the changeover to BSB2, I can recall Scorpio telling us that many changes are planned, including upgrading to a new message board, but they didn't want to spring too much change on us all at once.



Although Scorpio was not terribly diplomatic in his initial response to us, I think that the first fifteen hours of this change is not sufficient time for us to expect them to change things to our liking. I am however very suspect about yesterday's "change" with the "respect" button that I didn't even understand. WebMonkey told us it was a feature that was a part of the old board's software, all the time. But why did he choose to use that software, knowing that they were abandoning that whole board within the next few hours anyway. That is puzzling.



But overall, I've invested too many hours, and years into the Broke Straight Boys Forum to make any rash decisions today or even this coming week.

mikey, we live in an age when innocent acts are make us suspicious.

scorpio reached what he proclaimed finished. that was this morning! while others slept, elves got the forum is working order.

the call to make changes in suppose to be in the hands of the guy in charge.

i read scorpio as saying that's it for me! good nite all! i'm not doing anything else, until mark see something he wants changed.

i think that has anything to do with the interaction between us and mark.

one quick done notice should not be read as some management-forumite rift.

a simple statement that this is it, until further notice. was just that!

this change in the forum appearance was mentioned so time ago. this is that change.

that it was done by this morning amazes me.

not a matter of getting out of bed on the wrong side, but rather not yet gotten into bed on the right!

thanks scorpio.

and to the 'like' button. webmonkey found this cool thing called it a 'reputation button' and wanted to try. it was a feature available under the existing conditions.

i laugh out loud, and then say sorry, when i think about how a 'reputation button' would be received this morning.

i think that webmonkey considered those in opposition and those in confusion to have to same goals. i found the opposition and the confusion to interesting. were i, webmonkey i would have left the addition in place.

by today this upgrade would be the topic of the day.

i live in a beautiful city. going outside and see what the air looks like today.


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[another1]

*quasar*, you write the way i think.
if there were a 'rep button' you would be off the charts.
thanks for input!