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Thread: New Forum (Read 76090 times) |
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S J Birkill
MV Administrator
just a sensible reserve
Posts: 848
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New Forum
« : 19.07.04 at 12:22 » |
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MV's new Web-based message forum will be trialling with a small number of members from 20th July 2004. If we like the way it goes, it may in due course take over from the current e-mail based MV system.
-- Steve Birkill 
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« Last Edit: 20.07.04 at 15:53 by S J Birkill »  |
https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=0#0  |
Stephen J Birkill
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Carole
MV Fixture
Posts: 132
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #1: 20.07.04 at 15:10 » |
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Oo-er. This all looks very technical  Should work out ok though.
Carole
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=1#1 |
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S J Birkill
MV Administrator
just a sensible reserve
Posts: 848
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Real Names
« Reply #2: 20.07.04 at 15:31 » |
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Remember, you can change your MV persona to something other than your 'username' (and with normal capitalisation and spacing -- real names are more friendly) by selecting 'Profile' from the menu bar and editing the 'Name:' field.
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=2#2 |
Stephen J Birkill
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Mike Walters
MV Fixture
Posts: 127
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #3: 20.07.04 at 15:38 » |
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Well, it looks superb, Steve!
I've got mixed feelings in that I've always ejoyed the relative informality and spontaneity of the MV discussions, and I've been happy to live with the downside of that, which is receiving a fair amount of stuff which (inevitably) happens not to be of interest to me. However, I'm my own boss and not overwhelmed by spam, and I can imagine that for some people a continual trickle of MV messages of varying quality and relevance could easily become an irritation.
So, on the whole, I think this is probably a positive move - the discussions do seem to have become a little tired lately (partly perhaps just because, having been spoiled rotten over the last few years, we've had relatively little new 'product' to discuss recently ), and some added structure may indeed shake things up a bit. And it may encourage more involvement from those who are afraid of their in-boxes becoming highly cluttered.
Certainly, it looks very professional and these kinds of boards seem to work well for others (Warren Zevon's, for example). And I'm happy as long as I don't have to hide under a silly pseudonym!
Go for it, I say.
Regards
Mike
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=3#3 |
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Roger Cornwell
MV Friend
Posts: 22
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #4: 20.07.04 at 15:38 » |
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I think the bulletin board could be a useful replacement, particularly if those topics that are of interest only to a minority of MVs are in their own thread. This would mean that newbies would not be annoyed by them and be more inclined to stay with us.
It would also, in the fullness of time, mean that the spread of viruses via the list and associated emails would not be a problem for our esteemed moderator.
On the other hand, I wonder if YaBB is the right choice of software? There are two features of the board I use most often (Invision Power Board) that I use a lot, namely "search for posts since I last visited" and "email notification of replies" that speed up the way I use the board. On the other hand YaBB is free. Have you researched other BB software? Can these features be implemented in YaBB?
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=4#4 |
Roger
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S J Birkill
MV Administrator
just a sensible reserve
Posts: 848
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #5: 20.07.04 at 15:50 » |
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Thanks Roger. I've also implemented an 'off-topic' section to help keep the boards free of clutter.
Of course the e-mail MV never propagated viruses, but that didn't stop infected members' machines dumping them on me -- it's still happening.
No, no time really to sus what else was available -- I could see that YaBB offered basic BB functionality, was easy to set up and free (I've no budget for peteatkin.com, so the hosting fee's more than enough to shell out). E-mail notification of replies is available -- I wondered whether it would annoy BB novices who'd forgotten they'd set it, but I'll enable it now.
SJB
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=5#5 |
Stephen J Birkill
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Jeremy
MV Fresher
I love Midnight Voices!
Posts: 5
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #6: 20.07.04 at 16:06 » |
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Hi all,
Thanks for the pre-release invite to join in. I'm quite happy with the mailing list, but doubtless there are clever technical reasons why a bulletin board is superior (no spam? no viruses? What else?). Of course, since it's Steve's show (and/or nobody has done nearly as much has he has to spread the PA word) the choice is, in the end, his to make. Once again, I'm most grateful to him for all the work he's done here. I'm happy to help out by being a moderator.
Cheers,
Jeremy
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=6#6 |
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Gerry Smith
MV Fixture
Posts: 222
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #7: 20.07.04 at 18:11 » |
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Hi Steve, and thanks for asking me to test drive the new forum. I s'pose I've always known that one day MV would go down the bulletin board route. I'm sure most of us are aware of the time and effort required to manage and moderate MV, and indeed are most grateful to Steve for the verve and aplomb he has shown in doing so these past seven years.
I just don't buy the 'irritation/relevance' argument about the currrent system of distributing posts. It is easy to set up a MV mailbox on any email client, and easier still just to gloss over or delete posts which are of no interest. So noone's inbox need get clutterered up.
Secondly, I really cannot see how a bulletin board will encorage more of us to post. Although as BB's go this is quite a good one, it is definitely more difficult to use than simply sending and email. It also incorporates the ubiquitous and hideously irritating gamut of 'smileys' so reminiscent of those dreadful chat rooms.
Thirdly, I like MV just the way it is and am always pleased to start the day in front of my PC going through new posts. Steve has done a sterling job which lends a personal touch to the MV forum and I fear this would be lost if replaced with an automated bulletin board.
If MV could remain unchanged, I would be quite happy to help in any way I can, for instance by being responsible for maintaining or extending section(s) of the website. I say again that I understand the commitment of time involved in running the enterprise, but I humbly prevail upon you steve to maintain the status quo if at all possible.
All the best
Gerry
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=7#7 |
Out playing the saxes
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Ian Chippett
MV Fellow
In the clear at over fifty-five
Posts: 332
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #8: 20.07.04 at 18:55 » |
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I tend to prefer the old list like Gerry: the first mails I open are always MVs. This morning I found myself asleep on the settee at 3.00 a.m. (well, it was my birthday yesterday) and what did I do, knowing full well I had to be up at 6.00? Yes, that's right, I checked my email. I need it. I have to have it. You probably wouldn't realise to what extent MV (and what it's led to) has changed my life though I won't bore you with the details . However, I go along with Steve if he feels that a change would be a good idea. I'm the last person to complain about off-topicking (which is all part of a really complete discussion forum especially when the members are as erudite and well-informed as we (OK, you) are but it might be a good idea to try another approach.
Ian Chippett
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=8#8 |
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Dave Lewis
MV Friend
Posts: 9
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #9: 21.07.04 at 00:18 » |
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Hi steve,
Well I'm all for it. I spend far too much time on rather sad audio engineering forums as it is, so another one won't matter. I think it might encourage intercourse. Which has to be a good thing.
Cheers,
Dave.
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=9#9 |
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S J Birkill
MV Administrator
just a sensible reserve
Posts: 848
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #11: 21.07.04 at 21:33 » |
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on 21.07.04 at 20:52, JtJ wrote:| But I've just travelled back from a gruelling 2 days in York. |
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Was it you I saw in Back Swinegate with the top hat, leading 22 Americans on a ghost tour last Thursday night?
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| « Last Edit: 22.07.04 at 10:02 by S J Birkill » |
https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=11#11 |
Stephen J Birkill
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Cary
MV Feature
I love Midnight Voices!
Posts: 92
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #12: 21.07.04 at 23:28 » |
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Well, as forums go this is a pretty good one. Personally I don't like online forums and much prefer email lists. Not so bad now I've got broad-ish-band but I find needing to navigate between threads irritating. And on dial-up frustrating when the line got dropped (which it used to do frequently) . Good that you can get email notification of replies which makes it more likely that I'll remember to look at the forum - who knows, maybe I will get to like forums though I think I'll always prefer the click, click click of email. I can quite understand though why Steve wants to change things - 5 years + forwarding messages is enough for anyone!! Well done that man. Would YahooGroups or the like be another option?
Like the preview option. Shame there isn't a spill chucker - never mind about apostrophe'''s - you'll all find out I can't spell!!
Happy to help and moderate on the bit Steve has suggested if this goes live. - sorry, couldn't resist that - not quite a winking PA is it??
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=12#12 |
. _/\ /\_
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.Cary
.a a
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Like Mary @
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Snoopy
MV Feature
Alexis Birkill
Posts: 44
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #13: 22.07.04 at 11:19 » |
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on 21.07.04 at 23:28, Cary wrote:| Shame there isn't a spill chucker - never mind about apostrophe'''s - you'll all find out I can't spell!! |
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If you use Internet Explorer, you might like to try ieSpell - it's a freeware add-on to Internet Explorer that lets you spell-check any HTML form input box (such as the message box on this forum).
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=13#13 |
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Cary
MV Feature
I love Midnight Voices!
Posts: 92
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #14: 22.07.04 at 21:54 » |
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on 22.07.04 at 11:19, Snoopy wrote:
Thankes Snoopie - that's a grate litle toul to have - wurks reely wel
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=14#14 |
. _/\ /\_
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.Cary
.a a
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Like Mary @
..With a..C..for cat
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Simon Reap
MV Fixture
Toggler to the few!
Posts: 115
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #15: 22.07.04 at 21:57 » |
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A web-based system is not so good for those of us still on dial-up (roll on September 1st when broadband hits the village). One of my choir colleagues tries to use yahoo email via the web interface, and is often disconnected in the middle of writing her emails. I don't imagine that would be as much of a problem with the short messages that a system like this encourages, but will require nifty cut-and-paste for longer gems. Like MikeW, I like to be able to skim through the MV emails at my leisure, and keep all of the old ones. Anone want to buy a near-complete set of over 10,000 MV missives?
By the way, I'm so glad to have found the 'disable smileys button ;-)
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=15#15 |
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Roger Cornwell
MV Friend
Posts: 22
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #16: 23.07.04 at 17:14 » |
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on 20.07.04 at 15:38, Roger wrote:
There are two features of the board I use most often (Invision Power Board) that I use a lot, namely "search for posts since I last visited" and "email notification of replies" that speed up the way I use the board. Can these features be implemented in YaBB? |
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Steve implemented the second of these, and I have just found, under "statistics", View the 10 most recent posts to this forum. which goes a long way to providing the first.
I wonder if my quote of myself will come out OK, as two of the above posts that have quotes start with a decidedly odd first line.
Roger
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=16#16 |
Roger
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S J Birkill
MV Administrator
just a sensible reserve
Posts: 848
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #17: 23.07.04 at 18:05 » |
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on 23.07.04 at 17:14, Roger wrote:| I wonder if my quote of myself will come out OK, as two of the above posts that have quotes start with a decidedly odd first line. |
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I guessed that Snoopy might have inadvertently pasted the quote code into his subject line whilst editing. I see the dreaded 'on Today' survives in the quotes -- the German 'Am Heute' mod didn't fix all occurrences.
-- SJB
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=17#17 |
Stephen J Birkill
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S J Birkill
MV Administrator
just a sensible reserve
Posts: 848
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #18: 23.07.04 at 18:55 » |
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on 23.07.04 at 17:14, Roger wrote:
Steve implemented the second of these, and I have just found, under "statistics", View the 10 most recent posts to this forum. which goes a long way to providing the first. |
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OK Roger, how about headings for 25 (see 'Information Summary' box under 'MV Home')?
-- SJB
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=18#18 |
Stephen J Birkill
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Roger Cornwell
MV Friend
Posts: 22
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Re: New Forum
« Reply #19: 23.07.04 at 19:05 » |
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Spot on!
What I particularly like is the way you jump straight to the posting in question, rather than having to scroll down.
R
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https://peteatkin.com/forum?board=news&action=display&num=1090236135&start=19#19 |
Roger
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