The place for all things wine, focused on serious wine discussions.

Listen up! We might update the forum

Moderators: Jenise, Robin Garr, David M. Bueker

no avatar
User

Robin Garr

Rank

Forum Janitor

Posts

21612

Joined

Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:44 pm

Location

Louisville, KY

Listen up! We might update the forum

by Robin Garr » Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:54 am

So, here's the story: The forum software (PhpBB) hasn't been updated since 2007, and technology has come a long way since then. Unfortunately, spammer and hacker technology has come a long way, too. :P We've long since had to disable registration because we couldn't devote the time needed to sort the occasional grain of wheat from all the chaff. We've been at some risk of having our site hacked because of exploits that are addressed in newer PhpBB systems but that don't work for us. And, frankly, the place could just use some new paint and polish, some new wallpaper and improved decor. That Velvet Elvis and that painting of dogs playing poker just have to go. :mrgreen:

We've recently put our sister forum group of Louisville foodies, LouisvilleHotBytes, onto a new and improved model of the forum, which features all the new security and adds the benefit of user registration and login (optional, not required) from Facebook.

If you're interested, click below to see the LouisvilleHotBytes.com forums. We'd end up with similar functionality over here, but not the pizza background - that's part of the HotBytes tradition, not WLDG. :mrgreen: We'll come up with something more compatible with the look and feel of WineLoversPage.com.

Anyway, click the HotBytes link below, have a look, and feel free to express your thoughts, with the one criterion that we really do have to move forward on this - for security and for the opportunity to increase our numbers through easy Facebook access - so "keep it the way it is now" is not a realistic option.

http://forums.louisvillehotbytes.com/viewforum.php?f=9
no avatar
User

James Roscoe

Rank

Chat Prince

Posts

11012

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:43 pm

Location

D.C. Metro Area - Maryland

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by James Roscoe » Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:12 pm

Go for it!
Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
no avatar
User

David M. Bueker

Rank

Riesling Guru

Posts

34257

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:52 am

Location

Connecticut

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by David M. Bueker » Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:30 pm

Way too much wasted space on the layout. Other than that it's ok.
Decisions are made by those who show up
no avatar
User

Shaji M

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

669

Joined

Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:24 pm

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Shaji M » Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:57 pm

Looks good :)
no avatar
User

Robin Garr

Rank

Forum Janitor

Posts

21612

Joined

Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:44 pm

Location

Louisville, KY

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Robin Garr » Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:07 pm

It'll probably take weeks. There are some issues on the main site that go back to the days when Eric custom-coded a lot of pages for us. Unfortunately, upgrading PHP will probably break the primary site to smithereens, so we need to address that first. Keep an eye on this, though, and hopefully we'll be able to do the rehab before the snow flies. Maybe much sooner than that, depending on when the snow flies in your neighborhood. :)
no avatar
User

wnissen

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

1221

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 1:16 pm

Location

Livermore, CA

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by wnissen » Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:09 pm

Dear Robin,
By all means, go ahead.

Walt
Walter Nissen
no avatar
User

Rahsaan

Rank

Wild and Crazy Guy

Posts

9216

Joined

Tue Mar 28, 2006 8:20 pm

Location

New York, NY

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Rahsaan » Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:11 pm

I say you should do whatever makes sense. I remember all the debates in 2006 when things moved here and that was an interesting exercise in crowd participation, but you'll never please everyone on every dimension.

And I would imagine that most people come for the content/crowd and not the layout.
no avatar
User

Tom Troiano

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

1244

Joined

Mon Mar 27, 2006 4:22 pm

Location

Massachusetts

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Tom Troiano » Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:59 pm

I'm with Rahsaan. Whatever works for you works for me.
Tom T.
no avatar
User

Howie Hart

Rank

The Hart of Buffalo

Posts

6389

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:13 pm

Location

Niagara Falls, NY

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Howie Hart » Fri Jul 25, 2014 2:33 pm

One suggestion - Re-Post this in the other forums. Not all the frequent users here come to the Wine Forum. In fact, some may even only go to Friends and Fun to air their political opinions. :o
Chico - Hey! This Bottle is empty!
Groucho - That's because it's dry Champagne.
no avatar
User

Tom Troiano

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

1244

Joined

Mon Mar 27, 2006 4:22 pm

Location

Massachusetts

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Tom Troiano » Fri Jul 25, 2014 2:55 pm

Howie Hart wrote: some may even only go to Friends and Fun to air their political opinions. :o


Yikes!! Frightening.
Tom T.
no avatar
User

Bob Parsons Alberta

Rank

aka Doris

Posts

10773

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:09 pm

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Bob Parsons Alberta » Fri Jul 25, 2014 4:03 pm

Anything that brings more participation to the main wine forum is welcome.
no avatar
User

Brian K Miller

Rank

Passionate Arboisphile

Posts

9340

Joined

Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:05 am

Location

Northern California

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Brian K Miller » Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:14 pm

Howie Hart wrote:One suggestion - Re-Post this in the other forums. Not all the frequent users here come to the Wine Forum. In fact, some may even only go to Friends and Fun to air their political opinions. :o


Hey, I resemble that charge! :twisted:

But I actually DO drink wine.
...(Humans) are unique in our capacity to construct realities at utter odds with reality. Dogs dream and dolphins imagine, but only humans are deluded. –Jacob Bacharach
no avatar
User

Tom NJ

Rank

That awful Tom fellow

Posts

1240

Joined

Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:06 pm

Location

Northerm NJ, USA

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Tom NJ » Sat Jul 26, 2014 8:07 am

I personally prefer our current format's ability to read text margin-to-margin. But if the cost of increased security and improved features is losing the left third of the screen to an empty column, so be it. I'm all for it.
"He ordered as one to the Menu born...."
no avatar
User

Robin Garr

Rank

Forum Janitor

Posts

21612

Joined

Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:44 pm

Location

Louisville, KY

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Robin Garr » Sat Jul 26, 2014 8:26 am

Tom NJ wrote:I personally prefer our current format's ability to read text margin-to-margin. But if the cost of increased security and improved features is losing the left third of the screen to an empty column, so be it. I'm all for it.

The "empty column" also facilitates appropriate and tasteful paid advertising via Google AdSense. Another thing that's not wildly popular, but it seems to be okay with the HotBytes community, and permits us to operate the forums on a break-even basis rather than as a pro bono service. Not that I've got my knickers in a wad over that, but still, at some point one has to look at the balance sheet. :mrgreen:
no avatar
User

Tom NJ

Rank

That awful Tom fellow

Posts

1240

Joined

Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:06 pm

Location

Northerm NJ, USA

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Tom NJ » Sat Jul 26, 2014 8:46 am

Ah, balance sheet, we meet again. Yeah, there's no getting around that one. Well, as long as it's tasteful. I'm a classy fucking guy, and I demand the same decorum from my intrusive sales pitches.
Last edited by Tom NJ on Sat Jul 26, 2014 11:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
"He ordered as one to the Menu born...."
no avatar
User

Robin Garr

Rank

Forum Janitor

Posts

21612

Joined

Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:44 pm

Location

Louisville, KY

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Robin Garr » Sat Jul 26, 2014 9:34 am

Tom NJ wrote:Ah, balance sheet, we meet again. Yeah, there's not getting around that one. Well, as long as it's tasteful. I'm a classy fucking guy, and I demand the same decorum from my intrusive sales pitches.

:mrgreen:
no avatar
User

Jon Peterson

Rank

The Court Winer

Posts

2981

Joined

Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:53 pm

Location

The Blue Crab State

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Jon Peterson » Sat Jul 26, 2014 10:58 am

I can deal with a change every seven years!
no avatar
User

Robin Garr

Rank

Forum Janitor

Posts

21612

Joined

Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:44 pm

Location

Louisville, KY

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Robin Garr » Sat Jul 26, 2014 11:52 am

Jon Peterson wrote:I can deal with a change every seven years!

Seems almost biblical! :mrgreen:

Bear in mind that this is not going to happen tomorrow, but I hope we can move ahead during coming weeks or months.
no avatar
User

Eli R

Rank

Just got here

Posts

0

Joined

Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:22 pm

Location

Rehovot, Israel

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Eli R » Sat Jul 26, 2014 12:34 pm

Hi,

My two cents:
What must be done, must be done.
I would leave the look and feel as close to the current one as possible.

This is all about what we write as text, and not about all the graphics around it.
Otherwise, it will be no different than the social networks, all having either the Faecbook, Google, or Microsoft look and feel.

Eli
no avatar
User

Redwinger

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

4038

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:36 pm

Location

Way Down South In Indiana, USA

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Redwinger » Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:27 pm

I hope the new software will still have the "foe" feature? :wink:
Smile, it gives your face something to do!
no avatar
User

Robin Garr

Rank

Forum Janitor

Posts

21612

Joined

Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:44 pm

Location

Louisville, KY

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Robin Garr » Sun Jul 27, 2014 4:53 pm

Redwinger wrote:I hope the new software will still have the "foe" feature? :wink:

Foe sure! :mrgreen:

Actually, I don't know for certain ... I don't use it (the moderator can't have the luxury of ignoring the trouble-makers), but I assume that the different look and feel is just cosmetic ... same engine and features under the hood.
no avatar
User

Neil Courtney

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

3257

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:39 pm

Location

Auckland, New Zealand

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Neil Courtney » Mon Jul 28, 2014 4:50 am

David M. Bueker wrote:Way too much wasted space on the layout. Other than that it's ok.


Second that. But this is probably customisable, and wall-to-wall text is the way to go if at all possible. But it looks a bit too much like a Wordpress site, which is not a positive. As for the mention of ads, Adblock Plus has probably stopped these as I do not see any adverts.

But overall we are a malleable bunch here. We can handle anything! :lol:
Cheers,
Neil Courtney

'Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it.' --- Anonymous.
no avatar
User

Dale Williams

Rank

Compassionate Connoisseur

Posts

11125

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:32 pm

Location

Dobbs Ferry, NY (NYC metro)

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Dale Williams » Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:33 am

I hate change!
That said, if old software is becoming unmanageable/cranky, it's time to move on.
Looking forward to new incarnation.
no avatar
User

Robin Garr

Rank

Forum Janitor

Posts

21612

Joined

Fri Feb 17, 2006 1:44 pm

Location

Louisville, KY

Re: Listen up! We might update the forum

by Robin Garr » Mon Jul 28, 2014 12:34 pm

Neil Courtney wrote: We can handle anything! :lol:

Except for AOL/CompuServe. :twisted:
Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: ClaudeBot, Dale Williams, Google [Bot], Mike D and 3 guests

Powered by phpBB ® | phpBB3 Style by KomiDesign