Future of the Forum

[alfaniner]

I initially ignored this thread because the title sounded just like another complaining woo ("If you don't listen to me, this Forum will have no future!!!!1!!" and I was rather unfamiliar with the thread starter. Then it went all Sticky.

I've been here almost 13 years. I would like to see it continue.

 

[AdMan]

Just one thing before I call it a night, I think it's important for everyone to note that JREF has agreed to financially support the migration to a new server and operations for 6 months.

They're not just abandoning the site without assistance and they're helping keep it alive, I didn't ask for that contribution, they offered it.

Given that earlier today it sounded as if they wanted to wash their hands of it by tomorrow, this is good to hear.

Glad you were able to relay that news before calling it a night, icerat. It softens the bad news somewhat.

 

[Ampulla of Vater]

I just realized how ironic it is that I just got home on Saturday from flying across the entire country to hang out with some friends I met on this very forum.

 

[MattusMaximus]

You, Sharon, note that JREF is wants to focus more on the "E". I would emphasize that this forum could be one very powerful spoke in the wheel of education. There are so many knowledgeable, erudite, interesting people here that almost any topic you can think of could be addressed by this forum in a substantive, informative and even humorous manner.

This ^

And, btw, thanks for keeping us abreast of the situation, Sharon

 

[Lisa Simpson]

I will say all the drama here today made traffic in my chat room absolutely skyrocket.

 

[MattusMaximus]

I've started a separate thread in Community for more specific, focused discussion on what to do next in regards to the forum; people might wanna' go there to discuss it, but am posting a copy here too:

Well said, Wolfman.

I agree that Jeff Wagg would be an excellent choice to head up a rebooted Forum. Has anyone confirmed with him directly that this is going to happen?

 

[hcmom]

I will say all the drama here today made traffic in my chat room absolutely skyrocket.

Almost like the good old days!

 

[MattusMaximus]

Just one thing before I call it a night, I think it's important for everyone to note that JREF has agreed to financially support the migration to a new server and operations for 6 months.

They're not just abandoning the site without assistance and they're helping keep it alive, I didn't ask for that contribution, they offered it.

Good to know. Thanks for the info, icerat!

 

[tsig]

Well, that sucks. Understand the reason for it, but my VPN service is not that great (the Great Firewall is in a constant battle to block VPNs), so my access here will be spotty at best.

But...given the following announcement...that may essentially be moot, anyway:

While I'm fairly confident that the site itself could migrate elsewhere, and we could raise the funds to cover that...

...I'm rather doubtful about the long-term survival of the forum under those conditions. Who would then be in charge of the forum? Who would decide how it's run, etc.? If the forum splits off into its own independent entity, I can see the battle-to-end-all-forum-battles, as we face huge disagreements over who should run it, how it should be run/changed, etc. No matter what the outcome, I predict that we'd lose quite a few members during that process; and lacking the direct link with the JREF, we'd likely be attracting a much lower number of new members.

I dunno...not sure how this bodes for the forum overall.

So long, it's been good to know you,
So long, it's been good to know you,
So long, it's been good to know you.
What a long time since I've been home,
And I've gotta be driftin' along.
http://lyrics.wikia.com/Pete_Seeger:So_Long,_It's_Been_Good_To_Know_You_(Dusty_Old_Dust)

 

[jsfisher]

I will say all the drama here today made traffic in my chat room absolutely skyrocket.

Yeah, but hopefully worthwhile, at least in one regard.

 

[banquetbear]

...is this some sort of a joke thread?

The place to discuss skepticism, critical thinking, the paranormal and science in a lively way is being handed over to a guy who defends Amway and thinks terrorists flew the missing Malaysia Flight out to East Turkmenistan to use as a bomb?

And he got the gig because he happened to notice a relatively obscure thread in a section of the forums that I don't even think I've visited before, where the previous thread was created last month? During a time when many posters couldn't log into the site?

And the administrator of the forum didn't even know this was coming?

I've got two words in my head. Unprofessional and Trainwreck.

To the Admins and the Moderators: I've disagreed with you as often as I've agreed with you, but you guys have my respects. Sorry this got dumped on you like this: you all deserve much better.

I've never been "part of the community." Despite having been here longer than most other posters on these boards I still get "welcomed" by people who signed up in 2012. I'm just another poster. I joined because these were the Randi boards. The culture here is pretty unique, and that culture was set not just by the participants, but by the way the boards were moderated and run. I'm sure the boards will continue in some fashion. And I wish the person taking over the ship all the best. But right now, the administrators and the moderators who have tirelessly kept this place running for well over a decade have been treated like trash. And I can't be a part of that, so I'm out. There are plenty of other places on the internet I hang out: I'll go hang out there. I may check out the new forums, but I doubt it. All the best, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[Czarcasm]

Well, after two days of not being able to sign in, getting new passwords assigned to me, then being told that THEY were invalid("How could they possibly be invalid, you boobies,-you just gave them to me!!"), I do the obvious thing and switch to IE...and I'm back in.

 

[tsig]

Will there be pictures?

So long, it's been good to know you,
So long, it's been good to know you,
So long, it's been good to know you.
What a long time since I've been home,
And I've gotta be driftin' along.

 

[smartcooky]

oops, double post

 

[smartcooky]

Just one thing before I call it a night, I think it's important for everyone to note that JREF has agreed to financially support the migration to a new server and operations for 6 months.

They're not just abandoning the site without assistance and they're helping keep it alive, I didn't ask for that contribution, they offered it.

I, for one, would be happy to pay a subscription for access to this forum. Another forum I am a member of (its a sports forum) two levels of membership.

1. Free Admission;
- free subscription
- advertising
- limited size of avatars (<250 pixels)
- text only signatures.


2. Season Ticket Holder:
- paid subscription (£12 p.a.)
- allowed animated gif images
- larger sized images for avatars (<500 pixels)
- advertising free
- allowed non-commercial images in signatures
- allowed non-commercial links in signatures
- Season Ticket Holder section of forum.

When a Season Ticket Hold forgets to pay their annual subscription, they just revert back to Casual Admission (stuff doesn't disappear from signatures its just not visible on the forum until they pay up)

 

[RemieV]

Well said, Wolfman.

I agree that Jeff Wagg would be an excellent choice to head up a rebooted Forum. Has anyone confirmed with him directly that this is going to happen?

I asked him if he would. He said to feel out the forum to see if he was wanted. That's why I created the thread. I would say if forumites continue to post the way they have been, then yes. So keep on posting in the stickied thread if you want a Jeff.

 

[The Man]

Just one thing before I call it a night, I think it's important for everyone to note that JREF has agreed to financially support the migration to a new server and operations for 6 months.

They're not just abandoning the site without assistance and they're helping keep it alive, I didn't ask for that contribution, they offered it.

Excellent news, though the question that bears on my mind now ain't that kind of server, but the ones that serve papers (and sorry to hit you with such negative waves so early next morning). As in current or future litigation. Mentioned yourself before (as to funding) and by Wolfman in his cross post above. Undoubtedly a mitigating factor in the expedited dispatch of the forum from any association with the JREF. Being in business yourself I'd expect you are no stranger to some types of litigation. Though a discussion forum brings up some other legal issues one might not normally deal with in business. Certainly incorporation and such non-profit indemnifications can help but we are litigious society. Not to be a wet blanket or anything and your post directly referring to outstanding litigation indicates that you are thinking about it. I'm just wondering how you are factoring in that cost. Heck, that's not to say that I'm not a "take it it comes" kind of guy and I'll probably ride this pony as long as it lasts (even if it takes ponying up some myself), but I don't want to see you, me or anyone get trampled for that ride.

Additionally, though not having any direct knowledge, I surmise that it is the attack the argument not the arguer aspect of this forum that might actually reduce potential defamation litigation. So keeping the current mod team (if willing, by them) and moderation structure (in general) can only help.


ETA: As long as that ponying up doesn't require me to E-mail my bank information to Nigeria.

 

[hcmom]

So, you're suggesting the forum be handed over to someone who is not really active on the forum and who can't be bothered to show up to discuss the idea until enough people ask him to?

Sounds like a great idea!

Because there couldn't possibly be a valid reason for him no longer being active, and of course he doesn't have anything else that might have precluded him from being able to participate so far today.

 

[RemieV]

So, you're suggesting the forum be handed over to someone who is not really active on the forum and who can't be bothered to show up to discuss the idea until enough people ask him to?

Sounds like a great idea!

Jeff was the manager of the JREF for years and years. When he was part of the JREF, he was extremely active on the forum, and in fact is the person behind much of what you see here. And the reason he hasn't been in yet is because he's part of the group of users that, because of the forum issues, cannot log in. He has been, and still is, trying.

Of all the people who could have this responsibility, Jeff, Darat, and Lisa (the people who have been a part of it the longest and know the users the best) are the best possible options, and in this scenario all three of them would be around.

 

[Jeff Wagg]

Whew, after some fancy tricks, I've managed to log on.

Thanks for the votes of confidence, but I'm still weighing what's going on here. I'm going to talk with icerat offline to see where we're at.

Give me some time to see if I'm the right person to do this, and then evaluate what needs to be done and the best way to do it. I'm a bit shocked by all this.

As the forum is unstable, if anyone needs to communicate with me, jeff@wagg.com should work.