• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Future of the Forum

Am I first to post after the down-time?

Apparently I am! (At least in this thread). Accomplishment Achieved!
 
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Update on forum issues tonight

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/2384-regarding-the-jref-forum-status.html

Official statement:

Due to some administrative issues that are causing problems and confusion, JREF board member Rick Adams will be taking administrative control of the Forums. This will result in temporary suspension of other admin activity, including registering new Forum users, while the confusion between administrator roles is sorted out. After the Forum is restarted, hopefully within a few hours, all moderator and posting capabilities should resume as usual and you can continue posting. It is anticipated this admin hold will last a day or two.

Further information will follow as progress occurs.

The JREF understands that this is not a popular decision for some "Forumites" and hears your complaints loud and clear. This decision was not made lightly, and efforts are continuing to locate the forum safely to a new home. This will take some time to sort out. We ask for your understanding and patience as the problems with the forum are sorted out.

Specific comments can be addressed to sharon@randi.org

You can also follow the Twitter account for immediate updates on the status of the forum at http://twitter.com/jref
 
Thanks for your opinion but I believe you will find that things are a bit more complicated than you observed.

As I've said repeatedly, I understand the frustration, but it does not help to complain at this point. This does not have anything to do with skepticism, it is a business decision in the interests of the organization. Sorry you do not agree but it will be what it will be. Things must change. Change is difficult. The productive route is to try and forge a new path.

Cliche? Proabably, but true.
 
idoubtit said:
Thanks for your opinion but I believe you will find that things are a bit more complicated than you observed.

As I've said repeatedly, I understand the frustration, but it does not help to complain at this point. This does not have anything to do with skepticism, it is a business decision in the interests of the organization. Sorry you do not agree but it will be what it will be. Things must change. Change is difficult. The productive route is to try and forge a new path.

Cliche? Proabably, but true.
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Stop with the ridiculous spin. Jettisoning the forums may be a valid business decision. The way it has been man-handled and mauled, especially today, was not.

Duck and cover does not suit you.
 
jsfisher said:
Stop with the ridiculous spin. Jettisoning the forums may be a valid business decision. The way it has been man-handled and mauled, especially today, was not.

Duck and cover does not suit you.
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Seeing as they have the ability to say we were too difficult to work with and just close the forums without saying anything else, I'm not sure your tactic is the best.
 
There is a clear difference between spin and being professional. Do you not understand that?

I plan to remain professional and not name the names of those who have acted in a less than reasonable fashion. Instead I'm putting my effort into fixing the problem, not just harping about it.
 
As a former moderator on another message board, all I can say is I can only imagine all that is going on behind the scenes that, by necessity and propriety, must stay behind the scenes if any semblance of sanity is to remain here. I hope it all gets sorted out soon.
 
RemieV said:
Seeing as they have the ability to say we were too difficult to work with and just close the forums without saying anything else, I'm not sure your tactic is the best.
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Wise council, ma'am. I will reserve further rants.
 
Is there a thread started yet where we can publicly post an email address as insurance against everything going to hell?

My only contact for information now is JREF itself and it would be nice to have a back-up, social networking thingie.
 
marplots said:
Is there a thread started yet where we can publicly post an email address as insurance against everything going to hell?

My only contact for information now is JREF itself and it would be nice to have a back-up, social networking thingie.
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Beaten to it by the lovely Lisa. ;)
 
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idoubtit said:
There is a clear difference between spin and being professional. Do you not understand that?

I plan to remain professional and not name the names of those who have acted in a less than reasonable fashion. Instead I'm putting my effort into fixing the problem, not just harping about it.
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I don't envy you, Sharon. I fear this is not going to end well (hope I'm wrong), but I don't think you have any blame for what may happen.
 
How to waste everyone's time and energy:

1) Bitch at Sharon and blame her for problems that are not her fault or decision

2) Hatch half-baked conspiracy plots

3) Moan endlessly about "loss of privacy" when it's been clearly explained multiple times that all private info can be deleted prior to the transfer

4) Demand that the JREF Board should give you explanations about their inner workings and corporate decisions, just because you're a member of an internet forum that is hosted by them

How to actually accomplish stuff:

1) Stop bitching about stuff that we have no control over, and can't change

2) Work with Sharon and others such as Jeff, icerat, etc., who are doing their best to find a solution to this dilemma

3) Read what the **** is actually going on rather than jumping on "The Sky Is Falling" bandwagon (ie. realize that no private information will be transferred; that Sharon is just a messenger trying to solve problems and not the one causing them; that right now people are just discussing possible solutions and no concrete decisions have been made yet, etc.)

4) If you disagree with proposed solutions, then offer constructive suggestions for alternatives that are better; there will not be an optimal solution that makes everyone happy.

5) Most importantly -- as we're looking for someone to take over the forum, do your best to demonstrate that you're going to support that effort and make it as easy as possible. Do not engage in behavior that's gonna' make such people say, "**** this ****, it's not worth the hassle of dealing with all this crap."
 
As someone who's been on the outside fringes of the inside, I don't think we should be blaming Sharon. You know that old expression "the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing"? Think of the JREF as an octopus, with eight hands that do not know what the other seven are up to and you will have an inkling of the confusion as this is sorted out.

Have patience. Go join the Facebook group or come visit some of us in chat:

http://www.skepticsrock.com/chatnow
 
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