Listen up! We might update the forum

[Robin Garr]

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. 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.

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. 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

[James Roscoe]

Go for it!

[David M. Bueker]

Way too much wasted space on the layout. Other than that it's ok.

Looks good

[Robin Garr]

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.

Dear Robin,
By all means, go ahead.

Walt

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.

I'm with Rahsaan. Whatever works for you works for me.

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.

some may even only go to Friends and Fun to air their political opinions.

Yikes!! Frightening.

Anything that brings more participation to the main wine forum is welcome.

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.

Hey, I resemble that charge!

But I actually DO drink wine.

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.

[Robin Garr]

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.

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.

[Robin Garr]

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.

I can deal with a change every seven years!

[Robin Garr]

I can deal with a change every seven years!

Seems almost biblical!

Bear in mind that this is not going to happen tomorrow, but I hope we can move ahead during coming weeks or months.

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

I hope the new software will still have the "foe" feature?

[Robin Garr]

I hope the new software will still have the "foe" feature?

Foe sure!

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.

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!

I hate change!
That said, if old software is becoming unmanageable/cranky, it's time to move on.
Looking forward to new incarnation.

[Robin Garr]

We can handle anything!

Except for AOL/CompuServe.