Have Some Regulars Become Lurkers Since the Switch?

[mikethompson]

I probably spend an inordinate time on the forum, but I noticed that the names that usually come up in threads have been a little silent since the forum switched formats.

Am I just seeing things?

On the other hand, there seems to be some new names popping up in discussion.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

For me, it took a while to get past that password change sentry, which just about ran me off for good. Now, I have to hunt like hell to figure out what the threads are. I don't even understand how to use this forum format on the phone, and all the damn lies the younger punks told us about how this would make the forum so much easier... Lies!

No, I don't like this new newfangled look. It's confusing, and hard to read. It doesn't even look new, just more complicated. But, I will roll with it, spitting, cussing, and farting the whole way.

I'm going to punch a younger person person in the mouth tonight, just cos...

 

[alaskanpiper]

Been busy fishing and changing diapers. Will be out for another week or so starting Saturday moose hunting. I think a lot of folks are just getting used to the new forum as well. Seen a few debbie downers who get off on confrontation and criticism complain as well, which has likely led to their absence. They'll show us! See how much they like that forum when I am not around!!! Sad....

 

[alaskanpiper]

But, I will roll with it, spitting, cussing, and farting the whole way.

I'm going to punch a younger person person in the mouth tonight, just cos..

I feel this way every time I get handed two pages of notes on a yellow notepad from some of the older folks in our office detailing the errors with next years budget in the perfectly editable excel sheet I sent them, along with a printed off word document (in color at xx cents per copy of course) with their notes on the latest proposal. At some point they went from abacus to calculator, but apparently pen to keyboard is much more difficult.......

Can't punch old people in the mouth though. It is frowned upon. I try to stick to the torso, work the body a bit and eventually they wear down.

 

[lawdawg]

Unfortunately this newer forum won't work right on my out-of-date smartphone :/

Luckily I work in an office so I can peruse the forum when I need a break from my work.

 

[mikethompson]

I'm going to punch a younger person person in the mouth tonight

so, a typical Monday?

 

[mso489]

That I have managed to cross this bridge is astonishing. Maybe the digital bugs have infested my brain. Like many other activities, once a site becomes habit, people will hang around for eons.

 

[olkofri]

Not to brag, but I went through smooth as a fine aro. Reset the password as we were told to do, log in and that was it. No issues at all. Looks like computers still have the edge over those mobile things.

 

[brooklynpiper]

What Cos' said

 

[alaskanpiper]

That I have managed to cross this bridge is astonishing. Maybe the digital bugs have infested my brain. Like many other activities, once a site becomes habit, people will hang around for eons

Haha, I was thinking about you, Tom! Glad you made it! I was worried we'd have to send a search party back for you. And how many of them may have perished.....?

 

[oldmooner]

Since I am an old curmudgeon, I am expected to hate change. An d it is true. I prefer the original. I too wonder what has happened to all my old compadres. I have been a member since 2011 or so and I miss all my old buddies. To be honest, I don't understand many of the discussions and posts from some of today's members. Everything just gets more and more complicated. Stop the world and let me off!

 

[irishearl]

I'm an old codger-don't even own a cell phone. While not particularly fond of change and being IT illiterate, still find this new forum OK.

 

[mso489]

I bounced around for two days resetting passwords and trying to keep up with emails revising passwords. It appears I finally managed to install a password of my own, and despite the occasional balk, I've stayed on. I used my usual posting time to tinker until it happened. Mainly I didn't get perturbed, which is my digital undoing. It seems I have to assume the status of not caring whether I achieve my goals or not, and things then may come along. Is this a life lesson?

 

[voorhees]

The change was minor to me. The look and design was familiar to other sites I've visited. And I'm no spring chicken.

 

[sumusfumus]

Some changes are terrible, some useless, some make changes just for the sake of changing....some changes can be good. On a scale of 1-10, I give the changes here, a 2. Why the changes?

Why was it necessary to revamp the whole forum? But in the end, for me....it really doesn't matter. I rarely post comments, but I do enjoy reading thru what other members post. I also belong to three other "pipe forums", and the truth is....they are far easier to use. All these forums cover the same topics....you read one, and you read them all.

 

[mikefu]

It’s good to have opinions. My understanding is that the old platform was obsolete, necessitating a change. I like the new format, and appreciate both the navigability and new features. It did take a bit to learn how to use, but anything worth using/doing usually does. Remember, it’s a free resource, full of great advice, interesting conversation, and pipe related news. You’re basically saying you hate it, but don’t really care because it doesn’t matter to you. It does matter to me, and I like it.

 

[mikethompson]

Some changes are terrible, some useless, some make changes just for the sake of changing....some changes can be good. On a scale of 1-10, I give the changes here, a 2. Why the changes?

Why was it necessary to revamp the whole forum? But in the end, for me....it really doesn't matter. I rarely post comments, but I do enjoy reading thru what other members post. I also belong to three other "pipe forums", and the truth is....they are far easier to use. All these forums cover the same topics....you read one, and you read them all.

In a nutshell, yes it had to be updated as the forum software was unsupported anymore.

 

[olkofri]

If I remember correctly, Kevin's explanation was that the software was obsolete. There were also some features, like posting pics, which were quite troublesome to use. I don't see this as change for the sake of change or to keep up with the Joneses; unfortunately, in the world of IT change is many times forced on you as compatibility with old (legacy) stuff is dropped. I loved Internet Explorer 3.0, but can't use it anymore: it won't even go online.

 

[admin]

I think we might have some lurkers becoming regulars too. I like my own site much better now.

There's TONS of other stuff that I couldn't do with the site, not just because of the shittiest forum platform in the world being in place, I couldn't update WordPress because a coder from 10 years ago hacked the WP core.

Now that it is up to date, we can have what I think is a super cool feature for the podcast - an embedded player right on the page. Check it out, after the 2nd paragraph -
The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 365 | PipesMagazine.com - http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/radio-talk-show/the-pipes-magazine-radio-show-episode-365/

I can also optimize the site better to get improved rankings in Google, and increased traffic and memberships.

I could list off half a dozen things in the backend that make the site better, but it likely wouldn't make sense to most unless you run or build websites.

Here's one that forum members might appreciate. I know the mods do.

The management of spammers in the forums is HUGELY improved.

Since launch last Friday, 18 spammers have been caught and banned, BEFORE their post even went public for anyone to see. The site detects most spammers as they post, and quarantines the post without it even being published.

In the end, and I've said this before, this upgrade was mandatory and overdue for this site to survive another ten years.

 

[writingraav]

I also belong to three other "pipe forums", and the truth is....they are far easier to use.

The whole point is that other forums were much easy to use.That'swhy I wasn't using this one that much.Now that this one is so easy to use, it is my favorite.