Slippery Slope?

[shadowwyvern]

I want to chime in with a comment about recent "changes" here.
I have heard several users (yes, this is a multple-thoursand user forum, but still...) complain about various thread closings and such. Not to mention the new ads, which initially were so annoying I disbaled java. Played hell with my net browsing, so I gave it up and renenabled it. Now I am fairly used to them. What concerns me much more though is the policy related complaints. I like the attitude here now, and I am sure I would have liked it when the site was smaller too, and am saddened to hear how much it has changed, and IS changing. The one thing about ads is they do not really affect content, once you learn to live with them. But I would like perhaps some assurance that censorship will not become rampant here as some seem to fear. Content (mainly user procduced information, discussions, commentary, jokes, arguments) is what I think we are all here for, and if that becomes choked off, well, all the ads in the world will likely do no good.

 

[Lethal]

There have been no recent policy changes here. The Forum Rules are what they are, and it is the job of the mods/admins to see that they are adhered to.

If a thread gets locked or removed, you can always ask a mod/admin about it via PM. We have nothing to hide and are held accountable for our actions, all of which are documented.

We don't routinely censor things here. Well, except for maybe the drive-by spammers who want you to click their referral links for free ipods and other crap. That happens more often than you'd think; we "take out the trash" so you don't have to wade through it.

 

[CommanderFrank]

This forum is specifically for Suggestions and Feedback (hence the title) once a thread strays into discussion, it is closed. We do not take lightly members openly encouraging others to block our sponsors, this site cost mega bucks to keep running and how it is accomplished should not concern members who pay nothing to use them. If you wish to discuss anything under the sun and have a good time talking to others, I would suggest you join our subscription forum General Mayhem for fun, but this not the purpose of this forum....it is strictly information, not a discussion forum, not for jokes and certainly not for rants.

 

[ilkhan]

i think hes talking the forums in general, not this section, major.
I generally stay in the forums Im interested in, but that does include 12 of them. Haven't seen any censorship, and Ive been here quite long enough to have noticed changes. The attitudes from new members I think has changed, but the knowledge base is still quite strong, I think.

 

[Joves]

Granted Im not a fan of the ads but, then I usnderstand the point of needing the cash inflow to keep our home going. If Kyle had to charge for this forum you would hear crickets here. Besides the ads get me to where I need to go to buy stuff and, keep the economy healthy.

 

[Deleted member 12106]

This forum is specifically for Suggestions and Feedback (hence the title) once a thread strays into discussion, it is closed. We do not take lightly members openly encouraging others to block our sponsors, this site cost mega bucks to keep running and how it is accomplished should not concern members who pay nothing to use them. If you wish to discuss anything under the sun and have a good time talking to others, I would suggest you join our subscription forum General Mayhem for fun, but this not the purpose of this forum....it is strictly information, not a discussion forum, not for jokes and certainly not for rants.

So you are saying if we paid a membership then we got the right to complain about the intelitext and ads? I paid 5$ to check out general mayhem then 15$ to get the life time.

Do we who paid get the option to disable ads, or at the very least, intelitext? I can tell you I go out of my way to avoid most sites with intelitext.

 

[CommanderFrank]

I'm saying nothing to that effect, but I will add that a subscription to GenMay gives you exactly that, admission to the subscribed forums and some perks. It does not however give you any more imput into the forum operations that a non-subscriber.

I directed the poster to GM for off topic posting, which isn't allowed in any of the other forums on the board. Nothing else.

 

[Deleted member 12106]

I'm saying nothing to that effect, but I will add that a subscription to GenMay gives you exactly that, admission to the subscribed forums and some perks. It does not however give you any more imput into the forum operations that a non-subscriber.

I directed the poster to GM for off topic posting, which isn't allowed in any of the other forums on the board. Nothing else.

this site cost mega bucks to keep running and how it is accomplished should not concern members who pay nothing to use them

Thats the commet that caught my eye, as I am paying or did pay, rather...and once someone had said that paid members would have the option to remove ads....Just wondering is all

 

[CommanderFrank]

Kyle removed the Newegg ads from GM early on, but due to the members asking for their return, they were. The Intellitext issue has been brought up there, but the setting is universal and isn't customizable on a forum by forum basis at this point in time.

 

[Deleted member 12106]

That sucks. What about the side ads?

 

[Megadeth_Guy01]

The Intellitext issue has been brought up there, but the setting is universal and isn't customizable on a forum by forum basis at this point in time.

All the better reason to bail on them.

 

[Lethal]

All the better reason to bail on them.

I can't speak for Kyle, so let me just give my personal observations/opinions...

At this point, IntelliTXT is an experiment here. I don't think even Kyle will have a handle on its revenue generation for a while.

Things aren't set in stone right now. I wouldn't rule out the possibility of changes, like perhaps Subscribers having the option to turn it off. But again, I can't speak for Kyle.

I do know that certain changes would take some custom programming with vBulletin. We have a vBull guru on board, but since a vBull upgrade for the forums is planned, it really wouldn't make any sense to tweak this version further prior to that.

 

[dekard]

but since a vBull upgrade for the forums is planned, it really wouldn't make any sense to tweak this version further prior to that.

Is there any rough time frame when this upgrade *might* be completed?

 

[Lethal]

Is there any rough time frame when this upgrade *might* be completed?

My guess would be when vBull 3.6 goes gold.

 

[MagnusMinor]

I personally don't mind the ads too much. Of course, I do a lot of my browsing from work which blocks all the ads and banners so it usually is not a concern. If I buy something from Newegg or somewhere though, I do try to click the banners here to help out one of my favorite sites.

If you have a problem with Intellitxt then do your homework. Google searching turns up several ways to block it very easily. (Not saying you should block it, just pointing out the obvious...)

 

[memphis_1220]

If you have a problem with Intellitxt then do your homework. Google searching turns up several ways to block it very easily. (Not saying you should block it, just pointing out the obvious...)

Ahem

(23) Any discussion of AD BLOCKING software or instruction for using ad blocking regarding this forum or any other discussion in general of attempting to block advertisement will result in a no questions asked permanent ban on your account. This is not done lightly, rather deliberately to deny access to those who choose to utilize this forum, but not support our sponsors. It takes money to finance the cost of bandwidth, especially a forum of this size and if you don't care enough to support us through our advertisers, then we don't need your business. This will be the only warning with no discussion.

 

[CommanderFrank]

The slippery slope is getting just a bit too slippery and some members may slide on out if this thread goes on much longer. What you do with your own settings is your business, but the discussion of adblocking is our business.....literally.