Question about site improvements: Personal Ads, Albums, Blogs, Chat

[Brian]

We wish to upgrade the site to more current stable software and and get a live chat room back as that has been a big request by everyone.

Sadly moving the software causes issues with some of the tweaks we have like personal ads, albums and blogs.

So the question is:

How do you feel about upgrading the software, retaining all these features and adding live chat BUT there is a decent chance the data in personal ads, blogs and albums would not move over properly. The albums could likely have to be re-uploaded, blog posts re-posted and personal ad profiles re-filled out.

Please share your thoughts.

[Jazminedress]

its just an opportunity to upload new pictures, and it will clean up the ones of people who havent been here in years

[pete7]

a refresh is a great idea. do miss the live chat

[Long Duck Dong]

I think the update is a good idea......the energy of the forum is sluggish and dull... and while there is some interesting blogs and threads that may be lost, it would be good in that active members will update their ads, so it will be easier for members to see who is active and looking.

members can always save copies of the blogs that they enjoyed reading, and repost them, after the update, with credit to the original poster if they so choose....

there is still a lot of life in the site, its up to the members to make the site into a site to enjoy and visit, so thanks for updating the site but its also up to us as well.

[MAcpl69]

I'm in favor of an update. I use a tablet quite often and some of the current features don't work. If we have to reload data it will weed out old outdated data.

[SilkyHoseLover]

I'm with those who speak out in favor of a refresh, and don't wouldn't mind having to replace photos or blogs. I haven't blogged, although I have given it a thought.

I'm definitely in the minority here regarding chat, though. Especially if it's text-only chat, which is what I imagine the old one was. I've never even tried the chat, which is the favorite feature for quite a few members. I have chatted on other sites, though, but not with any regularity.

The problem is the same with any online chat opportunity that comes up -- even tech support. I'm a pretty fast typist, and am never at a loss for words when writing something. Most of the time, I'll dash off a response using complete sentences, and mostly correct grammar, punctuation and spelling, and will then wait for what seems like 2 or 3 minutes for someone on the other end to write back 'LOL' or 'me to' (intentional bad writing for illustration purposes...) It just usually bores the snot out of me...

I was in an online chat with a tech support the other day, and the waits for his comments/questions/answers were interminable. I tried to give as much information about the problem as possible to help with the suggested course of action, and would write 4 or 5 individual points about the problem, pausing for a minute or so in between, in case he had something to say. And when he would come in with a comment, it was non-responsive to what I'd already written. At one point, I had to ask 'Did you read what I just wrote?' I wasn't trying to be a prick, but I really wanted to know why he would ask a question I'd previously answered, and it was staring at him in the text box.

After a continuing this way for way longer than was necessary, and waiting up to 5 minutes between responses, I finally asked 'Am I interrupting your nap?' At about the same time that I hit the 'Send' button for this comment, I got a message 'Sorry for the delays in chat.'

After a few more nonproductive minutes, he finally came back with 'It sounds like the device is defective.' :rolleyes: Well, duh. No shit. It took 50 minutes to get to that point. That, in a nutshell, is my typical chat experience.

Video chat's a bit more useful, given that I have things that some guys like to look at...

[KDaddy23]

As a retired systems engineer, I know the problems of updating server software and dealing with incompatibilities with newer software... which is why I'm glad I'm not the one working this project! I use the blogging feature a lot and it would be a shame to lose it and its content - is there a way to archive it and reload it into a newer feature? If not and if a new blogging feature is included, I can always write more stuff to share with the membership.

[csreef]

If there is someone who is hawking their goods, could we get a Report User button?

[GayGuy04]

Sounds like things are going in the right direction can't wait to see the results

[void()]

"Roger, go with with throttle up!"

Like the idea of an update. :) Sounds like a Stan, get to the plan. :)

[GayGuy04]

Hope everything is going well with the website Brian

[Brian]

Moving from one version of the software to the newer one has been tough and tedious, but making progress!

[csreef]

Moving from one version of the software to the newer one has been tough and tedious, but making progress!

More power to you! Thank you so much!

[chicagom]

I misslive chat the most. Good luck Brian.

[McBice]

Thank you so very much Brian, for keeping this site going. Even though I'm not a very active member, I have been coming here fairly regularly since sometime in '04 because of the sense of community there is here. My vote is YES, whatever it takes, however long it takes, take your time. Thank you again for having a grip on the steering wheel and making an effort.

[SuckerMC]

Bump.

[dan.woodlawn]

In favor of the restart..start fresh

[dan.woodlawn]

Also, its about communication...perhaps as a larger plan to convince the 90% that DONT register and simply browse.
1. create a pinned post to explain when pics adn whatever else will be removed...DOWNLOAD NOW!!
2. Perhaps burst email making people aware, because it seems like some of us log in dauly, while others more random
3. perhaps as part of a larger re-engagement that would prompt the 90% of us folks that DONT register and just remain a viewer. How do we get those folks to register?57322

[Want2ForPlay]

In favor of the restart..start fresh

Yes, total reboot. I've not been here long, but there seems to be less that works well than does.

[rukiddingme]

Is there still a fanclub level or simply free membership? Views for pics still limit to 10 without upgrading.

[softfruit]

To be honest, after - what, sixteen years or something - it's long overdue a reboot.

[SuckerMC]

More options for video posts to where they are directly posted like YouTube videos would be nice.

[cbxer66]

SSDD!
SOSO!