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Albert
Webmaster
USA
3747 Posts |
 Posted - May 12 2008 : 09:16:11 AM
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The forum software will be upgraded this Friday, May 16 at around 9pm West Coast time. All links on the site will be updated to point to the new forum. The website will be down for a couple of hours during the upgrade.
Since this is kind of a late notice, the current forum software will continue to be functional for at least another week after the upgrade, which would be Friday, May 23. But after the upgrade, the only way to access the current software will be by directly typing in the URL: http://www.agonybooth.com/forum/
The current forum software may stay up for a while, depending on how long it takes me to archive all the posts and get them up and running on another site. But once the upgrade takes place, I ask that you please migrate your discussions over to the new forum as quickly as possible.
On the forum beta, some questions came up about the new forum software. I present those questions and answers here, to temporarily provide a forum upgrade FAQ.
Forum Upgrade FAQ
What will happen to the current forum?
All posts will be copied to a read-only archive somewhere on the web, so that all the posts aren't lost forever.
Will there still be a list of active topics on the main agonybooth.com home page?
In the interests of getting the new forum up and running within a reasonable amount of time, I'm not going to spend time getting the list of active topics on the agonybooth.com home page working again. Instead, there will just be a link to a page within the forum that lists active topics. Kind of like what the current forum has: http://www.agonybooth.com/forum/active.asp
I may get the list of topics working again in the future, but probably not. I suspect a lot of people are constantly reloading the main home page just to see the active forum topics, and using up a lot of bandwidth in the process.
Will my login be copied to the new forum?
Yes. All user logins will be re-created in the new forum. If you want to keep your current password, you'll have to copy it over manually by going to a special page that will be linked at the top of the forum.
Ads are the second post in each topic, can you change that?
The placement of the ads is decided by the forum software, not me. Also, no matter where I put ads, people will complain about it. Basically, you'll just have to deal.
Will post counts get migrated over?
Yes, your post count will stay the same. However, this may cause the forum to behave in unexpected ways. (For instance, in your profile it will say you have an insane percentage, e.g. 17,000%, of the total posts in the forum. This seems to be a side effect of having a post count greater than the total number of posts.)
But I felt it was important to copy post counts, primarily to prevent people from going nuts in the new forum trying to get back to their former post counts. (Just for the record, in the new forum, there are no perks associated with a higher post count.)
Why can't I delete my posts?
I never cared for allowing people to delete their posts. It causes all sorts of issues, like when certain forum members act like jerks, and then delete all their posts to cover it up later. I much prefer people not being able to delete posts, and now I have forum software that gives me the option, so I'm using it.
How do I upload avatars?
The new forum software has built-in functionality to upload avatars.
How will I crop my avatar?
Whereas the current software requires a square avatar, the new forum accepts avatars up to 150 pixels wide and 200 pixels high. If you upload something larger, it will be resized to fit within the limits. The aspect ratio will be preserved, so the image won't end up distorted or stretched. There's no need to crop your avatar.
There's a file size limit, too, which will be 50 KB.
Can I upload an animated GIF as my avatar?
Yes.
Can I upload a PNG file as my avatar?
Yes.
Why do I have to log in to post?
That's how the new software works. At the very least, this will end the "how do I edit my post" confusion that always comes about when people don't log in.
How do I change my title?
There doesn't appear to be anything like custom titles in this software. (Custom titles are the blurbs that appear below your name after you reach 250 posts.)
However, in your profile there's a field called "Location". You can put anything you want there, and it'll be shown below your name on every post. I know it's not quite the same as custom titles, but it's about the closest we have for now.
(Again, "Location" is not related to post count. Anyone can edit their location.)
Will I be able to create polls?
All members will be able to create polls in the new software. (But if people go overboard and make every single thread a poll, this option will probably be disabled.)
Can you turn off the flood control?
In the new forum software, you'll have to wait 120 seconds between posts. This is the same as the current forum. Hopefully, it's not too much to ask for people to think for more than two minutes about what they're about to post.
What are ranks?
Ranks are similar to what's in the current forum, with Ensigns, Lt Commander, Commander, etc. In the new forum software, there's only "Newbie" (0-5 posts), "Member" (6-30 posts), and "Advanced Member" (30+ posts). Ranks only encourage people to post for the sole purpose of upping their post count, so that's as complicated as ranks will get.
Will my signature get copied over?
Yes. The current software stores signatures as HTML, whereas the new software stores them as BBCode. So I wrote code to convert HTML to BBCode. It's not perfect, but it should gracefully handle 99% of the signatures in this forum.
How will movie discussion be split up?
The Movies forum will have a sub-forum called "Specific Films & Franchises". This is for all topics about one single film (including upcoming films) or specific franchises (ex: Star Wars, 007).
What will happen to the Everything Else section?
There will still be an Everything Else section. But if you post something that belongs in another forum area, your topic will be moved. Also, if moderators can't figure out what your topic is supposed to be about based on the first post, the topic will be closed immediately.
There will also be an "In the News" forum for celebrity news, obits, weird/funny/stupid news, and current events. Most of the traffic currently in EE will go to this forum.
Can I change the font of my posts?
There's a [font] tag in the new software, it's just not in the toolbar buttons. If you want to post some text in Arial, just use [font=Arial].
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The Agony Booth Forums will be upgraded on Friday, May 16. |
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JoelKnight
is pretty handy with computers, FOOL!
USA
617 Posts |
Posted - May 12 2008 : 5:52:37 PM
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| Thanks for the update. Ever since the forum upgrade was announced, I was a bit reluctant to start new forum threads, since without a fixed date for the move, I didn't know whether or not they were about to be cut off during the switch. |
"Gee, thanks snicks. Oh, wait, you're not snicks. Man, am I surprised." -- Sillstaw on me
oh...you guys are going to make me blush. -- the real snicks
"The trailer released by Paramount pictures shows utter disrespect for the deep spiritual significance of the Guru. It shows the Guru in a very poor light and encourages the audience to laugh at the Guru. I could not believe my eyes when the trailer revealed Mike Myers playing a Guru through a whole range of denigrating scenes, some of which are quite lurid, such as the Guru wearing a chastity belt, having an erection, involved in bar brawls, accepting money to playing cupid, etc." -- Sean Clarke of the Spiritual Science Research Foundation on The Love Guru trailer |
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Premier Blah
is killing space bitches in heaven
Canada
4631 Posts |
Posted - May 12 2008 : 5:55:55 PM
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| Hopefully it'll all go smooth as a button, or however the hell you call it. When will those questions be answered though? |
"I've just found out that I have saboteurs in the tower! I still do not have the meteorite piece! I'm about to lose everything! We can talk about this later, if later even occurs!"
Clearly you all are not ready for space travel. I guess I'd better hang up my career as sci fact author.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.
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Gul Torgo
Will BLEEP the BLEEP up your BLEEP sideways
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - May 13 2008 : 4:50:42 PM
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| Ah, cool news. Guess I'd better make a new avatar that works with the new size, then. |
I will now observe the ungainly peach colored creature. His humid, fleshy extensions struggle as he attempts to conquer some simple, seemingly purposeless toy. Already a sense of pity overcomes me, yet I am repelled by my own compassion. Although his biological makeup implies a living thing, I am sure we shall discover him to be an animated piece of refuse or feces; but I must remain impartial even as he mocks everything I hold dear. I hate him, and can take comfort only in my own cruel detachment. It looks at me now, and no flicker of comprehension can I discern in his flat and lifeless eyes. I can only pray that his tiny spinal column conveys no spark of truth, no splinter of the horrible reality that is his own soul. My god, I pray for his death as do all things that love rightness and decency. |
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Blofeldian
Keeps the Showers Away
USA
329 Posts |
Posted - May 13 2008 : 5:45:46 PM
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Oh, no; I'll have to restart my Reader Recap of You Only Live Twice all over again!  |
There's no hurry, you see; we have all the time in the world... |
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Albert
Webmaster
USA
3747 Posts |
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Albert
Webmaster
USA
3747 Posts |
Posted - May 13 2008 : 11:12:55 PM
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| quote : Originally posted by BlofeldianOh, no; I'll have to restart my Reader Recap of You Only Live Twice all over again!
At this point, I'd say there's a 50-50 chance I even copy your login over to the new forum.
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The Agony Booth Forums will be upgraded on Friday, May 16. |
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Blofeldian
Keeps the Showers Away
USA
329 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2008 : 12:35:56 PM
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Okay, sir. If it's to do with the recap, I'll discontinue it; if not, my apologies; I only want to stay in line.  |
There's no hurry, you see; we have all the time in the world... |
Edited by - Blofeldian on May 14 2008 12:36:43 PM |
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Albert
Webmaster
USA
3747 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2008 : 3:10:22 PM
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| quote : Originally posted by BlofeldianOkay, sir. If it's to do with the recap, I'll discontinue it; if not, my apologies; I only want to stay in line.
Well, the recap is part of it, but I would say the main issue is that you've already been banned once, and all you did was register under a slightly different name to get around the ban. You don't seem to have any understanding of why you were banned in the first place, and you've completely refused to learn anything from it.
That, I think, is reason enough to ban you again. But yes, your nutty reader recap (8 pages of chatter before even starting the recap, insanely detailed shot-by-shot descriptions, one screencap for every 30 seconds of screen time, etc.) certainly isn't helping your case.
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The Agony Booth Forums will be upgraded on Friday, May 16. |
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Albert
Webmaster
USA
3747 Posts |
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Blofeldian
Keeps the Showers Away
USA
329 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2008 : 3:42:57 PM
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| quote : Originally posted by Albert
Well, the recap is part of it, but I would say the main issue is that you've already been banned once, and all you did was register under a slightly different name to get around the ban. You don't seem to have any understanding of why you were banned in the first place, and you've completely refused to learn anything from it.
I do have an understanding, though:
1. I took up too much bandwidth from my incessant posting.
2. I was far too eager to post.
3. I really should have put more thought into what I post.
I respect you greatly, Albert: You're a very fair moderator, and every one of your recaps have left tears streaming from my eyes; as such, I would be very sad indeed to leave the Booth.
Still, your decision goes, and I will abide by it; whatever it may be. |
There's no hurry, you see; we have all the time in the world... |
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Albert
Webmaster
USA
3747 Posts |
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Albert
Webmaster
USA
3747 Posts |
Posted - May 15 2008 : 11:43:23 AM
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I updated the question "What will happen to the Everything Else section?"
I tested out the moderation in the new forum, and it doesn't work quite how I want it to work. So I won't be approving new topics in Everything Else. However, I will be taking a more aggressive approach to make sure topics are moved to the right area. Also, any generic, catch-all topic in EE will be closed immediately. If I can't figure out what your topic is about from the first post, it will be closed.
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The Agony Booth Forums will be upgraded on Friday, May 16. |
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Blofeldian
Keeps the Showers Away
USA
329 Posts |
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Premier Blah
is killing space bitches in heaven
Canada
4631 Posts |
Posted - May 15 2008 : 6:26:18 PM
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| Will there be a separate place for the 'Staff' like during the trial run? I'm just wondering should I ever manage to make a readable article to be one of you all. |
"I've just found out that I have saboteurs in the tower! I still do not have the meteorite piece! I'm about to lose everything! We can talk about this later, if later even occurs!"
Clearly you all are not ready for space travel. I guess I'd better hang up my career as sci fact author.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.
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Premier Blah
is killing space bitches in heaven
Canada
4631 Posts |
Posted - May 15 2008 : 7:15:19 PM
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| Also I feel like asking for a story section which exists only for me to write and post my stories in. |
"I've just found out that I have saboteurs in the tower! I still do not have the meteorite piece! I'm about to lose everything! We can talk about this later, if later even occurs!"
Clearly you all are not ready for space travel. I guess I'd better hang up my career as sci fact author.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.
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Albert
Webmaster
USA
3747 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2008 : 10:02:22 AM
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| quote : Originally posted by Premier Blah
Will there be a separate place for the 'Staff' like during the trial run?
Yes, the forum areas will be pretty much the same as the preview.
quote : Originally posted by Premier Blah
Also I feel like asking for a story section which exists only for me to write and post my stories in.
Er... You know you can always start your own blog, right?
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The Agony Booth Forums will be upgraded on Friday, May 16. |
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Gul Torgo
Will BLEEP the BLEEP up your BLEEP sideways
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2008 : 11:28:48 AM
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| Well, I have 4 new Gordon Ramsay avatars built to the new specs. Bring on the new forum! |
I will now observe the ungainly peach colored creature. His humid, fleshy extensions struggle as he attempts to conquer some simple, seemingly purposeless toy. Already a sense of pity overcomes me, yet I am repelled by my own compassion. Although his biological makeup implies a living thing, I am sure we shall discover him to be an animated piece of refuse or feces; but I must remain impartial even as he mocks everything I hold dear. I hate him, and can take comfort only in my own cruel detachment. It looks at me now, and no flicker of comprehension can I discern in his flat and lifeless eyes. I can only pray that his tiny spinal column conveys no spark of truth, no splinter of the horrible reality that is his own soul. My god, I pray for his death as do all things that love rightness and decency. |
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