Welcome to Writers Talkback. If you are a new user, your account will have to be approved manually to prevent spam. Please bear with us in the meantime
yo dudes! Another advantage of phpbb boards is that it is not easy for people to create new accounts without being identified as a mod can click on their ip address.
I have 3 other names here - ill give you a prize if you get all 3 in the next 10 minutes :)
Hey Riaz and Joey, I'm beginning to like you guys! I can't understand why some folks on this group are so darn sensitive. They can't stand any kind of debate or criticism. All aspiring writers should get used to criticism as it helps toughen them up for future rejections, of which there will be many.
I think being provocative just for the sake of it is counter-productive ( though I guess it could seem like fun when you're taking advantage of the free wifi in Wetherspoons, as our multi-faceted friend would probably agree :) ) but it really does sometimes seem like hard work to have a decent, robust discussion without getting into a handbags-at-dawn showdown.
Oh look a bit of a heated debate look who turns up. Who rattled your cage Candy?
Peter I am a fairly long time poster and you know what I ain't going to change my name but what I am going to say is probably going to upset someone.
This is pathetic, I can see exactly what Riaz and Joey are saying, I am not a 'computer' genius Dorothy, but you know I really really really really really hate this board, NOT the people, but the software it is old fashioned and clunky and a PHP board would be far better, its a nightmare on here to follow links, show people photographs or emphasise something. You can't send someone on here a personal message you have to whisper and hope they find the thread you whispered to them in.
For some bizarre reason one of my fav bands has changed to this style of board and the members have just dropped like flies, because it is awful.
Up to a point everything that both Riaz and Joey have said are true, and they are right, even if we had the features you wouldn't have to use them.
There are some people on here who didn't want to change from the old board, and they have adapted.
There are also some people on here who can get a little high and mighty if someone says something they don't agree with, or think is wrong.
I've said time and time again we need a team of moderators willing to share responsibility to lock threads, delete inflamatory posts, but I get shot down because there are 800 odd posts in 24 hours, trust me I go on boards with a lot more and they cope.
As for the I've been here longer than you debate, give it up and grow up.
Candy will that be the next novel that none of us will be able to read because you daren't share your work with us just in case we give you a nasty review out of spite????
Pasting in Lexia's post on another thread which I think is appropriate here: 'May I suggest to anyone who is still in the process of a personal disagreement that you use the whisper facility between you so that we can get back to relative "normality" on here?'
Oh trust me Taff I quite enjoy baiting her, keeps her off other peoples backs. And lexia I refuse to sit back and let her use her poisonous tongue on anyone.
Somewhat surprised to find this thread is full of brick-bats ! Rather fun really - a lot of the threads here are a bit too full of kind words to be enthralling (a story about good people with no conflict lacks fizz ?!)
However (and I am a newbie so some may say I have no right to an opinion) I find one aspect of this current software really irritating - you can't post a link that someone can click on - cutting and pasting (esp long URLs) is a pain (phpbb does permit this). I also prefer boards where you can reply to a specific post (phpbb does not do this). We use phpbb for our village message board and don't do that because it's flashy but because it's free and runs on Linux (also free) - but I wouldn't claim it to be the best forum software - or the worst. See http://www.luxborough.org.uk (message board has only recently been renewed so not much there at present - and we're a tiny village of only 90 households !).
Other comments - phpbb software is free but the manpower from WN to implement the change undoubtedly wouldn't be.
Ironically the thing I find least helpful is not software-dependent - even after several months hanging around here I find it difficult to identify the best category for a post and would prefer not more than 2/3 of the categories currently here. As someone who frequents very busy fora I also find that many categories don't have anything new for considerable periods - reducing the numbers of categories would make the remaining ones more active (World + Queries ? Tales + Successes ? Break + Chat ?)
I think it was mentioned before that what is provided by the owning company is what we have, and we use it.
If you click on the tab Categories you will find an explanation of the categories available.
I would suggest you go to the main discussions when you log in, rather than individual categories as then you will see what has been commented upon.
You can set your account system so it will take you to the last comment you have read on a thread.
Hope this helps.
I have followed this thread with interest and I've just re read it. Now would someone please tell me what PHPBB stands for? Sorry if the answer is hidden in the thread somewhere only I cant find it. Thanks in anticipation.
I just found this, in a comment from Lexia -
Hey... I just found out what a PHPBB board is ! In case you didn't know everyone, seems it's a Richard Dawkins forum type ! I am quite in line with some of Richard Dawkins thinking BUT - should I look ? do I care?
I don't think we should be reviving this discussion, in truth, it arouses too many antipathies. Can it die again, please?
Good idea.
I thought by explaining to pragmatist it might help. But after all the trouble it caused last time it is better buried.
I'm sure Pragmatist will use the whisper system or the Private thread if he wants to know more.
Davaaris - phpbb is short for the programming language "php" plus "bb" for bulletin board - not a very inspiring name ! (BTW - this board is also written in php.) The phpbb board is one example of the huge range of free "Open Source" software which is helping to eat away at the Microsoft hegemony.
Carol - "If you click on the tab Categories you will find an explanation of the categories available." Thanks - I have read - and re-read them. Nonetheless, IMHO, the categories have a considerable degree of overlap.
I'm not about to advocate a change of board - having done this stuff myself I know how much work is involved and quite frankly I don't think there's THAT much of a difference in functionality - nor is there any evidence that the platform & software is finding the volume of users/posts impossible.
The point I was trying to make was that no board is perfect in the eyes of all beholders - whether that's because of the software or the way it's configured. I prefer the board at http://www.ybw.com/forums - but my other half doesn't like the format/features at all. Each to their own ?
I've been trying to find out what phpbb actually is, practically speaking and how it differs to this.
What best i can find is that talkback is purely discussion forums,
whereas phpbb can integrate webpages. I guess it's a tiny bit like msn groups.
one advantage of phpbb is that it can show weblinks more interactively i.e. being able to click on it to load the webpage. One of the better examples i've found of phpbb is IcyPhoenix, which i'm going to experiment with in order to see its benefits. I'll report on it in comparison to talkback if you like.
http://www.icyphoenix.com/
Tessadragon - I don't quite see your bit of "integrating web pages" although like many Open Source packages you can add lots of plugins if you choose. It is a well-used piece of software for std message boards - it is much more secure than most and of course it is free so has a wide audience - we all like free software !
I'm sure you're much more familiar with the TB board than I but I'll summarise the features of phpbb (as I know them) :
Within message : bold, italic, URL (clickable link), quote another post, list, image, smilies, inform user by email of response, create poll (occasionally fun but IMHO not v important and not that easy to design a good one !)
Within board: private message, userlist, groups (can't see an applicaition for this in a leisure environment)
Security : track user by IP address (useful to blcck porn posts etc), ask user to identify letters in graphic before joining, does not permit verification by email (I think this can be useful to block rubbish posts)
Structure : completely free structure to create categories, accessible user levels etc, rank users
sorry will finish later - have to do some testing P
This is what we have, it doesn't cost us anything, yes it is annoying and a phpbb would be better in a lot of ways but we don't have one, we aren't going to have one and anyway this place is more about the people than what it can do.
lol Neph, guys, I'm not jumping on the phpbb bandwagon. I'm just having a look at things cos i run websites for people so like to know everything i can about the web.
Comments
Why not introduce yourself in the usual way ?
I would love to discuss with you but am unsure about your definition of "normal" as you stated your "normal name".
I have 3 other names here - ill give you a prize if you get all 3 in the next 10 minutes :)
Peter I am a fairly long time poster and you know what I ain't going to change my name but what I am going to say is probably going to upset someone.
This is pathetic, I can see exactly what Riaz and Joey are saying, I am not a 'computer' genius Dorothy, but you know I really really really really really hate this board, NOT the people, but the software it is old fashioned and clunky and a PHP board would be far better, its a nightmare on here to follow links, show people photographs or emphasise something. You can't send someone on here a personal message you have to whisper and hope they find the thread you whispered to them in.
For some bizarre reason one of my fav bands has changed to this style of board and the members have just dropped like flies, because it is awful.
Up to a point everything that both Riaz and Joey have said are true, and they are right, even if we had the features you wouldn't have to use them.
There are some people on here who didn't want to change from the old board, and they have adapted.
There are also some people on here who can get a little high and mighty if someone says something they don't agree with, or think is wrong.
I've said time and time again we need a team of moderators willing to share responsibility to lock threads, delete inflamatory posts, but I get shot down because there are 800 odd posts in 24 hours, trust me I go on boards with a lot more and they cope.
As for the I've been here longer than you debate, give it up and grow up.
However (and I am a newbie so some may say I have no right to an opinion) I find one aspect of this current software really irritating - you can't post a link that someone can click on - cutting and pasting (esp long URLs) is a pain (phpbb does permit this). I also prefer boards where you can reply to a specific post (phpbb does not do this). We use phpbb for our village message board and don't do that because it's flashy but because it's free and runs on Linux (also free) - but I wouldn't claim it to be the best forum software - or the worst. See http://www.luxborough.org.uk (message board has only recently been renewed so not much there at present - and we're a tiny village of only 90 households !).
Other comments - phpbb software is free but the manpower from WN to implement the change undoubtedly wouldn't be.
Ironically the thing I find least helpful is not software-dependent - even after several months hanging around here I find it difficult to identify the best category for a post and would prefer not more than 2/3 of the categories currently here. As someone who frequents very busy fora I also find that many categories don't have anything new for considerable periods - reducing the numbers of categories would make the remaining ones more active (World + Queries ? Tales + Successes ? Break + Chat ?)
If you click on the tab Categories you will find an explanation of the categories available.
I would suggest you go to the main discussions when you log in, rather than individual categories as then you will see what has been commented upon.
You can set your account system so it will take you to the last comment you have read on a thread.
Hope this helps.
Hey... I just found out what a PHPBB board is ! In case you didn't know everyone, seems it's a Richard Dawkins forum type ! I am quite in line with some of Richard Dawkins thinking BUT - should I look ? do I care?
I don't think we should be reviving this discussion, in truth, it arouses too many antipathies. Can it die again, please?
Thought this had been buried. Dorothy, fetch your shovel...
I thought by explaining to pragmatist it might help. But after all the trouble it caused last time it is better buried.
I'm sure Pragmatist will use the whisper system or the Private thread if he wants to know more.
Carol - "If you click on the tab Categories you will find an explanation of the categories available." Thanks - I have read - and re-read them. Nonetheless, IMHO, the categories have a considerable degree of overlap.
I'm not about to advocate a change of board - having done this stuff myself I know how much work is involved and quite frankly I don't think there's THAT much of a difference in functionality - nor is there any evidence that the platform & software is finding the volume of users/posts impossible.
The point I was trying to make was that no board is perfect in the eyes of all beholders - whether that's because of the software or the way it's configured. I prefer the board at http://www.ybw.com/forums - but my other half doesn't like the format/features at all. Each to their own ?
What best i can find is that talkback is purely discussion forums,
whereas phpbb can integrate webpages. I guess it's a tiny bit like msn groups.
one advantage of phpbb is that it can show weblinks more interactively i.e. being able to click on it to load the webpage. One of the better examples i've found of phpbb is IcyPhoenix, which i'm going to experiment with in order to see its benefits. I'll report on it in comparison to talkback if you like.
http://www.icyphoenix.com/
I'm sure you're much more familiar with the TB board than I but I'll summarise the features of phpbb (as I know them) :
Within message : bold, italic, URL (clickable link), quote another post, list, image, smilies, inform user by email of response, create poll (occasionally fun but IMHO not v important and not that easy to design a good one !)
Within board: private message, userlist, groups (can't see an applicaition for this in a leisure environment)
Security : track user by IP address (useful to blcck porn posts etc), ask user to identify letters in graphic before joining, does not permit verification by email (I think this can be useful to block rubbish posts)
Structure : completely free structure to create categories, accessible user levels etc, rank users
sorry will finish later - have to do some testing P
This is what we have, it doesn't cost us anything, yes it is annoying and a phpbb would be better in a lot of ways but we don't have one, we aren't going to have one and anyway this place is more about the people than what it can do.