MX-5 OC Forum

I thought i was being constructive in letting you know what people felt. I was not pointing any fingers mate. Sorry you think of it like that. When are people going to reply to what they read & not to what they are thinking ?

I was being sincere in what I wrote & can do without these mind games. I'll just let you get on with it then

Regarding phone issues; There's not a lot that I can do with this software to make it any better. I've spent huge amounts of time developing solutions which would provide basic functionality, but the minor differences between my development environment and our live site stop them from working (due to very complicated licensing reasons I cannot run the exact same software on both).
What really doesn't help with the iPad/iPhone is that the underlying issue is a problem with Apple, so you can spend time making perfectly good "fixes" and discover that it still doesn't work because of 'bugs'/flaws.
There are some big changes happening to the backend in the coming months (moving to a new server), so once that's over and done with we can get everything else sorted out.

'flying flea' I know what you're saying with communicating rules with members, however;
1. As Geoff said, the moderators and administrators are club members at the end of the day, and there are plenty of us from a very wide demographic to hopefully get a balanced view.
2. In a public discussion it wouldn't be the majority that got what they wanted, it would be whoever could 'type'/shout the loudest and tire us out soonest. What we also have to keep in mind is the 90-9-1 rule, and that most people don't speak up, even when asked.

It would be interesting to see what rules people would come up with though, so if you want to start a thread on that note then go ahead - just as long as discussions stay on-track and inline with our current rules
Personally, I can't see it working at all. Too many cooks...don't even fit in the kitchen, let alone spoil the broth...

Hi Ramsay,

Funnily enough I agree with your last comment & have no interest in starting such a thread. But thank you for replying to my post & answering. Maybe what I said is not the answer but it was only a suggestion & it is what goes on (the mind games) weather we like it or not. For what ever reasons. I just like to talk straight & put suggestions forward for the better. If they are not feasible then so be it. But you can’t blame someone for trying to smooth things out & make things better.

I’m sure Geoff never meant any harm by saying lets just move on. But I am up for debate & explanations if it solves an issue or points people in the right direction. We are doing that now by talking about it in a rational manner. People are reading this & learning from what is said. Hopefully

01mx5:

Regarding phone issues; There's not a lot that I can do with this software to make it any better. I've spent huge amounts of time developing solutions which would provide basic functionality, but the minor differences between my development environment and our live site stop them from working (due to very complicated licensing reasons I cannot run the exact same software on both).
What really doesn't help with the iPad/iPhone is that the underlying issue is a problem with Apple, so you can spend time making perfectly good "fixes" and discover that it still doesn't work because of 'bugs'/flaws.
There are some big changes happening to the backend in the coming months (moving to a new server), so once that's over and done with we can get everything else sorted out.

So even with these big changes?? you still will not be able to join in and post up through your internet phone because of the software the OC's forum uses?

So we have made a new petty rule for phone internet users to keep them happy?, but not changed something that really would make a big differance to the internet phone users to help post and join in???as i have hit this problem many times when out and about browsing the threads with the long sig's on my phone with no problems ,and cannot answer a fellow owners question to give them the answer they need, or reply to a PM,and i am sure many others have also,which you do know of from me personally, so i ask the question again, how many votes do you need to change something on here, is it by OC members only? all fourm members? or Mods and admin, this is a straight question with no put downs that as not yet been answered.

If we are moving on as a club then lets move on ,and not with petty rules because some cannot be ar*ed scrolling on a phone.

M-m

Mazda-mender:

So even with these big changes?? you still will not be able to join in and post up through your internet phone because of the software the OC's forum uses?

Think of it like moving house before getting your new 50" HD TV. Moving house doesn't fix your old TV, but it gives you a nice new spacious living room for your new one

Mazda-mender:

So we have made a new petty rule for phone internet users to keep them happy?,

No, not at all. The change to the rule was not to aid phone users, though they are the ones that will notice and benefit from the change most - it's about general housekeeping and keeping the flow of threads, etc.

Mazda-mender:

but not changed something that really would make a big differance to the internet phone users to help post and join in???as i have hit this problem many times when out and about browsing the threads with the long sig's on my phone with no problems ,and cannot answer a fellow owners question to give them the answer they need, or reply to a PM,and i am sure many others have also,which you do know of from me personally, so i ask the question again, how many votes do you need to change something on here, is it by OC members only? all fourm members? or Mods and admin, this is a straight question with no put downs that as not yet been answered.

Changing software is not a 'flick of a switch' decision. The actual task of doing it isn't a big one in the overall scheme of things - but the research, planning, testing, migration etc takes time, and we need to get it right.
Last time we changed, we arguably didn't get it right, which is why we're where we are now with software that cannot be made to play nice with webkit mobile browsers.

I have software chosen which looks to be a good bet (see here) but at this point in time we're not in a position to change primarily because of 1. our server situation, and 2. the amount of free time I have to devote to support should it not go 100% to plan.
The next step of the process is to do some development to fully implement it with the rest of the club's services. At that point it can hopefully be opened up to people such as yourself to find all the problems with it. These problems will hopefully be minor and fixed quickly, and the process repeated. All posts/threads/users will then be migrated over and bar a slightly different look/feel, people will continue as if nothing ever happened (except we'll have new/better features, mobile support, etc).

 Thanks for your time Ramsey 

So basically  we just sit and wait and cross are fingers then, that hopefully it will solve a few problems? with the software that you do have in mind for the job, get the OC to put their hand in their pocket, to help make it move faster, because it was over 12 months ago when i mentioned this last, it is not on, that it is just on your shoulders when i am sure the OC can use some funds to get the ball rolling quicker,

After all ,the forum is the biggest feeding ground for future OC members, and their biggest advert.

M-m

Mazda-mender:

After all ,the forum is the biggest feeding ground for future OC members, and their biggest advert.

Perhaps, is there any evidence to back this up?

Steve

Mazda-mender:

the forum is the biggest feeding ground for future OC members, and their biggest advert.

Just a little side question here while the subject of adverts brought it to mind.

I've been wondering, Does the MX5OC get any sort of "Click though kick back" when someone goes to MX5Parts.co.uk from the advert at the top of our pages? It's quite a commonly used website revenue generator these days and I'm just wondering if the MX5Parts advert does it?

If the club does get this sort of "Referral payment", Wouldn't it be an idea to let us know? It might affect how us members choose to navigate to the MX5Parts site when we want to buy something from there.

It's just a little question that pop's into my head every once and a while (but never when I've been in front of my computer before).

Anyone know the answer?

Scotty B.

Mr Reman:

Anyone know the answer?

No, it's just a link, nothing more.

I'd imagine that mx5parts do review where their traffic comes from, so you could argue that there's value in using the link/banner as it would show how many people are attracted through the club.

01mx5:

it's just a link, nothing more.

Bit of a shame really. They must get hundreds of sales a month from people who click on that banner.

Oh well, I suppose I won't be deleting their sites link out of my "Favourites" list then.

01mx5:

 

Mr Reman:

Anyone know the answer?

No, it's just a link, nothing more.

I'd imagine that mx5parts do review where their traffic comes from, so you could argue that there's value in using the link/banner as it would show how many people are attracted through the club.

yes indeed, MX5 Parts are well aware of how many times the link on here is clicked, and its not so often as it used to be apparently, I think that's probably because we all know exactly where they are and all go straight there.  So clicking the link at the top of this forum is a very good thing to do... keep clicking!

G'day Wayne

Mazda-mender:

how many votes do you need to change something on here, is it by OC members only? all fourm members? or Mods and admin,

There is no mechanism that I am aware of for "voting" on anything to do with the forum. The mods and admins take on board comments made directly to them by members and debate a possible solution. This sometimes takes many weeks to come to a conclusion. Believe me when I tell you that we don't sit around PMing each other [as you Wayne have infered] all the discussion goes on in the mod/admin section of the forum. At some point someone, usually me [cause I'm a gobby B*****d] says OK lets see where we are, we then take the for and against, and move on. Some sucker, again often me gets to publish the changes and take all the flak. We know as do all of you guys that rule changes are liked by some and hated by others, but as I have said before, we believe that we administer the forum so that all members, not just a vocal 4 or 5 have a pleasant experience here. We get a lot more positive comments than we do negative ones about the forum, many people say that they enjoy the feeling of the place, very few say that they don't like the forum experience. Those that comment negatively usually either live with it, for all the positives that are to be enjoyed by all forum members, some choose to move on to other places, that is their choice to do this and we all wish that they are happy wherever they settle down.

As a final comment from me Wayne, if we were to take any sort of vote about changes to the forum, we would need to ask 8342 people the question. I sent an email to 8342 people about the rule changes and had no replies.....go figure

Geoff Walton:

Some sucker, again often me gets to publish the changes

When they decide to hold a vote on who gets to break bad news, You don't think it's strange that it always happens when it's around half four in the morning over there do you Geoff?

Geoff Walton:

and take all the flak.

I never realised that this was part of your role in the club......

Can we all join in?

If so, Geoff...... Your a git ! 

Was that OK? Too much? Not offencive enough? I can never gauge these things properly.

 (Just so your sure it was a joke mate)

Scotty "Possibly soon to be banned" B

Mr Reman:

Scotty "Possibly soon to be banned" B

You don't get out of it that easily Scotty, I enjoy your amusing comments too much to ban you, and yes I suppose I am a git in some peoples eyes....do I care......no

Hey up geoff

Geoff Walton:

[cause I'm a gobby B*****d]

Love it, how you doing Mr Gobby ,you know i mean no harm,and i come in peace, and thats why i am glad that you have not taken this the wrong way, because i have been known in the past to air my views

Geoff Walton:

I sent an email to 8342 people about the rule changes and had no replies.....go figure

I remember getting one on the new rules, as in this is how it is ,but nothing in the way of, what do you think,before we do???

Don't get me wrong i am all for change to make things easier and better,as when i pointed out that an extra red button at the top left hand side of the page full time( Home, Forum,Downloads.) that cannot be missed?, can be clicked to take you straight to the FAQ's section, the download button as been added, so it cannot be that hard to do, as i think at the min users do not know it is where it is because of the search to find it, and nothing,which i think makes more sense than a petty rule about sigs(which i now understand is about house keeping???, not about I phone user that cannot be ar*ed to scroll??) what ever, then there is in my eyes a bigger problem for the phone internet users, that i see is more important than the cannot be ar*ed to scroll grew, which is being able to post through your phone to this forum, with what Ramsy as said is in the pipe line??for some time in the future??

So yeah lets change stuff, but lets make it worth haveing, than petty rules, that to be honest was never a problem in the first place, change stuff that does need to be changed, you may see this as a petty thing to have made a big fuss over? but in the same way it was a petty thing to change in the first place, it goes both ways.

Hope your weather is better than the great open top roadster weather we are getting hit and miss here

M-m