Forum issue updates- including the posting of photos.

mark christian

My single link to GBHQ sent me what is essentially a quarterly update on the laundry list of questions and issues present in the forums: 

1) UNREADABLE THREADS: A handful of threads, or a single page of certain threads are, for reasons unknown, unreadable. This is a text issue which involves the forum software. It is outside the scope of Gun Broker and must be dealt with by Vanilla, the folks who wrote the software. As of yet, Vanilla hasn't found the problem.

2) Threads which cannot be posted: A member was upset when his thread, which contained a link to a website never made it onto the boards. There are a couple of possible reasons for this; the most likely being that the link lead to a site which was known, or suspected of, containing virus or malware. Once again, this is a software issue, with all such sites being blocked by Vanilla, and not GB. The OP could not provide the exact link to the site he attempted to post, there is no where to go with this issue. 

3) Posting photos, and the prohibited use of photos, in the forum:  Just like the previous forum, there is an ultimate bandwidth limit on the numbers of photos which the forum can support. Several weeks ago I asked HQ about it and was informed that forum was now using an "unusual amount" of bandwidth. I was then requested to search for individual members who might be posting excessive numbers of photos. Needless to say, a search wasn't necessary.  Long story short, that problem has been resolved. Frankly, I doubt that this specific issue will ever occur again, so I'm not going to set a cap on photos, but because there is a bandwidth limit, please show consideration to the membership by posting no more photos than are necessary. Naturally, if you use a hosting site such as Photobucket, the forums bandwidth limit is not affected.

One final word on photos: The positing of any photos which carry the watermark of, or are linked to, a rival firearms auction site is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.  A few weeks ago I instructed a specific moderator to monitor the boards for these types of photos. With the demise of the single specific offender, I don't envision any more problems. Never the less, I'm not budging on this issue. Gun Broker wants it that way, and that's what they'll get.

4) The use of profanity in the forums: We aren't in the barracks or on a construction site. We're in a privately owned forum and Gun Broker has set specific standards for language. Language was one reason for the demise of the Meme Thread. If you can't post the word, don't bring it into your thread or post by using a photo or meme. I have tasked a specific moderator to watch for language, and when I place someone in charge of something, they are in charge. Even if I don't think the word is a problem, if the moderator does, then the matter ends right there. If a post or thread was deleted for content, it will stay deleted.   

Any further information received from HQ will be passed along. I don't keep any secrets from you guys, so you now know all that I know...more or less    Mark C.

susie

Thanks for keeping us in the loop. Now if you would just share your bar.

Horse Plains Drifter

Thanks for the update. I would gladly partake of your bar, or susie's bar. Both put my shelf to shame!

mark christian

Problems and issues in the forums are dealt with to the best of my ability, but my link to the outside word (GBHQ) is severely limited. My last update from HQ was in early July, so I'm passing along what I've learned since then. On the flip side, no contact from HQ leaves Nunn and I free to pursue  our goal of removing all humor from the forum. 

NeoBlackdog

"On the flip side, no contact from HQ leaves Nunn and I free to pursue  our goal of removing all humor from the forum."
Gonna have to get rid of that pesky LOL button!

mohawk600

Thanks for the work that you do Mark....................and Nunn too.

cbxjeff

I don't think many of the members here realize the enormity of the job that the admins & mods have.  Looking at the entire forum site I see about 1.1M discussions.  They at one time were all scanned for rule infractions etc.  Naturally, not all at once but the size of this forum gives me a respect for what our admins & mods do. 

... and yet some complain on how this place is run!

Nanuq907

Well said Jeff.  To attempt to moderate, much less administer a board this size takes people that are on task, around the clock.  It's volunteer work, too.  Nobody's getting paid for keeping this place tidy and open.  So well done, all.
Now about that bar whose photos you so ignorantly posted.  Looking at the EXIF data I can say its latitude and longitude is.......
*erk*
Arkancide?  We may never know.  

Locust Fork

mark christian said:

Problems and issues in the forums are dealt with to the best of my ability, but my link to the outside word (GBHQ) is severely limited. My last update from HQ was in early July, so I'm passing along what I've learned since then. On the flip side, no contact from HQ leaves Nunn and I free to pursue  our goal of removing all humor from the forum. 

Ha ha ha ha

Grunt2

Thanks Mark...for the update!

montanajoe

btt.  A review by a couple seems needed.  Then there won't be any surprise when threads or posters are deleted.  Not up for discussion, has been gone over so many times.