How do you feel about how we are handling the vB Craze?

It's not just "here", it's everywhere, and I've said it for so long it's not even funny. I said it when the mess began at .com in May, and I keep saying it. You're either on one of two groups in life:

#1 - Those that speak out and are passionate about things
#2 - Those that roll over and take it.

I've been in group 1 for years

As far as how you're handling things? Honestly, I think the select few that don't like it should just learn their opinion is just an opinion, and in this case is a minority. How would they feel if they were suddenly told they couldn't talk about relevant issues? They'd be all pissy and whiney and complainy as well.

The fact is that this is an issue, and a topic that is going to get very heated. Did things need to change here for that? Uhh, no. I'm not saying whether it was good or bad that they did, because that's not my place, but, realistically, things were fine just as they were.

One thing that I've learned over time is that forums = drama. You can't get around it, you can't shake it off, you can't suppress it, it's going to happen. It's how you deal with it that matters.

 

Everyone should act like a grown up. Not a child throwing a tantrum. More people will listen if you stay rational and state you complaints and opinions with a little justification. I think Nick, Chris, and the others have kept their head and with a calming influence not allowed anyone to go over the top.



"I can only please one person a day. Today isn't your day. Tomorrow doesn't look to good either."

 

As I've said a hundred times easily, here and everywhere else:
This only works when you're dealing with mature individuals. You're right, things should try to be addressed calmly, you think this hasn't been done? All you get when dealing with IB calmly is laughed at. They don't give a damn about "calm" at all.

If IB cared about "calm", they would have settled this months ago, when discussions were calm. Well, calm compared to what they are now. IB is only concerned with one thing, your money. They're a greedy, thoughtless corporation who cares absolutely nothing about anything else, including their own reputation. They'll make their own reputation, and lie all the way to the top.

 

I think the subforum idea was awesome, but do not think it should be private. The posts in that forum have been referenced by many, many blogs, including TheRegister, and users coming from those sites to read the stories referenced there are now being turned away. The posts that are linked to from major publications should be easily accessible for the public to read since they are current and newsworthy.

Given that users can completely make this part of the forum disappear and never have to deal with it again, it also baffles me how people are still complaining.

People here are trying to frame it as useless discussion that should be minimized. This is very relevant discussion to someone making a decision about which software to buy or anyone considering converting their forums. It was further shown as relevant for the same above reasons... if the press finds it valid and links to it, it is probably valid. Not to mention the vast exposure your site got as a result of my thread which is now being relegated to a private part of the forum and being framed as just mindless bashing. (I don't think this was your intention, but that's what it looks like.)

I think you are doing a great job of handling the site, and I very much appreciate that you see the dangers of censorship, as clearly not all forums/people do. Please consider my suggestion of making the threads linked to from media public instead of hidden behind a required registration.

 

To be honest, I generally do agree with you. The problem is that if I leave it public and open for all, I get accused of not taking any action as a publicity stunt. :frown:

 

It doesn't really matter to me one way or the other -- Indifferent.

 

I'll be blunt. Anyone that says that to you and runs a forum is a hypocrite.

 

I think the poll results speak for themselves. There is only one person really unhappy with how it's being handled... the majority of people don't care either way.

Perhaps the people discussing these vBulletin issues are a minority... but the people complaining about it are clearly a minority as well.

Not to say that the minority shouldn't have influence, but in this case where there is clearly good information and relevance in those threads enough that they are linked from respectable places, it's more important for that information to be easily accessible than to make a change that satiates the demands of just a few users.

 

No denying it's been heavy but I have learnt a lot

Bottom line Nick is that in my opinion you have got it dead right

I have absolutely no connection/interest/usage with vbanything. I have not been a member here long and have always found it heavily centred around vb but the board was here well before I was so go with the flow. Take what is interesting, ignore the rest.

Now this whole flare up over vb as information regarding vb meant nothing to me.

As information as to how a subject can flare up, how people can react to all the aspects, how things polarise and deteriorate then how it can be effectively dealt with it has been brilliant. It's been a Life class.

The board is about admin or so it's title would suggest. Couldn't have been a better demo. All that learning without having to have it across our own boards.

Along with that individuals have come out with one liners which have really hit home with a truth that will be valuable for me to use in the future.

 

I'm wondering just how many more times you're going to feel the need to point that post out Nick? I mean really, you say that people are free to share their opinions here, yet John did, and he's been put down for it - how many times now? And now others are calling him a coward? (FAR from the truth). All because you feel the need to keep pointing out that one post, which he did come back and explain, mind you.

agghh! :o

It is clear that you don't know the person who made the comment.

 

What am I supposed to do? Not answer the question as to why that forum is restricted? :shrug:

It has nothing to do with being put down, not allowing members to freely share their opinions, or being called a coward. It's a fact that he stated what he did, and I'm just pointing it out to those who question the reasoning.

 

But how many times? Really, it was answered once. Let it go.

 

It was answered in a different thread.

Again: What am I supposed to do? Ignore the person asking the question?

 

ok never mind, obviously my point isn't being made, probably because I'm too sick to say it right. So never mind.

 

Well it seems to me that your point is that I'm saying it over-and-over again, too many times. I understand that.

But how can I possibly do both of the following simultaneously:

1. Answer the question(s) being asked (which are being asked multiple times in multiple threads), while
2. not pointing out John's (and others') view in my response?

The same question being asked multiple times = the same answer being given multiple times.

 

I'm dropping it, and hope we all can do the same.

 

I chose indifferent. The way I see it as your trying to do the right thing and it's not your fault if some members cannot voice their displeasure with decorum. I just ignore posts in that forum as all it is belly aching; I could do without reading the negativity. I'm not saying that there aren't good points being made but at this point in the debate all relevant points have been made and the good posts are drowned out with all the anti-fanboyism. In some people's eyes vBulletin can longer do anything right.

On the situation itself: I went from being majorly PO'ed about the licensing change, to understanding it, and finally to accepting it for what it is. I feel it's at least partially my own fault for locking myself into a commercial product and being at the mercy of developers for paid updates which resulted in gouging. I knew better than that. :2cents: