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Post by M-G Corki on Jul 19, 2007 18:58:24 GMT
It is with great pleasure that I can announce the arrival of Jason, the owner of DM, to the Band's off board site to run a question and answer session about the move back to DM from off board sites with you, the ORG members of the Band of the Red Hand. I suspect during his time here he'll see the extent of our off boards, and why Kath called us "the most organised ORG at DM". I'm not 100% sure how this is to be run, but for now, post any questions and/or concerns that you have. We will then wait for Jason's reply, and I am sure a very interesting, but hopefully extremely fruitful and benefically for all. I will ask people to remain civil. It wouldn't surprise me this could (and I use the word 'could') turn into a debate. So just have a quiet think about things before you post. But you know, I tend to be lenient unless I see anything that is way out of line. That is about it. Happy question asking.
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Post by amavia on Jul 19, 2007 19:02:03 GMT
Ow I was about to make a really silly comment....
No I'll stick to the topic....
Let me gather some questions....
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Post by fhornofvalere on Jul 19, 2007 19:12:16 GMT
Jason, I have discussed briefly via email about Reviews. Now that you are here I'd like you to take a look at what I was referring to. Album ReviewsThat is one of our three types of reviews. The Album Archives thread also shows what I was talking about as far as archives. I have two questions for you of this. 1. Though you have expressed much interest in moving to the wordpress, could we keep them on the current forum setup if we really wanted to? 2. We have over 500 reviews on these boards which will be available for archiving. I'd like to ask for one very small exception to the "no associating with DM" rule. For the reviews already written, would it be permitted to still have links to them in an archive over in the new subboards? Basically, if you say yes, all new reviews would still be at DM, but it would enable us to still keep these 500 on record, essentially completely solving the problem of losing so much info. Both of these are my largest concerns not answered, though except for the ease of setting up usergroups and whatnot (which you did comment on in your email to corki) is the biggest issue with me.
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Post by deathdealer on Jul 19, 2007 19:17:03 GMT
Thank you, Jason, for taking time to come here, and see our happy family. This means alot to me in that you do care about what we as an Org would like in our new home.
So thank you!
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Post by Northie on Jul 20, 2007 9:03:45 GMT
hello! could you please clarify for everyone what exactly a subdomain is and how it would work? thank you!
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Post by Froix on Jul 20, 2007 9:10:27 GMT
That is if we are gonna get a subdomain at DM. I haven't read anything confirming that.
And Thanks for taking the time with us Jason. We really appreciate it.
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Post by fhornofvalere on Jul 20, 2007 10:46:06 GMT
Two more questions about subdomains.
If we got subdomains... 1. Would there still be the same public boards on the main DM forum site?
2. Would the subdomains be private, or only the boards which we deem as such?
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Post by Blademaster Mystica on Jul 20, 2007 11:59:47 GMT
Welcome Jason and thanks for taking the trouble and time to do this. I very much appreciate the effort and I'm sure I'm not the only one here that does. I have quite a few questions (big surprise lol) of different levels and importance and some may overlaps with other people's Q's. My biggest concern right now is for our Newspaper. The Hornsounder IntroductionThe Hornsounder has become much more than just a points earning tool for the Band since March this year and is now close to a business of it's own. It has a team of people working on it permenantly as well as random, ad hoc reporters and players. Corki's policy is to let the Editor in Chief have full authority in how the HS is run, so long as it doesn't collide with the most important rule of DM and the Band: pg13 and it has to be an ORGwide tool, without any preference or prejudice towards any one regiment. These are also my two biggest rules as I stand behind them 150%. The newspaper now also offers the other DM ORGS, DIVS and Groups the opportunity to use it to highlight their activities, events, news and to introduce themselves to those DM members that are not yet a member of their group. Though a few have deemed this 'arrogant' of the Band to offer a service to DM, most ORGS and people have expressed a genuin appreciation for the newspaper and an increase of interest and involvement has been noted (except for this month, which is entirely due to the move that has everyone's mind on other things, I imagine). Here is an example of the old and new Hornsounder, which speaks for itself, I hope. Organisation and autonomy: I now have full authority over the HS boards which includes creating threads and boards, setting up my team, policy of the HS, points earning opportunities, creation and use of graphics, working method, etc. This involves everything from the smallest to the most important aspects of the newspaper and even Corki abides by the rules I set for it. The only thing I am subjected to are the above mentioned rules. I am fully trusted to operate in the best interest of the newspaper and the Band and Corki doesn't interfere in any way in that matter but instead offers his assistance, ideas and participates in helping to make the HS a success. We have a habbit at the Band of trusting the people that are put in a position and give them the autonomy that comes with each position. This is one of the reasons we feel so very much connected and involved in our ORG. Because we are given a chance to put something of ourselves into it. Q: How much freedom would I have to do what I feel is necessary for the HS's wellbeing and thus for it's users without having to go into a debate for each things I or one of my team have in mind? Will Corki and the Senior Staff of the Band still be able to make boards upon request or will we have to wait on the DM Admins, with the risk of each request starting a discussion in which we have to prove our need and defend our request and thus prolonging the implementation of something we feel is needed? I fully realise that the Admins have lives of their own too and other responsibilities, but if I'm going to be faced with weeks of waiting each time something needs to be done on admin level this will have a direct and negative impact on the Hornsounder and the experience people have with it. Q: Will the HS remain the property of the Band or is there a chance it will be labeled property of DM and thus fall under the jurisdiction of the DM Admins? The HS is a Band newspaper and belongs to the Band, which also means I must protect it from being copied or usurped. I know this may sound paranoid, but I have enough people knowledge to know that envy and jealousy are nasty beasts that have already popped up on several occasions. My responsibility as EiC is to my newspaper and to the Band and thus it is in my view a valid concern. This coincides with other people's Q on whether or not it would be possible to make our ORG leader the Admin of our ORG on the new subdomain or subboards. And hopefully shows the importance of this question to the Hornsounder. Format and ownership issues: I decide the format of the Hornsounder together with my team and the Senior Staff of the Band. That includes how it is published on DM, how we operate in the pre-publishing period, how articles are submitted, etc. Members of my team and myself have created and are planning to create all sorts of tools for the Hornsounder as an ongoing process of improving the newspaper and the experience people have with it. At the moment the policy is that whatever is made for the Hornsounder belongs to the Hornsounder and not to any one person, including Corki. The creators are all aware of this and accept it, mainly because the HS belongs to the Band, their home. We decide the 'look' of the Hornsounder and I have seen you mention the 'look' of DM. Q: will we keep the freedom to determine the 'look' of the HS and all related matters? And will the ownership of whatever is created for the HS remain in the hands of the Band or do you foresee that this will come to be in the hands of the DM Admins? Websites: One of the things I have been working on the last two months is the creation of a website for the Hornsounder as a new tool for the Band members to earn points with, for the readers and reporters to use as a resource and inspiration tool. The idea of having to pass that website into the hands of DM's Admins at some point frankly doesn't sit well with me. This would be a website solely on the Hornsounder and related matters, but as the Hornsounder is a Band (and thus a DM) tool, it could be considered DM related. The prospect of putting in all the work and time and effort to create an extra tool for the Hornsounder and Band members and then having to put it in the hands of the DM Admins, none of which is a Band member, is not something I'm looking forward to. This was supposed to be 'our' website over which 'we' decide all aspects of it. Q: when the websites are to be put on a DM location, will we keep our independance over the website or will they be put under the rule of the DM Admins? Who will have the authorisation to take all decisions regarding the website (from look to contents)? I'm very much concerned that we would be reduced to 'inputters' without any say as to the look, contents, policy, use, etc of a tool we created in the first place. The above questions can also be considered for each regiment and their respective tools, but my first concern right now is the Hornsounder situation.
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Post by kristine on Jul 20, 2007 15:42:48 GMT
Greetings DM Leader Man
I represent the technical portion of the band... the one that does this sort of work for a living and I have several questions as well.
1) In the database migration, would we be expected to copy and post all existing boards over to the new database, save for the archived resources that would still be allowed to be referenced here, or would there be some sort of ... import capability that can be worked up - copy to csv then import sort of thing.
2) What would the role of the board admins be. I can understand you being an overseer of the board and having perview to the board and information, but would other DM org leaders and admins have that same capability and that need to have access into the Band? We have a law structure and an escalation process in place and I am wondering if we as the leaders would make a decision only to be overruled and thus nullifying our guidelines and disciplinary measures.
3) I understand you wanting to keep a general look and feel to all things associated to DM, but would we be able to have customizable sizes on our signatures? This is something that the band uses to convey who we are in the band, and we like to get a bit arty with them - if you can't tell.
4) Would the moderators/CG/MG be able to place band sitewide messages as we do here to just the band board or would it cross into the other boards. I guess here I am asking how we'd be set up. If we're on a subdomain are you going to set up an entirely new database for us to use, or would we be an added forum into the already existing SMF tree. Trying to figure out how much bleedover there would be.
I think that's all I have for now, and I understand that some of these are a bit more techy than normal. If you don't want to cover them here, send me a PM on either board and I'll get back with you.
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Post by Apollo on Jul 20, 2007 21:49:55 GMT
I'd like to know whether you prefer Elvis Costello or Buddy Holly.
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Post by manriva on Jul 21, 2007 0:30:45 GMT
Thanks for askin Pollo... I like Mr. Diana Krall better but only when he had a Farfisa Organ in the band...
Thanks for taking the time Jason.. It really is appreciated, from the bottom of all our teensy little hearts.
I see there are enough questions here for a week of composition (holy cow! Mysty), so I will refrain from exposing my ignorance and listen. I'm not the slobbering bloodthirsty maniac that my DM posts would indicate and I can actually do without "blood and guts and veins in my teeth."
There may be one or a hundred here who would dispute that though.. #angry-smiley-013#
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Post by Blademaster Mystica on Jul 22, 2007 12:23:53 GMT
here's a few questions that have proven to make up a difference of my personal experience and fun on the boards. Some of which make the difference between my preference to the Band boards compared to the DM boards. (these will overlap some of the other posts)
1. Posting rules Being able to use different styles of posting is one of the varieties in the Band that makes my experience a good one. RP'ing, bantering, light spam, serious debates, etc. This differs greatly from the posting rules as they were on the old DM boards (as several people have pointed out now). --> How much of our 'freedom' will we lose when we're brought back under the DM supervision?
2. Signatures, avatars, smilies small and insignificant as this may seem to those operating on the toplevel of maintaining the boards, these are for me an intricate part of what makes or breaks my personal experience on any board. There is a great freedom here considering the signatures, both in size and in amount of lines of text allowed, though there 'is' a limit. As some have mentioned, we have 2 sets of avatars here, which are 100X100 I believe. One set to indicate our rank and another for personal avatars. Lastely, but for me not least are the smilies. Frankly the smilies on DM are extremely limiting and it is a pain to have to open another browser and use an image link just to be able to bring some variety in our posts. I believe these restrictions are based on a personal dislike towards the use of smilies from certain admins, though they don't seem to have an aversity of using other smilies themselves, which is puzzling and seems contradictory to me. Smilies help in conveying a sensation, an emotion, a state of mind or a mood. They can mean the difference between sounding serious, jokingly, teasing, etc, giving a whole new light on the typed words and creating a better understanding between the posters. They are also usefull to prevent any missunderstandings that could be a result of a missinterpretation. --> how much of our freedom will we lose in these aspects related to the signatures and avatars and would it be possible to create a smilies database such as we have here that would allow for a much broader variety of smilies that form a quite important role in communicating a feeling or mood along with the words we type?
3. Look of DM will the current colortheme remain on DM or is this a temporary one? I don't know if I'm the only one, but compared to the old DM boards, the size of the font is quite high (causing me to scroll much more even with the childboards than I used to, which is one of the arguments used for the childboards, I believe) and the chocolate color of the threads compared to the white of the old DM.... well..... that's personal taste I suppose.
4. Link to posts here in the Band we can link to a post inside a thread, which will bring you immediately to that particular post. This can come in very handy in certain circumstances and allows us to use one thread for gathering things in while still having the opportunity to link to a specific post inside that thread if we need to put people's attention to something. (I'm thinking of such things as announcements, the Redarm spotfines, etc) --> would it be possible to have such a feature on DM as well?
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Post by fhornofvalere on Jul 22, 2007 21:27:26 GMT
lol myst, the chocolate color IS the old DM! We just returned back to be a little bit more like the glory days of DM 6.0.... except for the crappy server, I have very fond memories of 6.0!
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Post by taymist on Jul 23, 2007 0:33:53 GMT
It doesn't look anything like the old DM on my screen its darker, not so pale and classy.... but... WAY better than the black for sure.
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Post by Lady Katiora on Jul 23, 2007 4:20:51 GMT
UGH *has very not good memories of 6.0 dm* lmao
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