Every morning, the first thing I do here is search for the threads where I’ve been posting to see if anyone has replied during my absence. I usually do this before I log-in. I just type in the (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php) for the search page and I go right to it. Today, for the first time, I was sent to the log-in page. I logged-in and I was sent to the search page.
I’m guessing this was done to help the over-worked server?
Yup. Searches seriously strain the servers, so we’re seeing if restricting them to registered users helps site performance.
I can’t search even after I log in. When I click the Search Icon, I get a password challenge. I enter my user name and password, get to the search page, enter the search terms, and then get sent back to the password page. And yes, I have cookies turned on. I’m using Opera 5.01, if that makes any difference.
Yep, I get the same problem with Opera 4.02. Although I won’t hold my breath on a fix. Apparently the Straightdope admins believe that everybody on in the internet must use Microsoft IE, witness this most clueless email from StrDope@aol.com in response to an unrelated gripe where I described to them both the problem and the solution:
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Uh, no. What we believe is exactly what you received. We are software customers, just like you. Our budget is essentially nil, and we just don’t have the resources to tweak purchased software – that’s especially true of a fairly new software package that is undergoing continuous upgrades (which would mean a re-tweak for each upgrade that we install).
All we can do is the best we can with the resources we’ve got. If that’s not enough for you, than well, I guess we’ll lose you to one of our competitors. Oh, wait. We didn’t.
manhattan, you were far, far too kind.
manhattan, what you say makes sense. But that’s not what I was told in that email. Why in god’s name would I want to report a problem with your server-side software to Microsoft?!!! And if the problem is vB (which it seems it might be), all the admin has to do is forward my email to them, not tell me to do it. How many cycles do you need to forward an email?
Then again, I wasn’t told that you guys didn’t have time to spare. I was basically told that you only support IE, anything else and I’m SOL.
Also at the time, I explained to the “Assistant Admin” that this site is very rich in contents (one of the best I’ve seen) and I will continue to use it, because of the participants and despite of the clueless “Assistant Admin.” Peace…
PS. I appreciate very much the work you moderators do. Not just at this site, but most sites around the internet. Thank you all, manhattan and the rest, for all your hard work.
Because it’s in large part Microsoft’s refusal to accept any standards not of their own devising that causes trouble for such browsers as Opera.
It’s not the administration’s job to complain for you, now is it? If you’re having problems, you have been told where to address your complaints. Instead, you decide to insult someone you do not even know. Lovely.
The software was designed primarily for MSIE. And this is the poor admin’s fault how, exactly?
I appreciate the softened tone, passer, and I appreciate the kind words.
The thing is, the techs have it harder than we do. When they were babysitting the server during the software changeover, I was at a bar. When we got hacked and taken down for a week, they were scrambling to get us back live and I was golfing. When the server freezes up, they have to take a look at it, whereas I actually supply my employer with productive work for a change.
I agree that contacting MSFT about your problem is an exercise in futility. But it might not be futile to contact VB. They made some pretty impressive changes to how this thing works with Netscape in response to user complaints (it’s still not perfect, but you should have seen it on the first day!).
There are other Opera guys on the boards – gather them up and storm the walls at VB.
Just don’t attribute it to us. We can’t afford to get them on our bad side.
Whew, thanks for your patience manhattan. After andros’s post I was ready to pack my (definitely charred) bags and leave. I’m a web-developer myself and I have no patience for people who say web-based software such as these (those that require little client-side programming) was written for “so-and-so” browser. There is no need for it to be written for any specific browser, and it’s definitely not in the spirit of the net.
The problem with me contacting vB is that I don’t know your configuration, they will need that info. The problem might be with vB (most likely), but it might also be with your setup. The normal procedure is for the user (me) to send an email to the admin, the admin says “not my problem” and forwards the email to software support with cc to the user. It’s not that hard.
My original problem was/is with referrer logging. But this one with the search is different. I suppose to repent my own flames, I should do more research and pinpoint the problem…