I think it might be a good idea for everyone to hold their requests/complaints in abeyance for the time being and let Jerry take care of business.
Once all this new stuff is stable – which will take a bit of time beyond Tuesday as the system is tweaked and etc. – once everything is established and things are going smoothly then it would be appropriate to start asking about details and extras and changes.
This is going to be a process that will not happen overnight and will absolutely extend beyond Tuesday as Jerry works on other parts of the situation including the anticipated search engine upgrade.
I can’t speak for Jerry but keep in mind that many of the choices that have been made over time here have been made out of necessity to keep the system stable and operational. If that necessity is no longer a part of the equation then it’s reasonable to think that just maybe things might change. Might not happen right away – and shouldn’t be expected to, this is a process that takes time and observation over that time – but providing you with the best experience that we can has always been what we’re all about.
In the meantime let’s give Jerry a chance to do what needs be done without being chivvied about every little thing. Your patience during this time is requested, with Jerry, with the system, with all of us, with one another as we work through these changes.
Can this be clarified? Will talking about blocking ads be not allowed? Or just questions by non-payers about blocking ads? Or will non-payers with ad-blocking software be prevented from viewing pages?
edit: I suppose a request for clarification is a request, so never mind
I have seen a few requests, mostly expressions of gratitude, and at least one offer of beer in this thread, but no actual complaints. Personally I think it might be a good idea to refrain from chiding people about complaining until they have actually started complaining. Although lord knows if I’d been moderating this place for nearly a decade (is it a decade now?) I’d be a little quick on the trigger too.
Whohoo!! Another *bored-at-work-lurker-turned-guest * here, excited about the news. I was going to join in April-ish but then I first read about the move to free posting. I thought, “Well, I’m a patient guy, I can hold out a few more weeks.” Then those few weeks turned into months, and I seriously logged in today with the intention of becoming a paying member. Glad I noticed the sticky-note before I did! Now I can take my 15(?) bucks and, ermmm… What can you do with $15 these days anyway?
Well, I have nothing of value to add, I just wanted to be sure to get one post in before everything goes to pot this weekend.
The new Straight Dope business model is based on showing you ads – ads that you can skip at the present time by paying a subscription fee.
We will not be encouraging ad blocking outside of paying the subscription fee, no; management wants to show you ads, that’s hopefully how this site will survive, and to allow explicit instructions, links, and the like would be counterproductive to those aims.
So in that spirit we envision general discussion of the topic will be okay but pointing the way, links to sites, etc., will not be tolerated.
I’ve now set a time for when the message will be down to take a copy of the database for upgrade. I’m going to take the copy at 8:45 AM CDT Friday morning with the boards expected to be back around 11:00 AM CDT. When brought back the boards will be acting in their new temporary role which is to allow users to read and post while the upgrade is occurring. Please note however that any changes (aka new posts/new threads) to the board after it is brought back online will not be reflected in the upgraded SDMB.
:smack: Oh yeah - forgot about the geography there. :smack:
So we’ll send Domino’s if the server isn’t back up at the time promised - you know, punish 'em! (or maybe not, guess that wouldn’t be a good incentive to stick around and get the job done…).
Jerry, thank you very much for the information. Your post is informative enough to keep a lot of unhappy confusion at bay while the changes are made. I see, though, that AHunter3 had the exact thought I did - is there any chance of restoring those old threads, since we were once told they weren’t completely destroyed just removed? Of all the changes over the years, that’s the one the loss of content is the one that bothered me the most.
We don’t want ferrets. Sure, they run around like they’re on PCP when they’re awake, but they’re the only domestic animal that sleeps more than cats. We don’t want the boards down 18 hours a day, right?
Sorry, “Smashie” is not a vB smiley but is the property of somebody/something else. Not to be a naysayer but this is a board where we want you to use your words more than anything else.
Well, you and I both know there’s a long history of the SDMB delivering exactly what they promise within three months of when they promised it, so I’m doubtful they’ll find anything.
