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A change has been made and discussed and argued over, and over, and over, and over, and . . . again. There are aspects of the new forum I don't like as well as the old one, and parts of the new forum I like better than the old one.
The forum is FREE to all who wish to use it, and a HUGE cost to Taunton.
I'm sure they would have liked the changeover to have been better, just as I would have liked my last table to have been better.
Everyone who is dissatisfied is welcome to start your own forum. Those who can't stop criticizing Taunton are encouraged to start your own forums. For those still here, can we please now focus on woodworking again?
Don Stephan
I definitely agree!
Don
"The forum is FREE to all who wish to use it, and a HUGE cost to Taunton"
Whats free? The topic was started in a new thread, you do not have to read it, much less reply to it.... last time I checked speech was free. Do you have a badge?
I did not mind the op's original post, I tend to agree with him. He did not hijack a thread on say whats the best table saw? When I see threads like whats the best this and that I have the choice whether or not I want to read them. Do you chime in on these types of threads and explain to the poster that this has been discussed over and over and the issue is dead, I do not think so.
Taunton is in business to make money, they chose this new platform over the previous not you or me. Had this been the platform when I first came upon this site approx two years ago I don't think I would be here rite now. Unfortunately I have come to enjoy quite a few of the personalities here ( yourself included) so I grin and bare it.
One point Jason made in his original and only post to the members of this forum was that Taunton wished to become more visible to search engines like Google, I get the concept and have no problem with it.... the more people that see the adds the more add space they can continue to sell.
What is unfortunate is the last platform would have made a great model for a new one, obviously that was not considered when they chose this one. Maybe if we all shut up then Jason will be perceived as having done a great job, Then Other IT up and comers will follow his model and Drupal will prosper.
Point is if you do not care for the topic don't read it.
Respectfully, Tom.
I will tell you that your forum here has been handled very differently from the Cooks Talk forum--more communication with the tech person handling yours.
BUT being "satisfied" with what has been done also is a function of how the members USE the forum and participate with one another.
I might agree that here, I can come and check on the one area I participate, and "live" with the changes. This is not at all true on Cooks Talk where it is VERY cumbersome because of features of the old forum that are not available with Drupal.
I totally agree that Taunton is free to do what they want and need to do on their online offerings. I also would submit that they might like to retain some of their VERY VERY loyal constituents (I have been online for more than 10 years, purchasing subscriptions, etc also).
Jason's letter was so totally disrespectful, sophomoric, and such poor communication he should be ashamed of himself (and would be fired in many places).
One bug that has been corrected at CT, and not here, for example, is the ability to enlarge this tiny box so you can see your entire post without scrolling.
ANyway, just a thought that once again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
CT folks HAVE gathered elsewhere but continue to participate in the Taunton forum and are sort of patiently awaiting for things to sort out. Lest you think we want the OLD format back, NO, that is NOT what we are asking. We are asking for a user friendly way to view. They made NO effort to even see how these forums are used, no input from participants. Not a good thing.
Taunton has worked very hard to modify Knots in response to suggestions prior to changeover and subsequent. I'm sure they will continue to do so.
I think it was Lataxe who said "The question of reduced activity is laid to rest by some 35 messages on one thread." - or something to that effect.(Sorry Lataxe.)
Your continued attempts to undermine the spirit of this community are no longer welcome. The change is done.
Don
Right on, Don!
I appreciate a thoughtful, well-written article such as Jeff's, but ultimately, the Knots people, the FWW archives, the excellent website are all so useful to me that I'll give Taunton a long, long time to get the little persnickets fixed.
--jonnieboy
This is a thoughtful, well-stated article. That's the type of free speech I like hear and read, despite any disagreements I have with the writer's conclusions. Long live diverse opinion.
--jonnieboy
Although Jeff's article is
Although Jeff's article is well-written, his perspective, like that of many of the critics here, seems to ignore the impact of economic reality. It's the same perspective as that of the teenage boy who demands that his $500/week allowance continue unchanged, even though Dad's income has been severely reduced by external circumstances.
I think it's tacky, or at least impolite, for people to continue to use the (free) forum to criticize Taunton for seeking a more flexible, more affordable alternative to the Prospero/Mzinga service that had apparently become too expensive and couldn't be upgraded or modified.
The change is the result of economic reality. We have what we have, and Taunton will improve it over time as economic resources permit. Let's get on with talking about woodworking.
Read your comments and I'd
Read your comments and I'd say as to the color pallet, it does not impress me, nor does it tick me off. As to organization and layout it's not the most impressive I've seen by a long shot. I see the whole effort as amateurish. It was not executed well. Some of the basics missing were surprising, but never the less, they are attempting to remedy it, so I'll give them the bennefit of the doubt. At the end of the day it's their product! Time will truely tell. Two great things did come out of it. I found lumberjocks, and I can read the posts (and they look better) on my blackberry. I do not spend nearly as much time as I use to here though. I am a magazine and online content subscriber and don't see myself changing.
I'm going to go take a nap
I'm going to go take a nap and maybe while I'm asleep Mr. Nolan will do something about it instead of complain. I wonder why he didn't start "knots Classic", since he brought it up, maybe found out it's hard work and expensive?
I keep telling my self that I am a whatever-week wonder and to stay out of it but I NEVER take my own good advice on these matters.
okay, nap time.
"The forum is FREE to all who wish to use it, and a HUGE cost to Taunton."
I am not sure that this is necessarily accurate, or if it is accurate, I doubt we can draw too many conclusions from it. Also, I am not sure economics is the reason Taunton left the mzinga platform - maybe so, maybe not.
Either way, the folks at FWW are in BUSINESS, and i would assume that their business goals (ie, making money) drive most of their decisions. Sure, the forum is FREE to us, but do not discount the value we participants add to the viability of the forum . . . and the perceived value. FWW is not maitaining the forum because of some altruistic purpose; they do so because it makes business sense (cents too) to them. Even if it was a "loss leader", it still is of considerable value to them.
Now, beyond that, I do not think there is anything wrong with us (consumers, customers, contributors) commenting upon the pro's and con's of the new format. I agree we should probably be civil, but I will be damned if I am going to come here with my hat in my hand. FWW wants us here, and they want us as active participants and customers (both from them and from their advertisers).
The old format was more user-friendly IMHO. You may disagree, but such is your right. It is also my right to offer constructive criticism to a forum in which i have been participating for several years.
I have an interest in WW, I have money to spend, and i am in FWW's prime demographic. So, please quit telling me, and those like-minded veterans who are in agreement with my sentiments, to shut up, . . . . especially if you have just come to the community.
Peace.Out.Patrick
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