ADMIN QUESTION: Can I have some feedback from users on whether I should upgrade to a different forum?

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I need you all to help me make a decision.

My web-hosting service is about to offer access to a commercial web forum/chat program that I can take up to replace this [free] service. I'm still waiting on details of how much they will charge me each month (which may well be the eventual criterion for making the decision), but could I just ask you for your input on whether the following things are things you would think would make the forum even better or whether the negatives would mean you would visit less often:

Of the advantages of the new system, there are the following features that I think are really worthwhile (do you agree?):

The downsides are:

Let me know if that sounds like the type of thing that would make the forum that much better, or whether you'll visit just as often regardless.

God bless,
Paul McLachlan
Webmaster
Also, you have a lot more control over what messages you get emailed to you. If you're not interested in Ecumenism, but you are interested in the Blessed Virgin, you can sign up only to receive new messages sent in the Blessed Virgin category.

I also like the automatic hyperlinking. If someone wants to tell someone where to find a great web site that just have to copy and paste the URL from the address bar on their browser. They don't need to know how to use >A HREF=.... < tags or anything.

You can preview and spell-check your messages. I think that's a blessing!

You can automatically "quote" the previous message in your response (just like most email packages do) instead of having to copy and past and reformat it with HTML (which is what I do -- painful!)

As I said, I'll wait to see what the pricing is and whether the Treasurer (Mrs McLachlan) goes ballistic when I ask her to authorise the additional expenditure on the website...

Are they the types of things people are thinking -- wow, that would be excellent. Or is just hohum -- it's good enough already?

God bless,
Paul

-- Anonymous, July 07, 1998


Well,

Despite the overwhelming support for the existing forum service, the pricing has come in much lower than I expected it would and still within my budget for monthly website costs, so I'm going to move to the new forum on a trial basis.

I will move all the good conversations over to the new forum so that they continue and can edify newcomers :). This may mean that I need to pretend to be some of you to make sure your names continue to appear next to your posts and messages, but it will all work out.

None of you need do anything. As I see it, you should all just wake up one day and find it all changed, but somehow so familiar! :) And I'll make sure I post a prominent message for those of you who follow the forum by email, or who come in direct from a bookmark instead of coming through the Catholic Pages first, to let you know how to get to the new forum.

God bless, Paul

-- Anonymous, July 09, 1998


Response to ADMIN QUESTION: Can I have some feedback from regular users on whether I should upgrade to a different forum?

Hi Paul,

I like plain text, I think the page as it is is good "New Answers" Un-answered" works find for me. I do see the point of new people wanting to look at old questions by topic. Simplicity, but then what do you want I am a Franciscan.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 1998


Response to ADMIN QUESTION: Can I have some feedback from regular users on whether I should upgrade to a different forum?

Hi Paul. I'm with Rich...though it's just 'cause I can't imagine visiting this page any more frequently no matter what it looks like. Still, the new page sounds interesting with a lot of neat features...but I don't think you should have to pay for something new if the old one still works. Supposing there's huge support for the snazzy new look, is there any chance of them giving you a discount?

-- Anonymous, July 07, 1998

registering is a big plus

One feature you mentioned about the other forum would be a big plus. Having to register would discourage those who like to post offensive material anonymously. This was a problem on CEF, but I don't see it on Parents Place, where you have to register.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 1998


Response to Admin Question

Paul, I'm with Rich...I like it all, just the way it is, but then, I'm a techno-phobe from way back! :-)

-- Anonymous, July 08, 1998

I LIKE IT THE WAY IT IS, AH WHO NEEDS THE BIG CHANGES? gOD IS gOOD, ANS SO IS THIS SITE!

-- Anonymous, July 08, 1998

ADMIN QUESTION - you're a riot, Paul!

Ah, Paul, ye remind me so much of me own hubby - he can't resist tinkering about either! Have fun putting all this technical stuff together! Pax, Dana

-- Anonymous, July 09, 1998

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