2013 Support of the site!

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:07 pm

I just paid my 2013 contribution to the forum ..... hopefully the icon on our profile will update to 2013 supporter (?)

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:18 pm

CP - I appreciate your generous offer and also see the need to update when necessary. As was pointed out, none of us use Loran-C anymore because something light years ahead and much more reliable and accurate is available.

Since you are offering a donation, I think it will be looked upon as a gesture of kindness - at least I hope so.

Security of member data is very important and more functionality would be a benefit. I, too, would post more photos if it didn't require a third-party site.

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:37 pm

I just re-upped, at least I think I did, but gotta admint the Software was not real clear. However we are donating to defray costs. If he powers to be want different software fine with me or will just use what we have, it is value to me. Remember we are contributing to keep the wanton ads off the site.

I appreciate the time spent by moderator and our hosts in keeping us, at least sort of on track most of the time. The offer of new software is good and the decision makers at least should consider and if not well we just keep moving forward.

Commissionpoint · Post by **Commissionpoint** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:41 pm

Thank you all for the kind words of support and encouragement. I have to admit, I didn't think my offer was going to go over that well right after I made it. I actually lost a little sleep last night over it, but its ok, I'm ok, and it looks like today we are in a bit of a different frame of mind on the topic.

There are two very important things I wanted to address with regards to the idea of possibly upgrading to a newer software platform.

One is that right now we all pay our (well you all mostly do, sorry I don't but thats why I am trying to do this instead) yeaarly supporter fees in order to provide the funding to Beacon for the removal of banner ads. The banner ads exist in the first place because the developers of this software let people have it for free as long as they are willing to look at the ads. Not every group is willing to put up with the ads, and frankly, alot of the ad content is offensive and inappropriate for a community like this one. Which brings me to my first important thing I wanted to make sure everyone knew. If we own the software license outright, like I have offered to buy for us, there are NO ADS. PERIOD. We could then use that money that everyone gives (and you can sign me up for a double dip at that point) to improve the server and the site instead of having to use that money to make sure we aren't always being offered deals on "Natural Male Enhancement" or other things that belong in a Bazaar of the Bizzare and not in here with us.

The second very important thing I wanted to share and make sure everyone was informed about is I would never support this idea or have brought it to all of you for consideration if I thought for one second it would change anything that we all love about it here. I feel its very important for folks to know that this move, if it happens, would never cause you to have to pay anymore than you already do, and that it would still be a 100% voluntary contribution. This move would just be an upgade to the software, provide some functionality that wasn't available at the time this version was released, make photo and video posting much easier, increase security of both our own personal info and that of the archives, add a live chat box to talk it up with other members online at the same time as you, and provide admin and moderation with more powerful tools to protect the community from those who might be a nuisance or want to cause a rukus. (Specifically IP blocking would be a tool moderation could use to keep unwanted trouble users from constantly resigning up) In a nutshell the move would make sure we were all safer, and had better tools, but more importantly, would be a move that would continue to make trojanboats.net A FREE TO USE SITE.

My inbox here blew up today. Those were the common threads of concern folks expressed to me, so I wanted to comment on those concerns out here in the open where everyone could see it and have a chance to reply with thier own thoughts.

If accepted, and thats a huge if at this point, I am doing this for all of you more than I am doing it for me. As I told Prowlersfish, I really really love all of you folks and the community and how we all share and help one another. I also told him how I'd rather slam my man parts in a steel door a few times than keep going forward with phpbb if there was an option available to us for an upgrade. So we all know how I feel, but I'm only one. Its the rest of you that need to come to the table and express your ideas and thoughts so we can see if there is a consensus and therefore a possibility to proceed.

Special thanks to Prowlersfish, Big D, The Moderator, and Bob at Beacon for taking the time out to listen to my idea today. I will work on some of the things I said that I would and get back to everyone with the answers as soon as I have them. In the meantime, if anyone else has questions or concerns about the idea please post them so I can get them to my tech whiz Kyler when I see him on Saturday. He is responsible for managing the technical end of a ver active 4500 member forum and will be able to answer technical concerns that may be beyond the scope of my own knowledge.

If you would like to see the site that Kyler manages its here.

http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/index.php

They are using vBulletin 4 right now, and like us its a voluntary contribution site. Right now they are planning an upgrade to version 5 because they like the upgrades versus version 4. I'm Commissionpoint over there too in case you want to use my s/n to play around with the controls a little. You can search posts by me and get an idea at least a little of the differences between the softwares. You won't be able to see what I see as a signed in user, but you will be able to get an idea of the differences in funtionality.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:20 pm

Well said Michael. I suspect quite a few people here have used vBulletin before though they may not know it. I have seen several people from here post on MarineEngine.com over the years which is powered by the software. I find it much easier to contribute what I want in a post. It's an issue when a new member's first couple of posts is inquiring how to insert pics! Let's make the first impression after joining, a good one. Hope we can make it happen.

Post by **Moderator** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:40 pm

Let me address a few issues as I have talked to both Bob and Don today .

1 . Don is working on the new Banners so they will post in the next day or so . Somebody made his job harder when they came up with a "Idea "
(yes it was me )

2) Site security , there is very little personal info stored here . your Email and location is shown only if you want it shown . similar to other sites .
when buying from Beacon or paying support you payment info is not on this site . it is on a secure site nothing is stored here .

3) Site upgrades , Don is actively looking in to different options . We know its needed and we also need to save all the old posts above anything else. There are costs involved in running this or most sites besides the "HOST" costs . however I am not one of the costs , I do this just to help out .

4) when doing support payment . the password and name is not the same as you use here . unless you choose to use the same info . New supporters please note you will need to set up a new account for the store .

And Don't for get when doing it to make note of the user name here so your get the banner .

5 ) Blocking IP address , many of us have ever changing IP address so its not that simple .I sure wish it was .

Thank you all !

Hart · Post by **Hart** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:04 pm

I'm relatively new here, but have already gotten a ton of great advice from several (including Commisionpoint, I believe) and believe he had a valid point on upgrading the current platform. Just my .02.

I plan on contributing to this site either way, because

1) It's clearly inhabited by some great people (hey, we're boaters...) and
2) I plan on being around here for (hopefully) a long time. Not only to keep GETTING great information, but hopefully to reciprocate and actually be able to GIVE some.

Malhalo.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:16 pm

I just did mine

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:24 pm

Moderator wrote:....Site security , there is very little personal info stored here . your Email and location is shown only if you want it shown....

My email address is only for those I choose to give it to otherwise I am open to a bunch of junk mail and potential viruses. I have managed over the years to avoid junk and giving crooks another peice of my personal info puzzle which is not easy to do on the web these days. Though we can choose not to show our email address here, it is a requirement of signing up and resides in a place accessible through this software. My concern is that it and everything else can be accessed through a program with limited/outdated security features.

Glad to hear the guys are on top of it and considering options.

jordan · Post by **jordan** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:58 pm

I just did mine also.

Plus order my Trojan hat!

Commissionpoint · Post by **Commissionpoint** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:04 pm

Big D wrote: I have managed over the years to avoid junk and giving crooks another peice of my personal info puzzle which is not easy to do on the web these days. Though we can choose not to show our email address here, it is a requirement of signing up and resides in a place accessible through this software. My concern is that it and everything else can be accessed through a program with limited/outdated security features.

This is also my main concern, and Big D hit the nail on the head.

Its also correct that while some people have non static IP's you can block a MAC address instead if need be. That means that the device is banned from the site no matter where its getting connectivity from. Someone could go by a new laptop or smartphone and get on again but how many hundreds of dollars would someone be willing to spend to keep getting new devices so they could bother us over here at TB.net?

tsawyer · Post by **tsawyer** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:18 pm

I've paid mine. It's the smallest amount by far that I spend each year on my boat. It's also by far the most valuable.

I appreciate all the great info and even the occasional squabble.

Hear's to a great 2013!

Hart · Post by **Hart** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:32 pm

tsawyer wrote:I've paid mine. It's the smallest amount by far that I spend each year on my boat. It's also by far the most valuable.

I appreciate all the great info and even the occasional squabble.

Hear's to a great 2013!

Here, here!

I've always been a subscriber to the adage "put your money where your mouth is". I'm in as well.

Here's to a fine 2013!

Away On Busine$$ · Post by **Away On Busine$$** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:02 pm

Away On Busine$$, is in for 2013 with 4 hats! Keep the site protect the gold mine of information.

DOUGNASH · Post by **DOUGNASH** » Wed Jan 09, 2013 6:12 pm

I enjoy this forum and all of the information it provides

I would like to see the software updated

I just paid mine