Digital Spy to 'downsize'
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They need to find a way to keep politics though, there is not even enough public resources to cope with the fallout from that forums demise,
Guess the local MP's will see an upsurge in nonsense complaints and rants though.
Guess the local MP's will see an upsurge in nonsense complaints and rants though.
I think you also have to take in to account the fact that the search function has been broken for years and they've made it clear they've got no plans to fix it either.
That, and the fact that there's been no attempt to upgrade the forum software to something more modern as well.
If you're planning on keeping the forums active and open, then you're almost certainly going to invest at least some money in keeping them updated and working.
That, and the fact that there's been no attempt to upgrade the forum software to something more modern as well.
If you're planning on keeping the forums active and open, then you're almost certainly going to invest at least some money in keeping them updated and working.
If they actually had sense they'd realise they could move the forums to better software (more modern, with post up voting, notifications for replies etc) and integrate it tightly with the main site.
For example, when they post a new article, a new thread would automatically be created linking to that content in the appropriate subforum, and allow discussion. The highest-rated forum comments would appear under each article on the main site.
This would mean more engagement with the main site, more integration between the forums and website, and more revenue for the publishers.
The fact the forums are languishing on decades-old software says it all.
DS has such an opportunity to make a f*** load of money by modernising itself and maximising its community. But instead it wasted a load of money on a shocking redesign, removed comments from the main site and left the forums on aeons old backend software.
If they shut the forums without giving us time as a community to create a replacement, they're out of order. This forum and community is one of the largest on the internet (if not the largest?) and it would be such a great loss to see it go for people who live in the UK IMO.
For example, when they post a new article, a new thread would automatically be created linking to that content in the appropriate subforum, and allow discussion. The highest-rated forum comments would appear under each article on the main site.
This would mean more engagement with the main site, more integration between the forums and website, and more revenue for the publishers.
The fact the forums are languishing on decades-old software says it all.
DS has such an opportunity to make a f*** load of money by modernising itself and maximising its community. But instead it wasted a load of money on a shocking redesign, removed comments from the main site and left the forums on aeons old backend software.
If they shut the forums without giving us time as a community to create a replacement, they're out of order. This forum and community is one of the largest on the internet (if not the largest?) and it would be such a great loss to see it go for people who live in the UK IMO.
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“There's one forum I would have no problem recommending but Sally would probably kill me
Easier said that done. While it's easy enough to create your own forum, it's a whole other ballgame keeping it running and keeping it moderated properly so it's not overrun with trolls and spambots.
I doubt it'll come down to "content" though - it'll be how much ad revenue the forum pages generate and if the majority of people use adblockers while using the forums because the ad placement, and usage, is so flaky, then they'll very likely see that it's not paying for itself and paying enough to cover the staff to keep it moderated.”
“There's one forum I would have no problem recommending but Sally would probably kill me
Easier said that done. While it's easy enough to create your own forum, it's a whole other ballgame keeping it running and keeping it moderated properly so it's not overrun with trolls and spambots.
I doubt it'll come down to "content" though - it'll be how much ad revenue the forum pages generate and if the majority of people use adblockers while using the forums because the ad placement, and usage, is so flaky, then they'll very likely see that it's not paying for itself and paying enough to cover the staff to keep it moderated.”
I nearly let the domain lapse this time, but paid another year's fee at the last minute.
Originally Posted by RandomSally:
“I nearly let the domain lapse this time, but paid another year's fee at the last minute.”
“I nearly let the domain lapse this time, but paid another year's fee at the last minute.”
You might have a few new faces soon then - i've had a few pm's for the link
Discourse Forum software looks like the best available for the modern age.
Looks and works like this: https://meta.discourse.org
Wish DS would migrate to it. They have an import tool and yes it would be a massive task but the amount of handy features that has and the cleanliness of it, would be so great.
Looks and works like this: https://meta.discourse.org
Wish DS would migrate to it. They have an import tool and yes it would be a massive task but the amount of handy features that has and the cleanliness of it, would be so great.
Predicted this a while back, it's obvious this can't be a profit making site anymore. I expect the forums to go, especially since they won't pay maintain or upgrade them.
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“You might have a few new faces soon then - i've had a few pm's for the link”
“You might have a few new faces soon then - i've had a few pm's for the link
”
Oh 'eck!
Originally Posted by Les Corker:
“Social media doesn't give you anonymity”
“Social media doesn't give you anonymity”
Exactly. If I get pissed and post something I regret later on DS, I'm Hank. If I do the same on Facebook I'm David and I have to go into hiding for a week!!
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“You might have a few new faces soon then - i've had a few pm's for the link”
“You might have a few new faces soon then - i've had a few pm's for the link
”
So it's a private forum that you don't give the link out to publically, just privately in PM to anybody?
Makes no sense to me 
Originally Posted by muggins14:
“So it's a private forum that you don't give the link out to publically, just privately in PM to anybody? Makes no sense to me ”
“So it's a private forum that you don't give the link out to publically, just privately in PM to anybody?
Makes no sense to me ”
It's not "private" in that sense, I just don't want to fall foul of the mods for promoting another forum.
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“I think you also have to take in to account the fact that the search function has been broken for years and they've made it clear they've got no plans to fix it either.
That, and the fact that there's been no attempt to upgrade the forum software to something more modern as well.
If you're planning on keeping the forums active and open, then you're almost certainly going to invest at least some money in keeping them updated and working.”
“I think you also have to take in to account the fact that the search function has been broken for years and they've made it clear they've got no plans to fix it either.
That, and the fact that there's been no attempt to upgrade the forum software to something more modern as well.
If you're planning on keeping the forums active and open, then you're almost certainly going to invest at least some money in keeping them updated and working.”
So that's why it doesn't work! I've always wondered why it's so bad...
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“It's not "private" in that sense, I just don't want to fall foul of the mods for promoting another forum.”
“It's not "private" in that sense, I just don't want to fall foul of the mods for promoting another forum.”
Won't matter anyway if this news is true, they will all be looking for new jobs themselves!
Hmm. I'll be off to that kite-flying forum; origin of the great pirate invasion of 2004. They seem like a fun bunch.
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“I don't think i'd be massively shocked to click on the link for DS one day to find a holding page saying the forums have shut down.”
“I don't think i'd be massively shocked to click on the link for DS one day to find a holding page saying the forums have shut down.”
"...as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened."
Originally Posted by eggchen:
“"...as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened."”
“"...as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened."”
The force is strong with you young jedi
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“It's not "private" in that sense, I just don't want to fall foul of the mods for promoting another forum.”
“It's not "private" in that sense, I just don't want to fall foul of the mods for promoting another forum.”
Aah, right!
Originally Posted by Hank Schrader:
“Won't matter anyway if this news is true, they will all be looking for new jobs themselves!”
“Won't matter anyway if this news is true, they will all be looking for new jobs themselves!”
Well 'this news' hasn't mentioned the closing of the forums has it, as yet? I mean, so far it's just a tweet.
Originally Posted by PhilH36:
“Nah, they're not shutting the forums until we finish counting to two million..........”
“Nah, they're not shutting the forums until we finish counting to two million..........
”
Don't count on it
Originally Posted by PhilH36:
“Nah, they're not shutting the forums until we finish counting to two million..........”
“Nah, they're not shutting the forums until we finish counting to two million..........
”
Hahaha! That'll stop GD FMs rushing in there and ruining their thread next time
Originally Posted by PhilH36:
“Nah, they're not shutting the forums until we finish counting to two million..........”
“Nah, they're not shutting the forums until we finish counting to two million..........
”
One million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight
One million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine
*Forum closes
Originally Posted by james_lndsay:
“They need to find a way to keep politics though, there is not even enough public resources to cope with the fallout from that forums demise”
“They need to find a way to keep politics though, there is not even enough public resources to cope with the fallout from that forums demise”
Take it to the vet, pay the bill and don't talk about it.
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