The Gang of Five
Beyond the Mysterious Beyond => The Fridge => Topic started by: Serris on October 31, 2008, 05:04:42 PM
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I created a forum with the Invisionfree Engine. It's still a work in progress.
Syphernia (http://z13.invisionfree.com/Syphernia)
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Looks rather interesting. What will it be about, if I'm not asking something obvious that is escaping me...?
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It's a furry forum with various discussion areas. RP's are also allowed there.
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I see... good work with the... work. Let's hope to see it ready soon!
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I guess it is an all ages furry place, or 18+ only?
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All ages.
It's rated PG-13.
Oh, don't bother trying to register. I set it to be offline so it can't be vandalized while it's under construction.
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That is a good idea. Lets you get it to where you like it first.
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Construction is complete on my forum!
It's now active! It's real plain, but I'll work on that later.
Here's the site: Syphernia Forums (http://z13.invisionfree.com/Syphernia/index.php)
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Its too big for a new forum. Get rid of some sections like the entertainment section and make one big area for now. Same for the art section. It may be a bit messy, but having so many empty sections is not good for a boards image. At least topics all in one area give a sense of activity.
We used to have all of our media stuff and birthdays all lumped into the Fridge. Was like that for about four years, then it finally was getting too cluttered and the separate sections made sense.
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I deleted a bunch of sections.
Exactly how do I get members? I have considered using "lure members" (profiles created by me to make the forum look less empty.)
Anybody wish to join?
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You can ask others to join by pm, though be sure you do not spam folks, maybe pming friends and some you know.
The having less areas and adding more later as the forum grows makes sense.
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Ok, I reskinned my forum (color only). Tell me what you think.
I might add a banner if I can find a photoediting program (Macromedia Fireworks is the one I'm most familiar with).
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It certainly is colorful.
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Depending on a monitor's ability to reproduce colors, and how bright the monitor can go, you could have a potentially hard-to-read board with those colors. I didn't have a big problem, but my laptop can't go super bright either. The LCD's at my parent's place are much brighter and even display the GOF differently.
My two cents.
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Depending on a monitor's ability to reproduce colors, and how bright the monitor can go, you could have a potentially hard-to-read board with those colors. I didn't have a big problem, but my laptop can't go super bright either. The LCD's at my parent's place are much brighter and even display the GOF differently.
My two cents.
What colors should I change the scheme to?
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You need to look at what the text color is. If the text is light, then you need darker colors to be able to see it. Dark text would need lighter colors. Just my opinion.
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You need to look at what the text color is. If the text is light, then you need darker colors to be able to see it. Dark text would need lighter colors. Just my opinion.
Yep. Just as the GOF has a dark background and light text, so should your board (or light background, dark text). You don't want to choose colors even remotely close in contrast or even eagle-eyed persons will be straining to read what is there.
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Yes. I got Photoshop!
Here's the new banner: Syphernia Forum Banner (http://www.freewebs.com/lewe09/Forum%20Works/Forum%20Banner.bmp)
On a side note, how exactly do you insert custom banners and buttons into forums?
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For Invision:
Admin CP
On the left bar, go to Board Wrappers (way down)
Insert something like this in the "Header and Body" section
- Code: on
<p align="center">
<img src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e294/mr300/gangoffive/gof-2008banner.png" border="0"></p>
The src is the url of the image online. Border="0" simply means to put no borders on the image.
How did you guys hide the Invisionfree emblem?
I don't think I have it... I went to the CSS anyway. Have you tried insert the banner in the CSS? I think it replaces the Invision logo.
I don't think I have it... I went to the CSS anyway. Have you tried insert the banner in the CSS? I think it replaces the Invision logo.
I know some CSS but I don't know how to add the banner to CSS.
Ok, here's what I did...
Find the logostrip
#logostrip { text-align: center; border:1px solid #345487; background-color: blue;background-image:url (insert url here) (...)}
Don't erase what's between (...), though. Just insert the url properly and its there.
Does not work. The banner ends up as an unsightly mess and the Invisionfree emblem is still there.
- Code: on
#logostrip { border:0px solid transparent;background-color:transparent;padding:0px;margin:0px; }
Here is the GOF's logostrip...you can try it.
Someone had decided to put this post on my forum:
pirho is right.
animals are good only on plates with some steak sauce.
what is this nonsense? animals getting jobs?
it is riDONKulous.
I sent him this PM:
Hello, Drakon here.
I am letting you know that your post:
pirho is right.
animals are good only on plates with some steak sauce.
what is this nonsense? animals getting jobs?
it is riDONKulous.
Has violated this rule:
- No spam posts (posts that offer no meaningful discussion)
You will not be warned but I am deleting that post. If you continue spamming the Furry section, you will have your posting privilages revoked for a few days.
Thank you for your understanding.
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Did I go too far in declaring that post spam and deleting it?
Was I too harsh? I want my forum to grow and I am afraid that I may turn some some potential members off if I revoke the posting privilages of a new member so quickly. Then again, if I let him go, my forum will be runneth over with spam and that's a huge turn-off.
But then again, I assumed that this poster read the rules and thus knew that post was not allowed.
On a side note, I got this damn advertisement that makes noise. Is there anyway to change it so it becomes a silent ad?
And how do I move my domain to the z7.invisionfree server like the one the GOF is on?
Sorry for all these questions.
Looks like me you did the right thing. Spam and flames and such you can't just let sit there for a while. Though the admin here will have stuff to say, maybe different opinions.
I'd have to see the post in context, but it sounds like it could be part of a discussion. By itself, the topic is not spam or a flame (to any members).
I don't know about the banner ads. I can't choose what I get or what I don't get. Maybe your board has to be online for a while, then the noisy ones go away. You can't move servers either. Whatever the system put you on is where you have to stay. z7 has been around for a spell so its probably reached its capacity.
I'd have to see the post in context, but it sounds like it could be part of a discussion. By itself, the topic is not spam or a flame (to any members).
That post was on a discussion about furry discrimination. It was in the "Furry World" forum which is for discussing hypothetical situtations as if anthropomorphic animals were real.
Not to make a :lol but anthropomorphic animals! Have feeling's too you know. Where have I heard part of this before, I think it had something to do with LBT?
Actually, now that I read the post, I think you made the wrong call. Your topic is as clear as mud and I could see why the person wrote that. I agreed with this statement: "furry situations should be explicitly hypothetical so we can have a clearer discussion."
You can't restore the post, but you can apologize for it saying you hit the wrong button or something.
About how large should the forum be before I consider staff? I'm currently the only staff member (admin).
And there are 4 staff positions:
Sentinel - entry level.
Moderator
Senior Moderator
Administrator
Instead of a number I'd suggest, if it gets to where you feel you as sole admin can't handle doing everything yourself and you feel you need help.
Hmm.. Looks like an interesting forum!
However, I can't join as I am already a member at 6 forums... I wouldn't have enough time!
Sorry!
Kor's got a point...you do it solo until you need someone else to help you because the forum is too big. That is one way of determining when you need a staff.
Another way I'd suggest looking at it is if you feel you're out of ideas and can't seem to figure out what direction to go. Staff members (in a private section) might offer some input and suggestions you hadn't thought of. That's the benefit of having a staff so that you don't have to be the only one calling the shots. This is much harder to determine since everyone usually wants to be on staff and have some sort of power.
In the end, you will need a staff....you can't go alone forever, especially if you want your board to grow. I'll be honest when I say not everyone is comfortable talking to me and might have better relationships with Malte or Tim so if there's an issue, sometimes my staff will get the message instead of me and can act on things. This is how it should be.
Exactly how to I get the Phipaw icon I chose as a custom button (for new post indicator) to have a transparent background (had transparent background when it was done on Photoshop)?
Also, how do I hide the tag that shows the member number and the date registered from view (for members only, staff can still see the stats)?
Also, are there any tips to get more members? I have a link on every location that allows it (usually in a small link in a signature).
Its a piece of code to remove the Member# and Date joined like we have here on the GOF.
Under Board Wrappers go to Footer and enter this:
- Code: on
<script type="text/javascript">
var jSpan = document.getElementsByTagName("span")
for(s=0;s<jSpan.length;s++){
if(jSpan[s].className.match("postdetails") && jSpan[s].innerHTML.match(/Joined: /i)){
jSpan[s].innerHTML = jSpan[s].innerHTML.replace(/Joined:\s.+<\w+>/i,'<br />')
}}
</script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
<!--
// remove member no by ticlo/Stefan
e = document.getElementsByTagName('SPAN')
for (n = 0; n < e.length; n++) {
if (e[n].className == 'postdetails') {
for (c = e[n].firstChild; c; c = c.nextSibling) {
if ((c.nodeName == '#text') && (c.nodeValue.indexOf('Member No.:') != -1)) {
c.parentNode.removeChild(c.nextSibling); c.parentNode.removeChild(c); break;}
}}}
// -->
</script>
<script type='text/javascript' language='JavaScript'>
<!--
var n, l;
for (n = 0; n < document.links.length; n++){
l = document.links[n];
if (l.href.indexOf("showuser=") != -1){
l.style.textDecoration = 'none';
}
};
// -->
</script>
I have made some custom buttons for the forum but the text comes out to be unreadable.
Unfortunately because the forum stagnated to a RIDICULOUS extent (Kor and I are the only two active members and even then, we post only on 1 topic and even that's getting old); I have decided to move the forum to a Proboards engine (like Explorer did) and I renamed it as well as focused more on the role playing aspect.
It is offline as I need to get the forum the way I want it.
Not sure if switching to Proboards will help with the member base but it seemed to help Explorer.
I have my doubts that will change anything. I think what did your site in over time is it was too general. There are lots of "furry forums" out there...what made yours unique? Did it have a specific focus? If it didn't have these, then your move to a different board system won't save it.
As I have said, I have focused MUCH more on the roleplaying aspect.
I'll do a MASSIVE revamp of the forum and see what happens, failing that; I'll just start fresh.