To Allow Or Not To Allow? Need Feedback

[Deb]

Ok -- With the new forums we have some options that were not as readily available before... they pertain to who is allowed to post and who isn't and who is allowed to read etc...

As FutureQuest grows many more people who are not hosted by FutureQuest will, and have begun, to post seeking technical support from you/us... Now we have and always will welcome these people to the forums but also have and always will restrict certain forums to only the FQuest community. The concern is being inadvertantly forced to offer technical support to someone who is not 'paying for it'. The question at this point is should we restrict further then we have so far?

The options I have, that I am willing to entertain, with each forum are basically as follows --

1. Open to all registered users... everyone can read and post

2. Open to all for reading -- but only the users we define can post

3. Private -- No one can read or post unless we give them permissions.

The current Members Only forums are set so that all can read but only the FQuest Community has permission to post. Should we make those forums Totally Private? e.g. Only the FQuest community can read and post and no one else can? This is something we may do for at minimum the Alpha/Beta/Gamma forum regardless. We simply have too many other hosts surfing the forums for info.

I am also seriously considering making some of the open forums so that all can read but only members can post.. this would be for forums such as Advanced Development and PHP

Then having only a forum or four open to ALL visitors -- Examples would be Open Discussions, Places To Go Sites To See, MAC and General Computing.

Your thoughts on this???

Deb

[Del]

Well, I personally think that the current members forums should be totally members only, in which only FutureQuest users (clients, customers, family members, whatever) can read or write in them. Some of the stuff that gets talked about there, or has the potential of being talked about there, should not be 'public knowledge' (IMHO).

As for the rest of the forums, I think read/write access for everyone (require individual registration still though) should be fine. For example, a person may stumble across aota.net and pop in to the forums to ask a question about JavaScript (or PHP, or mySQL), and get an answer from an FQuest user. This person may not be a current customer, but based upon the happy, friendly, caring response, they may want to change hosting companies http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif (If they don't, they don't know what they're missing though (ignorant lousy... Ahem... Sorry!)).

Just my opinion though, I have been known to be wrong on occasion.

<edit>
Why are the forums upside down? All the member forums are on top, and the 'public' ones are below, or is it just me?
</edit>

Del

[This message has been edited by Del (edited 03-08-99).]

[Benson]

My 2cents: Make the members only forums inaccessible to the public. I think all the other topics ought to be at least readable, and most should be writable.

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I'd rather have a bottle in front
of me than a frontal lobotomy

[hearts]

well... i might have read to fast here, but if ya don't mind, i am gonna take a stab at giving ya's my opinion. k?

I feel some of the beta stuff should not even be accessible. Is there a way to even have these forums not even as much readable? I just have this concern about privacy.

I personally feel, in some cases, that Terra's work should be our knowledge not the worlds. As I feel like hosting companies that do not measure up, could be lurking here and they are getting some kind of input out of Terra's ideas and try to implement on their end. (I bet they stumble when they do.. cuz, they don't have Terra .. *evil grin*)

With the little bit I have been hearing about security, I think that topics such as Advanced Development should be readable,but not writeable to the entire community.

I do not understand about the PHP -- why that couldn't be for all.

There is a part of me feels it is okay for the online community to come here and post their questions and we get feedback from them. Since we all learn from everyone we run across.. whether it is reading source codes or emails in general. Myself, had the impression that this was an open community.

You guys treated me so wonderfully when I wasn't a member of FQ and I got help in areas that I needed and that was such a high selling point when I signed up. http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

And as for ecommerce, With this being such a topic, i think we should allow all to post. Mainly because this is such a broad topic and difficult for us to understand completely.

Let me just conclude, like this.

One of the selling elements is how welcoming you are to anyone that drops by. If there are too many restrictions, that will make it seem like we are snobby.. and we ain't. I feel, by keeping this sort of atmosphere, it will bring us the kind of clients we already have. And every family has visitors! http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

Just secure the topics that will/could bring any kind of harm security wise, keep your ideas of server upgrades and BETA stuff between us.

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~~~ hearts ~~~

Heartistic Designs www.heartisticdesigns.com (http://www.heartisticdesigns.com)
Hearts www.heartsangels.com/hearts (http://www.heartsangels.com/hearts)
Heartistic Wishes www.heartsweb.com/heartisticwishes (http://www.heartsweb.com/heartisticwishes)

[This message has been edited by hearts (edited 03-08-99).]

[Justin]

Here's what I would do. Set up three categories:

Only Members can view or post:
Server News
Server Questions
Alpha/Beta/Gamma
Server FAQ

Anyone can read, Members can post:
Advanced Developement
General HTML support
PHP & MySQL
E-commerce
Site Promotion

And the rest could be open community. Not necessarily in that order, either, but I would group them about like that to avoid confusion. I agree that the world doesn't need to see certain things, and doesn't need to get free support either. A lot of times it is hard to tell is someone is on FQ's servers or not.

Anyway, I just woke up to the purple forums (I like the colors http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif) and thought I'd throw in my two cents.

<edit reason="Colorblind Moron">
Ok, I just realized that the colors are the same... where did I see purple? I haven't had any coffee yet http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif I think the table borders threw me off http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif Or this cheap monitor.
</edit>

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Justin Nelson, SFE Software
www.vdj.net (http://www.vdj.net)

[This message has been edited by Justin (edited 03-08-99).]

[Dean B]

Deb,
You do realise that when 5.30 is released, sometime this week I heard, that the forums and their management, will revert back to the old input password style ?

Dean.

[Jacob Stetser]

First, a little off-topic note: People who use Apple machines shouldn't be called MAC users, we're Mac users, or Macintosh users. MAC users are people who get money out of electronic teller machines http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

I believe the protecting at least the Alpha-Beta-Gamma forum had already been suggested. I have no problem with protecting some forums, Although in keeping with the Open Community, I think we should leave that fully open, especially since we've lately had some helpful outsiders come in and tell us about their programs, scripts, etc.

[Armand]

Tough call I would say. Admit to liking the idea of hogging it to just FutureQuest members, but easily see the benefits others mention of open community. Definitely put the Server stuff to FQ members only!

Might suggest a code hack to include "Member-FQ" or "FQ member" versus just "Member." I wouldn't begin to know how to do that but am sure others could work it out. Just like the idea of knowing who is a FQ member and who isn't. Just a thought.

Hey where'd the thing under the names go? Don't mind me I'm lost. Was thinking about upgrading my UBB, but this confusion is giving me second thoughts.

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Armand (aka Joe)
joe@arcanumcafe.com
www.arcanumcafe.com (http://www.arcanumcafe.com)

[jenili]

Sheeesh... I had this big long reply message typed out, and then I realized I wasn't saying anything new. I agree with Justin.

One thought... It might be nice to let outsiders peruse a two- or three-month-old archive of "Server News", since it shows how hard-working and responsive you folks have been. An old archive so other hosts can't surf the forum and try to trump you. Or maybe a delayed upgrade log with highlights from the forum. Just a thought.

jeni

[Bi4Be]

Edited: Expired General Discussion Post
[This message has been edited by Bi4Be (edited 02-16-01@10:08 pm)]

[Justin]

Adding to my above post (and to keep everyone else from having to type it http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif), I was thinking another good idea might be to have one forum dedicated to potential FutureQuesterians for any questions they may have - instead of them being spread all over. And make that forum (and that forum only) postable by anyone, even without registering with the UBB. Just less to stand in a shy potential customer's way who may have a question http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

And my preference would be this order:

Open Community (Visitors Welcome)
Questions about FQ's services <-- registration not required
Open Discussions
General Computing
Macintosh Users
Graphics & Design
Places to go, sites to see

FutureQuest Support (Visitors may read, Members may post)
General HTML Support
Advanced Developement
PHP and/or MySQL
E-commerce
Site Promotion

Server Related (Members ONLY!)
Server News
Server FAQ
Server Questions / suggestions
Alpha/beta/gamma

Something like that. Of course, that's just me http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif But I think having the order similar to that, where a new visitor is first greeted with the open forums and not a restricted access one, is more friendly. As you scroll down, you get more and more restrictive.

Does this make sense? I hope so http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif 'cause that's a lot of typing for everyone else if not!


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Justin Nelson, SFE Software
www.vdj.net (http://www.vdj.net)

[Justin]

Oh, I almost forgot. I like Jenili's idea too http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif Maybe even just a page, updated weekly / monthly / whatever, with hilights of the week / month's events regarding the server. So ppl can see how upgrades are done so efficiently, etc, and how downtimes are handled / posted. Things that make us proud to be FutureQuestarians (are we practicing FutureQuestarianism?).

Or just make public certain HTML pages from the forums on a delayed basis, like Jenili said. Something like that http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

[ubu]

I think that some of the Alpha and testing of the servers should be closed to everyone that isn't a memeber of FutureQuest, but on the other hand, if a new client is looking for a new host, and sees how much respond goes into the downtime of the server, then they might be more willing to switch to FutureQuest.

Before I switched, I saw how you guys always responded very quickly and how honest your anwsers were to problems. I think that goes a long ways in the hosting community. I beleive that is a selling point you would not want to lock away for just the members of FutureQuest.

As far as the Testing of new servers, and new ideas you guys are coming up with, yes, I agree they should be locked away.

Just thinking of the good advertising you are doing whenever you are honest and up front. http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Jamie

[Paul]

Okay.. my input if you don't mind:

I would set it up sort of like Justin has suggested providing you allow for "enough" open community that visitors don't feel left out or in the dark..

And regarding the Ubb reverting back to the old input password style.. I believe it will only be added as an "option".

-----------------------------
Paul

[Deb]

Sounds like I'll be making the A/B/G forum private very soon http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

As far as the rest we'll probably leave it as is for now... if/when it becomes a problem we'll reconsider it then.. but I'm loving your feedback!! I've learned some things http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

One thing I hope is clear though -- Yes, the forums are a fantastic selling point, and you guys are the reason for that...but our goal here is to serve you all and make a place for you guys to 'take advantage of each other' (for lack of a better term). That in itself is a selling point I guess but I don't want our service that is for you to be decided upon what would work as an 'advertisement' for us.

hrrmmm I'm babbling..but hope you understand my point. I just want to know what YOU want http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Deb

[meikel]

Hi,

why do you want to restrict permissions on
E-commerce and Site Promotion forums.
I think that this is not really support stuff but more on-topic discussion. I'm sure that everyone can add something to one or the other forum that is of value. I don't think that questions posted here are directed to FQ support. So in my opinion, these two forums should stay open.

Meikel

[hearts]

hey meikel.. I agree with ya. 100%

[jenili]

That in itself is a selling point I guess but I don't want our service that is for you to be decided upon what would work as an 'advertisement' for us.


True enough, and we appreciate that your focus has always been on service to us http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif OTOH, what's good for FQ is good for us, at least that's the way it's been so far. When you get more customers, you make more upgrades, and we all end up happy http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

jeni