Suggestions for Forum Improvement

[ttuuxxx]

Just received an email.

You are receiving this email because you are watching the topic, "The couch" at Puppy Linux Discussion Forum. This topic has received a reply since your last visit. You can use the following link to view the replies made, no more notifications will be sent until you visit the topic.

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 838#227838

Yet "The couch" thread has mysteriously disappeared.

It looks like the Puppy Linux Discussion Forum Nazis are busy at work behind the scenes.

I just tried it and yes its missing. What was it about?
ttuuxxx

[alienjeff]

IIRC, first post by Pigshed, second post by WhoDo, third post my me. Don't recall if there were any follow-ups.

[Pizzasgood]

I removed that thread at the request of Pigshed.

There was a recent conversation about what size should be the limit. I don't remember where. I think it was something like Flash had been limiting it to 800x600 (by hand), and Béèm convinced him to use 600 wide. Maybe it was 500, not sure.

I kinda don't think we should go any higher than 600, and possibly go smaller. I like big images, but they're annoying when in-line. Even though I generally use 1280x1024, I rarely maximize Firefox. It makes pages hard to read since they're stretch so far across. Keeping it smaller makes things taller than they are wide, like in a book. With long things it's hard to move my eyes to the next line accurately without resorting to highlighting.

It really isn't that hard to just click the 'download' button and view them in another tab if they're larger.

I will look into the thumbnail option when I finish reading the new posts.

@Aitch: That would make a nice replacement for what I like to call the [stupid-flag-thingy-that-should-burn] key. Someday I ought to scratch that off and customize it somehow. Stencil?

[alienjeff]

@Pizzasgood

In re:

I removed that thread at the request of Pigshed.

WhoDo's and my posts on that thread were deleted, too. Are you saying that the OP can request that not only his post be removed by request, but also the posts of others?

Please don't mistake this for beating a dead horse. It's a legitimate and important question that demands an answer, because the integrity of posts by many users weigh in the balance.

[ttuuxxx]

I removed that thread at the request of Pigshed.

There was a recent conversation about what size should be the limit. I don't remember where. I think it was something like Flash had been limiting it to 800x600 (by hand), and Béèm convinced him to use 600 wide. Maybe it was 500, not sure.

I kinda don't think we should go any higher than 600, and possibly go smaller. I like big images, but they're annoying when in-line. Even though I generally use 1280x1024, I rarely maximize Firefox. It makes pages hard to read since they're stretch so far across. Keeping it smaller makes things taller than they are wide, like in a book. With long things it's hard to move my eyes to the next line accurately without resorting to highlighting.

It really isn't that hard to just click the 'download' button and view them in another tab if they're larger.

I will look into the thumbnail option when I finish reading the new posts.

@Aitch: That would make a nice replacement for what I like to call the [stupid-flag-thingy-that-should-burn] key. Someday I ought to scratch that off and customize it somehow. Stencil?

Ok thats great and all for new pictures but what about say the 50 or so Images that I posted at 720 with respect for small monitors.
all 3 of my monitors are 19" LCD and I always reduced the image sizes just to be nice, maybe 800x600 would be better suited ?
ttuuxxx

ps you are talking just about every user who takes a screenshot has to figure out how to reduce the image size to display it or everyone would have click the download button to see.
Plus have you thought about how much of pain it is going to be to have to explain how to reduce the size to all these newbee's.
I can see another "How do I install a pup file in puppy 4.0" Brewing up. I must of explained that 20 times.

Well atleast I can say "PM the user pizzasgood" lol
Naaa I'm not cruel. I'll help but still 800x600 is the way to go.

ttuuxxx

[Pizzasgood]

The thumbnail thing doesn't seem to work. Possibly that means this server's php doesn't have the GD library compiled in. Not sure.


http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=32391

There have been discussions indeed, but I am not aware of a consensus to a certain value.
Width of 800 have been suggested and then 700.
But my test indicate that is an image is 600 it fits on any body's PC.
At 700 I still have a problem.
That's all I can say.
I am always willing to help, but if I am forced to side scroll, I drop the thread.

It comes down to who do we want to annoy? People who want to browse the forum on small monitors, or people who want to see an image without clicking the link.

I'd prefer to keep them at 600 max. That's plenty big to show a screen-shot of an error if you crop out all the fluff. It's also still large enough that I can read the text in ROX-Filer from a screenshot that was resized from 1280x1024.

I'm sorry that this means that all those images you uploaded won't be displayed inline.

[alienjeff]

@Pizzasgood

In re:

I removed that thread at the request of Pigshed.

WhoDo's and my posts on that thread were deleted, too. Are you saying that the OP can request that not only his post be removed by request, but also the posts of others?

Please don't mistake this for beating a dead horse. It's a legitimate and important question that demands an answer, because the integrity of posts by many users weigh in the balance.

[Pizzasgood]

If the thread in question happens to be a "let's bash somebody" type thread, has only been around a short time (one or two days), and has only accumulated a couple posts, then yes.

Those are my own rules for myself; there is no official rule on the subject.


And just in case you were curious about the final post you missed, that was me leaving a note that it was I who removed it and that it was done at Pigshed's request.

[alienjeff]

@Pizzasgood

You've really embraced Mein Kampf, haven't you?

[pigshed]

Sorry, I seem to have made a boo boo and caused the complete opposite effect as intended. "the couch" was supposed to be a light hearted thread to draw away frustrations from here and some other places to "off topic". In hindsight I was worried it maybe misinterpreted and may have tightened someones pressure relief valve at the risk of massive and deadly explosion (though no names were mentioned and all the quotes were accurately re-produced, all I did was give my view on the quotes and the authors integrity based on that information - For a similar example look back a little in this thread and see OP's quotation and theorization of HW's comments - I use this example purely as it's "to hand")

When I asked for the thread to be deleted there'd been no replies. Unfortunately it was several hours after that Pizzasgood got my message. So the fault lies with me - I should have edited out the contents when I decided to have it deleted.

The fact that others had replied is unfortunate. Had they been left and my part deleted they may not have made sense (I never read them so can't say for certain). So, my apologies.

AJ, I'm sure with your in built banter stocks you'll find another thread to add amusement to soon enough !

[alienjeff]

@Pigshed

Thanks for the explanation and chronological referencing. The apology, while gracious, isn't necessary from your bunker.

My umbrage is with the manner in which 'the couch" and original thread were handled; as well as the brusk condescension when "moderators" are called to task for their own actions.

It's a sad continuum of knee jerk, Gestapo-like "moderation" on this forum.

P.S. Fear not, mon ami: unlike FNM and FRE, banter stocks remain solvent.


EDIT: spelling correction

[Flash]

This forum was created to provide a place for people to discuss Puppy Linux. Anything else is technically off-topic. Most of the time I spend in the forum is spent trying to make it is as useful as possible for people who want to use it for its intended purpose. If anyone has a problem with the way I do that part of my job, I'll take their criticism under advisement. Criticism of the way I deal with off-topic posts, especially uncivil or disruptive ones, is wasted. Anyone who has a problem with the way I do that part of my job is encouraged to exercise his first amendment right to start his own forum.

[alienjeff]

I was right! I did hear the sound of jackboots rushing down the hallway!

[Aitch]

This is not intended as a personal slight, merely a hint as to allegiances/comparative authority

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/For ... L_DISPUTES

see

DO NOT FLAME THE STAFF

They have the final say. This forum isn't a democracy. Your vote doesn't always count. They try to please everyone they can, but in the end, they're charged with making this community as enjoyable for as many people as they possibly can. They can not always be right, nor can they please everyone with the decisions made, but they're doing their "jobs" and hopefully we can all agree that they're doing their best to ensure a good community here.

If you feel that an egregious oversight has been made, then pm the moderator group. Do not post complaints on the forum.

I believe Puppy forum operates a similar, if unwritten policy

We all volunteer to be here, though as Bruce B reminded some time ago, it is a public forum, and the bots are just as 'happy' to flag a site for garbage/spam/flames, as flag it for useful info

There is a phrase 'labouring a point' that springs to mind

Relax AJ, have a seat
http://www.ratemyeverything.net/post/90 ... Chair.aspx

Aitch

[Béèm]

The thumbnail thing doesn't seem to work. Possibly that means this server's php doesn't have the GD library compiled in. Not sure.


http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=32391

There have been discussions indeed, but I am not aware of a consensus to a certain value.
Width of 800 have been suggested and then 700.
But my test indicate that is an image is 600 it fits on any body's PC.
At 700 I still have a problem.
That's all I can say.
I am always willing to help, but if I am forced to side scroll, I drop the thread.

It comes down to who do we want to annoy? People who want to browse the forum on small monitors, or people who want to see an image without clicking the link.

I'd prefer to keep them at 600 max. That's plenty big to show a screen-shot of an error if you crop out all the fluff. It's also still large enough that I can read the text in ROX-Filer from a screenshot that was resized from 1280x1024.

I'm sorry that this means that all those images you uploaded won't be displayed inline.

I use crop to only have the interesting part and make sure none of my images are larger then 600.
So I agree with you on that.
In the very beginning I started to post, I was not aware of the aspect of image width. But it has been for quite some time I limit to 600.

So I have no problems that my first images aren't inline anymore.

So I think the problem is solved.
If < 600, it's inline.
If > 600 it's a link.
Fine for me.
Thank you Pizzasgood.

[alienjeff]

@Aitch

I love constants. Through thick and thin I can depend on your humor (or humour, if you'd prefer), levity, innate appreciation for the absurd, and talent at being clever. Thanks. I'm grateful.

Some notes:

1) Aforementioned constants aside for a moment, comparing Arch to Puppy, or Puppy to Arch for that matter, is just plain silly. They're both *nix operating systems and that's pretty much where the similarity both begins and ends.

2) This is not a personal dispute. This is about principle, unbridled power, and censorship. And murky waters - or as a close associate would say, "Murgy waters."

3) "Unwritten policy" is a profane contradiction of terms. It's also ridiculous.

4) Bots are bots and humans are humans. Bots lean towards digital; humans towards analog.

5) Important points warrant "labouring." My incoming email on this matter supports this assertion.

I was going to add the following to this post, but in a rare, uh ... display of better judgement have decided against it:

Though the offer of a seat is most kind, I prefer to stand. And stand up. Besides, the chair you've suggested appears to be occupied. And look! Unless I'm hallucinating, isn't that Flash sitting in the chair with young Pizzasgood on one knee?

See? Contrary to popular opinion, I can exercise some restraint.

Perhaps it's the music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn82dMFGN8g

In keeping with my disdain for graphical emoticons, I sign off somewhat in kind - as a cut-and-paste of your post to Geany rendered it:

Wink Very Happy
alienjeff Smile

[Aitch]

Thanks AJ

I see I'm not the only one with a sense of the absurd

I was going to add the following to this post.......

Not sure which of the chairs would be preferable, so perhaps we'll skate around that one....

Aitch

[alienjeff]

Here's a benevolently donated and elegantly written poem for your consideration. It's quite apropo to the thread. To the anonymous donor, thank you, brother.



Justice SEEN is apt to be justly applied

At that he departed, sad but not disgraced
yet who will remember it well

It was not the adversity he faced
in futile attempt to ring the bell

Nor even the indifference to speak of truth
in defence of those who would were powerless to stem
the dangers of censorship - (he was branded as uncouth)

Of those who deride and smirk with glee
Will he be vilified - then heed it well
Those who would appease the powers that be
Are next in line to be victims of hell

"Anyone who doesn't take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either." - Albert Einstein

[otropogo]

This thread is a perfect example of the detrimental effects of inadequate moderation.

Here we have a topic critical to the continued development of Puppy, and it has effectively been killed.

The last message was posted twelve days ago, and the last message that had anything to do with forum improvement, some time before that. And generally, the on-topic postings have been overshadowed by the rest.

So where should one post suggestions or complaints about the operation of the forum now.?

Should one start a thread entitled Suggestions for Forum Improvement II, or More Suggestions for Forum Improvement? The more such threads there are, the more ineffective they will become.

I find it hard to believe that in more than two weeks, no one here has had a complaint about or an idea for improving the forum.

One thing that certainly would help to revive this thread and encourage constructive postings is some idea of what is possible and what is not possible in the restructuring of the forum.

For instance, could an option be provided to stop following a thread via the "view your topics" link? Or is that simply impossible to impelement with the software being used?

[koolie]

Maybe we could try and do better here:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 521#231521