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Peculiar new ICU website

  • 10-03-2015 10:47am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 444 ✭✭


    http://www.irishchessunion.net/

    Why the need for a new website? And why does it seem to be doubling as the personal blog of the PRO? :confused:

    Can somebody clear this up? The "old" website is down at the moment and I gather there has been some issues with access to it recently. Does anybody know what the fudge is going on?


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,862 ✭✭✭mikhail


    I heard there were some delays in moving everything over from the previous webmaster's control, but I'd assumed we'd be keeping the site as is. That new site is missing functionality from the old one, and I'd be disappointed if it's all we're getting.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 444 ✭✭brilliantboy


    Ok, I hadn't even realized a new website was in the works.

    So it's safe to assume that this is an official ICU website and not some dastardly ploy by someone looking to advance their own agenda?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    You might be assuming a lot by thinking those two things are mutally exclusive.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,334 ✭✭✭reunion


    Ok, I hadn't even realized a new website was in the works.

    So it's safe to assume that this is an official ICU website and not some dastardly ploy by someone looking to advance their own agenda?

    IT is not an official ICU website and no new website is in the works.

    All we know is that the ICU is looking for a new webmaster.

    That website is not condoned/endorse/supported by the ICU and has stolen information from the ICU breaching copyright. Add that website to your blocked list and report the fake website to the ICU via the ICU secretary.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,278 Mod ✭✭✭✭cdeb


    Seems to be a curious merger of the ICU website and another - controversial - blog website.

    Another normal day in Irish chess so.

    ICU.ie is down; I can't get on to ratings.icu.ie either, though downforeveryone says it's up.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,762 ✭✭✭Yreval


    I'm getting this message when I go on icu.ie:
    The old ICU websites (www.icu.ie and ratings.icu.ie) have been retired by order of Mr P. Fitzsimons. Please see the new ICU website controlled by Mr C. Daly.

    Looks like it's the real deal, then.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,334 ✭✭✭reunion


    Yreval wrote: »
    I'm getting this message when I go on icu.ie:



    Looks like it's the real deal, then.

    Where did you find this? it is not appearing on the icu.ie site for me.

    The Development officer on facebook has no knowledge of this and Pat has gone mad if he thinks he can just retire a site (which has a value to the ICU - nullifying a large asset to the ICU) without a functioning one to replace it.

    The ICU is in shambles this year.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 2,168 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1m1tless


    The old website was perfect, Did exactly what was needed. Wonder what the underlying circumstances are for this big mistake.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 285 ✭✭checknraise


    The new website does not look great but it may not be the finished product. Saying that if it was to resemble the finalised website I don't believe it would be acceptable. A website is so important nowadays that questions will have to be asked.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 444 ✭✭brilliantboy


    I'm getting a lot of conflicting information here

    Is it a new official website?
    Is it a temporary website while issues with icu.ie are fixed?
    Is it some of the usual characters and agitators trying to pull a fast one?

    Quite apart from the alarming drop in functionality of the website ,and it does seem a shame to let all the good work on the ratings website go to waste, one can understand why people would be reluctant to use it without some official confirmation (coming from someone other than the PRO)

    As I gather from the Irish Chess facebook page neither the Development Officer or the Secretary have any idea what's going on.

    Some transparency would be nice so I can get back to playing some bloody chess and not have to worry about whatever soap opera these guys are putting on.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Quite apart from the alarming drop in functionality of the website ,and it does seem a shame to let all the good work on the ratings website go to waste, one can understand why people would be reluctant to use it without some official confirmation (coming from someone other than the PRO)
    That's okay, there's a page on the new website saying it's official, so all's well.

    :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,862 ✭✭✭mikhail


    The old website was perfect, Did exactly what was needed. Wonder what the underlying circumstances are for this big mistake.
    I don't know the details, but I think the old site required experience with a number of web technologies to operate it and they were struggling to find someone with the skillset to take over the administration. I think this is an attempt to move to a more user-friendly platform. That seems reasonable, but only if the new site actually fits the bill.
    Sparks wrote: »
    That's okay, there's a page on the new website saying it's official, so all's well.

    :rolleyes:
    No <snip>, there's a note on the old site saying the new one is official.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭Mustafa Chess


    "I don't know the details"

    Well said!

    So essentially nobody actually knows what they are talking about and so this is a "he said" "she said" "they said" but nobody actually knows what "was said" sort of thing, and a lot guessing and second guessing is done while none of us is any the wiser.

    How about we consider what has appeared on the ICU website. Does that not tell us more than enough? Storm in a tea cup. Rome was not built in a day so I suppose it might be a while before this new website is able to make my toast and pour my coffee in the mornings. Don't imagine any of us need get our knickers in a twist about any of this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    mikhail wrote: »
    No <snip>, there's a note on the old site saying the new one is official.
    I was talking about this one:
    http://www.irishchessunion.net/?p=43


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 444 ✭✭brilliantboy


    "I don't know the details"

    Well said!

    So essentially nobody actually knows what they are talking about and so this is a "he said" "she said" "they said" but nobody actually knows what "was said" sort of thing, and a lot guessing and second guessing is done while none of us is any the wiser.

    How about we consider what has appeared on the ICU website. Does that not tell us more than enough? Storm in a tea cup. Rome was not built in a day so I suppose it might be a while before this new website is able to make my toast and pour my coffee in the mornings. Don't imagine any of us need get our knickers in a twist about any of this.

    The "he said" "she said" gave an indication that there were issues with who did and didn't have access to the website.
    Is it wrong to be concerned about who has access to your data, where your membership fee is ending up, what pipeline your news is coming through etc. ?

    If nothing else this highlights the need for the ICU to develop another method of interaction with the membership. It doesn't need to be said that a simple tweet or facebook post is cheap, and fast, and can prevent a whole lot of confusion and speculation.
    mikhail wrote: »
    I think this is an attempt to move to a more user-friendly platform. That seems reasonable, but only if the new site actually fits the bill.

    It's not off to a good start. I can't imagine a lot of people will be happy that their main interface with the ICU is also host to the personal opinion pieces of a person who not uncommonly has controversial and unpopular opinions. The news feed of the ICU website should be an objective source and not a soapbox for whoever happens to raise a few hands at an AGM.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,862 ✭✭✭mikhail


    The "he said" "she said" gave an indication that there were issues with who did and didn't have access to the website.
    Is it wrong to be concerned about who has access to your data, where your membership fee is ending up, what pipeline your news is coming through etc. ?
    The biggest concern, in my opinion, is whether the automated structures for membership and rating are still in place. If they're gone, and they don't currently seem to be working, it's a huge loss in administrative efficiency for the ICU, and potentially in convenience for the members.
    It's not off to a good start. I can't imagine a lot of people will be happy that their main interface with the ICU is also host to the personal opinion pieces of a person who not uncommonly has controversial and unpopular opinions.
    I think that site has hosted Colm's blog before, but I don't seen anything on it at the moment that merits concern. His output there right now consists of a simple write-up of an upcomming tournament, a puff piece for Sam Collins' bid for the GM title, and media coverage of Sam - solid PRO output. But I agree, it's also important that this be a simple and uncontroversial news outlet for Irish Chess. I've nothing against Daly, but given his history, people (and not just Peter Cafolla!) are going to have reasonable concerns about whether this is his site or the ICU's in the long run.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,034 ✭✭✭Ficheall


    Hadn't the previous webmaster recently put a massive amount of work into making the icu website what it was?

    Will that old website still be available when/if the current PRO is voted out at the next AGM, or will the new committee have to try to disentangle the new website from Colm's blog?


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,278 Mod ✭✭✭✭cdeb


    mikhail wrote: »
    I don't know the details, but I think the old site required experience with a number of web technologies to operate it and they were struggling to find someone with the skillset to take over the administration.
    The ratings site was working with a new ratings officer though - was there a need to discontinue it?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,334 ✭✭✭reunion


    mikhail wrote: »
    I don't know the details, but I think the old site required experience with a number of web technologies to operate it and they were struggling to find someone with the skillset to take over the administration. I think this is an attempt to move to a more user-friendly platform. That seems reasonable, but only if the new site actually fits the bill.


    No <snip>, there's a note on the old site saying the new one is official.

    I've heard there was people interested in the position. Just some people didn't like the applicants.

    The icu.ie now redirects to laughable_decisions.net
    ICU.ie wrote:
    ICU Websites
    The old ICU websites (www.icu.ie and ratings.icu.ie) have been retired by order of Mr P. Fitzsimons. Please see the new ICU website controlled by Mr C. Daly.

    By order of Mr Fitzsimons? Wait a second here! Shouldn't that be Committee decision? or New webmaster decision?

    Quite frankly this is a joke, an april fools day joke too early.

    We've lost years, YEARS of minutes and AGM/EGM agendas, News and tournament results. So instead of publishing minutes (a transparency point by the current chair) he removes these documents? I know less about the ICU now than ever and it seems divided on anything it's done this year! (wait what has the executive done this year?!)



    Just another year in Irish Chess where people's personal vandettas hurt Irish Chess as a whole!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,334 ✭✭✭reunion


    Ficheall wrote: »
    Hadn't the previous webmaster recently put a massive amount of work into making the icu website what it was?

    Will that old website still be available when/if the current PRO is voted out at the next AGM, or will the new committee have to try to disentangle the new website from Colm's blog?

    Yeap. We went from a website with 100's of hours of work which had a roll out plan, testing and notified the members to a website blog a 7 year old could make. Why not host it wordpress.com? why even bother paying for a domain name? Why are we losing icu.ie??! I can't think of a single national organization that uses wordpress. It's not even a website anymore, it's an blog embarrassment.

    If you put €10 per hour for 100 hours, the chair has wiped out €1,000 (minimum) worth of an asset to the ICU and set the ICU back 10 years (no online payments currently).

    I wouldn't direct all this mess to Colm, it is our glorious leader that mandated this. Colm is just trying to make his personal blog reach more people.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,357 ✭✭✭Littlekittylou


    The icu.ie now redirects to laughable_decisions.net
    We've lost years, YEARS of minutes and AGM/EGM agendas, News and tournament results. So instead of publishing minutes (a transparency point by the current chair) he removes these documents? I know less about the ICU now than ever and it seems divided on anything it's done this year!

    I am someone who has played as a hobby for a while. I am a beginner. I find the whole thing very cliquey. My dad used to be a good rated chess player. He got sick of it.

    It's hardly going to be helpful for newer type players. It's not easy to find out what's going in Ireland.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,334 ✭✭✭reunion


    mikhail wrote: »
    whether this is his site or the ICU's in the long run.

    The site is hosted in the same place as Colm's.

    I hope the ICU are not paying for hosting for this site and, if they are, removing all other domain names from the hosting package.

    The domain name AND hosting are currently in the sole control of Colm Daly.
    Welcome to the all new website of the Irish Chess Union. Our website is undergoing maintenance and we are still developing our new website with a view to increasing and improving the functionality and ease of use for this website. We hope this phase of development does not cause too much inconvenience and trust our members will be pleased with the results.



    Oh and an FYI, the current secretary (and development officer) had no clue this was happening, however the PRO and Chair had this planned since January. Shocking really.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Speaking as someone who did this for a living for the guts of a decade, this is a shambles.
    The procedure for upgrading a website is, in simple terms:
    1. Get the new website running on your local machine, your laptop or whatever. Load all the data into it. Test it six ways from Sunday until you're okay with it.
    2. Transfer the website to the hosting machine but keep it on its own address. Test it again on the new machine to make sure it all works and you didn't break anything in the move.
    3. At an announced time, make a one-line change that immediately switches the webserver from showing the old website on the old address to showing the new website on the old address. Immediately test it so you know nothing's broken. And the first story on the new website should be about the new website and its new features and changes. And that stays pinned up for a while.

    If you can't do it that way, don't take down a working website that is used for critical functions (like, in this case, taking memberships, managing ratings and so on).


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,278 Mod ✭✭✭✭cdeb


    Mod edit - Preculiar thread title corrected :)


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 39 Zugszwang


    After decades of service to the ICU, Mark Orr has retired. The ICU seems to have been unable to conduct the hand-over in any sort of reasonable manner, so the former icu.ie site is no longer operational. It was built using technology far more sophisticated than Wordpress, with the result that few people would have the skill set to take it over. The cost of getting this developed would be way more than the 1,000 mentioned above btw. The real problem isn’t so much the crappy new ICU website run by an intemperate, it’s the fact that the rating system may not be operational either, unless the ICU have come to some other arrangement for this. For most of us, what we get for our ICU sub is a functional rating system, so if that goes by the wayside, Irish chess is in very serious trouble.

    Perhaps the ICU chairman, who seems to be doing a solo run on this critical issue, has some solution up his sleeve. If not, then the only answer I see is to do whatever it takes to liaise with Mark Orr and compete a proper and orderly hand-over of the previous website and rating system.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 175 ✭✭Tychoo


    What a joke. Looks like the ICU has imploded. EGM?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭Mustafa Chess


    It seems like Word Press is used by some pretty big and small organizations. I wonder why is that.


    General MotorsGM’s FastLane blog is a forum for GM executives to talk about GM’s current and future products and services.
    UPSUPS’ Upside shares personal insights and perspective about the world’s largest trans­portation company.
    eBayeBay Ink is your official source for information, opinion and perspective on eBay, Inc.
    SonyPlayStation.Blog is where the people who create the PlayStation experience meet gamers & fans directly.
    Best_Buy_Logo.svg Best Buy uses WordPress MU to power 1050 local store blogs & their mobile site Music

    www wordpress.com/notable-users/


    What is the purpose of a website for a chess federation anyway, maybe we don't need a website or even any ICU executive, perhaps we can just run things from our keyboards in here. I notice we are being moved into the sports section with little or no objections to that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    It seems like Word Press is used by some pretty big and small organizations. I wonder why is that.
    Because it's cheap.
    However, rolling custom services into a wordpress blog is a nontrivial task and requires a developer to do it.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭Mustafa Chess


    So The New York Times can have a Word press site but the ICU can't or should not? I don't know much about these things so I am a bit confused why there is such disdain for Word Press.


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  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,278 Mod ✭✭✭✭cdeb


    What is the purpose of a website for a chess federation anyway
    Seriously?

    Allowing people to find their local chess club at the press of a button? I know it's gotten us a fair few new members in the past few years. This alone is enough obviously.

    Allowing people pay ICU fees online - a particular boost given the LCU dock points for those who haven't paid fees. The website makes it so easy for a club treasurer to collect fees and pass them on.

    ICU.ie was building up an excellent archive of Irish chess history - tournaments, players and clubs. There were regular interesting new articles.

    What's happened is a complete shambles.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 444 ✭✭brilliantboy


    Zugszwang wrote: »
    It was built using technology far more sophisticated than Wordpress, with the result that few people would have the skill set to take it over. The cost of getting this developed would be way more than the 1,000 mentioned above btw.

    I gather from comments on Faceboook that the ICU has some more flexibility in its budget this year thanks to the good efforts of the development officer in obtaining sponsorship money for the Glorney. Perhaps instead of the official website being an extension of IrishChessAgitations they could spend some money on salvaging the old website.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 146 ✭✭RQ_ennis_chess


    reunion wrote: »
    I've heard there was people interested in the position. Just some people didn't like the applicants.

    Are you serious? I presumed the reason Colm got the position was that no one else applied.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,334 ✭✭✭reunion


    Are you serious? I presumed the reason Colm got the position was that no one else applied.

    Is Colm the new webmaster? I literally have no idea, I thought he was asked to make something so he did. The new executive is quite poor at informing members of anything, except when they want to get people to cough up money.

    I have heard (from an executive member) that the outgoing web master recommended someone with the skills required who also applied. They would have been able to maintain the old website but that applicant was rejected. 2 applicants applied, so I guess the other applicant (with inferior skills) got the job.

    I've heard (from a non-executive member) that the rejected candidate was too in line with the outgoing webmaster and certain people on the executive didn't like the applicant personally, and he was rejected on that basis. Not too sure an executive meeting discussed this or not. Though again, this was from a non-executive source which could be bogus (though I believe it isn't).

    Zugszwang wrote: »
    After decades of service to the ICU, Mark Orr has retired. The ICU seems to have been unable to conduct the hand-over in any sort of reasonable manner, so the former icu.ie site is no longer operational. It was built using technology far more sophisticated than Wordpress, with the result that few people would have the skill set to take it over.

    But people did have the skillset and they applied to be webmaster. I understand changing the website if it was too complicated to maintain, but I don't understand removing it.
    Zugszwang wrote: »
    The cost of getting this developed would be way more than the 1,000 mentioned above btw.

    I know it's way more than that, I was taking really really conservative figures and showing how the chair has wiped out such a valuable asset to the ICU.
    Zugszwang wrote: »
    The real problem isn’t so much the crappy new ICU website run by an intemperate, it’s the fact that the rating system may not be operational either, unless the ICU have come to some other arrangement for this. For most of us, what we get for our ICU sub is a functional rating system, so if that goes by the wayside, Irish chess is in very serious trouble.

    With the magazine gone, the ICU website is the only method to announce AGMs, EGMs, central location for tournaments calendar, etc. This hurts sooo many people and potentially tournaments which are the only reason the ICU exists. The ratings has been done by hand, and could be done by hand again.

    Lots of questions but no answers and no word from the ICU.
    Zugszwang wrote: »
    Perhaps the ICU chairman, who seems to be doing a solo run on this critical issue, has some solution up his sleeve. If not, then the only answer I see is to do whatever it takes to liaise with Mark Orr and compete a proper and orderly hand-over of the previous website and rating system.

    Perhaps members could get an update? even a note saying sorry and a roadmap for the new blog?


    Also apparently there is a disciplinary committee being formed to punish the previous web master. I suspect we might hear about it after disciplinary action has been taken and things have gone too far....

    Also icu.ie and irishchessunion.net both don't work now. Great.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    reunion wrote: »
    apparently there is a disciplinary committee being formed to punish the previous web master
    For running a perfectly functional website for years and being a helpful person?
    Serious charges indeed! :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 146 ✭✭RQ_ennis_chess


    reunion wrote: »
    Is Colm the new webmaster? I literally have no idea.

    I dont know either, I was talking about his role as PRO

    Sparks wrote: »
    For running a perfectly functional website for years and being a helpful person?
    Serious charges indeed! :rolleyes:

    Presumably for not facilitating access to the website for someone he considers unsuitable for the job. Whether he is entitled to do that or not is another matter.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭Mustafa Chess


    Old Persian saying

    "He and she who know not what they speak or write about are like sand in the desert and Camel dung in the winter"

    Turns out it was a case of "he says" "she says" and nobody had any information to offer of value. I agree it is indeed a shambles, and a disgrace.

    It is good that we are moved to sport section. Seems like badger baiting at times but funny in an odd way.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,334 ✭✭✭reunion


    I dont know either, I was talking about his role as PRO

    He was the only applicant I believe. I was referring to the Web master position. There were 2 applicants but 1 was refused despite meeting the criteria for the job.
    Presumably for not facilitating access to the website for someone he considers unsuitable for the job. Whether he is entitled to do that or not is another matter.

    See my guess is someone with no technical knowledge wanted to make technological changes they knew little to nothing about.

    Anyway, all I know is that the last news article said Mark Orr was the webmaster until a new one is found. I'm not aware of any new webmaster, but I guess he has since retired?


    Not sure if I agree with holding a site to ransom (if that's what happened), but I do know people without IT knowledge should NEVER make decisions on IT stuff.
    Please note that contrary to the recent posting attached to the icu.ie and ratings.ie domain names, these websites have not been retired by me. They have been taken off line temporarily as an interim measure because the control of the sites needed to be reassigned to the ICU in the light of the resignation of the former webmaster.

    They will be brought back on line in the next few days. The features of the two sites and the data on them is fully intact.

    In the meantime, we will also be using the irishchessunion.net site as an auxiliary site in conjunction with icu.ie and ratings.ie. I envisage that apart from posting news items on this auxiliary site, we will also use it to test out potential new features that can eventually be incorporated onto our existing sites.

    Pat Fitzsimons
    Chairperson
    Irish Chess Union
    12 March 2015.

    A statement by the ICU Chairman will be posted here to explain the difficulties we were having with the website and the reasons why this back up website had to “go live” as and when circumstances made this necessary. All the ICU data, including ratings and membership details etc etc have been secured, protected and saved from the old website and we are in a transition phase of maintenance to insure that a safe and smooth restoration of the ICU website, albeit with changes, takes place.


    Both of these items were added today. One edited to an article from the 9th.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,278 Mod ✭✭✭✭cdeb


    Another problem with the website just flagged with me - club contacts are gone. Can't look up to see who to ring to get in touch with another club. A potential problem for league captains.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭Mustafa Chess


    cdeb wrote: »
    Another problem with the website just flagged with me - club contacts are gone. Can't look up to see who to ring to get in touch with another club. A potential problem for league captains.

    leinsterchess.com/clubs/index.htm

    One good turn deserves another. it was your good self who had previously made this wonderful resource known to me.

    No need to get our knickers in a twist. I think the air of the Camel in winter is very much in the air with this whole topic.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,278 Mod ✭✭✭✭cdeb


    Not quite the same - the ICU website had phone number contacts as well. The LCU website has just venue and meeting night as far as I can see.

    So not much good to a captain looking to get in touch with another club.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭Mustafa Chess


    "They have been taken off line temporarily as an interim measure."

    "They will be brought back on line in the next few days. The features of the two sites and the data on them is fully intact."

    These two lines could allow us delete every single post made in this thread at this point? I can claim to know nothing, but then from what I can see other know less than nothing but pretend they know all.

    In Persia there is an expression that says

    "Don't be fooled by those who try to bark and assume all others are the fools."


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,278 Mod ✭✭✭✭cdeb


    "They have been taken off line temporarily as an interim measure."

    "They will be brought back on line in the next few days. The features of the two sites and the data on them is fully intact."

    These two lines could allow us delete every single post made in this thread at this point? I can claim to know nothing, but then from what I can see other know less than nothing but pretend they know all.
    No, I don't think so.

    As others have said, if you're going to remove a website, you give advance notice of the downtime/change, and you make sure that the new website is launched fully functional.

    Instead, we have a case where a holding message replaced the ICU website, with a redirect to another website, where the initial holding message was directly contradicted by the ICU exec.

    All a bit of a mess really.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,862 ✭✭✭mikhail


    In Persia there is an expression that says

    "Don't be fooled by those who try to bark and assume all others are the fools."
    On the internet, we have an expression that says not to feed the trolls.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭Mustafa Chess


    mikhail wrote: »
    On the internet, we have an expression that says not to feed the trolls.

    Amounts to the same thing really. But does not alter anything. We are all "feeding" now.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭Mustafa Chess


    cdeb wrote: »
    No, I don't think so.

    As others have said, if you're going to remove a website, you give advance notice of the downtime/change, and you make sure that the new website is launched fully functional.

    Instead, we have a case where a holding message replaced the ICU website, with a redirect to another website, where the initial holding message was directly contradicted by the ICU exec.

    All a bit of a mess really.

    Reading between the lines it seems clear enough that there was no more time for such grand plans, and as the person doing the contradicting at the end is a member of the executive, the Chairman no less, he is telling us not to believe what the guy who used to control the website wrote. So not being Sherlock Holmes or anything myself it seems obvious that some sort of urgent action was taken in order to insure control of something or other.

    I would say it was more a case of it was a bit of a mess, but it has now been cleaned up and the real garbage has been removed from the situation. Or maybe I have it the wrong way around, but I will stick with the people who have not resigned from the executive for now anyway. A crisis averted and calm waters and cool heads will follow and prevail?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    grand plans
    You mean "the standard way that everybody in the world does this" counts as a grand plan?
    I would say it was more a case of it was a bit of a mess, but it has now been cleaned up and the real garbage has been removed from the situation.
    You know, I really object to that. Mark Orr was the first contact I had coming back into chess and he was polite, helpful and friendly. I've seen absolutely nothing that justifies snarky inferences like that "garbage" comment, and I'm kindof surprised because I only know one person in Irish chess who'd make a nasty underhand comment like that and he swears blind he'd never sully himself by lowering his standards to allow him to try to post on here.

    Mind you, his being banned off this entire site for bad conduct probably makes his protestations unnecessary, but still...


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭Mustafa Chess


    Grand plans or a standard process, semantics, point is the same, it would appear that some sort of urgent situation arose and people appeared to have had to act quickly and cautiously to regain control of the ICU website and the Chairman of the ICU felt something had to be done and so he went ahead and done something. Should he not be applauded or what did he do wrong.

    Now he has explained things. That is the end of the matter for me really, and while we may never get to know what went on behind the scenes and what the true story is, I trust the Chairman more than I would trust the guy who left a petulant and apparently untrue message on the domain names which the Chairman then felt he had to correct with his statement. And BTW didn't he resign months ago, or was he still a member of the ICU committee?

    But I accept you are right to object to the use of the term garbage. It was a careless and clumsy use of the word which I withdraw, and I apologize for any offense caused.

    Frankly I wonder if these matters are of more interest to those directly involved and of little real interest to most of us. Smack my bishop is more fun than this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Grand plans or a standard process, semantics
    Yeah, you try telling a boss that in any professional job in the world, see if he or she agrees.
    But I accept you are right to object to the use of the term garbage. It was a careless and clumsy use of the word which I withdraw, and I apologize for any offense caused.
    Excellent.
    Frankly I wonder if these matters are of more interest to those directly involved and of little real interest to most of us.
    As most of us pay membership dues to the ICU via the website and access our chess ratings via the website, we are those directly involved. We're just not those directly informed.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭Mustafa Chess


    But were we not informed by the statement posted by the Chairman and can we not assume that this was done as soon as practical or possible for reasons which maybe and I say maybe can not be given yet? Almost all memberships would be paid by now so the temporary disruption is not going to impact things too much? I just think there is a suspicious amount of hot air and complaining going on here without anybody really having a clue. How about we wait just a little bit and maybe things will be sort of "back to normal"


    Anyway have a good weekend. I have a very interesting match tomorrow.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    But were we not informed by the statement posted by the Chairman and can we not assume that this was done as soon as practical or possible
    No, and therefore no.


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