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Comments

  • #2612
    Arghus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 15,545 ✭✭✭✭Arghus


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720021#Comment_123720021

    Mate, honestly, blaming moderation as the root cause of the current state of affairs and over looking the damage done by the changeover and the unfixed bugs isn't a credible position to take.

    The site being uglier to look at, harder to navigate and full of glitches that never existed before did far more damage than moderation.

    Whatever about moderation, the basic user experience of boards just declined.... But, no, let's disregard that plainly obvious fact and blame moderation... Again.



  • #2613
    Flinty997
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,516 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720062#Comment_123720062

    Who said root cause? Who is ignoring the many, many bugs. That's a false narrative.

    But you might not be able to have a discussion because someone is constantly disruptive and derailing threads with no sanction. Whereas others get disproportionately harshly sanctioned by the mod for no reason. So they just stop posting or leave altogether.

    It's made some sub forums wither and die.

    That's got nothing to do with the usual moaning about moderation. That's a false equivalence.

    Respect to the mods who give their time and moderate fairly. They deserve all credit. It's a tough gig.



  • #2614
    championc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,540 ✭✭✭championc


    Which does this site use ?

    • Premium Plans (Paid):For businesses needing more advanced features and support, Vanilla offers premium plans that start at $689 per month. 
    • Higher Logic Vanilla (Paid):Higher Logic Vanilla, a separate offering, starts at $24,000 per year, according to Capterra Canada. 


  • #2615
    JP Liz V1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 92,394 ✭✭✭✭JP Liz V1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123719975#Comment_123719975

    Is there any cheaper better alternative to Vanilla?



  • #2616
    Oíche Na Gaoithe Móire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,063 ✭✭✭Oíche Na Gaoithe Móire


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123719912#Comment_123719912

    I disagree. I think a lot don't know.

    If 2,000 subs are needed just asking regulars if they'd be interested in contributing isn't going to offend anyone, they're not that sensitive.

    As well as contributing they gain the most by spending countless hours a week on the site, as part of leisure time, part of a community and so on.

    If they want a site to continue posting in they might need to weigh up everything.

    Acta non Verba



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  • #2617
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,386 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720121#Comment_123720121

    https://xenforo.com for instance. Not sure how prices compare with Vanilla, but they seem reasonable to me.

    There are other platforms too.

    Not your ornery onager



  • #2618
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 16,096 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720121#Comment_123720121

    Probably, and there's a few been mentioned here, but migrating the database for a huge forum could be a big ask. Xenforo has been mooted as an option, but googling migration from Vanilla to Xenforo (or any other forum for that matter) is quite involved. It would be interesting to know what other options the current owners looked at prior to picking Vanilla and why they went with it. Could be other options also have major problems, grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

    Boards.ie need your help to survive, subscribe here



  • #2619
    The Continental Op
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,960 ✭✭✭The Continental Op


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720168#Comment_123720168

    Do we need to migrate the whole database in one go? Can't we migrate just 2025 initially then migrate the rest year at a time.

    I don't see anything wrong with starting again and having an archive reference of the historic part of the site.

    Wake me up when it's all over.



  • #2620
    Goldengirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,156 ✭✭✭✭Goldengirl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720159#Comment_123720159

    Agree with you .

    I was on a thread last night where there has been a great exchange of relevant information over the last year or so about the UK state pension

    One poster thanked everybody for the helpful information on the thread ( it has happened before! ) and I thought that everybody posting there would probably be more than a few thousand better off in the future because of the information which is given on that thread .

    I am sure there are countless other examples on Boards .

    Do all those posters know what is happening to the site ?

    Help keep Boards going , subscribe or donate if you can.

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  • #2621
    Arghus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 15,545 ✭✭✭✭Arghus


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720118#Comment_123720118

    The poster I was replying to directly had literally said in an earlier post…"wholly responsible for the current situation..." when talking about moderation.

    That poster is engaging in exactly what I'm talking about.



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  • #2622
    Goldengirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,156 ✭✭✭✭Goldengirl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123718789#Comment_123718789

    Maybe a subscriber star ⭐

    Help keep Boards going , subscribe or donate if you can.

    https://subscriptions.boards.ie/



  • #2623
    Flinty997
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,516 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720205#Comment_123720205

    I'm saying it had an impact. So many boardies who contributed many informative information posts over many years are all gone. Water under the bridge now obviously.



  • #2624
    Flinty997
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,516 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720187#Comment_123720187

    Exactly.

    I wonder how much of the cost is maintaining old threads that you can't search or up date.



  • #2625
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,997 ✭✭✭corkie


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720168#Comment_123720168

    I have suggested it before, but I will restate it: -

    • Archive the current system as read only.
    • Migrate just the user base to a new forum (i.e. xenoforum ~ new site mentioned in thread using it).
    • New topics and forums layout could be created.
    • Link back to archived posts for further discussion.

    @The Continental Op Is this what your also thinking about or suggesting?

    #Aras25 ~ Boards poll!inCurrent Affairs/IMHO
    "Níl mé toilteanach toil a thabhairt"!
    24-09-2025 09:31PM



  • #2626
    The Continental Op
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,960 ✭✭✭The Continental Op


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720323#Comment_123720323

    Absolutely. Why burden the site with so much archivable data.

    I'm also not that bothered about my previous post count or thanks history if that makes migration easier.

    Edit> While the site is composed of content its the content creators that are the important part. No content creators no site.

    I'd also point out that we lost all the pictures that members had previously posted in the move over to Vanilla and I think that went uncommented.

    Wake me up when it's all over.



  • #2627
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 16,096 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720323#Comment_123720323

    I don't think the volume of data is the issue so much as the schema. Reading around it here, the best approach seems to do a trial migration with a small subset of the data and use that to iron out wrinkles in the migration process before doing a big migrate. I don't think the cost of having a lot of seldomly accessed data on a web server is the issue so much as the traffic. Even if it were an issue, filtering out pictures and other media on older data would probably reduce the size hugely. Not sure how forthcoming Vanilla are about direct export of the data en-masse to a more open format, e.g. CSVs of tables and schema. From what I gather they don't much like it as it facilitates their customers abandoning the platform. Of course you could do it using scraping tools, but that would be slow and need someone good on automation tools (I've used a few such as AutoIT but wouldn't much fancy it for a large scale extract). Could be a fun one if you're into scripting and have some time on your hands.

    Much like what is happening now, I think a better solution might be to poll the user base on what historical data they think is important to have available going forward. For those of us who have been here for a couple of decades, it would be sad to see historical content lost. I've had some wonderful conversations on here over the years and do like to be able scan through them on occasion.

    Boards.ie need your help to survive, subscribe here



  • #2628
    Polar101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,126 ✭✭✭Polar101


    The archive would need to be hosted somewhere too. Then you'd be paying for two sites.



  • #2629
    fritzelly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 18,499 ✭✭✭✭fritzelly


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720410#Comment_123720410

    Not necessarily - you archive say anything older than 2 years without a post and archive it on a separate db.

    Keeps your main database under control stored on NVMe, archive stored on standard SSD- leaner and quicker for forum usage



  • #2630
    Woodcutting
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 605 ✭✭✭Woodcutting


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720118#Comment_123720118

    Correct one person was allowed to get people banned fron one thread then sneer and remind them of their ban but he was immune to any ban. Know of people who are won't post on that thread or won't join boards.Ie because that's what they want to discuss . They go to other forums for that discussion



  • #2631
    Rocket_GD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,787 ✭✭✭Rocket_GD


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720441#Comment_123720441

    I’m sure you know dozens that would be able to save the site but it’s all gone too woke.

    This whole thread is turning into the usual “mods are shite because they ban me” nonsense.



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  • #2632
    Woodcutting
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 605 ✭✭✭Woodcutting


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720454#Comment_123720454

    Didn't ban me I discussed the issue elsewhere . It's a business ,let the owners save it if it's viable . If it fails I might set up a replacement .

    I don't know what woke means, whatever the person who says it wants it to mean it seems



  • #2633
    Flinty997
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,516 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720454#Comment_123720454

    Not listening to feedback as you're doing is why boards is where is it is today.



  • #2634
    Flinty997
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,516 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720534#Comment_123720534

    I don't think I've ever been banned either. Not that it matters.

    I guess it's time will tell if only fixing the software fixes everything like a golden ticket as claimed. Popcorn time.



  • #2635
    DopeTech
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,144 ✭✭✭DopeTech


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123618472#Comment_123618472

    Is there a family plan? Cheaper if purchased via Argentina?! 😁



  • #2636
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Good luck to the rest of the forum users to keep the forum alive for as long as possible.

    With the way the global economy is trending, I wouldn't be surprised if a good number of other forums and social media websites shut down since their operators can no longer afford to run said forums / websites.

    As for me personally I'm looking to cut back on my time on the internet in general, so I'll most likely won't post here in the future. I've asked the data requests people on Boards.ie to delete my account, but if that doesn't happen it looks like my account will eventually end up deleted when the forum goes down.



  • #2637
    Westport Covies
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 88 ✭✭Westport Covies


    i see vbulletin still going strong..

    Anything to be said about revisiting that with no modifiers? What you see is what you get?



  • #2638
    khamilton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 130 ✭✭khamilton


    I'm a member on a smaller (but still sizable) gaming forum that's up as long as boards.ie. They migrated to discourse, with a minimum of fuss and at a small cost.

    I always found it bizarre that boards.ie went with vanilla and heavily customising it at great expense rather than just going with a ready-made alternative that scales better than vanilla ever will.



  • #2639
    ancapailldorcha
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 43,340 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    It feels ominous that the "Visit Boards.ie" button on the dashboard doesn't work.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • #2640
    SickBoy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,580 ✭✭✭SickBoy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123723017#Comment_123723017

    Someone a few pages back created a form from scratch using software (XenForo) that some original devs from vBulletin created. It looks really good and familiar.

    Just ditch Vanilla and use something like that on a cheap hosting operation, Got to be the way ahead instead of going to a basic Vanilla setup that will still cost a fortune every year??

    I'm sure it's a little more complicated than that but there's so much knowledge within this community to make it work, if only it was embraced 😢



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  • #2641
    Westport Covies
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 88 ✭✭Westport Covies


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123723336#Comment_123723336

    agreed. Boards ticked along just fine for years until the numbers picked up and couldn't be supported by vbulletin.

    I'd say the page impressions are back to 1999 - 2000 numbers now, so no need for vanilla, employees or any real overheads, bar low volume hosting.



This discussion has been closed.
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