vBulletin

[oslo]

Have you, SurfP., ever looked into it?

Let's say you did the alteration, would all data be lost?

And while I have your attention. Please get rid of the post c(o)unt, it's so last years...

[gulfsurfer]

why do u want to get rid of the post count?

[oslo]

why do u want to get rid of the post count?

read the last line in my post.

Don't worry, Mr.-soon to hit the 1k mark, it will show in your profile.

Do you remember when it was cool to have a visited counter on the old webpages? Well, it's not anymore.

[gulfsurfer]

Ok, but why dont you want a post count? It doesnt hurt anything. Ive just never seen any bbs without them. but ok

[tomcat360]

ooo its not the cool thing.....i see...

[surf patrol]

I've not looked at VBulletin. The reason that phpbb was chosen is that it comes as standard with the hosting company server setup.
It's not like I made an actual choice on which forum software to use.
The good thing about phpbb is that it is open source and it's all free - including upgrades. VBulletin costs. I also know my way around it now to make changes and modifications - Id have to work out how VBulletin works.
Do you know about the benefits of VBulletin? It might be worth changing if there are benefits in forum performance.

Post counts - again it is there as standard so I have not played with it. I can see the benefit from a community point of view, some sort of recognition for member posting activity (although I agree with you oslo that this is reflected to a certain extent in the rank. Lets here what other members think.

[oslo]

Do you know about the benefits of VBulletin? It might be worth changing if there are benefits in forum performance.

I am currently very active on another (football) forum, who uses vBulletin. I am very happy with it, as opposed to phpBB. It is just so much more user friendly.

It's the little things, that's adds up in the end, creating a much better fora, and in turn, a better community.

A few things:
* When you are in, say "Surf Spots" the only info you get is if there are any new posts, and who the last poster is.
vBulletin: You'll see if there are any new post, if you have posted in that thread yourself and there is a button that takes you directly to the first post that is new to you.
*The interface is much more user friendly. Adding images, links and quotes is a walk in the park. Not saying it's hard in phpBB, but it's just that it could be better.
*You can, after a bit of work, create a skin with a personal touch to it. You can also let the users choose the skin of their liking in the user CP.

Have a look here: http://www.vbulletin.com/

Post counts - again it is there as standard so I have not played with it. I can see the benefit from a community point of view, some sort of recognition for member posting activity (although I agree with you oslo that this is reflected to a certain extent in the rank. Lets here what other members think.

As far as I am concerned, there are no real benefits in a post counter. It takes some of the attention away form what really matters; what you actually write.

I think recognition should be based on what you write. Not how many posts you have. This does, in some cases result in replys like: LOL or OMG or other useless replies.

Post's will still be counted, and you'll get some recognition from the title.(eg Wobbler and so on). And as I said, the number of posts will be in the profile. And I think it's important that they are there as well. Let's just say, I would rather hook up with a member of the community on a surf trip who has 400 posts, and not with someone who invites you to his house as his first post. (a bit confusing that latter part, read it again...)

[little waves]

As far as I am concerned, there are no real benefits in a post counter. It takes some of the attention away form what really matters; what you actually write.

I think recognition should be based on what you write. Not how many posts you have. This does, in some cases result in replys like: LOL or OMG or other useless replies.

As far as showing post counts taking away from people reading the actual posts...i will have to disagree on that - unless you have realllly bad ADD then if you want to read a post, you'll read it, and if you don't then you wont.

And as far as people posting stupid things like "OMG" or "LOL" as a post to get their count up, this may be a problem on some forums, but I have really never seen that on here. Granted I have a fairly low count myself, so maybe I haven't been here long enough to see it, but all the posts I see on here seem to be legitimate posts.

someone also mentioned something about only seeing the threads that you have replied to...i dont like that idea because some people (like me) like to read the threads, but don't necesarily have a comment to add to the conversation.

I tend to like the way things are set up now. I like how if there are new post (yours or someone else's) in a thread, it shows up a different color so you know which one's have changed since your last visit. Only thing I might make a change to is combining some of the areas such as longborders only and shortboarders only. Sometimes its a lot to keep track of having so many different rooms - but even that suggestion is miniscule, it doesn't even matter really.

Good job surf patrol

[oslo]

This is insane. You misunderstood every point I tried to make!

As far as showing post counts taking away from people reading the actual posts...i will have to disagree on that - unless you have realllly bad ADD then if you want to read a post, you'll read it, and if you don't then you wont.

Some users on different foras will do anything to boost the post count. They could write something short, silly and totally useless stuff. Just to get another post to the tally. It may sound stupid, but there are people like that everywhere. Move the post count and they will stop doing it.

In short the attention to the writer lies in the post count, and not the substance. That it was I mean by post count taking some of the attention away from what matters.

And as far as people posting stupid things like "OMG" or "LOL" as a post to get their count up, this may be a problem on some forums, but I have really never seen that on here. Granted I have a fairly low count myself, so maybe I haven't been here long enough to see it, but all the posts I see on here seem to be legitimate posts.

You obviously haven't read too many threads, no.

someone also mentioned something about only seeing the threads that you have replied to...i dont like that idea because some people (like me) like to read the threads, but don't necesarily have a comment to add to the conversation.

No. No. Putting every thread you haven't replied to on a ignore list would be stupid, and it's got nothing to do with what I wrote.

The thing is, you could see if there are new posts, and if you have a post in the discussion\ chat going on. This makes it much easier to find the threads that you have been a part of.

You loose nothing, but you gain something.

I tend to like the way things are set up now. I like how if there are new post (yours or someone else's) in a thread, it shows up a different color so you know which one's have changed since your last visit. Only thing I might make a change to is combining some of the areas such as longborders only and shortboarders only. Sometimes its a lot to keep track of having so many different rooms - but even that suggestion is miniscule, it doesn't even matter really.

The way things are now, are ok. It's free software, and being free, this is about as good and easy it get's. I'm just asking if SP is considering taking a step up. Going for something more professional than the current. I don't think I know one forum user who claims that phpBB is better than vBulletin.

Good job surf patrol :D :D

No doubt.

[little waves]

wow! not trying to start an argument here or anything (i would lose cause i don't visit here enough to argue, or even want to).

im not saing no one ever posts "LOL" here or anything like that, I do have yet to see a post where that is all someone says. sure, people abbreviate on here, but i have yet to read a post on this message board where all the person says is "LOL". as part of their post maybe, but not as a post.

The thing is, you could see if there are new posts, and if you have a post in the discussion\ chat going on. This makes it much easier to find the threads that you have been a part of.

Doesn't this forum do that? When you log in, if a thread has new posts, a little orange mark shows up next to it.

You obviously haven't read too many threads, no.

I may not be an expert message boarder like you, but I have a higher post count!

[little waves]

LOL

[oslo]

but i have yet to read a post on this message board where all the person says is "LOL". as part of their post maybe, but not as a post.

I have seen that many times. (search, and you will find). But don't get me wrong, a post like that at the right time is sometimes needed. That was just an example, you know.

Doesn't this forum do that? When you log in, if a thread has new posts, a little orange mark shows up next to it.

Yes, but it show if there is a new post in the thread regardless if you have a post in there or not.

I may not be an expert message boarder like you, but I have a higher post count! :lol: :lol:

My guess is that you know as little about me as you do about vBulletin, so leave it.
I thought you stated you didn't want an argument?

[little waves]

My guess is that you know as little about me as you do about vBulletin, so leave it.

Man are you funny Your right, I don't know anything about you, if i did i would ask (if you noticed, i'm not asking, thats cause i don't care). i would guess you know even less about me, and to make a statement like you made above is a little presumptuous - as I probably know a bit more than you in fact.

regardless if you have a post in there or not.

come on now, your telling me with only 100 posts, you can't remember what messages you responded to?

its people like you who try and complicate things more than they need to be. if it ain't broke, why fix it? things seem to be working just fine here, and no one else seems to have a problem with it, although I am beginning to have a problem with you, but thats not the point.

I take it you don't know how to surf then? or do you surf as well as you message board?

[tomcat360]

the post count adds to your requibility(sp?) about your post. anyways, if you do little gay post that say three or four words, nobodys gonna like you anyway.

surfpatrol, doin sweet! keep it up, and ignore the crap haha

one thingy though, have you ever entertained the thought of a board construction, repair, board? well, maybe just a link to swaylocks would cover that.

[little waves]

well put tomcat

[libby]

I agree with Little Waves on this one, i think that the way the board is set up is pretty much spot on. The differences you are suggesting are minute and are simply personal preferences, rather than real improvements in my opinion Oslo. I am also interested to know why you are getting so upset and patronising with Little Waves for disagreeing, he/she was merely voicing his/her opinions, and very politley too.

I do not think Little waves misinterpreted your points, i read them and understood them in the same way as him/her. So if we both misinterpreted them, maybe it was the way they were worded. I don't want an argument either Oslo, i'm just standing up for Little Waves partly because i agree with him/her and partly because of your aggression towards him/her.

Libs

Ps I have been using this forum for alot longer than my post count would suggest, and i do not think the "LOL" type comments are a huge problem, and i don't think they are necessarily a symptom of people boosting their post counts.

[little waves]

thanks for standing up for me Libby. My question to Oslo would be why post this in a topic if he/she didn't want people to respond? maybe this would have been better posted in a private message to surf patrol.

oh well. no skin off my back - had a great day and a great surf today to boot. sun was even out

[calisurfer]

i agree with little wave and libby saying that the board is perfect the way it is, i mean i understand how the changes would help and all but i am no computer wiz i am a surfer and i ll i wana do is find out what going on with other surfers no personalize my skins and make it look all cool when i read a post so i mean i wouldnt want surf patrol to put out any of his money to make this already fine forum more high tech