New moderator: Daniel73

questions, corrections, complaints, suggestions

Postby Sander » Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:41 pm

We have a new moderator here: Daniël (Daniel73). From now on, he will be the person who tries to keep the forum tidy. I'll remain doing the technical stuff, like updating the forum software, setting up the RSS feeds (sorry, I keep forgetting to do that!) and trying to prevent spambots from posting here.

For questions and remarks, there is a new email address: [email address removed] (replace the *at* and *dot*). Currently it doesn't seem to really work yet though, so emails sent to that address might be lost. I will try to have that fixed. The About this forum forum is a better place for questions and remarks anyway.

[I've removed the email address mentioned in this post, to avoid emails being sent to it. Read this thread for the reasons. -Sander]

Last edited by Sander (2006-10-24 23:30:59)

[*EDIT* boardlinking updated to McDrake - Daniel73]
Last edited by Sander on Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Daniel73 » Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:52 pm

Sander wrote:We have a new moderator here: Daniël (Daniel73). From now on, he will be the person who tries to keep the forum tidy.

Thanks. As a result, I plan to use the Daniel73-profile for moderation purposes only. One reason is that the Daniel73-profile now has some extra technical features that I don't want to have as a contributor. It's now almost as easy to delete a topic as to reply it. So, as contributor I will use another profile. I'm only moderator as Daniel73.

Sander wrote:I'll remain doing the technical stuff, like updating the forum software, setting up the RSS feeds (sorry, I keep forgetting to do that!) and trying to prevent spambots from posting here.

How about the backup possibility? I've understood that you can already offer a public MySQL version with erased IP-adresses. Is that correct? Can you do that automatically?
I've understood that you prefer back-up files with a user-friendly interface, but if so, why postpone readily available backup-possibilites for that? I'd say just offer what you have to offer so far. And if MySQL works for you, then why not for others?

Sander wrote:For questions and remarks, there is a new email address: [email address removed] (replace the *at* and *dot*). Currently it doesn't seem to really work yet though, so emails sent to that address might be lost. I will try to have that fixed. The About this forum forum is a better place for questions and remarks anyway.

I'd rather see the email address disappear, in favour of open moderation. What do people want to discuss with a moderator in private?
I've understood that people tend to use the private address to secretly get things done, and I want to stay away from that as far as I can. McDuck International is an open forum where people can write anonymously. Even under different names. What more do they need?

I think a moderator should stay neutral and open. Having some private email-adress to get things done destroys that open policy. I want to see how a forum works when the moderator can only be reached in public.

A moderator address mostly is handy on a single-channel forum, like a mailing-list, so that visitors don't get bothered with technical stuff.
On McDuck there are already multiple channels, making a "private" moderation channel obsolete. Even if you would insist on poor me having some email-address as McDuck-moderator, I'd treat it as a public address. I want to stay clean from secrets and nepotism.
Private communication tends to make moderators vulnerable. And often it consumes so much time and effort, that the moderator will have to give up moderating.

[I've removed the email address mentioned in this post, to avoid emails being sent to it. Read this thread for the reasons. -Sander]

Last edited by Sander (2006-10-24 23:32:10)

[*EDIT* boardlinking updated to McDrake - Daniel73]
Last edited by Daniel73 on Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Daniel73 » Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:13 pm

Sander, here's a translation of the rules as I've submitted them to you some time ago, when discussing a standard of rules that we could both agree with. I'm curious for your comments on them. I've added some comments myself.
I'm also curious what others think of it. I've included the Dutch rules. Hopefully some multi-langual people will keep a sharp eye on the translation, being able to see two versions in getting a rule clear.
Corrections are welcome.

I've put the translated rules in an italic font and brackets. Followed by comments in plain text. For example when the translation is remarkably different.
Preferably the rules should be compitable with the Dutch section. And otherwise the differences should be made clear.

Geen racisme of andere vormen van discriminatie.

{No discrimination.}

Literal translation: No racisme or other forms of discrimination.
Racism (racisme) is a form of discrimination.

Geen (links naar) porno of grove plaatjes/teksten.

{No (links to) sexual explicit contents or rude pictures/texts.}

Debatable: What are rude pictures/texts? I guess pictures of corpses, injuries, etc.
Literal translation refers to porn instead of sexual explicit contents. I think "sexual explicit contents" is a better definition.

Geen warez of andere illegale dingen.

{No warez or other illegal matters.}

Hotlinking, het linken naar plaatjes van andere sites zonder toestemming van de eigenaar, mag niet en deze plaatjes kunnen worden weggehaald.

{Hotlinking, linking to pictures of other sites without permission of the owner, is forbidden and these pictures can be removed.}

I'd see this as a warning, emphazing the rights of owners and their servers. For a moderator it's often difficult to judge if permission has been given or not. I'd say the rule means that complaints will be taken seriously and (of course) in benefit of the owners and their servers.
Owners themselves can avoid abuse by replacing their pictures for something else. So, practically speaking, it's also important to be aware that hotlinking means using someone else's service. Pictures can be changed or removed. An advantage of asking permission first, is that the owner might be willing to keep the picture online for you.

Het publiceren van (eigen dan wel andermans) privé-adresgegevens en privé-telefoonnummers is verboden. Uitzonderingen hierop zijn eigen e-mailadres en woonplaats, maar het is natuurlijk niet verplicht om deze bekend te maken.

{Publication of (your own or someone else's) private address information and private phone numbers is forbidden. Exceptions are your own email adress and location, but there's of course no obligation to make them known.}

I'd rather write the last sentence as: Exceptions are your own email adress and location, but it's (of course) fully your own free decision to make them public.
And I want to add that for a moderator it's terribly difficult, if not just impossible, to undo that decision for you. Internet is like Pandora's box. Therefore I'd recommend anonymity as default on McDuck. Practically speaking: Don't make your identity known because someone uses a real name, or expects you to tell more about yourself.

Misbruik van andermans naam/identiteit is verboden.

{Misuse of someone else's name/identity is forbidden.}

This includes the names of guests.

Gebruik, als je iemand wilt aanspreken, hiervoor zijn of haar nickname (bijnaam/gebruikersnaam).

{If you want to comment to someone, use his/her given nickname (alias/user name).}

Privézaken worden niet via het forum afgehandeld.

{Private matters should not be handled on this forum.}

Literal translation is: Private matters will not be concluded on this forum.
Translation of "afgehandeld" is "concluded"/"settled"/"dispatched". I think that's confusing. As if private matters would be okay if they keep going on. :)

I'd take the rule as a strong advice. It's difficult to judge what's private and what's public. I'd rather connect this with the rule about illegal matters. I'd say that if someone hacks someone else's computer and puts its contents on McDuck, that would be illegal. If you give out a document, it's at first your own responsibility to take in account who gets it, or might get it.
When private matters get into public, it's important to consider how it got public. If people can't keep their own life private, how can they expect McDuck to do it for them?

Kopieer niet andermans avatar; dat is verwarrend.

{Don't copy someone else's avatar; that is confusing.}

Meer dan één gastnaam per persoon is toegestaan. Meerdere profielen (registraties) per persoon dienen beperkt te blijven.

{Having multiple guest names is allowed. Multiple profiles (registrations) should stay limited.}

Als je een vraag hebt over het forum, zoek je het antwoord op in 'Opmerkingen en vragen' of je maakt daar een nieuw onderwerp met je vraag.

{If you have a question about the forum, search the answer in 'About this forum'. If there's no answer and no suitable existant topic, make there a new topic with your question.}

Literal translation is: If you have a question about the forum, search the answer in 'About this forum', or make there a new topic with your question.

To avoid a jungle of topics, I've added the direction about "no suitable existant topic".

Als je een klacht over een bepaald bericht hebt, zet die dan niet in hetzelfde topic maar meld het bericht aan de moderators via de "Rapporteren"-link of zet hem in 'Opmerkingen en vragen' als je een discussie wilt. ("Rapporteren"-link verschijnt alleen bij profiel-gebruik, niet als gast.)

{If you have a complaint about a certain posting, don't post this complaint in the same topic, but report them to the moderators by using the "Report"-link or put it in 'About this forum'. ("Report"-link appears only under profile-usage, not as guest.)}

Literal translation: If you have a complaint about a certain posting, don't post this complaint in the same topic, but report them to the moderators by using the "Report"-link or put it in 'About this forum' if you want a discussion. ("Report"-link appears only under profile-usage, not as guest.)

Difference is that I've omitted the phrase "if you want a discussion". Some complaints don't need a discussion. That's what we have rules for.

Controle geschiedt meestal achteraf. Bij probleem-situaties kan het forum tot nader orde op zwart gaan.

{Controling mostly happens afterwards. In problem situations the forum can go off-line until further order.}

Taking the forum off-line temporarily is an emergency situation. Except for normal maintenance jobs that need the forum to be down.

Houd het forum overzichtelijk.

{Keep the forum neat.}

The Dutch woord "overzichtelijk" means neat in the sense of "overviewable". Is there a good English word for that?

Niet teveel citeren (quoten). Citeer alleen de tekst waar je op reageert, als dat al nodig is.

{Don't quote too much. Quote only the text you're replying to, if that's necessary anyway.}

Verzin een duidelijke titel voor nieuwe onderwerpen. De moderators kunnen ze veranderen als ze niet duidelijk zijn.

{Make up a clear title for new topics. The moderators can change them if they're not clear.}

Als je je niet aan deze regels houdt, kun je tijdelijk van het forum verbannen worden.

{If you don't obey these rules, you can temporary be banned from the forum.}

And now, as currently already is written under Rules section:
If you have any questions or remarks, the best place to submit them is About this forum. You can also send an email to [email address removed] (replace *at* and *dot*).

This rule is confusing, because Sander has written (here in this topic) that he isn't sure the email system works:
2006-10-15, Sander wrote:For questions and remarks, there is a new email address: [email address removed] (replace the *at* and *dot*). Currently it doesn't seem to really work yet though, so emails sent to that address might be lost. I will try to have that fixed. The About this forum forum is a better place for questions and remarks anyway.

If people insist on contacting me in private as moderator, they can notify me by using the email form under my Daniel73-profile, giving me an email address to reply to. Could that be a good solution?

P.S. As it seems, there's no rule against spambots. How can that rule be forgotten?

[I've removed the email address mentioned in this post, to avoid emails being sent to it. Read this thread for the reasons. -Sander]

Last edited by Sander (2006-10-24 23:32:58)

[*EDIT* boardlinking updated to McDrake - Daniel73]
Last edited by Daniel73 on Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Daniel73 » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:23 pm

Changes on McDuck International, 23 october 2006:

Title 'McDuck.nl forum (international)' changed to 'McDuck International'.

New subforum added, titled 'Other creators'.

Topics moved from 'Disney comics general' to 'Other creators':
- Don Rosa's Life And Times Of Scrooge
- Three Cheers for Bill Van Horn
- Santiago Scalabroni Ceballos
- Toonder Studio and Carol Voges
- Don Rosa video interview
- Luciano Gatto/Giulio Chierchini
- Sander Gulien found guilty of sexual intimidation
- Comicup Studio
- Best Murry Serial?
- Other than Barks, which Disney comic artist do you like best?
- Don Rosa-bashing
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Postby Daniel73 » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:28 pm

Changes on McDuck International, 24 October 2006:

New subfora added, titled 'Characters' and 'Internet sites'.

Topics moved from 'Disney comics general' to 'Characters':
- Characters identification
- Secondary characters
- The best Mouse story + What makes a good Mouse story
- Duck genealogy
- Heirs/successors of Scrooge McDuck
Topic 'Characters identification' is now sticky, which means that it keeps on top of other listed topics.

Topics moved from 'Disney comics general' to 'Internet sites':
- COA/Inducks
- Reconstruction of the DCML archives
- Disney Comics Mailing List (DCML)

Topics moved from 'Disney comics general' (category "Disney comics") to 'About this forum' (category "Off-topic"):
- Discussions on Daniel van Eijmeren
- McDuck.NL English Form dead?
- gallows
- Woordenboek Nederlands-engels.

Remaining topics under 'Disney comics general':
- Disney Comics-game
- World of the Dragonlords
- Fanfiction
- The Disney Years
- review of donald duck quack attack
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Postby Daniel73 » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:32 pm

I hope the maintenance of moving topics doesn't technically disturb. I don't know how to turn the forum to maintenance mode.
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Postby Daniel73 » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:01 pm

More changes on McDuck International, 24 October 2006:

Repetitive moderation information ("Moderated by Daniel73") under each subforum moved to one place, on top of the index-page. Having only one moderator with maintainer-options makes the notes obsolete.

Texts added to the sub-fora.

Topics under category 'Disney comics' contain the texts:

Disney comics general
various topics

Characters
character identification, ducks, mice, etc.

Carl Barks
creator of Duckburg and Scrooge McDuck

Other creators
Santiago Ceballos, William Van Horn, Paul Murry, Don Rosa, etc.

Internet sites
places related to Disney comics

Topic under category 'Off-topic' contains the text:

About this forum
questions, corrections, complaints, suggestions
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Postby Daniel73 » Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:26 pm

Is it just me or doesn't the subscription work? I rarely get email notices when there are new posts.
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Postby Daniel73 » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:22 pm

Another technical problem. In my profile ("Daniel73") I've chosen the option "Hide your e-mail address but allow form e-mail.", but no form appears.
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Postby Egg » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:29 pm

Daniel73 wrote:Another technical problem. In my profile ("Daniel73") I've chosen the option "Hide your e-mail address but allow form e-mail.", but no form appears.

The form "Send e-mail" only appears for other members. You're discriminating guests! That's against the rules. (bling bling!)
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Postby Sander » Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:56 pm

Daniel73 wrote:How about the backup possibility? I've understood that you can already offer a public MySQL version with erased IP-adresses. Is that correct? Can you do that automatically?
I've understood that you prefer back-up files with a user-friendly interface, but if so, why postpone readily available backup-possibilites for that? I'd say just offer what you have to offer so far. And if MySQL works for you, then why not for others?

To create an SQL version (I think I used the name MySQL wrongly first) of the forum, I have to go to a database administration interface and press several buttons. I do this occasionally for personal backups.

When it comes to creating public backups that everyone can download, the tricky part is removing IP addresses and other private information. To do that, I'd have to copy the whole database to another server, remove the things that should be removed and create an SQL version from that. That is too much work to do it often, and if I make one error that could cause a huge privacy problem. So I will only do that if it's really neccassary. There is no program that does this automatically, as it isn't something many webmasters do. (Have you ever seen a web forum that provides full downloadable backups? Maybe we will be the first one!)

There is a program that makes creating SQL backups easier in PunBB, but that doesn't seem to work for the main Dutch forum. I'll try it at this forum again. Anyway, that program doesn't delete the private information, so the SQL version that creates would only be suitable for private backups by you and me.

So, to make a long story short:
- I cannot and will not provide an automatically generated downloadable SQL version of the forums.
- If people find it really really important, I could provide them with a manually generated downloadable SQL version of the forums.
- I regularly make personal backups containing private information that cannot be made public.
- I will continue working on a downloadable text version of the forums when I have the time for it.
- Probably this week I will try a program that allows you as the forum administrator to make your own personal backup of the forum anytime you wish, so that there are three backups (provider, you, me).

Daniel73 wrote:I'd rather see the email address disappear, in favour of open moderation. [...]

The creation of that email address was caused by a misunderstanding. Maybe I got a little too enthousiastic about the new Google service I'm using at McDuck.

You could be right that not encouraging people to send private emails about the forum makes moderation easier and clearer for the forum visitors. We'll see how it turns out. For now, I've removed the address. Also the mentions in several posts in this thread, to prevent confusion. The only way for visitors to discuss the forum is now About this forum.

About your new and translated version of the forum rules: they look good. As that is a quite short answer to such a long and well-thought-out post, I will write a longer one tomorrow. I'll reply to the other posts too, then. (Got to go sleep now. Maybe I should take a typing course so that I can write more replies in the same time.)

*EDIT* boardlinking updated to McDrake
Last edited by Sander on Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Sander » Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:05 pm

Okay, one other little post then:

Daniel73 wrote:I hope the maintenance of moving topics doesn't technically disturb. I don't know how to turn the forum to maintenance mode.

Administration > Options > Maintenance

Only use when neccassary. Posts could get lost, when somebody writes one and you put the forum into maintenance mode before he or she presses the "Submit" button. (Then the person who has written but not submitted the post would probably get an error message, be angry and forget to post it again when the forum is back up.)

Daniel73 wrote:Is it just me or doesn't the subscription work? I rarely get email notices when there are new posts.

Only one email is sent per thread, until you've visited it again. Email is in PunBB just a way to get notified when there's new action in a thread you're interested in, and not a way to actually read the posts in that thread.
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Postby Daniel73 » Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:57 am

Sander wrote:To create an SQL version (I think I used the name MySQL wrongly first) of the forum, I have to go to a database administration interface and press several buttons. I do this occasionally for personal backups.

When it comes to creating public backups that everyone can download, the tricky part is removing IP addresses and other private information.

What other private information? The IP-addresses are the only extra information I can see. Postings from before my time as moderator are put to zero. Can't they just all be put to zero? Or do you need them to be part of PunBB for technical stuff, like avoiding spambots? As co-maintainer I don't need them.

Sander wrote:To do that, I'd have to copy the whole database to another server, remove the things that should be removed and create an SQL version from that. That is too much work to do it often, and if I make one error that could cause a huge privacy problem.

Why to another server? If you can move a database to another server, why not to your local server/computer?
Does the database provide a clear distinction between the IP-adresses and the rest of the data? Is the data divided in columns, for example? I imagine it to be a matter of automatically removing a column (field?) out of an Excel-sheet or an Acces-database.

Sander wrote:So I will only do that if it's really neccassary. There is no program that does this automatically, as it isn't something many webmasters do. (Have you ever seen a web forum that provides full downloadable backups? Maybe we will be the first one!)

That's the scoop, indeed. McDuck as the pioneer in being a real steady discussion forum. reason for me to desire a back-up option is that I'm disturbed by the easy possibilites PunBB provides to destroy this forum. No matter how you make your policy, a moderator can just throw all doors open by giving his profile away, or by getting hacked. An automatic back-up possibility is not just a matter of melancholy, but also a way to make the data of McDuck fool-proof.
If the McDuck-data could do without the IP-addresses, wiping them to 0.0.0.0 by default, then that would be a privacy scoop on itself.
(Can I put them to zero as maintainer, too?)

Sander wrote:There is a program that makes creating SQL backups easier in PunBB, but that doesn't seem to work for the main Dutch forum. I'll try it at this forum again. Anyway, that program doesn't delete the private information, so the SQL version that creates would only be suitable for private backups by you and me.

I imagine some sort of macro that can be used either off-line or on-line. Could you program such a thing?

Sander wrote:So, to make a long story short:
- I cannot and will not provide an automatically generated downloadable SQL version of the forums.

Only because of the privacy reasons, or also because of database-rights?
I'm thinking of open source as a goal, as with Linux and Inducks. Under license, to avoid frauded copies.
If the source is open by default, then everyone is free to make a copy themselves. What makes you and me and the members/guest different from each other, viewing the data? Only the IP-stuff?
Does your master-file contain private information I can't see? What private information do you have of me, for example? I'm not aware of any such information.

Maybe the email-addresses? Looking at your profile "Sander" now, I can only change your password. (For whatever it's worth.) I would need a test-forum to try what happens, but I don't see the password itself on the page', which looks a bit like my own profile page when being online as normal member on McDuck.
Are you technically able to reveal a password of someone else? Mine, for example?

In the profiles I can see the email-addresses of other users. (Again, why would a maintainer need to know that?) As a maintainer I feel discriminated from the rest of the forum, getting information I don't need or want.
How does your privacy idealogy work when I can get (a lot of) extra data anyway? Some spider-software would already do the trick. IP-addresses and email-addresses, all for free.
(Ah! Download complete!) Let's imagine I'm the Trojan Horse now. Doesn't that sound like an advertesiment to not use a profile at all, and to be very afraid of your own IP-address?

I think this is very interesting as a topic on it's own. Lack of privacy because of the software itself, even without SQL version policies.

Sander wrote:- If people find it really really important, I could provide them with a manually generated downloadable SQL version of the forums.

You already know I find it really really important. :)

Sander wrote:- I regularly make personal backups containing private information that cannot be made public.

How do you make those backups? How much is the data-size? You you give an example of a backup? Using the data of our McDuck Test Forum? Those IP-addresses are yours and mine.
Is there any danger if you would publicly show a personal backup of that forum?

Sander wrote:- I will continue working on a downloadable text version of the forums when I have the time for it.

As I understand, those downloadable text-versions depend on your view of archive-structure. The example I've seen with the text-files and the directories looked nice as presentation, but I'd rather also have the basic raw(?) file that you use to generate the texts. Having that file, other programmers could invent their own presentation. I'm not sure if your presentation is handy for advanced use. Maybe another programmer would do it different. Tastes differ.

Sander wrote:- Probably this week I will try a program that allows you as the forum administrator to make your own personal backup of the forum anytime you wish, so that there are three backups (provider, you, me).

I'm already getting lost in your information, but now you've completely lost me. So, there is some backup program possibilty? Is that a SQL-file?

I think a lot of noise would clear up if at least those damned IP-addresses would be erased by default (or by pushing a button). Then only the email-address could be a problem. At DCML the email-addresses are publicly known. Maybe we could have that as well, if everything fails. But then with a warning that the maintainer doesn't want to anything that others shouldn't know. In short: Don't use an email-address that you wish to keep private.

Sander wrote:
Daniel73 wrote:I'd rather see the email address disappear, in favour of open moderation. [...]

The creation of that email address was caused by a misunderstanding. Maybe I got a little too enthousiastic about the new Google service I'm using at McDuck.

Spam spam... Maybe I should ban you. That would be a nice test. I can't even walk out of the door without being watched by some Google satelite. Even the smell of McDuck being some Google-outlet would be a shame! Where's your pride? (Says the Microsoft-addict.)
But, toning down, I mostly didn't like having yet-another McDuck-related password and profile on internet. I'd like to use as few software as possible, to keep McDuck solid. Then I think the email form is a better option, in case people provide valid reasons for an email address.

Sander wrote:You could be right that not encouraging people to send private emails about the forum makes moderation easier and clearer for the forum visitors. We'll see how it turns out. For now, I've removed the address. Also the mentions in several posts in this thread, to prevent confusion. The only way for visitors to discuss the forum is now About this forum.

My ideal is that maintainers (like me) get the same information as the rest of the people. And I would like to know how much you go into that, as it's just possible to email you anyway. What would happen then? I need a rule for this. How do you compare to the rest of us?

Sander wrote:About your new and translated version of the forum rules: they look good. As that is a quite short answer to such a long and well-thought-out post, I will write a longer one tomorrow. I'll reply to the other posts too, then. (Got to go sleep now. Maybe I should take a typing course so that I can write more replies in the same time.)

I'm glad to see you writing. Thinking of the rules I would like to go extreme by having as little hard rules as possible. I want to have a distinction between "not done" and "please don't". Ending a list of rules with warnings about banning doesn't look very welcome to me.

I suggest clear rules that show the border.

Rules like:
- No discrimination
- No illegal matters
- No hacking
- No spam

What more rules there be? Hacking could be defined as an attempt to destroy McDuck's existance. I want logic rules. Rules of common sense that are worthy the time of potential visiors. Rules that are actually read.
I bet that a lot of people skip a long-winded list of rules. And my experience is that other rules don't lead to banning anyway. Most of the Dutch McDuck-rules are mainly recommendations to keep the forum "tidy", which could fall under "no hacking".

What I want to keep in mind is that McDuck has got ideas of trolls rebelling against the McDuck policy. People should be invited to prove McDuck wrong. Maybe hacking could be seen as destroying, and trolling as rebelling. Destroying is strictly forbidden, and rebelling gets a benefit of the doubt.

Sander wrote:
Daniel73 wrote:I hope the maintenance of moving topics doesn't technically disturb. I don't know how to turn the forum to maintenance mode.

Administration > Options > Maintenance

Maintenance mode
yes
no
When enabled, the board will only be available to administrators. This should be used if the board needs to taken down temporarily for maintenance. WARNING! Do not log out when the board is in maintenance mode. You will not be able to login again.

Do not log out when the board is in maintenance mode? Not able to login again? Why would I need to be online for being in maintenance mode? Do you have some backdoor as maintainer?

I didn't know you could step in as co-maintainer/moderator. What is your function/level on McDuck, technically speaking? How come you can make a backup of files I can't overview?

Sander wrote:[Maintenance mode] Only use when neccassary. Posts could get lost, when somebody writes one and you put the forum into maintenance mode before he or she presses the "Submit" button. (Then the person who has written but not submitted the post would probably get an error message, be angry and forget to post it again when the forum is back up.)

Can I add and move forums, categories, etc. in disable mode ("off"), without those problems? Would draft-messages get lost when the forum/topic is moved at the same time? Or do I need to wait for maintenance mode when there are 0 visitors?

The message is now:
The forums are temporarily down for maintenance. Please try again in a few minutes.

Sander

What does "maintenance" mean here?

What happens if you and I are maintaining at the same time, in either option? Do I need to check if you're online, as far as I can see your presence at all?

Sander wrote:
Daniel73 wrote:Is it just me or doesn't the subscription work? I rarely get email notices when there are new posts.

Only one email is sent per thread, until you've visited it again. Email is in PunBB just a way to get notified when there's new action in a thread you're interested in, and not a way to actually read the posts in that thread.

I know. But it doesn't work. Lately, I don't get any notifications at all. Do you get them?

Hopefully you've come this far. I'm too tired to edit this down.

The only maintenance limitations for me are software and you being the person above me. For McDuck we need to be clear about what people can expect from us as maintainer-team, what our function is, and what the software limitations are.

*EDIT* boardlinking updated to McDrake
Last edited by Daniel73 on Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
Daniel73
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Postby Daniel73 » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:42 am

Summarizing and emphasizing what private information I see as maintainer:
- IP-addresses
- all email addresses

Daniel73 wrote:You you give an example of a backup? Using the data of our McDuck Test Forum?

You you? I mean: Can you.

Daniel73 wrote:At DCML the email-addresses are publicly known. Maybe we could have that as well, if everything fails. But then with a warning that the maintainer doesn't want to anything that others shouldn't know.

I mean: warning that the maintainer doesn't want to know anything that others shouldn't know.

Daniel73 wrote:I'm too tired to edit this down.

Well, maybe I should have. It's now more a clumsy brainstorm than a reply. Repetetive, chaotic and long-winded. It's obvious that I forgot the email-adresses, only thinking of them halfway through. :/
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Postby Daniel73 » Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:48 am

Changes, 25 October 2006:

Yesterday I've added the category 'Other McDuck-fora', containing links to the Dutch fora:
- McDuck.nl
discuss Disney comics in Dutch
- McDuck.nl Off-topic
discuss off-topic in Dutch

And, as a test, I've added a picture on top of the forum-page:
Image
Preferably I would like to have drawing referring to ducks and mice, as symbol for the diversity of McDuck. Now the forum looks like yet-another Scrooge-site.
The impression I want to give is how the forum looks like with some colour and visuality added.

Possibility is that the picture changes from time to time, an idea by Sander on a schoolforum. Maybe it works for McDuck International, too.
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