Forum downtime - 3rd June 05:00

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi guys.

The forum software will undergo an upgrade to vbulletin 3.0.7 on Friday morning, 3rd of June, at 5:00AM. It is expected that the upgrade will take approximately 2-3 hours, and the forum will be unavailable during this time.

The main IceInSpace homepage will not be effected.

The new version allows for much greater flexibility and control from an administrative perspective, better handling of attachments (saved to disk instead of database), image attachments converted to thumbnails with click to enlarge, and some other great features, including:

• Thread and forum subscription (notification by email optional)
• Similar Threads displayed on all thread views
• Better Private messaging
• Profile pictures
• Attachment management in your user profile
• and much more

It will also have a new "style", a new look and feel. It'll still be recognisable as the IceInSpace Forums, but the change in style will freshen up our appearance

Of course we'll be looking for your feedback, what you like, what you don't like, about the new style and of course the forum system in general.

I appreciate your patience during the upgrade, and perhaps for a few days after as we uncover any problems or make slight adjustments to settings or appearance.

Any questions or comments, feel free to ask!

[ving (David)]

yay!
thumbnails rule!

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

What I don't like ???? hmmmm lemme think a minute with my small overtaxed brain.

YUP What I don't like is "bloody handles". I can appreciate that we all need an "anonyymous" login name to the forum but I think we should stipulate in the forum rules that all posts be signed off at the bottom of the post with the persons name, at least their christian names. I get totally confused with all these handles, I can never put a face to a handle but I can always put a face to a name. ie I can never remember who is "Queen of the Universe", "Princess Pluto" or "Princess Leah" but I can remember who Mike, Louie and Rod are; you get my drift ?

Astronomy is "supposed" to be a scientific discipline, but in the same vein its "supposed" to be a fun hobby, which traditionally has been pursued by educated intelligent people, yet here we all are communicating like 10yr olds with a new CB radio:-

"hey thats a BIG 10/4 GOOD BUDDY"

So if you wanna keep handles thats fine but I think we should at least know each other by first names, this is not a bloody child pornography chat room where we all have to hide in the dark for Pete's sake. We are all here for a common goal and that is the enjoyment of astronomy.

CS- John B

PS- That's my 1st ***** for the day which hasn't been a good 1 so far, there may be more to come, be warned

[slice of heaven]

I'm with you Ving. Thumbnails are great.

Handles save a lot of confusion when reading threads with posts made by members with the same christian name.
As for intelligence of astronomers, I didnt know we had to take an IQ test.

Slice

[atalas]

See slice you learn something every day!


Louie

[ving (David)]

I took a geek test... does that count?
as for using "callsigns" i can see where you re coming from as its nice to know the name of the person you are replying to.... but at the same time there are soooo many davids in the world that it would become confusing. If I was to put my user name as david right now it would say there is already one. I'd hae to put a number after it. "David68" at your service.
but yeah, these nicknames do depersonalise things a touch.

is that on the fence enough?

yours faithfully
"queen of the universe"

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally posted by ving
I took a geek test... does that count?
as for using "callsigns" i can see where you re coming from as its nice to know the name of the person you are replying to.... but at the same time there are soooo many davids in the world that it would become confusing. If I was to put my user name as david right now it would say there is already one. I'd hae to put a number after it. "David68" at your service.
but yeah, these nicknames do depersonalise things a touch.

is that on the fence enough?

yours faithfully
"queen of the universe"

David,

Not saying do away with the handles/logins in any way, I can appreciate that they are necessary for identification purposes. What I am saying is leave everything as it is just make it a requirement to sign off the end of your post with your Christian name rather than your handle "as I currently do" and always have done, that is all. This is a fairly standard thing on several very large astronomy forums.

CS-John B

[asimov (John)]

What about this then: John [Asimov] ?

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Looks fine to me

CS-John B

[Sausageman (Mike Boggan)]

I'm just and old fashioned guy, I sign my name. I don't have to hide behind a psuedonym or a Nom de Plume.
You get what you see.....Me.
I just don't get all these handles at all, what are people trying to hide?
It's a conspiracy.....hahaha.

Mike...oh sorry I mean Banjoman.......

[slice of heaven]

Hmmm..I might have to take that nerd test..... Anybody got a cheat sheet?

Slice

[acropolite (Phil)]

I agree with John B. There are heaps of Johns on the forum, I've had the pleasure of talking or chatting (kbd) with a few of them and I can still differentiate. Handles are great but why not say in your sig that you're just plain John, or David even if there are 50 of you...

[ving (David)]

like this
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[iceman (Mike)]

The upgrade has not occurred yet - the server was down this morning. I'm doing a backup now and will start the upgrade in the next 30 minutes.

[Smokey]

Looking good Mike