I have to say thanks for your patience during this forum upgrade lark. Out of the three forums, you've kicked off the least lol
I know it's weird when buttons move, colours change, font sizes change.
And also bigger changes such as tags being removed and / or added.
And then me just storming in changing categories and permissions and whatnot.
We've had downtime due to me screwing an upgrade up on the plumbersforums, then we've had our own database issues and whatnot. And it's taken a long time to upgrade all three forums and get them working right and running fast again.
Sponsors have been super patient too so thanks to them.
I know we've lost a few members. (and gained one back @Pete999 - Uncle Pete he's known as for me now) - But when forums change a bit (like when facebook does) it doesn't please everybody. Rules have never changed, all staff have always said you always need to be nice to others. No keyboard warriors are welcome anywhere online except Reddit and Facebook lol And they wont last forever. But I'm hoping we do. And us staying ahead of the competition (I don't see them as competition anymore we're leagues ahead) is important.
The few we've lost, we've already gained back in post quantities by opening us up to the world.
I have a couple of forum category changes to make. I think we need to jump on the green bandwagon a bit more than we do. That's going to be pushed by the Government forever now. And I'd like to expand the auto area - because cars will be electric soon and mechanics will need a degree in electronics to touch them. So I think that's a field that'll expand so I'd like to get in there. Not sure if it'll work, but we wont know until we try.
I have to thank the staff as well for their patience. I know many (perhaps not Westy) have been quite quiet and left me to it, but it's pretty much done now so hopefully once they're not so busy offline they'll be back in the forums.
Thanks to those that have contributed financially (not just the sponsors) with account upgrades. I feel a bit embarrassed pushing it too much but you can upgrade your account here: https://www.electriciansforums.net/account/upgrades
It came about when members PM'd me and asked how they can donate. It used to happen once or twice a year. But it started to get monthly. And I always said just post questions and answers - that's enough. But a couple insisted, and the new forum software had options for it, so I set it up.
Eventually we'll give those who contribute to the forum that way, some extra benefits such as a featured directory listing etc - there's already a badge for them if they want it - but there's an option to contribute on the sly too and not have a badge. Just in case you get picked on on facebook or something for contributing here. We had Tilers being kicked out of Facebook Groups when they had the badge on our forum - weird I know. But that exists in life.
Thanks to the overseas members for sticking around during the period when they were being told we're UK only. My fault for not making it clearer to existing members perhaps.
And thanks for the silly banter type member for winding it in a bit for me. I know when you're in the clique it's a laugh. But nearly all members and visitors aren't in the clique. So leave that kind of shyte to Facebook or your whatsapp groups you can get access to etc.
Not sure who else to thank. But if you're reading this. I'm thanking you.
Thanks to everybody.
Oh - Thanks to @Lou too. She's been a star feeding me coffee and sarnies during the last few months of early starts, late nights, all-nighters a few times when things went wrong, and cancelling family things for me because a thread has been started hammering the forum or something. lol
Thanks peeps.
I know it's weird when buttons move, colours change, font sizes change.
And also bigger changes such as tags being removed and / or added.
And then me just storming in changing categories and permissions and whatnot.
We've had downtime due to me screwing an upgrade up on the plumbersforums, then we've had our own database issues and whatnot. And it's taken a long time to upgrade all three forums and get them working right and running fast again.
Sponsors have been super patient too so thanks to them.
I know we've lost a few members. (and gained one back @Pete999 - Uncle Pete he's known as for me now) - But when forums change a bit (like when facebook does) it doesn't please everybody. Rules have never changed, all staff have always said you always need to be nice to others. No keyboard warriors are welcome anywhere online except Reddit and Facebook lol And they wont last forever. But I'm hoping we do. And us staying ahead of the competition (I don't see them as competition anymore we're leagues ahead) is important.
The few we've lost, we've already gained back in post quantities by opening us up to the world.
I have a couple of forum category changes to make. I think we need to jump on the green bandwagon a bit more than we do. That's going to be pushed by the Government forever now. And I'd like to expand the auto area - because cars will be electric soon and mechanics will need a degree in electronics to touch them. So I think that's a field that'll expand so I'd like to get in there. Not sure if it'll work, but we wont know until we try.
I have to thank the staff as well for their patience. I know many (perhaps not Westy) have been quite quiet and left me to it, but it's pretty much done now so hopefully once they're not so busy offline they'll be back in the forums.
Thanks to those that have contributed financially (not just the sponsors) with account upgrades. I feel a bit embarrassed pushing it too much but you can upgrade your account here: https://www.electriciansforums.net/account/upgrades
It came about when members PM'd me and asked how they can donate. It used to happen once or twice a year. But it started to get monthly. And I always said just post questions and answers - that's enough. But a couple insisted, and the new forum software had options for it, so I set it up.
Eventually we'll give those who contribute to the forum that way, some extra benefits such as a featured directory listing etc - there's already a badge for them if they want it - but there's an option to contribute on the sly too and not have a badge. Just in case you get picked on on facebook or something for contributing here. We had Tilers being kicked out of Facebook Groups when they had the badge on our forum - weird I know. But that exists in life.
Thanks to the overseas members for sticking around during the period when they were being told we're UK only. My fault for not making it clearer to existing members perhaps.
And thanks for the silly banter type member for winding it in a bit for me. I know when you're in the clique it's a laugh. But nearly all members and visitors aren't in the clique. So leave that kind of shyte to Facebook or your whatsapp groups you can get access to etc.
Not sure who else to thank. But if you're reading this. I'm thanking you.
Thanks to everybody.
Oh - Thanks to @Lou too. She's been a star feeding me coffee and sarnies during the last few months of early starts, late nights, all-nighters a few times when things went wrong, and cancelling family things for me because a thread has been started hammering the forum or something. lol
Thanks peeps.