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Tech: Should Mudcat be updated?
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: GUEST,CS Date: 10 Apr 10 - 06:20 PM It's the difference between the fraction of a second's click of a mouse, and a passing Googler thinking "Hmm I wonder if there's a members page somewhere? Now, where would that be?" ... then them actively searching for a members page, discovering it and accessing the desired members info ... meanwhile most internet users are long gone off to somewhere more clickable. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: GUEST,CS Date: 10 Apr 10 - 06:04 PM CS - any mudcatters who want to use the site for gratuitous self-publication have never had problems doing so. Some of it is up-front - SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION THREAD... Others just use every posting they make as an advert for themself - Dick Miles is a current master of the technique. Others on the forum welcome the security of relative obscurity, and the fact that we can tell people where we will be without also advertising to burglars, the fact that our home may be unoccupied on a specific date. Geoff, a) Sure, long term regular users may know of the SHAMELESS thread which you have to choose to specifically access (not really the way advertising usually works). I've been here over a year and only recently noticed it, and probably won't avail myself of it too often. But casual passers by, interested by all the Google & Share Thread addititions stuff won't be aware of that thread. b) The security comes in the free choice (available in all forums) not to divulge personal info! Woof ;-) |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Haruo Date: 10 Apr 10 - 05:58 PM There is a profile page for each member, but it basically just shows a list of their posts, e.g. when I click on McGrath's I am confronted with almost 33,000 links. I agree with Guest CS that profile pages would be nice. Haruo |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Geoff the Duck Date: 10 Apr 10 - 05:56 PM CS - any mudcatters who want to use the site for gratuitous self-publication have never had problems doing so. Some of it is up-front - SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION THREAD... Others just use every posting they make as an advert for themself - Dick Miles is a current master of the technique. Others on the forum welcome the security of relative obscurity, and the fact that we can tell people where we will be without also advertising to burglars, the fact that our home may be unoccupied on a specific date. Quack! GtD. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: GUEST,CS Date: 10 Apr 10 - 04:45 PM EDIT: Every other FREE site on the interweb I KNOW has a profile page offering such options as an *automatic default*. This is the only FREE forum I know, that doesn't offer it as a standard feature, immediately accessible to any mildly curious party just happening to pass by. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: GUEST,CS Date: 10 Apr 10 - 04:40 PM Said this before: I'd like to see what you get everyplace else on interweb, and that's a PROFILE PAGE immediately accessible by simply *clicking on the posters name on any post they make in any thread. The reasons this would be beneficial to all the folk musicians posting here on the biggest folk music forum on the web - with all it's Google and "share thread" stuff going on - aught to be utterly self evident. But just in-case it isn't, it equals instantaneous international advertising for anyone here who might want to include a link to their personal musical biography, their MySpace, or YouTube or their CD promotion site. I really feel this site lets it's membership down here. Any other site on the interweb has a profile page offering such options as an *automatic default*. This is the only forum I know, that doesn't offer it as a standard feature, immediately accessible to any mildly curious party just happening to pass by. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: artbrooks Date: 10 Apr 10 - 04:22 PM Well, if I win $150 million in the Powerball lottery tonight, I'll hire Max a gofer to help out.... |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Mooh Date: 10 Apr 10 - 04:19 PM Ah..the Tao of Mudcat. Peace, Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 10 Apr 10 - 04:15 PM What's wrong with old-fashioned? Old-fashioned music, old-fashioned Mudcat. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Geoff the Duck Date: 10 Apr 10 - 04:13 PM I've just been looking at another forum. Every post is an individual entity opening in its own window. If somebody wants to reply to another posting, they end up quoting the whole content of the post, then make their "three word" comment. What a waste of space! Quack! GtD. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 10 Apr 10 - 03:56 PM Echo- that old song with the line "It's good enough for me." Fix Search, and no fancy stuff. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Geoff the Duck Date: 10 Apr 10 - 03:54 PM I just spent 20 minutes (on and off) typing why I hate other forum formats and how incredibly annoying all the whistles and bells are, then clicked "send". Blowed if I know where it's gone... Quack! Geoff the Duck. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Sorcha Date: 10 Apr 10 - 03:53 PM OK, ok...the format is fine. I don't think it needs to be 'upgraded' as much as just repaired. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: katlaughing Date: 10 Apr 10 - 03:46 PM LOL..if we all fall into Spaw's, Susanne, maybe he'll quit scratching up the litter!**bg** Artful Codger, thanks for "foofiness!" Love that term! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Dave the Gnome Date: 10 Apr 10 - 03:45 PM No! It's traditional... :D (eG) |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Susanne (skw) Date: 10 Apr 10 - 02:09 PM Being on dialup, and hating having to learn about new software and things all the time, I like things to be kept simple. Also, I know it makes life easier for Max. Into my fifteenth year with Mudcat I've never ever missed anything very much. It provides an easy way for folk enthusiasts to communicate. Everything else is extra - not quite superfluous, but extra. Please don't mess with it! Having said that, I of course second any and every of catspaw's suggestions ... |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 10 Apr 10 - 07:12 AM Thanks Joe! Thats the Issue with me- I would feel better about contributing if there was a downloadable DT that operated independently of the servers. I would have no problem using a dos version. Yes it may be archaic but getting it out there in any form even a large text file would accomplish an important function. Conrad |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Mr Red Date: 10 Apr 10 - 06:43 AM Of course it should change, and evolve. But who can afford the equipment, the time, and would we complain that it was no longer traditional? It serves a need, and is well served by the membership. While Max keeps it going, that is sufficient. IMNSHO. Thankyou Max. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Haruo Date: 10 Apr 10 - 02:12 AM I would like to see it Unicode compliant, but other than that have no desire to see change. Face it, these are acoustic folks here. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Rowan Date: 10 Apr 10 - 02:09 AM Before I joined Mudcat I knew nothing about HTML but I got onto the various HTML practice threads and learned heaps. I even made a Word document with them all in it to sit in a very accessible place and have sent it (along with the URL to the Blickyfier) to others with similar voids in their knowledge and I am still experimenting along lines that Joe once suggested. I was taught to be careful with anything I composed for public attention and have learned to live with my errors. By and large, the current Mudcat does what I ask of it. K.I.S.S. is a wonderful principle. Cheers, Rowan |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: treewind Date: 10 Apr 10 - 01:52 AM "here is the kicker, photos, video, music ... they take space. Max would have to pay a much higher rate then he does right now to house all of that stuff." Correct in principle, but it's usually bandwith, rather than storage, that's the dominating cost factor. I'm with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" brigade, with a couple of qualifications/comments:
Anahata |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Kampervan Date: 10 Apr 10 - 01:09 AM Leave it alone. Mudcat works cos it's run on a shoestring. I don't know how Max and his helpers do it but they do. There's hardly any advertising or pushy pop-ups; it's a nice (commercially) clean site. Sure it's quirky, but all the more interesting for that. I don't want another Face book or Twitter or Bebo. Mudcat is easy to understand and like it. k/van |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Mooh Date: 09 Apr 10 - 11:28 PM It's like this amazing public park, meeting place, and library where there are no worldly worries. I like it here a lot. I do wish it did automatic blue clickies, and the forum search never works for me, but my Mum always said beggars can't be choosers, and Max is like a prince among commoners. Peace, Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Bill D Date: 09 Apr 10 - 11:13 PM ummm... "how could Bill D show off?" I show off by singing "The Key of R" ... ☺ ... offering HTML tips and clever programs is a 'public service' |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Bill D Date: 09 Apr 10 - 11:10 PM "...some visually impaired ... find it much easier to read than upper and lower case." The better solution to that is either enlarging the entire font size (in Opera, you can specify size & font for every area of the browser!), or using an area magnifier.... after all, most folks are not going to type in caps, and reading your own typing won't help much....unless I misunderstand the issue. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: catspaw49 Date: 09 Apr 10 - 10:51 PM I still think we need more equality for all sides. We don't have a special section for those with BO and we need one for at least one member. How else can we grow if all sides are not given a voice....or a stench? I think we need to supply little Anne Frank Drums for the humor impaired and an additional translator for Brits and Americans. Or we could just leave things alone except for trying to fix what's broke whenever da' Max lad gets a chance.................. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Artful Codger Date: 09 Apr 10 - 10:39 PM All the new-fangled features tend to increase load times--usually without any appreciable benefit. You, with the lastest and fastest teen toys, may not see much difference, but a great number of us would. Furthermore, glitz features invite abuse. For the most part, I'm quite happy reading messages that consist only of text, without gratuitous "personalization" or foofiness that serves primarily to gratify the poster's need for attention--attention which is usually undeserved--not to assist the reader. If the latter were a priority to posters, they might take more care with their spelling, punctuation and capitalization, and avoid the trendy-but-distracting textese abbreviations. There are only a few features that I would find desirable here: * Allow one to upload/archive scans of scores. This should be a moderated feature, and messages should contain only links, not embedded images, so message load times remain unaffected and messages remain uncluttered. You usually only need to see an image once (if at all), or on demand. * Similarly for sound recordings/MIDIs. As others have said, there are other services which support this and which can be linked. But there are folks (like me) who don't care to set up an account on these other venues just to post a sound clip now and then. One can email a MIDI to Joe, but it would be nice to have more automated support, and lots of folks don't know how to properly create ABCs or MIDIs of the tunes they know. * Allow one to specify the input encoding for message text, so that text posted in foreign languages or from word processed text appears more reliably as intended. * Have the 1-day message listing actually encompass a full 24-hour period (better still, 27). I nearly always have to switch the default search to 3-day to reliably see the new messages. Really, I'd like a 2-day setting, and for the time period setting to be sticky from session to session. It would also be handy to have a marker indicating the dividing point since your last listing. * Provide a link in the message header or footer to the message itself, so one can more easily copy the link location of a message one is viewing for cross-linking in a new post. Currently, one can note the sender and date, scroll to the top, and copy the link from the date field of the corresponding entry in the list of messages, but a more direct means would be appreciated. (In fact, I only just figured this out this moment--doh!) One can also copy the "Printer Friendly" link, but it's more useful to others to have the message in the thread context, not in isolation (without even a link back to the thread). |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 09 Apr 10 - 09:49 PM "...but I still like the Filter best." It's Filter Tips for you then! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: katlaughing Date: 09 Apr 10 - 09:49 PM Joe, the only thing with all caps is some visually impaired such as my sister find it much easier to read than upper and lower case. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: artbrooks Date: 09 Apr 10 - 09:44 PM I have no problems with it as it is...it fits Luddites like me quite well. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Alice Date: 09 Apr 10 - 09:43 PM Don't mess with success! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Joe Offer Date: 09 Apr 10 - 09:31 PM If we made HTML so easy that everyone could do it, how could Bill D show off? Er....sorry, Bill. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Bill D Date: 09 Apr 10 - 09:01 PM "I personally do not have a problem with "blue clickies", but from the number of postings with URLs in that do not link, a lot of people do. Similarly, I don't have a problem with HTML, but others seem to, judging by some of the comments I have seen." I see the ones you refer to, but I doubt that the solution is to 'automate' everything...I don't even know how much of the necessary HTML could BE automated. I know 'programs' which can do a lot of it (like Word...or even free programs like some of these... and clever little programs that will colorize your text like hfc font colorizer ....and the wonderful live spell checker TinySpell ...or even sHTML for step saving.) And.. I DO understand that some with learning problems like dyslexia do have real difficulties with spelling and related areas, but it makes me sad when folks will not even BOTHER with things like normal punctuation and capital letters...(OR WHO USE CAPS FOR EVERYTHING)...but Mudcat already does more than some sites. ...(and, as a side note, Max did experiment very early on with the idea of allowing folks to edit their own posts...for about a week. Then it became obvious that it would lead to various abuses. There are moderators who will correct serious errors...or, one can just C&P their post and correct it, and a mod will delete the bad one soon.) |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: melodeonboy Date: 09 Apr 10 - 08:56 PM Mudcat works for me as it is. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Joe Offer Date: 09 Apr 10 - 08:43 PM Sorcha, you don't ask - you condemn. If you ask HOW to do something, we can figure out a way. If you ask WHY the search engine isn't fixed or why the graphic is missing for the photo buttons, what answer can we give you? Basically, the answer to your "why" question is always the same - Max is overburdened with a lot of things and doesn't have the time he once had, and Jeff is gone completely. So yeah, things get broke and we can't fix 'em - but we CAN figure out workarounds, and we like doing that. Maybe Jeri or somebody will have time to put photo buttons in the FAQ or somewhere. I'm tied up this weekend. Maybe we should have a PermaThread of Mudcat workarounds. You'd be amazed at the things that have been posted over the years. Hint: many are in the FAQ, particularly in the first ten messages. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: ranger1 Date: 09 Apr 10 - 08:39 PM I think it depends on how politely the question is phrased. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Sorcha Date: 09 Apr 10 - 08:35 PM Well, thank you, I'm sorry, etc, but a LOT of times when we ask we are just totally shut down. It seems to be more and more of a don't ask place. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: catspaw49 Date: 09 Apr 10 - 08:31 PM I think the DT needs far more songs of Nazis and WhiteSupremacist as well as ones about people with B.O. I have recently learned in a thread that we all need to be be more open and that we need to share with those we disagree with. I think Ron Olesko and Don Firth will back me up on this. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 09 Apr 10 - 08:25 PM Joe- Cant seem to find where the DT can be downloaded. Is there a link? Conrad
-Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 09 Apr 10 - 08:21 PM Thanks Joe- I guess not being here for a while I have not noticed. For a while I kept coming back and finding the same version of the dt. Glad to hear of its annual updates. Conrad |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Jeri Date: 09 Apr 10 - 08:20 PM You're welcome, Sorcha. I hadn't realized people didn't know about the 'mouse over' thing. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Joe Offer Date: 09 Apr 10 - 07:53 PM How are you supposed to know, Sorcha? ASK! Yeah, I suppose given time and money, most everything that's broken can be fixed. But griping about it just makes for an unpleasant atmosphere. It appears to me that Max just doesn't have the time to fix certain features. HOWEVER, there are several of us who can figure out a workaround for just about any problem. Just ASK! -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Paul Reade Date: 09 Apr 10 - 07:48 PM Thanks for your responses. A few points in reply:- Apologies - I wasn't aware of the existence of Member Photos. It seems a good facility, but I would suggest that it could be highlighted when new members join, and that a link could be set up from the "From" line, similar to the "PM" link. There don't seem to be many of the "Mudcat regulars" on there though. I personally do not have a problem with "blue clickies", but from the number of postings with URLs in that do not link, a lot of people do. Similarly, I don't have a problem with HTML, but others seem to, judging by some of the comments I have seen. As for spell checking, for long postings, I usually do them in Word first, spell check, read them, post, and then preview. There's always the odd one that gets through though! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Bill D Date: 09 Apr 10 - 07:41 PM PalTalk? When I used the shared singing, it was HearMe. I did see something that might work for singing awhile back... I'll see if I can find it. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Don(Wyziwyg)T Date: 09 Apr 10 - 07:25 PM Mudcat ain't old enough to go through the change. No need for HRT. It is what it is, and it does what it does because we all like it that way. This subject comes up a couple of times a year, and the vast majority say "We don't give change". If eveything on my PC were as lean, and mean, it would work at ten times the speed. Don T. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Dave Hanson Date: 09 Apr 10 - 07:20 PM As the man said, if it 'aint broke, don't fix it ! Dave H |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Sorcha Date: 09 Apr 10 - 07:15 PM Auction? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Sorcha Date: 09 Apr 10 - 07:12 PM Well, whoopee. How are we supposed to know that? Can't it be FIXED??? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: olddude Date: 09 Apr 10 - 07:12 PM Try using one of the more advanced forums on a dialup, you could die, have the service, and get cremated before your info got there. One of the nice features about this forum is that our dialup users can still access it and post ... There is an elegant beauty in simplicity. I develop pretty robust java web applications for business. They are great for business use but not for the general user. I would not change a thing other than maybe fix the search when time permits ... |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Should Mudcat be updated? From: Jeri Date: 09 Apr 10 - 07:05 PM On the photos page, there's a blank bar where the menu bar used to be. If you mouse over it, you can see where the links go and clicking on them (except for profiles) still works. |
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