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Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads
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Subject: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Genie Date: 10 Aug 11 - 04:15 AM Today I started a "Lyric Add" thread -- twice -- and it seems to have disappeared after I posted it, BOTH times. I was very careful the second time to make sure it went through, but it's gone again. Anyone know whazzup with these gremlins that lurk in the Forum and eat posts or new threads? Genie |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Joe Offer Date: 10 Aug 11 - 04:17 AM Hmmm. Usually it happens when I post to an existing thread, not in creating a new one. Try clearing your browser cache. Also, if a post doesn't "take," refresh your page using your F5 key. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Genie Date: 10 Aug 11 - 05:48 AM I can refresh my page in Safari by hitting the little semicircular arrow in the web address box. But anyway, I recreated the initial post for the thread and submitted it again (without doing anything else) and this time it went through. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Beer Date: 10 Aug 11 - 07:45 AM Just happened to me. That is I posted on the thread "Mudcat locator-Where are you?" last evening saying where I am from and just went to check the thread and I'm not there. Strange. ad. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,Jon Date: 10 Aug 11 - 08:15 AM It usually seems to be a matter of a post not taking rather than disappearing later. As far as I can see, there is some sort of trap in the system. There are words or phrases it doesn't like - rewording can work. Also, I've found short posts with several links fail - splitting such a post into two can work. My "continued..." (and the previous post) in this thread is an example of a short post I could not get through in one post. Sometimes I find a post to a thread just will not take, I post as a named guest and I find I can usually clear this by sending through a blank post as a nameless guest. Not sure why this should be. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 10 Aug 11 - 10:38 AM The Mudcat has been having technical problems lately. That could be it. I suspect, however, that many people whose posts 'disappeared' actually typed and then failed to click on the Submit button. I do that myself. Jon, thanks for the tip about not putting several links in one post. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Jim Dixon Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:36 AM I have never had any trouble posting messages with several links. People seem to have a hard time believing that anything is truly random. They tend to think something they did caused it. I used to work in an office where the system would frequently crash. Of course, everyone's computer would go offline at exactly the same time, but people wouldn't notice it right away. Your screen looks normal; you don't notice anything is wrong until you try to submit something, which might be several minutes later. This creates the illusion that everything was working perfectly right up until the moment you submitted something, so naturally you have a tendency to think that whatever you submitted was what caused the system to crash. It's all an illusion. It might have nothing to do with you. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:43 AM I have never had any trouble posting messages with several links. Perhaps your posts are relatively long. An attempt at a spam trap could well act on number of links per characters in post. People seem to have a hard time believing that anything is truly random. Because I've seen repeated and reproducible failures of posts to take. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,Jon Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:44 AM missed name above. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Jim Dixon Date: 10 Aug 11 - 12:24 PM Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Short enough? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Jim Dixon Date: 10 Aug 11 - 12:25 PM It worked on the first try. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,Jon Date: 10 Aug 11 - 12:33 PM Weird. I can't argue with that but it's happened to me several times and I have been able to repeat it. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,Jon Date: 10 Aug 11 - 12:43 PM Jim, I tried following a post where you said: Jon: Try copying and pasting and submitting my message exactly like I did. See if it works for you: I tried it, mine bounced and I can't find your post. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,999 Date: 10 Aug 11 - 12:46 PM Link 4 doesn't work for me, but 1-3 do right away. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: gnu Date: 10 Aug 11 - 12:46 PM I carefully crafted a post last eve and it went missing. I checked the thread about five minutes after I posted as I saw there were new posts. Happens sometimes. But HERE is the strange part. I hit my back button and my text was gone. I retyped it, copied it and posted again and it didn't take. I closed my browser, opened my browser, got back to Mudcat, posted again and it didn't take. I swore. I gave up. BTW... I have noticed quite often that if I take a long time to compose a post - talking on the phone or whatever - it doesn't take. I am now copying this text before I post. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Jim Dixon Date: 10 Aug 11 - 01:01 PM Jon: I deleted that message because it didn't appear the way I wanted it to. I hoped I was deleting it before anyone saw it, but evidently I was too late. Here's another attempt: <a href=http://allmusic.com/>Link1</a> <a href=http://www.imdb.com/search/>Link2</a> <a href=http://www.archive.org/details/audio>Link3</a> <a href=http://honkingduck.com/mc/discography>Link4</a> Short enough? Here's another experiment you might try: The next time this happens to you, copy and paste and submit your message into a different thread, for example, one of our "HTML practice" threads, like this one. (You might want to bookmark that thread so you'll be ready.) If you can successfully post the same message to a different thread, that proves it has nothing to do with the message, right? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,Jon Date: 10 Aug 11 - 01:07 PM OK Jim. I've copied pasted that text and tried previewing it both in this thread and in the HTML practice thread. In both cases, I am bounced straight back to the main forum page. Could it make a difference that you posting as a member or perhaps as you are an mod here? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Jon Freeman Date: 10 Aug 11 - 01:09 PM Hmm, I can answer that. No bounce if I log on. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Jon Freeman Date: 10 Aug 11 - 01:10 PM Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Short enough? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Jim Dixon Date: 10 Aug 11 - 01:12 PM Well, yeah, I have editing privileges; that's why I'm able to delete messages. But I don't think it means I can submit things that you can't. I'm going to try logging off and then submitting the same message again. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,Jim Dixon, logged off Date: 10 Aug 11 - 01:25 PM Yes! When I tried resubmitting my "Link1 Link2 ... " message, while not logged on, it wouldn't even preview the message; it immediately took me to the main forum page. So I assume there is something that blocks nonmembers (or non-logged-in members) from submitting messages that contain certain HTML. And I'll bet it does have something to do with Max's recent attempts to block spam. I don't blame him for doing that--I think it is important to block spam--but it would be nice to get a message that tells you why your message wasn't accepted. However, I don't think this is the only reason messages sometimes don't "take." People have been complaining about this problem for a long time. Anyway, we now know one solution: get a membership and log in! (Which is a good thing to do anyway.) |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Jeri Date: 10 Aug 11 - 01:36 PM There was something Max put in to prevent guests from posting loads of spam links. One problem is they can track what page the link you clicked to get to their site was on, so they know it's a good place to put spam. I don't know exactly what sets the link banning thing off though. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Artful Codger Date: 10 Aug 11 - 01:59 PM This is a long-standing problem that appears to happen randomly; I suspect a timing problem or "race" condition in the Mudcat scripts or database updating. It seems to have nothing to do with the text of a message because, when a post disappears, I can repost the exact same text (cached on the clipboard or in a temporary file) and it will show properly. If I were a gambling man, I'd bet it's due to two posters posting at the same time (not necessarily to the same thread), with one of the messages pre-empting the other. In other words, it's probably something entirely outside of your control. Best to always copy your message to the clipboard immediately before submitting. I've become technosuperstitious: soon I'll be posting only after I've put a lit candle inside a pentagram and recited an Ave Maria in Pig Latin, backwards. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,999 Date: 10 Aug 11 - 02:03 PM "If I were a gambling man, I'd bet it's due to two posters posting at the same time (not necessarily to the same thread), with one of the messages pre-empting the other. In other words, it's probably something entirely outside of your control." I have had that happen. A post I try is 'hung up' and so I copy quickly and use the back button. Try again and boom, Bob's yer uncle. There is a difficulty when two people post at the same time, something that happens often. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Arthur_itus Date: 10 Aug 11 - 02:20 PM The main thing, is to type longish posts in word or something like that and then copy and paste it to Mudcat. That way if you lose it, you just copy and paste again. Joe is always telling people to do that. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: catspaw49 Date: 10 Aug 11 - 02:51 PM Why would you believe Joe about anything? He's a failed priest who drinks that mushroom tea crap and a few years ago had his dick tattoed to look like a lighthouse when he had a boner. Then he tried to put a little light bulb in the tip, messed up the wiring, and ended up frying his nuts. His genitals now look like a fissured chess bishop flanked by two Raisinets. Spaw
-Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Arthur_itus Date: 10 Aug 11 - 02:55 PM You must be great friends with Joe Spaw :-) |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: gnu Date: 10 Aug 11 - 06:23 PM Yeah, he must be on accounta I bet Joe don't show his nuts to just anybody. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Tootler Date: 10 Aug 11 - 06:31 PM Ignore Spaw. He's like that. Back on topic. It's very easy to unthinkingly hit the "Home" link below the "Submit Message" button and then complain that your message didn't take. I know, I've done it on a number of occasions. OTOH there are times when I was pretty certain I hit the Submit button and the thread didn't go to the top with my message in it. However I am never sure 100% that I didn't hit the Home link by mistake. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: michaelr Date: 10 Aug 11 - 07:23 PM I now have to hit the "back" arrow three times instead of once to get back from a thread to the forum. I assume it's because of all those extraneous links Max has piled on? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: DrugCrazed Date: 10 Aug 11 - 08:03 PM Never had a problem, but then again, I rarely post except when procrastination calls. Now, it's because I have to wait for YouTube uploads. The joys of being an editor. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Artful Codger Date: 10 Aug 11 - 09:35 PM Warning: Thread creep I recommend against composing in Word (or a similar word processor) because such programs like to convert your simple quotes, apostrophes and dashes into "smart" characters that, when you post them into messages, display as garbage to some segment of users. See this thread: Entering special characters. Better to use a plain-text program for offline message composition. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:36 PM Since I attended Max's "charm school" - and Joe's "arrogant b&st&rd stone-cold brewery rehab" - it is a truly rare (perhaps 2 out of twenty) occasions that "gargoyle" postings disappear.
Look at the "directory" look at the time "signiture" consult the "schedule" - There is no "wizard" in this new land of "Oz" - you can see, feel, experience, and KNOW....the last two seconds ... or the last two months....or decades "American Memory"...is a good thing...in America...perhaps, not "a good thing" at the moment in the UK.
Sincerely, The "clipping" of one "clone's tail" - seems to have made a serious difference in my case. But going ex-pat did too. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Joe Offer Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:40 PM Yeah, actually don't recall suggesting composing posts in a word processor, because especially Word documents give Mudcat fits. Better to use notepad or another text editor, but even that isn't what I recommend. Go ahead and type in the Mudcat message box, particularly if you use Firefox or another browser that has a spellchecker. BUT before you click the "SUBMIT" button, highlight [CTRL-A] and copy [CTRL-C] the post to your clipboard, so you have a backup in case your post gets lost. Then, especially if your post is particularly long and profound, check the thread to make sure it "took." If it didn't you've got problems, but there's a solution - just press your [F5] key to refresh the screen (to make sure you're posting into a new page instead of a saved one. Then paste [CTRL-V] text into the message box and submit again. This is Bill D's method, and it has worked for me every time. And Spaw, I'm gonna get ya..... -Joe- Oh, and Mudcat is set to reject multi-link posts from Guests. We had too many online poker Spam messages, and the link block took care of them. One or two links works for guests, but not a whole list. If that's a problem, e-mail your list to me and I'll add them to your post - joe@mudcat.org |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST Date: 11 Aug 11 - 12:04 AM I always thought it was because of my posting when Max might be working on the site. Sometimes I just can't get on, perhaps because of my time-zone. I've never had a problem posting a Word document, which I do with long ones like lyrics. Like Arthur-itis says. I do sometimes have a disappearing post, but only long ones, of course! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Gurney Date: 11 Aug 11 - 12:08 AM That was me, and my cookie had gone. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: michaelr Date: 11 Aug 11 - 01:25 AM I now have to hit the "back" arrow three times instead of once to get back from a thread to the forum. I assume it's because of all those extraneous links Max has piled on? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Genie Date: 11 Aug 11 - 01:45 AM Jon, in my case it can't be a matter of phrases or words, because I've posted exactly the same post or new thread - no changes in wording or formatting - and it won't "take" on the first or maybe even the second try, but on the third it does. I know the posts are exactly the same, because I've developed a habit of copying my post before I hit "submit," after having had too many cases of working out a rather complex or relatively long post and having it vanish into the ether. I still think it's gremlins. Genie |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Genie Date: 11 Aug 11 - 01:58 AM BTW, the twice-disappearing new thread I referred to when starting this thread -- the Lyr. Add: Hummingbird (Carter sisters) thread--was "previewed" each time before I hit "Submit Message" and each of those two times it seemed to be just fine, including the YouTube link. (And I was logged in both times too.) I think Artful Codger's probably onto what's usually going on. Geie |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,Jon Date: 11 Aug 11 - 03:54 AM Genie, going by the comments in this thread the conclusion I would draw is that there are several reasons why a post does not take. 1. Links and guest posts. This has been confirmed. 2. "Bad Words". I know for sure at one time here a few years back the word "poker" itself would bounce a post. My guess is that there is a (probably changing) blacklist in the system. This is not confirmed though. 3. "Illegal HTML". This is a bit different as it produces an error message: "Your post contains a forbidden HTML tag." 4. "Random bounces". Maybe AC is right for this case? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Arthur_itus Date: 11 Aug 11 - 05:30 AM Hi Joe Yes it was a text editor. although I use word and do not have any problems. Cheers |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Nigel Parsons Date: 11 Aug 11 - 05:39 AM now have to hit the "back" arrow three times instead of once to get back from a thread to the forum. I assume it's because of all those extraneous links Max has piled on? I still do it in one click, but only if I access a full thread by the normal manner of selecting it & scrolling down through the whole thing. Select the thread via the "Number of posts" column then select a page, then select 'next page', and to get back to the homepage takes several steps. Similarly if you go straight to the thread, scroll down the list of postings, find your latest, Then click on that to read everything that has happened since, then you have added an extra link in the chain to get back to the homepage. Usually it takes as many steps to get back as it took to get in. Alternately, have your 'Favourites' open, with a link to the homepage & you can get back to it in 1 step every time. Cheers Nigel |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: DrugCrazed Date: 11 Aug 11 - 06:19 AM Can I suggest that if a post is rejected (the links for example), it pops up and tells you that? Surely just an extra line fixes it? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Jim Dixon Date: 11 Aug 11 - 07:44 PM I routinely compose my messages in MSWord and then copy-and-paste to the Mudcat message box, and I've never had a problem. At least, I don't see any problem; I suppose it's possible some people see strange characters when they look at my posts, but I think those people would have to be using some very unusual software. I have used several different computers, both PCs and Macs, and several different browsers, and my own messages always look OK to me. I know that MSWord by default uses "smart quotes," that is, curved or slanted (depending on which font you're using) left and right quotation marks. And if you post these to Mudcat and use "preview" they will show up in the preview as curved quotation marks, but after you submit, they show up in the thread as straight vertical marks. So I assume Max has inserted some program code that converts curved quotation marks to straight ones. If you want to turn off this option in MSWord, you can do so. Then you will only see straight marks. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Crowhugger Date: 11 Aug 11 - 08:11 PM If you don't want multiple clicks to get back from deep within a thread, especially if you use a paginated link, open the thread in a new tab. I just make sure to refresh the main page now and then. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Aug 11 - 09:30 PM I compose in the Mudcat message box then highlight, save, and pasted into an empty Notepad screen. If I need to keep it I have a file for Mudcat entries to try again later. If you're posting links in messages, I find it best to compose the message in IE or Firefox. Chrome has a weird adjustable form and it cuts off html and links in the middle unless you stretch out the form to send it and then stretch it out again to send if you previewed it first. Pain in the butt. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST Date: 11 Aug 11 - 10:03 PM Silly Sage -
Reverse the process. You could even "spell check" before posting ... and conserve "bandwidth" .... much like plastic bags. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: GUEST,Jon Date: 11 Aug 11 - 10:29 PM I just type into text box and if I feel a need to "save", I usually just copy to the clipboard. I suppose I could get caught out by a power cut or a crash but both are very rare (with the a blip in the power perhaps being the more common) and I'm prepared to take that chance with what I type here. -- I use Firefox for Mudcat and that spell checks as I type. Bandwidth is not consumed while typing a post. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Artful Codger Date: 12 Aug 11 - 12:49 AM GUEST: YOU won't SEE a problem when you post text copied from a word processor or other web site, but at least SOME (and sometimes most) people WILL see garbage characters for the quotes, apostrophes, dashes, accented characters and symbols (like copyright). READ the thread I referred to above (Entering special characters); it explains why this is so and what you can do about it. I hasten to add that these problem characters can still creep in if you're typing or pasting into a plain-text editor or even directly into the Mudcat message box; these methods only reduce the likelihood. Word processors are almost guaranteed to insert the most common problem symbology; that's why I warn about them. Returning to the thread topic... The short of it: to avoid having messages lost occasionally, do Ctl-A (select all), Ctl-C (copy to clipboard) right before you click Submit. If the thread list doesn't show your thread as the first or second one, unvisited, chances are your message got lost. First, wait a bit, then refresh the thread list page, just in case there was a slight delay. If the thread still doesn't show up, use your browser's "back" button, click on the entry box, do Ctl-A, Ctl-V to re-paste your text there and click Submit again. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Genie Date: 12 Aug 11 - 01:55 AM 50! (Does that count for anything?) Genie |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Nigel Parsons Date: 12 Aug 11 - 04:53 AM Genie: 50! = 3.04140932 × 10^64 i.e. 50!= 50*49*48*47.....*2*1 |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Genie Date: 12 Aug 11 - 04:16 PM Smart ass! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Aug 11 - 04:30 PM "Guest" please use a regular moniker along with "Guest" or your posts are liable to be deleted. Especially if they don't make much sense, like that last one. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Stringsinger Date: 13 Aug 11 - 10:18 AM I'm amazed that there aren't more errors. Mudcat is always enlightening, free conversation and folk devotees of all stripes. It's one of the best sites IMHO on the net. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Nigel Parsons Date: 13 Aug 11 - 01:47 PM Smart ass! Thank you, you've been looking! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: gnu Date: 13 Aug 11 - 09:02 PM Just submitted the same post three times. Three times is a charm. Worked on the third attempt. JOE... maybe Max would like to know. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: Joe Offer Date: 13 Aug 11 - 09:59 PM I'll let him know, gnu. Tell me, did you refresh the thread by pushing "F5" before you posted the second time? You can also refresh by using the "refresh" icon on your browser, which is usually some sort of circular arrow. The Mudcat "refresh" button doesn't work in this case, because you may be refreshing to a page already stored in your browser - and you can't post on a stored page. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Tech: WTF?? Disappearing threads From: JohnInKansas Date: 13 Aug 11 - 11:30 PM It's one of the best sites IMHO on the net. I'm intrigued with the possibility. There's another one??????? How does one find this mythological beast "other one?" John |
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