Suggestions?

[eefje00704]

Like others have said, a colour change would be nice (something with blue and green maybe, like an oceany theme?), and it would also be great to have the option back to post links in visitor messages. I really miss that. Other than that, I'm just fine with the site as it is. I'm one of those who has been less active lately, but that just because real life is keeping me pretty busy.

[hannie18]

I also am pretty satisfied with the site as-is. In my humble opinion, the only thing I miss from the old forum is the downloads being integrated in the forum and being able to see immediately if there are new ones, or comments etc. now we kind of miss some of that traffic and chatter. But that being said, I am already getting quite used to the download section so it really is no biggie.

One other thing that might be helpful is updating some of the announcements for contests etc. I sometimes see announcements for contests in the right menu on the forum that have been closed for quite some time. I understand that our lovely staff has a lot of work and I don't want to be picky or anything but I could imagine that you might think of something to remember to update those along with archiving these contests.

I really like the system of black and white pearls in the contests (even though it means that the number of participants in each group are less, which is a shame).

anyways, love BPS! I may not be as active all the time but that is due to RL (and I was just away for 3 weeks on vacation).

[Schnupfli]

I would like to have the possibility to choose more styles, for example a pastel-colored design would be fine. Also I would like the possibility to change the Board-Language to German, like seen in some other forums where you can choose either English or German (or any other language).

But all in all I like the Forum like it is.

Ah and another "story": I would prefer (specially for new users and those who are not so shaped with Shortcuts) if there is a Help-Thread with the meaning of all the short-cuts like "DOTY" and so on, not all of us know that this possibly could mean "Designer of the Year" or so. There are a lot of short-cuts here and sometimes it is hard to find out what they mean, I remember some weeks ago I had (shame on me) to ask Betsy about the meaning of such a short-cut.

[Jonesi]

I agree with Elv and Sonja. A new color scheme would be nice, or a few new color schemes so we can choose? Idk, just thinking.

If at all possible, it would be nice to allow links in vistor messages. I really miss that.

Thanks Natalie! I love the staff and the site, its beautiful.

I can make a start on a new style this evening, they do take quite a long time to do so it would take me a while to have a "few" going but it's something that can be started on.

The links for visitor messages was turned off to prevent spamming but can be turned back on too.

I have always loved BPS and considered this forum my sanctuary, the friends I have made here are very precious to me. I admit I have not been here as much, this was the advice from my therapist who wanted me out and doing more things away from home ... this and the time differance with me being an Aussie meant periods of longer absecne from this site as my day means your night when you would be chatting and me out doing.

I have felt less affinity with the site when I have been on though and was extremely annoyed when I recieved a warning about using a word that is in every day use and is no longer here in Aus considered swearing, I am not a child and will not be treated as one and if this site is now protecting the younger generation who proabably could swear a whole lot worse than me anyhow then I dont want to be here.

Although I have not donated in awhile I would continue to support this site and I really do not see the young ones donating for obvious reasons, so alienating the people who do support the site is not wise. Like so many people have now said this is not home anymore as many of us feel that big brother is watching every chat and is to ready to ban and warn for any indiscretion I mean using the younger generations venacular pleaseeeeeeeeee. Most of the oldies would be on late at night when the kids would be in bed and yes there was adult talk and sexual innuendo but to all watching the chats or participating it was so much fun.

I have been told that this reply might mean I will get banned as I am stating things that I think a few of the mods do not want to hear ... this is constructive criticism that goes to the root of why this site is dying and many ppl are not participating anymore ... we dont want to feel like the slightest mistake or indiscretion or sexual innuendo is going to receive a warning or ban .... if it gets too heated or raunchy most of us would say to the others to remember there maybe young ones about. I used to feel comfortable here I just dont anymore I think maybe you need to make the joining age 15 or 16 and let the ppl with the money to support the site go on enjoying what we enjoyed most having fun.

I thankyou Jonsi for all your effort to keep this site going through thick and thin and hope that you can come to some consensus amongst the mods to ease up and make the site fun again.

thans for everything and I hope we can go back to being the most supportive sims site again

please excuse the bad grammar and spelling hehehehe

I've no idea who told you that your reply might earn you a ban, but I hasten to guess it wasn't a member of staff? We're not ogres, I've no idea why someone would think we'd ban you when we've asked for honesty and that's what you've given us. I can think of maybe 3 or 4 threads that have been locked by staff..a couple from Lizard, one from Captain Jaz and the whole Crissi dramaz thread.

I do agree to a certain extent on the language thing. I myself am guilty of using bad language, purely out of habit. We are speaking about this in the staff forum. With regards to the sexual language...I still think that 90% of it does not need to be said in a visible chat box on the front page of a family friendly gaming site. I completely agree that most of our members are old enough to see some sexual innuendo but some things I have seen have crossed the line of being innuendo and are a bit crude for public chat.
We will discuss the age limit though and see where we stand. Our rules will be taken a look at also, and some may be relaxed. Thank you for your honesty anyway, it gives us something to work with.

Like others have said, a colour change would be nice (something with blue and green maybe, like an oceany theme?), and it would also be great to have the option back to post links in visitor messages. I really miss that. Other than that, I'm just fine with the site as it is. I'm one of those who has been less active lately, but that just because real life is keeping me pretty busy.

Oceany/beachy is what I had in mind too, so hold that thought! As I've said above links were turned off in a bid to prohibit the spammers, will turn them back on and see how we go.

I also am pretty satisfied with the site as-is. In my humble opinion, the only thing I miss from the old forum is the downloads being integrated in the forum and being able to see immediately if there are new ones, or comments etc. now we kind of miss some of that traffic and chatter. But that being said, I am already getting quite used to the download section so it really is no biggie.

One other thing that might be helpful is updating some of the announcements for contests etc. I sometimes see announcements for contests in the right menu on the forum that have been closed for quite some time. I understand that our lovely staff has a lot of work and I don't want to be picky or anything but I could imagine that you might think of something to remember to update those along with archiving these contests.

I really like the system of black and white pearls in the contests (even though it means that the number of participants in each group are less, which is a shame).

The contest announcements is completely my fault, I'm the only one who has access to the html/widgets so I need to keep an eye out for that.

[eefje00704]

As I've said above links were turned off in a bid to prohibit the spammers, will turn them back on and see how we go.

I get why they were turned off, but it seems like a case of throwing out the baby with the bath water to me. I'm glad they'll be turned back on.

[matty36]

Let me first state that I love everything about the forum.....I'd be lost without it

I guess I've noticed a drop in participation since we switched over to the new format? It could be because it's Summer and people are busy doing RL stuff and people come and go.

I hate to steal ideas from other sites but I thought that the "Secret Santa" that we did was great and got alot of people involved
GOS is doing a "Secret Santa" during the Summer....I think it brings peeps together and people like to participate in things like that.

DOTY is always a huge success and I thought maybe we could come up with another contest on that scale to get people involved.

I'm happy with the forum but thought I would throw a few things out there.....Hugs Matt

[Jonesi]

Thanks for the suggestions Matt. We're looking at doing a themed creator thingy similar to Secret Santa but monthly and we've a few other changes in the pipeline, so keep the ideas, suggestions and problems coming.

No one will get into "trouble" for speaking their mind (except Lizard, lol).

[hannie18]

ooooh I like the idea for thematic creator thingies! and new contest ideas! although I might not be the person who needs to be convinced to participate since I already do in many contests and stuff.

[Jonesi]

Ok here's were we are up to. New ideas are in the pipeline and are being hashed out as I type. The bad language rule has been changed to allow swearing BUT we still do not want overly sexual language. This has been added to the family friendly rule.
Infractions will now only be given for serious offences OR repeat offences. We will now instead try moderating in thread or via PM and see how it goes, may be less "scary" for newer members too.
We have a "Featured Creations" section on the home page where we'll be featuring creations ala MTS, creators of featured items will receive an icon and a feature on the front home page.
Instead of having two forum stars per month chosen by staff, we'll be having one chosen by staff and one chosen by members. More info to come on that.

I'll add more as they're done.

[eefje00704]

I love the idea for monthly creator themes. I do that at GoS sometimes and lately at SimOasis too. It's easier to get inspired to make something when there's a set theme.