archBOSTON Update: A New Dawn

Equilibria said:
One thing I'd like some clarity on - if you bought the site, you're looking to make money back (aren't we all :) ). I see that UrbanToronto sells featured newsy posts on developments for its front page. This is a frequently critical forum, so while we've had corporate accounts in the past (and been cordial), I think the community would appreciate guarantees that the conversation in the forum won't be impacted by whatever relationship you have with a developer or project. It wouldn't surprise me if those terms have been laid out at UrbanToronto, FWIW.

You own aB now, because aB can be bought and sold (always an issue I've had with it, as I know others have). I'd just like to make sure that the discussion will always be free within a moderated code of conduct, and that the effort I and others go to to enlighten ourselves and each other about development in Boston on this site won't be subordinated to the site's business interest.

The community offered to buy this site from Briv multiple times as a group. We were rebuffed.
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I can't speak to the past so I won't. Here we are today.

Yes UrbanToronto is a business. Running a site like this properly costs money. But we've never let that get into the way of what the forum is all about. UT started as a forum just like aB is now. We used ezboard back in the day (remember that anybody?) and vBulletin before transitioning to Xenforo.

As for free speech in the forum check out this thread as an example of what we allow:

https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...law-companies-architectsalliance.3954/page-82

Other than content that is sexist, racist, vicious towards other members and the such we don't edit anything. That won't change here.
 
Justin7 said:
That is rather interesting.

You mentioned being a lurker here, but I don't know if you followed any of the recent discussions in regard to the future of archBoston. If you'll allow me to provide a little history that I think you should be aware of:

Briv has not actually been active here in a number of years. We have managed to stay afloat as a community, largely through the work of our one active moderator, Statler. Throughout this period we were unable to accept any new members or, as you can see, update the forum software.

We recently took a near unanimous vote to move archboston to a new site/forum in order to resolve these issues. It was at this point that briv resurfaced, deleted all of our discussions concerning the forum, and apparently proceeded to sell the domain. (It was also at this point that Statler, after many years 'running' the forum, seems to have disappeared.)

As to your initial goals, I've previously recommended datadyne007 and Beton Brut as moderators which was met largely with agreement.

It is something of a relief to have someone with experience at the helm and I'm hopeful that all of our issues can be resolved in timely manner. As others have said, the transparency is appreciated.
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I have been following the discussion in the past few weeks but will need time to really get up to speed. Thanks for the recommendations.
 
What is your business model if you don't mind explaining a little bit? Advertisements or is there something more?

As for content / policy. I'll echo the other dozen plus active community members calling for a continued banishment of TheMagicMan (aka TheRifleman). Please consult http://www.archboston.org/community/showthread.php?t=5769 for the rationale for his banishment.

I have been here for a long time now, though less than many other members, and I can't recall another member being banned that's how bad his behaviour is.
 
SkyriseCities said:
Yes UrbanToronto is a business. Running a site like this properly costs money. But we've never let that get into the way of what the forum is all about. UT started as a forum just like aB is now. We used ezboard back in the day (remember that anybody?) and vBulletin before transitioning to Xenforo.
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I understand completely and I appreciate the additional info.

You refer to UT as "we" and looking at job postings there I see that it's a multi-person operation. When you get a chance, can you clarify what the management structure is? Are you sole owner there as here, or are you representing a group that owns that board?
 
meddlepal said:
What is your business model if you don't mind explaining a little bit? Advertisements or is there something more?

As for content / policy. I'll echo the other dozen plus active community members calling for a continued banishment of TheMagicMan (aka TheRifleman). Please consult http://www.archboston.org/community/showthread.php?t=5769 for the rationale for his banishment.

I have been here for a long time now, though less than many other members, and I can't recall another member being banned that's how bad his behaviour is.
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Can you reference one comment from the Magicman that would justify banishment from the site?

Also I'm curious what specifically got Rifleman banished?
 
SkyriseCities said:
I can't speak to the past so I won't. Here we are today.

Yes UrbanToronto is a business. Running a site like this properly costs money. But we've never let that get into the way of what the forum is all about. UT started as a forum just like aB is now. We used ezboard back in the day (remember that anybody?) and vBulletin before transitioning to Xenforo.

As for free speech in the forum check out this thread as an example of what we allow:

https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...law-companies-architectsalliance.3954/page-82

Other than content that is sexist, racist, vicious towards other members and the such we don't edit anything. That won't change here.
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Thanks, I'm fine with monetization if it will bring professional site maintenance, is transparent, and doesn't interfere with forum discussion.

Also I'd like to add my name to those who want MagicMan banned. It's plainly obvious that it's the same person as RifleMan, and I'm not even particularly active in the Development Forum where he does most of his trolling.
 
meddlepal said:
What is your business model if you don't mind explaining a little bit? Advertisements or is there something more?

As for content / policy. I'll echo the other dozen plus active community members calling for a continued banishment of TheMagicMan (aka TheRifleman). Please consult http://www.archboston.org/community/showthread.php?t=5769 for the rationale for his banishment.

I have been here for a long time now, though less than many other members, and I can't recall another member being banned that's how bad his behaviour is.
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I further share this sentiment. Also, welcome aboard - hoping ArchBoston moves forward in a positive direction now.
 
I am not a fan of banning members, unless they are blatantly hostile or belligerent towards other members. I am a BIG fan of making it simple to ignore a user. Being a douche or an asshole (not accusing anyone of being this way) is not grounds to get banned. You may disagree with an opinion...you may even have facts to refute it, but no one should be banned for offering their opinion.
 
Mostly echoing others:

- I'm supportive of the names raised for moderator suggestions, and in general would like to see them pulled from the active long-term members of the site (which I don't count myself among).

- I don't have a problem with reasonable monetization/minor ads.

- I do have a problem if posting becomes paywalled, if the ads are intrusive (think what your typical local news site has turned into), or if posting is being censored for the benefit of a commercial sponsor. That's not an accusation that you have intentions of doing any of those things.

- This site has been mostly self-run with an absentee owner for a long time. I'd suggest you try to be open about your ideas and plans going forward to establish that trust with the userbase. Your post is not a bad start.

- There's a previously-banned member who's back under a new name that could use a ban, or at least a sharp warning to knock it off or get banned. Of course, without active mods it's pointless.
 
Cojapo said:
I am not a fan of banning members, unless they are blatantly hostile or belligerent towards other members. I am a BIG fan of making it simple to ignore a user. Being a douche or an asshole (not accusing anyone of being this way) is not grounds to get banned. You may disagree with an opinion...you may even have facts to refute it, but no one should be banned for offering their opinion.
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This post says it all. If you don't like somebody's opinion there is a way you can block the user comments.







TheMagicMan said:
Can you reference one comment from the Magicman that would justify banishment from the site?

Also I'm curious what specifically got Rifleman banished?
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Again (please reference on what guidelines that the magicman should be banned on?

What has the Magicman posted that is causing such chaos? Please reference one of the 126 posts that has offended somebody.

If anything the hostile comments by a group of the bloggers to Magicman have been increasingly hostile. Just look hate reactions I have gotten after my posts.

Calling me a racist, troll, swearing at members should be guild-lines of banishment. Thats disrespectful.

That fact that we have 1800 users and only the same 25 Members are constantly posting is ashame. Any other opinions that differ from there ends up being attack by a group of liberals that don't value other people's opinions.


If anything why didn't the group offer to buy the site from Briv instead of trying to swindle the operations of the site for free?

Briv completely saw right through this group thats why your not managing his site. Thats my opinon
 
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Why don't you take your own advice and ignore us if you feel so disrespected?
 
Wow. I am impressed already with the new administration's responsiveness.

23w4s1t.jpg
 
Phew. I’d previously had more tolerance when he was just Rifleman posting occasional unhinged and ridiculous stuff. After his return, he was much more annoying and clearly was delighting in being so. Good riddance.
 
Excellent start by Edward! Happy weekend sir.
 
Welcome and good luck to you, Edward. I am excited to see what you do to this place. Its been long overdue for some big changes. I am also thankful for Briv for creating archBoston back in 2005 and keeping it mostly trouble free ... despite the recent problems the board was almost always up and running for 14 years.


SkyriseCities said:
We used ezboard back in the day (remember that anybody?) and vBulletin before transitioning to Xenforo.
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This place got started in 2005 when we left an ezboard forum after the admin disappeared and the place got bombarded with adds and trolling. There are still many of us leftover from the old days at what was then the skyscraperguy forum (2001-2005).
 
Wow!!!! I'm psyched. Happy for a new dawn.
 
Count me in the excited category. I’m glad we didn’t have to move and can preserve the forum and any monetization looks non invasive and well worth the additional features we’ll get.
 
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