XenForo Update

[EdMc]

Adding photos hosted on another server as I did with vBulletin. Attachments involves selecting photos from the photo library on my tablet. If you post the thread and it’s not what you wanted, you probably can’t delete it as with vBulletin. I wish the Help link had a description explaining how to use the Post Thread feature. I sent a message using the Contact Us link asking for help. Didn’t have to ask for help on vBulletin.

 

[SkyriseCities]

You want to post a new thread? @EdMc

 

[EdMc]

Yes, I had been able to do it in vBulletin as a long photo thread with textual descriptions. After trying to post one yesterday, I exited ArchBoston and, curiously, the edit box under the Post Thread button still had my 76 photos displayed with text when I logged back in.
They just won’t post. I noted in a Post Reply message that the Boston development thread, The Hub on Causeway, has many more photos than the 76 I am trying to post.
I was successful posting many photos at once on vBulletin by copying a script I wrote containing BB codes, surrounded by img bookends, from hosting sites such as Flickr and Imgur and text describing some of the photos, and pasting the script into the Create Thread edit box, previewing them, and then posting them with no problem.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[jass]

Just wanted to say, that after a few weeks using this new version, I am happy with the changes.

Good job team.

 

[SkyriseCities]

New system @EdMc so what vBulletin did is not relevant here. Just use the attach files button and do it that way. And yes there's a limit. Loading 76 photos at once is not good for page loading and not good for the readers.

 

[SkyriseCities]

I've been a little quiet lately but am paying attention to the comments. First step was switching to XF. Next step is fixing any issues.

 

[FK4]

I just tried to upload two photos from my phone, and I’m unable to do so because the site is saying they are too large. There is no apparent way of reducing the photo size (like, when you do this on your phone via email, there is an immediate option to resize the photo if you want). Can anyone advise?

 

[EdMc]

Okay

 

[SkyriseCities]

I just tried to upload two photos from my phone, and I’m unable to do so because the site is saying they are too large. There is no apparent way of reducing the photo size (like, when you do this on your phone via email, there is an immediate option to resize the photo if you want). Can anyone advise?

Looking into it.

 

[SkyriseCities]

Try it now @FK4. Photo limit now 16mb.

 

[Justin7]

New system @EdMc so what vBulletin did is not relevant here. Just use the attach files button and do it that way. And yes there's a limit. Loading 76 photos at once is not good for page loading and not good for the readers.

Or, you know, don't. If you use a third party image hosting service you at least have some control over your own content.

 

[SkyriseCities]

@Justin7 You have all the control over your content here as well. We're not doing anything with the photos here besides displaying them. Thanks for the post.

 

[Beton Brut]

@SkyriseCities - what about the written content? The current TOU (posted above in this thread) suggest otherwise. At no point have you been responsive to a direct question about this very simple issue.

Also, there is a legal distinction between "control" and "ownership." How does your business define each of these inter-related concepts?

 

[ErnieAdams]

^^ OK, wait a minute, hold up, take a few breaths, TOU gang. I'm sorry I haven't chimed in earlier but was busy out of my mind at work the last few weeks, and only now able to come up for air, and hopefully in the nick of time.

Check the link to the "terms and rules" at the bottom of the page. @SkyriseCities/Edward changed them a couple weeks ago. Shortly after @Justin7's suggestion in the other thread (not this one, and I apologize for the cross-post but it seems imminently appropriate), the terms were amended to include license and copyright language similar to what Justin suggested.

Justin proposed:

You are granting us with a non-exclusive, unlimited license to use, publish, or re-publish your Content for non-commercial purposes in connection with the archBoston.com forums. You retain copyright over the Content.

And the terms now say:

You are granting us with a non-exclusive, permanent, irrevocable, unlimited license to use, publish, or re-publish your Content in connection with the Service. You retain copyright over the Content.

This appears to me to be a reasonable compromise position and I'm happy to see the explicit language about copyright in there. I'm grateful that Edward was responsive to this request and I hope that the users who were adamant about its inclusion are satisfied to see it here.

Now then, Edward, if you go back to Justin7's original post on proposed amendments to the terms, you will see that he made a second suggestion, one that you did not adopt in the terms. He proposed replacing this language:

These terms may be changed at any time without notice.

If you do not agree with these terms, please do not register or use the Service. Use of the Service constitutes acceptance of these terms. If you wish to close your account, please contact us.

with this language:

These terms may be changed at any time. Notice of any change will be given under the Board Issues and Announcements subforum on archBoston.com. You may opt out of any changes by deleting your account.

Edward, posts like BB's just above mine are exactly why you should want to adopt Justin's other language or something like it. You were responsive to these requests weeks ago, but because you didn't post about it, nobody knew about it! Just adopt a notification policy in the terms and then pin a new thread when there's a change, simple as that. I can't imagine a need for any/many changes after this last proposed one, so it should be an academic change for you anyway.

Whew, I'm tired. Sorry again I took so long to jump in. We good though?

 

[Beton Brut]

Thanks Ernie...

I think the solution here is active communication, and a resulting dialog. If my dissident compatriots and I are incorrect in our understanding of the issues we’ve been asking about for over two months, please engage with us. Address our concerns, even if you’re unsympathetic, and inflexible in the TOU language. I think I’ve been clear that I’m not only asking for myself.

Related: you’ve obviously made an investment in technology here. (Still getting used to it.) I’m curious about your investment in the topics under discussion. At some point, do you intend to contribute to any of the threads?

 

[Justin7]

^^ OK, wait a minute, hold up, take a few breaths, TOU gang. I'm sorry I haven't chimed in earlier but was busy out of my mind at work the last few weeks, and only now able to come up for air, and hopefully in the nick of time.

Check the link to the "terms and rules" at the bottom of the page. @SkyriseCities/Edward changed them a couple weeks ago. Shortly after @Justin7's suggestion in the other thread (not this one, and I apologize for the cross-post but it seems imminently appropriate), the terms were amended to include license and copyright language similar to what Justin suggested.

Justin proposed:



And the terms now say:



This appears to me to be a reasonable compromise position and I'm happy to see the explicit language about copyright in there. I'm grateful that Edward was responsive to this request and I hope that the users who were adamant about its inclusion are satisfied to see it here.

Now then, Edward, if you go back to Justin7's original post on proposed amendments to the terms, you will see that he made a second suggestion, one that you did not adopt in the terms. He proposed replacing this language:



with this language:



Edward, posts like BB's just above mine are exactly why you should want to adopt Justin's other language or something like it. You were responsive to these requests weeks ago, but because you didn't post about it, nobody knew about it! Just adopt a notification policy in the terms and then pin a new thread when there's a change, simple as that. I can't imagine a need for any/many changes after this last proposed one, so it should be an academic change for you anyway.

Whew, I'm tired. Sorry again I took so long to jump in. We good though?

Ernie, maybe I'm missing something but I do not see any change to the terms. I don't believe Edward has amended anything. My main concern here is with three words: "permanent, irrevocable, unlimited."

Essentially the moment you post anything here, Edward and his company claim the right to use that content in any way they wish. You cannot rescind that right.

I understand that most people here don't care about this, but I do believe we should be very clear: If you post your photos or written content here you are no longer simply sharing within a community. You are donating your work to a for-profit business run by someone who has shown little care for the city or the archBoston community and who has been entirely unwilling to engage in any way other than to deflect any serious concerns.

 

[SkyriseCities]

who has shown little care for the city or the archBoston community

I understand that some of you are still upset but please relax on the hyperbole. We've done a significant amount of work to modernize this site. With more to come I should say. We've done more in a few months than the previous team did in a very long time.

Essentially the moment you post anything here, Edward and his company claim the right to use that content in any way they wish. You cannot rescind that right.

I've indicated in the other thread previously that we don't sell photos. Have never done so at UT, a site with significantly more uploads than here, and have no intention in doing so here. And as to selling posts you're kidding right? I suppose I could have spent time working on the TOU rather than upgrading the site. My mistake.

I think the solution here is active communication, and a resulting dialog. If my dissident compatriots and I are incorrect in our understanding of the issues we’ve been asking about for over two months, please engage with us. Address our concerns, even if you’re unsympathetic, and inflexible in the TOU language. I think I’ve been clear that I’m not only asking for myself.

Agreed and will do a better job.

At some point, do you intend to contribute to any of the threads?

If there are topics I feel I can contribute to but for now my priority is to improve the site for the current and future active members.

Let me reiterate one item. I wasn't actively looking to get involved with aB. The previous owner reached out to me. I thought, with my experience at UrbanToronto, that I could take a neglected little gem of a site and make it great. That's still the plan.

 

[kmp1284]

I've indicated in the other thread previously that we don't sell photos. Have never done so at UT, a site with significantly more uploads than here, and have no intention in doing so here. And as to selling posts you're kidding right? I suppose I could have spent time working on the TOU rather than upgrading the site. My mistake.

You may not sell them but you are using other people's photographs on Instagram and Twitter to market Skyrise Cities and thus increase your ad revenue.

 

[HenryAlan]

@SkyriseCities, It would be very easy to remove the words "permanent, irrevocable, unlimited," from the TOS. I think that would largely address the concern people have regarding content ownership and usage. Is there a reason, not to make that change? If so, I think you need to spell it out, then let us decide whether it's a reason we agree is worth surrendering that level of control over our own work.

 

[Beton Brut]

And as to selling posts you're kidding right?

Speaking only for myself, I'm as serious as a heart attack.

I suppose I could have spent time working on the TOU rather than upgrading the site. My mistake.

Indeed. Thank you for owning up to your error. Let's have an open and clear discussion about how willing you are to correct it to the ultimate betterment of the community's dialog and long-term health.

Agreed and will do a better job.

Thank you.

If there are topics I feel I can contribute to but for now my priority is to improve the site for the current and future active members.

Understood. I don't think it's out of left field to ask a person who operates a content hosting business on the topic of architecture and urbanism if they have anything to contribute to a spectrum of conversations about that very thing...

Let me reiterate one item. I wasn't actively looking to get involved with aB. The previous owner reached out to me. I thought, with my experience at UrbanToronto, that I could take a neglected little gem of a site and make it great. That's still the plan.

Outstanding.

Back to our little problem:

@SkyriseCities, It would be very easy to remove the words "permanent, irrevocable, unlimited," from the TOS. I think that would largely address the concern people have regarding content ownership and usage. Is there a reason, not to make that change? If so, I think you need to spell it out, then let us decide whether it's a reason we agree is worth surrendering that level of control over our own work.

Thank you, @HenryAlan

I have no problem at all with you (and your investors[?]) monetizing the traffic that the site generates by selling banner ads. I have a huge problem with any written or photographic content posted here to be owned or controlled by anyone other than the party who posted it. Your TOU is in clear and direct conflict with what I've stated above.

And please note: I accept and welcome active moderation to remove "objectionable content" that violates community standards.

You've got a chance to do the right thing here. And if you decide that doing the right thing isn't to your benefit, I think you owe us an explanation. Perhaps that's the true cost of your purchase.