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Maneel · 07-29-2007, 08:56 AM

Hey Guys,

Before I start my thread, a note for the fStaff: Please don't lock this thread because of the criticism, I am posting it here in the larger interest of this forum, so that a common consensus can be made among all the members.

Suggestions

1. Locking thread - Please don't lock threads with statements such as "issue resolved, thread closed". Don't get too specific on closing threads. If people are discussing something (I am talking about the community forums), & the issue is resolved, let the thread be open so that people can talk on that issue so that the problem does not arise again.

You may have your explanations, but, let me quote a thread, the URL is MY Forum!!

I had posted this to report that my forum had been disabled. If I had posted the thread without a URL to my forum, no action could have been possible. I posted the thread with a link to my forum. Limez came, he posted about the problem & found nothing wrong with it. But suddenly Romanus came, saw just the first post & locked the thread saying I am advertising my forum. In my opinion, the thread should have been left open so that members who were off line at that time (a major %, I'd say coz of the time difference) could benefit from the cause & solution of my problem.

2. fStaff & Member Interaction - You guys are really doing a great job, but the new ones sometimes tend to go overboard while handling members. The staff is not above the members, but part of them. You accept it or not, but the members ARE the only source of revenue for forumer, so they should be treated properly, so I hope I won't see the line "This is a free host, cope up with the downtime or get lost" again.
My point is when the members ("customers") are not happy with the services, talk to them politely & don't dictate them things. I repeat, don't close the thread the moment the issue is resolve, let others come & see it.

3. Same things again & again - The fstaff sometimes repeat a few lines such as " our job is voluntary, we can't do anything", as an ex-staff member I understand that you can only troubleshoot but don't have server access etc, but, as a member, I would accept a more promising answer. So once you've escalated an issue, follow it up regularly, at least that is in your control.

Please don't take these suggestions otherwise.

Thanks,
Maneel

rsrikanth05 · 07-29-2007, 09:19 AM

I agree with Maneel.
Attitude, sometimes does this.
Okay so the staff are there to moderate, but that does not mean that ordinary members cannot advise or suggest members things. I have loads of messages in my inbox from Attitude saying, that I should not moderate, it is not my job etc., but the sometimes the staff does not come online for hours.
-- My two cents.

**Attitude** · 07-29-2007, 12:00 PM

I'm disappointed, Maneel.

If I remember correctly, you were staff here more than once, correct? You very well the stress we go through, especially when Limez goes away on vacation and servers go down. (This directed towards issues #3) YOU VERY WELL KNOW that we do not have access to the servers. Before you start adding quotes in that we've never even said (" our job is voluntary, we can't do anything"), which I do not appreciate, you need to get your facts straighten out. Our job IS voluntary, you know that. However, when members start revolting / getting angry at us because of the bug, we inform that they we don't have access to the servers and there's not much we can do other than inform the techs through mantis.

With that said.... Whens the last time you provided support in the forums for IPB and phpBB users? I bet you don't even know how we run things there. So, as far as I'm concerned you have no room to be ordering us how to do things.

rsrikanth05, I never PMed you directly with anything like that (I haven't even PMed you directly, PERIOD), although I do remember you telling you in the forums not to back seat moderate, and I've written you up for back seat moderating, which goes to your PM box.

Once again, I do not appreciate false accusations.

**Winnopeg** · 07-29-2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maneel

1. Locking thread - Please don't lock threads with statements such as "issue resolved, thread closed". Don't get too specific on closing threads. If people are discussing something (I am talking about the community forums), & the issue is resolved, let the thread be open so that people can talk on that issue so that the problem does not arise again.

You may have your explanations, but, let me quote a thread, the URL is MY Forum!!

I had posted this to report that my forum had been disabled. If I had posted the thread without a URL to my forum, no action could have been possible. I posted the thread with a link to my forum. Limez came, he posted about the problem & found nothing wrong with it. But suddenly Romanus came, saw just the first post & locked the thread saying I am advertising my forum. In my opinion, the thread should have been left open so that members who were off line at that time (a major %, I'd say coz of the time difference) could benefit from the cause & solution of my problem.

We lock resolved threads for a reason. If we were to just leave them open and allow conversations to continue, there would be support threads with hundreads of posts constantly being bumped to the top of the page, despite the issue having been resolved. By locking the topic, that doesn't happen and the resolved topic can be replaced at the top of the page by active support topics. The auto text that accompanies that is simply to make sure the topic starter knows why their topic has been locked and to confirm that the issue has been resolved.

If you had an issue about one of your topics being locked, you should have PMed the fSupport member and explained your case. In that topics case, it certainly did seem like you were advertising; the topic title ("MY forum") and the large link as the second paragraph at first glance make it look like a show off topic. As well, no support is supposed to be offered in the general chat forum, so your support topic shouldn't be there in the first place. Regardless, you posted yourself on the first page: "Issue Resolved. fStaff : Lock it. (Or don't if you wish!)" accompanied by a lot of smilie faces, and the issue was resolved, so I don't see why you're making a fuss out of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maneel

2. fStaff & Member Interaction - You guys are really doing a great job, but the new ones sometimes tend to go overboard while handling members. The staff is not above the members, but part of them. You accept it or not, but the members ARE the only source of revenue for forumer, so they should be treated properly, so I hope I won't see the line "This is a free host, cope up with the downtime or get lost" again.
My point is when the members ("customers") are not happy with the services, talk to them politely & don't dictate them things.

I haven't seen any of these instances.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maneel

3. Same things again & again - The fstaff sometimes repeat a few lines such as " our job is voluntary, we can't do anything", as an ex-staff member I understand that you can only troubleshoot but don't have server access etc, but, as a member, I would accept a more promising answer. So once you've escalated an issue, follow it up regularly, at least that is in your control.

So if a user is throwing a fit because server x is down, and they're demanding that the only fSupport online fix it immediately, what do you suggest they tell the user? That they're fixing the issue, even though they are unable to? And fSupport do follow up escalated issues regularly; being a former fSupport member, you know very well we get an email whenever something changes...

Maneel · 07-30-2007, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winnopeg

We lock resolved threads for a reason. If we were to just leave them open and allow conversations to continue, there would be support threads with hundreads of posts constantly being bumped to the top of the page, despite the issue having been resolved. By locking the topic, that doesn't happen and the resolved topic can be replaced at the top of the page by active support topics. The auto text that accompanies that is simply to make sure the topic starter knows why their topic has been locked and to confirm that the issue has been resolved.

If you had an issue about one of your topics being locked, you should have PMed the fSupport member and explained your case. In that topics case, it certainly did seem like you were advertising; the topic title ("MY forum") and the large link as the second paragraph at first glance make it look like a show off topic. As well, no support is supposed to be offered in the general chat forum, so your support topic shouldn't be there in the first place. Regardless, you posted yourself on the first page: "Issue Resolved. fStaff : Lock it. (Or don't if you wish!)" accompanied by a lot of smilie faces, and the issue was resolved, so I don't see why you're making a fuss out of it.

I haven't seen any of these instances.

So if a user is throwing a fit because server x is down, and they're demanding that the only fSupport online fix it immediately, what do you suggest they tell the user? That they're fixing the issue, even though they are unable to? And fSupport do follow up escalated issues regularly; being a former fSupport member, you know very well we get an email whenever something changes...

Okay, so I am in hurry, just logged on for 5 minutes, will address one important issue here. Rest will come later. I know that member DO get rude, but for that you should make a sticky or something CLEARLY outlaying what you can do & what not.

@Winnopeg
"I haven't seen any of these instances."
I can give you a dozen URL of threads on this forum where fStaff say "This is a free host, cope up or get lost!"

odiewoof · 07-30-2007, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maneel

Okay, so I am in hurry, just logged on for 5 minutes, will address one important issue here. Rest will come later. I know that member DO get rude, but for that you should make a sticky or something CLEARLY outlaying what you can do & what not.

@Winnopeg
"I haven't seen any of these instances."
I can give you a dozen URL of threads on this forum where fStaff say "This is a free host, cope up or get lost!"

Maneel, i cannot help but noticed the initially good concern initially.

Yes, as much as i can feel how u feel - how the topic might be closed and locked, the main thing is in "attitude".

Perhaps learn to be more grateful is what net-users need. I evolved and have been on the internet since internet even existed. Back then it was bbs - u even hear of such?

Note that forums like forumers = FREE. Be GRATEFUL first.
And be EVEN EVER MORE GRATEFUL since there is technical help.
And EVEN EVER EVER GRATEFUL Since you are given attention and no ban for nick and address AND IP. Cos, the mods here are pretty good.

==========
Okie, apart from these, i would lock topics and usually split topics that are off topic.

I must say for my little forum - its enuf to stress me. Imagine that multiplied by a couple of hundred times divided by the pitiful number of staff of forumer? Yupz, u can imagine its definately more stressful.

SO Bottomline?
GRATEFUL.

Yupz, and i am a junior forumer here.....so wat? I am super experienced IT professional in real life, AND on the Internet AND on every forum i am on. Lol
So go ahead. Start counting your blessings, then come back breath in hard and see what comes out from ur keyboard.

Jofnn1 · 07-30-2007, 05:08 AM

I make the following comments as an outsider, who has extensive knowledge on IPB/phpBB forums... but who has not been a part of the "fsupport" team.

Quote:

1. Locking thread - Please don't lock threads with statements such as "issue resolved, thread closed". Don't get too specific on closing threads. If people are discussing something (I am talking about the community forums), & the issue is resolved, let the thread be open so that people can talk on that issue so that the problem does not arise again.

Winnopeg has generally cleared up this part... it wouldn't really be a good idea to leave ALL of these topics open. There are some members out there who require real assistance due to something on their board... however if the solved topics are left open for everyone to post in, then the person who DOES need the help, receives no help!

for example, it's like calling emergency services for an ambulance, and staying on the phone to them after the ambulance has been... you are using a phone line that someone could be using who actually still needs assistance!!

And... correct me if I am wrong... but... isn't there a search function on forumer, that allows members to search for topics of similar problems? Doesn't forumer urge their members to check the search facility to make sure that their issue has not already been reported? The answer to this is YES... so why leave all the topics open?? Why not let the user do what they are SUPPOSED to do, and search the forum 1st??

Quote:

2. fStaff & Member Interaction - You guys are really doing a great job, but the new ones sometimes tend to go overboard while handling members. The staff is not above the members, but part of them. You accept it or not, but the members ARE the only source of revenue for forumer, so they should be treated properly, so I hope I won't see the line "This is a free host, cope up with the downtime or get lost" again.
My point is when the members ("customers") are not happy with the services, talk to them politely & don't dictate them things. I repeat, don't close the thread the moment the issue is resolve, let others come & see it.

In my opinion, fsupport IS "above" other members... they are in a "staff" position, who members turn to for help/assistance. They are here to sort all this stuff out... That's like saying that your supervisor at work is NOT "above" you... or that your teacher at school is NOT "above" you...

As mentioned by Attitude above (and you should know this having BEEN an fsupport), the team will undergo immense amounts of stress in the "voluntary" position. I have been around these sort of boards for in excess of ten years... and I've had people coming to me demanding answers... which I cannot give...

"when will server 2 be online?"
"when will x be fixed?"

Both common questions which are posed on this particular forum... However, the fsupport can only advise a member on what they know themselves, otherwise they are lying! what would you rather??

"we don't have access to the servers, however have escalated the issue to the engineers"
or
"the problem is being fixed now, and will be online in an hour"

The latter option may sound good... but it's a lie... because fsupport can't predict that... as they are not engineers! As a member, I think I'd prefer to be told the 1st thing!!

Quote:

3. Same things again & again - The fstaff sometimes repeat a few lines such as " our job is voluntary, we can't do anything", as an ex-staff member I understand that you can only troubleshoot but don't have server access etc, but, as a member, I would accept a more promising answer. So once you've escalated an issue, follow it up regularly, at least that is in your control.

you used to be fsupprt... you know that all you can do is troubleshoot... and don't have server access... you know the stress which forumer staff go through... and yet... you still want more?? What more can they say to a member, apart from "it has been escalated"?? If they say anything further, it could be verging on lying again!

Winnopeg states above, that as soon as something is changed, you guys are notified... I can't think of a better system like that!! It is certainly more "user friendly" than a LOT of other free forum providers.

As mentioned above, I've been doing this stuff for years, and I've been with SO many other hosts... who's attitude is "we're giving you a free forum, what else do you want?", whereas forumer clearly have a lot of fsupport members who are there to help and assist other members of the boards!!

I am utterly disappointed at the posts above to be honest... I feel that there was no need for "slandering" the fsupport staff... and I find it weird that you would go against the people who do the job that YOU used to do!!

fsupport is a one-off thing that not a lot of people get a shot at, and they are selected for a reason... but to slander the people who help run this forum, and keep it going each day is just despicable!!

Maneel · 07-30-2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

1. Locking thread - Please don't lock threads with statements such as "issue resolved, thread closed". Don't get too specific on closing threads. If people are discussing something (I am talking about the community forums), & the issue is resolved, let the thread be open so that people can talk on that issue so that the problem does not arise again.

I suppose some people missed out that part.

@Jofnn1
Go to thread I gave you the link of & you'll see I was still communicating with Limez when Romanus thought I was ADVERTISING my forum, huh!

@odiewoof
Grateful ? You think Forumer is helping in the evolution of technology or something ? It's all about money! I don't have a forum hosted on Forumer anymore, but these were sincere suggestions I gave because this is the place where my interested in internet technologies really started building up, so I this is not to point out mistakes, these are suggestions, pretty much what

Quote:

Free Forum Hosting > Community Forums [No support] > Forumer Discussion > Forumer Suggestions

is for, isn't it ?

**Attitude** · 07-30-2007, 10:53 AM

There is no need for this discussion anymore. If you have a problem with a staff member take it to PM. You know better too, Maneel.

07-29-2007, 08:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Maneel Elite Forumer Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,429 Rep Power: 6 fTrader: (20) fBuck$: 402 Bank: 767 Total fBuck$: 1,169 Send fBuck$ » My Forumer My Country:	A Few Suggestions Hey Guys, Before I start my thread, a note for the fStaff: Please don't lock this thread because of the criticism, I am posting it here in the larger interest of this forum, so that a common consensus can be made among all the members. Suggestions 1. Locking thread - Please don't lock threads with statements such as "issue resolved, thread closed". Don't get too specific on closing threads. If people are discussing something (I am talking about the community forums), & the issue is resolved, let the thread be open so that people can talk on that issue so that the problem does not arise again. You may have your explanations, but, let me quote a thread, the URL is MY Forum!! I had posted this to report that my forum had been disabled. If I had posted the thread without a URL to my forum, no action could have been possible. I posted the thread with a link to my forum. Limez came, he posted about the problem & found nothing wrong with it. But suddenly Romanus came, saw just the first post & locked the thread saying I am advertising my forum. In my opinion, the thread should have been left open so that members who were off line at that time (a major %, I'd say coz of the time difference) could benefit from the cause & solution of my problem. 2. fStaff & Member Interaction - You guys are really doing a great job, but the new ones sometimes tend to go overboard while handling members. The staff is not above the members, but part of them. You accept it or not, but the members ARE the only source of revenue for forumer, so they should be treated properly, so I hope I won't see the line "This is a free host, cope up with the downtime or get lost" again. My point is when the members ("customers") are not happy with the services, talk to them politely & don't dictate them things. I repeat, don't close the thread the moment the issue is resolve, let others come & see it. 3. Same things again & again - The fstaff sometimes repeat a few lines such as " our job is voluntary, we can't do anything", as an ex-staff member I understand that you can only troubleshoot but don't have server access etc, but, as a member, I would accept a more promising answer. So once you've escalated an issue, follow it up regularly, at least that is in your control. Please don't take these suggestions otherwise. Thanks, Maneel
	\| Delhi Dare Devils \| *Your Guide to Startups* \| My eHome

07-29-2007, 09:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
rsrikanth05 Elite Forumer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 9,105 Blog Entries: 7 Rep Power: 12 fTrader: (50) fBuck$: 992 Bank: 228,574 Total fBuck$: 229,566 Send fBuck$ » My Forumer My Country:	Re: A Few Suggestions I agree with Maneel. Attitude, sometimes does this. Okay so the staff are there to moderate, but that does not mean that ordinary members cannot advise or suggest members things. I have loads of messages in my inbox from Attitude saying, that I should not moderate, it is not my job etc., but the sometimes the staff does not come online for hours. -- My two cents.
	Car Leasing\|The best host ever\| INDIA!!! KK FAN!!!

07-29-2007, 12:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Attitude VIP Team Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Right Coast Posts: 11,765 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 16 fTrader: (11) fBuck$: 2,836 Bank: 3 Total fBuck$: 2,839 Send fBuck$ » My Forumer My Country:	Re: A Few Suggestions I'm disappointed, Maneel. If I remember correctly, you were staff here more than once, correct? You very well the stress we go through, especially when Limez goes away on vacation and servers go down. (This directed towards issues #3) YOU VERY WELL KNOW that we do not have access to the servers. Before you start adding quotes in that we've never even said (" our job is voluntary, we can't do anything"), which I do not appreciate, you need to get your facts straighten out. Our job IS voluntary, you know that. However, when members start revolting / getting angry at us because of the bug, we inform that they we don't have access to the servers and there's not much we can do other than inform the techs through mantis. With that said.... Whens the last time you provided support in the forums for IPB and phpBB users? I bet you don't even know how we run things there. So, as far as I'm concerned you have no room to be ordering us how to do things. rsrikanth05, I never PMed you directly with anything like that (I haven't even PMed you directly, PERIOD), although I do remember you telling you in the forums not to back seat moderate, and I've written you up for back seat moderating, which goes to your PM box. Once again, I do not appreciate false accusations. Last edited by Attitude; 07-29-2007 at 03:55 PM.
	Grand Opening of Florida Host! Take 20% off of already discounted rates that includes semi-annually and annually plans! See homepage for details.

07-30-2007, 10:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
Attitude VIP Team Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Right Coast Posts: 11,765 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 16 fTrader: (11) fBuck$: 2,836 Bank: 3 Total fBuck$: 2,839 Send fBuck$ » My Forumer My Country:	Re: A Few Suggestions There is no need for this discussion anymore. If you have a problem with a staff member take it to PM. You know better too, Maneel. Last edited by Attitude; 07-30-2007 at 11:05 AM.
	Grand Opening of Florida Host! Take 20% off of already discounted rates that includes semi-annually and annually plans! See homepage for details.

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