NationStates Jolt Archive

Dear OMAC
I appreciate that you host Nationstates in a way that we, as end users, do not have to pay. However, ever since you took over Jolt you have tried making a series of changes to NSG that have not exactly been met with a warm round of applause.

To get round this and to save time, could you not just post suggestions of what you are thinking of doing so we could comment on them before you actually do the changes?

*watches as OMAC Security take Rambhutan away to Room 101*


I agree with the above statement

*signs this declaration*

They could but then that would make too much sense, wouldn't it? It would prevent them from arbitrarily testing out new changes on us as if we were their internet Guinea Pigs. It would remove the element of surprise and prevent them from imposing their collective misguided will upon us.

I, for one, welcome our new overbearing corporate masters and wish to offer my services in helping round up my fellow NS'ers to toil in their underground internet caves.


Someone had to say it.

that would be smart

*signs*

Please to be giving us our smilies back. That is all.

Wouldn't you rather want to take this to some sort of, I don't know, tech subforum or something, rather than posting a random thread in NSG? This is, of course, assuming you want to be heard, and not just wanting to air grievance.

Wouldn't you rather want to take this to some sort of, I don't know, tech subforum or something, rather than posting a random thread in NSG? This is, of course, assuming you want to be heard, and not just wanting to air grievance.

Thought OMAC are more likely to pay attention to it here, rather than buried as a technical question in a subforum.

I think they like experimenting on live, unsuspecting guinea pigs..
Makes for a much more honest and real reaction..
But yes, I would also like a little warning.
Though it can go in the wrong direction as well.

Thought OMAC are more likely to pay attention to it here, rather than buried as a technical question in a subforum.

You cannot possibly be serious. AFAIUI, OMAC bought/is now responsible for the whole Jolt forum deal, of which NationStates is just one subforum, and NSG just one (content-wise, for an admin etc.) completely insignificant subforum of that subforum. You really think any thread here will be more likely to be viewed than if it appeared in the appropriate section, i.e. tech/suggestions? And you think that for some unfathomable reason, the NS subfora are more likely to be read by the people responsible for the layout etc. than, oh, say, the Suggestions/Bugs/Feedback (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=1522) subforum of Jolt itself?

You cannot possibly be serious. AFAIUI, OMAC bought/is now responsible for the whole Jolt forum deal, of which NationStates is just one subforum, and NSG just one (content-wise, for an admin etc.) completely insignificant subforum of that subforum. You really think any thread here will be more likely to be viewed than if it appeared in the appropriate section, i.e. tech/suggestions? And you think that for some unfathomable reason, the NS subfora are more likely to be read by the people responsible for the layout etc. than, oh, say, the Suggestions/Bugs/Feedback (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=1522) subforum of Jolt itself?

If you want to put something similar in what you think is a better place go ahead.

There was a jolt admin reading the "Does This Make Me Look Fat?" thread, so they do pay attention.

I don't know, it's not that bad. The new smilies are crap, but I can live with it, and the ad in the middle of the page is irritating, but I can ignore it. If it all means that you can actually get onto NSG for a change, rather than 'database error' delights, then it's a small price to pay.

*Signs, also mentions the old smileys*

The forums fine for me, i've no complaints.

The forums fine for me, i've no complaints.

*Beats to death we an angry mob of NSGers*

*Beats to death we an angry mob of NSGers*

*Is immune to beatings*

*Counters with buttered toast cannon*

*Is immune to beatings*

*Counters with buttered toast cannon*
Mmmmm... Toast... *Signs petition again, just in case*

Mmmmm... Toast...

I aims to please. :D

The normal advertising is fine - it's part of modern life. As for changing the smileys - things change. But putting an ad in the middle is not acceptable - the sides, top, bottom or anywhere else to be honest is fine. But in the middle is where we RP stuff, I don't want to interupted by the lovechild of Satan and an advertising executive when I'm carpet bombing someone. That is not on!

Are they really applying changes just to NationStates....or to all the jolt forums? I would think it would be the latter, no?

Also, I see no ad. Go adblock plus.

I understand the reason for the ads, just not for the location. It's annoying, distracting and irritating. *signs petition.* NG, where can I get adblock plus?

On the plus side, I can avoid the smileys just by using the quick reply function, which is probably the best feature they've added. Now if I can only overcome my conditioning and use it.

I understand the reason for the ads, just not for the location. It's annoying, distracting and irritating. *signs petition.* NG, where can I get adblock plus?

On the plus side, I can avoid the smileys just by using the quick reply function, which is probably the best feature they've added. Now if I can only overcome my conditioning and use it.

If you're using Firefox, you can find Adblock as a Firefox add-on.

If you're using Internet Explorer, you're fucked.

If you're using Opera, right click in an open space and select "block content".

I hate this new stuff they keep adding. They changed the font for a while, changed the smilies, put an annoying ad across THE MIDDLE OF THE FORUMS and randomly swell people's names.

I have no problem with any of the changes to the forum so far, except for the ads below the first post of each thread, which adblock can take care of.

E: Well, I'm not thrilled about the introductions of "comments" and "friends", but I suppose we all knew NS was just a poor excuse for a social networking site all along, so meh.

At last, the smilies have vanished.

My only problem with OMAC is they're one letter away from the evil oil conglomerate from Vigilante 8.

The names aren't exactly back the way they were: on one of the computers I regularly use, I couldn't see the post, and the name of the poster, at the same time, had to scroll left if I wanted the poster's name (cutting off half the post). That got me into a drag-out fight once, when Gauthier and Gravlen were arguing with me and saying approximately the same things, and I quoted Gauthier and said it was by Gravlen, to Gravlen's deep offense.
This peculiar effect is gone now.

:mp5:

Looks like a mob guy, not a cop or anything.

I've been gone from the forums a bit, what the hell is going on? Other than the smilies, which don't bother me, I have them blocked on AIM and MSN, too. <.<

Dear OMAC
I appreciate that you host Nationstates in a way that we, as end users, do not have to pay. However, ever since you took over Jolt you have tried making a series of changes to NSG that have not exactly been met with a warm round of applause.

To get round this and to save time, could you not just post suggestions of what you are thinking of doing so we could comment on them before you actually do the changes?
To be fair, they are talking to the admins and mods of all the Hosted Communities, and they're listening to the feedback. Sometimes we know what's coming, sometimes we don't. (They told us ''template simplification' and we got giant usernames. No idea what else was in those templates)

I hate this new stuff they keep adding. They changed the font for a while, changed the smilies, put an annoying ad across THE MIDDLE OF THE FORUMS and randomly swell people's names.
...and you've noticed that the skin and the names are back to normal, or fairly close. Based specifically on feedback from an NSer. Can't help you with the ads, at least not yet.

Thought OMAC are more likely to pay attention to it here, rather than buried as a technical question in a subforum.
Not a chance. Plus, NS mods read the Tech and Mod forum, and WE carry the complaints back and forth.

Are they really applying changes just to NationStates....or to all the jolt forums? I would think it would be the latter, no?
Most of the features affect all forums. The ones that just affect NS, like the accounts database link to our game, give them hellish problems.

Please to be giving us our smilies back. That is all.
Workin' on it ...

Workin' on it ...

Many thanks.http://209.85.48.9/10340/175/emo/loves.gif

If you're using Firefox, you can find Adblock as a Firefox add-on.

If you're using Internet Explorer, you're fucked.

So get Firefox. I'm not one of those guys who worships Firefox or anything, but if it works, it works. And it does work.

I went away for a few days, just got back on this morning (last couple of hours.)

The ads are still getting my attention (move when thread page scrolls) but sure, we have to pay somehow. I'll play along, though blocking content from freecash would be an option ...
The active user list and the Viewing Page list are brilliant. Really really great, and clicking a name allows Private Messaging other users through Jolt. I'm not sure if that's new, but it's great and utterly obsoletes damn TG's.

The default page seems to be shorter? I think there is some other limit than "number of posts per page" and that might have been reduced.

Amazing progress in only a few days. We should keep the feedback coming, not whine about "any change is bad change." OMAC has done the right thing, and employed someone who can actually use VBulletin without reading the manual. Hooray!

What annoys me is that every time I block an ad, they rotate it.

Folks,

Thanks for the letter. Just wanted to let you know that we're always listening. Also, hope you realise that anything commercial we do in terms of ads etc. are all there so that we can grow the community and give you better features: the development of NS2 is a case in point (hopefully you'll agree when you see it).

That said, we definitely need to get better in terms of letting you know about future developments. The NS2 blog (http://blog.nationstates2.com/) is a decent start (albeit just for NS2) but we'll be making a concerted effort to do better here. We're on it.

Dylan

Snip


Workin' on it ...

Thanks Frisbeeteria

So get Firefox. I'm not one of those guys who worships Firefox or anything, but if it works, it works. And it does work.

indeed. I've noticed very little difference between Opera and Firefox. IE is just meh. I don't hate it, but I'd rather use one of the other two.

Most of the features affect all forums. The ones that just affect NS, like the accounts database link to our game, give them hellish problems.

*titters*


Workin' on it ...

make sure the fluffle stays, too, if you'd be so kind ;) :fluffle:

(i was very glad they kept that one, if nothing else)

indeed. I've noticed very little difference between Opera and Firefox. IE is just meh. I don't hate it, but I'd rather use one of the other two.

i was quite underwhelmed by FF3, largely because i've used most of its cool new features in Opera for ages...

Folks,

Thanks for the letter. Just wanted to let you know that we're always listening. Also, hope you realise that anything commercial we do in terms of ads etc. are all there so that we can grow the community and give you better features: the development of NS2 is a case in point (hopefully you'll agree when you see it).

That said, we definitely need to get better in terms of letting you know about future developments. The NS2 blog (http://blog.nationstates2.com/) is a decent start (albeit just for NS2) but we'll be making a concerted effort to do better here. We're on it.

Dylan

Thanks for the response, Dylan. I understand that ads are a neccesary evil. I just ask that they're not too annoying, as that becomes counter-productive.

And thanks for the work on NS2. :)

~signs the letter~

Folks,

Thanks for the letter. Just wanted to let you know that we're always listening. Also, hope you realise that anything commercial we do in terms of ads etc. are all there so that we can grow the community and give you better features: the development of NS2 is a case in point (hopefully you'll agree when you see it).

That said, we definitely need to get better in terms of letting you know about future developments. The NS2 blog (http://blog.nationstates2.com/) is a decent start (albeit just for NS2) but we'll be making a concerted effort to do better here. We're on it.

Dylan
Cool to know, you guys are pretty awesome. Except for the ads. But I can live. :hail:

Folks,

Thanks for the letter. Just wanted to let you know that we're always listening. Also, hope you realise that anything commercial we do in terms of ads etc. are all there so that we can grow the community and give you better features: the development of NS2 is a case in point (hopefully you'll agree when you see it).

That said, we definitely need to get better in terms of letting you know about future developments. The NS2 blog (http://blog.nationstates2.com/) is a decent start (albeit just for NS2) but we'll be making a concerted effort to do better here. We're on it.

Dylan

Thanks Dylan

There's a specific forum for commentary (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=1522) now.

Also, I see no ad.

I also. I has SafariBlock.


Please to be giving us our smilies back. That is all.
Workin' on it ...

Hurrah!