Coffee Fiend | 01 May 2015 8:44 p.m. PST |
This has been a week at work. It happens every year and any teacher, especially AP teachers will understand this. Furthermore, it was WASC week, which, once again teachers may appreciate. This is one of those times when the build up from -week, if not -year, and a little too much tequila. I am in SoCal (and for those Philistines amongst you Jose Cuervo is no more tequila than Budweiser is beer), and tequila is certainly the drink of choice. For the curious, Heradura Anejo, Double-barrel. Patron suck it. I opened my email and saw a request to renew my membership on TMP. I was a member for a paying member for many years. Like it or not, it was a service I valued and paid for it. Is it the same today? No, it is not. While I still appreciate the effort, there are many flaws. Flaws which are still not remedied, nor will they be remedied if we continue to blindly pay for membership. Flaws which can cause one to question the effort, passion and business model of TMP. The sight never changes. Despite the most vaunted upgrades, it is still the same site that I registered on over 15 years ago. Looks the same. Same colors, same interface, same meh, 1990s look. Modernization of the site is laughable. The search features are archaic, at best. The two-column layout is annoying. The internet has advanced, This site has not. The "improving capacity" argument is . Where is the updated rules directory? Photo-gallery? Any attempts to use modern technology. No. I get better service out of Facebook, Twitter and Google Searches, all of which are free. Hiring of new employees. In an expanding business model, the hiring of new employees should be celebrated. I do not question the hiring decisions that have been made. I question the decision to hire at all. Why should I subsidize a hiring decision when there are no new services provide to me, the end user. Claim all you want that your product is new and improved, but it is not. It is staid and archaic. Give me ing break. I still cannot even change the color on my primary screen and the HTML code is not that advanced. As I am typing this, the banner running over the window has not changed and it is still too fast (and might I ad, it has not changed in at least ten years – although this is not Bill's fault. However, it is clear that no communication goes on with advertisers with the idea of how to modernize the ads that are run). What is this site good for? I can get news from other sources. The search engine is anemic. If I look to start a new period, which should be a strength of this site, I am directed to "do a search for the information." Why, the search features are horrific. Maybe I am asking because this site is really user hostile? I cannot even find a FAQ on miniature rules for any giving time period. The rules directory has been pending reconstruction for at least 15 years. Reconstruction following the American Civil War lasted less time. How hard is it to place a link in that section for the myriad of rules that have come out – our at least place one every time a new rule set is announced (or miniatures line?) I find that when I am starting a new period, Google does a better jobof providing information. Hostile users. Not your fault, mostly. People will respond as people will respond. However, you do choose to pick winners and losers and filter speech. Hostile users who are never filtered, or rarely filtered, have your tacit approval when you choose to filter other users on a more frequent basis. Once again, your house your rules, but you do pick winners and losers. Value added. I get no additional value for being a sponsoring member. I find the "lounge" or whatever it is called, to be rather boring. At least at BoardgameGeek (BGG) I get geek gold to modify my user profile. Really meaningless, but at lest something. No presence in the real world. BGG hosts a convention. They develop the hobby. As far as I can tell, you leach off of the hobby and have not done anything beyond this site to develop the hobby. Videos. Seriously, this is the 21st Century. Showcase. What is the point? The last update was in 2013. Do you even care about the hobby beyond a means to an income? I can go to BGG and see videos of the most recent cons. I see Aldie interviewing, via skype I thin, a variety of people. I go to Dice Tower and I see regular updates and reviews. Showcase to me demonstrates a lack of care, concern and enthusiasm for this hobby. I find better content, better information and better advice, for free, on blogs and youtube channels. So, why would I support this site? |
Winston Smith | 01 May 2015 8:49 p.m. PST |
Never heard of you before. |
Stryderg | 01 May 2015 8:51 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the rant, I hope you feel better. Please, what subject do you teach? |
rmcaras | 01 May 2015 9:01 p.m. PST |
Why ask "why"? Just set your course and go. No explanation needed. Good luck with the tequila. I don't drink distilled spirits much any more so can neither dispute nor endorse your opinion on tequila brands. I do agree with you about Budweiser however! |
Coyotepunc and Hatshepsuut | 01 May 2015 9:01 p.m. PST |
Hi, Coffee Fiend. I am sorry to hear you are in such a funk. /hug |
Pictors Studio | 01 May 2015 9:02 p.m. PST |
I like the way the site works. It is easier to use and I can use it on a crappy computer without much lag because it lacks things like videos and pop up ads. There is nothing that is worse than clicking on some link for a news story from reddit only for it to come up as some auto-playing video. That isn't true actually. There are worse things. I still don't like it. |
darthfozzywig | 01 May 2015 9:04 p.m. PST |
Reconstruction following the American Civil War lasted less time. LOL. |
sneakgun | 01 May 2015 9:19 p.m. PST |
Some of us have the courage to remain loyal. |
Sundance | 01 May 2015 9:21 p.m. PST |
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raylev3 | 01 May 2015 9:26 p.m. PST |
Well, bye. I don't know why drama queens feel the need to exit with a fricken rant. It's free! If you want to go somewhere else, go. We don't need the drama. It's a wargaming site run by a wargamer. It's not a site run by a major corporation. You're probably the kind of guy who would criticize someone who publishes a free PDF game because it doesn't meet the standards of a hardbound, book filled with professional photos. |
Coffee Fiend | 01 May 2015 9:29 p.m. PST |
Pictors Studio, I certainly understand what you are saying. I do hate it when I click on a news story only to get a video. I would much rather read my news. I should clarify what I meant. Why is there no option to upload videos? Game play-throughs and AARs, painting videos, rules explanations, etc? They are out there, why are they not here. Winston Smith, I really do not care to know the entirety of the list of those things that you do not know. Stryderg – I teach Government and Economics. rmcaras – In the long run, I would like to see this site improved. Setting my course in the past few years has created no effective change. Following a request sent to my email, I felt the need to respond. If we ever meet, I will gladly buy you the drink of your choice. Don – that is exactly what I am talking about. Punkrabbit – thank you. Funk? Maybe. Frustration. Certainly. |
Doctor X | 01 May 2015 9:31 p.m. PST |
You have some valid points. |
Coffee Fiend | 01 May 2015 9:44 p.m. PST |
And some of us have the courage to ask for change. No drama queen moment here (drunk rant – maybe), but a serious plea for change to modernize this site. We speak of the greying of the hobby – outreach must be part of the solution. For example, there is a Facebook page for TMP and two of the editors are members of it. In the past year, there have been two updates. Both are announcements that the editors are members. The last gaming related announcement I believe is from 2011. |
Editor in Chief Bill | 01 May 2015 9:46 p.m. PST |
I question the decision to hire at all. I have explained this before. If you want upgrades to the site, that's me. But I can't upgrade the site if I am spending all of my time running the site. The additional editors in theory give me the time to work on upgrading the site. Of course, there have been growing pains associated with adding new staff, and the burden of training, but things are running rather smoothly at the moment (fingers crossed). I opened my email and saw a request to renew my membership on TMP. And by the way, that's one of the improvements that having the editors around has made possible. Editor Gwen has been doing a great job at tasks I never had the time to handle – such as nudging people to renew their Supporting Memberships. Videos. Seriously, this is the 21st Century. Chop chop, I'll get right on it. "I'm ready for my close up please" I asked The Editor(s) about TMP 4.007 and got a reply of no news at this time. One of the many reasons I have not renewed my supporting membership. No, you asked about a timeline for TMP 4.0. I'm sorry, I don't have a timeline to give you. Speaking as someone who worked many years in cutting-edge software development, it is foolish to make predictions when there are still issues being explored. If that makes you uncomfortable, then I don't know what to tell you. |
Coffee Fiend | 01 May 2015 9:52 p.m. PST |
And Raylev, no I am not. A person who attempts to grow the hobby by providing free rules should be lauded. My critique stems from a request to renew my supporting membership. Even the very title of this post includes the word renew, which clearly means that I have paid for this service in the past. However, it would appear that you are the type of person who would jump to unsubstantiated conclusions and/or have a fundamental problem with either close reading or basic English. |
ochoin | 01 May 2015 10:03 p.m. PST |
@ Coffee Fiend Personally, I don't think you should go. In your OP you admit to it being a frustrating week at work & that has partly influenced your feelings. I recognise your concerns &, to a point, agree but after all it's either free here or not that expensive if you're a member. The Lounge has it's allowance of dross but if you stayed a member, you could bring up topics that interested you & others would join in. I get a kick out of belonging to what is arguably the main wargaming site on the net. It's that only because of the membership. There's a lot of wonderful people here. Yes there's a few "pains" but overall they're an easily ignorable minority. I have read threads you've participated in & enjoyed them. I can't remember if I've ever directly responded to you but clearly, you're one of the "Good Guys". Go, if you feel you have to but I think you should re-consider.
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skippy0001 | 01 May 2015 10:25 p.m. PST |
Just step away for a while, venting I understand. There are more things bothering you than TMP. Sometimes I want to take all the hobby stuff I have and chuck it. I also like the site the way it is. Every where else I click on changes every month and there is no improvement. Other sites also never change – althistory.com for one. |
Robert Kennedy | 01 May 2015 10:30 p.m. PST |
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Baron Trapdoor | 01 May 2015 10:45 p.m. PST |
Hi Larry Hows facebook treating you these days. |
Dan Cyr | 01 May 2015 10:48 p.m. PST |
Valid points. I'll admit that I spend way less time visiting the site than I did years ago and to be frank, I have a lot more time now (smile). I try to remember to renew each year, but will say that I've chosen to skip a year or two in the past 5 years. Not that I don't like the site for what it does, but frankly there are alternatives. If it was not for the sales column, don't know that I'd push money (the little that it is) into the site. Dan |
napthyme | 01 May 2015 10:53 p.m. PST |
Typical school teacher, if things are not to suit them it gets an F for a grade no matter how good the writing is. And some of us old fogies like the Ancient design of the site. Web 2.0 is for Gen X/Y, TMP is for Hipsters. |
R Brown | 01 May 2015 11:04 p.m. PST |
Some of us have the courage to remain loyal. Hahaha! Too funny…"courage"? More like porridge!! A brave chicken in every pot! |
Pedrobear | 01 May 2015 11:52 p.m. PST |
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MHoxie | 02 May 2015 2:26 a.m. PST |
Never post when drunk. Or asleep. Or fighting a gorn. |
Some Chicken | 02 May 2015 2:28 a.m. PST |
A brave chicken in every pot! Hey! Leave the chickens alone! |
LesCM19 | 02 May 2015 2:44 a.m. PST |
I used to come here years ago and there is a lot more advice and bouncing around of ideas now. I pretty much didn't recognise the content when I came back. |
MajorB | 02 May 2015 4:23 a.m. PST |
Uploading videos??? Well, see here, there is this really great site called YouTube (or something like that) where you can upload all the videos you want. Then all you have to do is post a link to your video with a short intro text here. Simples!! Ah … the power of the Internet … |
athun25 | 02 May 2015 5:23 a.m. PST |
I understand needing to blow off steam, but was the time it took to write your rant really worth the measly $25 USD a year memberships cost? |
skinkmasterreturns | 02 May 2015 5:33 a.m. PST |
I think its times like this that I myself go off and spend my hobby time painting. I am so horribly inept at using computers that I couldnt even begin to comment on your criticisms of the site.All I know is that I am able to use what's here and thats good enough for me. Of course I am not a paying member,either. |
VonTed | 02 May 2015 5:59 a.m. PST |
I kinda like the old vibe, text only feel to this place ;-) |
Gone Fishing | 02 May 2015 6:54 a.m. PST |
I also like the site the way it is. There are times I wish the search function was quicker and "more intelligent", but it's a pretty small complaint. With all its warts, TMP remains the best hobby resource on the net. I used to be a teacher and know first hand how stressful this time of year can be: everybody's tired and it's easy to feel like the fellow in the dungeon as you tick off days to the end of your time; and WASC can be bloody awful. So perhaps you should take a break from here and come back during the summer holidays. Focus on the good stuff (and there's a lot of it to be found) and good people (there are many of them here). Finally, hang in there; there aren't that many weeks until mid-June! |
Mitochondria | 02 May 2015 7:27 a.m. PST |
I think he has some valid points concerning features he wants to see on the site. |
whill4 | 02 May 2015 7:37 a.m. PST |
Corralejo reposado is nice if you can find it. |
It is good to be King | 02 May 2015 7:55 a.m. PST |
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Murphy | 02 May 2015 8:05 a.m. PST |
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Beowulf | 02 May 2015 9:09 a.m. PST |
Easy on the coffee, Coffee Fiend… |
Winston Smith | 02 May 2015 9:35 a.m. PST |
I haven't seen such a "Damn your eyes you blackguard!" Exit since the OFM left. |
jeffreyw3 | 02 May 2015 9:38 a.m. PST |
I'm apparently having a better week than der Fiend, :-) but he does bring up some good points that haven't gotten great answers so far, imho. I think it is reasonable to ask for demonstrable progress and a feature-based path forward that's kept updated for our membership fee. Since I believe that's at least where a chunk of the money is going, we would have something tangible in return (agreed that the Lounge is less than useful). I'm concerned that 4.0 is conceived of as a complete rework of the site, which, given the one-man development team and general day-to-day friction, moves this change into "Duke Nukem" territory. Unless there are resources at play that we're not aware of, I see incremental enhancement as the only plausible way forward. Great site, nothing to compare at this point, but that said, the accumulated weight of FB gaming-related groups, and ease of access is starting to add up. If you want to help "un-grey" the hobby, getting this site moving forward would be a useful step, imho. |
John Treadaway | 02 May 2015 9:48 a.m. PST |
I wouldn't say I 'like' the site as is but I would say I don't find it irksome. It loads fast, even over wifi on my wife's Kindle – I can even get it – in extremis – on an eight year old Palm phone (my weapon of choice). I have no need of the ability to change the colour, the skin or any other components. Sure the search could be better, but that's why we allow google to intrude into every part of our lives to build a civilisation dominating search engine. It ain't face Book. Thank the lord. It could be improved, I'm sure. Don't much care either way. My suggestion, as with so much in life, is that – unless it's really broken (rather than just clunky) – don't bother fixing it. John T |
Editor in Chief Bill | 02 May 2015 10:55 a.m. PST |
Loads slow for me time out lock file errors…. Yes, due to size of the TMP community and the older technology we're using – that's why we need TMP 4.0. …the whole wars with Frothers and Angel Barracks… I think I've done everything I can to promote peace. If you have further suggestions, I'd like to hear them. …The politics…in The Lounge… If you hit the Complaint Button, we will look into it. I am not aware of a politics problem in the Lounge. …on The Ultra Modern board. I think you need to step away from Ultramodern. If you don't game the period, why read the board and get upset? |
nevinsrip | 02 May 2015 11:24 a.m. PST |
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martin goddard | 02 May 2015 11:45 a.m. PST |
Angry thread. Anonymous poster. Probably a momentary lapse of reason? We all have low ebbs, maybe leave off the keyboard in such cases? Bill, your sight is excellent and much appreciated here about. Thank you martin PS would it be OK to enjoy a Budweiser or is that a wrong choice? There needs to be some legislation on what people can like; maybe TMP 4? |
ochoin | 02 May 2015 1:45 p.m. PST |
Bill, your sight is excellent Sorry, I can't see it. (apologies, martin. I couldn't stop myself). |
Shagnasty | 02 May 2015 1:48 p.m. PST |
I'm in favor of homeostasis. Keep it just the way it is and I'll pay money! |
martin goddard | 02 May 2015 2:01 p.m. PST |
Yes Ochoin you noticed it on the original post too. Well spotted. martin
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Coffee Fiend | 02 May 2015 2:03 p.m. PST |
In Calculus, the say don't drink and derive. Perhaps I would need a similar note on my keyboard. Never intended to be angry, just a frustrating day/week, and, well, I vented a bit too much. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. However, there are features I would like to see and some modernization. Perhaps even semi-regular updates on the progress of TMP 4.0. If I have missed these, I am truly sorry and would like to be pointed in the correct direction. I think what it comes down to is I would like for TMP to remain relevant and a "one stop site" that I can refer people to when they express an interest in historical miniatures. @Martin, you can enjoy Budweiser all you want if for no other reason then as a reward for the numerous hours of enjoyment I have received from your games. @Whill4, I agree, Corralejo reposado is an enjoyable little tequila. |
Coffee Fiend | 02 May 2015 2:05 p.m. PST |
One of the downsides of typing while under the influence is the atrocious number of typos. |
Editor in Chief Bill | 02 May 2015 2:48 p.m. PST |
I do game Ultra Modern, I just don't care for the right wing rants that have nothing to do with miniature war gaming. See Mako11 for an example ( Note I like Mako11 and Terriament just not their politics) Then hit the Complaint button. What more can I do? Much as I like Smokeyroan but he and Mithmee have turned the Lounge into a right wing frat house….But because it is the Lounge I don't push the ! on Smokeyroan. I have Mithmee and Legion 4 stifled . Of late I had the Lounge turned off. Ditto As for Frothers and Angel Barracks maybe an apology and admit you are wrong about some things. Why are they due an apology? I have criticized them in the past, and I've not been persuaded to change my mind. |
jeffreyw3 | 02 May 2015 3:09 p.m. PST |
Interesting…Don and I have had remarkably similar experiences. As you've noted, Bill, there's not much to be done w/the Lounge because it's…the Lounge. I've turned off the modern boards because they inevitably involve politics, and responding is problematic, at best. |
Editor in Chief Bill | 02 May 2015 3:36 p.m. PST |
Ah well……Guess the wars will go on and on and on… Why? Just ignore Frothers. |