16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

Is the site running on autopilot ?

Numerous folks have joined without being activated. I have sent a PM but it still sits in my "Outbox" not read.

This morning there was a database issue, but it is resolved. I thought if S_Long was here for that maybe the new members could get activated ?

There really needs to be a trusted person brought on that can help with at least new member activation and actions if a spammer gets through.

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 529 Location: WI

If you spend a little time searching through past posts on this particular topic, you will find the answers to your questions. The subject comes up often.

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 2180

You are correct Dave. There are quite a few people over on SGW that are trying to get online for this forum.

It's a shame to turn people away from this great forum.

Joined: 24 Jul 2016 Posts: 575 Location: Ohio

I agree! It's nice to have politics/controversy free site to close out the day.Especially one with a wealth of knowledge to tap to boot.

I think we're all aware that the 16g Society was the work of one man, Doug Oliver, a transplanted Kansan. The site went on-line in 2002
https://dailycaller.com/2014/03/31/doug-oliver-the-keeper-of-the-16-gauge-flame/
Doug passed in 2014.

The Member List shows the members and when they joined, and some recently
http://www.16ga.com/forum/memberlist.php

The site has been maintained by a (unpaid) volunteer, and is supported entirely by donations and there is no registration fee.
I don't know who owns the domain, but anyone with the interest and IT expertise (dr) is strongly encouraged to explore acquiring and improving the site.

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

Tell us something we didn't know. All that is history.

If you go back and looked, people volunteered to help with the site and were rebuffed.

The whole matter is, "the volunteer" is most likely too busy with his real job or this simply has not become a priority.

Without being granted the appropriate "permissions", no one can help.

Gentlemen,

I agree with Drews post, if I had the correct IT Back ground I would volunteer to be a moderator, this is my main most favorite sight, and I participate every day that I can.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith/Westley Richards Man

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

There are numerous ones of us that volunteered to be a moderator. If nned be, I could go back and find that thread, but I don't feel that is needed.

To be a moderator doesn't need an IT background, just makes it much easier. Right now the only contact for 16ga.com is S_Long. I tried an ICANN WHOIS lookup and the actual owner (Doug's family) and any type of contact information is hidden.

Do a Google search on WHOIS, then put in 16ga.com for the search. All you can see is the domain name registrar.

I was trying to shake the tree a little so to speak as too many perspective new members can't get on and could simply lose interest if too much time goes by.

My mention of old forum software goes back to this fall when we dumped Rectum (Spectrum) for AT&T fiber. Half the cost, twice the speed. But our emails changed.

When you change an email on this forum, your account will get deactivated. I had to get people to PM him to get my account back active. Simply changing an email address shouldn't knock you off. That is old software functionality.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2546 Location: West MI

OK, so lets say s_lomg (kinda his sandbox honoring Doug's legacy, Family and rules, BTW, thank you) is open to the idea of bringing the sight to a more modern platform/functionality but continuing being member driven w/o allowing any outside advertising or junk or...

Where would one start?
How much hands on time and effort would it take to implement the change?
Would the new system take any more time (and maybe cost) than it does now to manage?

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

This forum runs on phpBB software, which is free

https://www.phpbb.com/

access would be needed to be given to someone to be able to setup a test site, copy the current iteration of 16ga.com to the test site and upgrade it in place to the most current version

then the current version would need to be tweaked to act like the current version, with a few enhancements (changing email doesn't require reactivation of account is one).

then the test version would be brought online with access given to a few folks to test it out, see how it works. then if it works fine, the current version needs frozen, recopied, go back through the upgrade so no posts are lost (or simply remigrated in place, that I / someone would have to resolve).

Then the test side is made the active side and the old side, is set aside in case it needs to be reactivated due to an issue.

this is assuming that the current infrastructure (domain hosting, site hosting (the actual server where the site runs on) stays the same

to setup a totally new site requires expenditures and need for data, ie: how much storage is needed, new domain name (no longer would it be 16ga.dom) how much traffic (read that bandwidth)

then access would need to be granted to copy 16ga.com to the new website and shutdown 16ga.com so the two are not running at the same time (preferable).

right now there is a 16ga section on ShotgunWorld. We could get a 16ga section built correctly with subforums in shotgunforums (same folks own both) but then its subject to their whims

I have been away for 16 yrs, could I pick it back up ? yes, I was very good at IT. Am I the ideal candidate ? Probably not. I have leukemia, and while it is the slow kind, it is still leukemia and if it changes (I just went for my annual oncologist checkup and I am still good) then everything else becomes a side issue. Plus I am starting to get old.

The real easy solution at this time is to simply bring on a moderator to help with the new members/reactivation of accounts, then see what the owners (Doug's family) want to do with the site.

OK dr. Did you know that the first 2 members were S_long and Doug, in 6/2004
I joined 12/2005
You joined 12/2012

Please consider that newer Forum members might not be fully aware of the history of 16ga. and might be willing to respectfully approach the Domain owners with a proposal to update the site. S_long would likely be thrilled Wink

Or someone could start a new 16 Gauge site, likely requiring a source of revenue.

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

The way you are coming across is an attack. You know it and I know it.

Without being able to get in touch with S_Long, then who do you call ? Ghost Busters?

Seriously, running a Whois and shows who is the domain name registrar. It doesn't show who is hosting the site, all the pertinent data regarding it, etc. Doesn't show how to get in touch with Doug's family, etc.

So unless S_Long stops in for all intents and purposes, it is running on autopilot.

As far as getting another site up and running, I/we could have the admins and such at ShotgunForums approach the owners to set up a 16 forum (there is one on ShotgunWorld) with the sub-forums like 16ga dot com is setup. But like anything new, will be starting from scratch and the historical data (the reloading is what is worth saving) won't be there. This approach won't cost anyone a penny.

In fact, it is one of the moderators from ShotgunForums that is waiting on activation.

Earlier this year, I changed my email address and it knocked me off. I had to have someone do the same thing. Send PM's, wave the red flag to get myself reactivated.

It's sorta getting not worth the trouble and aggravation.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2546 Location: West MI

Hoping for nothing but the best with your health.

Thank you for your experience and expertise in IT and the detailed description of a possible option for modernizing 16ga.com. My Sister manages my 4 websites and it does take some special talents and attention.

Is this an accurate digestion; either a complete overhaul which would include a new domain identity with a small possibility of loosing some data OR someone a bit more interactive/involved with it as is....

dr: It has been my experience that SOME people with expert computer/IT skills don't have the best interpersonal communication skills. Please read through your posts and consider if your words come off as an "attack"; including "Tell us something we don't know".
IMHO it would have been better to send (another?) PM to S_long asking simply "How can I help?". If he chooses not to respond to your gracious offer, then the site will be what it is, and you could use your IT expertise to start another. You are surely aware that will take a source of revenue ie. registration fees or advertising.