[griffinspc]

I was just directed to the sponser bar discussion / flame / apology / bash fest. Whew! http://forums.techguy.org/t137131/s.html

I've been so busy that I've been unable to participate much here at TSG so some of the changes caught me by surprise.

I'm not here to rehash the whole sorid thing but to hopefully help. I subscribe to 3 mags, PCMag, PCWorld and Maximum PC. In one of the three last month or the month before, TSG was listed as one of the top sites for tech support. A first for any "free" tech website that I can remember in any publication.

That ought to make Mike and all contributors proud.

OK, now as to the right ad bar. I don't mind it terribly but if there is one thing I hate it's the flashing ads. If you have a way Mike, of limiting advertisers to a straight text ad link, both top and bottom and side bar. I for one would kiss your TSG logo. Wearing bifocals as I do makes the damn things really obnoxious.

Secondly, change the right bar background from white to a soft pastel color so that the contrast isn't so striking.

Third if you want I'll go check my back issues and locate the story and maybe (a longshot) that mag might be interested in a little support for TSG.

Fourth and finally, you might consider placing the User "edit options" link more prominately so that new members can clean up their screens within the existing framework. I believe a lot of new members aren't sure how to personalize their screens. This would give them more actual thread content space.

This; Show user's avatar in their posts? is turned off for me and frankly these type of "cute" additions as well as some of the flashing, scrolling and completely for fun signatures are bandwidth intensive as well a way of bogging down those of us with dial up connections. No critisism to you who have those here just pointing out a fact. I think there ought to be a limit.

The $20.00 donation is Ok with me but the real crux of the thread that got so out of hand, was the side bar ads. If you must have them then I hope toning the contrast down will help. I think it might.

What do you think Mike?

PS: I consider Mo a friend, though we've never met in person, she invited me to this board in the first place and I will do my best to convince her to return since help like hers is hard to come by. Yes she has issues, don't we all.

If possible, and if others involved read this, can everyone just forget all that trash talking, on everyone's part. No one gets a free pass on that one.

Hey it's the best board going.

[brendandonhu]

I've never seena flashy or bandwidth intenisive sig...they are text only. You can not use images, HTML, or vBcode (Except for a link)

[griffinspc]

Well come on Brenden, just one example is:

__________________
If I helped you with your problem today, Please click HERE and let me know... Thanks
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You have to admit it's a little distracting and busy. Yes I know it doesn't flash, others seem over the top to me but what do I know . I'm not trying to start an argument just hoping to help.

I can't possibly go through all the past threads to look but maybe it's not a big deal. The real bone of contention of the first multiple page flame thread was the right side ad area and I think the tone adjustment might help, OK?

[brendandonhu]

Yep, it has been suggested to put a character limit on sigs before.

[anlore2001]

Griffinspc... Just wondering why this is an issue... I've had this signature for years, Mike and all the mods have seen it and it has never been an issue with them. I have most of it at a size 1 font to make it small... and what is not at a size 1 is at a size 2... I don't think this really a concearn of yours (in my opinion... since it is my signature you used as an example) If you have a concern or an issue with my signature, send me a PM and we'll try to work it out, but if you want to do it out in the open, be my guest.

[griffinspc]

Listen, I picked your sig only because it was in the original thread that got me thinking about ways to help with the problem that some members and visitors have with TSG's somewhat new layout.

Some have trouble with screen size / resolution and with the ads now on top, bottom and side I was trying to come up with a couple ways to help. One of which are the sigs. Yours just happened to be in the original thread where so many people got their feelings hurt.

I seem to have hurt yours or angered you which was not the intent. I apoligize.

As I said I have a problem with flashing ads because of my bifocals. Others have smaller monitors and a lot of folks still have slow dial up speeds even for dial up.

I thought I made some valid points and hoped people would take pride in the mag's mentioning this site as a top five best sites for help. The only site that wasn't run by a corporation if I remember correctly but instead of focusing on the positive I've received 2 replys and both zero'ed in on the negative.

I was just trying to answer brendandonhu's complaint. Again, sorry. Do you have any opinion on the suggestions?

[anlore2001]

I seem to have hurt yours or angered you which was not the intent. I apoligize.

Accepted

As I said I have a problem with flashing ads because of my bifocals. Others have smaller monitors and a lot of folks still have slow dial up speeds even for dial up.

My signature is text only (with a couple of URL's and some bold faced text... the only colors are red, white and blue... no flashing ads... there is no way that a signature takes up extra bandwidth and slows a page loading

I thought I made some valid points and hoped people would take pride in the mag's mentioning this site as a top five best sites for help.

I am very proud to be a member of this site and don't plan on going anywhere for a long, long, long time.

I've received 2 replys and both zero'ed in on the negative

the only reason I replied was due to my signature being put into a thread as an example.

Do you have any opinion on the suggestions?

Personally, I have never seen the ads (I'm on the ad free "plan", I should really take a look at what all the fuss is about. as far as the suggestions... I'm not really sure.

As I see it, this is a closed matter... no harm, no foul, no hard feelings

[brushmaster1]

I have a 28.8 dial-up and I have no problem with any signatures. A also find the ad bar completely inoffensive (other than the annoying flashing ads...which have also been on the top and bottom of each page for quite some time...and I've learned to ignore them) Mike <B>does</B> need to make money to help pay the bills, and the ad bar is a very small price to pay for such a great site.

[griffinspc]

For crying out loud guys, where did you all get the idea I'm asking Mike to discontinue the ads. All I suggested was maybe he could make the right ad area contrast a little better with a pastel rather than white. Maybe the ads could be less flash and more text. MAYBE!!

I agree, HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO AT LEAST BREAK EVEN ON THE SITE. Heck for all the work and hassle he ought to make a little profit.

Re-read my original post. I said it was singled out as a GREAT SITE in print and I agree.

It's spring, flowers are blooming, the war as such is over, it seems SARS has passed us by thank God and all I see are people thinking I'm attacking the TSG, Mike personnally and anlore2001's signature. Lighten up, read what I proposed. Is that so bad?

I was trying to patch up a fight between great contributers and hopefully get a certain person back into the fold, compliment TSG (and therefore Mike), make a couple of suggestions (isn't that the title of this section?) and in general, hopefully get ideas generated to help people use the site more easily.

All I get is this crap? I've earned the right to speak up. Check my record. I apoligized to anlore2001 for posting his sig. Isn't that enough?