Besides gstwins (and stackoverflow, if that counts), I don't really post to any other forums on a regular basis (I used to follow BARF before I moved to LA).  But I do occasionally use some other forums, mainly for my truck.  But even today, in 2013, the state of forum design and technology on most forums is just god, f*cking awful. 

Some gripes:

1. There's usually like 60+ different forums and many are split up into even more subforums.  This means if you place a question in one of the little used forums, it won't be answered for a while.  If you dont' want to wait, and place a question in the general forum, half the responses to your thread will be pedantic arguments over the correct placement for the question.

2. GIANT headers.  If you click on one of the threads, the entire first 1500 pixels of the page is taken up by tons of wasted space and worthless information -- see here for an example -- http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2

3. Each post in a thread is SUPER large because it contains the entire profile information of the person who posted it -- a giant user thumbnail, their name, location, age, favorite color, maiden name, best friend, and a 40 line signature that includes every car they've ever owned and a couple of animated gifs for good measure.

4. Ads.  Everywhere.  Mid thread even.

5. Forum software designed in the mid 90s.  Basically tons of wasted space, tons of worthless information clogging the page, tons of worthless controls and buttons (while the useful and necessary controls require following 10 links to get to) and a layout that just makes it damn near impossible to read.


So, to the maintainers of gstwin, Thank You.

Sucking up to John will be your downfall

Yep ... He likes to be treated rough ... 

However with such a glowing report he might even get excited and give you a custom title!! ... Here's hoping 

Nice that you appreciate the place though   

I agree, this forum is the bomb. The members are friendly, and it's not too strict. You can also ask questions without being flamed for being a newbie! tops.

And a custom title is given for such rump swabbery.

But thanks just the same.  I like SMF, I hate sub forums, I like navigation at the top and bottom so I can return to the forum when I hit the end of a thread, and I hate ads embedded in threads.  This is not a money making thing for me.  I have maintained that I will pay whatever the expense unless I become destitute. And even then I am sure a few here would help pay to keep it going.  Though surprisingly the Amazon links actually generate a tiny bit of revenue that does defray some of the cost -so in a way it is partly member supported.  That's as far as I am willing to go.

Sometimes "less is more" is a good marketing/design strategy. 

Quote from: Zookmang on September 14, 2013, 01:48:47 AM
I agree, this forum is the bomb. The members are friendly, and it's not too strict. You can also ask questions without being flamed for being a newbie! tops.

yup , MIGHT get the occasional search newb. but those are rare. been here since apr? '03, changes were minimal cause it worked. and still does . john otoh, dont ASK for a custom title, or steal his avatars. either one gets the person a less than glorifying custom title lol.

  .... Bingo!

LOL. at least it wasnt  a fail on the custom title. weve got one female admin, then agai who knows Eh?

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on September 16, 2013, 12:26:27 PM
LOL. at least it wasnt  a fail on the custom title. weve got one female admin, then agai who knows Eh?

I've seen worse titles 

Quote from: 007brendan on September 16, 2013, 09:41:00 PM

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on September 16, 2013, 12:26:27 PM
LOL. at least it wasnt  a fail on the custom title. weve got one female admin, then agai who knows Eh?

I've seen worse titles 

Yeah........look at mine

or mine lol. first was "I am a loser" complete with pissing monkey smilies, for stealing johns avatar. and a pee wee herman avatar i could NOT remove. i asked for "hubcap" to be added after losing 3 of 4 caps from my CVPI.

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on September 18, 2013, 10:33:53 AM
or mine lol. first was "I am a loser" complete with pissing monkey smilies, for stealing johns avatar. and a pee wee herman avatar i could NOT remove. i asked for "hubcap" to be added after losing 3 of 4 caps from my CVPI.

I actually really liked that pee wee avatar.

I had ppl Pming me askin me to remove it cause it bothered them. but strangely I have to find it again to show them what pissing off or aggravating you can make happen lol. it looked like pee wee on acid or something lol. a weird picture lol. btw is no no place ( referring to title  a word swap for ? cause one can use alt key codes to pass the filers like using Penîs for example

eh John .. im quite curious as to what Yama's avatar was now.... i think its only fair if it appears again on Yama profile for a week or two .. so the new folks can see what happens when they 'get the boss riled up!!' ..   

something like this but slightly different
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lol

ohhh geez. ive been pee weed AGAIN lol least I don't have the pissing monkeys. Da**it I need to shut up b4 weird stuff happens Eh? lol. ill stop now

wow .. that would be a sight! .. dont think ive ever seen a gif of a pissing monkey! ... or not even a babboon scratchin its ass... not in a gif at least 

had one on each side of my title. both facing the title lol I was a bit of an a$$ those days lol

I like the new avatar Yama, I think you should keep it