Some forum feedback please

[oldpro]

 Thought this would be a good time to get some feedback and suggestions from the Members on changes and suggestions.Please be constructive as being simply negative will get overlooked.
Things That have changed so far
1. purchased more forum space and upgrades
2. Started grip and video channel
3. Added Projectiles gate and Air archery gate and users Shooter1721, Hajimoto and  ToFazFou plus News gate.
4.new logos and back ground.
5. Banner adds.
6. Hired full time IT guy.
Things I will be changing soon and am working on.
1.Donation , no need with vendors banners
2.Vendor gate, will delete all the gates and make it and open area for all vendors to put specials and news this will shrink the paging from top of forum to bottom by 25%  and get rid of a bunch of vendor gates doing nothing but setting there.
3.Raffle gate and contributing members gate, No need once again with banners this will also help shrink down the site, we will however have raffles and giveaways those will be done threw Forum News gate.
4. GTA Road Trip!! This is a long term goal but I want to spend a full month or two on the road visiting our vendors making videos and just shooting in new places across the USA and posting it on our Youtube channel as entertainment for our members here 
5.GRIP videos, already working with the gang and made several videos just waiting for Rick to edit them all.
6. So much more but thats the gist of the start of things
 Please share thoughts and ideas for entertainment and forum improvements we can make this awesome site even better!!!   

[Insanity]

Ok you asked and I will give you my best request. You have a vision and what you have clarified helps. Tell us your end goal your mission statement and announce a change well enough in advance before making it. I know you have done so on some things but others were like here is a change and here is a announcement about it, at least how I see it. I for one will not sugar coat it you are ticking off members some are vocal like me others are like well he said it i don't have to and wont the rest are for it or don't care. I get it you cant make everyone happy but the amount of turmoil going on here is speaking loudly and hence this thread. I have more to say but its not really relevant to the actual topic at hand and frankly it seems everything has been going off the rails.

I ask you announce a upcoming change and may take some suggestions before implementing it.

[ShakySarge]

I will ponder this for a spell and then make an appropriate comment. I don't want to run out of the gate being either too for it or against it. I have some ideas but will have to do some research before attempting to suggest them.

That being said, I think the number 1 priority should be transparency. As of now, the transparency is fairly satisfying, but not wholly.

Time to ponder.

[DevilsLuck]

Could we add a feature that allows us to unsubscribe from a thread that has run it course for us?

[oldpro]

"Tell us your end goal your mission statement". I just did that. We dont need to make a lot more changes other than the GTA library that I need to spend a month on and organize. 2. Some things ill ask the forum some I wont nothing different than any other business or forum, I have to make financial decisions and fund events like the fun shoot etc. I dont think people care how I do it as long as it gets done just like keeping this beautiful place going strong. Big changes ill definitely keep everyone abreast of and ask advise but I dont see any more big changes were close to where we need to be.   

[ezman604]

Could we add a feature that allows us to unsubscribe from a thread that has run it course for us?

Go to your profile, click on Notifications on the left. There you will see a list of threads and gates you are set to be notified of. Check the box and select unnotify on any you no longer want to see.

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

That's a pretty intense schedule and some lofty goals...  You leaving JSAR?  Seems this is going to be a full time job with all you laid out above. 

I like the idea of supporting vendors, in the sense they will actually contribute useful content and discount codes.  My fear is if they pay for the right to be here and advertise here they will get an entitled attitude which may not be the best things for the members here.  Some vendors don't take criticism of their products very well.  As a member I want to know the good, bad and ugly of the products I'm considering.  Having  vendors who will try to quash or twist honest feedback, especially the negative, will do a disservice to the members here.

Same goes for the reviewers in the GRIP.  It seems most of these folks receive products from manufacturers in return for reviews.  I'm sure most of these products are either on loan or given to them free or at a greatly reduced price.  Face it, these guys can't possibly pay full price for all the stuff they review.  The problem here, once again is slanted reviews.  No manufacture is going to continue to support a reviewer if they do too many negative reviews, even if they are warranted.  So, facing the option of missing out on these freebies, great deals, or even getting first shot at the latest and greatest, are they really going to chance losing that for a bad review?  Probably not, so again we end up with a disservice if these reviewers are afraid to tell a manufacturer they have an ugly baby?

Bottom line, when someone pays for something, they expect something in return.  If this return is positive and constructive, we win, if it's just eye wash and subversion we lose...

[avator]

Travis, I hope you don't mind that I did some work on your original post. I did not change, add or delete a single word. I simply spaced it so it didn't all run together.
My suggestion? Hire someone to do text structuring for you.... lol

[oldpro]

Could we add a feature that allows us to unsubscribe from a thread that has run it course for us?

Cant you just unsubscribe? Cool if we could set a time limit like 1 week etc. 

[oldpro]

Travis, I hope you don't mind that I did some work on your original post. I did not change, add or delete a single word. I simply spaced it so it didn't all run together.
My suggestion? Hire someone to do text structuring for you.... lol

I think thats a great idea but it would eat into my Taco money. LOl and Thank you!

[DevilsLuck]

Could we add a feature that allows us to unsubscribe from a thread that has run it course for us?

Cant you just unsubscribe? Cool if we could set a time limit like 1 week etc.

When I click on "Show New Replies To Your Posts", it takes me to any thread I've participated in. Even if the new content of that post doesn't quote me.

[UCChris]

That all sounds good to me. I'm not sure why some of our members have their underoos in a wad over some of these changes. Grouchy old curmudgeons!

[anti-squirrel]

I have a big request:

week-long bans for those who keep stirring the pot sowing dischord.  It seems lately there's been a rash of people starting a lot of crud over political stuff.  Second offense: month long ban. 

Sadly, a lot of the pot-stirrers are from the US and it appears people are forgetting how to be civil and keep in mind these are International Forums with International membership and widely-ranging views.

I know I've kicked the hornet's nest several times myself, so I've been trying to keep out of the banner/ad/changes aspect of the recent changes for the GTA.  I like how it was and I like how it is. 

The  GTA is still a great place; nobody made anybody join and nobody is making anybody stay here, either.

[JeffB1961]

i would like to see a button/option to thanks someone for their comment without having to make a post just to do so . it is done on some other forums i enjoy and they show a list of names under the post that liked/thanked them .

[Insanity]

"Tell us your end goal your mission statement". I just did that. We dont need to make a lot more changes other than the GTA library that I need to spend a month on and organize. 2. Some things ill ask the forum some I wont nothing different than any other business or forum, I have to make financial decisions and fund events like the fun shoot etc. I dont think people care how I do it as long as it gets done just like keeping this beautiful place going strong. Big changes ill definitely keep everyone abreast of and ask advise but I dont see any more big changes were close to where we need to be.   

I have read what you stated first then you edited for easier reading and thanks for that bit was kind of had to get through. I don't think I have made myself clear on how I personally think the direction and mission statement should be presented, no bigs. Now to me I would like to see something clearly posted for all to see without being buried in posts or an announcement gate thread, and it can change that's ok too just say so. I know you have used the global announcement and it works and works good, albeit on a mobile its best way to put it broken. I do appreciate the announcements however like I said it was here it is vs here is what we have to look forward too.

We want you to get it done we want you to succeed but man you have to understand there are bunch of us who don't take to rapid change well. I think if you buffer that some this turbulence will all but go away.

[DevilsLuck]

Could we add a feature that allows us to unsubscribe from a thread that has run it course for us?

Cant you just unsubscribe? Cool if we could set a time limit like 1 week etc.

Or even a post count limit. When that limit has been reached the final post could link to a "sequel' thread a Mod starts on behalf of the participants who wish to continue posting..?

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

i would like to see a button/option to thanks someone for their comment without having to make a post just to do so . it is done on some other forums i enjoy and they show a list of names under the post that liked/thanked them .

+1 to that!  There's a lot of time I just like what someone posted but don't necessarily have anything to add.  A thumbs up or smiley to say thanks would be nice!

[ezman604]

i would like to see a button/option to thanks someone for their comment without having to make a post just to do so . it is done on some other forums i enjoy and they show a list of names under the post that liked/thanked them .

I like that one and would click a Like or Thanks if there was one. LOL
There is a Rate Topic for a THREAD but not a single post. Hmmm....

[UCChris]

i would like to see a button/option to thanks someone for their comment without having to make a post just to do so . it is done on some other forums i enjoy and they show a list of names under the post that liked/thanked them .

I like that one and would click a Like or Thanks if there was one. LOL
There is a Rate Topic for a THREAD but not a single post. Hmmm....

Absolutely agreed! Some other forums I frequent have a thumbs up or a thanks button. I would love to have that implemented!

[oldpro]

i would like to see a button/option to thanks someone for their comment without having to make a post just to do so . it is done on some other forums i enjoy and they show a list of names under the post that liked/thanked them .

love that idea! ill get Our IT guy on it