Just a suggestion

How about limiting concurrent connections for guest accounts too say mabe 2K at any given time. If this is possible . That way it wouldn't bog the board down so bad plus it would encourage lurkers - potential posters to join if they couldn't view the forum. I understand that a new server is on the way, I just think this would be a good policy.

 

and why not letting guests "pay" for the bandwidth they are using?
it sucks, honestly, that 3500-4000 "leechers" are taking away bandwidth of those willing to contribute in any way.
ads for guests, none for registered members. just a little, in my eyes not too unfair way to raise some funds.

 

As you would know, i agree wholeheartedly (on both suggestions).

I understand the necessity of having the forum viewed by as many people as possible, be they forum contributors or leechers, but at the same time regular contributors shouldn't be penalised by the fact there are 4000 guests hogging all the bandwidth and leeching from us.

I'd like to see guest access turned off until the new server is in place.
That'd serve two purposes.
Firstly it'd be a sign of good faith to the regular contributors who keep this place going, and secondly it'd boost registration numbers (and possibly uncover some new contributors).

Either way, hopefully something can be done because lately there have been many times when Phun has been unusable.

 

i agree with everything you guys are saying. as a regular member, i have to say i'm really not happy i can't get on my beloved phun (or that it's very slow) because of random guests. we aren't the same worth, are we?

 

Just a question - how'd you sign in if guest access was turned off?

 

I've seen other boards like this that you could see a skeleton of the forum - if you clicked on a link the board throws up a sign on screen, then you see the actual content.

 

i think this is a great idea. if people can take the time to hunt down vids and pics and then post them then surely users should be expected to join the board.

so many people contribute brilliantly and even those who simply add to the charm of the place are all dedicated and we are the very ones who suffer due to loads of greedy buggers sho want it all done for them. i say fuck them and let tehm come second.

 

Yep, that's it.

You can see the front page of the forums, but if you try to enter a specific forum you're asked to login.

Would work well.

 

think about yourself when you happened to come across phun for any given reason... maybe you wouldn´t have become a regular when all the contend was "members only"...
but i do like bama´s idea about limiting "guest-slots", if that´s possible.

not "closed community", but "place is crowded, please check back later".

 

After thinking about making this thread, on a sidenote I want to say that I hope no one thinks that I am "bitching/complaining" here, it is exactly what the title says - just a suggestion. A good one if I do say so myself, but just a suggestion.

 

i wouldn´t consider suggestions for improvements as complaints. just the opposite.

 

Thanks Riv, just wanted to make sure that I didn't sound like a "crybaby" - I wouldn't want to cause any hard feelings.

 

us regulars are here more than anybody, including cayne, so we are definitely the ones that have to suggest improvement ideas. great work bama and i hope this gets additional support

 

Limiting the amount of guests is maybe possible (although I don't know how), but that's not really what I want. I'm not a huge fan of any kind of restrictions on the internet...this place is free and I try to do my part to keep it this way.
I understand the concerns of the regulars/contributing members that the sheer amount of guests (don't like to call em leechers ) slow down the board for everybody, but that's why we're adding a new server to the farm. Right now just one webserver (although the biggest available) and one db-server are running the forum. Now there will be another web-server to cut the load in half. I'm sure after this change the forum will be loading in lightspeed...as long as we hit 6.000-7000 visitors, than I'll be adding another one

Besides that, I'll also install a mod, which will shows ads between the posts to every guest and remind them of the fact, they are just lurking around, instead of contributing to the community.

I'll let you know as soon as I know more details about the additional server. In fact it should have been already installed by today, but you know the techguys, they are never on time

Last but not least, I HIGHLY appreciate all kind of feedback...like TKA1 mentioned, I don't spend as time as you guys here and mostly to another time than you guys, so I really depend on your input.

 

Thanks for the feedback. All of us enjoy this place immensely and really appreciate it being free. The new server I'm sure will help the problems of late. Everyone on here was a "guest" at one time, I was thinking that that would not only speed the board up but encourage new members to post more content as well. Maybe your new mod idea will encourage that.

Again, thanks for Phun in general and the feedback.

 

thanks for the update cayne. very appreciated.

 

I love this website, Id be willing to donate something towards the new server. PM me if you like. I am not Donald Trump, but I will certainly contribute to the cause.

regards

 

well fuck me you have almost as much money as the donald?! :-o

Here's my paypal!

thanks for the gesture though bud.

 

That is a brilliant idea. Tell them that they will have no bother if they join and begin to contribute.

 

thanks for the update Cayne, this place is mucho appreciated.