Shoutbox concern - FMFormation.net - Football Manager

johnireland · 19-02-08, 11:39 PM

Hi Guys,

I have been a huge fan of Football Manager / Championship Manager for at least the last twelve years ……. Admittedly I don’t play as much as I used to due to other commitments (boring mundane stuff like work, family etc!) but believe me when I can play I do

Now eventually I found a site that really embraced the ethos and the love of Football Manager and I must say I really enjoyed the site and loved interacting and getting to know the other members through the shoutbox

To my utter dismay, I logged on today to find the shoutbox had been removed due to the fact that I have not posted “at least 10 posts” …… This really annoyed me as I prefer to interact and discuse issue with people directly rather than posting a question or replying to a quiry in thread format, I also appreciate that people prefer to use forums as a way of communicating but surely we shouldn’t all have to use forums to communicate.

I also feel that the most endearing quality this site has is the shoutbox, this was one of the first things I noticed when I first came across the site, something I hadn’t seen before in any other FM fan site, now any prospective new members will not see the shoutbox (as they wont have access immediately) thus meaning FMFormation is not showing these people the full potential and resource this site has to offer

I have mailed Bozza for some feedback regarding this concern, I would appreciate if any other members have anything to add.

**John10** · 19-02-08, 11:51 PM

We the staff at FMF along with Bozza decided that it was good idea to have a Maximum 10 post count in order to view the shoutbox.

The reason we took this on is because people sometimes abuse the shoutbox and the regular members who know how to use the shoutbox and respect the others that are using the shoutbox. This was brought up just before the new shoutbox went into practice last night.

All we want to acheive is an active forum as well as an active shoutbox. This will help stop people just signing up and annoying members.

Im sure Bozza will be able to come up with a solution as i dont make the descisions here.

Hope I have solved some off your queries mate.

leachy-boi91 · 20-02-08, 12:08 AM

i think having the 10 post rule a good idea because we have recently got so many users who dont treat the site properly and just go on the shoutbox to annoy certain people ..

having the shoutbox in the forum section is perfect because it will increase forum posts because the shoutbox will be there too..
hope my opinion does something lol

mirjalovic · 20-02-08, 02:47 AM

but its still weird

i ilke shoutbox like b4..

but.............i think it good idea

leachy-boi91 · 20-02-08, 02:58 AM

keep posting your opinions :)

Stu Cowie · 20-02-08, 03:12 AM

Personally, I dont like the fact that the shoutbox has been relocated. I think it was a good idea to have it on the homepage as its a nice sight to look at when you log in and see the usual guys posting and its not as intimidating to new users to post there. Admittedly some new users abused it but a lot didn't. I am not sure if I would of started using the shoutbox in the first place if it was located purely in the forums

My opinion.

FM_Scotland · 20-02-08, 04:48 AM

Spam 10 posts mate doesnt take long.

**T.H** · 20-02-08, 06:05 AM

We dont want people spamming just to get in the shoutbox though.

The new shoutbox is a lot lot better, with the dates and times, the added links, and the easier access to post editing. I also think the speed of it is definitely better!

It is a good thing having it shut off to users with less than 10 posts because people used to come into the shoutbox, demand help, and then be rude if someone couldnt help them, with a lack of thought and appreciation for the site. Some people are also actually sad enough to log in to random sites just to spark arguments and controversy with others.

However, the shoutbox should be placed everywhere, coz it was great to flick up to it whilst posting, rather than having to flick tabs needlesly.

The new shoutbox is definitely a lot better, however the location of it isnt because it needs to be everywhere to get the full benefits out of it.

Stu Cowie · 20-02-08, 06:22 AM

I agree with that it needs to be everywhere T.H and I know some of the new features are cool, but is it really important to have a time/date stamp? it only shows the last like 20 shouts anyway, so having a time/date stamp surely is overkill?

**chrisashmore** · 20-02-08, 07:21 AM

i love the new shoutbox i just dont like the fact that its only on the home forum page!

rimza · 20-02-08, 07:54 AM

In my opinion, that 10 posts should be iceberg between new comer and the older members in here..u can just posting on the introduction thread if don't have anything to ask or u just wanted to find some information in here since some come here to seek for solution for the problems that related to the FM and some just to download files..beside that it is no use to just posted unwanted information in here..maybe,Bozza must come out with new rule where new comer must had 10 post before can use shout box and replying to the thread except an introduction thread..

**Hartynips** · 20-02-08, 08:17 AM

A change is as good as a holiday...at least it should stop various idiots like the gaggle of 13 year old girls who just appeared on here one night and started using the shoutbox like a mini-msn, and of course that complete idiot 15 year old from liverpool who abused everyone on here one afternoon for the best part of two hours. My only critism of the relocation was that maybe the more regular members should have been perhaps PM'd with instructions as to how to get there...I had only nine posts at the time and despite the best efforts of INeedBeer to direct me I had to get idiot proof instructions from Bozza to get back in...!

**Bozza** · 20-02-08, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnireland

Hi Guys,

I have been a huge fan of Football Manager / Championship Manager for at least the last twelve years ……. Admittedly I don’t play as much as I used to due to other commitments (boring mundane stuff like work, family etc!) but believe me when I can play I do

Now eventually I found a site that really embraced the ethos and the love of Football Manager and I must say I really enjoyed the site and loved interacting and getting to know the other members through the shoutbox

To my utter dismay, I logged on today to find the shoutbox had been removed due to the fact that I have not posted “at least 10 posts” …… This really annoyed me as I prefer to interact and discuse issue with people directly rather than posting a question or replying to a quiry in thread format, I also appreciate that people prefer to use forums as a way of communicating but surely we shouldn’t all have to use forums to communicate.

I also feel that the most endearing quality this site has is the shoutbox, this was one of the first things I noticed when I first came across the site, something I hadn’t seen before in any other FM fan site, now any prospective new members will not see the shoutbox (as they wont have access immediately) thus meaning FMFormation is not showing these people the full potential and resource this site has to offer

I have mailed Bozza for some feedback regarding this concern, I would appreciate if any other members have anything to add.

Hello John,

First of all, I've moved this topic to the "Site Feedback" section because it isn't FM08 related.

To get back on topic, I can understand what you are saying. I've also read the replies of others and I get them all but there are also other things needed to keep in mind.

The previous shoutbox was a heavy mod. With a heavy mod I mean that it asked a lot from the server, resulting in the site going down every now and then. This new shoutbox should be lighter in use.

The reason why I didn't want it on the homepage anymore is because of the attitude of some members in it. There have been and surely there will be a lot of members who thought the shoutbox was meant for them to start swearing in it and make a lot of other members angry and this started fights. I didn't want these things displayed on the homepage. Also, the homepage uses the same software as the forums. Newstopics on the homepage are posted on the forums and pretty much every link is linked to the forums. So having the shoutbox only on the forums is just a matter of getting used to it. I agree that it's perhaps a good idea to let it also show when looking in a thread.

The reason why I decided to put the 10 posts rule is pretty much the same as the part above. There are tons of people who don't follow the rules and think it's funny to make a site look bad by all the cursing and fights in the shoutbox. There are even some members who keep on making new accounts when they are banned and start over. With the 10 posts rule those people will probably vanish (hopefully). They don't want to spend that much time getting 10 posts in order to be able to annoy in the shoutbox. We might put it back to 5 posts at some point but I hope you guys can understand the reason why we added this rule. The shoutbox is an amazing thing but there is also a reason why almost none of the other FM sites have one. A shoutbox asks a lot from a server. Pretty much thanks to having a shoutbox alone, we were forced to go to a Dedicated Server which costs around 1500 euros per year. Because of this, I want to get rid off all the spammers and people who have no respect for the work of others. But like I said, we might change the rule from 10 posts to 5 posts.

I hope you can understand what I am saying with all this and what you will have respect for the choices we made. Btw, I heard someone in this thread saying to make 10 spam posts but spam posts will be removed and not added to your post count. There are a lot of cool sections where you can ask a question, share your experiences or just chit-chat a bit. In the future, we intend to make more and more different section and sub-sections so there will be more to talk about.

I hope I've answered everyone's question(s). Please let me know if there is still anything left.

Kind regards,

Bozza
Founder of FMFormation

**NEIL** · 20-02-08, 08:40 AM

The new shout box is fine the dates a bit pointless, but i think 5 post would be enough for entrance to our little club

I think the main prob with the shoutbox however is bozza wants this site to grow and sometimes when new members come in they can be shoot down in flames or not given the help they request, even when the staff are there, It can be a firey place at times and when I 1st joined i didnt post anything in there for sometime just read what was going on and sometimes its was like wtf. We tended to forget the shotbox was our shop window to new members.

Try and be nice and friendly

So now the forums as the 1st thing people see so try not to groan or say what a stupid question when its someone new they may not post again and the site will not grow. Try and remember we were all new at this once, even bozza.

So try and be nice to new people and have a bit of patience with people because if i came round your house and you where rude or ignored me I wouldnt be in a hurry to come back I'd probally go to somewhere else

and this coming from the p*ss taking old git!!!

**chrisashmore** · 20-02-08, 03:35 PM

thats acceptable bozza ;)

ljubisa23 · 20-02-08, 03:46 PM

This is weired.

What happened to the shoutbox?

Of ther it is.

**chrisashmore** · 20-02-08, 04:23 PM

edit it into one please :P

JoeFriar · 20-02-08, 05:40 PM

And theres the example of trying to get 10 posts!

**James M** · 20-02-08, 06:29 PM

Come on guys, 10 useful posts can be posted within 15 minutes. Just reply to peoples threads but post something worth reading for other members!

**chrisashmore** · 20-02-08, 06:35 PM

yer cmon guys its that simple.... :P