Reporting in
Hey Loafers -
It has been an absurdly long time since I've changed the featured posts on the homepage. Like over a year, I believe. Please let me know if you see or make a post that it'd be fun to draw some attention to and I can update it.
My rule of thumb for the features is to try to highlight posts by community members that ideally include a nice image, a formula, and a bit of thoughts and discussion. Ideally the posts are for things that aren't too perfect or complex, as the goal here is to encourage newcomers to get excited about baking rather than intimidate them.
* * *
I haven't been baking or posting often, but I'm still here every day. The spam has been pretty relentless recently but I haven't yet given up the fight.
* * *
TFL turned 19 in January. Wild, isn't it?
* * *
The site is long overdue for a technological revamp but I'm a bit paralyzed deciding what to do about that. I think it is safe to say if one were starting from scratch today it'd be unlikely that you'd build a site like this one is right now what with all the changes in technology and user expectation, but there is still a great community here that I don't want to disrupt. So I haven't. But that means the tools have gotten a bit old and funky here. It just isn't a great place to post from your phone, modify images, anything like that. Alas.
I hope folks here are all well. :)
Comments
Floyd, I have to hand it to you. I have a good idea of how much work it took to get the site working decently, and to keep it ticking over. I'm sure you don't want to go through all that again - and then spend six more months ironing out the kinks and bugs. And making sure not to lose people's past contributions.
Anyway, thank you again from me and all of us!
TomP
Glad to hear that you’re still checking in Floyd. Just know that we appreciate the work you put into TFL to keep it running. I cannot imagine keeping something like this going. Thank you for all that you do.
Benny
That is a piece of superintendent/building manager wisdom. Old and funky, I can relate. Additionally, I have become quite good at using TFL exclusively from my phone. In my own dyslexia way. Thanks for all you do for our beloved community.
Kind regards,
Will Falzon
Since I have no website developer skills, I can't offer any useful advice.
The site may not have all of the latest gee-whiz features but the archives are a priceless treasure. So is the interaction between community members.
Paul
I'm new here, so don't have any say about the forum's operation & technology.
I can say what is great about it, though. I've left a few forums I was quite attached to when they changed formats. I like advances in technology, but don't understand why the layout of a website has to be drastically remodeled in order to include the latest features.
On the homepage of TFL there are: all the new threads listed in order, all the new comments that have been posted to old threads, all new additions to members' blogs, and more handy "recent" lists. All in one place. It is so simple, straightforward and easy to use. Although it doesn't have to do with the forum's setup, I like the fact that the number of new subjects every day is manageable and not overwhelming.
The wealth of knowledge and experience here goes without saying. That shouldn't change with an upgrade, but it might be harder to find. IMO, the layout of this forum is terrific.
Thank you,
Moe