Just felt like repeating something I had heard. On social media the commenters are not the customers, they are the product. Paying another company to manage their traffic cannot make a lot of sense to the Village Voice.
I don't want to joke around about this or anything. You guys are upset, and I understand why. I told you that I would pass your thoughts and criticisms and issues to my overlords at Voice Media Group, and I did, and I promise you they listened. I know it, because I've been talking with them, and they're upset too. So I actually have an update for you, with some info you might actually like.
First: No Topless Robot reader was ever supposed to get auto-subscribed to the VMG newsletter. That was totally a programming error, and I and everyone at VMG apologize. As of this moment, every single Topless Robot reader who made a My Voice Nation profile has been unsubscribed from that newsletter as of this afternoon. If any of you still get one, email me at toplessrobot@gmail and let me know, and I will make sure it's taken care of.
Second: An edit button is coming. I promise. We actually have a tentative date for when that (and several other things) will be implemented, but you know how these things always get delayed, and I don't want to be in the position of breaking a promise, so all I'll say is that it's going to be sooner rather than later. The whole line break thing should be fixed along with it.
Third: We know the mobile is an issue, and we're working on it. ("We" in this sense being "people who actually have programming skills and not pompous nerd bloggers," obviously).
There are other improvements we're hoping to make, but those seem to be the biggest issues, and I just wanted you all to know that I care, you're being heard, and we're genuinely going to try to fix these things. It just kills me how much comments have dropped off since the change, so I personally promise you I'll do everything in my power to get you guys back and happy.
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I just thought of something else that would be nice. If we could upload avatars in other formats rather than just .JPEG
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I'd just like a return to Disquss, but I think I'm the only one. In any event, I'm glad we're being listened to, and I'm really thankful that Rob has done as much as he's done. Still a great site, still great people.
@CaptainZADL I like Disqus, but unfortunately it seems rather unlikely at this point. :/
Agreed. I use Disqus on a few other sites, and I liked that particular commenting system.
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@CaptainZADL I'd like to return to Disqus too. I didn't really have any problems with it.
It's good to hear that something is being done about the situation. It's been a lot quieter round here lately.
@Bearr @CaptainZADL I'd like disqus back too. I almost never encountered a problem with it
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Thank you, Rob: This was very kind of you--especially given the fact that you're apologizing for something that wasn't your fault and you could not prevent, it shows that you really do care...I'm sure it'd be easy for someone in your position to look upon your readers as faceless, interchangeable, utterly replaceable drones. But you've always made it clear that you strive to provide the best and most entertaining content--and foster the most congenial, welcoming atmosphere possible....and I, for one, want you to know that this is appreciated :D
Oh, by the by--an Edit button WILL be a welcome addition, but in the meantime you folks might try doing what I do: Highlight and "Copy" your post. Delete the original. "Paste" it in the dialogue box. Make the necessary changes, and repost. It's a bit more of a hassle than just pushing "Edit" would be--but it worksXD
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Rob: Thank you for the apology, although it shouldn't have to have been you to make it, since it wasn't your call to make in the first place. However, it's always nice to know that someone cares. Sorry about the comment boycott, but we were hurt and angry, and it's the only power we have in matters like this. One needs look no further than your own posts to see how little We, The Geeks Of Earth, like change in something we love. Having it foisted upon us like that without warning sent a message. It wasn't a message you intended, obviously, but things probably wouldn't have gotten so jugular if we'd had a heads up and an explanation prior to the switch. I've missed commenting on here and so have many others, so this is welcome news.
I, personally, will be back for good as soon as we get the edit button. I'm still not wild about the way comments are displayed or the way they update, but I'm willing to meet the Voice people halfway since they're showing willing. Obviously, the Voice Nation thingie is still a work in progress, and much more needs to be done to improve it, but I promise to be patient and not be needy about it. Hopefully we'll get some formatting tools soon, since I enjoy using italics, bolding, and quote boxes, but I know Rome wasn't built by aliens in a day.
See you soon, fellow Roboteers.
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I'm guessing that conversation goes a little like this: Rob Bricken: My Lords, I wish to speak! Village Media Overlords: ENTEEEERR!! RB: My Lords, there is unrest among our minions. They wish for an improvement in the comments section. VMO: WHAT?! RB: And I have brought tribute to you, to appeal for a change. VMO: ET TU, BRICKEN?! HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE ALL OF YOU! OUR SYSTEM IS PERFECT! PERFECT!! NO FALLACY EXISTS IN IT, AND WE REFUSE TO CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT IT- RB: I brought you the freshly carved heart of Jar-Jar Binks. VMO: ...ALRIGHT, LET'S TALK.
I think I'm like the only one who doesn't mind the new comment system. *shrugs* It hasn't giving me any problems. But I appreciate your attention and concern on the matter. Your a cool guy Rob.
@eruantano I don't really hate it. Most of my annoyances and issues were in the transfer and initial sign up. Like trying to abort the sign-up, and ending up with an account anyway with a technically invalid password.
That, and the new system doesn't really offer anything new that I care about over the old system. A bit less in some ways.
Can all you folks who have problems logging in — or staying logged in, I guess — tell me your OS and browsers? I'm not having the problem myself, so I'm wondering if it's a specific browser thing.
I'm using Firefox 2.6.28 on a MacOS 10.4.11 (the last one that could run OS 9 applications, which we need for work. Otherwise we'd update so fast my head would spin and I'd puke green peas!)
I haven't had a problem logging in so much as with the comment section deciding 1/3 of the time my comments should be stuck in an endless post-loop (where it says it's trying to post but never does), and 1/3 of the time having the auto-refresh affect the comment text window. Which is insane and has to be a bug (it couldn't possibly be a feature), leading to results
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Sometimes it would do that from the getgo, and other times it would start while I was in the midst of typing a comment.
(The other 1/3 of the time there would be no problem, but with the other 2/3 of the time being fatal guesswork I wasn't very motivated to try. ;) )
I was "would do that" because in the last week or so things have gotten much better. I suspect, although I can't be sure, that the problem was connected to the various ad sources, so it's possible the problem remains and the ads just happen not to be triggering it at the moment. (I notice you didn't mention it as one of the three big issues being addressed.) But if LiveFyre and/or VVM techies have worked on the problem, I'm grateful.
Losing all my likes is super-annoying: I'm not going to lie, it hurts that my ratio of 2000+ likes to 6000+ comments is just gone. But some of that is vanity, and there's nothing anyone can do about it anyway, so I'm willing to look at it an opportunity to get ahead of Abraxas while I have a chance. {g}
I will say that if the switch was prompted by security concerns, I've been receiving regular invitations to adultery websites ever since registering with LiveFyre. I can't prove the connection, but I sure don't frequent sites that an ad-bot would interpret as otherwise promoting such interest topically.
Anyway, while I've never once advocated blaming you for the switch, I'm glad to be wrong about this comment system being Christless: apparently it may actually have a Christ. {g!} {bow!}
@Sabreman This was incredibly helpful, sir. Thank you! Anyone else who can be as specific is this, I will send your comment verbatim to my overlords.
In possibly unrelated news, I just noticed that when the top headline ad banner doesn't work, it defaults to a giant WHOSE RESPONSIBLE THIS? (in blue all-caps, underlined), followed by "Your lvoe of page not found this server".
Has anyone else ever noticed that?
@Topless Robot Using iOS too, on an iPhone. It "remembers" my sign in info, but won't keep me signed in.
@Topless Robot I'm using an iOS on my mobile device. I can still stay logged on with my Windows 7 machine.
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Thanks Rob, it means a lot to all of us - well, maybe not all of us, a great many of us Roboteers likely have better things to do and complain about - but the COMMENTING "us" anyway. I knew, as I'm sure we all knew, you'd iron it out as soon as your overlords got the hint, if only by how "to heart" you clearly took the unrest. This did not stop me from turning into a creepy lurker (as opposed to a creepy commenter, as if there's any other kind on TR) as it did hurt, as strangely as it sounds, to lose the account (and yes, my 1,044 likes) that I won my TR shirt off of. I've STILL got the envelope you sent it to me Rob, next to my Stan Lee autographed Secret Wars #8. I think this commenting system shows us all (Rob #63 or whichever model is out right now included) what TR means to us. It's more than nerd news and deplorable scat munching beastiality fan fiction, it's community. We know whose responsible this, and we know it ain't Rob. Thanks for having our backs.
Also, if there is any way you could I could make an autograph from you happen, it would be overly pants shittingly rad. I'd bribe you with booze and video games! Win win!
I'm past the bitterness, now that I have the settings worked out... but I'm OCD-adjacent and the lack of an edit button does make me less likely to chime in recklessly. Thanks for approaching the overlords for us, Rob!
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My only hope is it becomes easier to read old comment threads like from old contests. I have to refresh over and over again to get them to load if they ever do.
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I was mostly annoyed because I had to give up my old avatar. I liked that Catwoman pic.
I am not the most prolific of posters and I was "gone" for several weeks due to a move. When I came back, I was put off by the change.
However, you taking the time and caring enough to advocate on behalf of your readers has sold me. *sigh* I am now the proud (?) owner of a VN account.
The big thing for me was that I couldn't post from my phone. The SECOND-BIGGEST is that it's ev en moody on my computer, and sometimes won't let me sign in, or just won't let me type.
Ah.. cool. I remember emailing over the initial change.. before the first announcement.. but not much after. I have noticed those problems. Though clearing out the email and resetting that notice crap was pretty easy. And, yeah, I've noticed problems with the mobile.. but I have problems with tons of sites on my phone.
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I still preferred when I could log on just using my facebook account, but I be happy if we get the post count and the like count back...
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@Jedisilk @Kozmik_Pariah Ditto. I had actually passed 1000 likes only a few days prior. May my 1,044 likes RIP. For what it's worth (nothing yet), I liked your comment! Hahahaha
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Thanks Rob. Your awesome. If they would like some Beta testing done I know we can find volunteers.
So no update about the Lasers?
Now if I typed everything in correctly we wouldn't need an edit button. Besides, how do you know Rob's mutant power isn't giving out awesome?
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Rob, you are awesome. Your bosses, not so much. Sadly, it is too late to call off the ninja for them...Ah well. Thanks a ton for doing this, man. ^_^
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Also, I'm still using the "Voice Nation crap" signature as a mini-protest until we get HTML. And maybe a better way to be notified of replies. Or until we just get Disqus back. =P
