We will be taking the forums down for maintenance tomorrow night sometime between 3AM EST (12AM PST) & 6AM EST (3AM PST). It may return earlier than that depending on how things go.
As a result of this downtime, you WILL be required to re-log back into the site once we're back online due to some changes that will be happening in the background, and is unavoidable. Please make sure your email address on record is correct today just in case you need to reset your password to get back in.
Also, the CHAT might be permanently disabled after this maintenance due to compatibility issues, but we'll see how it all plays out.
Thanks! :wave:
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on February 10, 2020, 04:09:04 AM
Also, the CHAT might be permanently disabled after this maintenance due to compatibility issues, but we'll see how it all plays out.
NOOOOO :no:
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 10, 2020, 04:13:49 AM
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on February 10, 2020, 04:09:04 AM
Also, the CHAT might be permanently disabled after this maintenance due to compatibility issues, but we'll see how it all plays out.
NOOOOO :no:
It's unavoidable due to it not being updated to work with the latest PHP, and it's on borrowed time right now since Alex payed for extended support for the PHP it runs on. If it still works after tomorrow, it will stay up till he ends that extended support later this month.
Any idea if alternatives have been considered?
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 10, 2020, 04:18:23 AM
Any idea if alternatives have been considered?
We have, but haven't found anything really suitable that will work with SMF that isn't paid.
I dunno about other people, but I would definitely consider a donation if it would keep chat functionality available, given that it were relatively inexpensive.
Is the forum going to completely change after it comes back up, or will it be the same?
Quote from: 1 on February 10, 2020, 06:56:47 AM
Is the forum going to completely change after it comes back up, or will it be the same?
Same. Just some stuff in the background is going to be changing which is forcing the re-login.
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 10, 2020, 04:18:23 AM
Any idea if alternatives have been considered?
I've taken a look and there are not that many options out there, and the couple I did find were prohibitively expensive. Definitely open to suggestions, even ones for purchase.
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on February 10, 2020, 04:16:43 AM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 10, 2020, 04:13:49 AM
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on February 10, 2020, 04:09:04 AM
Also, the CHAT might be permanently disabled after this maintenance due to compatibility issues, but we'll see how it all plays out.
NOOOOO :no:
It's unavoidable due to it not being updated to work with the latest PHP, and it's on borrowed time right now since Alex payed for extended support for the PHP it runs on. If it still works after tomorrow, it will stay up till he ends that extended support later this month.
That kind of thing never really bothers me. Every time I've been involved in a chat on any website, they always drift off topic and end up attracting perverted men my age (give or take a decade) trying to lure young kids. Sometimes I just want to lure them out into the open and tell them I'm not really a middle aged man but a pre-teen or teenage girl just so I can lure them into outing themselves and getting them busted.
Good thing I've saved my password.
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on February 10, 2020, 04:09:04 AM
Also, the CHAT might be permanently disabled after this maintenance due to compatibility issues, but we'll see how it all plays out.
The Golden-Road.net (a Price is Right fan site) forum also uses SMF, and has an active chat. After their chat became disabled, a user set up what was intended to be an interim chatroom on Discord. The Discord solution wound up being permanent.
Chat will live on, maybe just not directly linked to the AARoads Forum. Discord in particular has received quite a bit of pushback from the chat community. We're still working on a permanent solution.
Minnit.chat is an option as well, though you have to pay if you want more than 40 active users at a time.
I don't use chat but I needed to update my account setting for years, the password lock out seemed as good as time as any to do it.
Discord maybe instead of chat?
Quote from: D-Dey65 on February 10, 2020, 08:19:32 AM
That kind of thing never really bothers me. Every time I've been involved in a chat on any website, they always drift off topic and end up attracting perverted men my age (give or take a decade) trying to lure young kids.
In that case we're happy you have not gotten involved with the chatroom here, thus enabling us to have not encountered this problem!
Quote from: andrepoiy on February 10, 2020, 03:40:34 PM
Discord maybe instead of chat?
Quote from: cl94 on February 10, 2020, 01:15:27 PM
Discord in particular has received quite a bit of pushback from the chat community.
Anything other than teamspeak please
T-minus 1h and counting.
(registration has been disabled till after the update is done)
Alright, we should be good to go now guys!
The chat survived the fixes for now, but it's still on borrowed time.
LMK if you see any issues!
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
I hope this post is a joke and/or extremely sarcastic, because otherwise it comes off as almost comically entitled and you need to get over yourself.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
Your BTC-e (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTC-e) comp is in the mail.
Quote from: DaBigE on February 11, 2020, 12:45:20 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
Your BTC-e (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTC-e) comp is in the mail.
I laughed a solid 10 seconds at this response. You win the forum today.
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 11, 2020, 12:37:49 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
I hope this post is a joke and/or extremely sarcastic, because otherwise it comes off as almost comically entitled and you need to get over yourself.
For someone to say someone else needs to get over themselves when they could easily use one of umpteen number of websites and apps to utilize a live chat function, they need to relax and, even in typed form, realize a joke is a joke.
Besides, if he utilized his time properly, he would've spent it trying to get a broom to stand upright by itself.
Quote from: US 89 on February 11, 2020, 12:48:59 AM
Quote from: andrepoiy on February 10, 2020, 03:40:34 PM
Discord maybe instead of chat?
Quote from: cl94 on February 10, 2020, 01:15:27 PM
Discord in particular has received quite a bit of pushback from the chat community.
I'm on quite a few Discord servers already (mostly from Twitch streamers I follow), so what's another server to add to my list? :spin:
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 11, 2020, 01:24:38 PM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 11, 2020, 12:37:49 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
I hope this post is a joke and/or extremely sarcastic, because otherwise it comes off as almost comically entitled and you need to get over yourself.
For someone to say someone else needs to get over themselves when they could easily use one of umpteen number of websites and apps to utilize a live chat function, they need to relax and, even in typed form, realize a joke is a joke.
Besides, if he utilized his time properly, he would've spent it trying to get a broom to stand upright by itself.
Personally I thought it was sarcasm but it brought up an interesting thought on statistics. Apparently I never have posted between the hours of 1-4 AM which I thought was surprising when I looked it up. I'm assuming the forum is defaulted to eastern time zone given Alex is located out of it?
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
So... like... 50% of your daily aaroads registration fee refunded to you?
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 11, 2020, 12:37:49 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
I hope this post is a joke and/or extremely sarcastic, because otherwise it comes off as almost comically entitled and you need to get over yourself.
It's his way of reminding people we have posters from outside the USA.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 11, 2020, 02:54:43 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 11, 2020, 01:24:38 PM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 11, 2020, 12:37:49 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
I hope this post is a joke and/or extremely sarcastic, because otherwise it comes off as almost comically entitled and you need to get over yourself.
For someone to say someone else needs to get over themselves when they could easily use one of umpteen number of websites and apps to utilize a live chat function, they need to relax and, even in typed form, realize a joke is a joke.
Besides, if he utilized his time properly, he would've spent it trying to get a broom to stand upright by itself.
Personally I thought it was sarcasm but it brought up an interesting thought on statistics. Apparently I never have posted between the hours of 1-4 AM which I thought was surprising when I looked it up. I’m assuming the forum is defaulted to eastern time zone given Alex is located out of it?
I have posted all 24 hours, although very few posts between 2 - 4am. The least amount of posts during normal times is actually from 4pm - 5pm, probably because I'm driving (or riding in my carpool) home during that hour.
Quote from: kphoger on February 11, 2020, 03:22:08 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
So... like... 50% of your daily aaroads registration fee refunded to you?
Wow, you're generous. Could you work the phones for my cable/ISP? At most it should be 1/8 of the daily fee (less if the outage didn't take the whole 3 hours).
Quote from: DaBigE on February 11, 2020, 03:54:54 PM
Wow, you're generous. Could you work the phones for my cable/ISP? At most it should be 1/8 of the daily fee (less if the outage didn't take the whole 3 hours).
Shoot, I'd be in favor of refunding 200% of his €0.00, or even more!
(I work in cable, by the way, but I'm not the guy who gives you refunds.)
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 11, 2020, 03:31:08 PM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 11, 2020, 12:37:49 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
I hope this post is a joke and/or extremely sarcastic, because otherwise it comes off as almost comically entitled and you need to get over yourself.
It's his way of reminding people we have posters from outside the USA.
As if we weren't aware already...every single thread about roads in North America has the same comment from him - "Oh, well, we don't have those signs over here in Europe, but I'll still post a tongue-in-cheek response anyways about me not living in North America because this horse that I'm beating is still as dead as it was the last time I posted."
Quote from: kphoger on February 11, 2020, 03:22:08 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
So... like... 50% of your daily aaroads registration fee refunded to you?
I don't like giving refunds, thats lost revenue- can we give him a free 30 day subscription to the forum instead?
Quote from: corco on February 11, 2020, 05:42:33 PM
Quote from: kphoger on February 11, 2020, 03:22:08 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
So... like... 50% of your daily aaroads registration fee refunded to you?
I don't like giving refunds, thats lost revenue- can we give him a free 30 day subscription to the forum instead?
Still doesn't seem like enough though. He did prove the unfair anti-European bias in threads about North America, after all. I propose a 30-day free trial period of AARoads Pro, which has no ads and features unlimited reading and posting privileges.
ATTENTION: If you or a loved one attempted to log in to the AARoads forum between 9:00 to 12:00 Central European Time, YOU may be entitled to substantial compensation! An estimated $100000 has been set aside for the victims of this biased act towards Europeans. Don't wait until it's too late, call 1-800-EUA-RT13 for your FREE legal consultation!
"No forum members were hurt with this recent forum downtime! Only their feelings!"
:D
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on February 11, 2020, 07:15:33 PM
"Several forum members were hurt and sacrificed with this recent forum downtime! Only their spilled blood and consumed souls allowed chat to keep operating until the next sacrifice is required!"
:D
Quote from: US 89 on February 11, 2020, 05:52:20 PM
Quote from: corco on February 11, 2020, 05:42:33 PM
Quote from: kphoger on February 11, 2020, 03:22:08 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 11, 2020, 10:00:57 AM
I want a compensation for being unable to enter this forum during my morning, as this happened in between 9:00 and 12:00 CET. Most of you may have been unaffected due to this happening during your overnight, but I was affected.
So... like... 50% of your daily aaroads registration fee refunded to you?
I don't like giving refunds, thats lost revenue- can we give him a free 30 day subscription to the forum instead?
Still doesn't seem like enough though. He did prove the unfair anti-European bias in threads about North America, after all. I propose a 30-day free trial period of AARoads Pro, which has no ads and features unlimited reading and posting privileges.
Don't forget the free complimentary self-concierge services offered via Expedia included as a courtesy at no extra charge.
Just make CNGL type all the "corporate" names of *our* public spaces (i.e. stadium/arenas), that should be enough punishment for him.
Give him full administrator powers for a whole day*. Anything he says, goes...unlimited bannings, reinstatements, purging of topics, quadruple your money back refunds, etc.... no questions asked.
* all-day February 30th
It seems I opened a can of worms with my post, but I had to do it due to when the downtime happened. Although I have to admit, I was a bit angry with it as I didn't notice this thread.
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on February 11, 2020, 10:26:37 PM
Just make Leudimin type all the "corporate" names of *our* public spaces (i.e. stadium/arenas), that should be enough punishment for him.
Then I would need to go into a long process of claiming royalties from the sponsors, which I don't want.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 12, 2020, 05:23:39 AM
It seems I opened a can of worms with my post, but I had to do it due to when the downtime happened. Although I have to admit, I was a bit angry with it as I didn't notice this thread.
No need in getting angry over silly stuff like a for-pleasure Internet site being down. One day last week, we had some sort of router or server issue at work that rendered us dead in the water. No access to the network, not even for documents (most of ours are stored on a server instead of individual computer hard drives for backup purposes.) No email, no Internet, and for awhile our VOIP phone system was down. Even if this wasn't a planned outage for updates (I refuse to call updates "upgrades" because most of the time, they really aren't upgrades at all) then there could have been an unplanned equipment failure somewhere along the line. Stuff happens, much of it out of our control.
Quote from: hbelkins on February 12, 2020, 10:55:44 AM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 12, 2020, 05:23:39 AM
It seems I opened a can of worms with my post, but I had to do it due to when the downtime happened. Although I have to admit, I was a bit angry with it as I didn't notice this thread.
No need in getting angry over silly stuff like a for-pleasure Internet site being down. One day last week, we had some sort of router or server issue at work that rendered us dead in the water. No access to the network, not even for documents (most of ours are stored on a server instead of individual computer hard drives for backup purposes.) No email, no Internet, and for awhile our VOIP phone system was down. Even if this wasn't a planned outage for updates (I refuse to call updates "upgrades" because most of the time, they really aren't upgrades at all) then there could have been an unplanned equipment failure somewhere along the line. Stuff happens, much of it out of our control.
Heh. We had no Internet or home phone service this weekend (we wound up using my Jetpack-type mobile hotspot for Internet access) because someone in our neighborhood failed to call Miss Utility before having a tree removed and the tree service damaged the fiber optic lines. That was damn annoying, but at least it was fixed before Monday morning for those of us who telecommute.
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 12, 2020, 11:13:37 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on February 12, 2020, 10:55:44 AM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 12, 2020, 05:23:39 AM
It seems I opened a can of worms with my post, but I had to do it due to when the downtime happened. Although I have to admit, I was a bit angry with it as I didn't notice this thread.
No need in getting angry over silly stuff like a for-pleasure Internet site being down. One day last week, we had some sort of router or server issue at work that rendered us dead in the water. No access to the network, not even for documents (most of ours are stored on a server instead of individual computer hard drives for backup purposes.) No email, no Internet, and for awhile our VOIP phone system was down. Even if this wasn't a planned outage for updates (I refuse to call updates "upgrades" because most of the time, they really aren't upgrades at all) then there could have been an unplanned equipment failure somewhere along the line. Stuff happens, much of it out of our control.
Heh. We had no Internet or home phone service this weekend (we wound up using my Jetpack-type mobile hotspot for Internet access) because someone in our neighborhood failed to call Miss Utility before having a tree removed and the tree service damaged the fiber optic lines. That was damn annoying, but at least it was fixed before Monday morning for those of us who telecommute.
I have an internet and cell phone week come up, it's something I've been looking forward to for a long time. That said I often wonder how tolerant I would be of things like long work hours, mandatory social engagements, and forced fun would be without access to sites like this. I seem to recall being bored a lot and listening to a lot more AM radio.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 12, 2020, 05:23:39 AM
It seems I opened a can of worms with my post, but I had to do it due to when the downtime happened. Although I have to admit, I was a bit angry with it as I didn't notice this thread.
Just so you know, I gave up 90% of my sleep that day to do this, for free... Sure, I gave only a 24h warning before doing it, but that was the only chance I had to get it done, & while the forums were less active.
In all seriousness, if a lack of forum access actually makes you angry, maybe it's time for a break from the forum anyway.
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on February 13, 2020, 06:35:35 AM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 12, 2020, 05:23:39 AM
It seems I opened a can of worms with my post, but I had to do it due to when the downtime happened. Although I have to admit, I was a bit angry with it as I didn't notice this thread.
Just so you know, I gave up 90% of my sleep that day to do this, for free... Sure, I gave only a 24h warning before doing it, but that was the only chance I had to get it done, & while the forums were less active.
Next time, give 24 hours notice, and do it during the day. We can live for 3 hours without this forum, and you don't need to give up your sleep. We can take a 3 hour drive and be prepared to report on bad, unusual, and great signage along our way. Actually, as a huge aside, I was testing a new dash cam I got the other day. Meant to go around the corner for a mile; wound up traveling for over an hour, including some roads 10 miles from my house I've never been down before. Interesting stuff, including this find: https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=a8670702-7dc6-45bd-8637-30f2b20bf67e&cp=39.79594~-75.35354&lvl=19&dir=269.99844&pi=-7.4385&style=x&mo=z.2.81&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027 . The doors were shut when I went by, and was loaded with road signs! Bing at least has this view; GSV only had a single sign; must've been the start of the collection!
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on February 13, 2020, 05:59:32 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 13, 2020, 08:01:38 AM
Next time, give 24 hours notice
I did.
He meant to do it during the day after the notice, so you don't have to lose sleep.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 13, 2020, 06:23:52 PM
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on February 13, 2020, 05:59:32 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 13, 2020, 08:01:38 AM
Next time, give 24 hours notice
I did.
Maybe next time ten metric hours in advance?
That's the same thing as 24 conventional hours, if you're referring to the French Republican Calendar when you say "metric hours."
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 14, 2020, 05:05:05 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 13, 2020, 06:23:52 PM
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on February 13, 2020, 05:59:32 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 13, 2020, 08:01:38 AM
Next time, give 24 hours notice
I did.
Maybe next time ten metric hours in advance?
That's the same thing as 24 conventional hours, if you're referring to the French Republican Calendar when you say "metric hours."
Yes, that's the joke for our European counterparts. I was watching a documentary on the metric system and got some inspiration for that post.
Quote from: US 89 on February 13, 2020, 07:39:47 AM
In all seriousness, if a lack of forum access actually makes you angry, maybe it's time for a break from the forum anyway.
There was a time like that for me for both things, the urge for 24/7 access and the need to take a break. Thankfully, those days have passed.
Nowadays, I might not even notice if the forum went down. I'm not abandoning it entirely, but I'm doing more podcast listening and such because I can do that while working on other tasks. In short, I just don't have the time to be doing stuff (like posting here) that requires my undivided attention.
So, now that's on the record in case this is the start of a long hiatus for me! ;-)
So...I thought chat would be no more today. We're still heeeeee-eeere!
Quote from: cl94 on February 20, 2020, 01:04:19 PM
So...I thought chat would be no more today. We're still heeeeee-eeere!
I guess the forum software update took care of the problem chat had with upgrading the PHP version on the server :hmmm: :coffee: :nod: