The forum is about to get a new look…and some other big changes too
UPDATE: for all those who are using the forum and have any concerns, questions, or requests about features that we do or do not have, please post your comments in this feedback form and we’ll do our best to make adjustments to the forum:
https://goo.gl/forms/pgoNOHXj0tnzVekg1
To all of our dedicated forum members:
The Fine Homebuilding forums have just made a big transition. After many years of the Breaktime forum essentially being a separate website, it has now become a part of the main finehomebuilding.com website.
In this transition, the following will stay the same:
- Member usernames and passwords should work just as they do on the existing forum
- Existing posts will stay live and intact (though some of the more obscure forum categories will roll into the general discussion and construction categories)
Bear with us as things switch over–we’ll do our best to keep you all informed about the progress. There will be changes to some of the features and functionality, but the process of posting and replying to posts should be close enough to what you’re used to that discussions in the forum should be able to continue unaffected. If there are any lost features that you truly miss once we make the switch, please let us know and we’ll do our best to make things right.
The overall look and functionality of the forums is now similar to that of the Q&A forum at another Taunton website, greenbuildingadvisor.com, where there has been an active community of folks discussing energy efficiency and building science for more than 10 years. Go take a look to see what it’s like–and feel free to join that forum too–there are lots of really helpful and generous people over there.
This change is part of a long process of upgrading all of the Taunton websites to systems that do a better job of eliminating spam, displaying better on all devices and browsers, and making the sites generally more simple and secure. We’ll do our best to make a smooth transition onto the new platform, and we’ll try to address all issues or concerns in a timely fashion.
Thank you for all of the time you devote to this community of home-building pros and enthusiasts. We hope you continue to find the forum a useful and enjoyable resource for years to come.
Sincerely,
Rob Wotzak
Fine Homebuilding web staff
Replies
So Rob,
Taunton thought it had killed the forum off years ago and was recently surprised to find the body in the cellar still breathing. Is this the coup de gras? Every "improvement" Taunton has ever made has driven users away. I'm not optomistic.
Again?
Jason Revson returns to finish off the corpse?
Joe H
9 year old discussion on what went wrong on the first try. Perhaps Taunton should read those comments.
https://www.enterpriseirregulars.com/9234/man-bites-dog-or-who-really-owns-a-community/
I understand where you guys are coming from and why you are skeptical. I won’t try to sugar-coat what’s happening, but I will say that I will honestly do my best to help things go smoothly. It was my idea to post the announcement here because I was fimiliar with the issues from last time.
It’s been a while since all that stuff went down, and I’m one of only a few current Taunton employees who were here in the days of the first generation of the forum. Honestly, most of the folks involved in this current project don’t know who Jason Revzon is or what went down the last time the forums were modified...though I had already shown them some of those old letters once I started working here again so they would have some context.
What I do know is that the web developers who are working on this change want the forums to continue to be a great resource for people looking to share their home-building knowledge, experience, and ideas. Otherwise they wouldn’t have even bothered to put the time into it.
Again, let me know if you guys see anything that could use some work once the new look is live. I can’t make any promises that I will be able to address every concern, but I sure will try.
- Rob
It would be an interesting experience if you yourself as a Taunton employee placed a post at BT3 or some of the spin-off Delphi forums. .
An interesting questions from Taunton would be 'what would it take to get you guys back?'.
PS: would be nice if the old 'great moments' back page returned tot he magazine
Junkhound, we still have all of the old “Great Moments” online: https://www.finehomebuilding.com/blog/great-moments-in-building-history
I believe they stopped that part of the magazine because not enough people were sending in stories. If we can encourage some folks to write new ones, I’d be happy to suggest bringing it back.
Art
junkhound wrote:
It would be an interesting experience if you yourself as a Taunton employee placed a post at BT3 or some of the spin-off Delphi forums. .
An interesting questions from Taunton would be 'what would it take to get you guys back?'.
BT3 has a good thing going. I think maybe you just want to lure him over there so you can have fun with that stick poking you’re so excited about.
Good suggestion. I would be happy to post at the spinoff forums once we get the bugs worked out over here.
Rob,
Thank you for anything you can do to turn this place around.
I will seriously do my best.
I used to like to read the forum all the time for new ideas and just to see what interesting things could be done even if not by me. Then for the last two years I couldn't find it and thought it was gone forever.
Rob,
Good God, this is even worse. Your web guys should have looked at the rest of the construction forums on the net like JLC, Contractor Talk, HVAC Talk, John Bridge or even BT3.
Sorry,
KK
Coonass, the new format is just a copy of the GBA forum that’s been on one of our websites for 10 years. If there are improvements to be made, the web folks will be happy to look into it.
Good grief! This is people magazine? So, in reality, no one at Taunton has been paying any attention at all. Let me just say that this is horrible.
Ugh!
Can’t include a photo off my iPad, as a Test. Couldn’t do it at GBA either when I tried it last week. Let Taunton know that and rcvd no answer.
🏔
lol
So, what is not to like about the new format.
--There is now PLENTY of space for revenue enhancing LARGE ads plastered above, below, AND 1/3 the width
--No link or redirect at old bookmarks, just a 'no page available notice'
--would imply intent of someone selling Taunton stock short (if there was a stock)
- test to add attachment : well, at least that worked.
- slow: good way to force possible glance at adds? 7 seconds from hitting 'post' to screen change?
oh well, edit function seems to work
Hey everyone,
We’ve created a form for you to share any suggestion or issues:
https://goo.gl/forms/pgoNOHXj0tnzVekg1
Post your comments there and the web folks will do their best to address any concerns.
Thanks,
Rob
Test
“Post your comments there and the web folks will do their best to address any concernsWe’ve created a form for you to share any suggestion or issues:
https://goo.gl/forms/pgoNOHXj0tnzVekg1
Post your comments there and the web folks will do their best to address any concerns”
Rob, will they be responding to questions or suggestions so we know it won’t fall on deaf ears?
Thanks
Calvin, I'll ask. Either I'll have the web folks respond directly, or I'll give periodic updates as they make changes.
- Rob
It looks like the most recent replies to my post were not copied over to the new format.
Hey Shingle_style,
I’ll look into it. I was told that there might be a delay for some of the posts and relies that happened as the database was being rebuilt. I’m sure they can restore them. I’ll keep you posted.
- Rob
I get to the initial list of Topics, and then press the "Next" button and still see the same list of Topics on the Forum. Can I view all the topics?