8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC Part 14

[Diznyfan68]

Thanks for the kind words on the website. Hopefully people find it useful.

A few people (Karen and Stacy) have indicated they have a problem with the site. They both use AOL. I have made a change to the site recommended by an AOL admin but don't have AOL access here and can't test it.

If anyone else is using AOL and has an issue with the site, let me know so I can determine if the problem is AOL-specific.

Please make sure you accept the 'cookie' when you login -- it is how the site knows it is allowed to show you the restricted content. Right now, everything on the site is restricted. We can all decide if we want some of the content (like itineraries or other things already posted publicly on the DIS to be publicly available).

I have AOL here at home and no problems using the site J. R.!

 

[yargrnhoj]

I have AOL here at home and no problems using the site J. R.!

Well, darn. I was actually hoping it was an AOL problem because then I could try to fix it. I can't reproduce it on my end in IE or Firefox -- it works fine for me with their usernames and passwords. Oh well, time to put my thinking cap on and head for my thotful spot.

 

[buckifan]

Hello everyone!

I know....I've been MIA. We've been so busy lately, but I have often thought about you all, and wondered how everyone is doing. So......how is everyone doing?

I also wanted to thank J.R. for all of his hard work on the website. It looks great!

 

[pdarrah]

I dunno. I've always thought it was way cool the way folks could approach this community in the way the made them most comfortable. Having a brother who's little more than a hermit - I get that not everyone will get the same personal value out of being as active as we are. Yet, they still want that feeling of connectedness, even if it's on the perifery. Or maybe, they're just looking for advice from "older and wiser heads", and the community came along for the ride. Who can tell why anyone joins.

OK, it's not the way you or I'd do it (obviously), but it works for them.

Besides, the second I sent my "personal" information to be sent out to members of this community it stopped being private and started being public. There's nothing there that I wouldn't be comforatble with anyone knowing. Sometimes it's hard to remember that once it goes out in email it's not a private conversation. I know I struggle with remembering that all the time.

I expect we're probably in violent agreement here - just using different words.

Well said! There are many different types in the world of the web. Many folks just aren't comfortable posting online. Some prefer to "lurk" for a very long time before they post at all - some never post. I agree that it is a little weird meeting someone on the cruise who has been reading but never posted, but they have always been nice people and I have always had the feeling that meeting us and finding out that we are relatively normal and not crazy internet psychos has made them more interested in posting and joining in for their next trip. I think that it is particular scary for non-technical people who aren't sure how dangerous it is or not - they hear sensational news stories and worry that something bad will happen to them if they post online. Or they have seen someone (or been) flamed on other boards and don't want to risk saying the "wrong thing".

I setup the website for our last 3 cruises and each time there were folks who asked to be added (usually with very general info) to the list who didn't post to the thread. On our last cruise, there were even 1 or 2 that didn't even have a DIS name since they had never joined! There were also folks who only posted a couple of times and those who posted day after day.

To all those "lurkers" out there - please feel free to join in. Try just saying "Hi". You don't have to give your life history and you don't have to read every post. But if you see something that interests you, chime in. I am sure it will be easier when we get closer to the actual cruise and are talking more about the trip.... but give it a try and you will find it can be a lot of fun.

I can remember DH being really worried before our first "meet" with folks we had met online. This was in the early 90's before the Internet really became well known and we were active on a Compuserver forum. It was also a Disney group and had an annual meet at WDW during the 1st weekend of December. We decided to go and try it and if it was "too weird" we could avoid the group for the rest of the weekend - instead we found some good friends and came back each year as long as it lasted.

This has been a little long winded - I think all I really wanted to say, it please don't feel unwelcome! It takes all types to make a community and that includes the shy, quiet folks as well as the social, involved folks.

Pdarrah (Pamela)

 

[atakaratemom]

Thank you, Thank you J.R.!! The web site is really nice. Your hard work is very much appreciated!!

 

[yargrnhoj]

I went poking around over there and it's AMAZING

One question, why is your family the only one that rates a picture?


Sure, I didn't sent one in, but that's beside the point.

Because it was the only picture I had at the time and I needed something to see if it would work. Maybe I should have used Dr. Who since he seems to be part of our thread?

Lisa later has sent me a link to an account that is supposed to have more photos but I haven't had time to look at it. I will, I promise. If you want your photo up sooner, send it to me.

 

[yargrnhoj]

Wasn't Lisa managing this? I've been anxiously waiting for word in my e-mail box but it never came.

I did send in my family's info to her for inclusion. Do I need to send it to someone else?

I have your info. I am setting up accounts and PMing people as see their post (and as I have time). I didn't want to set up accounts for someone who'd only posted a few times since I had no idea if they were still part of the thread or cruise unless they posted.

 

[yargrnhoj]

Lets just celebrate what a great job J.R. did for our cruise group instead of looking back. Lisa had nothing to do with it. It just happened to be out of her hands and lets just move on.

Let me echo this. Me stepping in and doing this site should not be seen (please) as an indictment of anyone else who had been working on it in the past.

It takes time and effort, which I happened to have available at the moment and a couple of posters asked me privately if I'd be willing to do it because they thought it would be useful.

I've had a couple of people volunteer already to help out with maintenance and updates, and I will call on you.

 

[justmestace]

Thanks for the kind words on the website. Hopefully people find it useful.

A few people (Karen and Stacy) have indicated they have a problem with the site. They both use AOL. I have made a change to the site recommended by an AOL admin but don't have AOL access here and can't test it.

If anyone else is using AOL and has an issue with the site, let me know so I can determine if the problem is AOL-specific.

Please make sure you accept the 'cookie' when you login -- it is how the site knows it is allowed to show you the restricted content. Right now, everything on the site is restricted. We can all decide if we want some of the content (like itineraries or other things already posted publicly on the DIS to be publicly available).

Lorri suggested I try using Internet Explorer, because she's had the same trouble at times with AOL. So I tried that earlier today and it worked.
Now AOL works, too, so whatever you did helped me.

It works great, it looks great...and I know that we are all extremely HAPPY with it!!!!

 

[Grandma x3]

GREAT JOB J.R.!!!


Karen

I just got home & checked out the site - wow!!!!! We will buy you a Very Large Beverage of your choice as a Thank You!!!!

 

[yargrnhoj]

Actually I did edit out the word "lurk" because it does sound creepy LOL. And truthfully we've had people "lurk" here & then post nasty things about us elsewhere so I don't want to speak for anyone else, but I know I get a bit leery when I am unfamiliar with a user name. But OTOH...yes I understand that this thread can be overwhelming especially since I am shy so if I didn't jump in right away I might have trouble. But really I think that everyone should feel welcome & we do just want to get to know each other before the cruise. Like I said before, hopefully more people will be joining in as time goes on & hopefully we can all get along & have a great time on the TOAL!!!

This is definitely a concern of mine and one I am not sure how to handle with the website. Given the other issues we have seen, I chose not to include e-mail addresses on the site at all, since we have the DIS PM system to obtain those from each other.

As far as last names go, I posted them because that's what Lisa had done and apparently has done on previous cruises. If the consensus is not to use them, I can remove them from the site and reorder based on DIS name (which I am considering doing anyway since I want to find allshookup's kids and have no idea without using 'find'). So let me know what you think on last names. I like having them because as soon as I walk on the ship, they will announce 'The Gray Family' and now you will all know to turn and look. (Ok, maybe that is a reason NOT to post last names).

I don't know how to handle new posters (e.g. those with few posts). I am concerned that people could sign up for a DIS ID, post a few times and then harvest the personal information from the thread. (I am NOT saying anyone posting today is doing that, but it worries me). But then, what is the cutoff for giving website access? 10 posts? 25? 50? 2000?

And as far as 'active' posters go, how to do we decide that? Do I exclude people like Caroline or Shelley or even Lisa or Todd who used to be very active but rarely are able to post anymore?

Anyway, let me stress -- THIS IS YOUR WEBSITE, not mine. Tell me how you want it and I will do it. I can't make everyone happy and we can't all vote but let's hear the general opinion and then we will make a decision.

 

[justmestace]

BTW...I'm back home now from my summer travels and just trying to catch up with everything I missed at home. I seriously doubt if I'd ever be able to catch up here.
So:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all that I missed!!

Hope everyone is having a great summer and I hope everyone has a terrific and safe Fourth of July!!

 

[justmestace]

I just got home & checked out the site - wow!!!!! We will buy you a Very Large Beverage of your choice as a Thank You!!!!

He'll spend his entire cruise "pasted". 'cause that's what I told him, too! LOL

 

[LITTLEKID58]

 

[yargrnhoj]

Looks good JR! Q: How does one update the family travel plans?

Send an e-mail to the site webmaster or PM me. Eventually we will have editors for each section and they will have the ability to make those changes.

 

[justmestace]

ANDY! I got tears looking at Angelina's pictures! I bet it really leaves you and Hazel wondering where all the years went.......

 

[lbgraves]

This is definitely a concern of mine and one I am not sure how to handle with the website. Given the other issues we have seen, I chose not to include e-mail addresses on the site at all, since we have the DIS PM system to obtain those from each other.

As far as last names go, I posted them because that's what Lisa had done and apparently has done on previous cruises. If the consensus is not to use them, I can remove them from the site and reorder based on DIS name (which I am considering doing anyway since I want to find allshookup's kids and have no idea without using 'find'). So let me know what you think on last names. I like having them because as soon as I walk on the ship, they will announce 'The Gray Family' and now you will all know to turn and look. (Ok, maybe that is a reason NOT to post last names).

I don't know how to handle new posters (e.g. those with few posts). I am concerned that people could sign up for a DIS ID, post a few times and then harvest the personal information from the thread. (I am NOT saying anyone posting today is doing that, but it worries me). But then, what is the cutoff for giving website access? 10 posts? 25? 50? 2000?

And as far as 'active' posters go, how to do we decide that? Do I exclude people like Caroline or Shelley or even Lisa or Todd who used to be very active but rarely are able to post anymore?

Anyway, let me stress -- THIS IS YOUR WEBSITE, not mine. Tell me how you want it and I will do it. I can't make everyone happy and we can't all vote but let's hear the general opinion and then we will make a decision.

OK, here is how that goes. The website address cannot be put on the DIS. It is a private secured site not accessible to everyone.

I have deleted anyone's information that was sent to me if they are involved in any other site that has bashed the DIS or this group inparticular. ALL of their information has been deleted from the site and they will not have access to it.

 

[tom31b]

Most people on that service can't even spell Unix or Linux, so those terms above mean nothing to them.

If they could sell it, they would learn to spell it!

 

[bellelinus]

This is definitely a concern of mine and one I am not sure how to handle with the website. Given the other issues we have seen, I chose not to include e-mail addresses on the site at all, since we have the DIS PM system to obtain those from each other.

As far as last names go, I posted them because that's what Lisa had done and apparently has done on previous cruises. If the consensus is not to use them, I can remove them from the site and reorder based on DIS name (which I am considering doing anyway since I want to find allshookup's kids and have no idea without using 'find'). So let me know what you think on last names. I like having them because as soon as I walk on the ship, they will announce 'The Gray Family' and now you will all know to turn and look. (Ok, maybe that is a reason NOT to post last names).

I don't know how to handle new posters (e.g. those with few posts). I am concerned that people could sign up for a DIS ID, post a few times and then harvest the personal information from the thread. (I am NOT saying anyone posting today is doing that, but it worries me). But then, what is the cutoff for giving website access? 10 posts? 25? 50? 2000?

And as far as 'active' posters go, how to do we decide that? Do I exclude people like Caroline or Shelley or even Lisa or Todd who used to be very active but rarely are able to post anymore?

Anyway, let me stress -- THIS IS YOUR WEBSITE, not mine. Tell me how you want it and I will do it. I can't make everyone happy and we can't all vote but let's hear the general opinion and then we will make a decision.

JR, I don't know what to say about a lot of the security issues, but it would be nice if we were alphabetized by screen name, since that is the only way we can identify most people who we have met only via posting.

 

[scuba.mom]

Andy - I am jealous you already have your daughter's Senior Pictures - they are lovely. My son is going to be a Senior this year and I haven't been able to convince him to get his taken yet. He is currently working in Michigan at a summer camp, so I am hoping once he returns he will get this taken care of. I think we went thru all of middle school without pictures. He would come home and say "We had school pictures today, I forgot to give you the order form." It never bothered him that he didn't have them, but I wish I did. Soon, I am just going to make an appointment and "drag" him there myself.