Any news on when the new Secret Leeds website is to come active.

kango · Post by **kango** » Tue 17 Jun, 2014 5:35 pm

What ever happens Johhny please stick with it because if I read Duncan correctly any changes wouldn't affect what you love about the site, just some additions to bring in more users, which is a win win for all of us!

Post by **dsco** » Tue 17 Jun, 2014 7:28 pm

kango wrote: ...this site needs to pay its way, and without a revenue stream from advertisements and more members to view those ads , said advertisers may say bye bye in which case the site could theoretically fold leaving us with nothing to taste at all. Enough predictions of doom and gloom already! I've managed to run this site quite successfully for the last seven and a half years and have no intention of allowing it to go under any time soon. You really don't need to worry about the finances of SL - it costs a little bit, and makes a little bit more than that. Once the rebuild is complete the overheads will be basically zero: a rebuild which was entirely self-funded through site advertising I might add.Lighten up folks, a thread asking about the launch of an entirely rebuilt site with new functionality and features seems to have got caught up in a very negative discussion about how terrible everything is!

Post by **dsco** » Tue 17 Jun, 2014 8:39 pm

I wasn't going to bother responding to Phill's more outlandish claims but actually I'm going to set the record straight for once. I am always the first to recognise your contributions to this site Phill, but just to clarify a few things you've claimed earlier in this thread... Phill_dvsn wrote: One thing is for certain though - without the S.L facebook group and their team work efforts to get this site back up and running, this forum we are using today wouldn't even exist To be honest it had very little to do with you and your Facebook group. It had a lot to do with folk who've never mentioned it on here or anywhere else, and don't attempt to take credit for other people's hard work. If it had been down to you/Facebook, this site would never have reopened. Phill_dvsn wrote: ...with a lot of head hitting against the wall we managed to bring the S.L forum back to life You didn't hit any heads against anything, you emailed some councillors/council employees a few times over a month or so, and spoke to a journalist friend of yours. The problem was solved by people talking and working quietly behind the scenes to resolve the various issues that lead to that situation, of which there were quite a number. I'd like to say a big thank you to Leanne, David, Robert, Tony, and Alasdair - we actually couldn't have done it without them. Phill_dvsn wrote: All I've pointed out on this thread is there seems quite a bit of unwarranted, and unjust criticism of a good amount of forum members when it was never even a question. I've read through this thread carefully and at no point has anyone made any criticism of other forum members or your Facebook group, it's merely some folk saying that they don't use (or want to use) Facebook. How you take that as a reflection or comment on you I have no idea, but I think it speaks volumes actually. Phill_dvsn wrote: *But just to add I've highlighted the exact same sort of negative, critical, and unfriendly kind of atmosphere this forum can generate towards new posters and in so doing put them off posting here.* This is hilarious - you can be one of the most aggressive and critical posters on this site and I've had to have words with you about it on more occasions than I can even recall. You have been at the centre of pretty much every unpleasant incident that has ever occurred on SL. I can't even count the hours that I and other moderators have wasted on the dozens of problems and arguments you've been involved in over the years. Your overly defensive attitude to the slightest criticism, your paranoia, always having to have the last word about everything - it's like dealing with a stroppy teenager sometimes. Mostly we (the mods) all ignore it because of your overwhelming contribution to SL over the years, but frankly it's a bit rich for you to tell folk how to run this site. Your time as a mod on here wasn't exactly successful now was it? Phill_dvsn wrote: Fingers crossed there will be a new look Secret Leeds and different format to encourage new users. I'm not over confident this will happen though. It will be a a shame when/if the plug gets pulled on paying for it's upkeep. All that documented history wasted Odd that you're 'not over confident' that the new site will be launched, given that you've already seen, used and fed back on a fully functional demo of it. I've already organised numerous bugfixes and improvements to this site in the 18 months since it was taken over from the council, and am now almost ready to roll out the first rebuild in the site's history. Thanks for keeping the faith mate. Phill_dvsn wrote: Personally I don't need S.L or S.L2. I just enjoy seeing other people interested in local topics. I'd have a few photos to reclaim from Secret Leeds, not too many. But if it were to go off line now once I saved them it would be no great loss to me personally. I feel it's a shame for others really. Wow - just wow. Do I even need to comment on this little gem? I think it speaks for itself.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Tue 17 Jun, 2014 9:09 pm

kango wrote: My own personal view as stated earlier is that the human experience has to play a part in the story of the built environment and social history otherwise all we have is sterile fact reporting.Kango Agree with every thing you say, especially this.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Tue 17 Jun, 2014 9:16 pm

Don't feel upset Duncan.Have a little peace and Karma offering

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Tue 17 Jun, 2014 9:37 pm

P.S i can't delete my account, no doubt you'll be happy to do it for me.I've stripped out everything I need worth saving now...so when your ready thank you http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messag ... 100797Have fun everyone.Toodle pip

Post by **dsco** » Tue 17 Jun, 2014 9:50 pm

Phill_dvsn wrote: P.S i can't delete my account, no doubt you'll be happy to do it for me.I've stripped out everything I need worth saving now...so when your ready thank you http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messag ... 100797Have fun everyone.Toodle pip That's extremely disappointing and certainly was not my intention. You are amongst the founder members of this site after all, and as mentioned above your contribution has been and continues to be invaluable. And in answer to your post, no I would not be happy to delete your account - I'd much rather discuss it like adults. If you want to contact me off site for a chat you have my email address or feel free to post your thoughts below. I hope you'll reconsider the situation once you're less annoyed with me!

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Tue 17 Jun, 2014 10:04 pm

No. To be honest I've pretty much had enough of this website for quite some time.In short I'm sick and tired of the way it isn't managed.We had no kind of moderators at all for over 2 years. Then when they were finally appointed some it caused nothing but resentment from other members who were not so long ago only members themselves. The mods were getting no back up at all, people were arguing the toss with them constantly. I would expect support for them from the top in this instance - It never came until way too late.Arguments, spats and bickering were left to fester on this site for far too long. There was a great dislike between certain posters from all this early non forum management. It blew up on the site time and time again. It could be days before you became aware of it.I've highlighted how most of the mods packed the job in, the rest get endless aggro, and zero respect in some cases. Still to this day there isn't any basic rules about treating other members in a courteous way, or please don't bring a bad atmosphere to this site. There is no way of reporting posts for mod attention either. And we do not have even the most basic of basic guidelines about what to post in 'general chat' It's incredible that 7 years after the forum started ridiculous arguments start up if it's ok to post about pink ointment for piles on your back side. Sure there has been way too many arguments, but lets please blame the root course of it all.I've been finished with this forum quite a while now. My account can be deleted when you are ready.But if you want to make a success out of your new look forum you should carefully consider my points. They are what has caused the downfall of this forum.This has needed to be said for quite some time. There is no hard feelings on my part, simply there is nothing here for me any more.Cheers

Post by **dsco** » Tue 17 Jun, 2014 10:28 pm

I'm sorry that's the way you feel Phill, and I would be the first to admit that I've not done a great job of managing the site over the years. Some of what you say is right - all I was trying to do above was correct certain assertions you've made that are not accurate. I certainly didn't want you to leave the site and delete your old posts as a result. I sincerely hope you will reconsider the matter in the coming days. It would be great to have you as part of the team on the revamped site with its various new features, as I know you would have a great deal to contribute.In response to a couple of your comments above, here are the guidelines for treating members in a respectful manner, they can be found as a sticky in the Forum Content section:http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messag ... D=2764Here is the email address to get in touch if you have comments or concerns about the site - you can also find it on the Contact Us page and in my signature: ask@tyrell.mobi

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Tue 17 Jun, 2014 10:30 pm

dsco wrote: I'm sorry that's the way you feel Phill, and I would be the first to admit that I've not done a great job of managing the site over the years. Some of what you say is right - all I was trying to do above was correct certain assertions you've made that are not accurate. I certainly didn't want you to leave the site and delete your old posts as a result. I sincerely hope you will reconsider the matter in the coming days. It would be great to have you as part of the team on the revamped site with its various new features, as I know you would have a great deal to contribute.In response to a couple of your comments above, here are the guidelines for treating members in a respectful manner, they can be found as a sticky in the Forum Content section:http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messag ... D=2764Here is the email address to get in touch if you have comments or concerns about the site - you can also find it on the Contact Us page and in my signature: ask@tyrell.mobi There is no hard feeling on my part Duncan, good luck with your future S.L.Cheers