Suggestions for Jupiter Media

Haven't been on this site that long, but there are a few things that I'll comment on:

First, the stupid AP whining. I, for one, like the AP system... sure there is abuse of it, sure you'll get wrongly negged at times, but so what! Most of the bad APs come about from political topics - so stop posting in those non-security topics and you'll avoid that problem. Yes, some of the political topics have something to do with computer security, but usually only the first couple threads are on topic - after that it becomes 40 posts of "my country vs. your country" and who's right or wrong. Bottom line is that the goal of the AP system is to get rid of trolls that are counterproductive to this site - and it DOES accomplish that. I say leave the AP system in place and don't bother changing it.

More importantly, there has been a lack of good content lately. Personally, I'd like to see non-security forums such as "General Chit Chat," "Tech Humor," "Cosmos," and "Roll Call" (thanks WebCarnage) be REMOVED from the front page. Keep them for perusal and tension-release after a long day for instronics, but don't put them on the main page. The posts in those forums (including all the damn AP whining) flood the front page and the site looks less like a security site. I came here because I want to learn about computer security, but most the time I scroll through the new topics and don't see anything worthwhile. I have been on the verge of leaving myself (even before the sale), but I'm sticking around to see how things change... hopefully for the better, but that won't be known for some time.

And I know this sale was in progress for a while and there's only so much a person can do (so I'm NOT blaming JP), but I'd like a little more attention to be paid to stuff in the AO Bugs and the Site Suggestions topics. People often post stuff in there that remains unresolved today. If, for some reason, it can't be fixed, do us the courtesy of replying to the post stating such. There are a lot of good coders on this site that respect the amount of work that went into this site and are eager to provide help to be a "part" of it... but when suggestions or bugs go unresponded to, you alienate those people and tell them that their membership in the community is meaningless.

I like what this site is intended for, and I like all the work that's gone into it. I would just like to see more of an actual security focus. It is VERY addicting when the members are on track. I have a mentality like many others here... don't stop until you figure it out. For that reason, GOOD security posts will have people constantly coming back to find out other member's insight into problems and ultimately the solution reached. That's what is so fun and intrigueing to me... a community of people going towards a common goal of solving a problem.

That's my rant for the day. :-)

Quote:

---

Personally, I'd like to see non-security forums such as "General Chit Chat," "Tech Humor," and "Cosmos" be REMOVED from the front page.

---

Don't forget "Roll Call"...

/me cringes at the sight of Roll Call being on the front page, and/or users getting AntiPoints (regardless if they're positive or negative) in them....

Quote:

---

Personnaly (and I know others feel that way too), this has been one of my gripes about AO...
Others have said that without general chit chat, AO wouldn't be a community anymore. Perhaps; but I think just not having general chit chat and cosmos posts show up in the front page would be a good compromise...

---

I'm not real big on making a post that just says "Me, too."......but...... Me, too!!!!

Sometimes I shudder to think what a visitor must think when they read the front page and it's full of non-security posts. There isn't anything wrong with cosmos, general chit-chat, etc....the point is I know where to go look IF that's what I want to read. As ammo indicated, a good compromise would be to not have these on the main front page.

# Suggestions:

- If JupiterMedia wants to have more human moderators then I would advice to take moderators from all over the world, or at least Europe, USA, Australia*. This way more timezones and ideas are present and the forum monitoring can be optimal (together with ap system).

*assuming most of the senior / long time members come either from the US, Europe or Australia or is this a misconception? I don't want to exclude someone.

- A better AO search engine / search possibilities. the amount of info on AO is growing rapidly and several times I remembered a very usefull thread but couldn't remmeber the exact topic or words used... try to search such a topic... almost impossible.

- And last but most important: try to keep it as much as it is, and keep targetting the 'right' goals for this site . Like focus on security, the community, ...


# Comments on former suggestions:

The Roll Call 'an sich' is a weird thing cause for highly efficient practical reasons you cannot reply to it. So people can say hi, but don't get a reply. This seems very unpolite. So, yeah remove Roll Call from the front page.

However by removing topics from appearing on the front page you have the risk that people are going to abuse the threads, trying to get their post on the front page. Hopefully the ap system can stop that from happening.

Like bluebeard96 said, paying attention to the site bugs is not a bad idea and solving the existing bugs would even be better.

thx

Quote:

---

Originally posted here by VictorKaum
However by removing topics from appearing on the front page you have the risk that people are going to abuse the threads, trying to get their post on the front page. Hopefully the ap system can stop that from happening.

---

I would think the AP system along with human moderators, as suggested earlier in this thread, will take care of this. Have unmoderated threads elsewhere, but front page threads need to be moderated. And while the cost/time needed to accomplish that will be great, I think that the end result of having a true "security focus" will be a far greater, and very marketable, value.

i think the need for members to give negative antipoints should be eliminated. there's so many good posts its sometimes hard for members to find bad posts to neg so the new comers get it. i don’t think you really want to offend them.

It should be made clear that 'alliances' could get you banned and follow threw and clean house on occasion. I always wondered how those banned members got so many points in such a short period of time but even their alliances did not negatively affect new members the way the balance of points system has. I also think everyone that accuses others of unsubstantiated AP abuse should also be banned. then maybe snibbling little troublemakers will think twice before pointing fingers at innocent people and adding more work for the moderators. IRT they would be sued and they just darken the forums in general.

if it wasn't for the fact that they have kept the forums clean id say do away with APs completely.

Maybe forums like cosmos etc could be placed under the general category of 'addicts' and only made accessible by request and/or number of posts. im sure advertisers don’t want potentially offensive material (political/religious) pushed in their viewers faces but this keeps those who could help here much more of the time just like IRC does. Maybe an applet client that points to a third party chat server could also help keep knowledgeable members here monitoring the main page for questions to answer during the 'slow' times. Its things like this that makes help available when it’s needed. there are a few here with chat servers that i think would be glad to participate

Quote:

---

More importantly, there has been a lack of good content lately. Personally, I'd like to see non-security forums such as "General Chit Chat," "Tech Humor," "Cosmos," and "Roll Call" (thanks WebCarnage) be REMOVED from the front page. Keep them for perusal and tension-release after a long day for instronics, but don't put them on the main page. The posts in those forums (including all the damn AP whining) flood the front page and the site looks less like a security site. I came here because I want to learn about computer security, but most the time I scroll through the new topics and don't see anything worthwhile. I have been on the verge of leaving myself (even before the sale), but I'm sticking around to see how things change... hopefully for the better, but that won't be known for some time.

---

While I agree that newbies and visitors to this site may not want to see some of the General Chit Chat or Cosmos threads...

What if there was a "My AO" feature? Similar to how My Yahoo works...

A user could customize what they'd like to see on their main page. Anyone new or a visitor to the site wouldn't see these forums, but people who wanted to see them, or certain other forums could customize their "home" page to dispay whatever forums they want to see on the main page.

Sounds good to me! :D

Since the AntiPoints argument has been belabored to death, I'll leave that alone :D

I have other suggestions though.

1. More updated download archives. As system administrators and a secruity concious group, it's good to know what crackers are using these days. That helps with better securing systems.

2. Bringing"Eye On The Underground" back would be cool. I used to visit that section everyday to see what was going on in the underground. I learned a lot from those links ;) It was so much fun too!

3. Leaving JP's personal page or something to commemerate all of JP's hard work would be nice. Despite what people think of him, we all have to agree he worked his ass off...

The other stuff I would like is not going to happen, so there is really no use to even ask (Like IRC, No banners after so many posts, etc.)

regards

Quote:

---

Personnaly (and I know others feel that way too), this has been one of my gripes about AO...
Others have said that without general chit chat, AO wouldn't be a community anymore. Perhaps; but I think just not having general chit chat and cosmos posts show up in the front page would be a good compromise...

---

Great idea!

Quote:

---

What if there was a "My AO" feature? Similar to how My Yahoo works...

A user could customize what they'd like to see on their main page. Anyone new or a visitor to the site wouldn't see these forums, but people who wanted to see them, or certain other forums could customize their "home" page to dispay whatever forums they want to see on the main page.

---

Even better idea! But puts a bit more overhead on the system.

Quote:

---

- If JupiterMedia wants to have more human moderators then I would advice to take moderators from all over the world, or at least Europe, USA, Australia*. This way more timezones and ideas are present and the forum monitoring can be optimal (together with ap system).

*assuming most of the senior / long time members come either from the US, Europe or Australia or is this a misconception? I don't want to exclude someone.

---

VictorKaum you little (well big, actually) Bastard ;) You missed Asia! Otherwise, pretty good idea.

Cheers,
cgkanchi

Hello again everyone... I've been rather inactive ever since the horrible "AntiOnline for sale!" message popped in to the main page. Maybe I'll start paying visits more often now. I went through JupMan's and JP's (latest) messages and think I'm pretty aware of the current situation again.

JupMan: I look forward to see how you are leading AntiOnline, it's too early for me to say anything yet. Other members have brought up the same topics that I am worried about. Start making yourself known and fill Your Profile with your personal details... I don't like faceless, too anonymous people leading this site. Get a neat avatar and signature, like JP did.

What can I say more... It's a sad moment... I hope JP still sticks here and posts every once in a while... And I hope this place is worth visiting after a year too... Message boards are the heart of AO (and AP system is the immunity system of the heart).

Customizable front page is something that I wished for for the first time when JP announced that some forums will be excluded from it, I hope that gets implemented.