2023 - Scholars is Back Online

[James]

Another phone thing to check on iOS, but probably not something any of you are overlooking. Make sure you click "remember me" before you use the password manager to populate and submit the sign in form.

[Lord Yang Jiahua]

I got logged out twice while viewing the members list for all our members of the forum.
First time it gave me the "you have to registered" to view the members list prompt, second time it just abruptly logged me out.
This could be its responding to too many clicks,or an overzealous script, but that's definitely weird!

I was actively viewing it, so I don't think it was a timed out-log out thing, It happened fairly at random.

[Zyzyfer]

I'm back here too, huzzah.

Just to chime in on the Reddit/Discord topic, as someone a bit older and thus more entrenched in the use of message boards to begin with.

I don't want to go on some prolonged rant about reddit in general or sound like I'm bashing the Three Kingdoms board on there, but yes reddit is a weird format that works very well for casual discussions about current affairs or shitposting topics that are begging for it. I have been subscribed to the 3K sub on there for a long time but I have never personally found it to be of use except for being an ass. It's odd because reddit reqlly can be a treasure trove of interesting information, but the fleeting nature of topics makes it difficult to maintain ongoing discussions like a message board allows. There is also the issue of top level comments being disconnected from one another, which is a great format for sharing your opinion on some broad topic or question, but which is terrible for facilitating a discussion on a very specific topic or event. To put it another way, I went ahead and read through all of the comments in this thread before deciding to post, so my response is building upon all of those comments.

As for Discord, it's just too chatty of a format. Which I do like, in some respects. But I don't think it works well for deeper discussions. And it also has the same issue with the content being cycled down over time, since it's chat-based.

Happy to see the board back. Even if no one ever adds a single new piece of information ever again, it is nevertheless an invaluable resource for such information in the first place. I'm also considering the possibility of kicking in a little cash to help out with the overhead.

[James]

I got logged out twice while viewing the members list for all our members of the forum.
First time it gave me the "you have to registered" to view the members list prompt, second time it just abruptly logged me out.
This could be its responding to too many clicks,or an overzealous script, but that's definitely weird!

I was actively viewing it, so I don't think it was a timed out-log out thing, It happened fairly at random.

I’ve done a bit more rummaging into this. It could be as simple as your ISP swapping your IP address. Some of the other websites out there use much sticker means of tracking sessions when things like that happens.

But I’m also seeing there are some options I can change. And that phpBB has introduced some security measures which are a bit more aggressive, now, in dropping user sessions in the event of things like an IP address switch (among other affairs). I can disable some of them, improving session performance. And it may be quite reasonable to do so. But I’d like to spend a little more time investigating.

I have noticed my sessions sometimes end for an odd reason, too.

[James]

I'm back here too, huzzah.

Welcome back!

I don't want to go on some prolonged rant about reddit in general or sound like I'm bashing the Three Kingdoms board on there, but yes reddit is a weird format that works very well for casual discussions about current affairs or shitposting topics that are begging for it. [...]

I’ve been dabbling a touch more into Reddit of late—never really did quite pick it up—and so far it is a wee bit o’ a bear. The 'featured' separation between general posts seems iffy for large communities. It’s like you end up with a small selection of posts that get heaps of attention and even quality or interesting contributions that don’t quite take on that attention easily fly under the radar. Kind of reminds me how Facebook may only show your post—even a family update to friends and family—if it gets some material "engagement" in the time after it was shared. Otherwise it may easily vanish into the depths of the abyss.

I’m also having bad luck with Reddit. Engagement voting can be... eh... a bit toxic.
The Three Kingdoms Reddit seems more charming than some others I’ve explored.

I can appreciate the real-time chat aspect of Discord. Also seems like a nice hangout in addition to other forms of community! Deep discussions, though... it really is lovely for that knowledge to be preserved.

Happy to see the board back. Even if no one ever adds a single new piece of information ever again, it is nevertheless an invaluable resource for such information in the first place. I'm also considering the possibility of kicking in a little cash to help out with the overhead.

I agree. I want this forum to be online even if it is for that reason alone.

As for kicking in some coins... I’ve just finished sorting out how to make that easier (below). But no worries or expectations, though. I appreciate that it is even a consideration.

[James]

Quick update...
I have Created a Patreon

So if anyone feels inclined, able, and happy to toss some coins toward the maintenance o’ these sites and freeing up time to create new content and features, I’m now onboard with the modern age.

I just stuck with their “Lite” plan. I appreciate how it just lets people decide whatever they’d like to and are comfortable with contributing. And I’m not quite sure how to work with tiers since I prefer to make whatever I can available for free on the website. I’ll be adding the old-school “Odds & Ends” section to Patreon, at least.

Thanks again to those who reached out about it.

[Bryan]

Quick update...
I have Created a Patreon

So if anyone feels inclined, able, and happy to toss some coins toward the maintenance o’ these sites and freeing up time to create new content and features, I’m now onboard with the modern age.

I just stuck with their “Lite” plan. I appreciate how it just lets people decide whatever they’d like to and are comfortable with contributing. And I’m not quite sure how to work with tiers since I prefer to make whatever I can available for free on the website. I’ll be adding the old-school “Odds & Ends” section to Patreon, at least.

Thanks again to those who reached out about it.

Jumped on board!

[James]

Jumped on board!

Thank you... very much.
This really warms my heart.

[InquilineKea]

This is such such such such great news

reddit is super-impersonal and it's hard to make friends there. I've used it for a long time and still have yet to make a single friend from the platform, as Internet-savvy as I am...

[James]

This is such such such such great news

reddit is super-impersonal and it's hard to make friends there. I've used it for a long time and still have yet to make a single friend from the platform, as Internet-savvy as I am...

It has felt the same for me, every time I have attempted to dive in a bit. I wonder why. Not sure about the Three Kingdoms community at all—and it doesn’t seem like the example following based on peeking in—but some other hobby or trade Reddits I have experimented with frequently came across as even more toxic than welcoming.

To be fair, though, some technical discussion topics do seem to foster some toxic community components.