Massive Free Republic Changes

[John Robinson]

There will be some massive changes to Free Republic from now through the end of the year. I'll quickly iterate those changes now.

1. Most important, on the 27th, Free Republic will be down while I move my network along with Free Republic to a new host. We're moving from UUNET to Verio. This in itself is a massive undertaking, and availability of the site may be intermittent. We will use all available resources to mitigate outtage. Verio underbid UUNET by about $17,500 on a one-year contract, so this is really worth it. ;-) Overall, bandwidth will be less expensive 2002 by about $25,000 which will be passed straight to Free Republic.

2. I'm making massive changes to the structure of the database, will be replacing the posting program, and the latest posts program. While I'm converting the database and working out bugs some features may be down. Hopefully for not too long.

3. When Free Republic's new posting program is online, the routine to post an article will be different. First, an article will be indexed into many topics. So instead of a pulldown to select the topic, there is a field where you can list as many topics as you feel appropriate. And at any time later an article can be added to additional topics.

   Second, no more "Category" and "Section". Both have been replaced by the extended topic system.

   Third, the posting of an article and a comment have been decoupled.

   Fourth, there will be different types of articles you can start. Shouldn't really call these articles anymore, discussions is a better term. The very basic "Discussion" requires just a topic, title, and body. "Article" requires topic, title, body, source, source url, etc. Some topics may not allow some types of discussions. There will be only 'article' type threads in "Breaking News" for example.

4. The topic system in general will be completely changed. Once again you will be able to create your own topics. But to keep the topics from becoming the anarchy they were before my 1999 changes, all topics will live in topic groups. Those groups: General Interest (all existing topics); Highlights (Breaking News, Extended News, etc -- these are their own topic now); Hot Topics (current interests, such as Anthrax Scare, etc.); Local Topics (These will replace the Locales); User Defined (a sea of Freeper topics.)

5. Bump Lists will be integrated with the new topic system. Bang_List could have its own topic.

6. It will be possible to host many forums within Free Republic. Each forum would have its own management features, user list (with independent user levels), moderators, etc. Some forums may be private, some may be created for special projects, some may just be alternatives to Free Republic.

7. Finding articles should be much easier. There will be a title search, you will be able to list articles in a specific topic, or with a specific keyword. Maybe full searching of the article itself or its comments. (Looking for the right technology.) And Author and Source searches will work again.

8. Sidebars. Any topic can be added to your collection of sidebars.

9. There are more features, but I'm really pressed for time. :-)

[RedBloodedAmerican]

6. It will be possible to host many forums within Free Republic. Each forum would have its own management features, user list (with independent user levels), moderators, etc. Some forums may be private, some may be created for special projects, some may just be alternatives to Free Republic.

The problem I see (if I see this correctly) is that many groups will become "clubs", and lose the "forum" format. Already it is headed that way. Once these clubs have self-governing moderators, it will no longer be open to all, but to those who are favored by the moderators and members. Is this possible?

For instance if I run a forum thread called "The Gridiron" and someone posts there who insults my Miami Hurricanes, can I ban them or nuke them from FR because I don't like that they dislike football or "my team"?

"FreeRepublic" and many "mini-me's"? Hope it works for you, John. :)

Thank you for allowing us onto your website.

[RightOnline]

Well damn, son...............now if you can just shave some off of my tax bill next year and tell me a quick, painless way to lose about 15 pounds, I'll REALLY be impressed. :)

[davidosborne]

Could you squeeze in a way where you can figure out (click to reach) the particular post that someone was replying to? That was the one feature of the old style that is sorely lacking.

3 posted on 12/21/01 5:22 PM Pacific by Harp

I concur.. that would make it much better.. eliminate having to state "REPLY TO POST #21" etc..

David

[Poohbah]

Actually, you'd just boot him from The GridIron, and then he's free to trash your decision on the rest of FR.

[smith288]

hows about email system, Image storage, CSS enhancements other? I love the changes and look forward to the new stuff. You rule.

[mdittmar]

Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.

Arnold Bennett

[Old Professer]

Pay per view?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

LOL! Thanks for clarifying!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Overall, bandwidth will be less expensive 2002 by about $25,000 which will be passed straight to Free Republic.

Split the savings with us? ;)

[headsonpikes]

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

And a healthy and prosperous 2002.

Thanks for everything!

[Tree of Liberty]

Amazing job, Mr. Robinson. If I could pester you for one additional change, could the system clock be placed on either Pacific or Eastern time? For the life of me, I can't figure out what time zone it's currently set for.

[tacticalogic]

Will that mean a change of IP address? There was a problem awhile back with DNS, and I think some people may have this address in their HOSTS file.

[AStack75]

.

[Uncle George]

Could you create an "ICON" to indicate a "BARF" alert? Like a dog barfing or someone on his knees at the comode? It would simplify announcing a sicko thread. I think it would be interesting.

[RonDog]

"Most important, on the 27th, Free Republic will be down..."

Thanks for the advance notice, John!

FReep-addiction treatments will be administered at:

http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/freerepublic

.

If you listen to Hugh Hewitt, or read his commentaries,
this PING list is for YOU!

Please post your comments, and BUMP!

(If you want OFF - or ON - my "Hugh Hewitt PING list" - please let me know.)

Personal note: I will be travelling - and OFFLINE - for most of next week anyway, so...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[RonDog]

ping

[American Preservative]

The FRtimes they are a'changin' ping.

[jjbrouwer]

It will be possible to host many forums within Free Republic. Each forum would have its own management features, user list (with independent user levels), moderators, etc. Some forums may be private, some may be created for special projects, some may just be alternatives to Free Republic.

John: The message board on our British locale is one of the busiest on the site. Some of the members are *pinged* here. Does this mean we could have a proper message board with (dare I say it?) some British moderators? Only asking!