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Zathyus Networks Official Forum Merge
Topic Started: Sunday, 31. March 2013, 23:43 (9,024 Views)
Jimmy
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I'm not active here much anymore (<3 all you though). But if this is real; I think its a horrible Idea.

While I'm pretty sure this is a prank, ZN has pulled atleast 1 reverse aprils fool... Hope this isn't one of them.
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StephenZB
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silvershoes
Monday, 1. April 2013, 15:40
StephenZB
Monday, 1. April 2013, 14:19
At the end of the day, our goal is to make things easier for our customers. One stop shopping, larger staff, a more active community - I fail to see how these are bad things.
It's a noble enough goal, but the part I think you're missing is that Outline and ZNR have a very different "feel" and purpose.

I've always seen ZNR as being for the newbies and Outline as being for people further along in their knowledge.

That's not a bad thing, Zeta wants new customers and the new members need to learn. But for anyone who has passed the newbie stage and knows how to code and knows the difference between css and js, it can be endlessly frustrating wading through all the "I need a code" threads by people who don't know what their control panel options are, or people who don't have the slightest interest in learning how to make their own graphics.

So the two boards fit different demographics. I'm not sure combining them really fills the needs of either group - newbie or more advanced. At some point, one stop shopping becomes bedlam. So if you do this, it's got to be more than just physically combining assets or you'll wind up ticking off both camps.
You bring up a great point. Our staff, currently, can provide the basics and get people on their way. And we can fix their errors. But to truly learn and grow, and advance, they need more help. This is something Outline can provide. Rather than have to register on several boards, they simply register on one and everything they need is right there. Once they've 'graduated' they can look to the staff of Outline for more advanced knowledge.

This can be done either via permission masks and joinable groups or just in the way we allocate our staff and arrange the forums. Keep in mind, we have enough staff for our areas on Support and Resources. We aren't looking to take on more in that way. Instead, we are looking to offer new areas of interest with already knowledgeable people to run these areas.
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Geoffrey
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Registering on a new board takes 5 minutes, max. If removing that process is your goal, you are incredibly lazy and insulting everyone else by saying they are as well.

If you want to "graduate" your supportees onto higher things, why not put a redirect forum on ZN to Outline and even put one to Antiquus for forum promotion? Everyone keeps their community, their board, etc. and you still get the same feeling of "togetherness."

A large board like what would come from the merging of Outline, Antiquus and ZN Support (and Resources) is incredibly difficult to navigate, post and discuss on, etc. That's why I avoid forums like Digital Point, it's too big for my liking.
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Ferus Grim
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Does this mean I can be a retired staff member on ZN? ;D
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tiptopolive
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Stephen, I'm guessing this is a joke that you are trying to string along by continuing to post, but even so I'd like to ask a question: how does it benefit your forum service, the point of which surely is to promote the growth of individual forums, if you gobble up all the "meta" forums (forums about design, promotion, coding, etc)?
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Nicolas
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Ferus Grim
Monday, 1. April 2013, 17:33
Does this mean I can be a retired staff member on ZN? ;D
We grandfathered in former staff from ZNR/ZBTZ/IFSZ and let them keep their hidden staff forum. We didn't mix the groups together, though. This will likely be done for Outline, as well. However, as the announcement said: we're not answering questions about specific forums/groups yet.

tiptopolive
Monday, 1. April 2013, 17:34
if you gobble up all the "meta" forums (forums about design, promotion, coding, etc)?
We're hardly "gobbling [them] up". Administration is appropriate consulted and agreeable to it first. If they don't support the idea/vision then we don't just take things over.
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tiptopolive
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Nicolas
Monday, 1. April 2013, 17:47
Ferus Grim
Monday, 1. April 2013, 17:33
Does this mean I can be a retired staff member on ZN? ;D
We grandfathered in former staff from ZNR/ZBTZ/IFSZ and let them keep their hidden staff forum. We didn't mix the groups together, though. This will likely be done for Outline, as well. However, as the announcement said: we're not answering questions about specific forums/groups yet.

tiptopolive
Monday, 1. April 2013, 17:34
if you gobble up all the "meta" forums (forums about design, promotion, coding, etc)?
We're hardly "gobbling [them] up". Administration is appropriate consulted and agreeable to it first. If they don't support the idea/vision then we don't just take things over.
Absorbing, subsidizing, whatever you want to call it. I wasn't trying to characterize.

And that's fine that you consult the admins, but what about the user base? As I remember, a lot of the TZ community was opposed to the idea. I couldn't say if it was a majority or not. And by the way...

Quote:
 
If they don't support the idea/vision then we don't just take things over.


Then why did Locke, basically the father and sole admin of SZ/TZ for several years, quit over the "direction the board was heading" before the merger? He specifically cited a lack of communication on the way things were being handled by the support board. Honest question, I would really like to know more about that situation.

Again, this is pretty academic, as I'm guessing this is a Fool's Day joke.
Edited by tiptopolive, Monday, 1. April 2013, 18:27.
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Cody
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Winter is coming.
Nicolas
Monday, 1. April 2013, 17:47
Ferus Grim
Monday, 1. April 2013, 17:33
Does this mean I can be a retired staff member on ZN? ;D
We grandfathered in former staff from ZNR/ZBTZ/IFSZ and let them keep their hidden staff forum. We didn't mix the groups together, though. This will likely be done for Outline, as well. However, as the announcement said: we're not answering questions about specific forums/groups yet.

tiptopolive
Monday, 1. April 2013, 17:34
if you gobble up all the "meta" forums (forums about design, promotion, coding, etc)?
We're hardly "gobbling [them] up". Administration is appropriate consulted and agreeable to it first. If they don't support the idea/vision then we don't just take things over.
I was actually tied to a chair and my family was threatened.
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Louisa
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wait, this is serious?
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Bluezone777
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Louisa
Monday, 1. April 2013, 18:41
wait, this is serious?
I honestly doubt it as it's probably just an April Fools Day joke that no one finds funny outside of the few who thought it would be a grand idea to find humor through irritating people who care about Outline and/or Antiquus.
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Louisa
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Bluezone777
Monday, 1. April 2013, 18:46
Louisa
Monday, 1. April 2013, 18:41
wait, this is serious?
I honestly doubt it as it's probably just an April Fools Day joke that no one finds funny outside of the few who thought it would be a grand idea to find humor through irritating people who care about Outline and/or Antiquus.
i couldn't have described it better :P

i really, really hope you're right
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Joe
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Hi.
I don't necessarily support this, but I'm interested to see the outcome nonetheless.

I'm assuming this is legit as Cody did discuss this with me on Skype well before the announcement was made. If not, then that's one lame, regurgitated prank.
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Venomed
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BABA KHUA URI JUAA!!!!!!!
its just a total prank. you know it very well
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jackie
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Everyone has done one, two, or all three of these:
A. This is an awful joke
B. This is a downright awful idea what are you idiots talking about
C. What's happening omg this can't happen I hope this doesn't happen

There's no emoticon to express my feelings except hashtag annoyed at everyone.

:geek:

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[9:15:40 PM] Michael: penis is salty
[9:15:42 PM] Michael: with a bit of tang
[9:15:48 PM] Michael: :|
[9:15:53 PM] Cody: erm
[9:15:55 PM] Jackie Chen: uhm
[9:16:02 PM] Justin Bieber: ......
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Madyy
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Regardless of whether this is legit or just a prank, I really think it's one of the worst ideas I've ever heard. I've read every post in this thread and to be honest, I really don't remember what all has been said about this. But all I remember from when I first read this after it was first posted is that the first thing to came to mind is this - there's a reason I, and probably others, come to Outline instead of ZNRS or whatever it's called. You want our resources and whatever, I get that. But Outline and ZNRS are two different boards. With two different atmospheres. And you can try, but I honestly don't think it'd work out. You can think that maybe you can fix it to keep Outline's community happy over at ZNRS, but it won't work. What's wrong with having more than one place with different resources? You have to waste a few minutes and register at more than one board? While I understand that Outline is a resource board and the focus isn't solely on the community, it does have one of the best communities I've ever been a part of and I don't want to see that thrown away be merging. Even if you say it won't happen, it will. ZNRS is official. It's THE resource and support board for Zetaboards. It just...feels different. Because it is. It won't work.

I'm really certain that this is a joke, but if not, there's my two cents. Because y'know, what the community thinks does matter.
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Gabe.
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Madyy
Monday, 1. April 2013, 19:22
Regardless of whether this is legit or just a prank, I really think it's one of the worst ideas I've ever heard. I've read every post in this thread and to be honest, I really don't remember what all has been said about this. But all I remember from when I first read this after it was first posted is that the first thing to came to mind is this - there's a reason I, and probably others, come to Outline instead of ZNRS or whatever it's called. You want our resources and whatever, I get that. But Outline and ZNRS are two different boards. With two different atmospheres. And you can try, but I honestly don't think it'd work out. You can think that maybe you can fix it to keep Outline's community happy over at ZNRS, but it won't work. What's wrong with having more than one place with different resources? You have to waste a few minutes and register at more than one board? While I understand that Outline is a resource board and the focus isn't solely on the community, it does have one of the best communities I've ever been a part of and I don't want to see that thrown away be merging. Even if you say it won't happen, it will. ZNRS is official. It's THE resource and support board for Zetaboards. It just...feels different. Because it is. It won't work.

I'm really certain that this is a joke, but if not, there's my two cents. Because y'know, what the community thinks does matter.
This is what I've been trying to say but couldn't put into words. You can say all you want that we will be happy there, but I for one will never log in to ZNRS, merge or no merge.
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Chris.
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If i wanted to be active on ZNRS, then I would be active there. Im not active there because i just don't like the feel of the forum overall. It doesn't really feel like a community to me and the only people that really matter are the top resource providers. If this, is in fact, truthful of what is going to happen with ZNRS/Outline/Antiquus, theres going to be hell to pay.
Nicolas
Sunday, 31. March 2013, 23:43
Spring has come to Zathyus Networks and with it brings exciting announcements. Last April, we announced the intention to merge our Support and Resource boards to better serve our users. Once all the major bugs and organization was worked out, we successfully merged in December. Only a few minor bugs remain and should be resolved shortly. Following the successful merge of Support and Resources, we began looking at further consolidating our services onto one board. Last month, we finalized plans to add two more boards to our official Support and Resource network. It gives us great pleasure to announce today that we will be adding Outline and Antiquus to the Official Support Community by the beginning of June.

Outline's community of designers and artists, who are devoted to creating amazing quality content for our network and who continuously help and encourage one another in their endeavours is something that has been an attractive reason to support this merge: and something we do not want to lose in the transition.

Rest assured that both boards have been given the same thought and care that went into the merge of ZNR. Preparation for the merge has been under way since December and we are pleased to announce that everything is on track to be merged by June. As the board undergoes this exciting transition, we expect minimal down time which should be limited only to the actual hour of the merge.

A discussion topic has been created here on the official support community to answer your questions. At this time, we are not prepared to answer questions about specific forums or groups - but that information will be made available to you as soon as we have it.

We have many more exciting projects in the works as part of our continued 10 Year Anniversary Celebration. Please keep checking back and be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

~ The Zathyus Networks Team
Also, 10/10 would read again, just for the shitstorm this has caused
Edited by Chris., Monday, 1. April 2013, 20:03.
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StephenZB
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tiptopolive
Monday, 1. April 2013, 17:53
Then why did Locke, basically the father and sole admin of SZ/TZ for several years, quit over the "direction the board was heading" before the merger? He specifically cited a lack of communication on the way things were being handled by the support board. Honest question, I would really like to know more about that situation.
Because Locke loved drama and wanted to stir up controversy. There was no concrete direction at that point because decisions needed his input and he wasn't giving it. So finally, staff started to move on without his input and he did not like that.

Here's the quick and dirty version since you asked:

The summer we announced the merge, I receive a PM from Locke on Support basically announcing his intentions to retire from ZBTZ. His PM was about finding a proper successor and getting a transition in place. On the Support end, we discuss incorporating the board into the Official network, temporarily bulking it up with our staff while Locke trains his successor and then our staff return to support and we have two strong official boards. We then shared this with Locke and the TZ staff. That was the plan.

Problem was, even before we informed the staff, a lot of TZ staff were burned out and ready for retirement. Including all three administrators. When the admins are burned out, the rest of the staff are hardly motivated and so simply bulking them up was just not going to cut it. This meant more time for our staff on ZBTZ.

This would not have been an issue had Locke not demanded weeks later to have most of our staff removed from ZBTZ because we looked like some sort of invading army. So we did that. This was around October. The momentum we had from the announcement and the small changes we'd implemented, started to grind to a screeching halt because of Locke. Whether it was not making a decision or whether it was simple disagreement, when Locke posted a disagreeable post, all discussion stopped as his staff would simply stop responding. In effect, discussion was shut down and more and more decisions hinged on Locke.

The problem though was that Locke was supposed to be retiring right? He wasn't so sure. But, he didn't really tell us one way or the other. The successor we'd asked him to name hadn't happened and while we did promote two admins to handle the other teams, there was still no potential head admin. At the time, Locke had personal matters to attend which took precedence over running ZNR. However, a board can not simply remain in stasis forever.

What followed in the Spring of the next year was a series of events. Both myself and Brian had issues within our own personal lives and like Locke's, they took precedence over the board. However, someone still had to run things in our absence and since we had heard little from Locke, we had to make the decision to put someone there until one of the three of us could resume the duty of managing the board. Locke didn't love it, but he agreed. He did not however support the immediate promotion of someone else by the temporary admin. And so he asked Brian and myself for some information about where we were headed and some features that were in the works at the time. I saw this request while at work and unavailable. As it was a weekend and I was not able to respond, I called Brian (emphasis on CALLED) on a weekend and asked him to respond. Brian, on a weekend, also in the midst of personal matters, did this promptly and offered to answer any other questions Locke asked.

That Monday(?), Locke pulled his dramatic exit without a word to any of his staff. And if you think they were happy with him, you'd be wrong.

Lack of communication runs two ways. And if you were to poll the staff at the time, you would find it was not communication on my end that was lacking.
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Sage
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An article confirming the merger hasn't yet been posted on ZNB, so it's a complete hoax.

Sorry Stephen, ZNB*.
Edited by Sage, Monday, 1. April 2013, 20:21.
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Geoffrey
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Sage
Monday, 1. April 2013, 20:19
An article confirming the merger hasn't yet been posted on ZNB, so it's a complete hoax.

Sorry Stephen, ZNB*.
Oh shit. :clever:
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