02-11-2001 23:33									#1
	Poor solution to server issues Increase Your PM Length

Closing the OT is not the answer. These people are not clogging up the server, its the damn guests and the civ3 bandwagon.

You said the other day it wasnt your intention to shaft the regular users Marky Mark, but thats exactly what you're doing.

Shutting out guests and allowing only registered users to access the forum at this time is the way to go. It would show that you're interested in keeping your loyal patrons happy and not just interested in impressing the onslaught of flash in the pan users.

Explain how guests, who don't even contribute to the forum in any way, are getting higher preference than the regular crowd? Can anyone do it?

	03-11-2001 00:13									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

I have to agree.

It's crazy to shut out the regulars.

But, it's your site, so more power to you.

	03-11-2001 00:52									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Humour us. How about, once in a while, shutting the other forums? Even as a token gesture? Just to reassure the OT regulars that you don't consider us to be expendable?

	03-11-2001 00:56									#4
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

yes....sounds like a good idea bugs...start with civ3 general....after all thats the source of this server problem.

	03-11-2001 01:41									#5
	Get a bigger avatar today!

I suspect, that even with much heavy schmoozing and flattery (of which the OTers are sorely lacking), this plea will not be successful. It has been my impression that with the owners here, the OT is a bastard child, grudging allowing to coexist with their GAMING SITE and on topic forums. Their priorities have often been demonstrated in the past, particularly with Markos, who has a well developed sense of structure and order (Witness his positions regarding what is germane to to topic and forum). I beleive that in Markos's veiw you are asking that the (large and popular) tail wag the dog. Try flattery, begging, schmozing, and BRIBES.

	03-11-2001 01:43									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

This is the first post I can make in the miscellanious forum for a couple of days.
Civ3 is clogged up.
I can't even access my control panel!
I fear that the regular OT:ers will start to spam the other forums...
If even they aren't crammed up, that is.
*sigh*

	03-11-2001 02:00									#7
	Got spare money?

First of all, everyone arrived here as a newbie so a little more understanding and respect towards them would be no more than logical.

Second, everyone besides Markos and Dan is a guest here and the 'regulars' have as much priviliges as do the 'newbies', as it should be.

Third, this is still primarily a civ site and closing a civ3 forum only a couple of days after civ3 is released, when a lot of new people are arriving and when Firaxis members are very responsive to people’s answers, seems a horrendous idea.
Not only would it put off a lot of those new people, it also wouldn’t look good at Firaxis. (the forum here come close to being the unofficial civ3 forums)

I do hope they quickly find a solution for this.

	03-11-2001 02:45									#8
	Tired of ads?

I just wonder why has nobody mentioned Markos's giant conspiracy to kill the OT yet... Isn't this its finale? He got a great big amount of publicity and new users for Apolyton (-> more chances for getting money) while <i> also</i> getting a good reason to shut down the off-topic. In fact, his conspiracy might reach even the publishers; As Civ3 spreads like a very fast-infecting (though for some, still not fast enough) all over the world, Apolyton gets more and more users.

And it is even wider.

Yes, you know what I mean.

Civilization 3 was created to bring more advertisiment income for Markos.

	03-11-2001 03:00									#9
	Full PM-box? Change here!

I wouldn't hold my breath for fixes.

1. The Powers That Be had time to plan for this and did not do so.

2. Dan stated that they plan to wait and hope that demand goes down.

(Criticism over)

(Begin useful suggestions)

Here are some ways to think about this problem:

1. What options are there to expand hosted site server capacity

2. What options are there for other hosters?

3. Can we gain capacity by trimming other users (other affilliates...particularly if wasteful or lower priority)

4. What are the main users of CPU space (what processes) and how could they be modified to free up capacity.

	03-11-2001 03:17									#10
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Originally posted by kassiopeia I fear that the regular OT:ers will start to spam the other forums...

Verily. For we are but potty-mouthed imbeciles who know no better. Right?

	03-11-2001 03:26									#11
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

quote: But are but potty-mouthed imbeciles who know no better. Right?

Exactly. And not only that but we also are regulars potty-mouthed imbeciles who know no better

Seriously, I think that if the situation is not addressed, it will not go away by itself. I believe that MtG forum will become Apolyton OT Forums (with a twist because you are left to auto - moderate there and so...)

That's not necessairily bad although I do like the civilized ambience that tends to prevail most of the time in Apolyton OT.

	03-11-2001 03:36									#12
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

Perhaps temporarily disable some of the optional demands on bandwidth, such as avatars, signatures, rate threads? Heck, that last one could go permenantly without many posters missing it.

Last edited by Lefty Scaevola on 03-11-2001 at 03:43

	03-11-2001 04:16									#13
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Crap, you can close the site, but please please please do not close the OT Forum, especielly not the day when I decide to come for a visit. Man, I am shocked one could do such a terrible thing as closing OT Forum down!

bad Markos, bad Dan!

	03-11-2001 05:42									#14
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Ahh... chat nazi. See what happens when you leave?

	03-11-2001 06:19									#15
	simple Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

everybody should just:

1. change to light sytle (the default one)
2. turn off avatars
3. browse with only one window
4. buy shitloads of 'poly stuff so MarkDanGQ can buy their own top of the line server

	03-11-2001 06:38									#16
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Registered users and guests face the same issues.

If you're a 100% OT user, you're out of luck. This is a gaming site, not an OT site

	03-11-2001 22:43									#17
	Shameless plug.... :D Tired of ads?

However, This is an OT site

	03-11-2001 23:19									#18
	Re: Shameless plug.... :D Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

quote: Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat However, This is an OT site

Cheap plug... expected... but cheap plug

	04-11-2001 00:14									#19
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Pssssttttt...

Hey guys, look at the top of the screen, where it says, "Apolyton CIVILIZATION site." The whole original purpose of this place is for Civ.

Besides, you can go to FFZ site when the OT is down. Most of the regulars are there anyway...

	04-11-2001 00:36									#20
	Inflate your Upload Space

I've a hunch that directing to FFZ is a very effective way to troll Horsie.

	04-11-2001 03:44									#21
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

guests = cannot post, cannot contribute, cannot help forums with their wonderful ideas.......spectators are another word.

They aren't even newbies. I'm just suggesting making everyone register to use the site. Christ how bad of an idea can that be?

Guests also = short term users who will in all likelihood not stick around after this boom is over with.

In marketing, the most valuable customers are the ones you already have. Yes, new people are of course welcomed and they will improve the community, but a guest is not contributing a thing....unless you consider slowing down the servers to an incredibly slow pace contributing.

I will not go to ffz to do ot stuff. Too many dl's (hundreds), too much immaturity. Poly has a much more (hate to say it) sophisticated group to discuss things with and they even say intelligent things on occasion! Can't say the same thing about ffz. Least I myself can't.

This is a gaming site and I'm with that marky mark........but if you look at the ot, most are gamers (or ex-gamers). It's the community thats key. Hundreds of game fans who don't contribute a thing aren't worth one good poly poster, even if they only hang in the ot.

Anyways........thats the last of my b1tchin

	04-11-2001 04:38									#22
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by drake guests = cannot post, cannot contribute, cannot help forums with their wonderful ideas.......spectators are another word.

guest 'also =' thue when he choose the setting to not be monitored from the control panel

	04-11-2001 04:51									#23
	Support Apolyton

quote: Originally posted by drake They aren't even newbies. I'm just suggesting making everyone register to use the site. Christ how bad of an idea can that be?

an EXTREMELY BAD one

how many real life products would you try if you had to sign a form and wait for several minutes in order to just see it?!?


btw, 350 of those insignificant people registered the last 3 days....

	04-11-2001 05:32									#24
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

Well, if Markos follows the ancient greek approach to xenos (stranger - guest) then we have no luck because it is forbiden to kick a guest out

Why? Because that xenios (stranger) could be a god (also see Deity -or more accurately potential Deity )

	04-11-2001 11:44									#25
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

drake,

Guests could be clicking on ad banners...

	04-11-2001 14:48									#26
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

many other forums dedicated to OffTopic stuff so no need to waster server time with another one, FOr the first time in my life i am going to agree with MarkG... OT should go !!!!

	04-11-2001 15:29									#27
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

quote: Originally posted by drake I will not go to ffz to do ot stuff. Too many dl's (hundreds), too much immaturity. Poly has a much more (hate to say it) sophisticated group to discuss things with and they even say intelligent things on occasion! Can't say the same thing about ffz. Least I myself can't.

sophisticated

If you define sophisticated as jingoistic and argumentative then yes.

Please Drake, if you can't handle a fun forum and prefer to stay here after all the fun has been purged out of OT, then at least stop whining.

	04-11-2001 15:30									#28
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

quote: Originally posted by Rasputin For the first time in my life I am going to agree with MarkG... OT should go !!!!

	04-11-2001 15:59									#29
	Increase Your PM Length

quote: Originally posted by Rasputin many other forums dedicated to OffTopic stuff so no need to waster server time with another one, FOr the first time in my life i am going to agree with MarkG... OT should go !!!!

IMHO, the OT should be retained as it serves a valuable function by providing a safety valve for spam.
That said, I agree 100% with Mark and Dan's policy of locking it when server load becomes a problem - it is the least essential part of the site.

	04-11-2001 16:27									#30
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

"Safety valve for spam"? Did it take a team of sherpas to got you on that high horse?

Spam the OT and you get banned. That's basic. Most of the OT over the past couple of months has been devoted to the war in Afghanistan. Now I know that this pales in comparison with the life-or-death matter that is the presence of an MP patch on Civ 3, but I suppose there are some people with differing priorities.

If you want to see "spam" just check out Rasputin's contribution to this very forum. Nice troll, by the way.