MOVING Forum to Google Groups / Testing Phase
As you may have read in the "What's Happening" thread, we're in the process of moving over to Google Groups. The link is:
Google Groups
Currently, we're testing the capabilities of the Groups system. It's refreshing to be able to keep threads in different sections for different things, like a section specifically for stories, another for discussion, another for ads, etc. I've already posted some stories, including a couple with content members were concerned Google may not be okay with. They're still around so far. Here's hoping they stay.
I am also posting the Hostboard Backup files there. As I've mentioned, the link to my backups expire, so I'll update as often as I can. The backups contain most of the "lost" content, but not all. As for the stories in the backups, I don't think I have the time to post every single story we've ever had on Hostboard myself, so if any authors would like to post their own stories up on the Google forum, I would be very grateful.
Finally, since the Google forum is behind an age filter, membership is necessary. My apologies for that.
And, that's all for now. Fingers crossed this new system is the solution to our Hostboard woes.
Cheers,
XP
Re: MOVING Forum to Google Groups / Testing Phase
Hi XP! I posted the original "Inge" story as a test. I hope that this works. If it does, I'll start posting my own stories.
To people who are interested, to the best of my knowledge it is possible to sign up for a google account anonymously (or with artificial parameters) in case you are concerned about maintaining your privacy. Yes, I know that, supposedly, there is no such thing on the net, but I hope that this board can still respect and maintain privacy.
Take care,
JB57
Re: MOVING Forum to Google Groups / Testing Phase
Sorry, i don't join a "Titfighting and Sexfighting"-Group with my public Google-ID. I know that google has unlimited Web powers but thats way to insecure. And i will not create 2 google Accounts or hide the group from my Profil (which do appear some day in the future to everyone coz of a Data failure SORRY!).
Re: MOVING Forum to Google Groups / Testing Phase
Quote:
Originally Posted by
calla242
Sorry, i don't join a "Titfighting and Sexfighting"-Group with my public Google-ID. I know that google has unlimited Web powers but thats way to insecure. And i will not create 2 google Accounts or hide the group from my Profil (which do appear some day in the future to everyone coz of a Data failure SORRY!).
well that is your loss, the fact that you are scared of something like that is odd.
anyways.. Great idea XP moving to google groups, I really feel like they will help us out quite well! Sad to see us leave hostboard, but change is always good!
Re: MOVING Forum to Google Groups / Testing Phase
Quote:
Originally Posted by
calla242
Sorry, i don't join a "Titfighting and Sexfighting"-Group with my public Google-ID. I know that google has unlimited Web powers but thats way to insecure. And i will not create 2 google Accounts or hide the group from my Profil (which do appear some day in the future to everyone coz of a Data failure SORRY!).
I certainly understand your concern and I share it. I believe that my profile/google account that I constructed as JB57 is separate from any other google account I may have, but I also want/need to maintain my anonymity. I suggest that people keep posting to this board, if/when they are able to do so.
JB57
Re: MOVING Forum to Google Groups / Testing Phase
I absolutely understand people's concerns about personal information, privacy, and apprehension about Google. I had those myself prior to moving the forum over. I've spent months looking for an alternative to Hostboard and Google Groups, in my personal opinion, is the most viable long-term location.
Now, in case anyone is wondering, I checked a bunch of people's profiles on new forum. I used both a test account and my main account as owner / admin. I also went into my admin panel and looked at the admin version of those people's profiles. So far, all I see in all cases is information about Group activity and nothing else. I don't see any real names. I don't see any other Google information. I don't see anything outside of what one does on Google Groups. It's actually similar to your Hostboard accounts. I can see which forums you go to on Hostboard, what topics you posted in, and whether you created any threads. It's the same over on Google Groups.
I understand if some members decide not to come over to the new forum location. I would just like those members to know that I've tried my best to find a new home for this forum. I honestly don't see a better location at this time.
Re: MOVING Forum to Google Groups / Testing Phase
Quote:
Originally Posted by
XP
I absolutely understand people's concerns about personal information, privacy, and apprehension about Google. I had those myself prior to moving the forum over. I've spent months looking for an alternative to Hostboard and Google Groups, in my personal opinion, is the most viable long-term location.
Now, in case anyone is wondering, I checked a bunch of people's profiles on new forum. I used both a test account and my main account as owner / admin. I also went into my admin panel and looked at the admin version of those people's profiles. So far, all I see in all cases is information about Group activity and nothing else. I don't see any real names. I don't see any other Google information. I don't see anything outside of what one does on Google Groups. It's actually similar to your Hostboard accounts. I can see which forums you go to on Hostboard, what topics you posted in, and whether you created any threads. It's the same over on Google Groups.
I understand if some members decide not to come over to the new forum location. I would just like those members to know that I've tried my best to find a new home for this forum. I honestly don't see a better location at this time.
Thanks for your efforts, XP. I've already signed up but I'm not yet convinced if I should stay because of privacy issues and because still a computer amateur who has no clue how to create a second account. As you may have already noticed, I fucked up when trying to post one of my stories. LOL...
A.Penman
Re: MOVING Forum to Google Groups / Testing Phase
Quote:
Originally Posted by
apenman
Thanks for your efforts, XP. I've already signed up but I'm not yet convinced if I should stay because of privacy issues and because still a computer amateur who has no clue how to create a second account. As you may have already noticed, I fucked up when trying to post one of my stories. LOL...
A.Penman
Like others here, I appreciate the effort being put in to migrate the forum but will also have to figure out the privacy angle before i can move myself over.
When I set up my original Google account a year ago (with what I thought was a fairly anodyne and anonymous email address) Google still managed to link my full name to the address so that people I correspond with can see it! There may be an easy way round this, but since then I've been fairly careful who I share it with.
Rags
Re: MOVING Forum to Google Groups / Testing Phase
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ragnar0k
Like others here, I appreciate the effort being put in to migrate the forum but will also have to figure out the privacy angle before i can move myself over.
When I set up my original Google account a year ago (with what I thought was a fairly anodyne and anonymous email address) Google still managed to link my full name to the address so that people I correspond with can see it! There may be an easy way round this, but since then I've been fairly careful who I share it with.
Rags
Rags,
I live with the nagging fear that one day I'll be at a gathering with my Italian-American and still way too Catholic family and some cousin will blurt out "so, cousin, I hear that you're writing porn on the internet these days!"
But I guess that's the price one pays when one is an artist/fetishist...
AP
Re: MOVING Forum to Google Groups / Testing Phase
This is a genuine fear. When I set up my second, JB57 account on google, I filled in the identifying information with pseudonyms. When I send myself messages at my other accounts, it comes up as JB57. But, I am not overwhelmingly computer savvy. For all I know, I am broadcasting all across the internet.
I like the new board but I intend to keep using this one as long as it functions. I think it is improving - fingers crossed!
JB57