Make forums Have less Intergration With Proboards

Hello,

We appreciate your suggestions.

Actually, we have taken steps to minimize the ProBoards branding, and you can take steps to do so as well with codes.

First, on the ProBoards Global Login system. Previously the name ProBoards was more prominent on the login screen, but we actually just changed that a couple days ago with a redesign. The forum name shows up much, much larger (as I'm sure you'll see if you click over here you'll see the forum name and URL displayed as the focal point. It is important, though, that people understand that they are logging into their ProBoards account. It makes it easier and faster to manage all of your ProBoards forum accounts together. So yes, we have taken steps here to lower the impact.

Further, I would argue the complete opposite point to you saying that you can not create a professional forum with this situation. It is 100% more professional to be operating login and registrations through an https secure server, which is what v5 gives you.

Regarding the Avatar Maker. I must admit I am a bit perplexed by this complaint, since this is us adding completely new functionality into our system; however you could easily address it by adding a code to your forum that hides the Avatar Maker completely. If you don't want it, you don't have to use it, and you can hide it.

I will note that writing a bot to scrape the data off any ProBoards forum is a violation of section 19(g) of the ProBoards Terms of Service. Such bots cause a detrimental affect to our computer servers and we proactively block them.

Lastly, I would also like to note that nearly all forum systems have a notice at the bottom, even paid software like vBulletin still requires their "Powered by vBulletin" message at the bottom -- and that's after paying them hundreds of dollars.

The notice at the bottom is removable with ad free.

With regards to logging into Google with Facebook, that example doesn't fit as they both offer their own "global" login systems, or single sign on.

Realistically, logging into a forum with a "ProBoards account" is no different to logging into a forum with a Facebook account, or Google account, as is the case in many locations. In those cases you end up at a Google or Facebook branded login system. The only difference is your perception of the ProBoards brand vs the Google brand.

The aim with the login page has purposefully been to move away move away from the perception of "We are a forum host, by the way, here is your login" and move towards a "This is a secure login system for forums, and happens to be provided by ProBoards."

Its actually been requested many times over the last couple of years (and as recently as this week in fact) that we allow logins to be supported on other platforms such as their websites.

We have also made the color scheme of the page customizable, and put more emphasis on the name of the forum you are logging in to.

You're not going to be sharing accounts with other forums. The global login simply gives you one place to sign in to the forum(s) you ARE a member of and easily switch from one to the another.

sent from my mobile addiction

An interesting point brought up in this topic was that people have registered with Proboards 10 years ago. Although v5 is a remarkably promising and fulfilling software, it is also very different from v4. In many ways, it's almost like a different software. In fact, it is a different software. Wasn't the whole forum software rewritten?

Version 5 is very unique and modern. But those qualities can also affect forums in different ways. Forums registered with a different software. There will be many forums that have no place on v5, because the style is so different from v5. This is a complete change. While I'll be happily using v5, I'd like to strongly suggest that you hold some plans for the current software. It's a decade of work, and has interested many people. Time and time again, it has been mentioned that Proboards cannot maintain two versions of software. That is true. But it would be very nice if Proboards can have some plan for the current version of the software.

Nevertheless, I still see that it would be hard for Proboards to maintain two versions of the software. And for that reason, I'll provide some suggestions for v5.

If the login page is solely there for security and not for branding/advertising purposes, you could allow forums to use something like the old v5 skin system with headers and footers, just for the login page. I know it simply won't be porting the old software. But Proboards could replicate the old admin panel and use it just for the login page. Since v5 is all about customization this would be the perfect feature.

And I know that administrators are unhappy that they won't be able to see e-mail addresses anymore. And Proboards strong argument is that it is for privacy and legal reasons. In today's legal world, I can clearly see the need for this. But it is also undeniable that quite a few people have already left the software because of this (just by browsing PBS), despite being a small issue.

There is a solution for the e-mail issue. Allow admins to ask for e-mails in ANOTHER field during the registration, and allow admins to choose require that field. If members don't like it, they don't have to register. And clearly, it is presented to them when they register that this extra information will be visible to staff.


I just saw the vBulletin example. vBulletin offers copyright free for a hefty price. Seeing that "flyoffacliff" is willing to pay, you could do that. Hey, if you get the funds, take it. xD

Overall, the changes will be tastefully good. A little additional work could calm fears that members have had about v5. After all, these seem to be very small issues. Thanks.

Although I've thought of this before, I'm not very fond of your argument. Firstly, Proboards is not the first software to face this issue, and certainly will not be the last. Encryption and authentication on the server-side is most important. And a few lines of code can also prevent usage of that event. Perl methods could be implemented. If they were hasty, they could use an iframe, even though that wouldn't be the best approach. Users will always have tools from ff and chrome that make it easy for them to obtain sensitive information. That's why you would never trust the client-side. There are ways to work around this issue.

Anyways, as for my earlier argument, you can leave out my headers/footers argument. Although, I still believe it is possible to implement this securely.

Here. I crossed out, like 3 words. If you have time, read the full post someday.

I think Rick Ace is just saying you should allow color and format options for the login associated with your forum, just as the forum URL and name are displayed on the page.