So, anyone still go there? Today's hot threads include Viagra ads, bankruptcy aid, and of course hot ***** action.

I'm not familiar with those shows, must be some new panel ideas or something. /sarcasm.

Seriously, I sent in some reports, never hear back from anyone. I emailed them a few times, and that seems to suddenly get the site cleaned up, for a few hours. Course, I never get a reply back, any acknowledgment, or a thank you any more. I offered them some comprehensive block lists, the ones that keep this site, martialtalk, kenpotalk and fmatalk 99% spammer scumbag free, no takers there.

I don't know if it's that they don't have a clue how to use their software, if the software is so ****** that it can't really block spammers (hey, what do you want for nothing?), or if they don't take their board seriously enough to take 5 minutes to pop in each day.

Of course, the old forum (the built in pos one) is still active too. Usually has 6+ lurkers when I pop in too.

They need to get some real software, take it seriously, and staff it right, or give up and take it down. As it is, the only ones benefiting are the spammers.

I actually check in on the new MB there once in a while (have posted a handful of times) but really it is a wasted resource (their choice to make it that) - unless Stephen C. actually goes on and posts (or cleans it up) to me it is just not being used for what it should be (an information tool).

I cannot believe the amount of junk/spam/porn ads that the TTMB gets - would NEVER have happened a few years ago and if it did, "moosey would have it cleaned up toot-sweet!

To be perfectly honest I am interested in seeing how Polaris/Toronto Trek is in 2009, with a lot of the people who "run it" being involved with WorldCon in Montreal in late summer I am interested in seeing if as much attention is made for Polaris/TT. I hope it is as we would like to attend Polaris (if the guests are worthwhile).

The "main poster" on the TTMB is 'Kalel' and since I have NO TIME for him I basically ignore most of the posts, on occassion there may be an odd post of interest by someone but generally it is a place with tumbleweed blowing through. Such a shame.

I spend more time here, on LJ or Facebook and get most of my info through those sources now.

Well, Kalel should fee right at home with the spam then, considering that's why we booted him out of here way back when. LOL

In all fairness I would suspect there's much going on in trying to get organized, a lot has changed (hotel primarily) and well they still try to have an open transparency allowing posts from a bunch of different people saying who knows what (not incl. recent v1@gr@ spam, etc)... that still takes balls.

Quite frankly I know of a number of people (myself included) who left for respite or a break for a year off/etc; or even under advice of a lawyer to disassociate themselves from voluntary participation with an organization containing people who may not have conducted themselves ethically or worse; or either left permanently through disgust or termination. Also consider that possibly those joining in/staying on now aren't as capable or motivated as those in the past...I'm sensing a theme here, brain drain just isn't a lack of skilled workers in real life employment.

I could go on and though I have sufficient documentation to validate it but I'll be careful and avoid going further, there's also people there simply because no-one else is available and it's a bottom of the barrel problem... you're hired, jump in and do this job... too bad if you're not trained, have no experience or don't even like it or even have your behaviour medication chosen via dartboard - or worse convince others they can do it, be completely incompetent to the level of EPIC FAIL - and the band plays on while Titanic sinks and/or the warning signals are ignored and Pearl Harbour is bombed. Don't get me wrong, I have the utmost admiration for volunteers - but an organization is only as strong as the weakest link. Toronto fandom got a big example of a weak link after the actions of a 2008 chairman leading to ... well... I'm off topic here but suffice to say that person is no longer in a chair capacity (I'll continue to be fair and say that it's lather/rinse/repeat with a few other chairpersons/administrators in history).

Ok I am running long but I obviously have something to say on THIS board topic but I wanted to give context where I'm coming from.

I guess I'm just trying to say that though I've given up posting there too is that few organizations would even have the integrity enough to attempt to have both an open forum/communication like they do (while: BONUS - not admitting to criminal activity, attacking people, etc). They at least make the effort to answer questions or see what people want to have happen over and above membership surveys while putting up the bandwidth on their dime to do it.

Any organization worth its collective efforts will succeed if it's based on integrity and respect with a desire to make things better and adapt. Challenging a (repeated) lack of those ethics is not called 'bad-mouthing' or even not liking their decisions - it's simply the bullshiat detector going off, again.. and again, and again. But as well all know, some people mistake a short memory with a clear conscience and understanding is a three-edged sword; my side; your side; and the truth.

But I digress.

I gave up on fairness a while back. A simple 'thank you' would have been nice, but hey, this is the same group that can't explain how a unique to their site and event email address somehow got hundreds of spam messages and 'thanks for your sign up' notices until I simply set my server to reject anything sent to it. But hey, their site, and if they want to allow it to be unsecure, a popular spammer and scammer destination and risk the privacy data of their members, all I can say is, good luck.

For the record:
PHPBB is notorious for security flaws, and numerous hosting companies who care about a secure environment ban it's use on their servers. We do.
Googling will verify this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phpbb#Security

This site (and my other forums) run on vBulletin, which is a commercial product with active support, not a hobbyist project. I also have the servers regularly audited for security concerns, and operate a secure hosting environment. We also have active moderators who will splash any spammer bastard on detection, and we don't leave porn and drug ads sit for days.

But they picked the software because it was free, not because it was secure.

I am very fond of a lot of people involved with Tcon (Stephen C., Sharon, Monique, etc) but I find that the TTMB has been the neglected step-child, it used to be a vibrant part of the community and people involved with running Tcon used it as a resource (and lots of ideas came from there like improvements in the autograph lines, photo op changes, etc).

I have just been very surprised this resource has basically shrivelled up...but whatever info is available in other forums.

I still think Polaris/Toronto Trek has its place in Toronto fandom, it just appears that it needs all the resources it can have to continue to attract attendees and more importantly NEW attendees.

On another front: Is there a Battlestar Galactica guest yet? ;)

ROFL!!!

I hear they got a toaster from Walmart for the con suite. Does that count? :D

Sure it counts! :)

Funny thing about toaster...when Jackie and I were at SFX, Polaris had Aaron Douglas "Chief" there at the table and they gave him a real toaster to sign, Aaron did not have a Black Sharpie so Jackie gave him hers and he signed the toaster (we have a picture of him doing that) and it will be auctioned off at Polaris this year at the Charity Auction!

Let me re-phrase: Is there ANY guest yet? :) :)

Sure it counts! :)

Funny thing about toaster...when Jackie and I were at SFX, Polaris had Aaron Douglas "Chief" there at the table and they gave him a real toaster to sign, Aaron did not have a Black Sharpie so Jackie gave him hers and he signed the toaster (we have a picture of him doing that) and it will be auctioned off at Polaris this year at the Charity Auction!

Let me re-phrase: Is there ANY guest yet? :) :)

I think I may have passed that idea on from when I wanted to go to the Calgary show and Number 6 was there. Cool beans, I'm always a sucker for helping charities ;)

If you're coming to Calgary, the Polaris snowmobile dealer is on the 32 Av NE connector just east of Edmonton Trail!

I did just get a thanks from Stephen saying he'd been offline a bit. Hopefully for them they'll tke what I sent them, be able to use it and block the scumbags.

Unfortunately it seems of Stephen C. is not monitoring the TTMB then it seems to be neglected.

The amount of PORN, Solicitations and Ads on there at any given time is bad, the porn especially on a "family friendly" convention site is bad. Right now there is well over 1/2 dozen porn and spam ads

If they cannot have people monitor it then they definitely need some better automated programs to block this stuff.

Not run the way it used to be with Stephen and 'Moosey running that message board show.

Well, at least the spammers are getting some use out of it.

Well, at least the spammers are getting some use out of it.


LOL! True point...they can keep the tumbleweeds busy in there!