Scheduled Downtime

[EdwinWillers]

Something tells me that the mindset behind this forum is probably also the reason why the little hearts with crosses for giving blessings are turned off

Eee..yup.

 

[God_fearer]

The little hearts with crosses were turned off fairly recently, though. So somebody did something ... recently.

Anyone know who it was?

Maybe we could contact them.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

The little hearts with crosses were turned off fairly recently, though. So somebody did something ... recently.

Anyone know who it was?

Maybe we could contact them.

I need my blessings savings back!

....

 

[arborvita]

Pauler has been asked to respond to this thread and is best equipped to know of the return of the items that are being questioned.

I do know that if the items were removed it was for one of two maybe three issues... someone saw a back door to hack the software code and cause problems or the code itself was causing stability issues or last reason for removal would people were abusing the system to hurt other members.

As far as editing or expanding code features to this site again there is a list of items that we all have asked to see return and Paul is aware but his focus has been making sure that CF is stable first and foremost. The other items that are fun items are lower on the list of things to be added or corrected to be brought up to speed.

I do apologize for not having more information for you all but I did ask for Pauler to see if he could provide more details to the site.

Kindest regards,

arbor
site advisor

 

[SparkyMaddie]

thank you Arbor.

 

[servant of Merciful Love]

Thanks Matt (and Nilla for her response as well) We know you are between and rock and hard spot in this.
I will quote what I posted in the other thread Another feature of CF... abandoned?

It is discouraging to have features removed without a word or updates, especially when we are supporting the site financially.

It is giving me cause to reconsider when it is time to renew the subscription for hubby and I.

CF Supporter Annual CF Supporter Annual
Become a CF Supporter and gain some privileges when active on the site. You can gain blessings, participate in private forums, and have gifts for your implication.
Blessings in Bonus: 27500

There are no privileges, blessings or gifts....just features being removed (arcade and blessings) and other bugs being experienced.
We just went over a year with the Living Avatars down...again with no word or updates.

The only perk for paying is no ads, but seeing the instability of the forum and no subscriber support, even that may not be worth the cost.

With no blessings, members cannot buy/feed/train pets if they wish, or even create a Living Avatar.

New Members subscribe thinking they are getting all these features, only to find it is otherwise once they have paid.

Not a way to treat 'valued' supporters' IMHO :o

Time will tell

 

[pgp_protector]

Thanks Matt (and Nilla for her response as well) We know you are between and rock and hard spot in this.
I will quote what I posted in the other thread Another feature of CF... abandoned?

Time will tell

If the site is advertising that by supporting it you'll get features that they're not giving, they may also be opening themselves up to legal issues.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

As far as editing or expanding code features to this site again there is a list of items that we all have asked to see return and Paul is aware but his focus has been making sure that CF is stable first and foremost.
The other items that are fun items are lower on the list of things to be added or corrected to be brought up to speed.

I am with Pauler on that
Anyone remember what happened to CF a few years back. It was catastrophic, but tho it took time to restore CF again, it was done and for that we should be thankful.

http://www.christianforums.com/t7356992-20/#post51281823
What Happened

first i want to thank everyone for their patience and support over the last week. it has been an arduous task and, although not 100% yet, it will get there.

on april 1, CF was hacked. no personal information was compromised as far as we can tell, so there are no worries there, but just in case...i would advise everyone to change their CF password to something completely unrelated to other important passwords that you use. i called the police and their internet division, but they were of no help...and anyway, i heard a voice message saying they would be out of the office for a couple of days anyway...no help.

 

[Pauler]

in regards to the blessings system. there was someone abusing the blessings system a couple of months ago. i tried to fix it to where that was disabled, but in the process disabled more than i wanted. even though the settings in the admin control panel are the same, it is not allowing blessings for one reason or another. i am trying to find a work around for it. i apologize that it is taking longer than expected.

in regards to the arcade. the arcade, although fun is an invite for hackers due to the buggy code. over the last couple of years CF has been vulnerable on this front and just a few weeks ago we found another hole that needed to be patched. feedback would be appreciated on this. do you all want to keep the arcade knowing the risks...or...let it go?

i know there are other issues, but i will have to address those later as it seems these are on the forefront right now. sorry for the lack of communication. however, please know that i am in the background working on things...it is just taking me longer than expected. thanks for your patience.

 

[servant of Merciful Love]

in regards to the blessings system. there was someone abusing the blessings system a couple of months ago. i tried to fix it to where that was disabled, but in the process disabled more than i wanted. even though the settings in the admin control panel are the same, it is not allowing blessings for one reason or another. i am trying to find a work around for it. i apologize that it is taking longer than expected.

in regards to the arcade. the arcade, although fun is an invite for hackers due to the buggy code. over the last couple of years CF has been vulnerable on this front and just a few weeks ago we found another hole that needed to be patched. feedback would be appreciated on this. do you all want to keep the arcade knowing the risks...or...let it go?

i know there are other issues, but i will have to address those later as it seems these are on the forefront right now. sorry for the lack of communication. however, please know that i am in the background working on things...it is just taking me longer than expected. thanks for your patience.

Thank you so much for your update Pauler and the work you do to keep us secure here
Yes, the blessings system has changed greatly, and it is good the issue is being addressed, even though the feature is missed.

As for the arcade...IMHO...if it isn't secure, I wouldn't want the forum to be at risk, so just let it go.

Perhaps removing all the links to the disabled features might be a consideration?
Then new members won't expect these things and be disappointed/upset when they realize they don't work.

My other thought was to re-write the promotional summary for the paid subscriptions?

CF Supporter Annual CF Supporter Annual
Become a CF Supporter and gain some privileges when active on the site. You can gain blessings, participate in private forums, and have gifts for your implication.
Blessings in Bonus: 27500

The ONLY benefit to subscribing is the REMOVAL OF THE ADS, and the only private forum is the Site Supporter's Fellowship which is rarely used now
The way it is written now is misleading (IMHO); the blessings are useless, there are no gifts or privileges.

 

[razeontherock]

in regards to the blessings system.

Thanks for the update! Will we get the amount in savings back?

 

[drjean]

Thanks so much for the updates!!!! I thoroughly enjoy the arcade and use it therapeutically as a distraction from my pain. I know of another vbulletin site that John Grohol runs ) who has a similar arcade and I don't believe he has any issues, maybe you could contact him for help? He's always had excellent spam blockers etc., and was selected as one of the top 100 sites on the WWW! He does consulting so it would not be out of line to ask. Your best bet for contacting Dr. Grohol is at his office

On the blessings... IDK the info and I'm rather ignorant about the real techie stuff... thinking about how the member was abusing the blessings exchange, could they have altered the coding to allow that...and if you haven't lost all that data from the member, perhaps the answer is in that? Sorry if this is totally ignorant and off the wall ... my brain thinks weirdly sometimes.

Is there no way to completely remove and reinstall the arcade afresh?

 

[SplendidTree]

Thank you for the update, Pauler. You are doing the best you can and I appreciate that.

 

[psalms 91]

Please keep the arcade, so many of us enjoy it. As for the blessings I am glad that this issue is being addressed. Please fix it and bring it back, again many enjoy this feature.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Thanks for the update! Will we get the amount in savings back?

Lukily I withdrew a lot of mine out of savings just before that happened

......

 

[JRSut1000]

Now I find out about the scheduled downtime... lol! I was wondering what was going on last night!

 

[servant of Merciful Love]

Now I find out about the scheduled downtime... lol! I was wondering what was going on last night!

It wasn't 'scheduled' if CF was down last night

Site will be down on Friday, March 23 for approximately 30 min starting at 11pm. Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[psalms 91]

Please care enough about this site to fix all these issues with the arcade and blessings, many want them back. Wonder how many have already left because of these issues? Please bring them back soon, very soon.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Please care enough about this site to fix all these issues with the arcade and blessings, many want them back. Wonder how many have already left because of these issues? Please bring them back soon, very soon.

I generally use blessings for new members and also on blessings threads on various CF boads.

What the heck can I do with all of them now

......

 

[psalms 91]

Please keep the arcade and get it running ASAP please