Later dudes...

[Inkachu]

I've been absent from CF for a while now, for several reasons. I hate the new format, many other long-standing members are leaving, and after learning that staff now has access to your personal email addresses, IP addresses, and private messages (yup, they're "private" no more), I've had enough. It's disgusting that when I logged in here to post this farewell, the first things I see are banners soliciting me for money ("become a CF supporter!"). This is no longer a Christian site, it's a secular, invasive, money-grubbing site that has some leftover Christians still hanging around. It's frustratingly sad because I've been a staple presence here for the past 7 years, and I made some amazing friends here who've helped me through many difficulties in my life.

I'm sure this will be deleted, because as we all know, you're not allowed to say anything against the State, er, the site. I hope to see some of you on other forums which more closely resemble true Christianity. My username will always be the same, so I'm easy to find.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

Well to be fair the ads just ask for money and in return you no longer see ads. As for the email, IPs....etc it makes sense the staff can see them. It doesn't affect me really. That said I agree that the changes are still to much. I haven't gotten used to the layout at all. And MANY sub sections are gone along with any topics made in them so if you didn't save things you said then your out of luck. As it is they accidently deleted my old account when the site changed so I lost alot of special private messages. And many members have gone. The forum today seems more full of christian who battle each other instead. And with mixed in non-believers it just makes everything a massive debate. Even in this section. I'd go to another forum but this is the biggest one that I know of where you have some freedoms. Although there are alot of rules that don't make sense honestly but we got no choice on that.

 

[SarahsKnight]

Farewell, Inkachu. For what it's worth the few times we exchanged words or i simply happened upon your posts out and about, I really liked your brand of insight and thought that you seemed like a cool person. But you do what you have to do.

Take care. Keep that level head of yours.

 

[LinkH]

I hope things go well for you, whatever forum you go to.

I've cut back on using this site and probably will continue to cut back more. Sometimes adds will pop up taking up half the screen, leaving only a narrow space through which to read messages. At some point, sites get too heavy with ads and slow your computer down too much to bother with, kind of like about.com.

I also thought it was strange that they have a button that says to click here to accept Jesus. I clicked on it to see what happened, and it didn't take me to something on the topic of salvation. I wonder if that's the new thing. You know, now you can make a 'friend' just by two people clicking buttons on Facebook. I wonder if it will be the new thing to be accepted as a Christian because you clicked the 'accept Jesus' button on a forum, whether or not you believe the Gospel. That seems the next logical step after being accepted and told you are a Christian for repeating a prayer after a preacher, whether or not he has preached the Gospel to you.

 

[Boidae]

For those who are using Firefox and I think Chrome there are is ad blocking plug-ins that can be used. I have one and do not see any ads at all.

It won't block the box that says to pay to get rid of ads, but that is a minor inconvenience when you have already gotten rid of ads for free.

 

[RDKirk]

I also intensely dislike the new software.

 

[TravelerFarAwayFromHome]

I've been absent from CF for a while now, for several reasons. I hate the new format, many other long-standing members are leaving, and after learning that staff now has access to your personal email addresses, IP addresses, and private messages (yup, they're "private" no more), I've had enough. It's disgusting that when I logged in here to post this farewell, the first things I see are banners soliciting me for money ("become a CF supporter!"). This is no longer a Christian site, it's a secular, invasive, money-grubbing site that has some leftover Christians still hanging around. It's frustratingly sad because I've been a staple presence here for the past 7 years, and I made some amazing friends here who've helped me through many difficulties in my life.

I'm sure this will be deleted, because as we all know, you're not allowed to say anything against the State, er, the site. I hope to see some of you on other forums which more closely resemble true Christianity. My username will always be the same, so I'm easy to find.

honestly, the grass is not always greener on the other side

as for soliciting money, well, this site does have overheads, and they are not forcing you....

as for ads, I use internet explorer, I don't have problems with too much ads

but they have to find a way to meet the overheads

so I think we should give them a break

 

[Hetta]

I've been absent from CF for a while now, for several reasons. I hate the new format, many other long-standing members are leaving, and after learning that staff now has access to your personal email addresses, IP addresses, and private messages (yup, they're "private" no more), I've had enough. It's disgusting that when I logged in here to post this farewell, the first things I see are banners soliciting me for money ("become a CF supporter!"). This is no longer a Christian site, it's a secular, invasive, money-grubbing site that has some leftover Christians still hanging around. It's frustratingly sad because I've been a staple presence here for the past 7 years, and I made some amazing friends here who've helped me through many difficulties in my life.

I'm sure this will be deleted, because as we all know, you're not allowed to say anything against the State, er, the site. I hope to see some of you on other forums which more closely resemble true Christianity. My username will always be the same, so I'm easy to find.

Inka, I wondered where you were! I will look for you. I'm alarmed that PM's are not private. I didn't know that. That is worrisome and makes me not want to be here either. I will look around for you.

 

[DZoolander]

Well, I'm not sure about the privacy issues/etc (I don't really care enough to pay attention to those things...to be honest...and I so rarely get PMed anyhow...lol) - but as for the site itself - in defense of the staff - I think there was a very pragmatic reason for them to make the switch. They want they search rankings to remain "good".

Google recently started docking sites that weren't mobile friendly - so I'd guess that the move to the new software was a way to address that and make the site more "responsive" (meaning the content is mobile friendly/adapts to various screen sizes/etc).

The ads are a pain though.

 

[bort]

This is awesome. Vicky is a champ. I remember her from years ago along with a lot of other classic CF posters that have been gone for quite some time. Anyway, enough of strolling down memory road. God has done a ton of great things for members of this forum. Life goes on with new people and new places. As for the current state of this board.. I saw it coming a long time ago. I'm just glad God allowed me to interact with some really cool Jesus loving friendlies for the times I've been logged on. See you on the flipside.

 

[Angeldove97]

The staff having access to your "information" is not a new thing - as a past staff member I could pull up profiles if I had to change signatures or avatars and yes you can see your e-mail. I can't think of a single time that was abused though - and I'm sure Staff wouldn't put up with a staffer who was abusing that. As for pm's - I don't know how the new site works, but I believe the old one had a pm log that could only be viewed by way upper staff and I don't think they would ever snoop around unless there was harassment or legal issues going on.

Staff is not the type to get all up in your business - it's more if there are trolls (we can track IP's or emails of trolls to better ban them) about or harassment/legal issues going on. Nobody is selling your information

Anyways, wishing you the best! Hope you'll reconsider and join back into the community when you're ready

 

[DZoolander]

Online privacy stuff has always been an interesting subject to me - I suppose because I'm a developer. I run a few different online services, and created them from scratch. So I've got a pretty good grasp on the inner workings of these types of sites.

Long story short - everything is stored in a database. Just like this site. As the primary developer/admin - I have complete and total access to that database. There is nothing anyone puts on the site that is beyond my reach to look at if I felt so inclined.

The thing is - I don't feel so inclined. My services have thousands of registered users. To be honest, I couldn't care two craps about any one of them unless they start becoming a bother to others and I'm compelled to check and then boot them if necessary. My only concern is with the system itself - and whether it continues to function properly.

There's a certain power of anonymity that comes with large groups. I don't know who my users are - and I don't care to know. I assume other sites/projects/etc are the same way. Why would I vest time to worry about "user 253 out of 5000"?

Ya know?

 

[Goatee]

I am new here and quite like the place! Seems quite open and less restrictive like some sites (Cath Answ).

As for Ads i dont see any as i use Adblock!

Dont leave! Stay. Help us newbies!!!!

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

Nothing online is private if someone tries hard enough to get it. Its why I laugh when people trying to live off the grid use "Armageddon Prepper" type forums to talk to others. I mean.... your not off the grid if you have been online. lol

 

[BFine]

I was wondering about Inkachu...
it's what I thought...but I still hope
she will drop in from time to time.