Really need some input on big possible changes for Paganspace

Hi All,

I hope all the moms had a wonderful Mother's Day with their families!

And onto the topic at hand.

I'm sure you noted w/ my announcement back in mid-March my agitation with the Ning network after pulling the forced public profiles on Ning with all members.

Since that time, I have really been heavily considering moving Paganspace onto my server and just running my own social network script that I purchase, which would be very similar to the current layout and actually probably better in many ways. The problem right now is that a while back Ning locked all site owners out of their source code and currently, I have no way to gather all of the site content (ie: I'm in a corner which I do not like at all).

When I started Paganspace.net back in November 2007 it was not like this, I had availability to our source code and Ning offered a truly white label experience for those of us who choose to pay their fees. Yet, since that time much has changed and I've grown very dissatisfied with numerous important things such as:

* Spam Invites are rampant with the Ning public profiles and interconnection of profiles (I currently have 856 invites sitting on Ning from people I've never even heard of...ugh) I hate being spammed w/ invites etc. as does most everyone. I have banned numerous members here for spamming members (just banned one this morning and sent out a warning to another). Yet, sometimes when I receive issue reports about people being barraged with invites etc. there are times when it's not coming from here because the people associated are either under a different name than the invite or they're not members here. Which means it's coming from the Ning network's new public profile mess, which again ties my hands and gives me a headache to boot...lol.

* I no longer feel in control of the site because more-or-less I'm locked out of my own content with no current way to back it up. This annoys me more than you'll ever know and again it was not like this when I chose this network to host Paganspace and had I known it would become this way I would have looked elsewhere. Hindsight is 20/20 you know...lol

Anyway, to cut this mini-novel down a bit (sorry I'm wordy this morning...lol) Ning has stated that they will be offering a way for site owners to backup their content (of course, they've been saying this for months and I've yet to see anything) but short of me copying this entire site (which if I get annoyed enough I just might make a go of it..) the best I can do is look into purchasing a compatible script (I think I found one that would work well and offer everyone even more than the current, it's a little pricey but with what I'm currently paying it would be less in the long run) and begin building a site on my server while leaving this one in tact for as long as needed until I can get everything placed onto the new site.

I'd really like your feedback on this decision as truthfully, I'm baffled as to what course of action is best for the community. Please know, what I'm considering is not set in stone but as things keep changing with Ning, I grow less impressed w/ the forward movement and look more to having control once again, to our community. If Ning makes changes that corrects the current situation (and believe me I state my peace w/ numerous things with Ning) then of course, I'd be happy to keep the site on the network but at current, the negatives seem to be outweighing the positives.

Much Love, Big Hugs & to the Gods I'm sorry this was so long and filled with more run-on sentences than I can count...lol AND I'm really sorry for those who are barraged with crap in their inbox everyday!

~Starrfire

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by SIN on May 11, 2009 at 9:39am: You should have control over your own site. I'm not too concerned about 'content' it's our responsibility to back up our own stuff, and move it to a new site if you choose that route. Pain in the ass? Sure it is, like any other social network.

Topics:
This would be my own concern. There are a shit-ton of topics that would be a shame to lose. If there is anyway to load the archives to the new server that would be ideal.

Reviews:
Another helpful area I'd hate to lose.

Profiles:
We should be able to save our own stuff and move it over to the new site.

That's my .02 :-P

Sin

Permalink Reply by Starrfire Price on May 11, 2009 at 9:46am: Thanks girl for the feedback!! I'd definitely be moving all the cool discussions etc., no way are we loosing all the forum, reviews, event listings etc.

This choice is most definitely a pain in the ass but this site would stay up for months after allowing everyone to move their profiles/blogs/pics etc. to the new site.

You Rock! (of course you already know that...lol)

Permalink Reply by AlanHeartsong on May 11, 2009 at 9:45am: Ever since Ning nuked the Pagan Men for Men site, I have definitely not been a fan. We had a good thing going and lost all of it. Unfortunately, when you transfer to a different social networking site, the learning curve is a problem for people trying to equate how the new one works vs. how the old one worked. You're bound to lose members in the transition too, if they're not on here often.

Ning - when Doodyheads run websites.

Permalink Reply by Starrfire Price on May 11, 2009 at 9:57am: I know that it can be a bit of a learning curve but I promise I'd find one that makes the transition as simple as possible (if there is such a thing...lol). I'll also pre-build a help center so people can easily find answers regarding any changes.

I can save all the members info, that's the only thing I have control over anymore, so I'd back that up and then place the data into the new site database, so everyone's profile data information is on their profiles.

I love your doodyheads comments....lol

Permalink Reply by Starrfire Price on May 11, 2009 at 10:00am: Thank you so much for your feedback and for your sticking it out with us through thick and thin :-) You Rock!

Oh and Note to self: No changes until AFTER Mercury Retrograde ...lol

Permalink Reply by Starrfire Price on May 11, 2009 at 10:55am: Many thanks John for your feedback and even your cynicism (I agree with your thoughts :-)
I'm with you, I do not like feeling as though my content is not mine, a big problem for me as many people work hard on their sites and to feel as though we're in a corner is not a comfortable spot.
Once again, thank you so much for your feedback it is greatly appreciated :-)

Permalink Reply by Starrfire Price on May 11, 2009 at 10:51am: Hi JT and thank you so much for your input and suggestions. I currently host other sites and some of mine on a reseller server stack that I pay for monthly and all my domain names are mine, Paganspace.net being one of them, which I would point to the new server. I'll message you about the helpful info you provided and many, many thanks for your feedback!

Permalink Reply by Gwendolynn on May 11, 2009 at 10:11am: I can well understand your frustration lass for it is equally as frustrating having to deal with the script problems from the user's end... I'd be glad to help with the transition in any way that I can. You might be able to get other reliable members to help in copying some content or notifying and assisting other members in copying their own content for the transition. Just a thought but I'm available for the asking and best part is that I'm....FREE....cheap labor...Gwen

Permalink Reply by Hobbyhorse on May 11, 2009 at 10:15am: Hi Starrfire,
I think if you're having problems with ning and you have a way to put the site on your own server than why not? It's really a matter of how much trouble it will be for you. But, if it will give you peace of mind, that is the most important thing.
About the ning invites: I just wanted to say that I actually like getting ning invites. I've found a lot of nice ning sites by being invited. I don't consider it spam at all. I can always delete the message if I'm not interested. I feel that if someone went to the trouble of creating a site, it makes sense that they would want to tell their ning friends. If it comes from someone who is not a ning friend, though, that's a problem. But that hasn't happened to me.

Permalink Reply by Minstrel_Davyn on May 11, 2009 at 10:21am: I have nothing to add to what has already been said. I appreciate this site so much, not the ning but Paganspace. I am anxious to see what happens. I certainly don't want to lose any of the friends I have made here. Thank you so much for all you have done.

Permalink Reply by clio the seeker on May 11, 2009 at 10:27am: I personally don't mind losing my profile and all the stuff on it. That I can easily redo if we move to a new protocol.

As our founder and fearless leader, you should have control over this site's source code (as should any other site owner connected to Ning).

If you can find a code that is worthy, I say make the switch.