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 Blodeuwedd on May 11, 2009 at 2:01pm: Why would someone get nasty about a group invite??? How rude...you just decline...no further input needed.

Permalink Reply by Stephanie Cheri Burnette on May 11, 2009 at 4:22pm: I have just recently joined the site so I have no complaints! I like paganspace better than witchvox so I am happy! I will change to whatever is neccessary. I ask one thing though. NO WHITE BACKGROUNDS PLEASE! ugh! Its annoying to me! I think it is hard for the eyes to adjust to white than it is to dark.

I had an idea though, what about the search options that witchvox has? Ability to look up locals under certain context like Wiccan, ecletic etc... That would help.

Permalink Reply by Vindviska on May 11, 2009 at 4:38pm: Your group, your rules..you lead we follow!
Thank you<3 for providing this place for all of us.

Permalink Reply by Valkyrieraven on May 11, 2009 at 4:41pm: Starr...
Your site..take what you need from Ning and run ..I am sure we will all follow!
Oh ....YOU ROCK!!!!
Blessings,
Raven )O(

Permalink Reply by Balor The Huntress~Warrior on May 11, 2009 at 5:01pm: Since I just got done watching Backdraft for the umpteenth time..lol I shall quote " You go, we go" Not quite like them though..:)

I'm easy ... Been friends with ya before paganspace and will be friends for a long time to come..!! I trust your judgement , you have done amazing things !!! So I'm with ya no matter what ya do sweets!!!

Love ya tons!! ~Hugs Balor~

Permalink Reply by Yarom on May 11, 2009 at 5:02pm: Starrfire ,
I to agree with a good majority of your complaints .
When Ning started their master site which contains all members from every site I felt pissed and a little violated ! As soon as I was made aware of this I locked that page down and made it only available to people on my friends list . One of the main things that really pissed me off about this is that it was not mentioned in the Ning terms and to my knowledge still is not , that if you join any Ning site that you will have a page their as well .

The amount of Spam that I receive from Ning sites was riduculus , now most are blocked . And going back to the last argument , if Ning can access our e-mail to get garbage about any other site then why could they not e-mail us and tell us about the main Ning site ? WTF !

Another problem that I have with Ning is they tell site administrators that new features and options will be implemented and then leave you hanging well past their deadlines .

Like your list Starrfire I could probably go on and on . Gwenndolyn and Julie have my e-mail as I believe that I gave it to Nyx as well , If you would like it I have no problem giving it to you either .

The only thing I ask is that when you make your decision let us know and try to keep this site open a bit so that we can transfer what we want . I'm still learning all the neat little things that a computer can do so I'm not sure how to save my stuff once I dump it onto a site .

Permalink Reply by Green Briar on May 11, 2009 at 5:03pm: Well sis,
I would follow you to the ends of the earth.. Paganspace is the best thing that happened to me (gosh how long has it been now! nevermind). When I stumbled upon it I was without pagan support of friends, only my family around me. Now I have so many friends and everyday I am able to commune with like minded and some not so like minded pagans. wink.
The other site I'm on you know the one that heavy metal site I have... anyway we have been talking about this move too. Hopefully soon! We will see what Shadow Lord can pull out of his hat. but that is beside the point and to shorten this book I think all or most would follow you to the new site no worries there and if you can cut back on the spam... THANK THE GODDESS.
One more point would it cut down the "we are sorry this site is under maintanace mess cause I can't bombard my friends with comments anymore and you know they miss me. wicked grins.
Keep up the good work on_word and fore-ward...
Green

Permalink Reply by Andrew Lightstar on May 11, 2009 at 5:18pm: I personally say nuke this site and start over with something you control. I have everything important backed up I learned that a long time ago on a different site. I've read the stuff on the NING site and am glad I have my own stories copy writed in my real name otherwise they would own it. Go for it and Good luck BB Andrew

Permalink Reply by Wulfmoon on May 11, 2009 at 5:23pm: This is your creation so it is up to you. Just if you chose to leave let me know where you go. I am behind you 100%.(just do not leave me behind ::wink::)

Wulfmoon

Permalink Reply by Ryver on May 11, 2009 at 5:24pm: You did a great thing creating PaganSpace, for a lot of reasons, but I can't say I'm surprised that it's outgrown the Ning structure. One suggestion though, instead of send all/reply all options in the inbox, put in a bulletin board instead?

Permalink Reply by Sarenth on May 11, 2009 at 5:27pm: I think that giving a month or two before you move the site off-server would be good, since some, like myself, would like to back up everything they've wrote (fodder for essays, reflection, whatever). I think that, as SIN said, you should have control of your site. It's your site. ^_^

Permalink Reply by ShadowDancer on May 11, 2009 at 5:43pm: I am only on NING for this website...would follow you to the ends of the eart..LOL

I am in agreement on discussions and reviews.

The spammy NING invites I can do without.