Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Posting Photos - Comments

There is a post in the archives by Cody dated 2006 about posting photos and videos. Within that thread, there are links to 13 additional posts with new/different instructions. In just the 8 months I have been a member of this forum, I have read about several workarounds and seen techniques work, then stop working, then work again. Attached images were visible, then disappeared, then came back to life. Now the trend is to rely on 3rd party photo hosting sites.

CC is correct, this forum is broken when it comes to posting images, and apparently has been for many years.

I am cool with the imgur link approach, but having to use a photo hosting site is not normal for a forum and will still confuse/annoy newcomers.

There are 2 very different ways to add and edit pictures to Imgur. Any early confusion was related to which route to take. That's getting determined, and then yes, it's simple to post pictures.

Yep, it's a mess. Unfortunately, mods, general members, and LeighAnn have had to spend way too much time dealing with this. We, forum members, should have all this posted in a clear and simple thread pretty soon. Luckily there are general members that have stepped forward and are proactive about building that simple thread. That's far better than those that just complain. I've been on both sides of that isle, and whining doesn't fix anything.

I certainly don't want to present an attitude of whining. I have advocated for a long time for a solution that we as the PB family can help support and launch for the betterment of all of us.

I think for those of us who care the most about this forum (post regularly, try to help new comers), are trying hard to help others figure out a way around this embarrassing situation.

We are most frustrated by the lack of leadership and lack of direction. If the leader came on the forum and said straight up, I can't afford to fix it, (or I don't feel like fixing it), or it can't be fixed, or it can be fixed but then we all have to move our pictures manually or.... Then we know there is understanding of a problem, we know the options were considered, we know what the options are and their costs and we can line up behind the decision.

Even if the decision is unpopular, knowing what is being done, or why it is not being done is all we ask for. I get it that the mods and LeighAnn are probably NOT the decision maker.

If there was a path to upgrade or swap to a 21st century forum hosting software in the works and there was a one time cost to flip it over, I'm sure many would pitch in their support.

Our members are our value and keeping member frustration low is important. A text only forum is quite a bit less valuable to all of us. I'm with Bill Cody that the effort of creating a third party hosting service, moving pictures from phone to computer to IMGUR or phone to IMGUR then back to the forum is tedious. I also did that for a while on Photobucket and now all those photos were taken hostage with a big water mark unless I pay them. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if IMGUR created a similar 'surcharge' to remove a water mark in the not too distant future. Every other industry is looking to add fees, raise rates, make free not free anymore. Then we have to find another image hosting site and move all our pictures again?

canyoncreek, I thought Lusk had done so, but I know some moderators have also let the membership know that the costs of maintaining the forum are NOT being covered.

Then Sunil, if it is simply that we are spending into a deficit to maintain the current offering then present THAT as the reason why the trouble with the software has not been corrected. Bring it out in the open. Tell us what the options are. If that means this is no longer a free (donation encouraged) forum then be up front and say that. Advise that the cost to have a login and password to the forum is X dollars per month or per year or whatever it takes. If the rule to enjoy the forum is we must pay for the magazine then say that up front.

If things are going OK using current cost structure but we need a few more donations to pay the one time fee to switch software and get it running, lay that out and let everyone know and we can get behind that project if that indeed is the best solution.

I'm sure it is a challenge to keep everything going with the technology and I don't want to sound like we don't appreciate all those who are trying hard to keep it going.

canyon, that's part of the reason for sure. I think that has been discussed to much angst about people pitching in for the costs. However, if you do pitch in, then you (members) would have an expectation of functionality.

Hi everyone!

I have been getting lots of help and suggestions (on the forum and in PMs) for improving my terrible original effort at making a simple instruction manual for posting photos. I was doing all kinds of things the hard way, or performing extra steps.

Hopefully, I can get an improved version posted in the next day or two.

I understand that it won't be perfect within the constraints of the Pond Boss software, but I think it will be usable by new members with even low computer technical skills.

I appreciate all of the feedback!

Hey Pond Boss forum family!
I've taken off a couple of months to dig into me...it's been extremely rewarding.
I'll get with people who know much more about this than I ever intend to and will dig into it to get some answers. As a business owner, I'll look at it from a couple of viewpoints and then get back in a new thread and tell you what I will or will not do.
Stand by, I'll have some answers soon.
I appreciate each and everyone of you.