New Header Image, New Forum Home Layout

[archemedes]

the issue is the way it was stated was insulting (the banner looks amature was an insult no matter how you look at it wether you intended for it to or not, that is how it's percieved)I also felt you were asking for a total site redesign, next time just make small suggestions (maybe even make a banner to use to replace the one you don't like) instead of one big one.

[randall814]

i wasnt asking for a total redesign. i just meant a new main page, used as a splash, especially for outside visitors and newcomers. it was not meant to be insulting and it came off that way, sorry i guess.

like i said, you all misunderstood. bottom line.

hell, you could keep the main forum page exactly as is, but just have an additional main page that can link you right to the forum. any of the guys here that prefer going straight to the forum could link to it in their bookmarks.

there are a lot of people here that feel brian is doing an excellent job, and i am one of them. i like how the forum is, i just think it could be cleaned up and not have so much content on a single page. it would ease load times as well as give users more to look at.

at the very least, i think the ROTM could use an overhaul. its great so far and it was a superb idea to showcase these much deserving f-bodies. however, i think it could benefit by having its own page that it could link to by clicking on the links on the left. rather than linking to a forum post with a couple pictures, it could link to a seperate page that has a photo gallery, a list of modification to exterior, interior, engine, drivetrain, and suspension. then, a history of the vehicle or a heartwarming story could tie it all together.

nothing about the site is truly bad in any way and i think it came off as though that is what i meant. that is my mistake. there is no reason we cannot share ideas to make this place better...its not going to look the same way forever.

[MattODoom]

like i said, you all misunderstood. bottom line.

hell, you could keep the main forum page exactly as is, but just have an additional main page that can link you right to the forum. any of the guys here that prefer going straight to the forum could link to it in their bookmarks.

That is how it used to be. We had a home page that showed new additions to the photo gallery, news, upcoming events and new posts etc as well as your mailbox.

We had a poll and the people didn't want it.

That was way back before you were even here though.

[randall814]

hmm. that would be awesome.

[MattODoom]

hmm. that would be awesome.

Check this thread out.. its from a while back

http://mifbody.com/vbulletin/showthr...ight=home+page

[randall814]

damn, that looks really really good. the colors are more fbody appropriate, the header is well designed, and its basically what i described, just in vbulletin format.

lets bring it back

[randall814]

i thought everyone *****ed cause the homepage lost to the forum home? looks like an even vote to me.

[MattODoom]

i thought everyone *****ed cause the homepage lost to the forum home? looks like an even vote to me.

Well it came up to the man B's choice and he decided to nix it. I liked the photo gallery bar. Back then the member garages were use quite a bit.

[meissen]

Alright, time for me to chime in. I apologize if I came off rude in response to your post, but as Steve (archemedes) said, the method in which you chose to suggest your ideas came off as insulting and did offend me. Saying that the banner looked like it was made in WordArt when I've spent hours each month adding the RotM photo and what not to it came off as offensive.

The problem that I face these days is that MiFbody.com was recently blocked at work. That means that during the week, I can only be online in the evening. Well, I get home at 5:30 (if I get home on time and don't get stuck late at work) but then I don't really get on the site until 7ish after dinner. Then I usually head to bed between 9-10 and it usually takes me atleast 1-2 hours just to catch up with all the new posts on here that I missed through the day. And even then, if I sink my head in my laptop for the full 3 hours when I get home, Angie doesn't really like that too much because then I'm not spending any time with her. So, time with MiFbody has been a very hard struggle lately. I used to be able to tweak and change things while I was at work, which was great, but then they blocked me.

For the front/splash page, in talking with MiFbody people at car shows and at Woodward, most said the only reason they used that old splash page that Matt linked to was to see the number of unread posts since their last visit. I implimented that into the navbar so it would be visible at all times, not just on the splash. I don't mind the idea of a splash page, but it's hard to impliment with the current layout. http://www.mifbody.com/cmps_index.php is the same product which I used prior, but I moved the boxes to the right side so it would "flow" better with the left column links.

The RotM idea is cool, I do want to expand it and make it more... self sufficient... as many of the moderators know, RotM is something I really don't have the time to do every month and it's becoming a struggle just to get the polls together (use previous paragraph about time on MiFbody for reference). I like the idea of having a centralized page with info and what not on each car, it's just the fact that it wouldn't be dynamic and that would mean that every time someone wins ride of the month I'd have to then program a page and manually enter all the information and all that, lots of overhead and maintenance. I was working on an automated RotM system that I wanted to create from scratch, but alas my knowledge in PHP is slim to none and I just don't know that much about what I was doing to create it. http://mifbody.com/vbulletin/rotm.php

As for the overall feel and look of the site... I think most of the people voted that they liked this color. If everyone want's a new theme, sure let's go for it, I always like changing it up and making the site look better overall... I thought what we have now works well and the color scheme was something that everyone seemed to like. Obviously, my graphic talents lack and it was really time consuming for me to just get this version of MiFbody to look the way it does now. I will be honest, though, and say that I've been thinking of integrating vBulletin with Joomla, but I'm fearful of integrating our site with another free PHP script because I had PHPNuke on Meissenation.com and the server we use was consistantly getting hacked on a regular basis due to it.

And alas, that ever present time restraint... I'm now 5 minutes late leaving for work.

[JoeliusZ28]

its not a guess or a maybe, everyone DID take my suggestions incorrectly.

im not trying to push buttons with you because offering input is a good thing, but i agree with the others that you stated your suggestions incorrectly. Keeping the site modern is always a good idea, so input from people with experience (like you) is appreciated. If you have ideas you can state them without portraying you think the admin is doing a sub-par job and that you are better. There may not have been many changes in the past few months since you joined, but ive been here since the beginning and i can vouch for the fact that this site has taken MANY forms prior to what it is now. (note my mention of PHPNuke?) Brian is always looking for something new, but when the site is something you do in your spare time you can only do so much. I dont think you can deny how impressive this site is for only being two years old. Just look at the membership and we all get along great! Our ratio of locked threads/banned users is incredibly small.

just give credit where credit is due and people wont be so quick to jump you. hope you stick around!

[WMCC Gary]

the issue is the way it was stated was insulting (the banner looks amature was an insult no matter how you look at it wether you intended for it to or not, that is how it's percieved)I also felt you were asking for a total site redesign, next time just make small suggestions (maybe even make a banner to use to replace the one you don't like) instead of one big one.

I agree Completely.

And Steve Please watch the language, It is not needed to get your point acrossed.

[MiT/A'96]

I agree Completely.

And Steve Please watch the language, It is not needed to get your point acrossed.

I posted the same thing !!!! Attitude and language go hand in hand >>>>

[meissen]

With that said and aside, if anyone has any constructive positive suggestions for the site, please feel free to always let me know. Post it in the Suggestion forum, send me a PM, send me an Email, call me, whatever. Y'all know I'm open to positive suggestions and as long as it makes sense I do it. Look at the requests for an Alternative Fuels forum or the request for the new shoutbox to be taken down and the old shoutbox put back up. I listen to you guys, and I'm more than willing to work with anyone on making the site's look better as long as I know that the changes are accepted by the majority of people on the site. If someone is more talented with photoshop and want to take part in the site's design, hey I'm more than willing to accept some help! The site's design has always been last on my list -- as long as the forum works and the site looks halfway decent, hey more power to us.

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

With that said and aside, if anyone has any constructive positive suggestions for the site, please feel free to always let me know. Post it in the Suggestion forum, send me a PM, send me an Email, call me, whatever. Y'all know I'm open to positive suggestions and as long as it makes sense I do it. Look at the requests for an Alternative Fuels forum or the request for the new shoutbox to be taken down and the old shoutbox put back up. I listen to you guys, and I'm more than willing to work with anyone on making the site's look better as long as I know that the changes are accepted by the majority of people on the site. If someone is more talented with photoshop and want to take part in the site's design, hey I'm more than willing to accept some help! The site's design has always been last on my list -- as long as the forum works and the site looks halfway decent, hey more power to us.

Perhaps the more informal approach to the site has encouraged activity?

Odd, idle thought of the day.

I'm good with anything.

Ah, hell, who am I kidding, I'm just whoring it up today...lol...

[meissen]

Whore.