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Beta Testers, kick your feet up and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Zyphlin

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This initial beta testing phase will last between 2 and 3 weeks. There are fifteen posters who have been invited and they will be the only ones with access along with Mods (not DM's). I hope you all enjoy this trial period and show everyone the respect and courtesy I know that you all unquestionably deserve. Use this thread to say hello, give some general feedback, and chit chat a bit off topic about the section if need be.

Please feel free to post any constructive feedback into this thread about the section. However any issues or concerns referencing a specific person please use the "contact us" feature and send it to the mods that way. I highly doubt any such situations will occur with this group, but just incase it'd be more respectful to do it this way and will assure there's no dampening of the atmosphere from seeming "call outs".

Kick back, relax, get your brain revved up, and enjoy The Loft.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Well, I'll get us started. First off, I'm flattered and surprised to be included in this group of betatesters. So a big thank you to whoever wanted my input. Secondly, I do think this is a great idea. One of the reasons I don't post here more often is because I get sick of the blind partisan bickering, the "I won't backdown no matter how wrong I am" types, and the ""(insert opposing ideology) is evil!" posters. A place to have a little higher level discussions is quite appealing to me. I'm looking forward to testing this place out.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Hello! I'm Spud, and I'm a Beta Tester. Thanks for inviting me, I am honoured that you think I can discuss something seriously, and I'll give it my best shot. :mrgreen:

But, in all seriousness, this is a great idea, kudos to the brain that thought this up, though I think the "DP Extras" subforum needs to be renamed the "DP Stairwell" as we're getting so many different levels.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Hi there, I have to say, I'm quite honored to be chosen to beta test a place like this. This is an excellent idea, and I agree with Spud, whoever thought up this idea should get a cookie.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Quite excited about this. Think its a great idea. Happy and honoured to have been picked. I will try my best to honour the final goal you have in mind for this place.

I think it will be great success!

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Shinkwey
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Hi, I'm Rob. I must also express my surprise to have been selected to participate and I hope I add to the overall congeniality of the Loft. I am honored and quite happy. It is a great idea and kudos to all the Mods for investing the time to make it happen. I have always said that I am here at DP to have good discussions, not contentious debate.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

It's an honor to have been chosen to help out and I hope my feedback will be beneficial. This is a great idea! Thanks for bringing it to the table.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Mega here. I am flattenred to be able to participate in which looks to be a wonderful experiment. I must warn you guys, I am on a business trip this week, so posting may be irregular until next week as I am having to pack a lot of work into a few days.

I will be more active after Friday though.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Hey all, no idea if it is necessary to introduce myself but I am surprised and flattered I am invited.

I'm sure it will be a success :)
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Howdy all. Looking forward to all the discussion and debate expected of The Loft. I'm quite glad to have apparently earned the privilege of being invited here, and glad to have joined everyone else who has done so as well. :)
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

But, in all seriousness, this is a great idea, kudos to the brain that thought this up, though I think the "DP Extras" subforum needs to be renamed the "DP Stairwell" as we're getting so many different levels.

Why do you hate the handicapped? Or the extremely lazy? I say we at least get an escalator, if not elevator.

Anyway, thanks for the invite to this place. Looking forward to debate and discussion sans extreme bias and hard headedness.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Why do you hate the handicapped? Or the extremely lazy? I say we at least get an escalator, if not elevator.

Anyway, thanks for the invite to this place. Looking forward to debate and discussion sans extreme bias and hard headedness.

dp chairlift

images
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

I have to say, I'm really enjoying this subforum so far. Even if I haven't changed anyone's mind, I feel that I'm gaining a little more insight into how other ideologies think and hopefully folks are gaining some insight intohow people like me think. Plus, I've just enjoyed the discussions and civil tone here. Bravo!

Also as an added bonus, it's energized me to engage some more of the trolls in the general forum. Right nwo I'm crossing swords with two left wing hacks, one libertarian moron, and a right wing idiot in various threads.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Sorry I am late, between the elections and my birthday yesterday I did not see the loft was up.
 
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Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

I have to say I'm really enjoying this place. The discourse has been enjoyable, and I feel like I can ask questions without it turning into a partisan bitchfest. Also I feel like I am learning about how other people think, which really interest me. This has definitely been my favorite part of the site since we've had access to it.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Good company, good discussions, great civility... I love this subforum!!! Also, I want to thank my fellow beta testers for being awesome :thumbs: You are what make this place great.

Btw, happy belated birthday Blackdog.
 
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Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Apparently I forgot about this generous invitation. While I am away for one week in a big city with limited time to enjoy good conversation, I hope enjoy it with all of you at some point.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Thanks to all of you for participating in here this past week. Its been incredibly interesting to watch and engage in the discussions and everyone has been stellar with staying to the guidelines. First a few questions and then a clarification of some things I've been asked.

After a week now of this, how are you enjoying the forum? Do you find the guidelines too constricting or needing further clarity? Any particular things you like or dislike? Would slightly more organization with some sub-forums for specific types of topics help or better at the start to just leave it open as it is?

I'm eager to see what you all think.

Now to clear up a few things. Again, we want to thank you all for being a part of this test. As you may've noticed in the "Welcome" page posting in The Loft is going to be a perk for donators, with anyone that has an active donation in the system being able to post. We are however planning on making it so that you original beta testers will always have posting access to The Loft in thanks of your help in getting it up and running. The beta test phase will go on for about another week or so. After that point we'll either do a full launch or a rolling one where we start with platinum, then gold, then silver members. Unsure which will be occuring yet.

If anyone has any other questions feel free to throw them out, and looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Thank you all for making this a great success thus far.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

After a week now of this, how are you enjoying the forum?

I have felt as free and able to speak from the heart as I do in the basement. It is a refreshing change from the rest of the forum where I have to think strategically in my posts because someone will inevitably take something out of context or out of the spirit I meant while posting. I love being taken at face value and to be able to take others at face value as well. This trust that I see here so far, for me, is the root of a good discussion where exchanges of ideas and new information can take place.

A place like this will do more to help me grow and gain new insights than downstairs (since this is the loft ...)

Do you find the guidelines too constricting or needing further clarity?

So far, I am happy with them and they seem reasonable.

Any particular things you like or dislike?

Not so far. It seems good. What I am interested in is seeing the first strong disagreement here between two people and how it is handled before I make a stronger determination.

Would slightly more organization with some sub-forums for specific types of topics help or better at the start to just leave it open as it is?

I think organization should increase with the number of posters and topics. Generally it becomes obvious when it needs to happen, so I wouldn't worry about it yet.
 
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Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

I don't participate as much as I want, but I do like it very much. Nice to have a forum without people who can't have a civil dissection.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

After a week now of this, how are you enjoying the forum?

I'm having a blast. The discussions here are respectful and thoughtful. It has easily become my favorite part of the forum.

Do you find the guidelines too constricting or needing further clarity?

They seem to be working just fine so far. But then again, this was a group that was hand picked for being able to be civil and respectful. I have a feeling once we open this place up, it may need some fairly heavy moderation. Since being a donor doesn't mean a person is capable of maintaining this level of respect and openness.

Any particular things you like or dislike?

So far, its been close to perfect.

Would slightly more organization with some sub-forums for specific types of topics help or better at the start to just leave it open as it is?

I'd leave things as is for now. If after we open this place up and we get a lot of posters, then we can add sub-forums as needed.

Now to clear up a few things. Again, we want to thank you all for being a part of this test. As you may've noticed in the "Welcome" page posting in The Loft is going to be a perk for donators, with anyone that has an active donation in the system being able to post. We are however planning on making it so that you original beta testers will always have posting access to The Loft in thanks of your help in getting it up and running.

That's awesome! Thank you very much.

The beta test phase will go on for about another week or so. After that point we'll either do a full launch or a rolling one where we start with platinum, then gold, then silver members. Unsure which will be occuring yet
.

I'd probably favor a rolling launch. Let people get accilmated to this place in smaller groups.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

This is my place of Zen, lol. I am not looking forward to the opening. Not in a bad way mind you, it will however be, more active.
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

After a week now of this, how are you enjoying the forum? Do you find the guidelines too constricting or needing further clarity? Any particular things you like or dislike? Would slightly more organization with some sub-forums for specific types of topics help or better at the start to just leave it open as it is?

I'm really enjoying this place, and it has been my favorite part of the forum since it's been open. I think the rules, are good the way they are right now, they may need to be tweaked once this place becomes open to everyone else, but I think you've got a good foundation.
Also I do think that sub-forms should probably be added once it becomes open to everyone else. Just to help organize things.

Now to clear up a few things. Again, we want to thank you all for being a part of this test. As you may've noticed in the "Welcome" page posting in The Loft is going to be a perk for donators, with anyone that has an active donation in the system being able to post. We are however planning on making it so that you original beta testers will always have posting access to The Loft in thanks of your help in getting it up and running.

Wow, thank you :)
 
Re: Beta Testers, kick your feet out and relax here in The Loft and say "hello"

Thanks to all of you for participating in here this past week. Its been incredibly interesting to watch and engage in the discussions and everyone has been stellar with staying to the guidelines. First a few questions and then a clarification of some things I've been asked.

After a week now of this, how are you enjoying the forum? Do you find the guidelines too constricting or needing further clarity? Any particular things you like or dislike? Would slightly more organization with some sub-forums for specific types of topics help or better at the start to just leave it open as it is?

I'm eager to see what you all think.

Now to clear up a few things. Again, we want to thank you all for being a part of this test. As you may've noticed in the "Welcome" page posting in The Loft is going to be a perk for donators, with anyone that has an active donation in the system being able to post. We are however planning on making it so that you original beta testers will always have posting access to The Loft in thanks of your help in getting it up and running. The beta test phase will go on for about another week or so. After that point we'll either do a full launch or a rolling one where we start with platinum, then gold, then silver members. Unsure which will be occuring yet.

If anyone has any other questions feel free to throw them out, and looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Thank you all for making this a great success thus far.

I had a long response for the Tea Party thread one night, and alas, I discovered that the network went down. I was busy with other things and lost the post that I had intended to copy (multitasking is a bad idea with copy/paste!).

So, maybe I'll get back to it and put it up there again soon.
 
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