#1 11-11-06 12:43:47

Burlesque

Member

From: Sweden

Registered: 04-05-06

Posts: 1,368

What is this, "Internet site"?

I have been caught quite by surprise in that I was, a couple of months ago, invited to participate in the launching of a little Internet site, where I was supposed to write reviews and the odd article. Now, the site owner has gone on vacation, and I stand here shaking, holding the keys to the kingdom in my quavering hands until my master's triumphant return.

Also, another friend is about to embark on a similar venture, and again I have been asked to participate, again without knowing what I'm doing.

The thing is that I know nothing about these things, and I would like to ask anyone who has experience in such matters to give me (and my friends) hints and ideas on how to avoid pratfalls and catastrophes when creating and handling sites/home pages/forums and the like. Each and every bit of wisdom is welcome!

Burlesque.

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Maintain a sense of humour about it, whatever "it" is.

"Max Fan Club" Head of Security and In-house Sycophant. (Who says evil can't be a full-time occupation?)

Nowaysis

Member

From: Sweden

Registered: 22-03-06

Posts: 497

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

Of course, I don't know what kind of website you and your friends are making, or what it is you are going to be writing about, but I do have one piece of advice - always double check where material you don't produce yourself comes from, most notably pictures and the like.

I used to write for a small website that featured pictures rather prominently. These pictures were grabbed where ever possible, and the source then duly credited. We had however, as a policy, that we wouldn't use material from other Swedish websites in our field. Of course, one late night, I messed up and grabebd som pictures from what I thought was an american source, but it turned out that those pictures were from one of the competing Swedish sites. The site I took them from had noted this in their article, and the pictures may even have been watermarked), but I completely missed this.

The entire news article had to be erased, and I was made a public spectacle on the messageboads of the other site, not a pleasent experience. Particularly since people were very unwilling to believe that this was an honest mistake, or to forgive me even if they did believe it.

Last edited by Nowaysis (11-11-06 19:00:04)

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Let us scatter our clothes to the wind

Burlesque

Member

From: Sweden

Registered: 04-05-06

Posts: 1,368

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

Oops. Very nasty. Yes, we might run the risk of encountering such problems, so we will be even more careful in future. Thanks, Nowaysis.

Burlesque.

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Maintain a sense of humour about it, whatever "it" is.

"Max Fan Club" Head of Security and In-house Sycophant. (Who says evil can't be a full-time occupation?)

blissed

Member

From: The bus station of the future

Registered: 17-03-06

Posts: 5,622

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

Be careful of hackers. They got in and completely flooded a website of mine. and now I can't even get to it to close it down!! This is getting a fairly serious problem on the net, enough for someone to produce a safe demo showing you exactly what happens and what to look out for. I've included it below, Click on it, and you'll have to wait a good 25 secs before you realise whats happening, but it's worth it so you know the early signs to look for and if you watch it til the end you'll have a really clear understanding of what your up against.

Anyway, I hope you never have to deal with this, but I hope this helps and good luck with the site

http://www.netdisaster.com/go.php?mode= … ?pid=12707

.

Last edited by blissed (12-11-06 04:24:47)

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(Self made tycoon and independant financial advisor to the stars)

Burlesque

Member

From: Sweden

Registered: 04-05-06

Posts: 1,368

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

Yes, The League of People With Nothing To Do, also known as "hackers". We've been safe from them so far, and I hope the web masters of these sites are amply protected. Thanks, Blissed.

Burlesque.

Last edited by Burlesque (12-11-06 17:03:41)

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Maintain a sense of humour about it, whatever "it" is.

"Max Fan Club" Head of Security and In-house Sycophant. (Who says evil can't be a full-time occupation?)

dyslexius

Member

Registered: 27-09-06

Posts: 234

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

They are widely -- and, unfortunately nearly universally -- known as hackers, but they are not hackers. They are crackers. You'll have to forgive my insolence, but I've been a proud and honorable hacker since the days before the Web existed (the Internet existed, but not the Web).

Hackers build things, crackers break them.
  Hackers build things, crackers break them.
    Hackers build things, crackers break them.
      Hackers build things, crackers break them.
        Hackers build things, crackers break them.
 
Ouch, darn, that chalk is messy.

  --Dyslexius
  (Oh, you think this post belongs in that other thread by our
  Capitán de la Coerción T_W_W?  Well I'm not drunk, it only
  appears I am ... *hiccoughuff*)

Oh, and, please repeat after me:

CRITIQUE is a noun, it is not a verb!
CRITIQUE is a noun, it is not a verb!
CRITIQUE is a noun, it is not a verb!
CRITIQUE is a...

Last edited by dyslexius (12-11-06 09:43:58)

polarchill

Member

Registered: 14-09-06

Posts: 585

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

Hackers build things, crackers break them.
  Hackers build things, crackers break them.
    Hackers build things, crackers break them.

Why am I suddenly hungry for cheese?

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--
Polarchill

The_Elfman

Member

From: Yorkshire & Imladris

Registered: 17-07-06

Posts: 1,028

Website

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

Also, another friend is about to embark on a similar venture, and again I have been asked to participate, again without knowing what I'm doing.

That would be me.  I'm planning to launch a forum aimed at the Amateur Theatre world in my city.  At the moment there are dozens of disparate groups and societies with hundreds of members who have no contact with one another.  I want to build a community where Amateur groups and performers can exchange ideas, information, resources etc and discuss the problems we all face.

I expect to have the forum on the net in the next week or so and I will post the hyperlink here as I would be grateful for any ideas and suggestions anyone has to make.

For anyone who is into this sort of thing I am going to use an SMF skin:
http://www.simplemachines.org/

I belong to a few forums that use their skins and they are very highly respected.

Elfman

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Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense

Burlesque

Member

From: Sweden

Registered: 04-05-06

Posts: 1,368

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

I didn't want to name you, Elf. I thought you might be ashamed of being the man behind a site having nothing whatsoever to do with undressed women. Well ... that depends on the play, I suppose. There could be undressed women. We'll all have to wait and see.

Burlesque.

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Maintain a sense of humour about it, whatever "it" is.

"Max Fan Club" Head of Security and In-house Sycophant. (Who says evil can't be a full-time occupation?)

The_Elfman

Member

From: Yorkshire & Imladris

Registered: 17-07-06

Posts: 1,028

Website

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

I didn't want to name you, Elf. I thought you might be ashamed of being the man behind a site having nothing whatsoever to do with undressed women. Well ... that depends on the play, I suppose. There could be undressed women. We'll all have to wait and see.

No naked women Burlesque and before anyone asks I'm afraid that can't post links to IFM, BA or ISM there.  The site is open to anyone over 14.

Elfman.

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Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense

Burlesque

Member

From: Sweden

Registered: 04-05-06

Posts: 1,368

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

How refreshing! No naked women! None at all. Not a single one ... ?

Burlesque.

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Maintain a sense of humour about it, whatever "it" is.

"Max Fan Club" Head of Security and In-house Sycophant. (Who says evil can't be a full-time occupation?)

dyslexius

Member

Registered: 27-09-06

Posts: 234

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

Elf, for some reason I'm drawn to the conclusion you'll prefer a theme like this one:

http://themes.simplemachines.org/index.php?lemma=49 

I haven't been following BBS software, but SMF seems like a good choice.  Will you admin the server or are you renting some full hosting package?

     --dyslexius

The_Elfman

Member

From: Yorkshire & Imladris

Registered: 17-07-06

Posts: 1,028

Website

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

Full hosting package dyslexius.  I don't have the confidence to do it all myself. I will only have to customise it myself and they will give me support with that. I'm using these people:
http://www.charlottezweb.com/
I have all ready run into problems (complicated bollocks this) and they have come back very quickly with clear, precise instructions.  People speak very highly of them on the forum forum (Great that isn't it? ).

About the theme I am probably going with a plain grey theme on the background of a dark red velvet curtain.

Elfman

PS
Of course.  I was forgetting that you are  a web site designer aren't you.  I should have asked you to do it for me .

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Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense

dyslexius

Member

Registered: 27-09-06

Posts: 234

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

Not at all, Elf my friend -- no web designer here.  I asked that only because I was concerned about issues integrating or maintaining the database, but you're good, then, with that full hosting.  Looking forward to surfing over!

    --dyslexius

The_Elfman

Member

From: Yorkshire & Imladris

Registered: 17-07-06

Posts: 1,028

Website

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

Not at all, Elf my friend -- no web designer here.  I asked that only because I was concerned about issues integrating or maintaining the database, but you're good, then, with that full hosting.  Looking forward to surfing over!

    --dyslexius

Sorry mate.  I could have sworn you said that you were a web site designer. Maybe I'll ask Richard .

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Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense

Burlesque

Member

From: Sweden

Registered: 04-05-06

Posts: 1,368

Re: What is this, "Internet site"?

Richard won't answer your questions if you fire smileys at him.

Burlesque.

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Maintain a sense of humour about it, whatever "it" is.

"Max Fan Club" Head of Security and In-house Sycophant. (Who says evil can't be a full-time occupation?)