I was surprised to come across this thread at SitePointForums:

http://www.sitepointforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28784

The author definitely has some issues about WHT. Although I think he may be correct on some issues (particularly too many rules and selective rules enforcement), I am surprised that he has given up on WHT completely.

I find that WHT is one of the best places to discuss hosting in general on the web. Site point is OK, but it isn't strictly a web hosting board.

Take care,

Brian

Doesn't it say something when someone has to discuss WHT on a completely different board to avoid his post being deleted? Whether or not WHT actually still is a helpful resource (it's gotten worse, recently, IMO), the actions by some of the moderators have made it much less appealing.

When I went to look at that post on SitePoint, there was a user logged in there with the name "WHTsucks." It's a new account, created today. I guess that there is at least one person over there who really hates WHT.

It's normal that a successful host as WHT is seen with envy from competitors and sometimes from users. This happens to "real-life" businesses, too. That's a simple fact of life.

I personally find WHT a good place where to learn. It is frequented by nice and polite people and is very fast.

Just my 2 cents. :cool:

Originally posted by marco
It's normal that a successful host as WHT is seen with envy from competitors and sometimes from users. This happens to "real-life" businesses, too. That's a simple fact of life.

This isn't envy. This is a bunch of people getting really mad because some WHT mods are deleting random posts, and overall sending a message to the community, "We don't care what you think."

Doesn't it say something when someone has to discuss WHT on a completely different board to avoid his post being deleted?
This board isn't for discussing the board itself. It's for discussing web hosting. Maybe this'll help you a bit:

web hosting talk .com

If you don't like the rules, don't post here. I'm sick of the whining. Nobody's perfect, so don't try to hold the mods up to the light of perfection on a FREE resource such as this.

I certainly have to agree with the poster, I am starting to see alot of long time members of WHT...dissapper

I dont know what Matt is planning on doing, if anything at all, but WHT in alot of peoples eyes is starting to slide downhill, and it can only get worse when more people like the poster starts spiting out their views on other forums (and this one)

Not taking any side here but this forum has basically made many companies to what they are now. Without the wide audience WHT generates, your (everyones) products would not be seen by a lot of people and business would have been the same as usual. I find it funny to see everyone turning on WHT the minute someone reads something negative. What about all the positive aspects of this board? This isn't follow the leader. If you think that something should be changed, please feel free to email Matt and he will do what he can to address the issue. There's no need to rebel or be saddened by the departure of someone.

I really find it silly to see someone say, "I hate this place, good bye" - or something similar. It's not like anyone was really forced to come to WHT nor is anyone paying for this service who should be deemed a refund.

We are a community, people helping people. Yes, I do agree that it's not like what it used to be. I've been here for over a year, lurking for a bit before starting and it did feel like a family back then. It has changed due to the number of subscribers we get. It's really hard to get personal with so many people and with the masses of people, there will be a few rotten ones. Now more than usual. Why should everyone let these rotten apples ruin the setting of WHT. Back then, heavy moderation wasn't needed. Look at who the majority of the moderated are...newbies. You hardly ever see an old timer get moderated down. If moderation did not take place, what example are we setting for new people who join WHT. Examples need to be set and rules need to be followed.

People did say the rules were quite long and take a look at it now. It got trimmed down to fit my screen area. Now tell me, are these rules too hard to follow? It's fairly easy to be a good member and role model for tne new members of WHT. It's not like blood is being asked for. The administration here just wants a nice setting where people can discuss anything related to Webhosting. This board can be a lot worse and moderation can be a lot stricter. On some boards, the mods/admins don't even bother replying to threads or conversate.

I guess that's all I have to say here. Feel free to rant/rave all you want.

Yes, I do agree that it's not like what it used to be. I've been here for over a year, lurking for a bit before starting and it did feel like a family back then. It has changed due to the number of subscribers we get.
I agree completely. Not on the basis that I've been watching it over the last year (I haven't). I'm speaking as someone who has run 3 very successful boards in the past. It ALWAYS starts out great, and then when it starts bursting at the seams, people start jumping on bandwagons because of "heavy handedness", or what they think are unfair practices. But I can guarantee you that if precautionary measures aren't taken, as they are being now, this place would be just like many of the boards out there...free-for-all whipping posts.
Who the hell wants to plow through 20 threads about totally off-topic discussions, that are also peppered with blatant self-promotion just to get to a conversation where you can give or receive help?
On some boards, the mods/admins don't even bother replying to threads or conversate.
Yup. But it never starts out that way. Usually these boards are started by well-meaning people who are genuinly interested in talking about the subjects at hand. But then apathy sets in, then the bickering and public floggings and the advertising in every 3rd thread.

Am I saying, "blindly support your leaders"? No! Because these people aren't your leaders. As Teck said, no one is forcing anyone to visit, unless WHT is set as your default start page...and if you don't know how to change that, email me and I'll be happy to tell you. Otherwise, can't we please stick to the subject of web hosting talk?

<edit>
p.s...thanks for removing the ip addresses from posts
</edit>

sbrad, agreed. Also, I'd like to point out that I've seen many people complain that their advertisements were removed. WHT is not a place for hosts/businesses to gain more customers. It's supposed to be a friendly community where people can help each other out. Whether you're a host, client or just someone surfing the net. The two advertisement forums are included as an added bonus, if I may add. Those two aren't even really needed and I bet that if they were removed, a lot of people would leave. Most hosts think of WHT as a place for commercial gain and I want to point out that it is not.

If everyone followed the rules and treats each other nice and fairly, we'd all be one big happy family.

I've been coming here for over a year and i can sadly say it's changed for the worse. It's just not helpful anymore accept the Cobalt Forum, Thats all that keeps me coming back here. It's a shame to see such a great resource become so defunct.

There's no community Spirit here anymore, That does happen when sites get big but i notice that SitePoint still has a good community Spirit and so Does FreeWebSpace.net. I don't know whats to blame for this but it sure as hell needs changing before everyone starts to bail.

There's no community Spirit here anymore
Where does community spirit come from? Isn't it from INDIVIDUALS who feel comfortable with each other? No offense intended, but you don't exactly seem to be oozing this trait yourself.

I know i don't that's because i've lost faith in this place :(

Yeah, in order to build a community, you need a lot of members. Although it can be hard, just a few people here and there can start. Technics, just replying to threads, helping new/old members out, offering suggestions, everything...can help build spirit. There won't be much spirit if no one tries. I haven't been to SPF much but it seems like the people who post there all post something critical to say rather than trying to get their signature in for some view. I just wish people would lighten up a little to end the dampened mood. Just because WHT may not be what you think it used to be doesn't mean you bail out and try to forget everything. Hey, I'm sure that the roman empire wouldn't have been what it was without the dedication of everyone. Fine, maybe that's too big. What about a neighborhood? It takes more than one neighbor to have a neighborhood and a neighborhood is only as good as the neighbors who reside in it. If everyone leaves, what neighborhood is left? Damn, too many "neighbor's" in that :)

That's funny cos i wouldnt wish anyone to have a neighbourhood like mine ..... I'm from a riot torn city .... cos of racists.

I do see your point though and will try rebuild the spirit around here.

Aloha

hmmm so sad I find this forum helpful I stay away from teh offers forum
Sitepoint is also good some parts are weak there just as here
a good carpenter has many tools in his bag and many hammers screwdrivers chisels
so I think people are getting to over analytical here
just like movie critics

jhhhessh its just a movie
or Jjjhheeessshhhhhh its just a forum about hosting
glad it is here before people bitch to strongly they should ask

what have I contributed and was it of sound value

I think every forum goes through various stages as it increases in popularity. The important thing is to realize this, and make "minute" adjustments as this happens to ensure things are on course. Personally, I still find this forum very useful, and was very surprised when someone felt otherwise enough to post a thread about it.

Hey guys, heh saw that thread. Although I find it odd that the poster apparently liked this place so much that he somehow feels let down, the forum has indeed changed quite a bit this past year. Some nifty stats:

New Members (joined in one month, June in this case)
06 2000 - 49
06 2001 - 742

New Posts (posted in one month, June in this case)
06 2000 - 799
06 2001 - 18164

By the looks of it, this month (July) will be out of control.

I guess the forum is what you make of it. I've read a boatload, learned a great deal, enjoyed discussing everything under the web hosting sun and more. I don't get bent over the few flame posts, and have noticed that the forum is doing what it is intended for, better than ever.

Everyone has been very helpful when I've had a question and I've also seen many members helping others when they really needed someone and someplace to turn to.

Anyway, I've recently enjoyed hanging out at Universal studios with two other members and going out to a fab dinner. Was a great time and nice to meet new people. I try to look at the positive aspects of things whenever I can.

As you can probably guess from my post count, I like hanging out here and discussing things, but I realize it might not be for everyone. Even if you liked it before, you might not now, and I understand that. I don't understand why people has to make some big statement about how they are leaving due to this or that. I've left forums and never had the urge to do that, but I guess they like(d) it here so much that they feel like an old friend is dying (in their view).

Anyway, like I said, I like this place, even with the tremendous growth, but you might not. Stay if you like, leave if you don't. Pop in when you have a question, or don't. The forums are intended as a resource for *you* and that means that you can and should use the resource how you see fit.

Chicken, so true...I like it here but sometimes i did not like it...but I remeber those times when I started those threads like No LIfe, and about the female race...they were so funny...so great that people were just like me some parts, Thats what really made me like the forum, the chitchat section, hosting sections and website critque parts....
But I would never leave the forum completely...I would visit, and still keep an eye on my old friends, alive or dead....:D

The fact, as far as I am concerned, is that this forum is the best resource for the purpose it's intended for: as a source of information for hosting consumers.

Criticism that it's not easy to put your hosting plan information in front of people, or that you can't "express your individuality" with avatars, or that there aren't so many threads about dating problems any more really misses the mark. There are plenty of places to find that stuff, and that this might not be one of them doesn't detract from the value of this place.

The fact is that if you're a hosting consumer with a question about web hosting -- the person this site is supposed to be a resource for -- and you ask your question you'll probably get a valid answer very quickly. There's a lot of industry knowledge here, and there's little misinformation that doesn't get challenged quickly. There are several very reputable hosting companies represented, and hosting-related scams regularly exposed as such.

If there's a better resource for hosting consumers, I'd like to hear about it. If you're looking for something else, you might be looking in the wrong place.

Not much to say.
Except, I like this place.

That's it!

I'm done. Move along. Nothing to see here.

I myself have learnt quite a bit from here, the do's and don'ts of the industry, people have replied to my questions, and when I could not find something anywhere else, I was pointed to the right place from here.

VIVA WHT :)

Hi,
All forums have their ebb and flow over time. This forum is no different. However, IMHO, WHT is the place I come to first for anything going on in the hosting industry. I check here daily for the latest news and gossip.
But.....maybe there IS something to some of the unflattering opinions. More than a few can't be totally wrong. I still think it's a great place. But we can surely learn a bit from those who have differing views.
Everything aside, I'm grateful to Matt & all of the Moderators for the time and effort put into making this one hell of a resource for hosting companies and consumers alike. :)

Actually the best part of WHT is the rules. While it was fun to have custom icons, and all the little do-dads, they take off of the real reason behind the forum. You notice how the forums are overrun with ads? The rules here are what make the content so great. Not only that, the community itself helps inforce the rules much like a big family. This is without a doubt the best message boards on the internet.

:D Congradulations, to the admins at WHT on their beyond excellent job! :cool:

Actually the best part of WHT is the rules. While it was fun to have custom icons, and all the little do-dads, they take off of the real reason behind the forum. You notice how the forums are overrun with ads? The rules here are what make the content so great. Not only that, the community itself helps inforce the rules much like a big family. This is without a doubt the best message boards on the internet.
Well, I guess we see who's getting those two free domain names.;) ;) ;)

Originally posted by Chicken
I guess the forum is what you make of it.

Yes! And I like this place.
I have learned many new things here and I have fun. What can I expect more?

As the Administrator of the SitePoint Forums, I allow our members to voice their concerns about other services. These threads are always monitored and our members police themselves through the "Report" feature in vBulletin.

I don't see the thread as bashing but to raise a concern that one member cannot recommend this forum to others anymore. Since then others have posted their comments including a moderator from here. I have asked both BC and Chicken to refrain from commenting since they are admins at both locations and I don't want a potential conflict of interest to show up.

No one has said that SitePoint Forums would be a replacement for these forums. In fact that isn't our goal or target demographic. Of course we would like Web Hosts to become members there and participate in the conversations, especially about those of running an online business. However we are not a community dedicated to the Hosting Industry. The only reason we have a Webhosting forum is because it is a needed service for anyone who wants to run a business online these days. Our target demographics include webmasters, designers, web programmers and business people.

From the posts at both sites, it looks like there are some growing pains going on and some people feel stepped on. All sites go through this in a cyclical basis and it takes good management to survive. Having worked with Chicken and BC, I think you have it here. So listen to the other users and grow through this. In the end everyone will be stronger for it.

Sincerely,
Wayne Luke
SitePoint Forums
Administrator

Hey Wayne :)

Originally posted by Wayne Luke
As the Administrator of the SitePoint Forums, I allow our members to voice their concerns about other services. These threads are always monitored and our members police themselves through the "Report" feature in vBulletin.

I don't see the thread as bashing but to raise a concern that one member cannot recommend this forum to others anymore. Since then others have posted their comments including a moderator from here. I have asked both BC and Chicken to refrain from commenting since they are admins at both locations and I don't want a potential conflict of interest to show up.

No one has said that SitePoint Forums would be a replacement for these forums. In fact that isn't our goal or target demographic. Of course we would like Web Hosts to become members there and participate in the conversations, especially about those of running an online business. However we are not a community dedicated to the Hosting Industry. The only reason we have a Webhosting forum is because it is a needed service for anyone who wants to run a business online these days. Our target demographics include webmasters, designers, web programmers and business people.

From the posts at both sites, it looks like there are some growing pains going on and some people feel stepped on. All sites go through this in a cyclical basis and it takes good management to survive. Having worked with Chicken and BC, I think you have it here. So listen to the other users and grow through this. In the end everyone will be stronger for it.

Sincerely,
Wayne Luke
SitePoint Forums
Administrator

Thank You's to Matt and the other moderators for providing this site for us.

I've been following this forum only about a month and have found it superbly useful. I have also seen a few cases where my limited knowledge has been helpful to others.

There has only been one thread I've participated in that I know of that has been "Thrown" That may have been partly my fault(sorry, xstrike).

I run a very small hosting business that exists currently only on a reseller account. I have not advertised it here, because I fail to see the point. Most of the users I would bet either have better contacts than me, or already own their own dedicated/colo'ed servers.

But, I did come here to find out what other hosts were doing. (I'm new at this.) I did come here to see what other options were available. (I'm new at this.) I did come here to see positive/negative feedback on different servers. (I'm, well, you get the point :) )

I'm a PC guy, I live by my computers. I like to think I know a lot about them, but servers and webserving are no-mistake areas. I want to learn all I can before I plop down several hundred dollars for a dedicated/colo-server and fall flat on my face.


In every respect so far, WHT has been extremely useful.

Alright, alright, I'll stop already... ;)

Coming from a new user perspective, I think WHT is great. I was able to look up quite a few web hosting companies (ie: *****), credit card processors, etc. There is certainly a good amount of information on this board.

I also felt quite amused with the community "spirit" post and how the moderators seem to be putting the board "downhill" because of selective deletions. Hey, moderation requires selection. Those who get selected gets ticked off.

Who cares. Live another day. Post another message.

I just wanted the free info, not the politics.

Thanks.

Originally posted by JayC
The fact, as far as I am concerned, is that this forum is the best resource for the purpose it's intended for: as a source of information for hosting consumers.


..." There's a lot of industry knowledge here, and there's little misinformation that doesn't get challenged quickly. There are several very reputable hosting companies represented, and hosting-related scams regularly exposed as such. "




I was told this was the place to go and hang out before getting into dedicated servers, and I am happy to see the "unlimited" crap get challenged. And the other obvious lies...
I wonder if we will survive this place ?? You guys are brutal... but no worse than ISP-bandwidth mailing list....

Now if y'all would just be willing to pay a little more.....:D

Tom

Originally posted by Technics
That's funny cos i wouldnt wish anyone to have a neighbourhood like mine ..... I'm from a riot torn city .... cos of racists.

I was sorry to see that on the news, the racist disease seems to be spreading in our country!

As to this forum, I've been coming here for a short while, and yes it seems to have changed a bit. But given its growing size thats inevitable. Some people have complained the advertising rules are too strict but imagine how a spammers eyes would light up when they saw that membership total and found out moderation was very lax :eek: , we'd be seeing conversations drowned in rubbish.

Some people have left rather vocally, and some big names in the forum too, but do you abandon something you truly care about, or do you grind your teeth and persist?

Personally I've never been "moderated" and have no complaints. I'm still learning here, and suspect I still will be for some time to come, so I'll be around for some time to come...

Just wish I had more input to give rather than feeding.

Anyone in the UK need a good PC hardware tech?? :D