I would like to see people give our mods a break. I think they have gone above and beyond here in being fair and objective. I have done this job, and it is time consuming and sometimes frustruating. They are doing a great job and I thank them for their time, their objectivity and consideration.
I also understand the frustruation of people having trouble, but I agree that by stepping back and trying to work together peacefully, instead of fighting back and forth, we can accomplish a whole lot more.
Sure, Fencer has gone off a few times. Many of us have "Gone off a few times". Can't we put it behind us and move forward together?

Give the mods a break. They are not causing the troubles here. They are only trying to help.
Thanks

baddessi: well said you! Thank you for that. I think the mods are handling this situation very well indeed & some of the users do need to learn some manners! Its childish behaviour & will not get anyone anywhere as we are currently seeing.

I read this board to see the info that is intended to be on here but instead its like reading one of the 'flame room f/s' that some people love to fight in. I gave those up a long time ago when I realised some people are just here to cause trouble & not alot more.

baddessi: If we could have a constructive discussion here WITH Fencer then i think the mods job shouldnt be so difficult.
But when he escapes from the reality and either ignore people or is rude then this situation occurs.
Look at his blog. He spends his time creating "cosmetic" while people are screaming of frustration because his site doesnt work.

Andersp: I'll give you that...you have spoken up for a long time and have legitimate frustruations.

I can't speak for Fencer, but I would guess the reason he doesn't respond is exactly because people ARE screming with frustruation.
He has said that he doesn't have answers to the problems at this point. Ok, he's working on cosmetics and some of us might think that site access is a priority, but the fact of the matter is that he IS working on the site. I would venture to guess that he is investigating access problems as well, but has no new answers at this point, and that is why he is not saying anything about it.

I am hopeful that the access problems will be taken care of in time as well, but he doesn't have answers to that right now and doesn't wish to spend his time saying that over and over again. I imagine he is just as frustruated with the situation as we all are.

But I think that polite and meant to help posts, for example the ones from Antje and Rose in the past day or so, may encourage him to read and participate in this board more than the ones where people are focusing on his rude behavior and arguements about what's on topic and such.
Just my opinion....

baddessi: i totally agree....just my opinion...i also agree on the comments regarding rose and antje's posts...

baddessi: I wish you are right but i have to say that i doubt. I have been as polite as Rose and Antje but without success.

Do you think this business has grown too big for him to handle and now he has no solutions.
So instead of trying to solve the BIG problems he is trying to "make points" by creating "cosmetics"

just a thought

Andersp: yes, that's something to consider...but I want to be hopeful and think that problems will get solved..and think that we will do more to sway him by polite posts..I'm not saying we should totally 'suck up' , but just think that negative posts aren't going to do alot to influenece him to want to help us.

Have to say that I'm happy to see people I don't normally see post here, like antje, beach, anastasia, Abigail, or2ak.com, gammonator and others speaking up as well...so he can be aware that there really ARE alot of us having problems...and that's it's not limited to just a select few....

First I would like to say that I also experience very bad speed issues. Today has been very very slow, but then again last night it was moving at a pretty good speed.

Second - I don't think anyone has said the site speed issues are a fault of a persons computer. I think some have suggested looking at settings, browser, and "cleaning" to help speed things up - but I believe everyone knows that the speed issues are somewhere else.

The problem: The speed issue is somewhere between the user & BrainKing. To expect Fencer to be able to solve the issue is the same as expecting us the user to fix the problem.

The internet works by going from point to point (hops) to get to the final destination. This is basicly random. From my town in Illinois, if I try to connect to the local school, some days I can get there in 3 "hops" - other days, it will take 10 "hops" going over to Indy & up to Chicago before making it back into my town. Thing is most all of the hops are pretty fast, so I don't even notice the speed difference. The problem is not all "hops" are fast. And your connection speed will only be as fast as the slowest connection. So take this example. (using Miles Per Hour just to show the example)

Hop 1 - 100Mph
Hop 2 - 100Mph
Hop 3 - 100Mph
Hop 4 - 2 Mph
Hop 5 - 100Mph
Hop 6 - 100Mph

The first hop is you, the last is BrainKing. Both are fast, but with a slow "hop" in the middle - your connection speed will be 2 Mph because the data slows down there.

Unfortunately there is not much that can be done. Someone suggested multiple servers in different locations, but that would be a very big task - probable a lot more then what a simple game site like BK would be able to do.

The one thing I would love Fencer to do is work on a "minimal" version of BK - a version that strips all but the important information so when users are in the "slow" mode, they can switch to it to still play games. So for example, a 500KB page may take 20 seconds to load. Well if you strip all the extra and make it a 100KB page, then the user will have to wait for less data and in turn should load pages faster. I thought I read someplace once that he was interested in this, but I'm unsure if he is working on it or not.

Doing some of the things I mention here: Computers (coan.net, 2007-03-12 20:16:01) - will help out..... along with changing the message per page on the discussion boards to a lower number.... like turning off the Javascript extras.... roll over smileys.... since having those off means that the extra data on the webpage no longer has to be transmitted to you - and in turn there is less data for you to wait for and can help speed things up.

** edited to add: before some tech corrects my example above, I know that is not "exactly" how it works - but should be a pretty good example for others who don't know how it works to understand it... so please don't pick about the details of my example ***

coan.net: thanks for posting that again. I've done many of your suggestions and they seem to help move my pages alot quicker...sometimes..other times, it drags....like you , sometimes fast and sometimes slow, but mostly slow.

I think why it's become such a subject as of late is because it wasn't a problem for most of us for years and then in the last couple of months, it's gotten really bad....so maybe we're overlooking an obvious solution or cause?The addition of embedded videos? Server changes? I don't know...but hopeful it will get sorted eventually.

But your post does help some of us make changes to make our pages more efficient..thanks!
I also like your idea for a "minimal" version of BK

baddessi: the part of the pages that load slowest for me is the list of fellowships (i have quite a long list) and my list of favourite boards (quite some in there as well)

but maybe this just like to be the slowest part because its loaded as last

when i playing my games those parts arent shown so i it loads much faster (i dont go to the main page in between my moves in every game)

Hrqls: I recently left most fellowships I'm not active in and cleaned up my list of favorite boards. I keep my message box clean all the time now...little changes do seem to help somewhat...I guess less is more?

anastasia: LOL, and also if you use IE and not Firefox it is also your fault....and to be sarcastic even further...Fencer can see all LOL....also if people remember correctly, the site has been getting slower and slower for god knows how long......read back .....

*****edit****

HAHAHAHA.....look at this ROFL.......


6. March 2003, 07:17:53MadMonkey (hide)show this user posts | show thread | linkSubject: Re: slow server ??
DreamBear: i'm having the same problem, can't even get to my Friends list etc...(just blank page) But even moving from games to main page is taking ages :(
Reply (box)


6. March 2003, 06:15:42BlackBear (hide)show this user posts | show thread | linkSubject: slow server ??
Fencer, I am experiencing severe slowless on here & very often get just blank white or grey screens. Is there a server problem on here ? Just thought I'd check before I jump on my ISP's back again.
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Okay, so, my attempt at humour is thwarted.  I just goes to show you that there are people out there that just want to complain.  Mods or otherwise.

1) The site is slow.
2) The posts are off topic.
3) The site owner is rude.
4) The customers are rude.
5) You have a bad computer.
6) You have a bad internet connection.

Some of these are true - for someone, sometimes.  This is a horrible forum for consensus.

Personally, I find it to be entertainment.  I now spend more time reading this board than I do playing games (apologies to my opponents).  Generally, I don't come here for chit chat.  You won't find my name on the general chat board.  I am interested in the operation of the site and the opinions, good or bad, of its users.  All this talk of off topic posts makes _no_ sense.  Posts may be repetitive, but they are on topic.

I agree, there are some people here with a louder voice than others, and some that don't speak up at all.  Others don't even bother.  Sound a bit like most companies I've worked for.  For what it is worth, I think everyone should just take a step back, take a nice cleansing breath and then have some fun.  Make the best of it.

http://www.subservientchicken.com

It is the first time since the harddisk-crash in November that I am having problems accessing to the site. Has there anything else malfunctioned?

brainking.com wasn't loading..... brainking.cz did.

Thank you! Now I can play my games normally (although I can't read any Czech..)

joshi tm: I clicked on the english flag before I logged in.

jryden: Oh please I just can't take anymore Chicken spanking!

Another week where the site is so slow that it kicks you off it. Last week was slow and kept kicking me off. I had to use vacation day because I got behind with my games.
Three times today I have been kicked off and I am now going to have to use another vacation day because once again I am behind with my games.

jryden: I have just spent £21.95 renewing my membership. Therefore I expect to be able to use the site without having too many problems.
I have tolerated the slowness long enough. But happens too often. If lots of people are complaining that the site has problems and is slow he should cancel the time-out. At least that way I would not be wasting my vacation days.

crosseyed: excellent point,time-outs should be suspended until the issues are solved.

Well, BK was playing up.. so was pogo. So I switched off the pc, unplugged the modem and restarted both.

... Pogo is still slow.

I've really taken my time trying to decide if I want to jump in here, but I'm realizing that it is important to change this perception that it is just a few malcontents who are having trouble with the site. It's not. There are many of us who are having speed issues, but just don't make a big deal about it.

However, I am finding myself having to use vacation days to keep up with my games, an issue I never had before. This morning it was taking forever, right now, my pages are loading fine. I too have a top of the line computer with a fast internet connection. I also have no problems with any other site. This has just started in the past few months. All any of use would like to see is a review of what has changed recently that has seemed to impact so many of us.

Also, I agree with baddessi, just because Fencer isn't giving you the response you want doesn't mean he isn't working on this behind the scenes. And while we may have legitimate gripes, the "tone of voice" on this board from some people is not conducive to getting someone to help you.

And before you feel the need to flame me and defend yourself, ask yourself why you think I'm referring to you.

Ok, I'm off to try and get some moves done while the site access is quick.

coan.net:
"The one thing I would love Fencer to do is work on a "minimal" version of BK - a version that strips all but the important information so when users are in the "slow" mode, they can switch to it to still play games."

srnity: I wonder if the removal of our beloved dragon would help?
I'd miss the crazy fella,but.............

Jim Dandy: It would only have an impact on the main page... people are complaining about the site in general...
But it would get rid of a side effect that keeps ticking me off - the ghost scroll bar that comes up all of a sudden (and I don't even use the Castle theme)

Jim Dandy: Noooooooo, not (what did we name him again?) I want to say "Leo", but that's not it

pauloaguia: I think I understand the issues,but frankly by my 3rd post on this board warnings tend to pop up.I honestly have no idea what is allowable anymore,and I say that sincerely with zero sarcasm.

i have high speed connection and bk is still slow...did what was suggested and still slow... added more memory, cleaned and maintenced my puter by I T person....site still slow...alll other sites i use are normal.......hate to complain but thats the way it is for me.....

Jim Dandy: It wasn't meant that way... I'll shut up and stop trying to teach people...
For all it takes, I haven't had any speed issues with this site, but I can see that it's a problem for an increasingly number of people and, like many others, I do feel it should be debated and exposed, if only for Fencer to feel some pressure to try and do a little more towards it (that minimalist version seems like a good idea, like I've stated in the past).

Like I said, I'll shut up for now, expecially considering it's bed time around here . Cheers and best of luck to all slow movers out there...

pauloaguia: Hey,I appreciated your explanation!!
I'm sorry if you felt my observations were directed at you,they weren't

Oh, c'mon, before I call it a night, can somebody pleassse give me the name of the dragon - it'll haunt me otherwise ?!?!?

srnity: Erving

Jim Dandy: Thank You, Thank You, Thank You - you are GOOD (I was stumped)

srnity: His zodiac sign might be Leo,I'm sure Fencer knows the date he was born,maybe he could help

Jim Dandy: & Pleasant s when you get there

Hrqls: May I ask why that it cant be the servor?? Just because some people load better does not mean its not a servor problem or error. Maybe his servor is to small. Maybe we as a group in the 1000's are playing at the same time and it wont run properly. After a few hours,,we notice it runs better,,,maybe a few 100 or a 1000 give up and load out of BK. Possibly this could be it. Its something to look into than our computers and providers, . and all the HOPS or internet is making, lol lol alot of us are hopping on the same bad connection somewhere I guess. But I doubt they run Canada thru Kansas. No one runs thru Kansas except to get out,,,lol lol. All I want is a chance to play my games here at BK. I dont talk on this board until I just couldnt stand it anymore. Posted it in my fellwoships,,they said not to ,,bring it here. They I get chastised here. I still think if a few hundred people were to message Fencer about the site being slow and having problems,,,maybe hw would speak up about it. I keep seeing his remarks everyday on what he is working on for the good of all on BK,,,but it has nothing to do with the growing displeasure of slowness on the site. Fencer,,,we love ya man,,, we wouldnt pay this money to play silly games if we didnt. But look into the problem we have at hand. We the people would like yto know you are interested in what we feel here on YOUR site. your minoins just want to be heard and know they are listened to. There is no better game site on the internet and a vast majority of us play on more than one site. We want to play here. Pay u the money, Not another place. Just let us know that you are there for us,, looking down and taking care of us in our time of need, We will be faithful and rejoice to the wonders you bring us ,
I think the castle thing and the dragon are wearing on me,,,I am outta here,,,,,,

Gammonator: you have been very well spoken with your concerns - i dont think you should be chastised at all... i hope that more people can voice their concerns in appropriate ways - those that cant - run the risk of ruining any chance of response for all of us....

redfrog: Never forget paying customers have voiced their concerns.Many people don't express themselves well online.Concerned customers should not need to know the "magic words" in order to get a response.Can you imagine telling that to a customer face to face? I dare ya LOL

Gammonator: I second what redfrog has said, well spoken
JimDandy: the point that redfrog is trying to say is that a constructive post will tend to see positive results far more quickly than negative, and yes, in my work, I will give my positive customers more attention (and better deals) than my negative ones, I will make more money that way

Vikings: Well,sometimes when a person says something over,and over,and over again,and they get no response,or are called a name,or are "warned" nerves get a bit frayed.People just want to be known that they are being heard,thats all

anastasia: I have yet to see someone that has made a positive post be warned or called a name,

Vikings: I didn't see what was so "nagative" about the previuos posts that were deleted

I also have real slow game play now, only in the day time and not on other sites.
At night it is fine but the daytime is bad and it was never like that before.

This is the first time and the last time that I will say something about it.

Everyone having this problem should come out and say something on here then the boss will know something needs to be fixed.
This might be negative but I don't care, something needs to be done.

Jim Dandy: I have to agree with Vikings....I respond that way in my work as well...I reward positive customers with exceptional service...those who are difficult and treat me disrespectfully, I don't encourage them to return...and yes, that is best for most any business.

Anastasia: yes, we want to be heard, but the intentional baiting, scorn and negative attitudes of some of the posts on this board are going to do the opposite I'm afraid and as redfrog said "run the risk or ruining any chance of a response for all of us"

And I haven't seen any posts about this subject that were removed where someone simply expressed their concerns about the speed of the site.

baddessi: I agree,but I suspect the tone has regressed over time.I doubt the initial comments were unreasonable in MOST cases

Jim Dandy: yes, I agree...the tone has regressed....and yes, because of frustruation. But my point is, that the tone of the board isn't helping the situation. More people are stepping up and respctfully saying that, yes, they have a problem. It's my hope that those posts won't be lost in the 'regressed tone' of the others.

baddessi: You're right,it's not easy for many to post on a public board.