New BBS Theme Updates

[Johnson]

Johnson here...

The forum theme has been updated again.

To about 99% of you, these changes will be fairly subtle, but hopefully still a notable improvement. However, about 1% of the BBS was using old themes that were outdated and needed work. These themes have been deprecated.

We are now offering a dark theme (the default) and a light theme (dark text on a lighter background). You can access and set your theme under your profile settings.

We'd like to thank everyone that helps to support Free Talk Live, and let you know that Jacob and myself have worked hard to create a few themes that are visually pleasing while being integrated with the site. We hope you enjoy this improvement.

The next time we upgrade the themes will be even more of an improvement when the software we use for the forums finally reaches version 2.0 final.

Best regards,
The The Free Talk Live BBS Team.


Also as a consolatory note for some of the people using the older themes... you among the 1% -
Those themes didn't have some of the code we have added over time to protect the BBS from spammers, and were a vector for spammers to get into the BBS. Maintaining only two themes will allow us to help keep the BBS more up to date and spam free! (as much as possible)

[Diogenes The Cynic]

Thank you Johnson, and keep up the good work.

[Bill Brasky]

I guess I'll get used to it.  I don't care much these days.  But Babylon was tits, at least visually. 

If theres a dark skin that the geeks find acceptable, please include it, when everything else is complete. 

I like white text on a black background. 

I know you work on this stuff and find the 1%ers an annoyance, but the default is like --  holy shit.  Just brain damaging when you're not accustomed to it. 

Please take a deep breath before you yell.  I didn't come lookin' for a fight. 

[Johnson]

Drifter, you could try the light theme. Of course, that's black text on white...

Or, alternately, you could use a Greasemonkey script to pretty easily change the Greys in this theme.
 

[Bill Brasky]

Drifter, you could try the light theme. Of course, that's black text on white...

Or, alternately, you could use a Greasemonkey script to pretty easily change the Greys in this theme.
 

Hey J

I think its the yellow that really skeeves me out.  I'm using the dark theme, and its nice.  BUT...  that yellow is still poppin like a motherfucker.

Like I said, I'll get used to it.  I'm just saying...  IF  ..  you find a compatible skin, after everything else is all squared away, maybe think about including it.  IF it doesn't cause any compatibility problems.

Also, the "quote" feature, when I quote a poster, like I did with you, it needs some kind of accent.  Like a white border, or something.  The quotes are a bit too subtle.

[Johnson]

Will fix the quotes... as far as adding more themes... there is a LOT of custom changes in each theme that help to keep things together... and help avoid database conflicts with users and what not... besides the anti-spam stuff... So, the average SMF theme has to be heavily modded before it can be installed. Hopefully SMF 2.0 will allow more flexibility and have a better SMF <-> Drupal Bridge.

[Bill Brasky]

Will fix the quotes... as far as adding more themes... there is a LOT of custom changes in each theme that help to keep things together... and help avoid database conflicts with users and what not... besides the anti-spam stuff... So, the average SMF theme has to be heavily modded before it can be installed. Hopefully SMF 2.0 will allow more flexibility and have a better SMF <-> Drupal Bridge.

Yeah, I understand why you don't wanna fuck with a slap-on.  Its cool.

Heres another critique (stop me when you get annoyed).

On "the boards", theres a little icon that says "new" when a poster has added to a thread.

Could you change that "new" insignia to an alert color, like red, or something?  Anything that is attention-getting, visually.  Because thats what they're for.

That dragonfly blue turquoise that my mod-stars are colored would work nice. 

[Bill Brasky]

By the way, since you don't get enough compliments during this process..

Whatever you goons did to keep the spam away..  works marvelous.  We were up to our eyeballs in spambots a while back, and something's working really fucking cool to prevent that.  wtg

[anarchir]

I'm just glad you guys are taking an interest in the forum and actively trying to improve it. One I got really into in the past was abandoned by the owners. Total BS.

[BonerJoe]

Whatever you goons did to keep the spam away..  works marvelous.  We were up to our eyeballs in spambots a while back, and something's working really fucking cool to prevent that.  wtg

If my hand hewn IP ban lists are still in place, I'm sure those are helping.

[Cognitive Dissident]

Thanks for providing a black text on white background theme.  I was ready for the worst when I got the email.  The explanation for having only two themes makes enough sense.  I won't bitch.

[sillyperson]

the default is like --  holy shit.  Just brain damaging

This

[Riddler]

i feel like i'm in a brazillian coal mine & the helmet light batteries are dying

[Johnson]

the default is like --  holy shit.  Just brain damaging

This

Free Talk Live Light
3 people are using this theme.

Free Talk Live Dark
5158 people are using this theme.

So, I guess we know which theme Drifter, WTFK, and D_Goddard are using.

Dragline seems to have not yet figured out how to turn on the lights.  

There is a dark text on light theme that you might prefer.


BonerJoe - Absolutely... You hand hewn IP ban lists are extremely helpful. All the moderation, the algorithms, captchas, and what nots help keep out the bots. Now, these new themes make it so that it's impossible to register for the site through SMF - which means that robots are WAY more confused by that... and human spammers have to jump through different hoops and spam protection that Drupal has - which is better than SMF.

[sillyperson]

So, I guess we know which theme Drifter, WTFK, and D_Goddard are using.

Tried both; liked neither.
Why did the old themes have to be nixed?