Sometimes I want LFGSS to be part of a Shadownet

@ Plastic Pedals - Why not stay over at Dave's?

just looked at an old thread which says its in Fulham. Is it still in Fulham? I live in Fulham

She Bu

It seems like this thread has derailed from Velocio's original point of why he is considering a dark net to the side effect of having less new people of having a dark net. None of the suggestions also deal with the issue of funding a dark net should it happen.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/11/leaked-acta-internet-provisions-three-strikes-and-

It's just shocking.

I cannot as a provider of this site possible take steps to police the forum in such a way that I can have any confidence that there isn't some copyright infringing material on here.

Hell, a photo of a bike is copyright to someone, somewhere.

So I'm tempted, always am... enticed you might say... by the idea of making LFGSS an invite only site, and to make it https:// only. Basically... if you're one of us, cool... you're in. Otherwise, tough you're out.

The problem with doing this isn't so much the technical side, but it's the cost side. The site is big, it would've been easier to do that when it was small... but now we have 3 servers and costs each month and no sponsor will pay to lose a significant chunk of passer-by audience. Though, sponsors might consider paying to access a private audience, but the audience is so much smaller (a tenth) of the public audience.

There might actually be some benefit. No more n00bs and the dumb questions.

Gah, I hate politics, I hate the leaders of men. I do love the idea of the darknet, it's really attractive... but the forum has actually done a lot of good being public, and it seems a shame to consider that stuff slowing down.

Quite a crazy article, I can't say I understand it all but I think I get the jist. So even though you have placed yourself not as a publisher you may still be potentially liable and the ISPs may be forced to shut you down if multiple copy right violations complaint are made correct.?

But this has not happened yet. There also seem to be problems with European law, however it may well come about and it seems only wise to at least have a plan to get round this problem.

Could a possible solution be to have the general current site under https (and only viewable when logged in, and still with adverts as they are now) but all archives (and all post sinstantly become this stripped down archives) without any photo or video content under http which are trawled by google with adverts. For example Bikeforums.net has this come up on old pages. No photos no linked photos no video but still with adverts e.t.c.

This way advertisers could get passing traffic and regular user traffic so income should be constant plus net bots could not trawl for any linked material that my be in breach of copyright. I know it creates a two tier system for people who have signed up and those who have not but it's an idea which should maintain high google ranking with advertisements for passing trade.

I have not explained myself very clearly but I hope you get roughly what I am saying.

it would be interesting to see how it worked; would all current members recieve and automatic invite?

Could a possible solution be to have the general current site under https (and only viewable when logged in, and still with adverts as they are now) but all archives (and all post sinstantly become this stripped down archives) without any photo or video content under http which are trawled by google with adverts. For example Bikeforums.net has this come up on old pages. No photos no linked photos no video e.t.c.

This way advertisers could get passing traffic and regular user traffic so income should be constant plus net bots could not trawl for any linked material that my be in breach of copyright. I know it creates a two tier system for people who have signed up and those who have not but it's an idea.

I have not explained myself very clearly but I hope you get roughly what I am saying.

+1

Sounds like a good sort of compromise, would the sponsors stay up in both the invite only section and the archived pages?

edit: that said I might be part of the cull so I should probably add a -1 to what Tommy said as well.

Quite a crazy article, I can't say I understand it all but I think I get the jist. So even though you have placed yourself not as a publisher you may still be potentially liable and the ISPs may be forced to shut you down if multiple copy right violations complaint are made correct.?

Yup, and it's a global treaty that the US is going for, and treaties tend to over-rule local law providing it's not in conflict with local constitutions (hence things like WIPO).

Could a possible solution be to have the general current site under https (and only viewable when logged in, and still with adverts as they are now) but all archives (and all post sinstantly become this stripped down archives) without any photo or video content under http which are trawled by google with adverts. For example Bikeforums.net has this come up on old pages. No photos no linked photos no video e.t.c.

Bikeforums do that for SEO purposes because their site is shite. I don't do it, but also for SEO purposes because Google favours sites that don't duplicate content (show it on 2 or more different URLs).

I do like the idea of SSL only, but what you're suggesting wouldn't protect me, our ISP or people on here from having pasted an article off of the internet onto here.

I could deny all bots (inc' Google), and go full SSL, that's kinda like an "open and visible darknet". But then, if people now couldn't really find the forum, why not just go invite only?

There might well be other ways to approach this... what about being an iceberg? 20% visible would be the Bikes & Bits forum, the Classifieds and the Mechanics... then everything else could be hidden unless you were registered and broke free of the nursery.

Walled gardens aren't the only option.

I'm motivated in this by selfishness (protecting my ass), love (protecting the community) and politics (I'm pretty against what is proposed). So ideas that balanced all three quite well would be worth thinking about.

Not that I proposed any action, just that when I read things like that article I do wonder about my role and what I could be doing.

Iceberg sounds cool.

I don't want to find that..the forum has been diluted by the incessant rambling and bickering of newbie fools...

what as opposed to the concentrated incessant rambling and bickering of established fools..?

Shut up, Phil...

too close to the bone for you eh joe...

You've spoilt *the gag** now, yer big turd burglar... ;P

• Just cuz you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there...
  

*just coz i can sees it, doesn't mean i don'ts needle you anyway...

I'm making graphs right now... Worst job ever*...

• For a graphic designer living in London that is, I realise there are much worse jobs and I should count my bloody lucky stars...
  

You could always make LFGSS a logo.

I want to obliterate the wordy title and just put an image up there... but I'm shite at design. My attempts to make graphs here involves using the JavaScript Raphael library to etch-a-sketch a pattern onto the screen.

I mate a logo in l33t for the l33t new l33t lfgss.

7f655

Sweet.

i've met a bunch of people through the trix night and on rides who have almost never posted, and probably only log in occasionally for a sales thread or whatever.. they still refer to the forum regularly and feel part of the community, they just don't feel the need to post a load of inconsequential horseshit all the time. visibility / post count / time on forum isn't the whole picture, and some of the most annoying and detrimental people spend the most time logged in.

yeah, i'm aware people might think "like you for example". there are a bunch of us on here who are boring, over-opinionated wankers, let's face it. it's as unpleasant and pointless a place to spend your time as it is beneficial these days as far as i'm concerned, i'm still wrestling with my disenchantment and ambivalence over it.

if a darknet would guarantee it became all sweetness and light I'd hope and pray for it, but as proposed it risks being the same bunch of tossers venting, hi-fiving and making crap in-jokes between themselves as fewer people look on.

But you get back more drunk from wests than hanging out with the southern softies.

Shut up, James...

+1.6

I do like the idea of SSL only, but what you're suggesting wouldn't protect me, our ISP or people on here from having pasted an article off of the internet onto here.

I could deny all bots (inc' Google), and go full SSL, that's kinda like an "open and visible darknet". But then, if people now couldn't really find the forum, why not just go invite only?

If I can give my 2p a SSL only, i.e. open darknet, seems the best practical solution. It creates a small entry test (typing the URL of the site) on possible new members, and should cover your ass, and ours in general.

I have no issues with a 'members only' https, but I think it would be difficult to vet the applicants: what happens if you want to use the site but you live in some sorry ass part of the country? do you have the time and cash to travel to London? Most of the current subscribers would probably fail that test.

I do not really contribute much, so losing me would not damage londonfgss, but I would not have the time to travel around to be vetted for an internet forum, despite living in London. Unless I had to have some info that is only on londonfgss I doubt I would bother --my life is complicated enough as it is.

You've got a low userid, you get in anyway ;)

I definitely don't think LFGSS should be an invite-only community. It's thanks to this site that I got into bikes, in the mechanical sense anyway. Someone may say "didn't stop you from fncking up a beautiful bike" but hey, everyone makes mistakes. LFGSS has also provided a priceless source of knowledge to help keep a bored 14 year old busy, and learn about the history of cycling. Yeah, some complete and utter crap gets posted, but it helps to weld the people on the forum together by talking about random stuff and getting to know eachother a bit more (how ever little).

A good idea may be to make it more difficult to start threads (i.e 3 day wait, to leave the time for a proper search), and make some parts only visible to members, like the iceberg idea posted earlier.
I'm also afraid that closing off the forum would mean I'd get kicked out ;)

If I can give my 2p a SSL only, i.e. open darknet, seems the best practical solution. It creates a small entry test (typing the URL of the site) on possible new members, and should cover your ass, and ours in general.

I have no issues with a 'members only' https, but I think it would be difficult to vet the applicants: what happens if you want to use the site but you live in some sorry ass part of the country? do you have the time and cash to travel to London? Most of the current subscribers would probably fail that test.

I do not really contribute much, so losing me would not damage londonfgss, but I would not have the time to travel around to be vetted for an internet forum, despite living in London. Unless I had to have some info that is only on londonfgss I doubt I would bother --my life is complicated enough as it is.

Well said :)

Where's the lower user id cut-off?

2038?

1556 I reckon.