Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions (Read 1 time) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions
Yahoo Message Number: 108801
So, does anyone know what Yahoo Groups problem was?  What can we do to stay in touch if this happens again?  Is there a "contact point" (other than over-loading Andy Baird's e-mail inbox) where we can get information if the site disappears again?
 While Yahoo Groups is free, that seems to be its main advantage.   And, the big question, that comes up periodically…should we look somewhere else as a site for our forum? I'd hope that our moderators would continue, as they do an outstanding job, IMHO.

Sharon N.
Crossville, TN
Re: lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108804
"So, does anyone know what Yahoo Groups problem was?"

In a word, no. Yahoo sent me this yesterday afternoon:

Thank you for writing to Yahoo! Groups.
 We have investigated the issue you've brought to our attention and your group now appears to be functioning properly.
 We are looking into any difficulties you reported and apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.

Thank you again for contacting Yahoo! Groups.

 No admission of guilt, no details about how the screwed up--par for the course. In the recent past (early September 2009), they admitted to accidentally deleting thousands of legitimate groups (while doing a cleanup of millions of spam groups), but then restoring them, but whether something like that happened to us, I can't say. Ours was not the only group to be "lost and found"; I know of at least one other that disappeared at the same time (around noon on Christmas Eve).
 "What can we do to stay in touch if this happens again? Is there a 'contact point' (other than over-loading Andy Baird's e-mail inbox) where we can get information if the site disappears again?"
 Many people kept in touch via the Yahoo Techsnoz group, and Terry Tanner was kind enough to allow that thread, even though it was technically off topic. And of course a few dozen members emailed me, which kept me fairly busy for a couple of days. ;-) Other than those two possibilities, I don't have any good suggestions for an emergency contact point if this happens again. I do have the group's current member list backup locally, but if I had to send emails to 4,135 people I'm not sure how I'd handle it--the one time I tried to send mail to a few hundred Eureka owners about a new version, my domain was blacklisted as a spam source!
 "the big question, that comes up periodically…should we look somewhere else as a site for our forum?"
 I haven't looked at other possibilities in awhile, but when this was discussed a few years ago (the last time Yahoo screwed us up on a major scale), I remember that there were possibilities--free or inexpensive BBS systems that would serve our purposes pretty well. The big issue would be how to make the transition while retaining the "group wisdom" of our message base and files.
 Art Berggreen's indispensable LifeWithaLazyDazeRV Archive (http://www.lazydazers.org/Yahoo/msg_display.php>) has all of our messages through November 18th, 2009. I have some but not all of the Files area documents backed up on my own Mac, plus the member list... but Photos, Links, and Database aren't backed up. Unfortunately, doing those backups is a tedious business of downloading file by file, folder by folder--I'm not savvy enough to automate the process, the way Art has done with the messages. As a result, I don't do it more than about once a year. And uploading them to a new host--especially the 108,000+ messages--would be a major task.
 So while it would probably be a good idea to investigate the alternatives in case this happens again, I think for now we should stay where we are. I just don't have the time or energy right now to tackle a job as big as a wholesale migration to another host.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108809
Quote
"the big question, that comes up periodically…should we look somewhere else as a site for our forum?"
On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:41:37 -0000, "Andy" wrote:

Quote
I haven't looked at other possibilities in awhile, but when this was discussed a few years ago (the last time Yahoo screwed us up on a major scale), I remember that there were possibilities--free or inexpensive BBS systems that would serve our purposes pretty well. The big issue would be how to make the transition while retaining the "group wisdom" of our message base and files.
While there is considerable "group wisdom" in the messages and files, few use it. The same questions are asked and answered over and again.
It was cat heaters again in the last 24 hours.

The problem, as I see it, is that the "group wisdom" is a mess.
Finding the information is not a pleasant task. It does not matter if you search the Yahoo messages or the messages that are copied to Art's web site. It's still a mess. Ditto on the Files section. Tessa did a find job of cleaning it up last year, but it's still not easy to find what you want.

Last September I floated the idea of a FAQ being created on another web site. It got a BIG yawn. Andy and I do not agree on the need for a FAQ. Fine. I do agree with him that it would not get used much, so why bother. People join, ask their question and leave when the number of messages over powers them.

I was most impressed with Andy's Lazy Daze Pocket Guide http://www.andybaird.com/travels/LD-guide-web/ I wish I could do such good work. It would be a fine format for a FAQ.
 Joan, and others, have some wonderful articles in the Files section.
Take Tires. I wonder many times it is accessed before the question of what type of tires should I buy is posted.

I sure do have an answer, but I do wish the "group wisdom" could be mined and put on web site, [Google offers them for free]. And when the next inevitable question on cat heaters, tires, eternabond is posed the poster could be referred to a FAQ. That would be my new years wish of this group.

Cheers, Don
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108814
If there's anybody in the group who has experience with Google groups *as a group moderator*--not just a member--please contact me: andybaird at earthlink dot net.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108817
Quote
If there's anybody in the group who has experience with Google groups *as a group moderator*--not just a member--please contact me: andybaird at earthlink dot net.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Thanks, Andy and Don, for the thoughts on the Yahoo situation.  Hope we can work something out.  This group is too valuble to just disappear some day.

Sharon N.
Crossville, TN
Re: lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108818
Don Malpas  wrote: Take Tires. I wonder many times it is accessed before the question of what type of tires should I buy is posted.
-- A comment on the "About Your Tires": much of the general/basic information in that particular file remains "current", but a couple of the website addresses and some of the the specific tire suggestions are overdue for a revision; websites and product/tire choices change frequently. In the meantime, I hope that people do read the general information; I'll post a "reminder" when I complete a file update.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108824
Quote
"...While there is considerable "group wisdom" in the messages and files, few use it. The same questions are asked and answered over and again..."

Cheers, Don
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108828
Quote
"Take Pity" what is that all about?? John 85FL

--- On Tue, 12/29/09, chorst_2000  wrote:
It's just a figure of speech and is about nothing much.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108830
On Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:52:17 -0000, "chorst_2000" wrote:

Quote
I think on any Internet forum where folks are seeking information, you will get the same questions time and again.  No offense to anyone, but basically many are too lazy to use the search features (the Yahoo one is pretty worthless) and find it easier to ask the question and hope a compassionate person will take pity and answer.  There would be fewer repeated answers if more folks would direct the questioner to the "searchable archives" and/or suggest a few key words/phrases to Google.  That said, we are a friendly group and tend to overextend the helping hand at times.

Chris
I fully agree Chris, I think we might actually enjoy repeating ourselves.

Cheers, Don
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108831
OTOH, some of us are so old WE DON'T KNOW we are repeating ourselves. ;o)

best, paul

"Thriving not surviving" - Paul Schaye (at 2008 NYC Marathon) - See our website at www. LazyDazers.com
 
Re: lifewithalazydazerv Yahoo Group questions
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108834
Quote
many are too lazy to use the search features (the Yahoo one is pretty >>worthless) and find it easier to ask the question and hope a >>compassionate person will take pity and answer.
=====================
 Chris, as does everyone I know, people here really like to offer help I think. I don't think it's a matter of pity but the pleasure we all get when we can help someone, other than in an enabling role I mean.
 For those who don't want to answer there's nothing compelling them. And for those who do, more power to you... and thank you.

Chuck Custer Bellevue, WA