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Topic Summary

Posted by: Plagosus
« on: Today at 10:18:33 am »

I have now learned that Flag has said that he does not want a temporary forum because it will prejudice the security of the new forum which will not be open to the public. He says that users of the temporary forum will be tempted to give out the URL of the new forum on the temporary forum. That does not sound very convincing to me given that there are various other outlets on which the URL could be made known. However, mindful of all the hard work Flag has put in over the years, I am happy to respect his wishes.

There does though have to be a limit. We had a forum where, over some 20 years, a community was built of those with an interest in common who enjoyed participating. All the regulars must be missing it, some more than others, perhaps even feeling that they have been deprived of a safe haven. At what point should we say that we cannot wait any longer to get together again? Will this thread still be relevant at Easter?
Posted by: Plagosus
« on: January 12, 2026, 04:09:02 am »

I have just received a message from Zonka on King's Dungeons about the possibility of an alternative temporary MMSA forum. It was he who opened the forum i referred to above. This is what i wrote in reply:

I always thought that it was Johnno who opened the forum, possibly because it was he who informed me of its existence. Anyway, as you say, it is still operational and I have just posted a reply to your message. If we are to have an alternative it makes sense to use a forum which is up and running.

The MMSA forum has been down for nearly two months now and I think it has got to the stage where we are justified in making alternative temporary arrangements. If Flag has real life issues preventing him from setting up a new forum we can all accept that, but it should not stop us from having a place where we can meet until he can give the matter his full attention.

The question is how to communicate to everyone that the alternative exists. It has already been made known in Jack's House and can be published in King's Dungeons. Apart from that, those who network widely can inform their contacts by email.
Posted by: Plagosus
« on: December 22, 2025, 10:41:21 am »

Quote from: HumbledBareBoy on December 21, 2025, 09:58:41 pm
Quote from: Plagosus on December 04, 2025, 10:16:28 am
should we be encouraging people to post in this forum or in the back-up forum started a few years ago: https://msf.createaforum.com/index.php ?

Any answer, YES vs. NO, on whether any of us should try checking out the backup forum linked above? If only for curiosity's sake...

If we had an idea of when the new forum is going to appear it would be easier to answer the the question. I suggest we wait to the New Year and then think about whether the back-up forum is publicised.
Posted by: HumbledBareBoy
« on: December 21, 2025, 09:58:41 pm »

Quote from: Plagosus on December 04, 2025, 10:16:28 am
should we be encouraging people to post in this forum or in the back-up forum started a few years ago: https://msf.createaforum.com/index.php ?

Any answer, YES vs. NO, on whether any of us should try checking out the backup forum linked above? If only for curiosity's sake...
Posted by: HumbledBareBoy
« on: December 20, 2025, 09:55:50 am »

Quote from: Plagosus on December 20, 2025, 02:47:53 am
Here's an oddity.

Thanks for updating and keeping us abreast of the issues!
Posted by: Plagosus
« on: December 20, 2025, 02:47:53 am »

Here's an oddity.

If you click the link to the forum in the archive you get this message:

Thank you for visiting the New MMSA Forum.

The forum is currently unavailable and likely to stay that way for technical reasons, partly due to heavy traffic from bots or other bad actors destabilising our server.

More information may be available to authors shortly if you log in and visit this page. We apologise for the outtage which we know affects your ability to manage your stories, and we know the social value of the forum to many of you. Be assured that alternative arrangements are being planned.

If you click the direct link you get this message:

We regret that the forum previously at this location is now unavailable due to technical reasons.

More information can be found at the forum link from the main site index page – please click the logo above to visit our main index.
Posted by: Plagosus
« on: December 08, 2025, 01:28:18 pm »

The message quoted in my last post has disappeared and the message I quoted on 30th November is back again.
Posted by: Plagosus
« on: December 08, 2025, 02:27:19 am »

The message has now changed to:

Thank you for visiting the New MMSA Forum.

The forum is currently unavailable and likely to stay that way for technical reasons, partly due to heavy traffic from bots or other bad actors destabilising our server.
More information may be available to authors shortly if you log in and visit this page. We apologise for the outtage which we know affects your ability to manage your stories, and we know the social value of the forum to many of you. Be assured that alternative arrangements are being planned.

That is more reassuring for forum members.
Posted by: Plagosus
« on: December 07, 2025, 03:25:56 am »

Quote from: David M. Katz on December 06, 2025, 06:04:36 pm
Quote from: Plagosus on December 04, 2025, 10:16:28 am
https://msf.createaforum.com/index.php ?

What is this?  Why does it exist? Who is Tom?

A few years ago during one of Flag's long absences there was a danger the forum would close. Johnno created the forum as a back up. Tom is probably Johnno.
Posted by: David M. Katz
« on: December 06, 2025, 06:04:36 pm »

Quote from: Plagosus on December 04, 2025, 10:16:28 am
https://msf.createaforum.com/index.php ?

What is this?  Why does it exist? Who is Tom?
Posted by: David M. Katz
« on: December 06, 2025, 05:58:22 pm »

Quote from: Plagosus on December 05, 2025, 03:06:04 pm
While I agree that posting here or elsewhere should be emphasised as only temporary, I do not think that Flag can complain if people start to post elsewhere given the length of time the forum has been down without any indication of what the position is. While I do not consider that Flag has any obligation to keep members informed, I think it would be a courtesy, especially to longstanding participants who over the years have made significant contributions and who value the forum, to be given an update. We are left in limbo wondering if the forum as we know it is no more and, if it cannot be revived, if the content is lost. If we know a new forum is being set up then we will patiently wait for it to appear. On the other hand, if Flag has decided he does not want to set up a replacement we can all move on.

The reason Flag has not sent out any updates is that there is really nothing new to update.  He did drop a brief email to the review team last week to simply say that he was investigating the problem and weighing options and that he was also in communication with Dream Host. Flag did caution that he has a concerning IRL situation that is consuming more of his time than he would prefer.

Flag has made no indication that he has given up on the forum or that he is not for repairing or establishing something new.  Flag openly agrees that the forum is important to authors and readers alike.  Before anything can be done though, the source of the original problem must be identified and I do not think that has happened yet.

The update still remains: there is no update.
Posted by: Plagosus
« on: December 06, 2025, 05:37:54 pm »

I have been thinking along the same lines. Even so, before the MMSA forum went down I have been thinking this forum would benefit from some new blood as the number of regulars is very low.
Posted by: Emlyn Morgan
« on: December 06, 2025, 06:17:42 am »

We are lucky to have this friendly uncontending  forum thanks to Jack. I would not like it to change.
Posted by: Plagosus
« on: December 05, 2025, 03:06:04 pm »

While I agree that posting here or elsewhere should be emphasised as only temporary, I do not think that Flag can complain if people start to post elsewhere given the length of time the forum has been down without any indication of what the position is. While I do not consider that Flag has any obligation to keep members informed, I think it would be a courtesy, especially to longstanding participants who over the years have made significant contributions and who value the forum, to be given an update. We are left in limbo wondering if the forum as we know it is no more and, if it cannot be revived, if the content is lost. If we know a new forum is being set up then we will patiently wait for it to appear. On the other hand, if Flag has decided he does not want to set up a replacement we can all move on.
Posted by: Jack
« on: December 04, 2025, 05:06:13 pm »

You are always welcome to recommend stories here, let people know about it, and share news here.  I'm also always happy to have other author's come to talk about there stories or just ask questions.

HOWEVER, while Ian was very supportive of me starting this forum and the site hosting my own stories, he and I have not always seen eye to eye, and I don't want to do anything to make him think I/we are trying to replace him or his forum in any way.  I have to much respect for all the work he's done to want to disrespect him even by suggestion; so if we do encourage people to come here while the MMSA forum is down, let's do it in a way that's clear we're only suggesting it as a temporary alternative.