Green Building Forum - Forum problems?

Forum problems?

GarethC — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 21:02:12 +0100

Is Keith OK? Don't see any posts less than nearly a couple of years old from him!

Forum problems?

Jeff B — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 23:38:35 +0100

I don't have any trouble using the GBF but I realise there are some frustrating limitations. Like djh I would not be happy to have to create a Google or Facebook account to access it. I would have to bow out if that became the case.

Forum problems?

Mike1 — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 21:18:02 +0100

FWIW I've used Pale Moon - https://www.palemoon.org/ - as my main browser for several years and have never had any problems with the Forum. It's a hard fork of Firefox and they don't (and won't) discriminate between http & https sites. Well worth a try.

You'll still need a mainstream backup browser, though, for the sites that implement Google's latest stupidities.

Forum problems?

richardelliot — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 12:05:31 +0000

I've just tried a couple of times on Chrome to create a new topic and have received an warning that the site wasn't secure, and when I tried to continue anyway I was then told I wasn't signed in (which I definitely had done prior to creating the new topic) and lost my post.

Forum problems?

GreenPaddy — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 13:09:00 +0000

suspect this is the begining of the end of GBF, if many existing members, and likely new memebers can't sign in. Shame

Forum problems?

RobinB — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 08:53:05 +0000

I have the same issues on Chrome, but as long as we use passwords that we don't use anywhere else I don't really see an issue. I would be sad to see this forum fade away. It has been a fantastic resource for over a decade and I'm so grateful to everyone who takes time to share knowledge and experiences here. Nothing on social media comes close in terms of politeness, patience, expertise and good humour. (and yes I have just had to log in again to post this)

Forum problems?

GarethC — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 15:16:35 +0000

The interesting thing is that GBF manages this without moderators as far as I can tell?!

Forum problems?

Jeff B — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 22:21:23 +0000

For some reason I never have trouble signing in to the GBF. I am not a "techy" person by any means even the TV remote has me baffled on occasion! If it is of any help to others, I can tell you that I use a fairly old Dell Inspiron 560 desktop PC with Windows 10 Home Edition and Firefox 119.0 (32 bit). I see there is an option in Firefox to upgrade all connections to HTTPS - would this be useful for other GBF users to try if insecure website messages are the problem?

Forum problems?

Jeff B — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 22:24:05 +0000

Posted By: GarethCIs Keith OK? Don't see any posts less than nearly a couple of years old from him!

I thought he is in charge of the GBF, if "in charge" is the correct terminology. Maybe he is unaware of the problem if he has stopped using the GBF?

Forum problems?

Jeff B — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 22:38:12 +0000

I just looked up this link: www.greenbuildingpress.co.uk/support.php

and there is the following message on there:

ATTENTION: WE ARE EXPERIENCING TEMPORARY ACCESS ISSUES WITH OUR GREEN BUILDING FORUM. PLEASE USE THIS LINK UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: GREEN BUILDING FORUM

The words GREEN BUILDING FORUM are in blue/underlined and provides a link to the GBF. Maybe try this if you are having problems and see if you can get in that way.

Forum problems?

borpin — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 07:34:32 +0000

Posted By: GarethCThe interesting thing is that GBF manages this without moderators as far as I can tell?!

I think this is largely because of the small fee to sign up (not sure if it is still there). Bots and Trolls simply will not pay and anyone willing to pay is usually willing to behave. There has been the odd spat over the years :(

Sort of validates Musk's theory for X - small annual fee might improve it significantly.

Forum problems?

borpin — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 07:36:12 +0000

Posted By: Jeff BI just looked up this link: www.greenbuildingpress.co.uk/support.php

and there is the following message on there:

I think that message has been there for years...

Posted By: GreenPaddysuspect this is the begining of the end of GBF, if many existing members, and likely new memebers can't sign in. Shame

I'd second that and without any means of contacting Keith, little can be done to continue it in any form.

Forum problems?

Jeff B — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 17:16:16 +0000

Borpin - oh, ok, I didn't know that.

I would definitely miss the forum if it disappeared. Such a useful place for exchange of ideas and advice and always very civilised!

Forum problems?

RobinB — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:41:44 +0000

I just realised I'm unable to start a new discussion, (about the cost and desirability of earthen floor for kitchen) even though I am signed in. To add to this thread, I'm being automatically signed out and then have to sign in again to post - but this doesn't work to start a new thread. Anyone else have this problem?

"Some problems were encountered
You cannot take part in the discussions because you are not signed in.
You do not have permission to start discussions.
You cannot take part in the discussions because you are not signed in."

Forum problems?

GarethC — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 09:05:29 +0000

There's a contact telephone number on the associated FB page. I'd ring in case it got me through to Keith, but not sure what if say. If he was amenable, do we have collective skills and motivation/enthusiasm to migrate the forum?

Forum problems?

djh — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 11:45:19 +0000

Posted By: RobinBI just realised I'm unable to start a new discussion, (about the cost and desirability of earthen floor for kitchen) even though I am signed in. To add to this thread, I'm being automatically signed out and then have to sign in again to post - but this doesn't work to start a new thread. Anyone else have this problem?

FWIW I just started a new discussion for you ... I had no problem and neither do I have problems commenting here. So it seems the problem can be avoided with a different browser and/or settings.

Forum problems?

Mike1 — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:19:51 +0000

Posted By: GarethCdo we have collective skills and motivation/enthusiasm to migrate the forum?

I would imagine so. Though in my case it would be the new year before I would have the time.

Previous discussions on upgrading the forum, for interest:

http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16677
http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17633

As mentioned in one of those, at some point the web host will to stop supporting the version of PHP that the forum requires, for security reasons. I think that's version 5.2, which reached its end-of-life on 6 January 2011.

Forum problems?

WillInAberdeen — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:33:04 +0000

I can't stay logged in; can't start threads; can't use the quote button; can't add attachments or smileys; can't receive whispered comments; can't edit comments. The last is the biggie for me.

The vast majority of web traffic is now https, so AIUI the villains are having to switch focus onto the few remaining unsecured sites still using http. The idea is to serve you a page that looks identical to GBF, but with malware hidden in the links or attachments, which would do a lot worse damage than just nicking your GBF password.

The GBF pages that we download over https, still contain hidden http links to:

w3.org
getvanilla.com
surfing-waves.com
newbuilder.co.uk (now defunct)
lussumo.com (now a gambling website in the Philippines AFAICT)
greenbuildingpress.co.uk

The mainstream browsers are trying to get the remaining http sites to switch over to https, although acting at different speeds:

"HTTPS-Only Mode is the future of web browsing!" says Firefox
https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2020/11/17/firefox-83-introduces-https-only-mode/

Chrome and Edge
https://blog.chromium.org/2023/08/towards-https-by-default.html?m=1

As DJH put it, if a website is only accessible to people using a certain browser, most other people just won't use that website.

Thanks for the kind words on the previous page: I certainly wouldn't leave GBF by choice, but AFAICT I've been kicked out :-( . Hoping that something changes soon.

I've been working on my own local copies of the main GBF pages to try fixing this, but not had much time or success.

Forum problems?

GarethC — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 16:32:47 +0000

Does anyone know whether Keith is OK? Ad mentioned before, can't find any interactions from him that aren't from quite a while ago.

Forum problems?

djh — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 17:45:59 +0000

The site's domain was renewed at the end of July, so somebody is paying some attention. The hosting seems to be a responsible organization, so will no doubt help with any necessary migrations if required.

Forum problems?

Nick Parsons — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 18:27:12 +0000

Have e-mailed Keith, but no reply as yet. I definitely do not have any of the skills re 'migration', but would probably (subject to work commitments at the time) be prepared to join a management group.

Nick

Forum problems?

GarethC — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:14:03 +0000

Posted By: djhThe site's domain was renewed at the end of July, so somebody is paying some attention. The hosting seems to be a responsible organization, so will no doubt help with any necessary migrations if required.

Although if it's like mine it's on auto renew.

Forum problems?

lineweight — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 14:58:35 +0000

I did this thread about a year ago:

http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17633&page=1

Feels to me like the place is doomed unfortunately, which is a great shame.

Is it worth identifying alternative forums that would be places to move discussions to, if the GBF goes under at some point.

I sometimes post on buildhub which has a section aimed at "green" building

https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/forum/14-environmental-alternative-green-building-methods/

Forum problems?

Jonti — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 19:13:45 +0000

I really don't have a problem with the site. It might not have all the 'bells & whistles' of some others but it is perfectly adequate.

Apart from those with login on problems it seems a bit of a storm in a tea cup to me but if it is such a problem then maybe someone might volunteer to help out.