The Big Move from Modified to Footbag.org (?)

[mc]

Dear Modifriends,

I've been doing some chit-chattery with our good friend Steve Goldberg.

A few years ago, it was suggested that Modified.ca be moved to footbag.org (not "replaced by"; all the posts and usernames can be transferred over. The current web site (modified.in) could even point to the new forum).

For whatever reason, that never got off the ground.

After my discussions with Steve, I've decided that, in my opinion, it's good for the sport and the players if we have the main discussion forum on the sport's primary web page.

Steve would like me to note that he and I "are kind of on opposite ends of the spectrum in various ways, but have agreed to collaborate to come up with a proposal that is probably long overdue, and that we think if *we* can come to terms on a good proposal, we think others will buy into it, and would like to preview some of what we're thinking about and get comments early on.

I just want people to realize that [Matt and I are] a great team to figure this out since we do hold such different views on things, so if we can come to terms, that's kind of cool. (And I'm confident we can.)"

here are a few points that I'd like folks to consider:

- People searching for footbag on the internet are going to find footbag.org a lot faster than they're going to find modified. A shift to footbag.org would put the supportive-to-newbies environment of modified to the place where more newbies are going to be. Supported and excited newbies = development of our sport.

- Footbag.org is owned and operated by *us*, the international players of footbag, and has a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that ensures it will stay running pretty much forever.. Unlike Modevia, Footbag.org, IFPA, and Steve Goldberg are dedicated to the sport of footbag. Not only has Steve maintained the most important footbag internet presence since the inception of the WWW, he's responsible for it existing in the first place!

Just a few years ago, someone at Modevia wasn't reachable or died or fell off the planet, or SOMETHING, and subsequently, we had to switch over to modified.in, which broke all the links to our pages and had every all discombobulated for a few days while we tried to get things in order.

This isn't an issue at footbag.org. Well, the discombobulation would be, as we adjust, but after that, it's like a rock. Not goin anywhere.

- On-site video hosting and embedding on footbag.org is a possibility. It doesn't exist yet, but it's totally implementable, after some cost-distribution restructuring. That means the convenience of youtube with MUCH higher quality. Was that double down clean? you might not know from youtube. With footbag.org quality video, you can be sure that it was definitely The (shoey at best).

Basically, my line of thinking is this.

We have access to a great host that has shown it's dedication to the sport, and is largely responsible for an internet presence that has developed the technical and social sense of the game that was previously and otherwise unreachable.

This host has the name of our sport (as opposed to a name that's meaningless and harder to remember, and looks a lot less professional).

That said, we should take advantage of this free resource for the betterment of the sport.

SO!

What are everyone's thoughts on this possibility?

[MathieuGM]

Well Matt, in my opinion you are totaly right. I can't really fin some really bad points that would make me think we shouldn't do the switch.

As i'm pretty new, i can confirm that it was not that much easy to find Modified... Ianek and Mat talked to me about it, otherwise i would never have found it.

But i saw footbag.org pretty easily.

Pretty sure it would be a nice move.

Mat.

[Muffinman]

I've wanted this from the beginning.

[jay7]

Well, the only practical way that I can see this working, is if we started posting and developing threads over on footbag.org, so I'm going to go log in to it, and go respond to a post.

[Sporatical_Distractions]

lets do it!

it'll open the footbag arms wider to embrace others

[calemccoy]

sounds awesome.


but i think when transferring info over too .org, filtering crap out would be great. obviously, thats a huge task.... but sort of necessary. like, take just the information/resources/footblogs/for sale threads over there, and leave behind all the flame wars and drama that so many people leave these forums for.

basically, a new beginning on the old forum site =]


i like it.

[mc]

well, that's the great thing, Jay... steve is so darn sharp with those computafiers that he can move all the topics, responses, and usernames to footbag.org. So, no issue there

glad the 3 of you are on board (you especially, Erik, because you're one of the seeds of this whole thing).

someone please argue with me about this so I can pummel your opinion into the ground.



just kidding, but seriously, if you don't think this is a good idea, please speak up, I'd love a chance to change your mind.

[mc]

Cale, I definitely think that the discussion and kicking circle forums could be left behind, and no bagger would be worse for it

[Jeremy]

Sounds like a fantastic idea. I'm fully in support. Good stuff Matt.

[Outsider]

someone please argue with me about this so I can pummel your opinion into the ground.

Moving modified to dot org would be a terrible idea because:
Steve Goldberg already nearly owns all of the footbag world. He's wanted the dot-org forum to be the main footbag forum for years so he can consolidate his control of footbag even further -- example: no edits or PMs on the dot org forum.

All these years of keeping the main internet footbag forum separate from dot org is one of our best bastions of resistance against Steve's evil empire. Keep modified independant and stick it to the man!

(seriously, though, I like my edits and PMs. I think Stevesy fears these will allow much abuse on his web-site, but, on the whole, I'd say modified is a fairly civil place, as internet forums go, and demonstrates that Steve's "no edits and PMs" policy is unnecessary -- we police ourselves okay, even if some people are a little annoying -- personally, I like having a few annoying people around -- they add flavor...)

[habitat]

Obvious. Thought this for years.

[Jorden]

The beginning of the end...?

[LEGOMAN]

NOOOOO

[mc]

Ya, Jon, I like those two things as well, now that you mention it.

PMs, I can definitely live without. whoever wants to be contacted can put their email address in their .org profile.

I think the loss of edits is outweighed by all the gains that I mentioned. Although, edits are REALLY helpful in event threads when you want to keep all your changing information in the first post in the thread. Maybe steve would consider some flexibility on the Editing issue. probably not. I'll talk to him.

Jorden, I wish you'd flesh out that thought a little more for us, so I can understand.

matt

[Jeremy]

I'm sure that if you sent a message/email/sms/letter to me or any of the other mods with a serious edit that you wanted to a post at footbag.org, we'd be happy to oblige.

Not having edits is a little annoying, but I think the advantage of having footbag.org as the central footbag spot is invaluable compared with issues like edits and PMs.

[C-Fan]

I think its a great idea. The ONLY thing holding me back, is that I would want my blog transferred over somehow, and I don't want to do that manually, because that'd take forever. If there is a way to move the entirety of my blog over, then I will support this with open arms.

[mc]

Ken, moving all the posts over is definitely part of the plan. although, as I've already said, the kicking circle and discussion forums, we could do without.

[dp]

"shud i geta sand hack or a pellet hack?"

All I'm saying is prepare to see this topic about 1000x as often.

[LEGOMAN]

i guess this is a good way to weed out legoman

ill never use that forum

[Zac Miley]

I like the kicking circle. Is there a way to keep it for just members with like, 200+ posts or something?