Reopened with caveats

[denpython]

So far so good! Working like a charm right now.
catching up on lost months.
Nice to be back!!!

Fingers crossed!!

[denpython]

Slowed up a bit al of a sudden. Knock on wood

[DB>]

After 3 days of not being able to get anything other than Gateway errors (I check a few times a day at random), finally CALGuns reappears.... there are definitely a few bugs that have disappeared, and it's loading fast and steady... the BIG Question is whether it will stay that way or not? Hopefully this site will finally become functional and uable again, time will tell.

Since this site is DOWN more often than UP, seemingly a semi-permanent condition, it's good that there is an alternative, there's room for more than one site, even though I'd strongly suspect that the "audience" has a lot of overlap.

There are enough enemies of the 2A community without the "friendly fire" garbage taking place on this thread. My experience with the "other CA gun site" has been positive, and if it is UP while THIS site is falling apart at the seams, that is a problem with THIS site, not the one that's up and running well... Nothing says that one cannot wish growth for the other site, and a return to functionality of THIS site!

[hermosabeach]

congratulations

37th wedding anniversary

[phil conrad]

Still hit or miss

[jarhead714]

After 3pm seems like it works about half the time. I’ll take it.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

My impression of Cagun.net, outside of its market place, is just a bitchfest about CGN. There are a few general discussion threads but no discussing of religion or politics limits it but that is the owners prerogative. Without that, I have little interest. Plus, the original Reddit people pretty much aren't really on board with a bunch of CGN people flooding in and changing the site. JMHO

That is consistent with what I've been observing. There's a lot of... well... let's call it 'discontent' with Kestryll being voiced; but, it would appear much of that goes back years and isn't all or even mostly directly related to the 'update' here.

The owner, evidently, begrudgingly gave them a single thread where they could cast a vote for Harris or Trump, but only allowed them a single sentence for each post. I get that he wants to keep the 'quarrelsome' material off the site. It's just that it can be difficult to build a 'community' without allowing some discourse on... 'other things.' It comes across as the old rule of etiquette; i.e., never discuss politics or religion. But, in California, especially with regard to firearms, it's virtually impossible to have any meaningful exchanges without politics being part of the conversation.

It is being claimed that the majority of the growing membership is from people other than members of Calguns. I don't have access to their metrics, so I can't say. What I can comment on is that an awful lot of their actively posting members are, in fact, members/former members of Calguns. Unfortunately, a good amount of their posts are, as you say, a bit of a 'bitchfest' with regard to Calguns, Kestryll, etc. What interests me is how many try to 'preach it' on here as well. What amuses me is how many are trying to play both sides of the fence; e.g., complaining over there about this site, but 'defending' this site on here.

My suspicion is that many of the Calguns people over there were either looking for a less problematic place to participate, for now, or they've been unhappy with this site's timbre for awhile.

[DB>]

The site gacked up when I tried to post my last post, yet when I come to see if CG is up, the site is working again, AND my post somehow survived and posted....

[DB>]

That is consistent with what I've been observing. There's a lot of... well... let's call it 'discontent' with Kestryll being voiced; but, it would appear much of that goes back years and isn't all or even mostly directly related to the 'update' here.

The owner, evidently, begrudgingly gave them a single thread where they could cast a vote for Harris or Trump, but only allowed them a single sentence for each post. I get that he wants to keep the 'quarrelsome' material off the site. It's just that it can be difficult to build a 'community' without allowing some discourse on... 'other things.' It comes across as the old rule of etiquette; i.e., never discuss politics or religion. But, in California, especially with regard to firearms, it's virtually impossible to have any meaningful exchanges without politics being part of the conversation.

It is being claimed that the majority of the growing membership is from people other than members of Calguns. I don't have access to their metrics, so I can't say. What I can comment on is that an awful lot of their actively posting members are, in fact, members/former members of Calguns. Unfortunately, a good amount of their posts are, as you say, a bit of a 'bitchfest' with regard to Calguns, Kestryll, etc. What interests me is how many try to 'preach it' on here as well. What amuses me is how many are trying to play both sides of the fence; e.g., complaining over there about this site, but 'defending' this site on here.

My suspicion is that many of the Calguns people over there were either looking for a less problematic place to participate, for now, or they've been unhappy with this site's timbre for awhile.

Any discussion about "content" or "community" is rediculous when a site is less reliable than an old Yugo.... You can't "participate" when you're basically a crash dummy....

While I appreciate the tech challenges, it's been MONTHS without this site being FUNCTIONAL. Most people have ZERO concept of how the "magic" of the internet works, so understandably there is frustration and looking for an alternative. Want to sell a firearm in CA? This site was the go to... now it's a trainwreck. My last two transactions (one buy and one sell) were on the "other" site.... I've got a couple things I'm thinking of seling, but when simply posting here is a "Vegas odds" proposition... where will I put my "content"? Yeah...

I've been involved in online forums of various sorts for a VERY long time, it's ALWAYS somewhat problematic dealing with human beans, there's always "that guy/gal", It's entirely reasonable to maintain a short leash, especially when there are tensions about!

[bonesurf]

in the message center clicking on sent items shows you the same messages as inbox. and well....shouldnt. doesnt show anything you sent unilaterally that doesnt have a response

[SWalt]

The site gacked up when I tried to post my last post, yet when I come to see if CG is up, the site is working again, AND my post somehow survived and posted....

Sometimes it does that. Sometimes you post, get a banner instead, then if you reload the page the message has posted. Also sometimes it with give you the "discard or restore" feature when it has already posted.

[Supersapper]

Kes,

May you and the boss have many more anniversaries.

As far as the limitations, I could give a s*** about emojis, avatars, gifs, etc. Please, for the love of all things technical, do not worry about those. I can't speak for anyone else, but all I want is to be able to communicate with like minded colleagues, buy and sell things that go bang or feed them, surf the forums, and enjoy the sound of peace and quiet in the forums rather than the screeching of the lefties and their anti-gun bias. Nothing else.

Kes, you've done an amazing thing keeping it going all of this time and I for one want to see it in it's new and upgraded glory. But baby steps...now that you have good folks able to work it, we may once again see light at the end of the tunnel that does NOT represent the headlamp of the train.

Sapper

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Any discussion about "content" or "community" is rediculous when a site is less reliable than an old Yugo.... You can't "participate" when you're basically a crash dummy....

While I appreciate the tech challenges, it's been MONTHS without this site being FUNCTIONAL. Most people have ZERO concept of how the "magic" of the internet works, so understandably there is frustration and looking for an alternative. Want to sell a firearm in CA? This site was the go to... now it's a trainwreck. My last two transactions (one buy and one sell) were on the "other" site.... I've got a couple things I'm thinking of seling, but when simply posting here is a "Vegas odds" proposition... where will I put my "content"? Yeah...

I've been involved in online forums of various sorts for a VERY long time, it's ALWAYS somewhat problematic dealing with human beans, there's always "that guy/gal", It's entirely reasonable to maintain a short leash, especially when there are tensions about!

Actually, I take the continued attempts at participating, despite the technical upheaval, as a sign of 'community.'

Insofar as the problems and the time it's taking to correct them, that's been discussed ad nauseum. I agree that most don't understand how things work and many, maybe most don't seem to have grasped the obvious; i.e., that this site is a part-time gig for Kestryll. I grant that over two decades, it has grown into something sizeable enough to cloak it, but the reality is, as even the guy running the other site acknowledged, it's not enough to pay the everyday bills for a family. As a result, there have been limitations on the time, money, and effort which can be put in at any given moment.

Kestryll has warned us, for YEARS, that there were going to be issues with any type of upgrade. That included the loss of iTrader, meaning an inability to buy/sell the way members had become accustomed. In fact, it's the very reason the upgrade/update was delayed so long so as to keep that functionality, one which didn't exist on subsequent iterations of the site's software. As a result, quite a number of iterations came into existence between what we were using and what we now have. Add to that a change in hosting and we've had a near 'perfect storm' of and for problems.

It's no longer working for what you want it to do? Okay. I'm sure that holds true for many. But, it is, sorta/kinda working, at times, for many want it to do; i.e., be a 'chat forum.' Getting locked out for periods of time? So are all of us. Yet, many continuing posting and not just complaining. Ridiculous? Maybe. However, as I said, I take it as a sign of 'community' in that communities (and individuals) are often at their best in times of disaster and need.

When it comes to a 'short leash' on the other site, bear in mind that many are chaffing at it. It's more about the personal druthers of those who control the site. I don't blame them or criticize them for that. I do question whether a 'successful' community can be built with the restrictions currently in place. Only time will demonstrate that. The bottom line, as you say, dealing with human beings can be a problematic experience and no matter how short the leash or tight the rein, the more you attempt to 'control' humans, the more uncontrollable things become and/or the more unsatisfactory the experience is for members. Certain guidelines are necessary and so long as most 'play by the rules,' most of the time, it works. But, just as with teenagers, if the rules become too stringent, a natural rebellious impulse takes hold. Thus, the trick isn't so much a 'short leash,' but one which allows enough play that members can feel comfortable while simultaneously keeping a lid on things.