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Hi, Kay -- Thanks for remembering my screen shot . That link isn't working for me, but here's another copy of my mockup from reply #54 so that people don't have to go scouting around for it. As you pointed out, I don't know what's involved with actually implementing this idea. I just like the looks of it.
I didn't include the screenshot in my quote, but I think that would be perfect if it is possible!
__________________ Cory Creativity is intelligence having fun. - Albert Einstein Gallery S2S: -$16.05 (yikes) 2013 Card Goal:5/100
So far all of the MC threads I've glanced at have been so product-line specific that if you're not a part of that particular company's "fan club" (so to speak), it does nothing to draw an outsider in. The lingo reads as more of a chummy blog post for those already on "the inside", not for those seeking info on a new product. If I was a fan/user of those particular products, I would go to their SPECIFIC forums to participate in their respective challenges, blog hops, design team announcements, etc. As it is now, having any and all MC threads under General Stamping (when many of them seem to be better suited to other forums) is becoming more of a turn-off than a selling point.
I don't mind the icons BUT I do find that a lot of the threads have nothing to do with general stamping. I wouldn't mind if they were related to this part of the forum but there are so many threads that could be put into other parts of the boards (general chat, challenges etc. etc.)
I actually find I'm not really spending much time in this forum bc there are so many non relevant threads.
Just my 2 cents.
My 2 cents must live in total bliss somewhere with your 2 cents... I feel exactly how you do.
I dont' mind the icons, I don't mind that the MC threads end up getting more exposure outside of their own fourms, I just wish that all the non-stamping related threads didn't get dumped here in general stamping too... if they contain "everyday chit-chat" and they ended up getting added into the everyday chit-chat thread, that would be great!
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I would like to say that I LOVE Jenn Balcer's avatar picture...how beautiful is that?!?! LOVE it!
And I have to say that *I* support SCS. I pay for a membership every year. I think it's amazing that SCS is free. I think it's amazing that a lot of "regular people" support SCS with an annual membership. So to say that only ads or only Member Companies support SCS...that's a falsehood. *I* support SCS with $$$. I also support the Member Companies with $$$, not all of them...but a few have and will continue to receive my $$$.
I think it's great that SCS even "listens" to us...even though I kinda feel like I pay them to listen to *me*! Hee, hee! Thanks for EVERYTHING SCS, and thank you for continuing to make this site good for EVERYONE involved! Companies that support with $$$, members that support with $$$, and users that love you!
I haven't read the whole thread, so someone my have already mentioned this, but I figured out how to get rid of them!! For those of you using Firefox with the Adblock plus add on, if you just right click one of them and tell it ad block image, they all go away!!:mrgreen: I really wish those threads could just just stay in the MC forums. Half of the time, they don't even pertain to stamping.
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Originally Posted by SCEmily
I haven't read the whole thread, so someone my have already mentioned this, but I figured out how to get rid of them!! For those of you using Firefox with the Adblock plus add on, if you just right click one of them and tell it ad block image, they all go away!!:mrgreen: I really wish those threads could just just stay in the MC forums. Half of the time, they don't even pertain to stamping.
Thanks EMILY! That is GREAT! Just added that add-on to my browser and now I don't see the MCForum icons anymore! WhooHooooooooo!
I want to also mention, that the THREADS don't disappear, just the MC Icons! YEAH! This is GREAT! Much easier on the eyes! And you can only get rid of CERTAIN MC Icons, ALL MC Icons, there are options! It's AWESOME! I LOVE it!
I haven't read the whole thread, so someone my have already mentioned this, but I figured out how to get rid of them!! For those of you using Firefox with the Adblock plus add on, if you just right click one of them and tell it ad block image, they all go away!!:mrgreen: I really wish those threads could just just stay in the MC forums. Half of the time, they don't even pertain to stamping.
I don't mind them, but doing AdBlock sure cleans up the page!
I accept that the MCs pay a subscription, and as I said I had more sympathy until I read a couple of posts on here from one of them which seemed to me at the time to suggest people couldn't have an opinion that was negative about the threads.
SCS though was originally started for and by demos of one particular persuasion, and their passion helped the site to grow, so it's not fair to imply that one company gets freebie coverage without a fee, that company didn't start this site or ask for it, but people who loved that company helped this site to grow.
My point is that for this relationship to work, MCs have to be happy that they are funding something useful to them, and SCS members have to be happy with the way those companies present themselves, and it doesn't appear they have carte blanche to post where ever they like, whilst us plebs have to post in designated areas or be moved on.
I haven't read the whole thread, so someone my have already mentioned this, but I figured out how to get rid of them!! For those of you using Firefox with the Adblock plus add on, if you just right click one of them and tell it ad block image, they all go away!!:mrgreen: I really wish those threads could just just stay in the MC forums. Half of the time, they don't even pertain to stamping.
Emily,
I have Firefox but I haven't tried it yet. Does it also block the banner ads at the top and bottom? Of course I can try it myself but I'm feeling a little lazy tonight so I thought I'd ask. This info will just help us as member companies decide if purchasing banner ads in the future will worth it or not. (If you can't see those either, what's the point, right? LOL!)
Thanks in advance~
Gina K.
__________________ Be polite to those who are rude to you. Not because they are nice, but because you are.
Owner- Gina K. Designs
Hi Gina - I tried it out for you. When I click on the small mc icons, I get the option to block all images from Splitcoast stampers. I did and WOW. But the banners, gallery pics, etc. still show. When I right-clicked on a banner, I got the option to block images from that particular advertiser's site. It would take a lot of work to block all the banners on here - it wouldn't be worth the time and effort for me. I did like getting rid of the little icons and I think I'll keep it that way. My eyes tended to skip over them, thus I skipped over the posts - like someone mentioned earlier - the opposite of what was intended, I'm sure.
Gina, my gut reaction is that they are separate blocks. I have AdBlock for all ads on my screen, banner and otherwise, but the icons showed up anyway. When I did the process listed above, the icons disappeared.
I CANNOT believe people don't find my crockpot threads pertinent to general stamping? LOL.. just kiddinK.. (BTW they are GREAT recipes if interested).
On a more serious note, I will tell you what is happening on our end and perhaps you will all understand more or at least be a little more sympathetic towards us. All of the member companies have been supporters of SCS before we started our little companies.. we have participated, chatted etc. Once we started our businesses we continued to partake in conversations, chats, stamp related issues etc... however, based on the TOS, we were absolutely not allowed to post anything promotional in nature on the General Stamping Forum which in my opinion is the most active forum on the site. Basically we were "stifled" which we understood somewhat and respected. Upon discussion, Daven and the gang found a happy medium allowing us to promote our goodies within the site by having our own forums. We all thought this was a PHENOM idea and most of the MC have spearheaded and supported this idea! Well, the forums started and upon deliberation, we realized that for being so financially supportive, we were stifled within our forums and were not receiving the exposure we deserved/wanted. While we noticed this, we saw promotional threads daily on the general forum blowing away the TOS and these companies did not even support our wonderful community. This was very upsetting to the Member companies. We decided to roll out this program by having our threads appear in the general forums so that we get more exposure... there are new members daily and just seemed like a win/win situation. I guess not :(. The intention of this was really not to offend anyone.. it was just so we can share our ideas/discussions/recipes (lol) with everyone out there.
We hope that time will make the community more restful, we will also try to find a way to keep the peeps happy
I hope this uncensored version will help people understand where we are coming from
thanks
Em
Hmm, this has been a very interesting thread to read. So, this is the first time I have popped over into the GS thread in probably a good couple of months. I immediately thought "Whoa! What is that?" So, I spent a fair amount of time reading this thread. I don't really know enough information to have a strong opinion, but I agree with many others that find the logos distracting, and I loved the Mockup idea that someone had posted. Just reorganize it to make it cleaner. Then it looks nicer, and the MC's still get their exposure (and people can still skip over them if they choose).
I CANNOT believe people don't find my crockpot threads pertinent to general stamping? LOL.. just kiddinK.. (BTW they are GREAT recipes if interested).
On a more serious note, I will tell you what is happening on our end and perhaps you will all understand more or at least be a little more sympathetic towards us. All of the member companies have been supporters of SCS before we started our little companies.. we have participated, chatted etc. Once we started our businesses we continued to partake in conversations, chats, stamp related issues etc... however, based on the TOS, we were absolutely not allowed to post anything promotional in nature on the General Stamping Forum which in my opinion is the most active forum on the site. Basically we were "stifled" which we understood somewhat and respected. Upon discussion, Daven and the gang found a happy medium allowing us to promote our goodies within the site by having our own forums. We all thought this was a PHENOM idea and most of the MC have spearheaded and supported this idea! Well, the forums started and upon deliberation, we realized that for being so financially supportive, we were stifled within our forums and were not receiving the exposure we deserved/wanted. While we noticed this, we saw promotional threads daily on the general forum blowing away the TOS and these companies did not even support our wonderful community. This was very upsetting to the Member. We decided to roll out this program by having our threads appear in the general forums so that we get more exposure... there are new members daily and just seemed like a win/win situation. I guess not :(. The intention of this was really not to offend anyone.. it was just so we can share our ideas/discussions/recipes (lol) with everyone out there.
We hope that time will make the community more restful, we will also try to find a way to keep the peeps happy
I hope this uncensored version will help people understand where we are coming from
thanks
Em
Em,
Thanks for sharing this. As I said before, it makes perfect sense for MC's threads to appear in the "appropriate" forum and this seems very fair to me rather than tucking you away in your own isolated forum. My only complaint is that there are threads that are not of "general stamping" nature in the general stamping forum. THAT is distracting, as is the current layout for the MC logos.
Thanks for your support of this wonderful community, and I'm confident that a satisfactory solution will be found in the end!;)
I changed my mind! (DH claims I do this a lot) At first, I really didn't like seeing the icons and found them very distracting. But, SCS listened to someone's suggestion, made them smaller and less intrusive, which helped.
But... what I notice is that I now I can identify other company threads instantly! I no longer accidentally click on a thread that is a discussion on an MC product, when I don't want to participate in an MC discussion. Before, I would click on an interesting thread and go "**ughhh** ((well, something that sounds like that in my head. ha)) it's only about ___stamps!" Now I read the threads that suit my interest.
So I'm looking at it now as "full disclosure" ((kinda like the Full Monty for stamping threads)). Keep em! (I do maintain my opinion that it still should be "all stamping, all the time" though).
My question is, why aren't the MC threads put in the 'tool product' forum instead of the General Stamping forum? Isn't that where they really belong?
Lisa
They are in their forum and then with no checking to see if content is relevant they end up here, any idea that you might not like it is met with a stern telling off!
I can understand the opinions of those who don't like the new set up however I think that the MC forums have a right to have their posts cross-fed into the GS. I do think however that they should be stamping-related and I do know that at least one of the MCs if not all of them are working with SCS to fix that issue so that only Stamping-related threads feed over. I think that will make a lot of people alot happier with the new threads. Having said that- now that I know StampingBella has a crockpot recipe thread I will have to check that out. ;) I need some more crockpot recipes.
Seriously- we are all here because we LOVE stamping. Stamping in general- all or some companies...whatever. (It's all rubber so it's all good in my opinion)The MC companies are here to make money but also to share their LOVE of stamping and all things stamping-related. I think some people are afraid to go to the MCs because they don't feel included. The new threads in the GS Forum I hope will help everyone feel that it is ok to venture into those forums in addition to the GS forum. They aren't special "cliques" they are here for everyone.
This feature is new to everyone including the MC companies and I think if you give SCS and everyone else a chance to make some adjustments- we can all get along and love stamping together. Afterall- that's what it's really about. Sharing ideas and inspiration regardless of your brand affiliation.
So when do we as Demos for other company's get to throw our ads in the General Stamp talk for free?
If you read through Em's post, (#133) she explains what's happening on our end rather candidly.
I'm not sure what you mean by *free* as I'm sure you've gathered there is a huge expense on our end to be a Member Company, and thereby a paying sponsor to SCS, the site so beloved by all.
The intention is, and has been, to create a level playing field for all, and as much as seeing the icons or thread feed in GS, you must acknowledge that this is not a new issue.
The MC's are only bringing awareness to this issue because of the icon use. Other, non-paying companies, and at home demonstrators, have posted freely, without consequence on numerous occasions.
Surely we can create a solution that works for all!
If you read through Em's post, (#133) she explains what's happening on our end rather candidly.
I'm not sure what you mean by *free* as I'm sure you've gathered there is a huge expense on our end to be a Member Company, and thereby a paying sponsor to SCS, the site so beloved by all.
The intention is, and has been, to create a level playing field for all, and as much as seeing the icons or thread feed in GS, you must acknowledge that this is not a new issue.
The MC's are only bringing awareness to this issue because of the icon use. Other, non-paying companies, and at home demonstrators, have posted freely, without consequence on numerous occasions.
Surely we can create a solution that works for all!
I would love the talent and designs from MCs to be viewable on GST if it's something that stampers can benefit from- but we get a whole load of other stuff as well. There is a forum for recipes for tools and products, for current events and for Chit Chat, we have to post appropriately why don't Member Companies?
I know all MCs object to a certain big company that gets a lot of exposure on here with no $$ contribution, but like I said in an earlier post demos from that company created and grew this site so it is natural that they will be the ones who stick around over here. It has nothing to do with that company- it's just who helped this site become what it is.
I would love the talent and designs from MCs to be viewable on GST if it's something that stampers can benefit from- but we get a whole load of other stuff as well. There is a forum for recipes for tools and products, for current events and for Chit Chat, we have to post appropriately why don't Member Companies?
I know all MCs object to a certain big company that gets a lot of exposure on here with no $$ contribution, but like I said in an earlier post demos from that company created and grew this site so it is natural that they will be the ones who stick around over here. It has nothing to do with that company- it's just who helped this site become what it is.
We whole-heartedly agree with you. We would love it if we had control over what threads came here and what threads didn't. I would also LOVE to see the icons removed. I personally don't care for them at all.
And, of course, I can only speak for myself but this has nothing to do with any big company at all. I am one of the biggest supporters of Stampin' Up. I talk non-stop about their card stock and many other products on my blog and in my forum.
In fact, I was asked to do a couple of tutorials here for SCS and instead of using my own stamps, I used SU stamps because they were more appropriate for the technique I was teaching at the time. Would you believe that I have more SU stamps than Gina K. stamps. LOL! I truly love SU and have a lot of respect for them and all of their demos as I was one myself. I even designed several stamp sets that work with SU punches. Can't help it, I'm an SU die-hard.
So, it's not about any big companies. I think it's more about just being allowed to be here where everyone else is. We would really prefer to just be here, no icons, just be here. But there is a TOS. So the icons let the mods and the readers know that the post is from a member company. It's a little warning buzzer. We don't like it but we didn't really have a choice about it.
It makes me sad to think that something like an icon would make any of you "hate" us. We love you and we love it here at SCS.
Let me give you another example of why we'd like to be here instead of way down at the bottom.
Let's say someone finds a cool use for a new storage item I carry. They love the product and they want to show off their ingenious idea. Well, most are inclined to go down to our forum and post it. That's great! But the problem is that maybe lots of people would like to see that. So this was SCS's compromise on how to get some great info into the general forum. But the icons are not our choice, it's their choice. And all the posts coming here, including Em's crockpot meals are because we don't have any control yet on which ones will go and which ones won't.
I've been tooling around with adding sub-forums for contests and challenges and stuff but the bottom line is that if someone else posts it in my forum, until I can have more control over it, it will hit the general forum. I've been much more careful about even posting in my own forum unless it's stamping related, (other that my Dad's death,) because I am trying hard not to add fuel to the fire.
Like Kim and Emily said, it's going to require some tweaking and I'm sure that we will find some happy medium somewhere along the way.
__________________ Be polite to those who are rude to you. Not because they are nice, but because you are.
Owner- Gina K. Designs
Well, I really hate to be so agreeable, but I really just can't get worked up about this. It bothers me not one iota. If you knew me well, you would know that I am not a PollyAnnaish cheerleader type, but I love our member companies, and their logos, their crockpot recipes, and their Copic clubs just don't bother me.
There. I said it. Please don't expect me to be either agreeable or reasonable in the future!;)
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Since I'm the OP, I want to thank everyone for voicing their opinions in this thread! I think all kinds of great things have come out of it!
I mainly objected to the visual distraction of the icons. I never even really paid attention to the content of said threads...just annoyed by the icon placement.
I LOVED the mock-up with the icons in the left-hand column. LOVED it! I think that is a win-win situation for all.
I understand the "ad related" need for SCS. I understand that NOTHING is for free in this world. That's why I pay an annual subscription for SCS...I don't want it to go away. So I'm GRATEFUL for the MCs, the other companies that post ads, the other SCSers that purchase an annual subscription, and the wonderful SCSers that are just here to enjoy their favorite hobby!
Dang, wish I'd known their was a crock-pot thread in the Bella forum! I woulda been checkin' that out a long time ago! Me lovey my crock-pot!
Thanks to everyone...this has been a great thread of everyone talking about their views. I don't think it got nasty, I think everyone was well-spoken. Thanks!
Now....I've gotta make dinner, so I'm off to the Bella forum to see what I can cook! ;)
I've been tooling around with adding sub-forums for contests and challenges and stuff but the bottom line is that if someone else posts it in my forum, until I can have more control over it, it will hit the general forum. I've been much more careful about even posting in my own forum unless it's stamping related, (other that my Dad's death,) because I am trying hard not to add fuel to the fire.
Like Kim and Emily said, it's going to require some tweaking and I'm sure that we will find some happy medium somewhere along the way.
It strikes me that the whole concept of member companies cannot just be crowbared into the SCS format, and rather than trying to fit them in or tack them on SCS needs to look at re-designing the site. But if a few icons can cause such a stir imagine what real changes will do
Since I'm the OP, I want to thank everyone for voicing their opinions in this thread! I think all kinds of great things have come out of it!
I mainly objected to the visual distraction of the icons. I never even really paid attention to the content of said threads...just annoyed by the icon placement.
I LOVED the mock-up with the icons in the left-hand column. LOVED it! I think that is a win-win situation for all.
I understand the "ad related" need for SCS. I understand that NOTHING is for free in this world. That's why I pay an annual subscription for SCS...I don't want it to go away. So I'm GRATEFUL for the MCs, the other companies that post ads, the other SCSers that purchase an annual subscription, and the wonderful SCSers that are just here to enjoy their favorite hobby!
Dang, wish I'd known their was a crock-pot thread in the Bella forum! I woulda been checkin' that out a long time ago! Me lovey my crock-pot!
Thanks to everyone...this has been a great thread of everyone talking about their views. I don't think it got nasty, I think everyone was well-spoken. Thanks!
Now....I've gotta make dinner, so I'm off to the Bella forum to see what I can cook! ;)
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Originally Posted by Stamping Bella
so whaddya make? ;)
Ah...poo! I cheezed out and made tacos!
I think I'm going to make one of the roasts...I can't decide which! I'll pick it up on the way home from dropping DD off @ school and throw it in! My poor dog HATES the crock-pot! She spends all day running into the kitchen and sniffing like MAD! :mrgreen:
The bottom line for me is that the MC logos are advertising. Advertising is distracting and the more distracting, the more effective. That's why we all have spamblockers. The GST is suppose to be information abt stamping. Since many of the MC inserts don't meet the basic criteria of the forum, why are they in the GST except to be an advertising vehicle?
If the purpose of putting the MC threads in the GST was to give them more exposure, the effort has failed since so many posters, and me, just skip them bc of the logos.
Many posters have said that bc MC pay to be on the site, and I imagine they pay very well, that their rights are superior to the "just members." I hope my impression of that discussion is incorrect.
Many posters have said that bc MC pay to be on the site, and I imagine they pay very well, that their rights are superior to the "just members." I hope my impression of that discussion is incorrect.
we ask everyone including member companies to play by the same rules in the public forums. nobody is superior to anybody else :^)
I had never read any threads from the MC's before, so incorporating them into the GS thread was a nice idea.
It did used to be distracting, but today I noticed smaller icons on the post, and I do like that. The bigger icons were much more distracting.
Personally, I love the fact that I can get a preview of any thread by rolling over the title... that lets me know if I actually want to read it. I absolutely love, love, love that! So much so, that I find myself frustrated when I can't do that on other websites! lol
I changed my mind! (DH claims I do this a lot) At first, I really didn't like seeing the icons and found them very distracting. But, SCS listened to someone's suggestion, made them smaller and less intrusive, which helped.
But... what I notice is that I now I can identify other company threads instantly! I no longer accidentally click on a thread that is a discussion on an MC product, when I don't want to participate in an MC discussion. Before, I would click on an interesting thread and go "**ughhh** ((well, something that sounds like that in my head. ha)) it's only about ___stamps!" Now I read the threads that suit my interest.
So I'm looking at it now as "full disclosure" ((kinda like the Full Monty for stamping threads)). Keep em! (I do maintain my opinion that it still should be "all stamping, all the time" though).
Personally, I miss the MC's having their own space. When I wanted to see what was up with Gina K's stamps I would just click over and check out everything at one spot. Now it just too hard to find, so I don't bother and go directly to her company.
For the newer companies I probably won't even bother.
Personally, I miss the MC's having their own space. When I wanted to see what was up with Gina K's stamps I would just click over and check out everything at one spot. Now it just too hard to find, so I don't bother and go directly to her company.
For the newer companies I probably won't even bother.
The MC spaces haven't moved. They are in the same location, no larger - no smaller. Simply scroll down from Stamping Stuff! The MCs each maintain their own forums, just like they have since the inception of the MC program.
When you see the threads here in General Stamping, it is simply a re-direct of the title so you know what the latest happenings are in the MC forums. There is still plenty going on in each individual MC forum.
