What’s Going On At TGForum
Some people have asked me what’s happening with the changes I promised for TGForum. Others are asking: “What the Hell’s wrong with the TGF mail?” Well, the two are related.Some of you may now that our mail system is messed up again. Some accounts work just fine while others cannot receive mail. The reason is another mail-bomb attack. In fact, we get mail-bombed about twice a month. Every time this happens it takes Alaina (our tech admin) hours to restore service. She is working on restoring the mail service as I type this. Every time she has to do this it takes away from her time working on the revised TGF (which, by the way, is a major overhaul of every aspect of TGF).So, we’ve made very little progress on rolling out the new TGF. I’ve discussed the continuing attacks with Alaina and we have concluded that the only way to inoculate TGF from these attacks is to move our mail system to a commercial email provider. That means increased costs.So, I’ve decided on a course of action.
(1) Once the current mail system is repaired, we will move everyone’s account to a commercial email provider with industrial-strength protection against spam and mail bombs.
(2) New subscribers will be given a choice of having TGF access with email for $42, or TGF access without an email account for $36.
(3) As current subscriber’s accounts come up for renewal, you will be offered the same choice.This will take the burden of mail worries off Alaina so she can finish working on the new TGF.
Some of the things we’re aiming for with the new version are:
(A) Single sign-in. Once you’re in you can access all of the services of TGF.
(B) Social networking tools that will let you contact and communicate easily with other TGF users. Think Facebook.
(C) Personal blogs rather than websites. Blogs are easier to use and simpler to create.
(D) Revised Chat room. I have an idea about chat that we’re not sure we can implement but we’re going to try. The main chat will be open to anyone. If you are a TGF member you will be able to open a private chat room and invite anyone into it. I can’t promise we can do it, but we’ll try.
(E) Revised “look & feel” and easier access to stories.Of course, we’ll keep the things that set TGF apart from other TG sites, our weekly coverage of the news that affects you and your life.
I apologize for the mail problems and believe me when I say I am as po’d about it as you are. I promise we’ll fix this issue and make TGF mail even better.
Best regards, JoAnn Roberts, Publisher
Category: All TGForum Posts
About the Author (Author Profile)
I am a writer, editor and educator. I was one of the 5 founders of the Renaissance Transgender Education Assoc., and have served on the boards of IFGE and AEGIS. I've published several books on CD/TS/TG subjects. My how-to books are available at the CDS Bookstand (www.cdspub.com). I am most proud of "Coping With Crossdressing: Tools and Strategies for Couples in Committed Relationships". I was an early TG political activist and one of the co-founders of GenderPAC. I wrote and published a Bill of Gender Rights in December 1990. I've appeared on several television shows and in the movie "All Dressed Up And Nowhere To Go". I published "LadyLike" magazine for 18 years, as well as "EnFemme" magazine and "International TranScript". (JoAnn passed away in June of 2013.)Subscribe
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That’s nice. Because it looks like websites are going the way of dinasaurs. A website can be a blog, but a blog cannot be a website. A blog is nice if all you want to do is jot a few words down. Everybody seems to have a blog, but it seems few want to put time into websites anymore.
Thanks Lynda for your words of support and encouragement. I appreciate them.
Trishmarie: We will likely not remove any existing websites, but all new subscribers will be offered a blog.
Lucinda: Nothing should change. If it all goes as planned you won’t even notice the difference except better mail service. USerID’s will not change.
Will you be taking the regular webspace format away?
Thanks for the update and I understand the complex and technical problem associated with the changes you are working on. We need to be patient and continue to enjoy the web site as it is, until the new and improved version is available. Will the proposed changes to the e-mail service require a change of our e-mail address and user names?
I support and appreciate you and the TGForum staff for all you have done for us. Lucinda Grace
Everybody chill out!! Making all the improvements JoAnn describes cannot happen with the flip of a switch. Hours and hours of planning and testing are required and at no small cost to the owners of this great website. TGForum was the door I went through to discover a whole family of people just like me. I am deeply indebted to the program, to the people who owned/managed it years ago as well as to the current staff. My life would be quite empty without it. I gain a great deal out of each and every weekly issue. I, for one, would pay a good deal more for this service. I feel it is very well worth it. JoAnn, I understand that you are trying to improve TGForum. More power to you. We all just need to exercize an ounce or two of patience. I have confidence you’ll get there. Keep us posted on your progress. Thank you for all you do. LYNDA WARREN
Ok, While I’m glad to hear about what’ going on but I am still skeptical.
We’ve been hearing about the new and improved TG Forum for so long I have lost track of when it was first promised.
Personnally quite making excuses and roll out the product. I don’t care if the explanations are valid. I’m tired of waiting.
Linda W.