RIP old Vacuumland.

[thevacomaticiec]

I know it's been half a year since the site was updated, but I still am reeling from the changes... I know nothing is probably going to bring back the old site completely, and I'm glad that we at least still have a place where we can commune with our interests, but I still don't like it in its current state. That's why I've been gone for so long, at least, it's part of the reason. In terms of social media, I don't have a whole lot, with this site being one of the few that I have. I used to have a Reddit account, but that got banned early this year (for BS reasons may I add). So yeah, it's been rough to say the least.

Anyways, I'm writing this to Alan, and any other mods/devs to this site. There's some things that I'd seriously like to be changed. I'm not saying you have to do them, but I'd greatly appreciate if you did, and I think they'd be for the better.

#1: Get rid of the AI generated artwork.

As I've stated above in this thread, I am very much against AI generated graphics and "art". I think that AI has no place in the creative/graphics/artistic spaces. As it goes against the entire idea of creativity (i.e. you put thought, care, and skill into making a picture rather than telling ChatGPT to generate a pucture for you), and in the case of this site, it's just plain hideous. I know it sounds like nitpicking, but like I said before, this site used to have character and charm, and now that is all gone. This AI stuff is salt to the wound. Also on a sidenote, the Ebay and Amazon links with the AI thumbnails are totally useless. The Ebay link just redirects you back to the page your were just on, and the Amazon link just takes you to the search results for the term "best vacuum cleaner" (and I think the results don't reflect most of our opinions to say the least). Making these changes would help greatly in making this site more asthetically pleasing.

#2: Adding more customization options and graphics.

I know I should like a broken record, but I seriously adored the look of the old site, mainly with it's 1950s-60s esc color palette, the feature where you could set the background of your thread posts to the logo of your favorite vacuum company (In my case, I set it to Hoover), and the graphics otherwise trying to look like something out of the mid-20th century. Did it look dated? Absolutely, but I didn't care, and I think I speak for the majority of the users here when I say that we didn't care either (most of us are already into dated appliances, so is there much of a difference?). Was it perfect? No, and there are some things like the notification bell that I do like, but again, there was that charm that the old site had that the new one doesn't.

What I'm trying to say is that I really would like some of those customization options to return, like the thread logos, for example. However, I'd also like to be able to switch to different color palettes that are more akin to The old look. Just anything that could make it like how it used to be...

Please Alan (and other devs), I'm begging. I just want a slice of my Vacuumland back!

im just glad i got a spot to l ook and talk vacuum but yes i do miss the olden days of the green background vacuumland hopeffully it will come back some day .

 

[centralsweeper63]

I really dislike to AI stuff too. I was a bit surprised by the amazon link. My vote is whatamtraksebo1997 said.

 

[123go]

I must agree' this new site was slightly depressing on my first return visit. Must been from the shock of seeing its drastic changes because fact is its morbidly depressing honestly.
All those beautiful vac pics sucked the life right out of this site when they disappeared. He!!' Id throw in the towel but I need it because Im crying all over my Kirbys

 

[lanesharon]

I agree about AI, but I come from a total different perspective. I am totally retired now, but my entire life was spend in different jobs in Tech, computer programmer, systems analyst, computer department manager, independent business owner working with computers, building a rebuilding, developing systems and even teaching tech to seniors before I was a senior myself. One thing that we learn in the business is this saying - "garbage in, garbage out'. We could build a system that really helped others and was built to improve their lives, not complicate them. But, that often, did not get done. For 'teaching others' AI elements can be corrupted so easily with bad information. That frightens me for our future. I will most likely not be here to watch that, thankfully. But, my grandchildren will and that concerns me.

When I totally retired, I wanted to give something back to others. I went into supporting those with mental health issues, after going through some education needed to do that. I did residential care, in my home, for VA vets who had mental health issues. One thing that I saw was, sadly, the ability of one person talking another into delusional reality. These poor guys could be steered in the wrong direction so easily. AI is only going to be as good as the data and information that is embedded into it. If it used with the though in mind that ALL DATA & INFO, will be scrutinized by groups with different perspectives, it MIGHT be able to accomplish what we would like it to, but it can easily destroy.

On the art side of it, my Mom was the artist and she was incredible. She could take an old brown shopping bag, cut it into two sections, and sit my sister and I down to draw us and they were PERFECT. Every hair, every eyelash. And, she created clothing, furniture, etc.. all on paper bags or sketching books after I used my babysitting money to buy her supplies. We were not wealthy enough for her to put her visions into real life, but in my lifetime, I have seen artists, of varying mediums, use their own pencil sketches to actually create items - clothes, furniture, small and large artwork in varying mediums. AI could possibly be used to create that original drawing and concept, but I believe that we should always leave it up to those who have that natural talent to put those concepts into reality. We cannot get lazy and allow AI to do it all or we will lose those little nuances that an artist can add to the finished product that would be the true innovations or our future. We cannot get lazy.

Okay, speech over but you opened it up and as you can see, I have been wanting to say this for a while. I am not crazy about AI. Even in the area of robotic use. Are we creating our own demise by getting lazy, in mind, body, and spirit?

 

[Alan]

@amtraksebo1997 I have read your comments and cannot promise anything, but I will let the ones who set the colors and style know about your plea.

 

[amtraksebo1997]

@amtraksebo1997 I have read your comments and cannot promise anything, but I will let the ones who set the colors and style know about your plea.

Thanks Alan : D

 

[centralsweeper63]

I hope the old colours come back. Maybe itcould be a toggle switch between old and new.

 

[amtraksebo1997]

I

Well said man, well said.


Boy, I sure do love living in a world where creativity and charm are pushed aside over soulless slop all because the major corporations want to save a few dollars over hiring people, further plunging us into a dystopic-nightmare of a future!

 

[centralsweeper63]

Yeah, it is a shame.

 

[ultralux88]

At one time in the distant past, I made a really fancy website with a forum and all sort of nonsense. I set up a very nice Bulletin thing (which is why I'm fairly certain. that's what this is) and it was fun, until everyone on it jumped ship to use Facebook groups. Oh well, but its been a strange trip to the past, never thought I'd find myself on a vacuum collecting forum with this software again after that!

 

[centralsweeper63]

Interesting. What was your forum called and what was it about. I presume vacuum cleaners?

 

[vacuumdevil]

I'm glad to see that there was an update done. It's been long overdue.

But even more shocking the site has gone from 37 active users to roughly 100 active users in just a few months.

I doubt we'll see vacuum land as big as some of the discord or Facebook group. But it's nice to see the lights will be on for the foreseeable future.

 

[amtraksebo1997]

I'm glad to see that there was an update done. It's been long overdue.

But even more shocking the site has gone from 37 active users to roughly 100 active users in just a few months.

I doubt we'll see vacuum land as big as some of the discord or Facebook group. But it's nice to see the lights will be on for the foreseeable future.

 

[huskyvacs]

I'm glad to see that there was an update done. It's been long overdue.

But even more shocking the site has gone from 37 active users to roughly 100 active users in just a few months.

I doubt we'll see vacuum land as big as some of the discord or Facebook group. But it's nice to see the lights will be on for the foreseeable future.

Gotta play the long game. Something that has been in business for a long time will always pay off by just staying in its lane and holding a steady pace. When you have a good product, people will come to you to seek it, and not the other way around.

 

[centralsweeper63]

It will stay. I hope. I think.

 

[amtraksebo1997]

I'm glad to see that there was an update done. It's been long overdue.

But even more shocking the site has gone from 37 active users to roughly 100 active users in just a few months.

I doubt we'll see vacuum land as big as some of the discord or Facebook group. But it's nice to see the lights will be on for the foreseeable future.

No, it wasn't. As long as it worked as intended, it was fine.

 

[centralsweeper63]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[vacuumdevil]

Gotta play the long game. Something that has been in business for a long time will always pay off by just staying in its lane and holding a steady pace. When you have a good product, people will come to you to seek it, and not the other way around.

love your avatar !

 

[huskyvacs]

love your avatar !

thanks!

 

[centralsweeper63]

I agree, very cool.

 

[ultralux88]

Interesting. What was your forum called and what was it about. I presume vacuum cleaners?

vacworld.org It doesn't exist anymore, and I doubt there's much of anything on the archive from it.

 

[centralsweeper63]

That is a shame. Oh well.

 

[ultralux88]

That is a shame. Oh well.

Meh, I don't miss it. I mean I miss the idea of it, but feh on the whole ordeal. My attempts at running a forum, as well as my attempt at trying to host any form of a mini-gathering, proved all that to be a deeply thankless task. Takes a special kind of person to be able to organize all that and run it, and I haven't what it takes.

 

[huskyvacs]

Meh, I don't miss it. I mean I miss the idea of it, but feh on the whole ordeal. My attempts at running a forum, as well as my attempt at trying to host any form of a mini-gathering, proved all that to be a deeply thankless task. Takes a special kind of person to be able to organize all that and run it, and I haven't what it takes.

For most forums they can run themselves, but it's not recommended for long term growth. You typically need at least 5 people to get any sort of forum off the ground. One guy to be the head financier who will pay the bills and be the owner and will sit in the background handling all the money going in and out. Another guy to be the programmer/coder and to be in control of the server rack and technical issues (this can be eliminated if you are using a 3rd party build-a-site service and not self hosting on personal machines), one guy to be the administrator and "face" to the forum who will handle the miscreants and any troubles and interact among the staff, and then a couple janitors to cover the midday and late night shifts at keeping posts tidy and get any clutter and rubbish weeded out.

 

[cheesewonton]

I know it's been half a year since the site was updated, but I still am reeling from the changes... I know nothing is probably going to bring back the old site completely, and I'm glad that we at least still have a place where we can commune with our interests, but I still don't like it in its current state. That's why I've been gone for so long, at least, it's part of the reason. In terms of social media, I don't have a whole lot, with this site being one of the few that I have. I used to have a Reddit account, but that got banned early this year (for BS reasons may I add). So yeah, it's been rough to say the least.

Anyways, I'm writing this to Alan, and any other mods/devs to this site. There's some things that I'd seriously like to be changed. I'm not saying you have to do them, but I'd greatly appreciate if you did, and I think they'd be for the better.

#1: Get rid of the AI generated artwork.

As I've stated above in this thread, I am very much against AI generated graphics and "art". I think that AI has no place in the creative/graphics/artistic spaces. As it goes against the entire idea of creativity (i.e. you put thought, care, and skill into making a picture rather than telling ChatGPT to generate a pucture for you), and in the case of this site, it's just plain hideous. I know it sounds like nitpicking, but like I said before, this site used to have character and charm, and now that is all gone. This AI stuff is salt to the wound. Also on a sidenote, the Ebay and Amazon links with the AI thumbnails are totally useless. The Ebay link just redirects you back to the page your were just on, and the Amazon link just takes you to the search results for the term "best vacuum cleaner" (and I think the results don't reflect most of our opinions to say the least). Making these changes would help greatly in making this site more asthetically pleasing.

#2: Adding more customization options and graphics.

I know I should like a broken record, but I seriously adored the look of the old site, mainly with it's 1950s-60s esc color palette, the feature where you could set the background of your thread posts to the logo of your favorite vacuum company (In my case, I set it to Hoover), and the graphics otherwise trying to look like something out of the mid-20th century. Did it look dated? Absolutely, but I didn't care, and I think I speak for the majority of the users here when I say that we didn't care either (most of us are already into dated appliances, so is there much of a difference?). Was it perfect? No, and there are some things like the notification bell that I do like, but again, there was that charm that the old site had that the new one doesn't.

What I'm trying to say is that I really would like some of those customization options to return, like the thread logos, for example. However, I'd also like to be able to switch to different color palettes that are more akin to The old look. Just anything that could make it like how it used to be...

Please Alan (and other devs), I'm begging. I just want a slice of my Vacuumland back!

I am nodding my head reading one of your sentences. I got booted from Reddit too, for a comment on their helicopter sub. I'm a commercial and instrument rated helicopter pilot though I haven't flown in ages. Someone posted up about a really dodgy home made helicopter and in the resulting discussion said oh, it couldn't kill him. So my reply was "famous last words". Well that sub, as it turns out, uses some kind of AI moderation and the little AI pea brain decided my comment amounted to a threat of physical violence. Huh? So I was banned and no amount of appealing got me anywhere. So no fan of AI here. Only thing I really miss on Reddit are the many cat subs but, oh well, such is life as an analog soul in a digital world.

 

[amtraksebo1997]

I

I'm sorry that happened to you. I myself still haven't fully recovered from the loss of my account. I had things I wanted to share with people, people who shared in my other interests, all of those things, gone in an instant. That being said, there was and still is a lot of toxic, really bad stuff on that site. I've seen stuff that has led me to do regrettable things. I've had plenty of bad experiences for all of my good ones. It's one heck of a double-edged sword. Especially today, because I just know they're letting AI seep into every aspect of their site, just like every corporation today. Clankers can eat crap.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Minds beat machines, I think at least. In some cases AI is fine, though many it is not.

 

[ultralux88]

For most forums they can run themselves, but it's not recommended for long term growth. You typically need at least 5 people to get any sort of forum off the ground. One guy to be the head financier who will pay the bills and be the owner and will sit in the background handling all the money going in and out. Another guy to be the programmer/coder and to be in control of the server rack and technical issues (this can be eliminated if you are using a 3rd party build-a-site service and not self hosting on personal machines), one guy to be the administrator and "face" to the forum who will handle the miscreants and any troubles and interact among the staff, and then a couple janitors to cover the midday and late night shifts at keeping posts tidy and get any clutter and rubbish weeded out.

I had mine hosted for me, I did not own the server, used a service. I built the site, set up the bulletin software, and was also the administrator, and I had a couple people who could moderate. Once I shelled out to buy the domain name and the bulletin license, the cost of keeping it online was minimal, and I never ended up taking I any money for it. I'm sure had it managed to grow to the level of this site, some of that would have changed, but it peaked in activity about 6 months in and then died. I left it up until the time to renew the hosting came and then I pulled the plug on the whole ordeal.