Going through the "Changes" - [here]

[SixtyFour]

I am basically writing this for myself, it's a late Sunday night, early Monday.

I have spent more than several hours today, here at the RRF, ...I place I often call "home"
because it's a comfortable place to be, ...in my mind.

Just like holding a Fender or Gibson guitar in hand, does not feel "right" for me, ...it's only
when the name "Rickenbacker" appears, the magic takes hold.

I visit a few "local" retail music stores now and then, ...even that famous avenue/street located
in NYC, and when a Rickenbacker appears, ...it's heaven.

About now, you [who may read this] know that I'm totally 'into" Rickenbacker and have been
for almost twenty-nine years. [time does fly]

Back to the subject, which had me a bit worried at first, ...I [myself] do not like "change" in any
form, period. When the announcement came about that the RRF would evolve I became pensive
and, ..."well there is the RIC corporate forum to turn to", but if you have spent some time
there, you realize that it's a different climate. If you have a specific question in mind, need to purchase
items related to RIC guitar/bass, customer service questions, [Hi Kenny & Rich] ...it's there for you.

The forum that Peter put together evolved from a group of RIC enthusiasts, [we need spell check] who posted
at A G R, [Alt Guitar Rickenbacker] ? [my bad] anyway, ...curious minds wanted to know, so the group formed
and started growing in popularity.

A "proposal" was put forth by Peter to form a new type of forum where one could post questions, register via
serial number, their instruments, ...a "multi-purpose" venue via internet to gather information detailing the
products produced by the Rickenbacker Company.

The idea became reality, "The Rickenbacker Registration Page" was born and has grown through the years, and here
we are in October, 2007 with a new venue, more sophisticated and growing rapidly in an ever changing world.
[I did mention that I am not very fond of "change"] ...this evening I can honestly say that I feel more secure navigating
through the new RRF and I can call this place "home" once more.

I sincerely thank the kind people on this forum who have come to my aid when I called out for "Help", ...you know who you are.
In closing, Peter, Gil ...keep it going!

[gibsonlp]

This is very heart warming to read,
I am glad our efforts in moving the forum to the new format have paid up

[elysrand]

This is very heart warming to read,
I am glad our efforts in moving the forum to the new format have paid up

They have indeed paid off, GIl! All my earlier reservations about the newer PHPbb platform have disappeared, particularly since you were able to add the email notification of each message posted in subscribed fora, and since we can edit in native HTML, as well as link to external pages and web servers - all huge advantages in my humble opinion..

The only down side is that I can no longer see email addresses of folks to use in sending them private email. I am not able to efficiently use the built-in private messaging and thus will never use it willingly, since I depend upon my own customized emaii system as a database for past communications and other things, and after all, web-based private messaging is not really "private" by definition

The big upside is that PHPbb is open-source, and experts like you, Gil, can make it stand on its head and do cartwheels, meaning customize it to do what ever you wish THAT is huge

[admin]

A wonderful read, F.P. Spoken from the heart as always. Thanks for all your support and here's to another 7 years of forum talk. A major concern associated with the changes is that we would not venture outside of the comfort zone for very long. Most people who have got past the registration window seem to have picked up the skills they need to make the current format work for them.

Thanks for taking the time express your feelings. All's well that ends well.

[sowhat]

Elys, the PM system is not as scary as it may seem, and in my mind, it's somehow safer cause some email providers have fun at bumping messages (grrrr). Just imagine that's your email program.
Now back to topic, i haven't been here for all these years, and i haven't been at AGR, but still, judging by the fact that's the only forum i haven't got tired of in all these years & still visit regularly (& definitely write more posts than i should have), that must be a nice place where you can talk to nice people. And of course, learn something new every day — not about musical instruments and music only, but also about, say, life, different cultural phenomena, other people's way of thinking, etc, etc, etc. And also have a good fun, of course.
And change — no matter how we take it first — in the end, is often for better.

[gibsonlp]

Elys - Email addresses are not visible since we wanted to make sure spambots will not be able to get them, this is a configurable option that is "off" by decision (this is not even the default).
However - you can send an email using phpBB, the return address will be your email so the other person will reply directly to you,
Private messaging service is pretty nice (and amazingly advanced) - but in no way is it an email replacement.

And again, thanks for the compliments

[octagon]