Re: Random Thought Thread
To the JBB family.</p>
Speaking for myself. I did struggle with the idea of merging the site, because I knew it would initially be a step back and a major adjustment to what JBB had. When the merger first took place I was also overwhelmed with the size and navigation at S2. I spent my first two days just clicking around to see the quickest ways to get around the site and discover what else the site had to offer.</p>
Also seeing a bunch of screen names I didn't recognize and reading inside jokes I didn't get was tough to cope with. The Nets forum especially LOL. </p>
I know a lot of you felt JBB was a special place, but there were a lot of issues you weren't aware of behind the scenes which was a major reason we decided to merge. The activity level was beginning to peak, and it was getting frustrating for us to further expand the site and draw in more users. Mel and the designers made vBulletin look great for what was available, but the software is very hard to work with and demoralizing when you get something to work and then an update to firefox or IE happens and all the work you did doesn't comply with the new browsers. </p>
Something I want you guys to understand is we merged for the benefit of the JBB members. Change is hard and maybe not for everyone, but you also have to give it a chance and be open minded about it. Mel, Hunter, Voodoo, and myself along with the majority of the staff are here to recreate a better version of JBB and take it to the level we always wanted it to be, which was a recognized media outlet for basketball.</p>
I know the current layout needs a lot of work, and there is intense programming being done to achieve that goal. We're also working to improve the layout and add improve on the eye-candy of the site. These changes do take time and it's a process and I know it's tough to ask for someone to be patient when they don't really like something, but this site is built around a community driven concept.</p>
WE all want the same thing, which is a place to come and talk sports, joke around with friends and enjoy the overall experience. </p>
Maybe some members haven't signed up yet and are still trying to find a comfort zone, maybe some left because they don't want to give the merger a fair chance, but I've also noticed a lot of old members who used to post on JBB have made there way back. I was really estatic to see StarMan come back to post. He was one of the original staff members on the site and VERY knowledgable fan of basketball. </p>
There's a lot of talent here and I've seen and been a part of a lot of quality discussion. Maybe there are some discussions that aren't so great, but there was also a lot of that at JBB as well. It's what you want to look for that you will find. If you want to focus on bad posts, then you're going to find them anywhere you go. If you want to focus on the great posts and debates you'll find those here to. And the more people who participate in those debates and posts, the further down the crap will be sent and will eventually be archived away and buried behind all the quality.</p>
I apologize if anyone is disappointed in the merger, but just give us a fair chance to make it a place you can make your "home" again. PM me talk to me on AIM,, email your ideas and criticism to me. I'm all ears, because I do take all your opinions and ideas into consideration. If you just want to vent that's fine too.</p>
Just wanted to chime in because I felt bad about reading some of the recent posts in here. I want you guys to know I'm putting my all into this project and I want you guys to be the ultimate beneficiaries of it.</p>
</p>
</p>
