Category: Let's talk
Hi. I came on last night, to hear stuff about The Zone shutting down. How do we ask the system Admins?
I'll be sad to see this site go, but if it's true, then, why? And if not, why the rumor?
Some people like myself, are having trouble with computers, and find this the easiest site to log onto. So, are we gone the way of the other sites that crashed and burned? People who want to get premiums, or have a year premium, I bet are curious. I know I'm basing my ecision on finding out. I mean, if it's not true, whoever started it, is costing the owner, Jage, memberships. This is someone's business. My brother hosts sites for a business, and I know what happens when people want to make stuff hard for him. Like people using too much data, and systems crashing, and all that.
Partly, I'm asking, to set the record straight. Also, if it is a rumor, it's pretty low, if that's what someone thinks is a joke! I'm not tossing $25 for 2 months of premium, so if someone's trying to be silly, your little joke backfired, and I for 1, don't find it funny.
When I ask questions out here, I get no answer. So, I'm saying enough rumors, tell us what's the true story, here?
Thank you, and God Bless!
Sarah
Yes, I have heard this as well, I had no idea. I hope it isn't true, I am on this site nearly every day. I find it a great place to hang out with my blind peers. Jage, if you are closing it, has anybody offered to buy it? Or is there some other reason for all of this? I vote to keep it up. I want Premium, but like Sarah, I'm not paying to have the site close. Oh and the Premium page isn't working anyways, is this because it truly is closing?
Please, help us to figure out what is rumor and what is true.
Thanks!
IT SHOULD NOT CLOSE. BUT IF IT DID.... HMM...
I also vote to keep it up, we are losing too many sites and programs geared to the blind. Yes we can now use sites like Facebook etc. but it's still nice to have a place where the blind can get together.
email the admin and see if you get a reply
Would it surprise you to know, I haven't a clue how to use Facebook? Kind of lame, but computer training isn't as available, for us older adults, that are under 60.
I'd love to see this site stay. However, I want the real story, not that someone said...
Jage, if it's true, we can take it. Most of us are growed up, and the rest of us, well... Maybe, not as much? LOL
Blessings In Christ,
Sarah
down with rumors!
we hear unfounded rumors constantly. most of them are harmless.
this one is not.
i enjoy being on the zone, if for no other reason than to play my word games and so forth.
i can recall the empty feeling i had when day after day i would try to log on and it simply asked for login again! how frustrating!
i sincerely hope this was just a rumor, put up either as a joke or maliciously, because i can’t see the zone shutting down without cause, and i’m sure the admins would put such in the opening news screen if it were true.
so, let’s have fun and quash these rumors!
Why? We all need to know. That's why I'm just letting my topic stand. Let's all find out, at once. I'm not more important than anyone out here, Ana, so I just think we all should hear it. I should've called it "ZONE RIOT!" LOL
Blessings,
Sarah
The problem is that some of this is coming from some reliable sources. It just bums me out to think Zone won't be around. I hope it is just an ugly rumor.
So, someone needs to say what's up, and I'm it. I've been self-appointed. Hahaha! I am tired of problems not solved. This isn't the only place I'm making waves.
I'm dealing with stuff in life, too. But, I can't divulge it, for my safety, and to protect the other person involved, even though, she is the problem.
Blessings,
Sarah
I also enjoy the Zone. We receive lots of good solid information here, and it gives me a place to be blind.
That sounds odd, but we that are blind understand it.
We discuss things blind related, and so far I don't know of any other site that has this.
I remember a few years ago when this kind of rumor went around Klango. Well, five years later Klango is still here, but everyone fled and so now it is not anything like before, all because of a stupid rumor. Face Book is still sucky if you use a computer instead of a smart phone. It is not a replacement for Zone.
No Facebook isn't like the Zone.
For me however, I can use either my phone or computer.
It works well.
The thing is, I can't talk about blindness related things and get much understanding on it.
Unless you've got several blind friends on there, and I do not, all your blindness related subjects will fall flat.
All you old folks should get use to whatsapp. Hahaha. Joking. Will be sad to see zone
goes. For better or worse, it does have good memories, and good place for blind people to
get support. It is like a family, like a war zone, like a drama theatre, and hmm, well, there
are things that i just dont want to know whats going on behind those curtains. Lol.
I spend some time every day on the Zone because it's the only site of its kind for the blind that I'm aware of. Hopefully, it is only a rumor. Would really miss my friends and also having the Boards to share info and having an outlet for expressing ideas. To keep from losing members, I urge the owner to come forth and be honest about the situation. Thanks for this site and please keep it open for the blind community.
I was going to write a long post on this, started writing it, thought of something, deleted what I had and started again.
could this be not a actually a closure, but a sort of refurbishment?
we all know things like zone by phone is broken, raffles don't work, the quiz system probably needs some updating.. maybe the admins want to close it in a few months for a refurbishment process
and let's face it,
-their's nothing in the news file
- the anagram games are still working and get lots of players
-this site still can average 22, 23 users
- the boards are popular
-for many people who struggle with computers, this site is good for them
their are some things supporting the closure- natalie stepping down as CL, no new members being activated on the site for a while, premium page not working..
I heard a rumour yesterday about unbanning all the accounts for the final day of the site's operation.
thinking about it, this could support a reopening or something
what i'm trying to say is, what's to stop scott or anthony from going through all of the zone's acounts , trying to figure out why they are banned, and then giving the ones that were banned for minor stuff another chance?
this site does need more activity, and more stuff going on, it's just a theory I have.
maybe it's something to do with halloween.
I don't know.. sites vanishing without a trace, strange things happening with no real explanation, it's not entirely ruled out.. it isn't.
and can I just say, as a final thing, their is no words from the admins.
not even the comunity leaders have quoted anything the admins have said
I mentioned Ana's idea to one of my parents, and instead of just one person emailing the site Admins, would we make any difference if those of us who want the site to stay, all email the site Admins?
All these rumors, and no answers, I just want to get to the truth!
I'm having problems with anxiety, because of something where I live, and it's recommended that I "Act, instead of react." I realized that is exactly why I posted this topic, to "Act," instead of letting the concern spread and be like that old game Telephone.
I always found it odd. When it was my turn, I'd say something, how much it had changed, when the final person told me.
Anyway, the whole thing makes sense. I've always heard things were going to happen. Even the reporters say what they have been told, if you think about it. Guess, I'm more of a politician, than a reporter. Scary. LOL
Blessings In Christ,
Sarah
Hi.
I don't come to the site as often as I used to, but I have got very good memories from it.
I joined back in 2005 when I was studying abroad in the UK, and the site helped me to pass my time because I was so shy and I didn't make many friends there. So I was spending a lot of time online.
I didn't chat with many people here either, but I learned so many things from the boards, i listened to many nice and entertaining audio profiles and it was a nice way to practice my English.
I admit I posted some board posts that I regret now, but we all make mistakes sometimes.
I will miss this site if it goes down, but I knew it will happen sooner or later because it is like abandon for long time now and nobody maintains it any more.
Nikos
I don't think we should jump to conclusions. Personally I haven't heard about the zone shutting down. It would be a shame if it did I must say.
Yeah. I joined up hoping to find that special someone (I've since given up hope), but it's still cool to hang out with people.
I have been on here for years...I don't even remember when I joined. Yes, I
have been much more active in past, I used to play games and participate
in boards. I don't even remmber when was the last time prior to this post
that I wrote in boards. These days I only come and mainly just let the site
hanng out in the backgrownd within the qn consol while I do other things
and I participate in qn chat, though that was always by far my fave
feature.
As others have said, at the moment there is no real and official indication
of this site closing. One thing to connsider is, if this is the case, would it
not be sensible idea to aproach someone in case they want to buy it?
That's all. Againn, if this is even true.
Would be sad to see this go. I joined back in 04. This site actually helped me find an old friend back in 08.
this is pointless. the blind community is losing just about everything. we don't
want squashed into the mainstream community and trampled by people who
don't understand. I fought for this community once, and I'll do it again, and I
won't give up. I'll fight until we win, and we will win. we're not standing for this
shit anymore. sure, I have problems with people here, but overall, this is the
place I can come when I'm having a sucky day. I can always get a laugh here. it
isn't fair to the blind community to take everything away because people don't
want to do their jobs. admins, if you read this, think a minute. think of how you
would feel if the thing or person you love most was stolen from you forever. it
would hurt wouldn't it? so don't do that to us
I love playing anagrams. I have learned so much from that site. I spend so much time
with those stupid puzzles. They are sure fun. Would miss this site no otherr place for
anagrams.
Part of life is growth and change, people. Sometimes websites shut down, just like businesses in real life shut down. Is it the end of the world when businesses shut down? No, nor will it be a big deal if this website shuts down. Everything has its time and not just that but if you have friends from here, I'd hope that you'd have their contact information off the site if you really wanna keep in touch with them.
I agree. But as I said, it shows know sign of shutting down. I understand how websites can be emotional touchstones for people however.
Well, the fact that no admins or CLs have posted on this board is just odd. I think I agree with Sarah, we ought to e mail the admins. Just send in what you think and why you don't want it shutting down. Ask them straight out if it is a rumor or if its true.
Sure, things shutdown, but if it doesn't need to, lets have it.
Smile.
Klango is still around as far as I know.
But I think that's because someone keeps renewing the domain.
Personally I think that site should have been gone a long time ago, it's not as though it's still being maintained.
As for this place, I have all the contacts to those I talk to, and they hardly log on these days.
Post 27 summed it up quite well.
Let me tell you my reason for wanting to know, and if at all, stopping it.
Here is where some of us can be told to grow up, and take the time to actually do so.
When I first got access to a computer, I was directed to this site, for:
1: it's people out here
2: The activities that helped me gain the skills I have now
3: Something to pass time, when I don't have the money to get out
4: To maybe make some new friends
Well, I have. Also, I learned an inner strength that I needed. A lot of us out here, are here to discuss blindness issues. You are right. In sighted online communities, we'll get all swallowed up, or insulted.
Vanja's right. Why not offer the domain and site to someone else, if it's not something that the owners can handle right now.
And, why no responces publically? Bet points or dollars, that Jage knows something of my topic. He seems like a pretty smart guy to me. I sure couldn't make some cool site like this. I can't even program a TV! I can barely run Windows10! My compliments, in other words.
So, sorry I don't agree with you Chelsea, but please don't judge the rest of us?
Blessings In Christ,
Sarah
Meh, i'm in different about this place closing. On one hand, yes it would suck
to not have a place to come and kill time while i'm at work. On the other, I
have contact info for everybody I care about from here.
Regardless, everything must come to an end...
Damn, didn't realize this was happening.
I'll miss anagrams and the banter in public quicknotes if the zone's demise does come to pass.
I feel the same as Miguel. (cali cowboy, for those who don't know, but who doesn't?)
The irony of the title of this post is not at all lost on me. I feel like if the rumor hadn't been perpetuated before, it certainly is now. Perhaps the reason the Mods haven't responded is because they haven't been around and don't even know this topic exists. I'd wager had there been talk about shutting it down, they'd have foreseen the hubbub such news and rumors would generate and expect to see a board post on it which they would subsequently wish to clear up. Or maybe I give them too much credit. I don't know. I've never spoken to those shadowy figures. I've been a member since 2009 after signing up to reconnect with a few people who I knew were on here. Though that reconnection never took place, I have enjoyed the boards around here, and have made a couple of friends. I feel like this place has outlived its usefulness for me personally, and I'm not even sure why I keep coming back except to say it's ... familiar. But I can appreciate that others around here have a greater attachment to this place. Hopefully if it does close down, there will be other alternatives for those to whom this site is a sort of haven.
Cause you love me is why you keep coming back.
Laughing.
Say it ain't so, Sarah!
Will be so sad if it is true, but also a misuse of stress if it isn't.
We need the facts before we launch a campaign one way or the other.
Well, that is just it, there has been nothing from the Admins on this, yet the link to buy a premium continues to be broken. Mighty suspicious to me.
I like coming her to depressurize and have some laughs. I met my "bestie" here. Why kill something when it is still good?
I've heard a rumor that the CL who resigned only resigned to cointue the initial
rumor about this place closing down. It's all a ruse to bring old members back
so they can boost their numbers and then sell for big money.
Darn it Miguel, I'm never telling you a secret like hat again.
I think it's time for something to go in the news file 1 way or the other
Will miss the games and information I get out here, but life seems to be about change. Will wait and see if the rumor materializes.
It probably won't shut down because it would be in the news file. Let's not forget that the zone is a business. If it stops making money, well, by by.
Yes, I keep thinking: Why would they shut down? Gotta be money, if this is true. But, if they want to keep making money, they ought to fix the Premium link. Besides, anybody hearing about this wouldn't buy a premium. Maybe somebody just started this rumor to see how far it would go? The first time I read anything about it, it was on the Rumors thread in Graffiti, not the most reliable place.
My point for this board, is to get the truth. I know people that host websites, and if it's rumor, that's not cool. If it's true, just tell us!
Or, like some have said, sell out to someone who wants it.
And, fix the Premium page, now! I really do want a premium membership. It's not that expensive.
Just someone spill.
Blessings In Christ,
Sarah
Well if it is about the money, let's face it, the amount of people that come
here these days all together is not huge. Therefore out of the small number
that does frequent the site, the amount that buy premium is even lower and
so I doubt that it's making that much money. Granted, I don't have the data
in front of me so I might be totally talking out of my ass, but I'm pretty sure
this is not exactly money making machine and whichever way we take it,
even compaired to 5/6 years ago this place is surely not making nowhere near
that much.
I'd pay a bit more.
How much I'm not sure, but it is like a cause.
As pointed out, this site helps many even if they won't admit it.
Smile.
Its a site for the blind, and as you know the blind have problems admitting they really enjoy something less they be thought of as lower or something.
I often times support the place, so guess I don't have a life.
Laughing.
Guess I need to get a life too, but I'm still not too proud to admit that I've made some good friends on this site and will really miss it if it vanishes into the deadzone. Lol.
I'm not ashamed that I made some great friends here, some of them who I
met in real life and some of them who I didn't yet, but hope to one day.
Granted many don't frequent this place any more, but I still did meet them on
here and I am looking forward meeting them in real life one day.
I met a lot of Australians zoners in person throughout the years. It is amazing to meet
with people that you have been talking with for some time. Some become really good
friends, some just aquintins, but nevertheless, it is still great to meet in personnel
especially these days, most of them are no longer on zone.
I also met a couple of zoners when i was in Europe last year. :)
yeah, that also reminds me that there are some people with whom I lost
touch with and they don't come here any more and as people do these days,
they have changed their contact details, so ealthough it's true to an extent
that if we really want to stay in touch with someone we can get their details,
it's also shame that some people don't come here any more who I'd love to
know how they're doing and because life sort of got in a way I can't talk to
them any more due to them changing their details.
As good as it is a good meeting place for blind people world wide, the zone does get old
with all the dramas, trolls, etc. i suppose, some zoners already move on from an online
space. Some got married, other grow up, some leave schools, other retire from work. In
the last 13 or 14 years, zone change a lot, from a vibrant supportive space, to now,
almost dead.
It was much more multicultural and multi nationality than what it is now.
And that to a point could be the reason why the owners might think that
closing it down could be the best option. But then it still does exist and as
this post proves, there are still many for whom it's a very psoitive experience.
Sarah, honestly, I feel sorry for you or anyone else who only has this website as an enjoyable place to experience life's greatness. I've made friendships on here as well and I'm in touch with at least a couple of those people. However I'm no longer at the place that I was at when I joined The Zone back in high school. Then this was really a great place for me to come but the older I get, the less this place means to me. I have a huge life outside of this place yet I can still be thankful for the time that The Zone has had in my life and leave things at that.
Well, I would ask you why you come on if it doesn't mean squat. The zone certainly isn't my whole life but here I am.
I'm proud to have made friends on here. When I came on, I had no skills with my computer.
Chelsea, I don't know why you have to sound insulting. My reason for not going to websites, is I don't know how. I'm glad I don't hang with the people you know on those other sites, because, you talk like you're too good to be here, and too good to hang out with other blind people. I didn't create this topic to wave your insults off, so if you can't be nice, then please do not expect me to respond??? See, some of us can't snap for computer help, and, here it comes. It took ten years, to get good computer instruction, and I'm proud of advocating to try and get it, instead of putting others down, for being more ignorant than I am.
I cannot believe you can't be positive, even to unite to support those who don't have the skills you do. So, what I hear from you is:
"I'm beyond this site, so, who cares?"
If I took that high_and_mighty, or Better_Than_You, attitude, I'd be no better than a school bully. So, seems you may not be as grown as you think you are. I'm trying to keep this positive, so I would ask that you be respectful to that end.
I can't stop you from posting, but I can, not read or respond, anymore, to your posts.
Blessings In Christ,
Sarah
Well Sarah, Chelsea's opinion is much like many.
They come here, ask major questions about tech or what have you, get sound help/advise but they make statements as she does.
Instead of allowing her to upset you, move on with your stance.
You enjoy the site and you wish it to stay around.
It is important in your life.
Nothing wrong with that.
Seeing persons have other places, such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked in, you name it.
Why do you think these social networks are so popular?
I personally do a little Facebook, and I'd not be to hurt if it wasn't there, but I'd prefer it stick around.
I can get information there faster at times I can't get anyplace else.
So, old Zuc gave people a life, huh?
Smile.
Don't mind Chelsea, Sarah. She's an equal oppertunity gal, as in She takes every opportunity to insult and belittle everyone equally. Tells it like it is, does our Chelsea. Or at least tells it as she perceives it to be. Sort of refreshing in a discomforting sort of way. You always know where you stand in Chelsea's eyes; right under her boot.
Well here is how I feel about it.
If the zone were shutting down, I doubt anything we can say will keep it running. lets face it, it takes time and money to run a sight. Maybe the reason they haven't cared enough to fix the link is because the sight just doesn't make enough money to make it worth it. Unless JJ is running this out of his house, he ismost likely losing money off of it. You can't run something like this for free now a days.
As far as me and my relationship to the zone, I learned a lot about myself here. When I first came around not many liked me because of one thing or another. But kind of being shuned forced me to grow up, so in a way, the zone helped shape me. I'll be sad if it goes, but like was said a few times, people grow up, move on, or just lose interest and I have for the most part, lost interest. No one I really know comes here anymore, we all graduated from highschool and left it and one another behind. I don't even talk to the old croud of people I used to back in the day. But it seems the zone if it goes has served its place for people, and they will just have to find something else.
Chelsea, you show up enough for somebody who doesn't care about this place.
Liquid Tension, so why does it bother you if some of us like it here? We aren't hurting you by feeling the way that we do. If you don't like it here, get yourself banned.
I, for one, have made some long lasting friends here. If we can't save the site, I'll have their contact info. I hope we can convince them to keep it running.
As I have stated, I don't think it's shutting down.
Remy
too funny.
If it does go it will be a shame but all things must end.
Now, I got a couple of grins, out of that. I want this site, or something like it, to help others. I had experiences that changed me from selfish, to caring about others. That's how we grow. I had some growing up to do here, too. I'm staying on as much as I can, because I want this site to stay. However, I have a trip to take this weekend. And, if anyone doubts me, I'll be singing at the talent show, for our convention, on ACB Radio.
Just came across this post after not having logged in for a good while. I bet it's just a rumour! Seems that J doesn't care if it stays or goes at this point; it's just something he created one day when he was bored I suspect, and the premium memberships pays for the server.
i don't think the premium users will be enough numbers to pay for the zone server. however, there are not enough premium features to attract more users. this website needs a good restructure, add on and remove some features, and make it worth while for users to pay premium. Look at the success of website like all in play, rsgames etc. they have something to offer that is attractive to the people that use it. if you have enough features to attract people, more than likely, blind people will willing to pay, even $50 a year, or $10 a month.
As far as either someone has a life beyond zone or not, that is not up to others to judge. if, someone is home bound, and zone is the only place for them to interact with others, for better or worse, zone has provide a good source and good social interaction means for that individual. for a change, that person at least have some interaction with others beyond the four walls. this might be nothing, for those that are actively involve out sode of the online community, but it is a lot for those that is in such situation.
lol at post 66!.
reminded me of when I was talking to anthony and the subject got round to, I kid you not, in these words,
" A failed colledge project"
amusing!
as 1 of the sited users here (1 of the few that exist), I can honestly say I like it- mainly for anagrams and the boards.
perhaps it doesn't hold as much to me as it does to others (well it wouldn't), but I still enjoy coming on here.
finally at PinaColada's post, the only 2 reasons I am premium are for anagrams, and to be invisible
if those features didn't exist, I don't think I would be
I am certainly in agreement that quicknote history, for example, should be a feature for everyone (it isn't just premiums that miss messages from people)
personally, I'd also like to see the raffles work (but I think i'm asking too much here), and some new premium games
it clearly states on the premium page, be the first to try new games... what new games?
I hope it doesn't go down. I come on here to change uers names, so the get payed some from me. And if this zone does go, then at least we all will hav good memories.
Wow, you aren't kidding. I'd wager you might hold the record for the most username changes of anyone here. And yet they're just all so "you" ... says someone who has never met you even once. Still, there's definetly a theme there.:)
si, will miss this place even though I don't log in as much as much as I use to, i'm allways tell new blind people about this place for it is a great place to meet people and I think the borads is a great place for info.
I'm glad that you got what I was getting at, LTE. As I've said in my earlier post to this topic, I benefited from this place long ago so to say I think I'm better than anyone is simply not true--I don't come here to "belittle" people. I, like you all I'm sure, come here out of bordum because sometimes I have nothing better to do. I, like many of you I'm sure, have also gotten help on here...so perhaps read what I'm saying again because I'm not shitting on anyone's parade nor am I shitting on this website as a whole. I simply said that change is part of life. People come in and out of our lives, websites disappear, businesses disappear and we can either let those things make us better people or be sensitive by thinking that people are attacking us when they express a different opinion than yours or an opinion that you think people shouldn't have.
Business, websites, cultural institutions all get threats to be shut down, but
also, often people fight those threats. I'm not trying to compare this site with
something like BBC 6 music that BBC wanted to close and then partly because
of a huge campaign it didn't, but all I'm saying if there is even a remote
possibilitty to prevent closure of something, if those who strongly feel about
it want to fight for it, we don't need to insult them, even if we don't
particularly care.
I have made many friends here in my youth... *smiles sadly* I've even talked to an adult that had so much in common with me. I learned a lot on here about music, old jokes I never even knew, laws, politics, you name it. this place was something of a sancturary for me... because I got bored and I used the site to talk to other blind people who were either entering college or have entered. I feel bummed that all that is going away. I really hope this is just a rumor...
76 posts in this thread, most of them from those who don't want the site to shut down, and yet not one person has said they will create some form of replacement space for discussion! If not a Facebook group, then a Yahoo or other such group. Surely there's an alternative to just regretting the demise of the Zone, and doing nothing.
It be easier to learn if the Zone was available to assume, but I don't think that will happen.
Like any business, it be best to take over and make your changes.
at post 77, I have just created an email list for the zone users.
people can message me for the information if they want it
I will keep it up for now until we know what happens to this site
if it stays open, I will not need the group and will close it.
I have a lot of other stuff to do, but please note I am doing this as a service to people in this post who rely on the site
We want the site admins to answer us, and they are strangely silent.
Sorry I wasn't able to get back on here, till today. And, when I've rested, I've learned something, that might inspire you, as it did, me.
We were on ACB Radio, this weekend. So, if you heard the banquet and other things, that is what I want to talk about, when I get my beauty sleep. Right now, I look tired, feel exhausted, and need to get my mind cleared, because, it's not working, after so much fun, and learning.
Blessings In Christ,
Sarah
I'm pretty late to this, but I visited the zone a lot in high school. College and general life things have intervened and there's far less conversation here compared to previous years. I learned a lot about myself and others from this experience. It's a little sad, but ya can't stop the tide of change sometimes. I'm a bit surprised it wasn't shut down sooner.
That being said I think perhaps the only reason why the admins haven't shut us down is because it's not a drain on money but it's not of great benefit for them either. He must not need to pay much for the domain if it was costing Jj money, so I think for that reason alone the sight's going to stay up just because it isn't going anywhere. Might as well rest easy.
I agree with Sarah. This is the only social site left that is truly easy and fun to navigate. You can send quicknotes and messages, all the while playing anagrams and other games if you wish, and it is a breeze to use. I have loved this place since 2004 and would be saddened to see it go. Facebook Mobile is easy on the Web, as is Twitter Mobile, and email speaks for itself. But this place offers the chance to meet new folks, and an experience that other platforms cannot offer. So let's fervently hope that this place staye open for years to come. We're lucky to have it.
This site is easy and fun to navigate and totally geared for the blind. I learned a lot here too. Also, who said there isn't talk of an alternative site if this one goes? I have talked to several people who want to do that.
So has anyone actually e-mailed the phantom admins and asked what the scoop is?
Why has not anybody (refering to admins) answered? Do they know something they'd rather not tell us? If this is the case, speak up!
I don't think the admins owe us anything other than the duties of this site. So far, we're still around.
Ok, after wading through this board, I've got a few things to say.
1. The admins are JJ and Chris N. Chris N is more of an assistant. He has a lot of coding knowledge, but he is not the final decision maker.
2. This was not a failed college project. Yes, over 10 years ago, back when JJ was in college, he was given the assignment of creating an accessible website for the blind, which he passed with flying colors. He's out of college now, no longer being graded on this site's performance. Imagine writing a termpaper in college 10 years ago and people still emailing you demanding updates to it.
3. The community leaders have not said one way or another, since nothing concrete has been either suggested or confirmed by JJ.
4. I've seen so many complaints on these boards over the years, amounting to, "We're paying for this crap and we want change or we're gonna stop paying!" However, years later, here we are. As much complaining as has been done about how the site doesn't do this or that and how so many features don't work, what's all this fuss about? Go have a look for yourselves. The boards are full of complaints about the zone, its performance, how it's run or not run and how primitive it is.
5. For the first few years, the staff teamselected the community leaders. Members felt that this was unfair and wanted to select their own, so the staff abliged and members got to vote for their community leaders. I came in third place. Ocean Dream and grecia outranked me, but where are they now? My guess is that they grew up, discovered the world around them and ran off to explore it.
In conclusion, it honestly doesn't matter to me one way or the other, but I think this place is stale and has lost the majority of its usefulness.
If JJ doesn't have the time to devote to the site, there's only so much us moderators can do, and it's not all that much, aside from putting up anagram mania phrases, approving and banning accounts and... what we spend most of our time doing... mediating in pointless drama. I certainly won't miss that last part.
JJ has been told about the premium purchasing page not working. He does know. What he does about it remains to be seen. I haven't said one way or the other, and I won't until I know, since I don't want to propetuate rumors.
Does this help? I'm assuming not, but it's all the information available to me at this time.
I think this is a reasonbly helpful answer, or at least as helpful as one can
expect consnidering how much info is out there. I fur sure never
comaplined about thi site, if anything I might have givenn some
*constructive* chritisism, but that's it. I agree that this place is not what
it's used to be, but for what it's worth I'd potentially consider buying it,
depending on how much it would be sole for, of course. Would I miss it if it
goes away? Not as much as I would have let's say 5/6 years ago, though I
believe that there is still place for this thing out there and I still go here
every now and again. Not as often as I used to, but keeping this place,
assuming that no one is actually losing money out of it, won't hurt anyone.
At the same time if no one feels like it's worth dedicating their time to
maintain it, that's understandible too.
Not much point in feeding a dying horsethen , I guess.
Right, but we also need to remember that we're still on here.
i think there is a different between constructive feedback and complaining for the sake of complaining.
To say that this site need restructuring, need updates, maybe taking off some old stuff and replacing it with new stuff is not so much of complaining, is pretty much giving feedback.
Like i said before, this place got potential, however, only rely on 2 community leaders to service for more than 8000 nearly 9000 members is definitely not the way to go. leave members a side, even any website with this kind of size should really, have at least 3 to 5% of it's members as moderator. it might be as simple as deligating the jobs, for example, certain monirator can work with uploading new anagram words each day, certain mods working on approving and banning members, certain mods working on the board etc.
However, i think, if anyone needs anything to be done, any concrit answer, maybe, is about time to email the admin itself. if the admins, especially J.J has no interest on logging in to the zone, and have no interest on checking on the board, no matter how much we give suggestion, offer to purchase, or complain about the zone, he will not hear it. After all, there is only so much work that the community leaders can do. and honestly, it is really not fair to put this on to their shoulder.
He knows I'm sure.
You see, he runs a store that his clients are us.
You bet someone has told him, or he's come on in a back door or something.
He knows.
Right now, he doesn't necessarily need to do anything about it.
The site is still working, gets updated and backed up.
Why he doesn't say anything is interesting however.
no news is good news. if it is only a rumour, there is no reason why he should or shouldn't give his point of view. after all, everything is still working the way it should, beside we have only 2 cl, and the premium page aint working.
But if the premium page ain't working, when the bill comes due on the server, then....
This place still has some potential, but most of the traffic that used to be here were either banned or moved on to groups on facebook, which seems to be where most people are active. I've came on here at 9 at night once, and no one was here. Years ago when I joined this place, it was nooooot like that.
So my question and thing is, if the owner won't give it up to another owner who will take care of this site, then what's the point?
And the premium page is not working! So what? I can buy 2 weeks worth of lattes with that money.
If you guys want, I can create a zone users group on FB and if you don't have it, I'll even take time out of my college schedule to help you register. You'll have easier access to one another with questions/rants/whatever other reason people still come here. :)
and one more thing, there's messenger audio for talking and stuff? See? lol
I too grew up on this site. In fact, I joined 5 months before I turned 14, and I'm 21 now... As you can see, I'm apart of the instant messaging/on the go generation, and I much rather look at videos and other more interesting content on my phone than to sit and refresh a page all dorn day.
Ah, but a premium last you a year.
You've had several.
Laughing.
Oh, and that looking at, or listening to videos and other more interesting content on my phone?
Bet you learned many accessible tricks to how to from just refreshing that page.
Smile.
Now, suppose you had both?
When something changed in your other world, you can always ask the Zone smart people to help and get answers.
joanne!
funniest post on the board, ever
and I quote:
no news is good news. if it is only a rumour, there is no reason why he should or shouldn't give his point of view. after all, everything is still working
the way it should, beside we have only 2 cl, and the premium page aint working.
cracked me up
if "everything is working as it should", and "the premium page aint working", how is everything working as it should?
/weather is broken too, and the raffles
and I allready found a fiew broken links as well, just don't want to open a new
topic for every broken links so I'll collect them and send an email.
gosh I can't even remember when I joined. Things have been rocky here for me, but I made friends here and I have even met my boyfriend here! If it does go though, I'm not really caring. I mean I don't come on here as often as I used to. I use twitter and facebook more now. As for klango? I actually thought it was gone. In any case, I have my own opinions about klango, but I'll leave that for another time and topic.
People have been saying this for so many years that now it seems more prophecy than rumor.
I got a useful clump of knowledge about blindness-related issues on these boards back when I had started losing my sight. And even then most if not all of the people who made those posts had long abandoned this site. But honestly this place mostly serves as a substitute for a quiet section of a public library where I can occasionally make small talk.
Well, if the end of the Zone as we know it should come someday, arrivederci to you folks, I say.
Yes. A lot of us complain. However, as I've grown up, I know this site ain't a-gonna be perfect. Show me perfection on the net, and I'll show you that it is a scam.
All I made this topic for is answers. If JJ fixes that premium page, I'll buy. However, I cannot buy, if it ain't working. So I guess there's 2 things to say:
1: I wish I had Premium.
2: I'm sad that so many of us want it, and can't give JJ the money. It means the site owner is losing out, and I actually feel bad, because it't not that high a price, and the owner's out at least 200_to300 bucks, cause, we can't get Premium memberships.
Blessings In Christ,
sarah
Another thing:
This site is easy to navigate. I even told a professional computer teacher about it, and how The Zone is why I can type so well.
It doesn't matter if you all agree with me, but we need a simple site like this.
I was listening to the Past-President of ACB, and he said something, I'm going to paraphrase:
We got the short end of the stick, with the ADA. Mostly deaf and other kinds of disabilities got their needs met.
Now, we got this technology, and if we do not fight one last time for accessibility in the work place and on the net, we're going to lose out.
Like I said, it is a paraphrase. If anyone listened to the WCB banquet address, you will understand my paraphrase.
I ain't here to be mean, but to advocate. This site is something we need, and many agree with me.
Blessings In Christ,
Sarah
totally agreed with post 105
As far as fighting for accessibility, whether this site remains or not, it's not going to help. If the membership page doesn't get turned back on, then there won't be any money for the renewal of the web hoast, so it'll just quietly go away. Mostly, this place is just a chat forum for the blind and friends to chatter, gossip and troll. If anything, it's more of a comfort zone rather than an encouragement. as browsers get newer and this site remains the same, there will come a time when we simply won't be able to access it anyway. If we scream about how this site should stay all because of accessibility, all we're essentially saying is that we deserve old and outdated technology, since it's what we're comfortable with and we're not interested in trying to keep up with advancing technology. Is that really the message we want to send out? We get held back enough as it is.
Hahaha, my last post suppose to be sarcastic. Laughing.
If this site is all we can really hope for in terms of accessibility and if we're satisfied with it, think of the images and stereotypes it confirms. "Let's give these blindies a bunch of leftover crap that we don't want or need anymore. It's accessible to them and they'll stop all that pointless whining."
So is a cold Budwiser or a hot cup of coffee a comfort zone . Its old technology.
It doesn't keep me from keeping up with newer brews, brands, and such. It is just what I like from time to time.
So, why should we jump on here and say, well, this sites old, out dated, and so let it shut down. I don't care, because its just a comfort zone and doesn't matter to me at all.
Just of bunch of blind people who really need to get up and go outside or something.
When it comes to the blind, why do we need to do anything but enjoy our comfort zone as long as they are available?
Why are we not like folks who rely on Facebook Twitter, and you name it?
Why is it a sin to say, hey, I like that old Zone, and I truly wish the owners would listen and keep it up?
Any owner has a right to shutdown whatever he/she owns, but at least they can see some folks have enjoyed it and benefited from it.
No shame in saying so.
No argument there, but the code is so old that it's going to have to be totally overhalled. If JJ can't be bothered to respond to one email, who really thinks he's going to rewrite it? Chris N can only do so much. With the membership renewal page closed, there's no income, so unless he finds vollinteers, (assuming he put that much time in to it,) I simply don't see the likelihood. Rather than sit and whine about it, bombard him. Try to get him to sell it, or create your own site. My point about using this site to aid in an accessibility fight is that it shows that we're satisfied with something so primitive. More power to those who are, I'm simply not. It's a place to come and hang out once in a while, but I have no problems with facebook and twitter. Why do people no longer fight for those old-time crank telephones, where the opporator actually dialed the number for you? This was a college project for JJ. It's a past assignment. It's done. He passed. would you believe, sighted people go to the stores every day, only to find that a beloved product has been discontinued. Mary Kay used to have a line of shower gells called Favorite things. It's been discontinued. That's just how life works. Has anyone contacted JJ and offered to pay the server fees for next year?
Antony, you always get back at the point of the old code here.
Tell me how to contact jj and I'd offer my help to totally renew all this, as long
as there are people who still want to come on here. Would be a great way for
me to practice my php skills, at work I only do JawsScripting, Java and other
stuff and I'd love to do php again. But as some of you pointed out earlier,
writing to the support, the only answer is silence.
I own two websites myself and know how to administrate all that, however I
don't know how to administrate own servers, because its all hosted for me,
would be to insicure to let me do this but anyway.
I came back here after years and found this place slowly falling apart.
I hope my post isn't that confusing and you get my point, my english is not the
best anymore. This only were thoughts I had this morning on my way to my
working place.
greets
Svenja
Since he doesn't respond to zone stuff, try finding him on twitter or Facebook or through his online store.
Well, I have and do agree that things do go. I've got to the store and they didn't have my Bud.
I took out my hanky and cried.
Laughing.
Personally, if I had the skill, I'd take it on.
However, you can't take something on that isn't up for the taking.
If any one of use that has the money started another site based on this model, we'd have some legal issues, and also other things.
Sorry about the bad typing. Had to, well, answer the phone.
Laughing.
Wayne, if this site works for you, then great. I don't appreciate the condescending attitude you had towards my posts. Anthony is basically saying the same stuff that I said, but you didn't respond to him that way. lol Wtf.
I honestly don't really care at this point as long as I can still talk to the people I usually talk to on skype or something.
Wasn't meant to be condescending . Silly, but not condescending .
So, sorry if I hurt your feelings.
I just think people sometimes should give a little credit were it is due.
Nothing wrong with a person saying, well, I'll not miss it, I have some other places that work well for me, but when that said person started to talk about how it has no value at all and they've gotten much from it, it rankles for me.
"A man gave me a million dollars. I was able to start a business, learn to do many things. You know what? I really never needed that million dollars. In fact, I think people that accept such gifts are low class and weak minded. People really need to learn to stand on there own feet and stop relying on others to give them a boost in life.
Just look at me, I'm successful. I can travel the world. I can buy anything I like. Who needs that start up million.
Smile."
Oh, and I'm not speaking of you specificly Lake. Just thought I should say so.
Smile.
well, I tried contacting jage on twitter but the only answer I got was to send an
email over the contact form on this site. Well, I did so, but more I accually can't
do.
Ah, now you see the trouble that the rest of the zone staff have had for ages. Congratulations. Really not trying to be a sarcastic smart-ass, but I do get tired of hearing about how I should be contacting JJ, lighting a fire under his ass and the likes. Just because I'm a lowly CL on an abandoned website, it doesn't mean that I have any special powers.
I want to raise a bit of a point that's been brushed at but not fully gotten into yet. And that's code.
Okay. So there's no doubt that this site is primitive and really quite simple. There's also little doubt that overhauling it, even just fixing what was broken, would take some time, and that our admins may not have the inclination to do this.
But while the interface is simple and the code is really, really old, I'm not sure if being comfy with it bespeaks a desire to not change. You don't have to get a new thing, or like it, just because it's new. It's why some people have headphones they got years ago if they still work, even if there's a newer brand in the same price bracket and of the same style, for instance. So no, I don't think we should necessarily be shooting for this sort of website standard in general, but we've got it, and it works for the most part.
I guess what I'm saying is directed a bit at Anthony here. I use FB. I use Skype. I use a few other websites and media to connect with people as well if I want to. If I want to just shoot the shit and have a conversation, sometimes I show up here and kill an hour.
The Zone is not about what we deserve, it's about what we have. And as has also been said, there will come a day when it just stops being here.
My best advice is for someone, or maybe several someones, to create a new website and try to get folks to migrate. It would take a bit, I'm sure, but it could be done. I don't have the skills, the time or the inclination, myself, but if you want to be sure of a space like this and want to sidestep the coming demise, whenever that is, then that would be a way to do it.
I'm all for keeping it simple. I myself don't always have to have the latest and greatest. My only point about the code being so old is that eventually, nothing except really old browsers will be able to access it. I don't know the first thing about coding. I don't know anyone who knows enough and has enough time on their hands to want to do it, and even if I did, there's still the issue of getting JJ to respond. Either that or making a separate website. I guess I honestly just don't care enough to go through that kind of trouble. I know that I don't know how to do it, and I'm not going to hire it done. as long as the site stays, I'll do what little I can in order to help it along, but my powers are limited. I just don't like the idea of people viewing this as what we as a whole want to count for accessibility. It's basically an old cubbyhole. It's kinda like a blind eutopia, separate from the rest of the world. Lock us all up in an institution. Our food and basic needs would be accessible. LOL I'm a crappy point maker I guess. In the end, I don't reckon it matters. JJ's gonna do what JJ's gonna do either way.
Exactly. This is why I say you can't take something that isn't up to be taken.
So, we'll have to see.
If it does in fact go down, then someone can open a new site based on, but not exactly like.
Other have tried. Getting members to follow will be difficult.
A few years ago now, there was a site calling itself blink nation.
It wasn't a bad site, similar to the zone, it had a chat system, well it was more like
those shout boxes you see on occasion, similar to the grafiti board here.
They even had forums similar to this place.
What happened to that site? Well in a way it's still around, frozen in time from the
looks of it.
You can still see the chat messages, right up untill the time when it went away.
I think that site ended up getting hacked so they ended up abandoning it.
Anyone can visit the site now and just browse the chat log left there.
Kind of creapy don't you think?
blinknation.com for anyone curious.
Well, if that's how he wants to handle it, then we just develop another site. I can't afford much, but I can give $25 per year.. I'm sorry. I'm notch on going back to chatlines, where my computerskils mean nothing. Get new code if we can. I can talk to some people that might be interested.
It doesn't have to be this picky. It can be done.
Antony, I realy got your point in post 122 before you said it here.
I never was thinking you had special powers or something like that.
My point was I at least wanted to contact jage myself, just to give it a try.
At first I didn't want to just give it up because everyone sais "you never get an answer over the contact form" etc. etc. and the second thing was I really wanted to offer my help with that coding things, I am not someone who just talks and when it comes to actions hides under the desk or something. It was worth a try.
That's the thing. How hard is it to let someone else take over?
As I made clear in another post, even a site a little cleaner, for kids would work. Blind kids keep being born, and that will not change, anytime soon. This is a great first experience for people who don't know the web very well.
Blessings In Christ,
Sarah
P.S.: I will post more later.
okay a couple of things. first, I never said I didn't like it here. your only saying that because I'm not agreeing it should stay
all things must end sometimes. why is it such a shock that this roomer is going around, this place has been dead for some time now.
also, sarah if I had a blind kid this would be the last place I would send him or her.
I, as a kid, say kids shouldn't be here.
So what's the deal? Any credible updates on this thing? Don't feel like reading
the whole thing.
Blink Nation chat still works, I just posted a comment there.
Blink nation did get hacked. It's not even run as well as this site, and so go figure?
The layouts bad. The person that has it, or was doing it wanted to sort of guide what was said according to her standards.
This site doesn't at all.
Kind of off the main topic, but I agree with HellTabby that this site is not the best for kids under 18 to be on. If I had a person underage in my household, this site would be off limits.
Full respect to Anthony's posts on this topic.
If I had a person under 18 much of the internet would be off limits.
The problem is, the law in the US says anyone 13 or over can access any site.
So, this site isn't any different.
It can't restrict anyone, that is a parents job.
I think that is a sound and wise decision not to even try to set up special access. No one does, so why here?
The liquor and providers of sex toys an information stores make me laugh. They have a question before you inter the site "Are you 21 years of age?"
All you need do is click yes.
Laughing.
I guess it makes parent feel better.
Me, I'd simply block such access on the specific machine used by younger users.
the zone has been good or bad, but I come on and have fun when I feel like it. If it goes down it will be a bit sad because it has memories, but if he decides to take it down, I would support that it is JJ
's decition.
My problem with the decision is not that it's JJ's to make, it's the lack of communication. And, if a site like this was something I could access at age eighteen, I would have.
My opinion is that this is a site that's created for the blind, and it's the best we've seen. Blink Nation was a joke. Even the name seems degrading. This site has given us room to meet and make friends and/or foes. The latter is of course, unintentional. People have purchased premiums les than a year ago, such as in last summer and they won't even get their whole year's worth. Who's standing up for them? Who's telling them they're getting short-changed? I guess, I am.
Blessings In Christ,
Sarah
But, we don't know for sure if anyone will get short changed.
a, your making a lot of assumptions here sarah
B, I thought this thing was dead. I'm pretty sure everying agrees that JJ will do what JJ wants to do, no matter what we say. So unless someone offers him a crazy amount of money, the zone will stay the way it is until the underlying code is too outdated for up to date programs to load, or he will get tired of paying for the server space and domain and shut it down. sorry but the zone is dead. it was an amazing place in its time, but everything must end.
So, it appears some folks are assuming the end of the Zone will coincide with the end of 2017, otherwise I don't see why all this talk about people getting short-changed.
Perhaps I missed the new predicted date for this apocalyptic event.
First Trump gets elected, and now this? Time to stock up for the apocalypse , get an
unlimited data plan... Damn, I forgot net neutrality is gone. Maybe if I pig out on Pizza
Hut I will overcome all this tragic news and stay grounded.
You know how to reach me.
Reaches out with a slice of homemade pizza to Runner229
.
Laughing.
I am skeptical that it'll shut down. the rationale of them not getting any money
makes sense. I expect there to be an announcement before the site just simply
goes offline though. I think the zone is dying, maybe that's why the pages are
broken? lack of interest or something like that and in reciprocal a lack of caring
or effort from the admins. Their efforts has kind of died though J.J. before
Chris's.
I honestly don't care too much either way, I have vorail and other places to
frequent, and probably more people than I want to stay in touch with heh! Not
200 anymore but a big handful. If I want to stay in touch with someone I know
how. I just use it to waste time honestly.