I'm pleased with all the recent posts. Sure, some are off topic, but that only makes the case for my earlier post, which in comparison really isn't OT at all!
Don't take this as chastisement though, because I'm one of those easy-going, freedom-loving types that doesn't get upset by OT posts, unless they are way out in the ballpark like "I had blueberry waffles for breakfast." At least the posts here are largely talking about the same thing, with the same goals of keeping this forum alive and kicking.
Another benefit of the recent posts which are a bit off topic is that it has made this discussion a bit more fun. Eric mention "fun" in his recent post, and I'm all for that. (Just not 100% fun. We do have work to do.) The more fun and open you make a discussion, the more inviting it seems to be to people, and the more people will participate. Sure, there's a risk they may not chime in about the main topic of the 1 to 3 year term extension, but making people feel good when posting is a big part of what Tinker Different about. That other forum "which shall not be named" (LOL) is more about rules and warning points and maintaining designated forum bullies.
Now as to data loss, that happened multiple times at the other forum, even back in the days when Tom Levens ruled the roost. I know because I complained to him about at the the time. That didn't prevent other episodes of data loss from happening though after he was gone. And on that note,
I wish to COMMEND the board, especially the folks who have been in charge of the Tinker Different server, for helping us to avoid any kind of data loss at all! Thank you, gentlemen!
And that leads me back to the original point of TERMS.
Some of the posts on the board really are more important than others. The server guys are critically important because without them, we don't have a forum, and all the polling in the world about longer terms is utterly irrelevant. My biggest concern from the beginning was about term lengths and term limits for the guys in charge of the server. A president, vp, secretary, etc. can come and go, but if we change the server wizards every year and then get a guy in there who hasn't the finest idea what he's doing, then our entire forum is at stake.
So I would like to ask a pointed an truly on-topic question about that.
How will a change in terms from 1 year to 3 years impact people in charge of the server? Or will they be treated like every other member of the board?
Again, the biggest "risk" to an every changing board isn't in the other positions of power, which really do need to change. Keeping the big cheese changing is good. That falls in line with NO PERPETUAL KINGS. But changing the server guys too often could undermine our core goal of zero data loss, assuming somebody gets into that position who isn't quite up to the task like
@fogWraith and whoever is assisting him now (Eric?).
Sorry for another long post, but I really am excited to talk about these matters, and I am glad to see others are chiming in to, even if some topics have strayed a bit.