As one of the first steps to make Ironworks a more friendly and fun forum, I wanted to post a message and thank you all for making IW Forum such an awesome place to hang out--without you guys, IW is nothing! You guys make it a fun place!!

I just wanted to post a note, because I want every single one of you to know you can contact ME personally about ANY problem you are having, be it ANY member, ANY situation, or problem you may have here now, or in the future. I want to make IW a place you enjoy to visit, and if you see any problems with anyone, you can feel free to PM or email me at any time. Remember, no one can hack PM's or emails, and only I read them. [img]smile.gif[/img]

In the coming Months (this Fall and Winter) you will be seeing many new features and helping areas for new users to make sigs, easy instructions on how to make a gif, how to use UBB code and html--are a few things you will see soon.

As you know, unlike huge corporate forums, I take a very personal touch to the Forum, and I think that helps make the 'family' feeling we have had here, and that's why I want to expand that, and bring it back, even MORE!

I know some of you have had some feelings hurt from the War Forum and the current Current Events forum as well. Should we get rid of that forum? for the greater good? I would like your comments on this issue, as I feel that forum has caused more damage, and hurt feelings, than good. Let me know on this.

My PM Box is now totally empty, so drop me a line (Ziroc) by clicking on the PM feature. If it becomes full, please email me at webmaster@ironworksforum.com. --NEW users ideas/comments are valued equally as Older members -- I know some Newer members have been worried to 'rock the boat'. Don't feel that way, everyone was a new member at some moment :D

Thanks guys! (Yeah, guys includes gals) :D

[ 10-17-2003, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: Ziroc ]

Great Z! How`s the money going? Will you make it? It really is DA BEST forum I ever visited! Thank you all! You are probably my second family! [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

I've got a problem, Z. The batteries in my TV remote just died, can you help me? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I've got a problem, Z. The batteries in my TV remote just died, can you help me? [img]tongue.gif[/img] </font>[/QUOTE]SURE I can! [img]smile.gif[/img] Go buy some new batteries! Duh.. ;)

Well, don't you think its better to segregate the threads like that into a seperate area, so that those who are going to have hurt feelings can avoid it rather then having some of the topics spill over into the general discussion?

I like the CE forum, and I liked the War Forum. People who don't play Arx Fatalis don't go to that forum, and people who don't like to argue politics don't go to CE. Not everything is for everyone. Not everyone cares about politics, or cares enough to follow it. But, for some of us, it's the best thing about the IW forums. ;)

I like the CE forum too. If you should take it down, and someone has the urge to discuss about events in Iraq for instance, the thread will end up in GD anyway. Might just as well keep those discussions seperated from the lighter chatter here in GD. ;)

The Current Events Forum is absolutely a keeper. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I don't get to participate as much as I used to, but it is a great asset to IW, and as johnny said if you remove it people will talk about them in GD anyway.

I have to add my thanks to this list. Ironworks is the best forum I have been to. To think it all started out as help on BG2. I used to only hang around the BG2 forum, but overcame my shyness ( [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) and peeked in the GD. I love it here, always hang around here in the afternoons, and I feel privileged to be part of this great community. IW also helped me find my faith (thanks again, Lady Cloudbringer!!) and has helped me with a few minor issues. Not to mention the amount of technical help I've asked for! [img]tongue.gif[/img] . I want to thank the mods and Z for making this a safe place to talk, and for keeping the forums in order. This is the only forum I have returned to time and time again, and I hope to do so for many years. Thanks again, and best wishes!! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

<font color=gold>
* Making myself available here! :D *

Seriously, I'm all for making sigs for users and new avatars! Drop me a line and I'll let my creative self on the loose!

Background: been drawing cartoons (mostly anime and marvel stuff) for well over 12 years now. Been slacking it lately due to my college period, but I still enjoy it when I go on a creative frenzy :D
</font>

<font color=pink>Please keep everything. You're our daddy Ziroc! :D
You know if we have problems it gets reported to at least one mod *praises the report post button* :D </font>

Zuvio...could you explain what the sigs could be? skys the limit? maybe i shall drop you a line...my dave sig is getting so...........................boring

IWF is the only forum good enough to make me come back (after a year of absence back then) and actually stay for good. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]
Reason: The best discussion climate ANYwhere. Sometimes things get a bit rough but almost never out of line and if they do (be it trolling or just swearing) there's instantly a thoughtful member to put up a reminder and only minutes later there's a mod to clear things up. Never seen anything so efficient and fair on the web. Keep it up (the good work and the CE forum :D ).

You run a great show here Ziroc! Ironworks is indeed a very unique and endearing community on the net! Thanks!

I'll add my voice to keeping the current events forum around. Looking over the short history of the CE forum, rarely has a thread been locked and only occasionally moderated. Of course I do participate alot in the current events forum so I may have a biased opinion. ;)

Thanks again! [img]smile.gif[/img]

edit- Also, a big thanks to all the moderaters for the good looking out.

[ 10-17-2003, 06:59 PM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

well, I want to add my thanks too, and to point out, for alot, this is their first forums, as was mine, sure I had seen them, but this one stuck out, when I was looking for help on a game, and was informed about there being a cafe here, and a good group of people, kept me coming back, and when I needed a good laugh, just read some of arvons jokes. but I think you should keep everything, some of us prefer not to dscuss current events, and for that, we are glad there is a forum for that, keeps us from seeing the bad stuff all day long [img]smile.gif[/img] the only thing I wish I could change, is not being able to help out when money is needed, but hope soon to be able to help when you ask...as for needing anything......my kids need a bath...care to give it to them? :D

<font color=deepskyblue>You've created the best Gaming/Discussion board on the entire internet, <font color=yellow>Ziroc</font>. It is by far the friendliest place to visit and the most efficiently Modded forum available. I've visited other forums, browsed a few, and even joined a couple. But nothing compares to <font color=orange>IronWorks</font>. I've seen other forums where older members rip into newbies with unabashed abandon, and I've even had the displeasure to visit a forum where some of the worst abuse came from the Moderators themselves. When the ones supposedly "in charge" are abusing their power, it isn't a fun place to hang around for long.

I've personally cut back on the time I spend in the Current Events forum because I was getting upset on a regular basis at some of the stuff I read there. I even complained to a Mod, but they helped me realize that I was the one having the problem, not the forum itself. So I decided to take some time off and wait until I could come back with a better perspective. Now, when I see a thread that looks like it might spark the same reaction from me, I generally just avoid it. If I can't respond in a civil and/or respectful manner, then I try not to post at all. Emotions do get heated and tempers do flare occasionally. I've noticed there has been more "drum beating" and less discussion lately, but these trends usually die out on their own eventually and everyone gets back to being more respectful and friendly to each other in their responses.

Don't change anything and I look forward (as always) to the promised new features. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] </font>

<font color=orange>Z-man I've been on this board since January of... Hell I don't remeber anymore, but it's been a long time. As a matter of fact it was back in the Blueboard days. And before I joined I must have lurked for two months! I came here for BG tips and I ended up finding a pretty cool home.

I've watched it grow and seen many people come and go. I'm ashamed to say that while I'm at work, that I spent a large amount of time right here. It's one of the highlights of my day! It's one of the most unique places on the internet and even though we fuss and fight and argue and laugh we always come back here.

I guess what I'm trying to say in a round about way is Buddy don't change a thing! Not one thing.

Sir Taliesin!!!

I would like to give out my thanks too, Ironworks has introduced me to some of the best people I've met wither it be on the net or in real life. There are people here like Lady Z, Reeka, pcgiant, Bardan, people you can just talk to and you feel better doing it. Aye, Ironworks is the best forum I've ever been to hands down, and believe me, I've been through my fair share in my old gaming days ;) :D

I wouldn't worry about the Current Events and War forum, look what those forums revolve around. Talking about war and such isn't going to have people at calm moods all the time so yea, flames will be spouting from time to time but that'll happen. No need to get rid of them, just remind them to keep it cool and all will be well.

Z, this is probably the only forum I'm part of that'd I pay to keep running. Not only is this place a source of information, its a house for all in distress. I go on other forums, every just posts their own problems (including me) and just suck up the responses from other people. IW is different, it is arguably the best forums out there; we have a multitude of opinions and likes, cultures, everything. We all then can evenly express our opinions, and there are very few/ if any clashes between people.

Further more, you do a kick ass job, and unlike most forums, this is outta free will. Dude, you do too much, and none of us could ever pay back what you've given to us. The donations to keep this place running is well worth it.

Not only do all of us help others, we all learn to our benefits. I've learned to keep my mouth shut, after I've said some stupid things that I admit to. I've learned that many people don't put up with the crap i've done, and believe me, its helped me become a better person.

And one final thing, ur always there Z. You are perhaps the greatest webmaster, and if I ever win the lottery (or my parents) i'll see to it that you get something, you deserve it, hell, you work your butt off to maintain IW, and you rarely ask for anything in return.

So you shouldn't thank us, we should thank you for all you've done to this site, all the devotion, and you've never ceased in aiding us, without asking for much.

Geez guys [img]smile.gif[/img] Thanks a lot! I try.. you know I would run this site for the rest of my life without asking for a penny if I had the money. I just enjoy doing this for people and I've met some amazing people from around the world! I can seriously say that many MANY of you have enriched my life, and I've learned many, many things from you. That is an added bonus! [img]smile.gif[/img]

BTW, I just added a new forum for those of you that draw, and make artwork and stuff. It's also where I will post some art from my 2D/3D modeling art.

Just wanted to add it so the tgeweb.com 'art area' would have a forum again, and anyone that is into art, to share with us your creative side!

( />eathdude, ya hear me? [img]smile.gif[/img] )

<font color = lightgreen>Ok Ziroc

First* I would like to agree with every single thing said above. I did have my doubts about the news forum but it has proven a success IMO. I can dip into it any time I want and if not in the mood I can surf the fun of Gen discussion without worry.

Second * The Mods.... I gives a bow and tips me hat, a job well done. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Third * Two improvements I would respectfully suggest. The merger of the polls and the music/book/films forums to increase user rates and free up space for other forums. The other would be the underused but important Miscellaneous Games (RPG or not) forum to include full game reviews. There are many people on this board whose opinions I respect and if they said a game was good or bad I would listen to that opinion. Full detailed game reviews are a badly needed service on this board. For example The temple of elemental evil.


Keep up the good work Z and thanks [img]graemlins/awesomework.gif[/img]
</font>

<font color=orchid>I just wanted to add my thanks too, Ziroc. IW is really the most enjoyable place to hang around in the Internet (though I post only occasionally). I'm really glad that I stumbled upon it when I was first hunting for BG2 walkthroughs :D </font>

IW has got to be one of the best forums on the internet. I've been to countless forums on the internet looking for tips on RPG,RTS and some other games. Let me tell you I've hated many other gaming forums for a number of reasons.

1. There are members of many forums who can act like jerks and are evan racsist(I'm not kidding;a member even insulted this guy who clamed he was from Russia).

2. The members are impatient with newbies.

3. The Administrators and Moderators are irresponsible and let many members get away with flamming and bashing other members. Some of the Moderators are even jerks themselfs. I even got banned from a forum for asking too many questions about getting through a game!!! Can you beleive that the mod. would let another member go for insulting another person,but ban me just for asking several questions??!!

IW is one of the frendliest forums on the net. Everyone is treated fairly.
Oh and I'm surprised nobody here is called the Administrator. Isn't Ziroc the Administrator? He created,owns and looks after the forum.

[ 10-18-2003, 12:57 PM: Message edited by: Gab ]

Hmmm. To Ziroc ...

1) Personally, I like the Current Events forum to remain. People need a place to be a little more open and vocal. Feelings will be hurt, but everyone should know that and that's the risk we must accept when we post. There was one topic in particular that a moderator tried to censor by giving a warning. I wasn't involved (just reading) but after reading their warning, it made me wished that forum should be allowed to be more open and vocal. People really do need a place to exercise their free speech without the physical threats of course. To improve the forum, maybe there should be a HUGE liner, "SAY WHAT YOU WANT BUT WHAT YOU SAY HERE REMAINS HERE. PHYSICAL THREATS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED."

2) IMO, the General Discussions forum should be in its own forum. Its in the gaming forum. Well, its not a gaming forum.

3) Best forum website. Keep the brown background. Gives a homely, Earthly feel. Smilies are way cool. Keep 'em. Avatars? Well, keep some, replace others. Maybe allow posters to have more access to ceratin avatars as they progress in levels and they are allowed to select what they want. Sorta like leveling up in a RPG game.

4) So why this topic? Just wondering. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 10-18-2003, 01:32 PM: Message edited by: GForce ]

Ziroc is the chatroom link supposed to be working, because I think you were making a reference to it in the other thread (the transformer one). Is it just me not being able to access it, or did I misinteperate what you said?

<font color=silver>Z this is why I believe the forum is so greatly appreciated. We all love IW and the job you're doing to keep this place afloat and tidy is amazing. [img]graemlins/awesomework.gif[/img] I hope we'll be around for years to come!

As for shutting down CE, I say keep it. It's nice to have a separate forum for the heavy debates. Feelings are bound to get hurt with or without the CE forum since the threads would pop up here instead.

I do have a suggestion though. Try to see if you can get another banner for the Ironworks site. Put a sticky thread on top of the GD reminding people to click it. I think that's the problem you see, we forget that Ironworks gaming also exists and get stuck here on the forum. Or put a banner on the forum main site, the index that is.

And since when does "guys" include "gals"? [img]tongue.gif[/img] :D </font>

Well, Z, you already know how this Cloudmeister,StormQueen,Cloudswiffer (*glares at Memnoch*) ;) feels about you, Choc and this board... I swooped into the old blueboard, found some wonderful people, was made to feel at home and never left. Don't plan on going while you've got this fantastic place to be, either. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Ironworks is a phenomenon on the net. A place where so many people from so many places come and interact. Some you like, some you don't and some you may never really get to know very well, but all in all, you are a much richer person after you spend time here. I've made some good friends here and met some fascinating people, heard some great stories, laughed, cried and thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I've played NWN with Ironworkers at the undermountain, learned some gaming tips on several of the boards and found some very helpful people in every place I've gone at IW!

Ironworks gets under you skin...into the blood. Even people who've been away for months or even a year+ come back and check in. Those who left for one reason or another or were asked to leave by the management come back or try to sometimes!

You've got a fantastic site here and the people who help to make it that way are all behind you, Dan! I'm not Choc's #1 fan for nothing! I know alot of us will do what we can for Ironworks! If you had to put a banner on the bottom of a page, for instance, I'd click the silly things! I do agree about the dang popups, though! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

With my wedding planning and the big event coming this spring, I may not have as much time online as I'd like, but I'll be here as much as I can manage. I'd miss you all if I didn't see you for too long! :D

Will send what I can, things being tight financially. Ironworks is worth it. [img]smile.gif[/img]


Cloudy [img]graemlins/ladyhearts.gif[/img]

There is NO place on the net that is like Ironworks. Even forums about other subjects rather than gaming all fall short. There are so many crap forums and chat rooms out there (and I'm not talking about any offshoot forums from members here, just general stuff you come across on the net), those ones that give the Internet a bad name because of all the freaks and sickos and manipulative people out there. I still have trouble getting friends and family members to understand that me posting on a net forum is not some weird thing, that it is something I need to be wary about. I always wish they would just look here, at Ironworks, and see for themselves, cause if they did, they would see what I mean. This place is special, again, NOTHING on the net is like this place. This place was created with a lot of dedication and love by Ziroc, and we have fed it with our appreciation and participation for years since.

I've been a member since November of 2000, and this place was my very first forum I ever posted to. It took me about 15 minutes before I fell in love with this place, and the people in it, and that love has never gone away.

Thank you so much Dan for all your hard work keeping this place not only running, but always improving and getting better to boot! IWF!!! (IronWorks Forever [img]smile.gif[/img] )

Nobody has answered my question.

Ziroc is the owner, webmaster and admin of this place, Gab. I think that was your question, right? [img]smile.gif[/img]

He did and thinks it'll be awesome, when/if he reappears [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Z,
I had typed this whole wonderful post telling you how great IW is. I hope I can remember all I put in it:

First off, let me say what a great site you have here. You run a "tight ship" in monitoring posts and members. That's a good thing. As a result of all your extra work monitoring we have a board without a lot of the crap you find on some other places on the web. By that I mean, in other newsgroups/boards/chat rooms, I've gotten called stupid for asking a question on a software issue. I've had people harrasing me and some friends while we were talking on a chat room for abuse survivors. Apparently some people think it's funny to yell at and abuse people who are already emotionally raw. Here, we don't have that. Sure, sometimes people's feeling get hurt unintentionally, but I think overall, everyone here tries to respect each others differences and feelings.
Second, I love the internationality here. It's really neat to me to hear how people that grew up in a culture other than mine see events that are going on in the world. Many times it helps give me a better picture of what's going on in the world when I hear views other than what the news here is showing me.
Third, I don't have any kids, but I'm old enough to be a parent of some of our members, and I have to say, if I had a kid, I would have no problem whatsoever with allowing them to be a member of this forum and I would even be willing to pay a small fee to let my kid be a member. I hope you realize what a huge compliment that is!
Thanks for the service you provide. Please tell the great Choc that I bow before his greatness [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

Edit: OOOH, I just noticed my new avatar!! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] VERY COOL, Z, I love the Transformers!!!

[ 10-19-2003, 10:27 AM: Message edited by: harleyquinn ]

Gee Z... I think you have a general consensus that your site is quite possibly the greatest forum/site on the web [img]smile.gif[/img]

I don't post very much but I regularly check out the site to check out any interesting threads or comments on upcoming games etc... I remember being really upset during that server problem EONS ago and was desperately searching for info about what happened!! Ironworks is one of the only constants I know of on the web where forums and websites come and go all the time. All the new members and Z's reshuffling/overhauls & little personal touches keep the site fresh while the omniscient and beneficent (usually :D haha) mods keep things from spiralling into the toilet like many other sites I could name...

You really do have the best damn site, ever. :D

I too was a member way back in the blue board days, and also came for help with the BG series, and ended up helping others, I hope. This is also, as some one else mentioned, my second home, and no, I don't usually post a lot, but I'm here a lot, and for good reason. The people. I got an update from Stealthy's site, which is why I'm still up, and chanced upon some problems that members here had at another site, which shall remain nameless, and I can tell you that I had the same problem some time back. They don't know beans about people, no matter what they can do with IE games. Thanks for providing such a friendly and warm place for us to get together, and it sounds corny, but I love it here. I also agree about not removing the CE forum. As has been pointed out, if it's not there, it will be here, better there, I think. I'm not a frequent visitor there, but I do like to come here when I need something to laugh about, or just something else to think about than what's up with me. This place gives us all that, and I think it's cool to have *mates* from all over the world. Just like the Mod, keep up the good work, I was discussing this very kind of thing with someone I game with, and we want to know where you got your clones, as that is the only way we can see that you do this. Thank you.

Dan

I appreciate all you do to keep this place running. I would hate to see the Current Events forum go, I like to hear opposite views and I won't getting upset and running off to moan about it just because people don't agree with what I say.

im scared guys hold me.


WAIT WAIT WAIT what is chocs opinion id like to hear what he has to say.

[ 10-20-2003, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: cloud ff7 38 ]

Z is the admin, but he's just one of us, really. :D

We've been having security problems with the Chatroom (anyone can sign up as anyone, and we don't have an audit trail) so that's off the cards till we upgrade, I'm sorry to say. ;)

I'd suggest that the CE forum will probably stay for the reasons outlined above. It's a place for people to chew the fat about a range of issues, and probably suits people who like the give-and-take of debate. Just as long as they don't take the debates personally, and they don't forget their manners and courtesy while doing so. ;)