Blogs - You don't need a hack to host blogs

[M.Smith]

Originally Posted by Boofo

Thanks for explaing that.

Then, basically, if you take Amykhar's Userpage hack and re-work it a little, that could be made into a member blog then, right?

I've never used that hack but just by looking at the screenshots and demo I'm guessing it would need to be coded in as a feature and not just a template mod.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by M.Smith

I've never used that hack but just by looking at the screenshots and demo I'm guessing it would need to be coded in as a feature and not just a template mod.

But it probably wouldn't take a lot to do it, I would think.

[sabret00the]

vBulletin and/or Amy's hack are and never will be IMO blogging scripts, while Amy's would be a perfect profile replacement script, blogging scripts carry so much extra weight, it's why we're as of yet to see one that's truly integrated to vBulletin, the closest we've come is AN-net's, oh well the 3.5 generation of hacks may bare from nice fruit in that department but we'll see.

[Brinnie]

Originally Posted by MarcoH64

Then i hope for you that the Supreme Court don't come with a decission on you soon.

Originally Posted by Boofo

Can someone explain to me what a Blog actually is? I've never messed with any of it and I hear about it all the time. What is the difference between a Blog and something like Amykhar's Userpage Mod?

"Blog" is short for "Weblog" and it is a Journal.


#1
The prime difference between a blog and a forum post is control.
The owner of a weblog can administrate many aspects from the design, layout, font color, link color, background color, & logos all the way to specifying who he wants to be able to post in his weblog as well as the ability to edit his entrys and delete any post or journal entry he wishes.

For the record, I would like to present the grand jury with EXHIBIT A1

#2
In a forum, anybody (let us say registered) can start their own thread and anybody (let us say registered) can respond. In a blog, the owner(s) are the only ones who can start a discussion.
Also, blogs are chronological. When someone responds to a blog, the topic does not move to the top of the heap, whereas on a forum it does.

Let the jurors note EXHIBIT A2 for the record.
EXHIBIT A2 is a trusted unnoficial blogging FAQ from Oregon State University. Note line 642 states that:

What's the difference between a blog and a forum?

most blogs maintain a distinction between the blogger and the readers, while in a forum, anyone who is a member may post. Forums are also designed to maintain many different discussions at once, while blogs are more linear, in that they are date-based. The distinction blurs a bit when a blog allows readers to comment, or when a forum only allows a few people to post but many people to read.

That is only the second most important characteristic of a blog and it is the primary focus of this discussion. This man, wants to create that effect and call it a blog... As a MySpace freak and a LJ fanatic (with over hmmm, let's say 30 accounts?) it's in my nature to object... Sure, I did it in a disruptive manner, but what's new? It's not a blog. It's a hack of a forum- and I object, your honor.

Originally Posted by M.Smith

The main difference is that the whole of the post is shown on the main page and to view the comments you go to another page.

That is A single feature but note: forums can do that as well in Linear Mode. It's a very common blog feature but hardly the "main difference".


The evidence before the court is... Incontravertable, there's no need for the jury to retire.

[FASherman]

Originally Posted by Boofo

Thanks for explaing that.

Then, basically, if you take Amykhar's Userpage hack and re-work it a little, that could be made into a member blog then, right?

Not really.

There is function and presentation. Many of the previous comments have focused on presentation, but the reality with respect to presentation is that one can develop a custom style, complete with a style templates to emulate the look of their personal favorite blogging site and apply it to the blog forum and subforums. VB already has the capability to address the presentation layer if one chooses to do the work.

In function, a user blog is nothing more than a forum where the author (or authors) are the only ones able to create threads. If they choose, users may post in reply. Or they can choose to close the thread and make it purely informational with no responses. Usually, blogs also incorporate RSS feeds of the blogs in some format.

Originally Posted by Brinnie

"Blog" is short for "Weblog" and it is a Journal.


#1
The prime difference between a blog and a forum post is control.
The owner of a weblog can administrate many aspects from the design, layout, font color, link color, background color, & logos all the way to specifying who he wants to be able to post in his weblog as well as the ability to edit his entrys and delete any post or journal entry he wishes.

For the record, I would like to present the grand jury with EXHIBIT A1

#2
In a forum, anybody (let us say registered) can start their own thread and anybody (let us say registered) can respond. In a blog, the owner(s) are the only ones who can start a discussion.
Also, blogs are chronological. When someone responds to a blog, the topic does not move to the top of the heap, whereas on a forum it does.

Let the jurors note EXHIBIT A2 for the record.
EXHIBIT A2 is a trusted unnoficial blogging FAQ from Oregon State University. Note line 642 states that:
That is only the second most important characteristic of a blog and it is the primary focus of this discussion. This man, wants to create that effect and call it a blog... As a MySpace freak and a LJ fanatic (with over hmmm, let's say 30 accounts?) it's in my nature to object... Sure, I did it in a disruptive manner, but what's new? It's not a blog. It's a hack of a forum- and I object, your honor.That is A single feature but note: forums can do that as well in Linear Mode. It's a very common blog feature but hardly the "main difference".


The evidence before the court is... Incontravertable, there's no need for the jury to retire.

Its a good thing you aren't a lawyer. You wouldn't make a very good one. You source impeaches your argument:

The exact definition of "blog" is open for debate.

You repesent it as though there is a generally accepted definition.

Most people agree that the key feature of a blog is that it has dated entries, like a diary or journal.

This meets the key feature.

The main difference between a blog and a forum is that most blogs maintain a distinction between the blogger and the readers, while in a forum, anyone who is a member may post.

My suggestion would also meet this criteria. The rest is your opinion which, as usual, you present in a confrontational manner.

The question left unanswered is this: Can you provide a better option for VB3.5 that integrates the user database?

Short of a better alternative, you're just whining. Very unbecoming - even for a girl.

[Boofo]

I thought Brinnie's post was entertaining myself. Good job!

@ FASherman - So a blog is more of a personal type forum then?

[FASherman]

Originally Posted by Boofo

I thought Brinnie's post was entertaining myself. Good job!

@ FASherman - So a blog is more of a personal type forum then?

Functionally, yes, with the proper permissions set.

[Brinnie]

Originally Posted by FASherman

You source impeaches your argument:

Yes, me source impeach mine arguments, lolz.

Originally Posted by FASherman

The question left unanswered is this: Can you provide a better option for VB3.5 that integrates the user database?

Yea... A link in your profile is better than this... whatever you call it.

[sabret00the]

lol @ this thread, very entertaining.

[phenom]

So I've set up a sort of generic "blog" area at my forums - one where only the original thread starter (and me, of course, as admin) can post in, just by modifying permissions. You start a thread, and it's yours and yours only. Sure, it doesn't have customization that some people's definition of a blog has, but for the people on my site, they don't really care to have all that. They just want a place to spill their guts, so to speak.

http://www.takemybagel.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=34