No longer pursuing Epochtalk

[dzungmobile]

I am not making any excuses, but if Theymos was thinking like you he would spend most donation coins a long time ago.
Those donations were never intended to be shared with forum members, and maintaining website all this years still cost money.
That being said, it would be cool if community receives small share of that.

theymos can do like satoshi, abandon the forum and disappear. There is Cyrus to take care of the forum and three global moderators who possibly are ready to be new admins to support Cyrus with more power and engagement in forum adminstration.

Maintaining website and other things not only cost money but also needs a lot of time. theymos actually has big love for Bitcoin, Bitcoin forum and forum community to manage this forum in many years. Bitcoin forum has done hardest part to bring and expose Bitcoin to the world as mass contribution to Bitcoin adoption when Bitcoin project was like a newborn, baby and more vulnerable.

In future maybe we will have theymos' lesson after Satoshi's lesson.

[PrimeNumber7]

Spending an outrageous sum of donated funds on an unknown company when everyone said it was a bad idea and would not work.  I don't see it as a violation of being the Admin here, but it's... a bit tacky, I guess.  I suppose an analogy would be like spending taxpayer money on DEI initiatives that nobody wanted, asked for, or thought would result in a positive outcome. 

 - Not asking the community (or Donators) how we wanted our funds spent was unprofessional.
 - Spending money on an unknown company always has some amount of risk.
 - Now we have to spend time on this drama.

The insane amount of BTC that was wasted is unimportant, and I'd feel exactly the same if the wasted amount was 100x more or 100x less.  If I'd been holding the BTC, no BTC would've been wasted at all, and in fact it would have grown from airdrops as I respect the responsibility that comes with fiduciary duty.

At the time proposals to create the new forum software were solicited, there were issues with the software the forum was running on. Since, theymos (likely with the help of others) has improved the software such that these issues are no longer applicable. 

For the reasons stated above, I don't think it is reasonable to say that new forum software was not needed in 2011, when the project started. Perhaps in the years after the project started, the new software was no longer needed, however, the overwhelming majority of the funds spent on the new forum software came from capital gains, not donations. So by the time the software was no longer needed, it was theymos spending his own money.

[DiMarxist]

One year project was turned to 5 years. What a mess. The developers are not hirable. If it was planned to be completed in one year time, then two years were good for them to complete the project and the third years was to test the workability of the project like as you test the demo. And if anything to add and remove (modification) and the fourth year would have been the real launched year for the project and by it is running normal like the main asktom.cf.
Well you have worked a lot in this forum software and everything is working smoothly, even you add anything/bug on April fool day, the forum soft didn't affect the smooth running of others users therefore. Since the planned Epochtalk project didn't get to the finishing point and was abandoned at the end. Bitcointalk is very good to go on. Thanks for your effort and others.

[coupable]

One year project was turned to 5 years. What a mess. The developers are not hirable. If it was planned to be completed in one year time, then two years were good for them to complete the project and the third years was to test the workability of the project like as you test the demo. And if anything to add and remove (modification) and the fourth year would have been the real launched year for the project and by it is running normal like the main asktom.cf.
Well you have worked a lot in this forum software and everything is working smoothly, even you add anything/bug on April fool day, the forum soft didn't affect the smooth running of others users therefore. Since the planned Epochtalk project didn't get to the finishing point and was abandoned at the end. Bitcointalk is very good to go on. Thanks for your effort and others.

I don't think there is anyone still interested in launching a new version of the forum, especially since the development journey started a long time ago and has never ended despite the community's continuous support. Perhaps it would have taken us all these years to convince ourselves that there is no point in changing the forum's operating system, especially if the current version is secure and scalable. Frankly speaking, I never liked the epochtalk version, and if there was an option to move or keep the classic version, I would definitely choose to stay on SMF, and I think many agree with me.

[NotATether]

One year project was turned to 5 years. What a mess. The developers are not hirable. If it was planned to be completed in one year time, then two years were good for them to complete the project and the third years was to test the workability of the project like as you test the demo. And if anything to add and remove (modification) and the fourth year would have been the real launched year for the project and by it is running normal like the main asktom.cf.
Well you have worked a lot in this forum software and everything is working smoothly, even you add anything/bug on April fool day, the forum soft didn't affect the smooth running of others users therefore. Since the planned Epochtalk project didn't get to the finishing point and was abandoned at the end. Bitcointalk is very good to go on. Thanks for your effort and others.

Software may be quite hard to build but when you're receiving a slush fund in bitcoin to do it, then you should at least prepare a minimum viable product instead of continuously adding features. I think that is what bogged down the project over time.

I don't think there is anyone still interested in launching a new version of the forum, especially since the development journey started a long time ago and has never ended despite the community's continuous support. Perhaps it would have taken us all these years to convince ourselves that there is no point in changing the forum's operating system, especially if the current version is secure and scalable. Frankly speaking, I never liked the epochtalk version, and if there was an option to move or keep the classic version, I would definitely choose to stay on SMF, and I think many agree with me.

It can be used as a template for other Bitcoin forums to use, as this is a heavily-customized and proprietary version of SMF.

[Vod]

One year project was turned to 5 years. What a mess. The developers are not hirable.

I think they heard you.   Their website is down.
https://slickage.com/

[coupable]

I don't think there is anyone still interested in launching a new version of the forum, especially since the development journey started a long time ago and has never ended despite the community's continuous support. Perhaps it would have taken us all these years to convince ourselves that there is no point in changing the forum's operating system, especially if the current version is secure and scalable. Frankly speaking, I never liked the epochtalk version, and if there was an option to move or keep the classic version, I would definitely choose to stay on SMF, and I think many agree with me.

It can be used as a template for other Bitcoin forums to use, as this is a heavily-customized and proprietary version of SMF.

But the goal of developing epochtalk from the beginning, spending huge amounts of money, and all the headache, was to develop a better version of the forum here, not to facilitate the plan for those who will launch Bitcoin forum projects in the future.
The current customized version of SMF is the result of accumulated experiences over years and is only suitable for this forum in a way that gives it a unique identity that cannot be copied. I still believe that all the problems on SMF do not require opening the door to the possibility of more difficulties with new versions.

[chrysophylax]

One year project was turned to 5 years. What a mess. The developers are not hirable. If it was planned to be completed in one year time, then two years were good for them to complete the project and the third years was to test the workability of the project like as you test the demo. And if anything to add and remove (modification) and the fourth year would have been the real launched year for the project and by it is running normal like the main asktom.cf.
Well you have worked a lot in this forum software and everything is working smoothly, even you add anything/bug on April fool day, the forum soft didn't affect the smooth running of others users therefore. Since the planned Epochtalk project didn't get to the finishing point and was abandoned at the end. Bitcointalk is very good to go on. Thanks for your effort and others.

Software may be quite hard to build but when you're receiving a slush fund in bitcoin to do it, then you should at least prepare a minimum viable product instead of continuously adding features. I think that is what bogged down the project over time.

I don't think there is anyone still interested in launching a new version of the forum, especially since the development journey started a long time ago and has never ended despite the community's continuous support. Perhaps it would have taken us all these years to convince ourselves that there is no point in changing the forum's operating system, especially if the current version is secure and scalable. Frankly speaking, I never liked the epochtalk version, and if there was an option to move or keep the classic version, I would definitely choose to stay on SMF, and I think many agree with me.

It can be used as a template for other Bitcoin forums to use, as this is a heavily-customized and proprietary version of SMF.

Agreed Mate ...

#crysx #cwi

[Synchronice]

Do you plan to compete other social platforms and make this forum more popular like it was during its glory days?

I don't think that that will ever happen, realistically. This whole style of forum is just not as popular anymore. To have even a chance of making it as popular as it was in its glory days, the whole structure of the forum would have to change, and I think that it's more important to retain the fundamental soul of the forum. So I envision the forum perpetually existing as a place for a certain niche crowd who still appreciates this kind of forum. This doesn't mean stagnation: the forum can still grow and improve while remaining niche.

I'm so sorry for the late reply but I just read it now. Yes, this style of forum is not popular anymore but I see nothing wrong with changing the whole structure of the forum. Have you thought about that? Bitcointalk can remain fundamentals even after the changing of the whole struture. Remember, Bitcoin is the result of innovative thinking, not the result of keeping things in old way.
I completely understand your point and if you plan to leave things as they are, then the best thing will be to make design responsive and more up to date with modern design trends.

To be honest, it would be nice to hear what's your opinion about the new structure of the forum. Imagine that you are going to change the structure of Bitcointalk to make it more competitive against other platforms, what would you do? What's in your mind? Maybe the community agrees and follows your ideas, I'm just saying 

[OgNasty]

Where does this Bitcoin loss fall in the historical list of lost BTC due to scams and incompetence here?  It has to be up there right?  How many thousands of BTC were sent to an unknown company to develop software that never happened?  Are names ever going to get named or lawsuits filed?  Are people just going to sweep this under the rug and go back to hunting and red tagging diabolical scammers trying to scam 0.00001 BTC here?  If anyone else on this forum was this reckless with forum funds (money I donated) they would lose their position.  Why such a double standard when it comes to theymos?

[Vod]

Where does this Bitcoin loss fall in the historical list of lost BTC due to scams and incompetence here?

I'd say it is up there with your passthrough ponzi.   Hey - I now have the spreadsheet of your deposits/withdrawals with pirate - do you still want to claim you lost everything along with everyone else?

Why such a double standard when it comes to theymos?

He runs the forum, bozo.    

Edit:  I'm sorry, but did you not notice how I left valid feedback on Theymos and no one else backed me up?   I would think even the newbies on the forum would realize Theymos is in charge. 

[OgNasty]

Where does this Bitcoin loss fall in the historical list of lost BTC due to scams and incompetence here?

Is this not a question worth answering? 

[Vod]

Is this not a question worth answering?  

It is.   We need to know how much Theymos lost and compare it to how much you stole before can rank it for you.  

About two weeks before pirate was busted, you withdrew 1,000 btc.   Why did you only return 1% to your investors?

8/2/2012 10:49:00 Withdrawal -1000
7/17/2012 19:03:00 Withdrawal -600
7/17/2012 18:41:00 Withdrawal -250

(Agreed statement of facts between SEC and Pirate)

[NomadTheSavior]

The new forum software has been a meme for me over the decade or so since it was announced. At first I was excited for it but over the years it just became a meme imo with how long it was taking so good to have some closure now I guess. I think the intention behind it was good though but sometimes things just don't work out.

A better idea instead of having a set team to work on it might be to have it more fluid. Like Theymos himself said he and some other members of the community made updates to the current forum software themself and not the team that was hired for epochtalk. I think we can take a decentralized approach to the new forum software instead of relying on a specific time. Of course you can say Epochtalk was already opensourced but the reality was there was a big expectation that the epochtalk team would develop epochtalk, especially because they were paid to do so. There was no expectation for epochtalk to be developed in a decentralized manner by community members. So I say we revamp this idea of the new forum software. Instead of depending on a team let's make this a decentralized effort from the outset and develop the new forum software for bitcointalk in a decentralized manner. I think this would have much more potential of actually materializing into something useful.

A point against a new forum software though is that like others have said in the thread we have lots of nostalgia for bitcointalk at this point and many don't want to see it look to different. When the new forum software was announced a decade ago of course people liked the current look of btctalk but we didn't have the level of nostalgia for it as we do now so changing things wouldn't have affected us as much back then. However with how the crypto space has changed since back then imo it makes it even more important to have bitcointalk as a beacon of the old days and most of the OG feel should be kept the same. However I think we can still create a new forum software that still carries over the OG feel of bitcointalk. We just need to design it properly.

Forums in general have been in a decline all over the internet, most platforms now are thread based which isn't that great. I really prefer forums to thread based platforms. The forums of the good old days have a much better feel. So with this New Forum Software we could use it as an initiative not just for bitcointalk but to help forums become more of a thing across the internet again. I think that's something a lot of people could get behind.

Over the years a lot of Bitcoin/crypto discussion has left this forum. Another goal of this new forum software initiative could be to have activity and discussion return to bitcointalk.

[NomadTheSavior]

Another thought I had since today is Bitcoin Pizza Day. Many people talk about how someone spent 10k btc on a pizza and it has turned into a huge meme. Most people don't know about the new forum software but if they did I think they would meme about how forum users spent 11k btc on new forum software that never really went anywhere and it would become a huge meme. It's more expensive than the bitcoin pizza as well lol. That 11k btc is now worth over $1.2 billion since bitcoin just passed $110k, that's some expensive forum software   It's really one of the most expensive softwares of all time and as btc price increases it can maybe become THE most expensive software of all time. It might already be the most expensive software that never got completed. (right next to star citizen  )

[LoyceV]

Another thought I had since today is Bitcoin Pizza Day. Many people talk about how someone spent 10k btc on a pizza and it has turned into a huge meme. Most people don't know about the new forum software but if they did I think they would meme about how forum users spent 11k btc on new forum software that never really went anywhere and it would become a huge meme. It's more expensive than the bitcoin pizza as well lol. That 11k btc is now worth over $1.2 billion since bitcoin just passed $110k, that's some expensive forum software   It's really one of the most expensive softwares of all time and as btc price increases it can maybe become THE most expensive software of all time. It might already be the most expensive software that never got completed. (right next to star citizen  )

Forum software for the price of 2 pizzas is a bargain! In other words: you can't use future Bitcoin prices to calculate the cost in the past.

[JollyGood]

You have a newbie account with just 23 posts yet here you are posting in threads you really should not be understanding nor posting in (unless of course your NomadTheSavior account is new but you yourself have several accounts and have been a forum regular for a long time).

As for the failure to provide a new forum, I think the gravity of the failure to produce an updated forum and the financial costs involved will probably be discussed for years.

Another thought I had since today is Bitcoin Pizza Day. Many people talk about how someone spent 10k btc on a pizza and it has turned into a huge meme. Most people don't know about the new forum software but if they did I think they would meme about how forum users spent 11k btc on new forum software that never really went anywhere and it would become a huge meme. It's more expensive than the bitcoin pizza as well lol. That 11k btc is now worth over $1.2 billion since bitcoin just passed $110k, that's some expensive forum software   It's really one of the most expensive softwares of all time and as btc price increases it can maybe become THE most expensive software of all time. It might already be the most expensive software that never got completed. (right next to star citizen  )

[Vod]

As for the failure to provide a new forum, I think the gravity of the failure to produce an updated forum and the financial costs involved will probably be discussed for years.

Hopefully it will end with "After an investigation, Theymos was cleared of any wrong doing".  His ignoring the situation is not helping, and could lead to a criminal investigation.