Problem with Site - Not Sure Why

[ivan3]

HHandbasket wrote: I even bought a whole new computer last year, brand spanking new with twice as much RAM, processor speed, and a 500 GB HD to try to fix the problem. Anytime we read a forum thread and hit "backspace", nothing happens. If you right click on the back arrow, you will see the list of Googleads that are preventing you from being able to go back a screen

Only thing `fast' (relatively speaking) here is the 1.5 DSL (circa 2004 hardware on main machine) Still using IE8/9 and Chrome with none of this showing up. IE8 runs BYC loading of mainpage at 1.5sec. slower than Chrome, but that's it (and I always run the ads - there are errors on ad pages fed through, occasionally, as well).

Using IE8/9 try setting temp. files to check for new page each and every time/disable all add-ons and then check (if it works add the add-ons back one at a time).
Using Chrome go to settings: try killing: "Predict network actions to improve page load performance" also setting: web history: (think it is `pause').

If you haven't tried Firefox, yet, give it a go.

It's not just BYC and it doesn't affect all users - web/adserving `advances' make everyone a `beta tester' of sorts (used to get paid for that - but didn't get the programs for `free' cough/cough).

 

[HHandbasket]

Yup, this site is horribly slow on IE 8 and below. We definitely weighed that as a HUGE part of the decision to move to this new system, and fortunately people are realizing that IE 8 just isn't a good browser for the current interweb. We knew it wouldn't be perfect for everyone, but we had faith that the overall pros outweighed the cons, and based on our statistics and info, most of the members feel the same way and would be pretty upset if we went back to the old system.

Regarding IE: Developers tend to hate IE and it's unfortunate that so many people are still using it, and/or have to use it. I really like this article: http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/01/bootstrapped-startup-saves-over-100k-by-dropping-ie/

Regarding ads: Running a site like this is very very expensive, and unfortunately only those peeps that have experience in running a site with over a million visitors a month can fully comprehend how exponentially more complicated and expensive it is to run a site like this. It isn't just a matter of buying a bunch of $10 hosting accounts on GoDaddy, BlueHost, HostGater, etc. The advertisements on the site are required to ensure the site can be sustainable and handle the activity and the growth. When I took over the site in 2007 after it had been down (404 error) for months, I promised that I'd make sure the site was self-sustaining... and advertising is the only way to provide a free service to millions of people all over the world.

I'd still bet your issues are a result of your browser and/or other plugins on your system. If changing browsers isn't an option, then I'd suggest either purchasing or winning a Golden Feather Membership (12 months for the price of one movie ticket and popcorn) and you can remove the ads completely.

Believe me, I stress about site problems more than any other member ever has or ever will. I have had countless hour meetings, emails, phone calls, etc. with our developers about a myriad of issues and will continue to do so as long as I'm responsible for the well-being of this amazing community!

Had a GFM for over 2 years and was an active GFM member a year ago when I bought the new computer. I know you do not realize it, but there were about 25 of us regular users who didn't renew after the upgrade because it wasn't user-friendly. I shouldn't have to be a computer expert and change all my settings just to get on one website. It's not worth it, especially since I was a paying member. But I do still enjoy the site from time to time, but am still not going to pretend it's user-friendly when it's not. I'm not the only one that feels that way, either... just the only one bold enough to mention it to you.

Again, don't mean to insult. Just know some old users now IRL and on FB who have not renewed for similar reasons. Because this is a good site, it would be a greater injustice to not let others know about these issues when they are having trouble with this site. It's still an informative and interesting site--you just have to find "work arounds" to not have issues with it.

 

[Gargoyle]

nana chicken is right on with that. There are some really serious flaws with Java, it's essential to either disable it or use it very selectively, and then make sure you have the absolute latest update. (seriously- the Department of Homeland Security actually released a warning about Java, and Oracle, who is behind Java, is scrambling to rewrite it and close the holes).

There is an add-on for Firefox called NoScript, it lets you see what scripts are running on each site you visit, and help you block the malware. Its easy to use, in the Firefox menu go to tools/add ons/get add ons.

 

[oldrooster]

You can look for an ad blocker and script blocker for IE, (go to tools/manage add ons), that will block a lot of the google ads and other stuff from loading.
When I right click on the back button (IE 8) I just get a menu with move/size/minimize/maximize/close. It's odd that the right click on the back button gives a list of googleads... sounds like some odd add on is doing something to your IE. You can also check that through the tools/manage add ons, see what extras are installed.

I do find this site is slow with IE8, but moves quickly with the other browsers.

I've run into one or two corporate sites that are only programmed to work with IE (IE uses a lot of non-standard HTML). I simply use IE for those sites, and Firefox for everything else. Simply having Firefox installed should not cause any problems to the other sites, as long as you don't set it as your default browser; so you could use it for BYC,a and use IE for the other sites.

I only use firefox on my windows 7 computer, been using it for years though, if it wasn't IE is the only way you could get updates for windows and several other programs I would not even waste the space on my hard drive, which 99.8% of the time it is, a waste of computer space on my hard drive......

 

[Gargoyle]

Interesting. I also almost never run full screen (screen resolution is 1600 x 1200), but I have ad blockers (sorry, Nifty.

) so I wouldn't have encountered this problem.