- Oct 27, 2005
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One fair comment we've had back so far is on the RSS feeds.
Should they stay or go? Who uses them any more? BHW you decide.
Should they stay or go? Who uses them any more? BHW you decide.
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RSS feeds should they stay or go? Who uses them these days?
- Thread starter Diamond Damien
- Start date
- Status
- Jun 20, 2013
- 11,507
- 8,912
There is no need of RSS feeds. No one is going to use them.
Yes few people will use it for auto posting BHW content on their forums.
Yes few people will use it for auto posting BHW content on their forums.
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boomboomer
Power Member
- Feb 7, 2008
- 562
- 885
I don't understand the problem with keeping RSS feeds. I personally still find it to be one of the best ways to aggregate, sort through and access new content in the most time efficient manner..
D
Deleted member 364366
Guest
A fair point although, as Nut-Nights has raised above I think the bigger issue is how the RSS feeds are being used in the majority of cases. Autobloggers and rival forums are copying BHW content because it's so easy to do via RSS.
boomboomer
Power Member
- Feb 7, 2008
- 562
- 885
If that's what they're doing, they'll just start scraping which might be worse for the servers...
D
Deleted member 364366
Guest
Right, although, the majority of those copying the content are low-budget or nil-budget opportunists. Of the BHW clones I've seen only one is elaborate enough to afford or even know how to scrape a forum, and it's scraping already.
- Dec 13, 2010
- 4,875
- 3,317
The con is that the forum can get easily automatically ripped.
The pros, everything else. I personally have been looking for this feature for a while. I like to have a pop up appearing on my desk everytime a new thread is published. Really a good way to keep up with fresh content.
The pros, everything else. I personally have been looking for this feature for a while. I like to have a pop up appearing on my desk everytime a new thread is published. Really a good way to keep up with fresh content.
ItsBlinkHere
Regular Member
- Apr 27, 2014
- 408
- 150
Iv'e used RSS to keep myself updated on my favorite sections. I'm not using it now because I actually havn't been around a computer much recently. If it gets removed simply because of people ripping content, people will still probably find a way to rip content.
- May 10, 2011
- 6,104
- 534
This feature is not a must. we can pass this one.
American Trends
Supreme Member
- Mar 14, 2014
- 1,372
- 304
Yes, I too agree that this feature is not really needs to be there.
shezboy
Elite Member
- Sep 17, 2008
- 3,917
- 6,167
I like the RSS feed option and what it offers genuine users of BHW but I agree that it makes the forum far too easy to rip and share around. However, as a seller here at BHW having the RSS option on marketplace feeds would be of use to BHW users while not really offering any value/use to those looking to rip content.
I already get a notification when someone posts on my BST threads but only because I am subscribed to those threads. Would it be of benefit to buyers who are interested in monitoring a BST to be able to use the RSS feed option. This way they can monitor the thread without having to subscribe to it in the regular way.
This feature would be of value to both sellers and buyers in my opinion.
Shez
I already get a notification when someone posts on my BST threads but only because I am subscribed to those threads. Would it be of benefit to buyers who are interested in monitoring a BST to be able to use the RSS feed option. This way they can monitor the thread without having to subscribe to it in the regular way.
This feature would be of value to both sellers and buyers in my opinion.
Shez
The Doctor
Senior Member
- Dec 18, 2010
- 1,110
- 474
It isn't essential; however, I would check the forum stats to see how many unique visitors hit it per month and if it's a significant amount of users then keep it. If not, get rid of it. As for scraping, if a coder wants to scrape the forum, turning off RSS isn't going to deter them. That's the least of their concerns. You might add another hour to their coding time, if even that.
The Doctor
Senior Member
- Dec 18, 2010
- 1,110
- 474
Upon further consideration, I'd actually recommend keeping it. Why?
1: Because it provides convenience for people who really want to keep track of new posts.
2: Because in the event that an external application should be developed for the forum (Such as a mobile app or desktop app that enhances capabilities) it will provide an easy way to include the feeds with minimal effort.
3: Like I mentioned before, though I don't know the stats, there must be people using RSS aggregators here. I'm actually thinking of using one though it's been a while.
4: Also as before, scrapers will scrape if they intend to scrape.
1: Because it provides convenience for people who really want to keep track of new posts.
2: Because in the event that an external application should be developed for the forum (Such as a mobile app or desktop app that enhances capabilities) it will provide an easy way to include the feeds with minimal effort.
3: Like I mentioned before, though I don't know the stats, there must be people using RSS aggregators here. I'm actually thinking of using one though it's been a while.
4: Also as before, scrapers will scrape if they intend to scrape.
- Oct 27, 2005
- 85,092
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Many thanks to all Jr. VIP beta testers - this release is now closed. Full beta going live soon acknowledging feedback that has been provided here.
- Status