CPF Sold - Under New Management

[TheIntruder]

@jon_slider

I have noticed a change in the way CPF handles images

they now take images I upload, and automatically replace them with a thumbnail (small image).

the full size image is only available IF logged in to CPF

iow, CPF is appropriating images and hosting them on their own site

this fits with the objective of CPF to limit info sharing to people who are members…

CPF wont show full size images anymore, unless the viewer is a logged in member

my reaction is to stop posting,
since my pics are not being shown in the size I posted, and my pictures are being appropriated and loaded onto CPF servers, automatically… (no longer optional)

That’s not unique to CPF.

A lot of forums only display the full-sized or original images that they host to members who are logged in. TLF, for instance.

CPF can be critiqued for many things, but that is not one of them.

[Forsythe_P_Jones]

I haven’t been on CPF in years, but I was active there for a long time and never had serious trouble with the mods. I dropped away after getting less interested in lights for personal and financial reasons, and feeling like the pace of interesting developments had slowed down. It’s interesting that the modder scene seems to have mostly moved from there to here. Anyway I have no idea how much money Greta got for the sale, but I hope it was a lot, and I wish her the best.

[BOO5TED]

@anonymous_user

@jon_slider

I have noticed a change in the way CPF handles images

they now take images I upload, and automatically replace them with a thumbnail (small image).

the full size image is only available IF logged in to CPF

iow, CPF is appropriating images and hosting them on their own site

this fits with the objective of CPF to limit info sharing to people who are members…

CPF wont show full size images anymore, unless the viewer is a logged in member

my reaction is to stop posting,
since my pics are not being shown in the size I posted, and my pictures are being appropriated and loaded onto CPF servers, automatically… (no longer optional)

Couldn’t you just link to say a gallery on Imgur? No thumbnails, but non-members could just open the link and view the images. Or would that not be allowed?

Using [ img ] [ / img ] tags works just fine and they are posted full size. I see no issue with making the pics uploaded to their server just a thumbnail. If members click on them it will opens to full size. If you want to see them full size and not a member, sign up. It’s free.

[jon_slider]

@BOO5TED

If you want to see them full size and not a member, sign up.

that is my point

that is a change.

the new owner is appropriating images onto the CPF server, so he can deny access to non signed in members. The original image link address I post is being moved to a proprietary CPF database.

In the past, all the images I posted were available to be seen by people who are not signed in…

[Bort]

@jon_slider

@BOO5TED

If you want to see them full size and not a member, sign up.

that is my point

that is a change.

the new owner is appropriating images onto the CPF server, so he can deny access to non signed in members. The original image link address I post is being moved to a proprietary CPF database.

In the past, all the images I posted were available to be seen by people who are not signed in…

This is nutty on their part (and expensive)
To me its not a membership ender but to each their own.

[BOO5TED]

@jon_slider

@BOO5TED

If you want to see them full size and not a member, sign up.

that is my point

that is a change.

the new owner is appropriating images onto the CPF server, so he can deny access to non signed in members. The original image link address I post is being moved to a proprietary CPF database.

In the past, all the images I posted were available to be seen by people who are not signed in…

It’s definitely a change but if you use the image tags does it still show full size? I have my own image hosting so I never upload to any forum site.

[jon_slider]

@BOO5TED

if you use the image tags does it still show full size?

no
that is my point
I do not upload my images to the CPF server
I only link to images on my imgur photohosting site

CPF now changes the photo link to their own private host. They are literally downloading the image from imgur, placing it on their own host, and deleting the link to the original imgur source.

in the past this was optional, we could choose to upload to the CPF server, or not. It is no longer optional, instead it happens automatically now.

[Lightbringer]

What if you have a copyright notice on your pic?

[BOO5TED]

@jon_slider

@BOO5TED

if you use the image tags does it still show full size?

no
that is my point
I do not upload my images to the CPF server
I only link to images on my imgur photohosting site

CPF now changes the photo link to their own private host. They are literally downloading the image from imgur, placing it on their own host, and deleting the link to the original imgur source.

in the past this was optional, we could choose to upload to the CPF server, or not. It is no longer optional, instead it happens automatically now.

Oh damn, gotcha. I’ve never visited while not logged in.

[jon_slider]

@Jack Kellar

And what the hell is with that new “airing out HDS’s dirty laundry” thread of pure dogpiling? No forum with sane moderation that I’ve ever been a part of would allow this, it would be shut down on sight.

I sent the new CPF owner, name Jelly, a PM with a link to that thread. I let him know I felt Hogo was abusing his moderator status.

Jelly did not reply, but he gave a thumb up acknowledgement to my PM. And the thread has been deleted.

So, Im impressed with the new owner, in this regard.

[lionheart_2281]

@Lightbringer

What if you have a copyright notice on your pic? :smiling_imp:

Then your pic will be CPF moderated (deleted and you’ll likely get a warning or banned )

[Jack_Kellar]

@jon_slider

@Jack Kellar

And what the hell is with that new “airing out HDS’s dirty laundry” thread of pure dogpiling? No forum with sane moderation that I’ve ever been a part of would allow this, it would be shut down on sight.

I sent the new CPF owner, name Jelly, a PM with a link to that thread. I let him know I felt Hogo was abusing his moderator status.

Jelly did not reply, but he gave a thumb up acknowledgement to my PM. And the thread has been deleted.

So, Im impressed with the new owner, in this regard.

That is very considerate of you, Jon.

[jon_slider]

thanks

another change:

Today I posted in a sales thread. The Edit and Delete buttons have disappeared, I cannot modify a post in a sales thread.

this is part of the rationale for that:

@Jelly

The archive will be created to track deals, price history and keep some honest deals going.

I posted in an LED forum discussion thread. The Edit and Delete buttons are still available.

[anonymous_user]

@BOO5TED

If members click on them it will opens to full size. If you want to see them full size and not a member, sign up. It’s free.

Personally I strongly dislike when forums require registration for images or worst yet, links. If its a forum where I plan on participating somewhat regularly then it’s a lesser issue but otherwise it means I have to create yet another account and also remember to login just to see the images. Ugh.

@jon_slider

no
that is my point
I do not upload my images to the CPF server
I only link to images on my imgur photohosting site

CPF now changes the photo link to their own private host. They are literally downloading the image from imgur, placing it on their own host, and deleting the link to the original imgur source.

in the past this was optional, we could choose to upload to the CPF server, or not. It is no longer optional, instead it happens automatically now.

Geez. I cannot believe they go that far. If anything it seems like allowing external images would be desirable since it would mean less storage used and load for your server.

[jon_slider]

@anonymous_user

it seems like allowing external images would be desirable since it would mean less storage used and load for your server.

also true

otoh
if they want to create a sales database that can be monetized,
then the steps they are taking to own the images, and prevent user content deletion,

makes total $ense.

[anonymous_user]

BTW does it happen with other image hosts too? Also what if you attempt to obfuscate the link or make it non-clickable?

[jon_slider]

there are pros and cons to obfuscation
I can link to an album on my photo host… but that only puts a link, not an image, inline… people dont prioritize clicking links

otoh
if a site, like CPF, or also Reddit, wants to upload the image I post to their own server, I could see that as helpful to me also… it means my image just got cloned, and stored in a separate server than my image host

so, if my image host stops working, there is another copy elsewhere

not that I think I need to own images I post… actually, by posting them, Im making them free for the taking… Im under no illusions that my photos are so special that I need to monetize them…

[jon_slider]

so, I usually browse CPF with an adblocker
I turned it off, and yikes! mucho Ads

One is from Newsmax, with a poll about Biden
Im surprised to see CPF becoming so overtly political…

I turned my adblocker back on

[BOO5TED]

Don’t think I’ve ever turned off any of the adblockers I have used over the last 12 years or so.

At least one is always on.

[Jack_Kellar]

Opera’s native adblocker is a real lifesaver. Or at least bandwidth-saver.