Music Player!

[dalmor01]

decide whether or not Miss Iris should add a music player to the board.

[donald2]

I voted yes, for it adds a certain mood to the forum

[/~Amaterasu~\]

I vote no.

It's a fantastic addition for those with fast connections. However, if someone doesn't have a fast connection, they won't be able to load the main page at all, meaning they can't join. Is that really a good idea? Deterring members with a slow connection simply because they can't load a music player?

Besides, is it that hard to just bring up some sort of music of your own while on the forum?

[donald2]

Yes you can. However, you cannot deny it is a different feeling when it is on the forum.

[dalmor01]

we are letting the members decide what they want on the forum that they roleplay on. If the members of the site do not wish for a music player, then there will not be one. if they wish for it, then they shall get it.

[Iris|Kairi]

I added one for the simple fact of adding some forum interest. Music tends to add a certain mood and inspiration, so I added some KH themed music to play when you go to the homepage. I didn't realize it'd be such a big to-do, since I've seen so many other forums have them with no problems. For now I've moved it from the bottom of the page to the sidebar and I've taken off the auto-play, though my original intent was to have it play upon coming to the site to add that magical flare.

While I know moving it to a page of it's own for people to go to may be a "solution", it defeats it's own purpose. Why go to a page if indeed you can just listen to your own music? Granted, your music probably isn't specifically picked for mood on FM, but it's the same idea if moved.

I wouldn't think it wouldn't make some people leave. I thought the thing just wouldn't load if it wouldn't work, or may be able to be blocked by users who don't want it. Both users who have slow connections that I know of seemed to be able to load the forum and type in the cbox with it on.

I was just trying to do something nice. XD

[♥ kats KAT kats ♥]

I actually like the idea, of having a music player. And I didn't want to seem like I was complaining x_x. It's hard to find on the bottom of the page, though. I was listening to my own music and came to FM and thought I was going crazy because I heard two musics playing. Dx Seriously, Kats thought she was going crazy.

And, Iris I think it is a nice idea to have a music player. ^_^

Just earlier I kept refreshing the page, to refresh the c-box, and it was hard to scroll all the way to the bottom and push pause ><

And....I was just offering ideas, to make it better......

[donald2]

Ahm... The player has now been moved to the top of the page.

[♥ kats KAT kats ♥]

I know.....

[Shane {Naminé}]

I vote no.

Personally, I've never been a fan of music players being on the forum, unless it's somewhere hidden so in case members don't want to listen or see it. Now my reasons for not liking it goes as follows:

First of all if you're on a specific page and you're engrossed in a song, yet you don't think about it, you go out of that page and perhaps to a new page the music just automatically stops. You have to replay the song if you really want to listen to it that much. And for people who are forgetful, it comes the trouble of interrupting the song and having to start it over if they really, really want to listen to it that much. I mean, you'd be so much better off listening to your own music then that because at least with your own music you can refresh the page here and not have to worry about the music suddenly stopping and you having to replay it again.

Now the second reason I just don't like it is because it has nothing to do with the forum in general. I mean yes the music is Kingdom Hearts related. It's not like it's just random music from random artist that have nothing to do with Kingdom Hearts, but what I mean is to say that the forum is not a place for members to listen to music. If they wanted to do that they could easily go to YouTube or any other music site and listen to the music while roleplaying if they felt the need to. But overall the site is not based around music, and it's not based on what you listen to or the things that go into making music. It's based on roleplaying and general Kingdom Hearts discussion. Throwing in a music player just doesn't make sense...

Now onto the fact that it takes up space and slows peoples computers down. I mean first of all it's at the top of the page, in the sidebar. Now it normally wouldn't look to bad but it's just a waste of space. Not only does it consume space that could be used for things that involve the site, but it also slows down computers. Yes, people may not really think about it but it does affect computers, especially the older ones or even people with a slow internet connection. Now I don't know about anyone else, but I for one don't think they should have to suffer because the rest of the people wish to have music. As stated above, they can easily find music on various sites that would not affect loading times of most members.

[Iris|Kairi]

While it's true that it has nothing to do with a FORUM, per se, there was music all through KH as you play it. I didn't see it as such a huge stretch to apply some of that magic to FM.

As for getting into a song and forgettingly clicking away..you could always just leave open a home page to play on and navigate everything else from the tabs, since the player isn't on auto play.

As for taking up space...not really. Nothing goes in that spot but the new years image. And I didn't think seeing it was such a big deal. It's pretty small for a music player.

Honestly I didn't think it'd be a big deal. I was just trying it out, and most of the people online immediately loved it. Had no one been online when I did it, and if I'd been greeted by the fact it slows people down or whatever, I would've removed it. But it's equally unfair to deprive everyone who likes it of it because a few don't.

So that's why we have a poll. ^^

[kempff]

Yes.

If you don't want it/like it don't use it. You're not forced to use it.

If you have a slower connection put less strain on your computer, run less programs. OR, better yet, get Firefox and install the add-on NoScript and it will block the music player for you! From there just allow other things on the site, like smilies individually (not allowing pro-boards makes it so you can't preview your message). Basically you now have blocked most un-needed applications and code on the internet and made it that much safer!

Really, there's no reason to say no to this.

[/~Amaterasu~\]

As for getting into a song and forgettingly clicking away..you could always just leave open a home page to play on and navigate everything else from the tabs, since the player isn't on auto play.

Thus making even more programs on your computer. Doing this would simply make the computer run even slower if you have a bad connection.

If you have a slower connection put less strain on your computer, run less programs. OR, better yet, get Firefox and install the add-on NoScript and it will block the music player for you! From there just allow other things on the site, like smilies individually (not allowing pro-boards makes it so you can't preview your message). Basically you now have blocked most un-needed applications and code on the internet and made it that much safer!

You're assuming most people actually know how to do all of that. Granted, they could just ask, but if the computer is shared, and you don't want to change the settings on the sites you visit, or the internet in general, it makes it hard to deal with.

I personally have a fast computer, but for those who don't, the forum becomes more of a lagging hassle.

And Shane made many good points that I would've made if they hadn't slipped my mind.

[kempff]

You're assuming most people actually know how to do all of that. Granted, they could just ask, but if the computer is shared, and you don't want to change the settings on the sites you visit, or the internet in general, it makes it hard to deal with.

Where'd I assume? I was suggesting and providing reasons for future readers. This has nothing to do with assumption, but reality. You either learn to use resources on your computer better or you get constant problems. It's that simple.

As for shared computers users or people too stubborn to change settings, that's their choice or dilemma. What certainty do we have most of the people will stay? I'm fairly certain the people that do stay find ways to make the site run and consistently work, in some form or fashion.

Again this is something we need to have around for a while and see what people observe and hear. If it works with the forum, great, if not, wonderful.

[Wilder~Light]

I admit, giving atmosphere is a good idea, but honestly, how long will it last?

I bet in less than a week, the people on the forum who visit at least pretty often will turn it off when the log on. Listening to the same song days on end gets boring after a while.

And there are those who just flat out won't listen to it in the first place too, but that's obvious.

And also, hitting "pause" on the music may stop the music, but the player still loads and THAT is the problem. Maybe if there was a Profile/Account Option for having it on or off (Like the signatures and stuff), but I'm guessing there isn't one.

As for the No Script thing, my computer knowledge may not be geek-greatness, but if I'm thinking right, wouldn't turning off the scripts turn off more than just a media player? Even if it didn't affect this site, there may be others we visit that it does. So having that wouldn't be helpful in the long run.


Anyways, I'll just stop here.