Wow, time flies! It has been over 10 years since we launched this version of the Zone! The website and its underlying technology have served us well, but like all good things, it's aging. You may have seen timeouts from time to time, the edit functionality stopped working, and other hiccups. We have reached a point where we need to rebuild the website to continue operating, and we want to include you in that process.
We intend for this thread to be an open community discussion to share thoughts on what the new website should be! We plan to restore all original functionality in the next version, but what else? Should it be the same, or should we make changes?
Please use this thread to share your thoughts on what the next version of the Zone should look like and how it should function. This can include bug fixes or changes, requests for new features, ways to grow the audience, and general thoughts and ideas. We will chime in from time to time in this thread to answer questions and help facilitate a productive conversation. That being said, please be kind to one another and respect differences of opinion as we hold this community discussion in a special place online that we all hold dear.
*This thread was lost overnight but this much was retrieved. Sadly, MikeE.'s suggestions were lost here (lava may have copied them) - in the future I'll copy them at the "end of the day" and put them somewhere safe. Your thoughts and contributions matter.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank mikeedwardsetc
on Friday, September 25, 2026 – 11:17 am
My memory is functioning this
My memory is functioning this morning, judit. Here you go:
Keep the background black, and unclicked links poppy-colored.
Keep the edit window 5 minutes.
Keep the ability to edit post source code.
Simplify/speed up photo uploading.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MarkD ntfdaway
on Friday, September 25, 2026 – 01:07 pm
A very hard no on changing to
A very hard no on changing to a phone format in any way.
Maybe add a "Like" feature on each post if that is possible.
Otherwise, keep it the same.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino kxela
on Friday, September 25, 2026 – 01:24 pm
Will it port what is on here
Will it port what is on here now. We seem to have already lost some posts. The What Are You Watching thread is a treasure of information for when I can't find the next thing to watch.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance HTT Newberry heathentom
on Friday, September 25, 2026 – 02:31 pm
Since I'm a Neanderthal in
Since I'm a Neanderthal in general and specifically about anything technological I have no suggestions except to keep it all as similar to what it is now/always has been.
In other words, don't change anything, unless and especially if that makes it easier to rebuild.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MoMo Moses
on Friday, September 25, 2026 – 04:08 pm
Who's the sock? [I'm looking
Who's the sock? [I'm looking at you, "admin(admin)"]
And, yeah, I'm using goggle vision.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Dr. Benway daylight
on Friday, September 25, 2026 – 04:12 pm
i would like to see some kind
i would like to see some kind of increased/improved support for uploading gifs and videos and/or embedding gifs and videos, especially gifs, so that animated gifs can be uploaded and posted into threads just like jpeg images.
also, the removal of the 5min limit on editing posts has been nice. im not sure if that was a specific choice or result of the forum software, but to me the 5min limit on editing posts seems like something that was needed for the older, more active, far more drama filled version of the zone to prevent surreptitious, after-the-fact editing of posts during debates/arguments/drama, but i dont really think its something that viva in its current form actually needs. there isnt much debate or drama these days and i dont think anyone cares enough anymore to abuse the edit function for drug band message board clout. its nice to have some kind of indicator to other forum members that a post was edited, but i dont think we really need a time limit on post editing overall.
there is also still philzone reddit if there is any need for some kind of gathering place in between this version of the site going down and a new one going up. ATM ive given mod status to atiex since the account i used to make the subreddit got banned. if that space is needed for more than a few days or handful of posts i can get him to re-mod my new reddit account. ATM if you visit that subreddit using the old.reddit.com/r/philzone URL, you get the "old reddit" layout and a nice custom PZ inspired theme, but since i made the subreddit, reddit has debuted a "new reddit" layout and i did not update the new reddit version of the sub to have all the nice classic PZ colors so you wont get the nice PZ theme unless youre visiting reddit thru the old.reddit.com URL.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank mikeedwardsetc
on Friday, September 25, 2026 – 05:01 pm
> so that animated gifs can
> so that animated gifs can be uploaded and posted into threads just like jpeg images
You can upload animated GIFs now, with the same file size limits as JPGs.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: It's me Dave open up! Davesnothere
on Friday, September 25, 2026 – 06:42 pm
>>>same file size limits as
>>>same file size limits as JPGs...
Are these limits "negotiable" for the new version? I don't post content online very often, but it seems that as the years have gone by on the web, the size limits for file uploads and displays have generally eased. I've hesitated to post images on the Zone because of the need to compress and/or crop to meet the existing size limits.
On a side note, allow me to recommend this site: Steve Hoffman Music Forums. It is nominally about music (plus audio hardware, the music business, etc.) but has broad coverage of current events and, most pertinent to this discussion, threads for photography and memes.
https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/post-any-photograph-here-within-s...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: The Eggman Sandiegohead
on Friday, September 25, 2026 – 06:55 pm
Keep it the same. Will
Keep it the same. Will members of Viva need to sign up for the new version? Or will we just be transported to the new site/board?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank mikeedwardsetc
on Friday, September 25, 2026 – 07:18 pm
> support for uploading gifs
> support for uploading gifs and videos
I'm just remembering too that FaceOnMars figured out a kinda convoluted way to embed videos in posts. I used to know how to do it, but can't find my notes on the steps involved.
Here's an example: https://vivalazone.org/comment/418488#comment-418488
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: mlg joe
on Saturday, September 26, 2026 – 03:12 am
I like the current format.
I like the current format. Nothing to improve on that I can think of except fot $100 dollar bills to shoot out of my phone for getting the correct answer to the entrance exam ( thanks for keeping it to simple math ). I do like that there isn't a "like" button. The standard social media outlets have that and Viva doesn't feel like social media. It's easy enough and more personal if someone makes a nice comment. Just my .02
Thank you lava, heydavey and judit for all that you do without any pay. Much appreciated.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: JP (J Bomb) Tatters
on Saturday, September 26, 2026 – 08:49 am
Discussions are normally
Discussions are normally important to user-created forums but Viva consistently moves in the opposite direction. It's now down to a handful of low activity posts per day. Is that the goal? The fixes are easy.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: makaha lava
on Saturday, September 26, 2026 – 10:05 am
good feedback !
really good feedback so far! thank you! will provide some responses below ...
>>> A very hard no on changing to a phone format in any way.
got it!
>>> the removal of the 5min limit on editing posts has been nice. im not sure if that was a specific choice or result of the forum software,
we inadvertently lost this feature as the software depreciated. i forget, did the original zone have an edit window/feature?
>>> Are these limits "negotiable" for the new version?
yes!
>>> Will members of Viva need to sign up for the new version?
we should be able to port the user data and thread content.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank mikeedwardsetc
on Saturday, September 26, 2026 – 10:58 am
> we inadvertently lost this
> we inadvertently lost this feature as the software depreciated. i forget, did the original zone have an edit window/feature?
I'm still able to edit, and yes, the original zone had a 5 minute edit window,
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Capt. Optissimo 24/7 astro
on Saturday, September 26, 2026 – 12:18 pm
Editing, the multi-step
Editing, the multi-step procedure for photo uploading, and having to resize are my only frustrations. I'm used to drag, drop, done. Video capacity would be sweet.
I do wonder how many would fall out if we have to sign up again? Nothing stays the same or lasts forever.
Thanks for all the years to date!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster Nod
on Saturday, September 26, 2026 – 12:55 pm
No suggestions, just a huge
No suggestions, just a huge THANK YOU!!!!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MarkD ntfdaway
on Saturday, September 26, 2026 – 01:42 pm
I was thinking the like
I was thinking the like button on threads like the photo threads where I think all posts should be pics. But no big deal.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ LLOLLO
on Saturday, September 26, 2026 – 02:05 pm
Sometimes I want to use an
Sometimes I want to use an emoji that isn't on the current emoji menu. I rank more emojis as a "nice to have" but not critical.
i think it's more important to improve the image upload function, especially if there's a way to include an automatic step to downsize/compress images. I can do that easily on my iPhone but not on my laptop. When I post images, it's always from phone.