THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: jeph on 30 Nov 2022, 11:20

Title: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: jeph on 30 Nov 2022, 11:20
Hey all, Jeph here. I'll go into further detail shortly, but here's the meat of this announcement:

The QC forums will be shutting down as of January 1, 2023.

There are a few reasons I've decided to take this course of action. Over the last few years, activity on the forum has slowed dramatically as folks migrate to other social media platforms, lose interest, or otherwise move on. This extends to the (wonderful, dedicated) mod/admin team, some of whom have expressed the desire to step down from their duties. In addition, the older I get the less comfortable I am with the idea of hosting my own social media platform. After discussing it with the mod/admin team, we've come to the conclusion that it's probably time to wrap things up.

The current plan is to leave the foums online, but in read-only mode. This way folks can still access whatever threads and posts they find valuable. As for where you all can go from here- that's up to you. I hear it's pretty easy to set up Discord servers, that might be a good idea. I'm not going to make or endorse an "official" QC server myself, but I'm cool with whatever unofficial things people want to make.

It's amazing that this place has lasted for almost 20 years, and it makes me profoundly happy that people have found and forged community here. I'll be forever grateful to all the mods, past and present, who have worked so hard to make this a safe, non-toxic environment, with special thanks to pwhodges for consistently going above and beyond the call of duty. And I'm grateful to all of you, too! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

-Jeph
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Farideh on 30 Nov 2022, 12:13
In case anyone is interested, there is a QC Discord server (https://discord.gg/7gH7HPj) that you could join. I've been lurking there for the past 2 weeks or so. It's not terribly busy, and I'm not sure how strictly it's moderated. It does have the roughly the same rules as this forum (no discrimination, etc).

Alternatively, I wouldn't mind setting up a new Discord server if people want?
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Wombat on 30 Nov 2022, 14:53
Oh. This is sad. A reasonable course of action, but sad nonetheless. I've enjoyed these forums in the time I've been here.

Not sure where, if anywhere, I'd be interested in migrating to; I'll probably end up somewhere at a point to continue to discuss the comic, but I imagine many people here will spread out-- so, if that does happen, I wish you all well.
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Jimor on 30 Nov 2022, 15:51
I'll paste in a response I made about Discord in another thread in just a moment, but I know there's a thread for QC that's been active over the years on the Order of the Stick forum for those that want to stick to this kind of open format discussion of the comic:
https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?645291-Questionable-Content-XVIII-quot-That-s-only-sort-of-good-news-quot

[Edit adding in my other post]
Thank you Jeph. Completely understandable, especially considering how web forums in general have fallen by the wayside on a number of sites. This was one of my go to communities during a rough period back in 2008-2009, and has remained one of my "must open" tabs when I go online.

@Faridah, I think the main question about the existing Discord is do we know who the owner is and are they active? If not, I think it would be better to create a new one. If the forums are going read only, and if Jeph is OK with a final notice with the link and a *very* clear disclaimer that it's unofficial, that would be nice to occasionally bring in new blood (and perhaps also have it be a small bit of work to assemble the link so bots don't pick it up for spamming purposes).
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: hedgie on 30 Nov 2022, 16:50
Of course, the biggest problem with discord is that I certainly wouldn’t post anything I find meaningful or whatnot there, considering their TOS specifically states that all your base are belong to them. 

Edit: I don’t think that there is a better solution, at least not one that’s premade, so I’ll probably be saying “so long and thanks for all the fish” in a month.
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Farideh on 30 Nov 2022, 17:33
@hedgie Are there other platforms around that you would be more comfortable with?


@Jimor I am honestly not too sure, the QC Discord was created by someone(s) from the QC subreddit.
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Jimor on 30 Nov 2022, 18:09
I'm going to create a separate thread to talk about Forum alternatives, that way this thread can remain fairly clear if Jeph wishes to read what others want to say to him about our virtual home for the past couple of decades.
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: hedgie on 30 Nov 2022, 18:10
Probably not.  Things that are free to use, well, the “user” is the product there (which is why I don’t twit for faecesbook, amongst other reasons).
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: cesium133 on 30 Nov 2022, 19:54
It's been nice getting to know y'all, but I guess all things must end at some point.

If anyone is into pointless records, with the forum shutting down in 31 days, I am now guaranteed* to end up in the number 1 spot for time spent online on the forum, since I am more than 31 days ahead of Celticgeek.

*barring intervention by jeph or a mod that changes my time logged in stat
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: immortalfrieza on 11 Dec 2022, 19:35
I'm sad to hear that. Mostly all I come here for is to make snarky comments about comics as they're posted and catch my attention, as well as enjoy reading that of others. I agree that the forums here aren't as active as I would like.
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: zioninavision on 13 Dec 2022, 06:59
Thanks Jeph!!  i was happy to read the long news post recently, to find out that yours are similar to my own feelings, that the continued natural evolution of QC is keeping it as beautiful, fun, and, medicinal and therapeutic to experience as ever, while simultaneously breaking a lot of new ground too!! 

I think if a new discord isn't developed in time before the forums close, maybe the Our Super Adventure discord will become a place to gather inbetween, there are quite a lot of people there who follow and love the comic, and, it is as chill and well moderated as these forums, it is certainly one of the best discords that exists!! :) :)   
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Storel on 15 Dec 2022, 14:35
Thanks for keeping it going so long, Jeph! I signed up for this forum in 2013, but around 2018 I took 4 years off from all webcomics (and their forums), and when I came back earlier this year I noticed it was definitely not as active as it had been. So I think this is probably the right decision, even if it does make me a little sad.
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Dr. ROFLPWN on 19 Dec 2022, 01:20
holy shit, so they’re actually going dark huh lmao

always thought I’d get banned first!
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Elder Sign on 19 Dec 2022, 13:09
holy shit, so they’re actually going dark huh lmao

always thought I’d get banned first!

Oh, there's still time.  :-)
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Dr. ROFLPWN on 19 Dec 2022, 23:18
holy shit, so they’re actually going dark huh lmao

always thought I’d get banned first!

Oh, there's still time.  :-)

sure but it ain’t worth it lol
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Jimor on 31 Dec 2022, 04:08
So long and thanks for all the fish, Jeph.

Thank you to all the mods for keeping this place sane.

Thank you to all the participants for interesting conversations, cool memes, and giving me lots of food for thought.

The link below will always lead to some way to contact me. <3
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: BenRG on 31 Dec 2022, 11:22
Wrapping up time. There have been good times to remember and I hope that everyone finds a good path going forward from tonight.
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Rook on 31 Dec 2022, 11:39
I just want to say to everyone, thank you.

As we close out the year and the forum, I feel this might be the most appropriate way to say goodbye.
Title: Re: QC Forums Shutting Down 1/1/23
Post by: Farideh on 31 Dec 2022, 12:36
This forum has been great. Even though I've only been a member for about 2 years, it has had a big impact on my life.