To All, As you read this post, words sometimes come across as pretty cold... no frost is intended... I just want to let you folks know that if saying "let there be a database" was all it would take to get this thing rolling... I would be the first to say it... and after it was created I would love to say that I found that "it was good!"
Updating the Lugerforum FAQ... If Ed Tinker creates it, I will be more than glad to do the work on posting it... Microsoft Word format would be fine Ed...
Tom A,
The Toggle-Top Database... This is a GREAT IDEA, now who among us is going to put in the programming effort to make it work? To paraphrase Brandon...So many questions and so little time...
The problem we have here is controlling the input... how do we authorize individuals to make entries in such a database? How do we prevent modifications of an entry by someone other than the author? This is why an Excel spreadsheet won't work, but thanks for the offer Heinz.
The database would have to allow only one way entries just like posting on a message thread... and only the author of a specific entry or an administrator or moderator would have edit permissions... There would have to be a MAJOR CAVEAT at the opening of the database to warn folks that the database is strictly personal opinion based on first hand observation and the forum disavows any liability for remarks contained herein... (You could really place you faith in that database info... or would you?)
How do we police the truth? [img]confused.gif[/img]
If a forum member calls an available item a fraud, and lists it in the database, does the current seller have any legal legs to stand on for suing the forum for false allegations and loss of income if he claims it to be genuine?
Who is liable for any litigation costs?
Do you see where I am going with this? I really hate to be a wet blanket on such a great suggestion, but this is one of those things that is easier said than done...
This type of activity sounds like a reasonable thing to do, but after reflection there are signifigant programming efforts to get it started and also maintenance efforts and possible legal consequences in areas where IMHO this forum is not currently prepared to play...
Remember that this forum and all the benefits of being a member here exists for FREE to the membership, but not free to the benefactor (John D.) and it operates on volunteer labor (John D., Dok, and myself... and the individual forum moderators.)
Is there someone out there who wants to host this web-based database privately and let the forum just link to it as a public service? [img]confused.gif[/img] Any takers?
I am certainly always open to suggestions for forum improvements and I am more than willing to do my share of the grunt work to make it happen... but I will need more than the great idea... I will need major digital engineering assistance...
I am a computer security consultant to several federal government agencies... when I design something for the government it has to be built to specifications... there must be hard and fast requirements... without target requirements there is no way to meet the mark of acceptance...
So what do you want this database to do?
What are the performance standards that will make its operation acceptable?
What is the level of effort that is required to create it?
What are the resources needed to make it happen?
Who is tasked to do it?
What is the level of effort required to maintain it?
What are the operational, financial and legal implications of creating what you are asking for?
Who owns the information once it is compiled? Is it copyrighted to the forum? What action do we take if somebody copies it and uses it elsewhere?
Wow... you guys have really opened the pandora's box! and I am just getting started... <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />
Seriously..., I anxiously welcome all your comments and answers to my questions...
If there was ever a group of folks that had the gumption and the resources to put something like this together, they are the members of this forum...
Droit et avant!