How to Register for Comments & Other Tech Stuff

Dear Readers and Commenters,

We are beginning to add stand-alone pages to TM-Free Blog. The first new page is "Technical Help & Support" which has a permanent link at the top right of the right-hand sidebar.

The first article on our Help page is on how to comment and register at TMFB. It's my hope you will find it useful.

If you have ideas for other support matters you would like to see discussed on a How-To page, please email me at jmknapp53@gmail.com.

You guys have the best ideas. And we sincerely want to make TMFB as easy to use and useful as possible.

J.

New Commenting System at TM-Free!

FINALLY!

The new comment system is up and running. There have been a few hiccups already—and are likely to continue for the next few days. It's just not possible to test software on every possible PC configuration anymore.

Please do not hesitate to let me know of any problems at all, either in the comments below, via email to jmknapp@gmail.com, or call me directly at my therapy practice's number: (800) 950-5329.

The main benefits of the new system:

• Increased security
  
• Comments and replies can no longer be deleted or edited once there is a reply attached. This will stop the difficulties we've been having with key comments disappearing.
  
• There should be no more duplication of comments.
  
• There are a host of new features for you to discover
  
• I've imported all our old comments, so nothing has been lost. I'm even trying to delete duplicates from the last month or so.

Here is a clear, easy-to-follow beginner's guide to getting the most out of the Disqus system.

I believe the only major change you will see is that commenting will now require you to register to post a comment. I am doing this for security reasons, bnt you may still remain anonymous if you choose.

You will be offered a chance to register the first time you post a new comment. You do not have to include an email or other identifying information. You are simply registering your username.

I hope you enjoy the new system—but if you don't please let me know. I'll see what I can do to make it work for you.

J.

TMFB Offline Friday, 10pm

I will be taking TMFB offline again Friday, May 14, from 10 pm to 12 midnight. This is again in order to install the new commenting system.

J.

TM-Free Will Be Offline to Install New Comment System

Our long nightmare with our comment system may finally end. TM-Free Blog will be offline from 10 pm until 12 midnight EDT on Wednesday evening, 05/12/10, so that we can install a new Disqus-based commenting system.

We chose Disqus as our new commenting engine because of its high reputation and popularity in the blogging community, powerful new features, ease of use, and ease of modification.

The new system will contain all previous TMFB comments in its database, so nothing should be lost in the transition.

One notable advantage to the Disqus system is that comments may not be edited or deleted once they have a reply—although posters have the freedom to edit them until there is a reply. This will avoid the unfortunate ability of JS-Kit users, the commenting system we are now using, to delete their posts—and their replies—for whatever reason they chose. Recently this allowed authors to delete posts by Drs. Fred Travis and David Orme-Johnson.

If you would like to check out the features of the new system, point your browser to 2TestTMFree, our test site.

J.

New Comment System: Help Us Help You!

It may be that the long nightmare of bizarre comment behavior is nearing an end!

We are testing a new system, Disqus, that has many advantages—features, security, ease of use, CUSTOMER SUPPORT—over our current system, JS-Kit/Echo.

Before I move us to the new system, however, I would really value your input—and help.

Please visit our test blog, 2 Test TM-Free, look around, kick the tires, and give us your input in the comments below.

Things you can help with:

• Browser test: Let me know if the page and comments load well in your browser, especially Internet Explorer, Chrome, Opera—and mobile browsers for the iPhone and other mobile devices.
  
• Layout/Design: I've made a few tweaks to the design, trying to improve readability: modified colors, font sizes, etc. Are there good changes? Bad ones? Any further suggestions?
• Comment test: Please try posting a comment or two. Did it post correctly? Was it easy to use?

I look forward to your input—good, bad, or indifferent—in the comments below.

Thanks for your help!

J.

Interim Fix for Comment Links

Okay. I reverted to an older template that does not include Haloscan or Echo. We are now using Blogger's native comments. Not quite as powerful, but at least they work.

Comments are unfortunately no longer threaded, but they are all there and easily accessible.

I have also removed the JS-Kit "Recent Comments" widget until I can either fix JS-Kit or migrate to a service that actually works.

At least it's easy again to post and read comments.

J.

UPDATE: Comments Still Down

Our comments suddenly disappeared from our main page Wednesday afternoon, despite functioning for months.

This was not due to any action by me or other editors at TM-Free Blog.

I have been attempting to work with JS-Kit since approximately 5 pm Wednesday to restore the comments link—and easy access to posting and reading comments.

Unfortunately, JS-Kit is notorious for a poor product, virtually no documentation, and extremely poor customer service.

As of this writing they have done nothing from their side to fix the situation—or even explain what has happened.

From my side, I have restored a number of "templates" that worked perfectly for months, but simply do not work anymore. I also am exporting comments and archiving them in several places in case the comments totally disappear.

Unfortunately, some readers have speculated that this is an attempt to censor comments. If this were the case, I would have simply deleted the "Recent Comments" block in the right-hand sidebar so that no access whatsoever to the comments were possible.

Of course, this has not happened.

There still is limited access to comments available through the "Recent Comments" sidebar.

In addition, those of you who have a JS-Kit account, which many of you have signed up for by registering a name associated with your TMFB comments, have additional access to your comments. Either point your browser to http://js-kit.com/ , login, and then go to your "dashboard"; or more simply click on your name in any comment that you have made, then "view details," and you should have access to your JS-Kit account.

Because JS-Kit has simply not responded meaningfully in 4 days, I am working diligently with both Intense Debate and Disqus in an attempt to simply replace JS-Kit with a system that actually works.

In addition, there is the possibility that there has been a security breach either with Blogger or JS-Kit. I say this because admin settings changed several times in the days just prior to our comment links disappearing—sometimes denying me access totally to my JS-Kit account. Currently, I have no direct access to my own comments.

JS-Kit has not offered any explanation whatsoever about this situation either—despite my many inquiries.

My deepest apologies to all readers for this inconvenience. I join with commenter "alex" and several email correspondents who wonder about the coincidence that this situation arose shortly after Dr. Travis generously joined us here to discuss his research.

(Strangely, it happened just hours after I invited TM researchers and representatives to join the discussion. Additionally, my post in which I issue the invitation, has been edited by someone!)

There is not too much I can say about this coincidence other than that it was not done from anyone at TMFB.

I am the only admin of both the blog and the commenting system.

J.

Comments Appear Down

It appears comments on TMFB have been down for the last several hours. I'm not sure why, but I have a support ticket in with JS-Kit to see if they can fix the problem.

We have been having great discussions lately in the comments, so this blip is particularly disappointing.

I want to assure all readers and commenters that this is purely a technical issue and not an attempt to stifle discussion.

J.

You're Not Crazy--Comments Have Changed

Dear Loyal Commenters,

We are going through some growing pains with our comments. Haloscan is being phased out. We were essentially forced to upgrade to a new comment system with very little notice from Haloscan/JS-Kit.

I think we have ironed most of the kinks as of this morning. If you are having difficulty logging in, posting, or anything else, please contact me at jmknapp53@gmail.com.

The good news: There are many improvements to explore.

• The Recent Comments section in the right-hand column now also includes polls, top comments, and more. Just click on the tabs in the Recent Comments/Navigator box to see them.
  
• You can now rate comments by clicking on the "Like" link at the bottom of each comment. When enough votes have been gathered, Top & Hot comments will begin showing in Recent Comments.
  
• You can choose to use a Twitter, Google, or other profile to attach to your comments. You can even add a photo or other avatar to your profile and comments. This helps other readers identify your comments quickly.
  
• Anonymous posting is working again, after a slight fix.
  
• It is now easier than ever to include a graphic, video, or other file with your comment.
  
• There are even more html commands you may use in your comments for links, bold, italic, and more. (You should find more info on permitted html here.)
  
• You can now read threaded comments. When you reply to someone, it will show beneath their comment. This allows you and others to more easily follow the conversation.
  

Although this was forced on us somewhat ungracefully, it's my hope that none of our commenters were inconvenienced.

And I hope you enjoy the features of the new system!

J.