Foreword: This stuff is not going to happen today, nor this week, this month, maybe not even this year. But it's going to happen.

Now then. The software that runs zCh is still current, but it's not going to be for much longer. What's going to happen when the time comes, as you'd expect, is that we'll be upgrading to SMF version 2, which will be at that time the new current version. It's out in beta now, but we won't be upgrading 'till it's out of beta.

What does all this mean? Well, for starters, a number of features and such will be gone, 'till I can make them work again. Also, the current theme will have to be replaced. But that's not all. Oh no.

It's time to re-brand. "Zeta Channel" was originally a name I came up with in thirty seconds to name a project I was working on when, coincidentally, xForums.net went down for good. I horked the name, whipped up this site, and Bob's your uncle. But I've never been terribly satisfied with the name. I want you lot to pick a new one. I also want to hear what you want from the site, in terms of features as well as look & feel. Certain things will be carried over as priority one, not least among them the custom post templates and quick reply on which I worked so hard.

So. What do you want?

Allow me to be the first to offer an unhelpful "I like the name Zeta Channel."

Don't worry, I'll be back later with something that's actually helpful.

I totally vote for this.

ifoundmahbukkit 

I think we should call it "Your Mom".

Sorry Goo, we killed the pony and it is currently in the stew. Hope it tastes good.

Sorry, links are against my religion. That and paying import taxes.

Fuck you guys, somebody give me a goddamn pony.

Ooh, we could call it Sassy Brains.  Or Fire and Sex Brigade.

Ah, the wonders of an open forum for adult discussion.

also, WHERE THE HELL DID MY DONKEY SHOW GO?! 

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Much work and compromise went into this look, and I feel it should be preserved as much as possible. It is simple, attractive, emphasizes content over widgets, and has ad space which is both effective and unobtrusive.* Jiggling it more than is necessary for the new software is change for the sake of change.

I feel much the same way about the name. It is unique, easy to remember, recalls our roots in a subtle way, and I don't associate it with *chans at all, and don't see how anybody could if they lurked for the outrageously long period of five seconds.

The assertion that we like it because we've "gotten used to it" seems rather silly, IMO. You can get used to anything, that doesn't mean that there's no good way and that things just have to get remade every year just because they can be.

*I should point out though, that rejiggering for a new software would be an excellent time to add some space under the sidebar, to the left of the posts. Still fairly unobtrusive, with more exposure. It's just about the right size for the ones you've got up top. Potential sponsors will love it because it means that the most popular threads have more space!