Official FanNation Blog

Group Mail - an answer to some questions

The Moderator — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:23:06 GMT

To clear up a few points...

We have several tweaks to Group Mail that will be going live some time on Monday. These should address most of the concerns that people are having. Amoung the changes will be:

1. Fixes to the read status issues in User Mail and that Blog shares are showing as T&R shares.

2. There will be a count of group mail in the header. Usermail will show first, followed by Group mail...example: (1/19)

3. Any group message older than 12 hours will display as read.

Group Mail is now a Bulletin message, so there is ONE message that everyone views...that's why you cannot delete them. In a future update to Groups we are considering allowing Group Admin's to remove messages.

Previously, if you sent a message to a group, you also recieved it. This did not change with the update that was made.

FanMail has been the default communication tool on the site because there hasn't been any other tool. We are in the process of creating sevearl tools to improve communication across the site. Due to several performance and system issues, we needed to change how group mail worked or face a serious site wide issue.

Some of the things we are working on to improve communication (All of these are in development, so they are subject to change, but wanted to let you know what our goals are):

Overhaul to Groups - Improving and adding several features to the group page, and giving group admins more control.

Overhaul Blogtracker - Having blog tracker alert the user when a new post has been made in a tracked blog.

Overhaul the My Groups page - Allowing group alerts to appear there...giving a very specific communication tool for group mods.

Possibly creating a Throwdown tracker - This is in early stages, can't promise anything at this time.

We appreciate all the feedback people have given, and understand that a change like this can be very frustrating. It's frustrating to us as well. In an ideal world, the feature would not have been rolled out until more of the improvements were in place...but due to the site wide issues mentioned, we needed to roll this out ASAP.

If there are specific issues, or problems please leave a comment here, or email me at themoderator@fannation.com

All questions, feedback or problems will be addressed quickly.

FanMail Changes

The Moderator — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:21:04 GMT

Due to the increased traffic on the site, and volume of fanmail sent between you, the users, we have made some changes to how FanMail works. We will be rolling these changes out to the live servers shortly, but wanted to take a moment to make you aware of what they are.

When the changes go live, you’ll notice in your FanMail:

A User and Groups tab

Fanmail will now be sorted into 2 locations, peer to peer mail and mass mailings to a group. The Fanmail counter in the header will only count User mail; group mail will now be a bulletin style.

Group messages will now expire

After 7 days, group messages will be deleted.

Group messages will have more info

With this change, you can now see which group the message came from, and also how long it has before it expires.

User messages will stay the same

Nothing will change with how the User FanMail works; group messages will just be separate.

Finally, this is just the beginning of improvements to FanMail. We will be working to make this feature more robust and helpful over the coming year. As always, your feedback is a huge help in all our endeavors, so fire away!

FanMail Issues

The Moderator — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:56:11 GMT

We are in the process of making several changes to how FanMail works. During this process you might see some strange issues happen in your FanMail. Please report any issues here on the blog or email themoderator@fannation.com.

Currently, any fanmail that was sent and deleted after February 12th, is appearing back in your Fanmail inbox. We are hard at work on this issue.

-Moderator

View Counts are Back

The Moderator — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:28:01 GMT

Just wanted to let everyone know that the blog view count is back on the site. For those who don't know, it was removed temporarily whilw we overhauled the way we count posts. The problem has been solved, and it's back up....sorry for the delay in getting it back, we wanted to make sure it stayed this time.

We're continuing to work on performance issues, and hope to roll out more updates along those lines in the coming weeks.

-Moderator

FanNation Support FAQs

The Moderator — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:13:44 GMT

FanNation Support is a default group for all users. It is a place that users can receive information about the site, about problems we are having, and about new features. FanNation support is the best place to ask for help on getting to know the site, or any problems you may have. Our moderators monitor the site and provide as much help as possible. If you have grievances with the site, here’s the place to voice them. You want to give props to the site, well… we’re not bashful, we’ll accept them here too.

FanNation is a growing and vibrant community, and we rely upon all of our users to keep it growing. You’ll see this the more you use the site. If you ask a question on the support group, don’t be surprised if it’s a user who replies first. We are here to help, but it’s the users that make the community.

We will do our best to keep all users informed on problems we’re having, and updates we’re making. For instance, as many of you know, over Super Bowl weekend many non-offensive comments were inadvertently removed from the site and the users warned. The problem has been fixed and all comments were restored. Future problems like this one, will be posted on this site for the convenience of all members.

If you have any immediate concerns or problems, address them to themoderator@fannation.com.

Additionally, here are some tips and tricks from some experienced users:

Helpful Blogging tips

Regarding TD's and Getting Started on the site

Throwdown Fraud and Other Updates

shaggydan — Fri, 25 May 2007 17:15:26 GMT

Hello Nation!

Thank you so very much for the time and energy you've spent on FanNation. We're thrilled with the response so far and are working hard to make improvements that will make this site even stronger.

We've already taken a few small steps to identify, patrol and handle possible cases of Throwdown fraud. We're working on other changes that should really make an impact. We appreicate your patience in the meantime, and encourage everyone to report potential cases of fraud to the site's 'Contact Us' system. A link for this system is available on the bottom of each page.

As we move forward, expect to see some exciting changes that we're hoping will take FanNation to another level.

Thanks again and enjoy your weekend

- FanNation

GameDay Bloggers: Chicago Al and Beowulf

Arthur Pincus — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:17:13 GMT

A Bears' fan who (sort of) promises to cut off his left leg if the Colts should win, and a Colts fan who says he has a horseshoe on his head and memories of the '58 championship game will represent their teams on Sunday when FanNation presents its first GameDay Super Bowl blog.

Blogging for the Bears will be the citizen known as Chicago Al, a dedicated member of FanNation since early November whose True Polemic blog posts have been keeping us entertained and informed and whose comments always keep the discussions going. And maybe even more important, he likes gyro meat on his burgers. The Nation's kind of guy. Congratulations Al. We think the Bears will be very well represented.

Facing the challenge for the Colts will be a newer member of FanNation, the fan known as Beowulf. "Beowulf," of course, is the Old English epic poem that celebrates a Sixth Century warrior from Scandinavia (really guys, this is the truth), who defeats the monster named Grendel. Take it to the Nation in the 21^st Century and Jim Robertson is Beowulf and Chicago Al is Grendel. At least that's what our Beowulf hopes.

And you can and should be part of the fun on Sunday. While Al and Beowulf are blogging live for their teams, you can get in on it and comment on their posts, the game, the coverage, the commercials, the cheerleaders, whatever you want. Guaranteed you'll have some fun.

What follows are excerpts from the correspondence from our winning bloggers.
Chicago Al wrote:

Dear Judge 'n' Jury:

Thank you for presenting me with this challenge, which
serves as a wonderful reminder of the college
application process. At the time I was writing my
college application I recall that the greatest concern
included sounding smart and mature and worldly and all
the things that 16 year olds aren't. Now I'm given
the unique opportunity to be the game-time blog-voice
during the Super Bowl for all Bears fans. And I'm
torn. While I know I can charm you into believing I
am a sane and appropriate Bears fan, I always wanted
to be the kid who sent a great letter despite the fact
it was exhibit A that I didn't have a snowball's
chance in Miami of being admitted (anywhere but an
asylum).

My first promise: If the Bears are responsible* for
Peyton Manning's first Super Bowl victory-and thus
submitting me to hours of listening to him explain how
Marvin and he are N' Sync-I will amputate my left
leg-below the knee-and send it to Peyton for his
trophy case. The guilt he should feel would bring
forth an epiphany; it's only a game. Once he reaches
that conclusion Peyton will retire and I will be at
peace.

As your selected Bears voice I promise to sing &
type-or maybe just copy & paste-the Bears fight song
after every Chicago score.

Random thoughts: I have an impeccable driving record.
For two years I might or might not have served as the
understudy to a fully certified voodoo bellwether and
I can invoke the spirits of Mike Ditka, Chris Farley,
and GS Halas, among others. My pet peeve, you might
ask? People who don't pronounce the first "t" in
mustn't. Also, I vow not to quote awful rap songs
sticking strictly to Cougar, the Boss, and Bob Seger.

Just so we are clear on what it is you're asking me to
do, I want to highlight the following sacrifices. You
are asking me to blog against someone who most likely
has taped all of Peyton Manning's commercials and
probably recites them verbatim at parties. You want
me to sit on my computer instead of entertaining
current topics of conversation with other Bears fans
that might otherwise be inappropriate. You expect me
to sit still whilst my friends devour Italian Beef
sandwiches. No smoke breaks, no getting too hammered
and running to throw up previously outlined Italian
Beef sandwiches, not to mention copious amounts of
Tecate. This is what you ask of your chosen Bears
fan.

As such, you're left with no choice. I am your best
option to provide our Nation, FanNation, with
something entirely un-broadcast. It all makes sense,
doesn't it?

Ambiguously,

Al

*Please note that the use of "If the Bears are
responsible" was included intentionally; all arguments
for the Bears' culpability must be submitted to me via
my agent within three business days after the Super
Bowl. If it is determined by a panel of previously
selected and highly biased voters that the Bears are
not, in fact, responsible for a loss I will not be
required to remove my left leg.

Meanwhile, Beowulf, remarkably for someone who scored such a historic victory 1,600 years ago, was a bit more subtle but equally ardent:

Really have no qualifications except that I watched the 1958 Colts-Giants
game that, arguably, put the NFL on the map; suffered through the Colts'
1964 disaster against the Brownies; suffered (again) through the
excruciating loss to the Jets (blown in my opinion by the Colts' offensive
ineptitude under Earl Morrall, who Shula was wise enough to sit in a later
Super Bowl); and finally got to celebrate a winner in Super Bowl V against
the "Boys except that I was in the Army and out of the country so all I got
was the radio broadcast.

BTW I did set off a giant firecracker at the final
gun; thus, waking up everyone within earshot.

Best Regards,
Beowulf

Beowulf followed up with another note:

Let's go with the fact that HORSE MEAT WILL NOT BE EDIBLE THAT DAY!!! And I know for a fact that Bear meat is quite tasty; especially both before and/or after a fast.

Now, that sounds like Beowulf!

The Winner Is.....Doug Fike

Arthur Pincus — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:06:13 GMT

Doug Fike of Alexandria, Va., may be the only Ohio State football fan in the Nation who has had a good week. That's because Doug finished first in the first FanNation Bowl Challenge and he has taken the winner's prize of a Microsoft Xbox 360 game console and a copy of EA's Madden '07 for the Xbox 360 game console.

Doug, who tells us that he follows college football "religiously", picked the winner in eight of nine of the games in the Challenge, missing only on the BCS Championship game. When you take a look at Doug's user profile, you'll know why he got that one wrong.

"My 2 favorite teams are Ohio State and whoever plays Michigan, which is kind of funny because my best friend is a Michigan fan and we get along 364 days out of the year," Doug says. Doug thinks that the Buckeyes "played like we had 51 days off. But we got it handed to us, no excuses." Doug was happiest with his pick of Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Before this, Doug had never won anything except for "20 bucks in a NASCAR pool." Well, Doug Fike, you've won now. Enjoy your rewards.

FanNation wins Mashable Judges Best of Award!

krish — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 05:59:49 GMT

We were happy to discover that Mashable has judged us best of breed for Sports Social Networking Sites. We look forward to continue providing our users with the best content, user content, timely news and platform for debate on the web.

Play the Bowl Challenge, win an Xbox 360

River — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:32:16 GMT

At least you'll have a shot at winning the grand prize. You better know your stuff, though.

Today we launched our first big game, with prizes and everything! We hope all of you out there in the Nation will play the FanNation Bowl Challenge. It's super easy to play – you just pick the winner for each of nine college bowl games. Then predict the points and total yards in the BCS Championship Game as a tiebreaker and you're good to go.

If your picks are perfect – and I have a feeling you'll have to be right on the money to win – you'll have a chance to take home the grand prize package: an Xbox 360 and a copy of Madden 07. And the second through fifth place winners will get a $100 Best Buy gift card.

Don't forget to get all your FanNation group members to play, too, and maybe invite those pals who haven't joined the Nation yet. You know, all those folks you've been meaning to introduce the site to. You could even set up a new group for the game, and see who wins bragging rights to superior college football knowledge. You'll be able to see the leaderboard on your group page, and keep tabs on how everyone stacks up.

Not sure you have the deep pigskin knowledge needed to make good picks? Haven't studied up on all the offensive and defensive strengths of each team? Haven't memorized their records and point differentials for each game? Not to worry. You know how we love to make things easy. So we provide expert analysis, breaking down each team in all nine games, and how they match up.

So there you go, plenty of reasons, and no excuses. Go play the Bowl Challenge and watch the games. Who knows, you might even win something.