Hello IFP!

To all our regular “World Forum” regulars and everyone who makes this little corner of the internet feel like home, thank you. Seriously.

Since we kicked this website off back in February of 2015, this site has grown into something pretty special. The news posts are great, but honestly? The real heart of this place has always been the daily TWF thread. Seeing 50-100+ of you show up every single day to chat, argue, laugh, and hang out is what keeps me doing this. I’ve said as much in the past.

I know the switch back to WordPress in January, and especially the move to wpDiscuz, has been rough for some. I’ve heard your frustrations loud and clear. A lot of you have been struggling with the new system, and I can see it’s hurt our daily atmosphere. That’s the last thing I wanted. This should be a place you want to come to, not fight with.

So, after listening to all of you, I have taken the decision that IFP is officially switching back to Disqus for commenting. To be quite frank, although I didn’t vote in the recent Poll, I do find Disqus much more User-Friendly than WordPress, at least on the front-end (on the back-end WP is much more useful). NOTE: IFP will still be hosted at WP, only the comments section will be switched.

IFP is going back to what works, and what worked for our community in the past. This isn’t just about going back to something familiar. It’s about protecting the community we’ve built together over the years and encouraging even more growth.

MY MISSION STATEMENT:

Zero censorship: I will never let Disqus (or anyone else) kill a comment. If I can see it, I will free it! Free speech is still the foundation here.

I’ve got your back: If anything gets flagged and thrown into moderation, I’ll review it myself. There will be no pre-moderation, and no filtered words list. Ever. No bot is going to silence you.

Keeping the peace: This is a hangout spot, not a toilet. I will deal quickly and firmly with people who show up just to troll, derail, or ruin the atmosphere for everyone else. Deliberately impeding free speech is worthy of permanant removal from IFP. I will protect this space so everyone can actually speak freely, without fear of censorship, harassment, or impediment.

When: The change should happen very soon, most likely prior to Sunday morning. Most of you have been with IFP long enough that Disqus will feel like slipping into your favorite old chair, comfortable and familiar. Meanwhile, some of you won’t like it any more than a needle in the gums. Either way, I believe this is best for the future of IFP as a whole.

Thank you for sticking with the site through all these years, rebirths and subsequent tech headaches. Your loyalty means the world to me. It’s why we’re still one of the few places left where real, unrestricted conversation can happen.

Free Speech Lives Here!

See you in the threads.

~Prof