   Can the Lounge be removed from Active Topics?
  Can the Lounge be removed from Active Topics?I used to post a lot here, 2 years ago.Now I''m trying this forum again, but there''s a lot more chit-chat than 2 years ago. I only visit here for coding issues, I''m not really interrested in the chit-chat.The best/only way for me to view topics is the "Active Topics" link at the top.Can you plz remove the lounge from active topics, or maybe make a new link that includes "Coding Topics" so I can again visit this forum for tech stuff?Thx,- Bas. 
  To the GameDev Staff:First I want to say respect to gamedev.net for the forums as they were back then! The time I spend here, back then, says enough. I''m now a professional game programmer (worked on soulreaver 3 for example, and now coding 3d engines and stuff fulltime). Part of this I have to thank to gamedev!Second, I just revisited here again after a 2-year silence.So I may have a ''fresh'' look on this forum, and what way it is going.2 years back, there also were some threads with non-tech talk. No problem, always good for the community. But it seems to me, the chit-chat is taking over.I dont know what the gd owners interrests are, and what your future planning is with this site. And I also have no idea about finances, and other stuff.All I really want to ask is:- Aren''t you affraid you might be attracting the wrong kind of people with current state of the forums (looking at the non-tech posts?)- Aren''t you affraid you are repelling the people that are serious/professional about game development?- *Manager Voice* Can I expect the forums to change to tech-only in a week? And can this be a yes/no answer? ;  This was suggested a while back - seems the new forums have this built in so theres no incentive to hack it into the current system.Would be nice though, the lounge has a habit of clogging up the active topics list. ;  Hey Bas, nice to have you around again.We''re planing on doing this in the new forums, in a user-selectable way, since some people want to see Lounge topics. I don''t want to make any changes to the existing forum code, but if I have time when I get back (I''m currently traveling), I may put together a "no lounge" version of the active topics page.   Dave "Myopic Rhino" AstleSenior Engineer, Qualcomm Gaming and GraphicsExecutive Producer and COO, GameDev.netAuthor, OpenGL Game Programming"I only wish I could kiss [YannL''s] wonderful buttocks!" - Grizwald;  Hi Dave, cool to get a warm welcome, and nice to be back.Sry bout the harsh-retoric questions, but I was getting a bit concerned.You've got quite a little treasure here! Some of your gamedev members are bound to become professional game programmers! Havent got a chance to congratulate you on your OpenGL Programming book, so repect for that!Looking forward to the new forums,- Bas.   [edited by - baskuenen on November 8, 2003 11:57:46 PM];  Related topics:New Forums FAQ (Updated 10/21/03 3:50 EST)I am leaving Gamedev  (not me!)EDIT: clarification   [edited by - CWizard on November 8, 2003 12:40:32 AM];  Bas,I''m on dial-up at the moment (at my mother-in-law''s house), so I didn''t see your second post when I replied the first time, or I would have responded more specifically.See my post on page 3 of CWizard''s 2nd link for my comments on the current state of the forums.Congrats on making it into the industry. I agree about the role this site can play in helping people get into the industry. It''s helped many people already (myself included) and as those people continue to visit the site and others find it, I think it can snowball. But you''re right about improving the signal to noise ratio, and we''re working on it. ;quote:Original post by baskuenen  I used to post a lot here, 2 years ago.I remember you (although you have no idea who I am ) The metaballs thread is still somewhere in my favorites. It''s good to have you back. Congrats on making it into the industry. ;  I asked the same in this thread.Oxygen replied with a solution for the current boards.  I haven''t tried it yet (though I may soon).  Here''s what Oxygen said:quote:Original post by Oxygen  If you can''t wait, try the Proxomitron. It''s a general purpose HTML/HTTP-filter proxy that''ll do whatever you tell it to do.I''ve been using the Proxomitron for filtering spammy forums, (including the spammy *and* useless Lounge) off the active topics list for a year or so. Works perfectly. I wouldn''t have survived the Iraq war without it, so to speak.Unfortunately, development on the Proxomitron seems to be dead, but Google will find it for you.The rule in question would look something like this:Name = "gamedev.net forum remover"Active = TRUEURL = "www.gamedev.net/community/forums/activetopics.asp"Bounds = "<tr>*</tr>"Limit = 2048Match = "<tr>*(GDNet Lounge|Politics)*</tr>"Replace = "<!-- gamedev.net forum remover -->"Now if I could only filter the I-post-because-I-can people, I''d be happy again.oo  Tadd- WarbleWare ;  Privoxy will get the job done as well.quote:Now if I could only filter the I-post-because-I-can people, I''d be happy again. I successfully (well it worked 19 times out of 20 at least) used privoxy to block posts from certain members. I realize that was quoted from another thread, but I just want to point out it is possible. 