Author |
Topic: Future of the Gridiron & the Internal Server Error (Read 900 times) |
|
Philosopher King
of Fantasy Football
Site Administrator
GBRFLer
Champ - '94, '99, '02, '04
I love ''the Gridiron''!
  
Posts: 19699
Back to top
|
 |
Future of the Gridiron & the Internal Server Error
« on: Nov 13th, 2003, 2:03am » |
 Quote  Modify
|
I can't believe this is happening now all of a sudden and SO soon (after recently upgrading and MOVING the site)...
on Nov 12th, 2003, 11:03am, Philly wrote:Ultimately, what I think is going on here is:
- It costs money to run this site. This makes sense and is a concern for any website.
- Steg is not independently wealthy and cannot continue to make this site better on his own.
- People seem to really enjoy this site because of the way it is run and the type of people it attracts.
- Steg doesn't want to make this a subscription site (like many others have done) nor does he want to flood the site with unwanted (and completely unrelated) advertising and pop-ups (THANK YOU STEG!).
- People, in the past, have indicated that they would be interested in helping the site financially, if given the opportunity.
Now the opportunity is here and it would be nice to have some of the people who use and enjoy this site step and support it.
And keep in mind that there are ways to support the site and improve it that do not require you to take money out of your pocket. Spend a couple hours a week and write fantasy articles - they increase the viability of the site. Or offer your services (are there any web programmers here?) in another capacity.
Or, if you don't have the time to help maintain/improve the quality of the site, try to use the Gridiron Store for things you were probably going to buy anyway. If you don't buy things online, consider making a donation.
|
|
YES, the "Internal Server Error" is rearing its ugly head again:
http://www.fantasyfootballer.com/cgi-bin/theGridiron/YaBB.cgi?board=58;a ction=display;num=1046812258,
AND THIS IS NOT GOOD NEWS AND QUITE IRONIC GIVEN MY PARTICULAR EFFORTS OF LATE AND, WELL, LACK OF RECIPROCATION!!!
Moving right along, first and foremost, I want to thank Jeff for his post quoted above. Thanks, Jeff, for getting it and seeing the bigger picture.
I have always found it a curious thing that guys seem so reluctant to pay for/help fund smaller secondary sites, quite indignantly actually, while throwing money at the CBS Sportslines, Yahoo!'s, ESPN's, the big boys who have enough money already and don't necessarily do fantasy football especially or all that well (and yet ironically everybody would love to work in the fantasy football industry, get paid for their fantasy articles or team reports, and it is actually a burgeoning small site that could offer such opportunities, something I would love to be able to do someday... go try getting such a job at ESPN or CNN/SI or even Fanball for that matter  ).
BUT, I get it... People see their (pre-teen) kids making (sophisticated) web pages for free and see that they get a free "web site" with their ISP, pirate a copy of FrontPage, and they think of small-time web sites in those terms. But, building even just a complete, extensive, functioning, interactive LEAGUE web site like the GBRFL web site is no small task. However, one can chalk the time and money spent on something like that up to its being a hobby. Even when taking the time and money to build something "more public" like "the Gridiron" and all the other stuff that has sprung up here can be looked upon as "slaving" for a "labor of love". That having been said, at some point the cost goes from (what you rationalize as) chump change (kind of) to noticable expenditure and the time spent starts to become more like work, mainly quantitatively but also qualitatively, than a "labor of love", and WE HAVE UNEXPECTEDLY SUDDENLY ARRIVED AT THAT POINT (after an upgrade earlier in the year that I thought would tide us over for at least a year or so)!
This "Internal Server Error" is not a mere technical glitch that can be fixed. As before, it is because of the growth of our site. We're just maxing out these (shared) servers we are on. To be completely forthright, I have been receiving the following type of e-mail for about a week now and ignoring it for a couple reasons, which I will present afterward:
Dear Steven Stegeman,
This notification has been sent to you because either the disk space or traffic limit has been exceeded on your domain, fantasyfootballer.com. See below for details:
Disk space limit: 31457280
Actual disk space being used: 4613489
Traffic limit: 1048576000
Actual traffic: 1697857516
Possible reasons why your disk space has been exceeded: 1) Your site is using more space than your hosting plan allows OR 2) Email is being stored on the server, putting you over your disk space limit. To prevent receiving further emails: 1) If your web site is using more space than your plan allows, please either reduce the size of your site to bring your space back under its limit, or order additional space for your domain via http://upgrade.hostica.com. 2) Or if you have email stored on the server, then you can either download your emails using an email program (such as Outlook Express), or use http://webmail.fantasyfootballer.com to delete your email off the server.
Thank you,
Hostica Support Team
The main reason I have ignored those e-mails is because I know it means SPENDING MORE MONEY, which I do NOT have. We are basically at a juncture I did not think we would be at yet. We are at a point where we are transforming from a "small site" to a "BIG site", i.e., I basically have the maximum, "personally" affordable web hosting plan for a small site, which is evidently no longer accomodating us, and need to make the HUGE leap to a "big site" web hosting plan (one of the main differences: be on our own server rather than a shared one like we are now). That's the reality of web sites: your site is either a "small site" or a "big site" and there really isn't much that adequately accomodates the "in between", and, in any event, to continue doing these small upgrades, which I suppose I could do a few more times, just amounts to a TON MORE WORK AND HEADACHES FOR ME, i.e., each of these upgrades causes a "site move", which is a huge task full of pitfalls.
Bottom line, guys, Steggie's well is dry, actually has been as many of you who know or haven gotten to know me personally know. I've taken the site as far as I can take it on my own. My choices... I could start watering the site down... start removing features and graphics. But, really that's only a temporary fix, for one, and I don't want to do that anyway, and I also never want this site to "formally" become a pay site or have it littered with a deluge of rotating banners and random ads, moreover pop-ups. If I start doing any of that, I'd be COMPLETELY defeating my purpose, which is to provide a unique, full-featured site with "personality" and just for die-hard and mature fantasy footballers and FREE of all that extraneous stuff. I've tried to avail myself to you all like no other site admin in the biz so as to make this a "special" project and experience. I am a man with goals for this place and I'm not AT ALL interested in just running "yet another" FF (geek) web site. I'll close the site before I do any of what I mention above and before letting it rot away from neglect, which segues me to my next point.
I am not simply just talking about covering the difference in cost here from hosting a "small site" to hosting a "big site". This site's jumping from a "small site" to a "big site" is going to demand MORE of me, and I am already stretched thin with this, even with my "flexible" schedule (which will likely... screw that, HAS TO change soon). I know that people like to "discount" time in these types of situations, but unfortunately I won't be able to continue to as we grow. This will become a full-time job (it already is, actually, it is just that I have little to no life). Again, I have taken this place as far as I can on my own. In light of another upgrade, I'm at the breaking point, with respect to both financing and effort.
So, we are in a position where we have to live with this "Internal Server Error", which paradoxically will surely prevent us from growing any more or anymore  , and remain where we are, hoping it goes away  , which it won't unless we get smaller,  OR dudes have to step up and let me/give me the opportunity to kick it up a notch here, and, NO, in light of this recent technical development and despite what Jeff kindly suggests above, submitting articles won't help now. We have OBVIOUSLY already done enough to get us where we are now. Now, we have a bridge to cross... or not cross. Ultimately, though, the latter is not really an option as I will surely lose heart with no reason to grow the site and watching it stagnate. SO, we really are at a crossroads, a crossroads I did not expect to have to cross so abruptly or soon. Bottom bottom line, you all come together and pull a "Jimmy Stewart It's a Wonderful Life" on me or our future becomes at best very uncertain, at worst downright bleak.
I will still make additions to "the Gridiron Store" like adding Overstock.com, which I am almost already done with anyway. But, outside that (which can generate revenue), I don't have a whole lot of incentive to continue upgrading, or even maintaining for that matter (though I will until the "Internal Server Error" just gets unbearable and too discouraging), other areas of the site or producing any articles myself or, well, even doing anything that encourages more membership for that matter. I, as a small site admin, am... The site, as a small site, is... NO LONGER! We are at a crossroads... I just hope we are not nearing the end of the road. I thank you all for contributing posts to the site and bringing it "here". Now, I just hope we still have a "there" to strive toward.
|
| « Last Edit: Nov 15th, 2003, 8:07pm by Stegfucius » |
 Logged |
|
|
|
Red Zone Master
GBRFLer
Champ - '16
# 25
I love ''the Gridiron''!
Posts: 1444
Back to top
|
 |
Re: Future of the Gridiron, sudden turn for the wo
« Reply #3 on: Nov 13th, 2003, 8:29am » |
Quote Modify
|
Steve, I know when we talked about this a few months I had mentioned something to this effect to you. I have seen it happen to a few other sites in the past as well, they have weathered the storm and you will too! The place just becomes so popular, word spreads, guys come and talk, join leagues and create a brotherhood of sorts. Then it feeds on itself and goes from small to BIG very quickly. A matter of 2-5 months in fact. That's because it is a great site and friends tell more friends and so on...so on...so on..
This site is awesome!!! You have put your heart and soul in this place, and it shows. We all love coming here and you have created and maintained a fun and knowledgeable gang of members. I know that we all will help support the site in anyway we can to help you achieve your goal. We will pull together and ride the storm out with ya and in a few months it will be all behind ya, with the GRIDIRON standing tall and being the best FF site on the net!
|
|
Logged |
GO TONY, GO TONY, GO TONY!
|
|
|
Philosopher King
of Fantasy Football
Site Administrator
GBRFLer
Champ - '94, '99, '02, '04
I love ''the Gridiron''!
Posts: 19699
Back to top
|
 |
Re: Future of the Gridiron, sudden turn for the wo
« Reply #5 on: Nov 13th, 2003, 4:19pm » |
Quote Modify
|
UPDATE
Well, guys, the "Internal Server Error" hasn't bitten us too badly here today, which, as those of you who were around during our last bout with this know, is sheer luck. Between us and the other sites on our shared server, things must be a bit slow today. This thing can come on at any time LIKE IT DID YESTERDAY EVENING AND THROUGHOUT LAST NIGHT and REALLY ruin your surfing experience and, MOREOVER, the web site, i.e. its growth (potential).
In any case, I did put in a "trouble ticket" with my web hosting company, and, well, the response was NOT encouraging. The bottom line is as I have presented it: this is not a glitch or bug that can be fixed; this is simply a case of our exceeding server resource limits YET AGAIN, and, frankly speaking, it has little to do with the "extras"/"add-ons"; it's basically ALL about the usage of the forum/the "traffic" at the forum, period.
So, where does that leave us? Well, for now, while its "endurable" and I have barely made squat by way of "the Gridiron Store" or donations, we'll just have to live with it and keep our fingers crossed. Again, though, with respect to the BIGGER PICTURE, please understand that I have gone it alone about as far as I can go. I want to take this thing to the "BIG TIME", but as things currently stand in my personal and professional life (or lack thereof), I can do no more... financially for sure! You guys have squeezed this turnip about as dry as it gets. 
|
| « Last Edit: Nov 13th, 2003, 4:30pm by Stegfucius » |
Logged |
|
|
|
UFF Primetime Prophet
# 29
Pay, I said pay attention, son.
Posts: 5675
Back to top
|
|
Re: Future of the Gridiron, sudden turn for the wo
« Reply #6 on: Nov 13th, 2003, 5:00pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Steg... you know I've already used the Gridiron Store (and found it to be a really easy and enjoyable experience)...
Now I've gone ahead and put my money where my mouth is and made a donation. I am responsible for a lot of the bandwidth use here, but that is because I really enjoy the site and want to see it continue (improve).
You've given me a forum for my fantasy articles. I imagine that if I asked NFL.com or ESPN.com to publish my pieces, they wouldn't be as accomodating. I know you'd like to see the site grow and have those who have helped it grow reap the benefits of the growth, but if some of us don't step up and help out financially (and not just pat you on the back and say how appreciative we are  ) then the growth won't happen.
So take the 17 cents you earned from my transaction at the Gridiron Store, add it to my PayPal donation, and buy yourself a bigger server! 
|
|
Logged |
|
|
|
Gridiron Great
GBRFLer
Champ - '14, '23
# 5
Posts: 3340
Back to top
|
|
Re: Future of the Gridiron, sudden turn for the wo
« Reply #7 on: Nov 13th, 2003, 7:56pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Hey guys, (and gals)--
What Steg has done at this site is amazing. And he does everything 100%, nothing is done half-ass. The time he invests is amazing.
As a member from the beginning, I have watched this baby get bigger and better every week. The difference was always in the details. Whether it was smileys, avatars, a game room, or heaven forbid, a message board that always had very insightful messages from a great group of people. And these message boards actually had neat/organized content. Oh yea, one of my favorite things, the GRIDIRON NEWSTAND and the REEL FEED. I love 'em!!! Great links to local papers and news headlines. I use it to truly find out what is going on from local sources. Not much more I can ask for.
Now it is time to step up to the plate. SO what can you do to help? Steg is not asking for a bazillion dollars. He is asking that you support the site. How can you do that? Well, you can shop at the GridIron Store. You can apply for a credit card. OR, you can even chip in a few bucks in the form of a donation. The donation can be $5, $10, $15, $20, $25, or whatever else you want. Shit, I know that one man's dollar is more valuable than another man's $100. So do what you want, do what you are comfortable with, but if you like the site, it needs a little love back in return. Every little piece of love you can give counts!!
One thing is for sure. There is no price you can put on the time Steg has put into the site. I know I appreciate it.
|
| « Last Edit: Nov 13th, 2003, 8:08pm by DirkDiggler » |
Logged |
"Every rule has an exception....the exception can't become the rule"
|
|
|
Philosopher King
of Fantasy Football
Site Administrator
GBRFLer
Champ - '94, '99, '02, '04
I love ''the Gridiron''!
Posts: 19699
Back to top
|
 |
Re: Future of the Gridiron, sudden turn for the wo
« Reply #8 on: Nov 14th, 2003, 12:48am » |
Quote Modify
|
Phil, Dirk, THANKS... for getting it without mucho explainage. 
...
The following is an excerpt of something I just wrote in a private message to a dude asking about stepping up. I thought it was definitely worth everybody's having a chance to see for a number of reasons:
Thank you for offering (to help). I mean it's up to you (how you want to help), dude. You are not wanting me to beg, right? I set up the page to give people the opportunity to take the bull by the horns if they so choose. I don't want to have to feel like I am a bum on the street beggin' for change. I feel I put forth a product, have for some time; progress continues to be made; crossroads are coming, and I've got to consider ALL aspects, including financial, which I tend to ignore and just eat, (and yet I don't have "much").
What else could you do? I mean, again, if you/anyone, who can write fairly decently, wants to write articles, whatever... It's all good! BUT, frankly speaking, at this juncture, that is not what's going to get us to the promised land. I would love to blow this thing out someday and go BIG-TIME... Fanball-style, so to speak! Before that happens, though, I am going to need to a) generate some revenue, b) turn a profit, which as of right now seems impossible, and c) turn some of that into working capital to put back into the site and "grow this sucker".
That's pretty much the bigger picture, in short. But, much could be hastened/the landscape could quickly change if this "Internal Server Error", which has been somewhat band-aided by the techies at Hostica for now (by way of changing some "settings"... I still got it once tonight, though), becomes a real problem... again.  So, financially speaking, there are general long-term considerations AND there are future emergency considerations as regards a web hosting upgrade because of the "Internal Server Error's" becoming too incessant.
|
|
Logged |
|
|
|
Philosopher King
of Fantasy Football
Site Administrator
GBRFLer
Champ - '94, '99, '02, '04
I love ''the Gridiron''!
Posts: 19699
Back to top
|
|
Re: Future of the Gridiron, sudden turn for the wo
« Reply #9 on: Nov 14th, 2003, 4:11pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Here's another one of those "excerpt" things like the one above that I strongly felt I should present to you all:
...(This is) just a side hobby for you. Whereas, right now, for better or for worse, (guys), this is my (pathetic (if that's the way you want to see it)) life, and I've got to consider a bigger picture (side note: know that I am of the cloth that does not substantively equate having money with being a good person at all). If this place is going to go anywhere, and that's my intention, or at least my hope, I need to generate revenue because I ... (to be totally frank with you guys) have VERY limited financial resources.
...(For the record, as "otherwise" has now been intimated to me) I KNEW NONE of these "buddies" of mine (that some of you may be perceiving) personally (before this venture). Jim (BarnabyWilde), Jeff (Philly), Jeremy (bgsgfan), Kirk (FourTwoOh), Steve (Jetdoc) and anybody else, I just met here or originally elsewhere on the internet (Steve - DirkDiggler and Joe - DOLFAN, e.g., I also met on the net). The only guys who are my "personal" friends, so to speak (not that the others aren't now), are the GBRFL guys, who are RARELY around here. So, ... (please don't create) something that isn't there.) Because of the way my life is structured, though I have little money, I do bring to the table time at least as things now stand and some know-how and a whole lot of energy, and I do have a GENUINE and SINCERE "dream" to make this site go big, and anybody who has "bought into it" (I guess, all things considered, in both senses of the word, but really mainly the figurative meaning, honestly) I WELCOME the opportunity to show my appreciation and give back to, perhaps by way of cutting the ribbon on the FantasyFootballer.com offices someday (this has even already been expressed to guys like Jeff and Jim, two of the guys I am most thankful to for their selfless efforts and assistance). (Again) ... none of these people, who are the integral ones around here, are my personal "buddies", as (has been) intimated. They are people I met here (or perhaps over at FFToday or via FootballInsider.com) just like (everybody else). I'm not looking for people to (completely) fund the site anyway. I know that people are not ultimately going to pay me for my time or, by the way, ALL the MONEY (I don't have) that I've spent heretofore (moreover, on things as apparently peripheral as taking the money and time to call dudes, like (Jeff, Jim, Kirk, Jeremy, Mike, et al.), on the phone all the way FROM KOREA because I wanted to conduct interviews of sorts with the people who would "officially" be helping me with the site so that I could see to a better degree the characters of the people I was getting involved with,... "behind the scenes efforts" which "make the difference"... find another FF forum admin out there who has EVER, on his dime, no less international dime, spoken to ANY of his members looking to become moderators... you won't find any, (and)... that's the kind of stuff that gets lost when I am put in the position of having to "explain myself and (...)"). I am just looking for some of the OVERALL burden to be relieved. I know that within myself I am starting to hit the wall with respect to volunteering my efforts and MONEY and this has little to do with the small-minded concern of the minutia of another site upgrade and/or move. Most of the people here who see all the time, energy and money I put into this... (have a deep appreciation and respect for it all) and with an open heart and open mind, without having to have the obvious explained to them, just "get it", get that the "Internal Server Error's" recent resurgence and what it could mean (and cause me to have to do) is really just the tip of the iceberg. I am looking for a donation based on the quality of the product I provide, not my overhead. This is not some diabolical conspiracy I've/we've cooked up.
Again, guys, I thought this was explainage that might help you all better understand whence I am coming.
Thank you all for your kind consideration!
|
|
Logged |
|
|
|
Philosopher King
of Fantasy Football
Site Administrator
GBRFLer
Champ - '94, '99, '02, '04
I love ''the Gridiron''!
Posts: 19699
Back to top
|
 |
Re: Future of the Gridiron, sudden turn for the wo
« Reply #11 on: Nov 15th, 2003, 6:00pm » |
Quote Modify
|
ALREADY DONE, Coachnorm, and that's what I am ALL about as per all of the above and the stuff on the other "future of 'the Gridiron'" thread here on "the Sidelines" (and many other posts as well... I know... A LOT to read )! Going pay is precisely what I am trying to avoid having to do someday, that and incessant, unwanted advertisements, moreover, pop-ups! SO, in an effort to accomplish this I set up "the Gridiron Store & Donations". Just visit the page and how to go about donating is quite obvious. The page is located at:
http://www.fantasyfootballer.com/store.htm (for "donations" look to the right OR right below the heading)!
Thanks for the consideration, friend! 
|
| « Last Edit: Nov 15th, 2003, 6:08pm by Stegfucius » |
Logged |
|
|
|
Philosopher King
of Fantasy Football
Site Administrator
GBRFLer
Champ - '94, '99, '02, '04
I love ''the Gridiron''!
Posts: 19699
Back to top
|
 |
Re: Future of the Gridiron, sudden turn for the wo
« Reply #12 on: Nov 18th, 2003, 4:20pm » |
Quote Modify
|
UPDATE
(Refer especially to the enlarged section in the quote below!)
on Nov 13th, 2003, 4:19pm, StegRock wrote:The bottom line is as I have presented it: this is not a glitch or bug that can be fixed; this is simply a case of our exceeding server resource limits YET AGAIN, and, frankly speaking, it has little to do with the "extras"/"add-ons"; it's basically ALL about the usage of the forum/the "traffic" at the forum, period.
So, where does that leave us? Well, for now, while its "endurable" and I have barely made squat by way of "the Gridiron Store" or donations, we'll just have to live with it and keep our fingers crossed. Again, though, with respect to the BIGGER PICTURE, please understand that I have gone it alone about as far as I can go. I want to take this thing to the "BIG TIME", but as things currently stand in my personal and professional life (or lack thereof), I can do no more... financially for sure! You guys have squeezed this turnip about as dry as it gets. [/size] |
|
Guys, ACTUALLY, there is ONE add-on/extra/upgrade I made to the forum lately, which DOES require A TON of bandwidth and server resources (even when it is not being used), and it is something that was, ironically, VERY highly requested by you guys,... the CHATROOM! That is actually where I have been experiencing the "Internal Server Error" more than anywhere else besides that horrible Thursday night when the whole site was being brought to its knees! In any event, I thought I should apprise you all of this realization so as to continue to better fill in the picture around here.
|
|
Logged |
|
|
|
Philosopher King
of Fantasy Football
Site Administrator
GBRFLer
Champ - '94, '99, '02, '04
I love ''the Gridiron''!
Posts: 19699
Back to top
|
|
Re: Future of the Gridiron & the Internal Server E
« Reply #13 on: Nov 19th, 2003, 4:45pm » |
Quote Modify
|
UPDATE
Fellas,
Whether or not you experienced it, yesterday we, in general as a web site community, and many of us, specifically, had a tough day with respect to the "Internal Server Error". This prompted my contacting the techies at Hostica. They are continuing to adjust "server settings" so as to be able to "handle" our site, mainly the forum. Really what they are doing is just backpedaling and band-aiding. What needs to eventually be done is inevitable.
The bottom line, though, is, as I have basically stated all along, we are just outgrowing this web hosting company like a kid outgrowing a pair of old pants. We are (becoming) a "big site" that is hosted at a web hosting company that is really for smaller sites, personal web sites. You may then be inclined to ask... Why is that? To be frank, if you haven't put it together, that's because that's what I can afford. I've tried to go about things as economically as possible so as to keep this site COMPLETELY "free"... and, moreover, alive. I understand that you can't be askin' for money coming out of the gate. So, I've done my best to make this site "possible" within my means. The devotion of 10's of 1,000's of hours (including before this "hiatus" of sorts this past year while I was working in Korea) is how I've made up the difference.
Now, we are coming to a crossroads; a web site upgrade and MOVE is imminent. At this late point in the season, I will probably hold off doing it until the offseason. But, it's gotta happen, in all likelihood no later than by next August (when things start to really pick up). Of course, we will be much bigger at that time (hopefully the "Internal Server Error" doesn't knock us out), so with respect to "moving the site", the sooner the better. BUT, I got to be able to afford it and as things stand right now, I can't. And, between now and whenever, expenses like those for my current (lame-duck) web hosting, "The REAL Feed", etc., will continue to accrue. That's the picture, guys, so you know!
Over and out! I am...
...Sincerely,
Steve Stegeman
|
|
Logged |
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Games
Login
Register
Reply
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print
