Oppo 2.0 Website Update

"Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain)
11/11/2019 at 16:10 • Filed to: None

It’s been a little while since I’ve posted any updates here. Despite OppositeLock Kinja being safe for the moment, the effort to have a new home hasn’t subsided. As !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! eloquently put it:

Just because we haven’t been axed yet doesn’t necessarily mean that 1) we should stay and 2) they won’t still axe us. ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )

Regardless, it’s important to have a good new home to go to. Ideally, we make oppositelock.com so good that we all say “You know what? Let’s make the move.” We’re still a little ways from there.

I maintain a running issues/fixes list on Discord under the #oppo-2-website-chat channel. Here’s what that list currently looks like:

There have been a number of questions, so I’ll try to summarize those here but please add any questions in the comments or on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (300 members!) .

Are we really (mentally) ready to move? I don’t have an answer. There are a number of people who are certainly are. I’m trying to maintain a level of disconnection and focus on building the site but when the cake comes out of the oven, we’ll need to decide when/if we eat it.

What platform? Wordpress (self-hosted, not a Wordpress.com blog)

Maintenance, updates, and administration? On me. Thankfully Wordpress is generally fairly easy to administer, backup, and restore if there’s an issue. We also have a couple other volunteers with Wordpress experience.

Will there be mobile version? Mobile version is more or less ready. The site’s layout is mobile-friendly.

Is it just like Kinja? No. It’s close. In a lot of ways it’s better - in a few it’s admittedly a bit weird . Currently no ads slowing us down. The post editor works on mobile by default. The comments system always posts your comment. However, there are differences. The post editor can take a little getting used to (it’s better, but has a LOT of options). The site layout isn’t exactly the same. Comments are a little more simplistic when it comes to images / GIFs.

Who is paying for this? This is a good question. A really good question. We love pictures. Pictures are a lot of bandwidth. Bandwidth costs money. Personally, I dislike the idea of slapping a bunch of ads up there - though that’s an option. Current proposals include a Patreon or offering ways to donate. These would be relatively easy to set up and could work. I’ve currently spent about $200 to get the site to where it’s at. My unemployment ran out last month so I won’t be going much higher ;) Lots of folks have offered to chip in, so we just need to find an easy way of doing that.

If we have a Patreon-style system, are there any benefits? The way the site is currently set up, you can’t upload images to the comments unless you become an “Oppo Gold” member. You can still add images to comments, but have to do it through an image host (like Giffy or imgur). I’m open to ideas here. I don’t want it to be complicated but also don’t want to end up on the hook for what will likely be a couple hundred dollars or more per month in hosting bills.

How will user management work? Very similar to Kinja. You sign up as a commenter. Then a moderator can promote you to being able to post.

Can I see it/sign up? It’s still a work in progress, but if you’d like to check on the work in progress: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (this is a development site so it may be broken at times).

DISCUSSION (43)

jimz > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 16:14

I would definitely kick in via patreon or whatever. I wouldn’t object to ads either so long as they’re not the browser bogging, CPU burning garbage G/O media has saddled their sites with.

HammerheadFistpunch > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 16:14

So this is a separate effort from oppositelock.com, right?

ttyymmnn > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 16:16

My unemployment ran out last month so I won’t be going much higher ;) Lots of folks have offered to chip in, so we just need to find an easy way of doing that.

Set up a GoFundMe? I would certainly contribute.

I don’t feel the same urgency as when it appeared the world was coming to an end, but I do think that the end will come sooner than later. Having the replacement ready to go, gassed up and idling, will be great.

Thanks for your work .

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 16:19

Really appreciate your efforts. My personal opinion is that we should stay here on Kinja, but get things set up nicely for eventual exit, whenever that may be (next week, next year, next decade). Might as well use G/O’s bandwidth as long as it’s free, and the status quo keeps most of the community together. Any change will mean losing some folks... Since you’re already in for $200, set yourself up one of these (or similar), so we can chip in, and encourage Brian to do the same for what he’s invested -

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 16:20

Wow. You rock, that’s really impressive.

I’m not opposed to ads in principle, just in poor application. I’d also be up for pitching something in to help with it if that’s the route that we need to take.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch
11/11/2019 at 16:24

DrivingLane.com is the dev site for what OppositeLock.com might become .

Nick and Brian are working together.

Chariotoflove > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 16:29

So important question: will he have to change all our “Kinja’d” gifs to “Nick’d”? and what would be the proposed time line for that migration?

Slightly less important consideration: if we divorce ourselves completely from Jalopnik and the Kinjaverse, we will need to consider ways to keep the group growing and viable. We don’t want to become an obscure niche on the Web that dwindles away without new blood. This is not a coding issue, and I’ve said it before, it’s just the major long term problem I see us dealing with. The technical problems I’m not as worried about.

For Sweden > HammerheadFistpunch
11/11/2019 at 16:29

This better not interfere with my project, the People’s Front of Oppo

Cé hé sin > For Sweden
11/11/2019 at 16:32

Would this be a companion for The Popular Front for the Liberation of Oppo?

Cash Rewards > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 16:34

Oh my god, if you there actually is a jalopnic gold option, there will be people (me) who will buy it just on principle and commitment to a years old meme

HammerheadFistpunch > For Sweden
11/11/2019 at 16:41

Sod off, we’re from the Oppo People’s Front. Wanker.

Urambo Tauro > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 16:44

T he shutdown threat may be gone, but the way in which we’re still considering alternatives really shows that it’s left a serious scar. But what i f oppositelock.kinja.com stays around for a while? A re you going to be able to keep the emergency liferaft available even if we never end up needing it ?

and 100 more > For Sweden
11/11/2019 at 16:46

Not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Oppo

.com

Nick Has an Exocet > HammerheadFistpunch
11/11/2019 at 16:52

What davesaddiction said. This is a concerted effort to be found at oppositelock.com

vondon302 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/11/2019 at 16:52

This!

HammerheadFistpunch > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 16:53

Okay, I was under the impression it was a separate effort.

Longtime Lurker > Chariotoflove
11/11/2019 at 16:56

I’m sure Nibbles the server hamster will make a reappearance.

Kinja'd!!!

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/i-wonder-where-nibbles-went-1739403203

Chariotoflove > Longtime Lurker
11/11/2019 at 17:23

Better stock up on meal worms and lettuce.

ttyymmnn > For Sweden
11/11/2019 at 17:33

AdamB > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 17:39

Hey Nick, I really appreciate your efforts in keeping oppositelock alive. Though I have come upon this website only a couple of months ago, I truly love it and read it every morning before leaving for school at 6:30 a.m. (I'm 13 in middle school). I would love to donate, but I can't. Though I would not object to having ads on our new home. You good sir, are a true oppo.

Jason Spears > For Sweden
11/11/2019 at 18:07

Laughed out loud during a non-humorous part of The Little Mermaid . Not sorry.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 18:41

I think the first official post when New Oppo goes live should be Ground Speed Check

jimz > Cé hé sin
11/11/2019 at 18:59

no, because they’re currently in charge of Thailand.

Corkscrew'd > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 19:16

Omg i f you guys move to WordPress it would make sharing my photos much easier!

Also, I built my stuff with WordPress, so if you need a beta tester let me know!

Dusty Ventures > Longtime Lurker
11/11/2019 at 19:37

I miss nibbles

interstate366, now In The Industry > HammerheadFistpunch
11/11/2019 at 19:40

What about the Oppo Popular People’s Front?

Nick Has an Exocet > Corkscrew'd
11/11/2019 at 20:11

Yeah, it definitely would make things easier.

For sure! Are you on the Discord?

Nick Has an Exocet > vondon302
11/11/2019 at 20:34

Cool, I’ve set up an account. Maybe it works?

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zOBdUDp

Nick Has an Exocet > Chariotoflove
11/11/2019 at 20:36

I’m torn between the a “ Thanks Obama” 404 message and a “Page not found. Also Epstein Didn’t Kill Himself.”

I think it would be Wordpunk’d.

Nick Has an Exocet > ttyymmnn
11/11/2019 at 20:38

Thanks. Yeah, I don’t feel the same urgency either. I’ve not been going overly crazy trying to finish it like I was when we thought the roof was collapsing.

I set up a “buymeacoffee” on someone’s recommendation.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zOBdUDp

Nick Has an Exocet > Urambo Tauro
11/11/2019 at 20:39

I’m going to keep it available if we need it. Though the scar is real. I feel pretty burned by the whipsaw of G/O. It has me feeling like they don’t really deserve us.

Nick Has an Exocet > AdamB
11/11/2019 at 20:41

Thanks Adam! Glad this keeps you entertained! Of course now that I know you’re 13, I feel like going back and cleaning up the language of my posts ;)

Chariotoflove > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 20:58

“Please excuse this page from loading today, signed Epstein’s mother.”

benjrblant > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 21:07

Right on! I just sent you some covfefes.

Nick Has an Exocet > benjrblant
11/11/2019 at 21:08

:) Thanks! It’s super appreciated!

AdamB > Nick Has an Exocet
11/11/2019 at 21:08

No worries. Nowadays, teens hear EXTREMELY inappropriate things every single day. I'm just glad there is a place as great as this where other car lovers can write about almost anything.

Urambo Tauro > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
11/11/2019 at 21:20

Kinja'd!!!

duurtlang > Cash Rewards
11/12/2019 at 05:55

Years? This must be over a decade old by now.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Chariotoflove
11/12/2019 at 09:10

Mayne we can all chip in and buy some ads?

Cash Rewards > duurtlang
11/12/2019 at 09:16

Wow, almost exactly

https://jalopnik.com/introducing-jalopnik-gold-5193641

duurtlang > Cash Rewards
11/12/2019 at 09:24

There we go. I joined Jalopnik in late 2009 if I remember correctly, and by then it already existed .

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Nick Has an Exocet
11/12/2019 at 11:06

Coffee sented.

Nick Has an Exocet > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
11/12/2019 at 12:09

Thanks! To the Future of oppo!