Discussion about bugs and backups :)

[mgr]

@blackdid:

The question is : why does this privacy level appear unchecked in the pic ?
Shouldn't it be checked on "Normal" or "Low" or "Strong" ?

There you see the visual part of our security bug

@blackdid:

Couldn't this unchecked button ("Privacy Level") be related to the known bug of new account created and hidden because they are mysteriously created with a checked "Strong Privacy Level" (3rd option in the pic), according to Uwe's words in PM : " As said, Alien X account got affected by a bug, setting the account privacy already at creation to strong (he even can't change, because he isn't Power User)."

In fact if (and how) this bug shows up depends on the way you interrogate this setting in different contexts:

f.x. if ($user['privacy'] >= 1)
or  if ($user['privacy'] <= 2)
or whatever the best and easiest method it is to interrogate this value in different places.

So to fix this bug (= not defined value for the radio box) is either to interrogate this value "fool proof" in every query or to rely on the correct setting (which looks easy at first because we set it ourselves and only have to check the values in a user's profile script). And there it is where the bug has to be hit: when a new profile is created to set that value to a correct state (= Normal). A repair run over the database is not really difficult for existing accounts, but doing so without the correct setting when creating a new account dos not make any sense :(.

[alienx]

Anybody called my name?!? >:D :cool2:

3. User Alienx posted something a few days ago in the Forum, here :
   http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=6325

In the left column of his post, under his name, there's written "Uploaded: 36.28 GB"

But his profile can't be seen : "alienx's security settings doesn't allow to show you the Profile!"

In explanatation by "mgr" is this declared as a bug. So, thanks to a bug, I have reached security intended for Power user without being a PU actually. My question is: Why should any user get better security than other, just because he is a beginner? There should be set maximal security by default for all users without an exception, and if somebody sees no need for this better security, then he might be able to set it to lower level.

ax

PS. Sorry for my english, it's not my native language. I hope my opinion is nevertheless understandable.

[blackdid]

Hi Mgr 
Do you have any idea why the 3 links in the attached pic look so dark (black link on dark grey background, then greyed when hovering the link)

In case you need to see the original description, it's here :
http://tracker.gaytor.rent/details.php?id=86845

It's very different on the Forum where :

• black link on light grey background is much more visible
• hovering turns the link to yellow
  tia

[mgr]

Thanks for pointing this out!

As a reason for different styles between the site and the forum: the two have completely different style sheets (.css files) located in different places so it may happen that some style definitions are different (although I tried to make the forum stylesheet definition similar to the site ones).

As to the noted links in torrent definitions: It looks like there is a typo in the class definition for those links so the correct hover definition is not applied but another one

Sadly we are currently (due to Tom's sickness) not really able to change this typo immediately.

Remarkably though: you are the first one to note that case after 4 years Thanks again (honestly) to make my to-do lists for the site longer :lovp:

[blackdid]

@mgr:

Thanks again (honestly) to make my to-do lists for the site longer :lovp:

hahaha i like that, thx Mgr !
If I make your to-do list longer, they'll never fire you from the site because you'll always be busy

Unfortunately I guess I just found another little problem, described at the very end of this post :
http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=1818.msg53573#msg53573

To make it short, there were 7 pics attached at the end of the message (I saw them clearly after I posted the message 1st time, and opened them) . But as soon as I edited the message to correct some typos, pics 6 & 7 disappeared and I couldn't attach them again, no matter how many times I tried (I hope it's not because there are small pics that are "hidden" by the sentence "« Last Edit: Today at 05:47:46 pm by blackdid »)

[Kinsey6]

@blackdid:

… there were 7 pics attached at the end of the message (I saw them clearly after I posted the message 1st time, and opened them) . But as soon as I edited the message to correct some typos, pics 6 & 7 disappeared and I couldn't attach them again, no matter how many times I tried

This is a known-to-Staff bug in the SMF forum software and has been reported to SMF technical gurus.  We are still awaiting action on their end.

[blackdid]

Thx Tim 

[alienx]

So so :cool2:

still no response? http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=12409.msg52360#msg52360 ::)

ax

[blackdid]

@alienx:

Anybody called my name?!? >:D :cool2:
In explanatation by "mgr" is this declared as a bug. So, thanks to a bug, I have reached security intended for Power user without being a PU actually. My question is: Why should any user get better security than other, just because he is a beginner? There should be set maximal security by default for all users without an exception, and if somebody sees no need for this better security, then he might be able to set it to lower level.
ax

Hey alienx is back  
Well…it's certainly not me who may bring a good answer, especially after what I wrote here :
http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=1818.msg53621#msg53621

Imho, there's absolutely nothing important to hide in a profile, for people who choosed the "low privacy level"
It hides your uploaded torrents (is it so important that others don't see what you uploaded ?), your ratio and other minor things.

In fact it brings a major problem concerning the PM button, which isn't reachable easily, compared to the "normal privacy level" . I'm just losing time now trying to thank people who gave me major SBP for my posts (new and old), browsing endlessly through dozens of "snatched pages" at the end of my posts, trying to find their user names and PM button in the snatched display, just because they have a "low privacy level" but no PM button under the message found in the attached pic

Gladly I just found one of them and he accepted PM (or I would have lost time for nothing), though he selected "low privacy level". Now I'm still searching for another one, because it's important for me to thank people (also THEY may find you impolite not sending them a little word, we all see things differently)

There's a big contradiction in the site : how can someone select "low privacy level" and at same time be able to "accept all PM" when there is no PM button under the message "user xxx security settings doesn't allow you to show the profile", as shown in the attached pic ?

Imho, that's a bug : selecting "low privacy level" should have been programmed this way :

1. Either you allow the user to select "accept all PM", then you add him a PM button under the attached pic
2. Either GT deactivates the option "accept all PM" for this type of users ("low privacy level") and no need of PM button to contact them.

In fact, there's no need to have 3 categories of "privacy level" when 2 would have been enough :

1. Normal one : with PM button everywhere and your profile shown
2. Maximum security : all is hidden, no PM button anywhere

Which means no "low security level" at all, this level I just don't understand its use, except it brings a lot of complications with its missing PM button !

Well, it's just my opinion...which is certainly not shared by the majority lol

=====
PS: of course, what worked with user #1 didn't work with user #2

• user #1 : I finally PM him and the message sent normally
• user #2 : I finally PM him and it ended with "This user does not accept PMs" : just another waste of time with this "low privacy level" :crazy2:

[NeoStrada]

@mgr:

As to the noted links in torrent definitions: It looks like there is a typo in the class definition for those links so the correct hover definition is not applied but another one

an "off the top of my head" here. it looks like missing quotation in the template rather than something a typo would produce. The generated html is

[http://tracker.gaytor.rent/details.php?id=86606](http://tracker.gaytor.rent/details.php?id=86606)

where it should have been

[http://tracker.gaytor.rent/details.php?id=86606](http://tracker.gaytor.rent/details.php?id=86606)

causing unpredictable behaviour depending on the browser. it might even have looked 'all well' to the template coder.

somewhere in the bulk template for that section there'll be a line that goes something like: (just guessing at the var names)

"[$msg]($url)"

which should be

"[$msg](\"$url\")"

or something to the same effect.

so, I'm bit of a code geek, can't help myself when there's a problem I can stick my nose in.

[mgr]

The typo I meant is caused by the class definition "rev" not being correctly defined in the css file

I agree though, all attribute values in a HTML file should be quoted - but as long as the type of our output HTML is "only" HTML 4 transitional (and not yet XHTML) the quoting is "only" a strong recommendation from W3C and all current (known to me) browsers support unquoted attribute values.

[blackdid]

@CableguyLive:

…I'll open my profile, I didn't know it was hidden.  How do I unhide it??  I'll look for the settings and fix it ASAP...

Hi CableguyLive  
It's a bug in GT and you shouldn't be able to unhide it (your profile is sometimes created hidden and you can't do anything about it to unhide it, until you become a Power User)

Please have a look at the attached pic, you'll notice how your profile appears hidden to all users

If you read my post in the preceding page, you'll see how this situation is complicated :
http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=12409.msg50787#msg50787

So I guess your profile will stay hidden until you become a Power User (i.e. be a member for at least 4 weeks, upload 40GB, ratio > 1.05) . Me and many others were in the same situation until we became power users.

As I'll never know what torrents you already uploaded, please PM a link of the last one (or indicate it here in your answer, if any) so I can thank you there with 20SBP , as you were the 1st one who found the good answer in the Hairy Chest topic game :
http://community.gaytor.rent/index.php?topic=13070.msg56513#msg56513

[CableguyLive]

I've read the discussion and your right, it's out of my hands. I'm screwed because I have not up loaded anything.  I'm looking for an easy software for copying the DVD's to an AVI format but I haven't mastered the process yet.  I'm new to the torrent sharing system but I'm learning. I like this group of people, everyone is very friendly and more then willing to help. Thank you.
Please feel free to call me by name.

Peace
Rich

[mgr]

I have to ask once more:

@CableguyLive:

…
I'm looking for an easy software for copying the DVD's to an AVI format but I haven't mastered the process yet.
...

Why bother to reduce the quality of a DVD by converting the DVD to an AVI file? Does only the size bother you and not the quality of the resulting video ???

[blackdid]

@mgr:

Why bother to reduce the quality of a DVD by converting the DVD to an AVI file? Does only the size bother you and not the quality of the resulting video ???

Hi Mgr 
Imho, Rich's (CableguyLive) upload speed is also an important point to consider, before he decides or not to upload a DVD (4.37GB) . What we see in the left column, under his avatar is : "Avg ULSpeed: Ø18.28 kB"

We know this "avg upload speed" can be discussed : for example, mine shows now  "Ø12.66 kB" but I assure you that all my uploads (in new torrents, when I'm the only uploader +++) start at 28KB/s and end at 28KB/s (due to ISP)
So this "avg upload speed" seen under our avatars probably is…the average of :

1. our upload speed while seeding a new torrent (being the only seeder)
2. our upload speed while seeding  other torrents (when there are other seeders)

Several weeks ago, I asked a Mod the following question (was Uwe the Mod ? not sure, though I could find the PM) :
"Hello Mod, what should be the maximum torrent size I could upload, when my maximum upload speed is 28KB/s, so leechers won't have to wait endlessly before they grab my torrent ?"

Mod's answer was (if I remember well) : "I think 1GB should be ok"

Though there is not a rule for that, I'll never upload a whole DVD (4.37GB) because it would take me nearly 2 days to upload the whole DVD content ! Are leechers ready for that and is it acceptable ?

Now back to Rich 
He tells us "he never uploaded anything", so we don't know at all what will be his maximum upload speed when he will seed a new torrent. Rich, imho you should start your 1st upload with a smaller torrent (200-300MB) so you can analyze exactly what happens, as in the attached pics :

Let's see pic1 only : it's an upload made by our friend MrMazda a few days ago and pic 1 was taken while MrMazda was still the only seeder (it changed 3 minutes after in pic 2, but let's focus on pic 1 now).  Important points in this pic 1 are :

• Size (of the torrent) : 918.55MB
• Added : 2010-11-05  18h52
• Leechers : Column "Completed" : 99.24% for the 1st leecher . Column "Checked" : 4h53 (10 hours after torrent was added +++)
• Seeders : MrMazda : Upload speed 28.35KB/s (hey, just like in my torrents !)

With these infos, you are able to calculate why it took 10 hours for the 1st leecher to download 918.55MB
As MrMazda upload speed is 28Kb/s, this is equal to (approx) 100MB/h, which equals 1GB/10h

Now if MrMazda's torrent was a full DVD (4.37GB), and as his upload speed is 28KB/s (1GB/10h), it would require him 40h of uploading for 4GB, add the .37 and you're about 44-45h, nearly 2 days, which is hardly acceptable for leechers.

Just for info, pic 2 shows his torrent situation 3 min after : MrMazda is no more the only seeder at 4h56 : there are...59 seeders now ! All of them waited for MrMazda to upload the last parts of his torrent.

Rich, hope this will help you to understand better how this torrent thing works. You're writing " I'm new to the torrent sharing system but I'm learning", well let me assure you I was a total newbie too on july 31th 2010 when I joined GT, but with the help of all Mods, Admins, and some very kind and patient users, I was able to upload my torrents and understand (a little) torrent things I never heard about before.

Just be patient, read all you can in the Forum, rules and FAQ (not in that particular order lol) and never be afraid to ask ANY question, even if you find it silly, there will always someone who will be happy to help you 

[CableguyLive]

Thank you Blackdid, That helps a lot. MGR, what's really best?  The truth is, I don't know. I thought a balance of picture quality and file size was the answer. Do I have it wrong?

Blackdid, I'm quick and I'll get up and running soon. Just to confirm; File size is 200 to 900 megs. Send a photo, ok I have uploaded 3 to my profile. Is that what your talking about? and as for the best picture ??? I can do any formatting you like. I have installed a nice bit of software. It'll handle the situation nicely. You should know, I'll push buttons first and ask questions later.:spank2:   I'll ask plenty of questions from now on. :th:   It's much easier this way.   :thx: :thx: :thx:

[blackdid]

@CableguyLive:

Send a photo, ok I have uploaded 3 to my profile. Is that what your talking about?

Hello Rich  
Not sure I understand your "send a photo"
Only thing I asked from you was a link of your last uploaded torrent so I could thank you with 20 SBP in your torrent description page (it's the only place where I can send you Seed Bonus Points)
But you answered that you never uploaded anything until yet, so I'll just wait your 1st upload, then thank you with 20 SBP in your torrent description page, ok ?

Mgr will certainly answer tomorrow concerning this DVD possible issue, in case your upload speed is as low as mine.
But as you're talking about "200-900Mb" this should be ok, even if your upload speed is 30 KB/s

Could you please explain what you mean with this "send a photo" thing ?
Or were you talking about a part of the uploading process in the menu , when you're asked to "add pic to your description page" ?

And by the way, what client program do you use to manage your torrents ? utorrent or another one ?
Mods will certainly ask you the question sooner or later 

[mgr]

@blackdid:

…
Mgr will certainly answer tomorrow concerning this DVD possible issue, in case your upload speed is as low as mine.
...

Why is it everyone seems to know me so good ???

@blackid: As to your last questions:

Average upload speed: the reported upload speed of the complete time when you uploaded something (the reported upload traffic divided by the reported time to upload anything). That is, admittedly, just a rough estimate of what a user can in fact upload (when he wants to upload something quickly) - but on the other hand it also tells (at least us) how a user distributes his average load (in case he works with other trackers too).

Take an example: We ask a user who wants to upload more than one torrent at the same time to have at least an upload speed of > 50 kB/s before we will even answer such a request. Now he sends me a speed test result that he is able to upload with 500 kB/s - but his average upload speed was below 5 kB/s. In this case I have to assume that he has either limited his upload bandwidth drastically for BitTorrents or he has other trackers where he uses most of his bandwidth. (That is a true case from the past!) So the Avg. upload speed does not say all, but quite a lot especially when his stats say he has this avg. reached in about 3000 hours. Additionally there is the number of allowed torrents to seed/leech beside a new upload - that number is based on the highest upload speed he reached in the past (in my above example that number was still 1 - which means he had never an upload speed above 20 kB/s). So although we can't see the user's configuration, we get a lot of small parts of a puzzle where we can build a nice picture of the user and his "behavior" as a seeder.

As to your question about acceptable torrent size for a defined upload speed: As a rough rule I agree with the mod's answer "~1 GB" but: (the following is my personal opinion): When I try to download a complete DVD (especially a DVD DL) I DO know what I attempt and I also DO know that it will take some time. <joke>Especially when the uploader is the anxious  type who fears his computer will explode when it is switched on (and even seeding the whole time) longer than two hours in a row.</joke> . I had times where it took me more than 4 weeks to download a complete DVD-DL from an uploader who had decided to seed only 2 hours a day. Such experiences lead me to the knowledge: the most important thing you need with BitTorrents is patience, patience, patience!!!

@cableguyLive:

Taking in account what I wrote before: May be you can (as a first try) upload a smaller version of a complete DVD, but never forget that each and every conversion will reduce the quality of the resulting video - so at least try to upload the complete DVD (the best available quality) afterwards. That will not only bring a good conscious towards quality freaks like me but also a good push to your ratio.

As to patience: I just found a nice quote:

Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing

And stop laughing Sometimes it has advantages to be a staff member, f.x. with falsely secured profiles   >:D

[CableguyLive]

Blackdid, forget the photo thing it was something I miss read and was my mistake.  We're good stud.  This site is a little intimidating to me because I have never uploaded my movies before.  Do I fill out all the information like how was in it and ha ha the plot?  What's the description I write used for?  I hate asking all these question because I know if I look around you've already answered it somewhere.  I'm just to lazy to look.  Please :spank2: or in the right direction and then spank me again.  What's the best way to make sure I'm not duplicating something?

[blackdid]

@mgr:

…I had times where it took me more than 4 weeks to download a complete DVD-DL from an uploader who had decided to seed only 2 hours a day...

Thx Mgr, it's always a great pleasure to read you 

I guess "this uploader who decided to seed only 2 hours a day" wasn't here in GT, because rule #6 stipulates :
"Seeding times below 12 hrs a day are not acceptable for new uploads"
http://tracker.gaytor.rent/rules.php#102

Ahhh…the "impossible" word...Napoléon Bonaparte made it very short when he said : "Impossible n'est pas français"
He's the one that "created" that popular saying 

Now Mgr, could you please explain me something concerning the "Average upload speed" (AUS) ?
You wrote this : "AUS : the reported upload speed of the complete time when you uploaded something (the reported upload traffic divided by the reported time to upload anything)"

But there's something strange in this explanation, because you calculate the AUS of a user, even when this user is NOT the only seeder of a torrent.

My point is, I would have liked you to calculate the AUS (or another AUS bis) only during the time when we are original uploaders, with our new torrents (and you stop calculating it as soon as there are 2 seeders or more in this new torrent)

If you did that for me, my AUS would indicate (more or less) 28KB/s (instead of 12.66 as shown now)
I can explain why my AUS shows 12.66 : for example this happens when I seed an "old" torrent in utorrent and let's say there are 1 or 2 leechers who will download from several seeders (including me) at same time : maybe I'll upload with a 4 or 5KB/s to one leecher (I see that a lot) because that leecher is downloading from 30 seeders at same time.

Now of course my AUS will drastically go low, it will be a combination of the times when I was the original uploader in my own new torrents (28KB/s) and the times when I seeded at 5KB/s during hours when we were several seeders with a couple of leechers in "old" torrents.

That's why when "you ask a user who wants to upload more than one (NEW) torrent at a time" (that's not for me lol), you should (imho) only calculate what was his AUS during all the times when he was the only seeder in his new torrents . This would be a more accurate indication for you if it was automatically calculated by GT

I understood very well the examples you gave in your precedent post, but please notice as you HAVE to ask a user a "speed test" so he can show you his maximum upload speed, in case he asks to upload 2 new torrents at same time.

My question is still the same : isn't it a possibility for you to calculate a 2nd AUS based only on times when the user was uploading his own torrents and was the only seeder ?