Re: The new setup of this forum is SO STUPID
 

I only ever use new posts. Or tabletSearch and its applet.

Re: The new setup of this forum is SO STUPID
 

Not a bad idea.

At first I really didn't like the new order either. But it was just a matter of searching for the threads I was keeping tabs on. The search function is the key to forum life.

I just had an idea while I was typing this though, what if there was a way that each user could have a small side panel or something where they could bookmark threads? That way anyone could just bookmark something useful that they want to read later. I could see how it would be pretty useful to me. I would just bookmark a few "How to" write-ups and keep them for reference. Just a thought.

Re: The new setup of this forum is SO STUPID
 

Not on a well-designed forum site. IMO.

I'm fairly active on City-Data, another web forum site using this same basic forum software, and the issues I see here (mainly a great deal of fragmentation and tons of thread moves) does not seem to occur there. And City-Data is MUCH higher volume.

FWIW, speaking as someone with no vested interest in this forum.

Re: The new setup of this forum is SO STUPID
 

Lots of thread moves are due to the recent forum reorganization and the laissez-faire moderation of the forum in the past. This will settle with time.

Re: The new setup of this forum is SO STUPID
 

You can "subscribe" to any thread you want. Go to Thread Tools > Subscribe to thread (it's at the top of every thread, while viewing that thread). Then, you can go to your user CP and get a list of subscriptions. I thought that there was an option to get an e-mail if someone replies to one of your subscribed threads, but I'm not seeing that option... maybe it's always turned off?

[edit]Ah, it gives you the option when you subscribe to the thread. None, Instant, Daily, and Weekly are the options.

Re: The new setup of this forum is SO STUPID
 

Yeah I knew you could subscribe to threads but I was thinking of something for a little quicker access. But back to forum organization:

I don't mean searching for threads that are active at the moment but rather to find answers to questions and to locate posts that have slowly moved down the ranks in the pages.

Re: The new setup of this forum is SO STUPID
 

Any proposal to improve it?

That forum is divided in US states, some countries and library-like topics. That is, ontologies most US citizens knowing how to use a qwerty keyboard are familiar with.

Here we need to deal with a different problem. The topics are not so familiar to everybody: what is the difference between a device, an accessory, an operating system or an application?

Compared to the old setup, the new setup has 7 forums deprecated, and about 5 that have been merged. One more forum is being proposed as deprecated (Newbie).

Maybe we are indeed making it still too complicated. Where to simplify?

Re: The new setup of this forum is SO STUPID
 

Just my $0.00002, I think we need some time, as has been mentioned.

After a major change, you tend to have 2 types of posts.
Those who don't like it at all.
Those who were involved and disagree with the people above. ;^)

I'm not a huge fan yet, but I fully admit that it is just because of the change. I'm giving it time, waiting till we get past all the "moved" threads and it settles down, and we'll see how it works then.

If, in a few weeks, I'm still just searching "new posts", using search, or subscribing; then it probably isn't working for me.

But the "new car smell" (which I was never a fan of) hasn't worn off yet, so I reserve judgment for now. Personally, I didn't have any issues with the reasons for the change; meaning it didn't bother me before. But I can see where other's might have...

Give it some time. It'll probably work out pretty well, and then I won't think about it until the next "streamline". :-)

desiv

Re: The new setup of this forum is SO STUPID
 

Off with their heads! All of them... then start fresh. :)

***

Announce the change.
Make the change.
Move on.
People will get used to it.

The problem may be a lack of perceived leadership. Without it people in general get strange...


There really is only room for one decision maker for the overall forums. An administrator. Individual forums should have specific moderators. The developers forum has different expectations and posting protocols than the general forum for instance. Every forum has a particular tone. Matching an appropriate moderator to a forum helps set that tone. Moderators are not administrators but assist the administrator by pointing out trends, fielding questions, settling disturbances, suggesting changes.

The Admin is ultimately responsible for the content of the forums and his or her word is final. The Admin should not be as accessible as the moderators are.
The forums should start out simple (what we now have) and grow organically. Sub forums should be added as needed but this must be based on the real numbers of the proposed topics (views/replies) and not feelings of importance.

All of this should be managed "behind the curtain" and not open for public debate and once that becomes the norm, silly threads like this will be dealt with by the general membership or ignored. A separate moderators forum should be set up with controlled access for that purpose.

***

This would be my proposal. :)

Re: The new setup of this forum is SO STUPID
 

Now... is that 0.002 DOLLARS or 0.002 CENTS? :p

I agree wholeheartedly. There's no perfect solution to anything, you simply go with the one that seems to make the most sense. And remember: change is inevitable, except from vending machines.