Moving threads to specific areas

[Panchocat]

I know there are various places for specific posts but.....
Recently threads have appeared on the main forum regarding tv problems.
These posts have been moved very quickly to the tv/satellite section. This has resulted in more threads on the main forum regarding same issues.
Could the threads not be left for a longer period on the main forum as information?
Not everyone goes to specific sections as a first port of call.

[Keithcaley]

A man after my own heart!

Actually, I understand that Soner might be reconsidering the 'sections' thing, and how it works, but in the meantime just hang in there

[Panchocat]

Woman, Keith!

[Keithcaley]

Person, Panchocat!

Sorry, as you don't have an actual name on your Profile, I couldn't tell....

[Groucho]

Should we have a forum section for discussing forum sections? It's got to be one of the hottest topics.... ha ha ha...

[Soner]

[Groucho]

well you've got to admit that the organisation of the sections is regularly throwing up heated discussion.... The problem is that immediately you have a general section that is used by most people for their thread starter post they won't want their posts hived off to a sub-section that almost nobody seems to look at in their opinion... This could be a false perception but for most people perception is reality...

I note that the sub-sections are not in any specific order - either alphabetical or most used - just random - which hardly lends itself to browsing...

Given that the desire to streamline the website is the reason for the subsections existing I would imagine that you only need two... General and Sales.

People who want to buy stuff can look on the sales section but everybody else can limit their browsing to the general section...it's daft to think a wanted section should tie-in with a sales section as they want their needs to reach the widest possible audience whereas the chances of what you want being already for sale on the sales sections is remote...

[Mollie the cat]

I agree, recently I have stopped using this forum. If you genuinely need help or advise and post on here, within minutes its gone into a section where almost nobody looks at it, a very poor format in my opinion.
Stopped looking on here now for advise or help.

[Keithcaley]

I agree, recently I have stopped using this forum. If you genuinely need help or advise and post on here, within minutes its gone into a section where almost nobody looks at it, a very poor format in my opinion.
Stopped looking on here now for advise or help.

Sorry to hear that, although reviewing your recent posts, you appear to have had prompt, helpful responses to your most recent requests for help, just as you yourself have offered help to others - what event has occurred to cause your change of heart?

[Mollie the cat]

Keith,
What lost it for me was my pool pump thread. I was desperate for help, you and others on this board are very helpful, within the hour of posting the thread was moved to the pool section, although I did get one or two replies, it was virtually lost, I then lost confidence in this board.

I now go elsewhere for help and advise. The annoying this is that some threads are on the mail board for days if not weeks, and although the moderators largely do a good job, in my opinion they are not consistent.

[PoshinDevon]

As has been mentioned previously, this topic has come up a number of times and the reasons for moving posts has been explained.

Whilst the forum layout and functionality may not meet everyone's needs 100% of the time, it does work for the majority. Each member has their own way of using the forum, for me I always look at active topics as a first pass and then look at unread posts next.....then whatever areas I may be interested in. Everyone uses the forum differently.

Moderators are not on the forum 24/7, I try to log onto the forum a couple of times a day if time permits. This should explain why some posts may remain in place for a day or so before being moved, whereas others are moved within a shorter time. Moderators try to be consistent and follow the current forum guidelines which means posts being placed in the correct section. Sometimes however due to the volume of posts made we may miss a post and hence it will not be moved, fortunately some members help in letting us know posts are in the wrong area and we will then move. Moving posts to the correct area does work as if you want to know about Mobile Phones for example, this should be the first place to search for information

Soner; the forum owner, has responded in the past about moving threads and has mentioned that the forum is constantly developing and changing so the layout, moving posts etc could well change in the future. What must be remembered is that changes to the layout, functionality etc takes time to develop, test and ensure it works correctly before actually be implemented on the forum. In addition some changes could well involve a cost as nothing is free.

Please be patient as I am sure if changes are to the benefit of the majority of members then in time they may well be implemented.

[Soner]

Catch 22 comes to mind. If we allow everything on the General forum, or simply had a General forum and a Sales forum, then, members would complain that they have to sieve through threads that they are not interested in. I constantly think of making changes, but deep down something keeps telling me that the current layout causes less trouble.

Some members prefer to use the Active or Unread Post links. Some simply like to browse through the General forum. Some prefer to look directly in the category that they may have interest in, Motors, Property, Gardening etc... So, moderators try to move posts to appropriate category, no need to if members posted in the correct category in the first place.

At the top of each page is a list of categories in alphabetical order. I know that this is not the case of the list on the Home page, but if I change this, I am sure quite a few members would not like the change due to having to scroll down to find the General forum link.

Many members came from the C44 forum and when Kibkom started many had asked for a similar layout. Some members did not like the green layout, so I had incorporated 4 different choices of colour. It was also requested that we create the different categories.

Moderators are simply trying to keep the forum running smoothly, members should not take it personally when their posts are moved. Charities have allowance to post in the General forum for a few days before posts are moved. Others posts that are left in the General forum remain there if there is no specific category to move them to.

So, what is the best way forward, if any? Should I create a poll asking members? The forums layout seems to have worked well for the past 5 years, changing the layout may not be a great idea.

[Groucho]

The real trouble is that having a General Section is a bit like having 'Miscellaneous' on a meeting agenda - that is - everything can fall into that category...

What you have to understand is that the demographic of your audience is largely one that wants to engage in chat, information dissemination and gathering....

Most importantly it's often warning or urgent info for other members...

So here we have a problem... e.g

Someone posts a warning about an issue affecting pets and it get hived-off to the pets section...
Someone gets some info about problems of internet access to TV and it gets hived off to the the TV section...

So then we advocate using the Active Topics view and it all gets mixed back in together... making your server do more work than is useful or necessary.

If you have two sections - one for everything other than sales and another for sales (people know when they want to buy something and others know when they have something to sell) then the moderators don't need to get involved in anything other than issues requiring proper moderation skills.... Bad etiquette, bullying, rudeness or anything that would be offensive etc.

So what if someone puts something for sale in the general section? Just delete it... no argument. They will soon get the picture...

If a topic comes up that they have no interest in - don't bloody read it!

It's just like the TV - if you don't want to watch a program then don't...

[Soner]

Groucho, but that was how the forum had first started off, and it did not work. Members were complaining of Pet threads over taking the General forum, or Satellite TV as well as other topics, each pretty much taking its turn. One week there would be 10 threads on lost dogs, the next week would be 20 threads on Satellite TV problem or queries. Then you have everyone trying to keep their post at top, which added to the problem. General enquiries were dropping off the page.

Everyone wants maximum exposure, that's where the Sticky and Global come into play. But, no one really wants to pay for it.

What if we created a "Please Help" page and made it the main page and then put General Forum in alphabetical order with all the other categories?

[Soner]

Groucho, also Active or Unread Posts works in a similar way to which you suggest, accept that it will also have Sales links. Here again one could say "not interested then do not read".

These could be made more prominent in the list of categories.