Too Many Damned Topics!

[Adam Gertsacov]

There are too many compartments! I like your use of the bbs system, but I feel like the other one had simplicity on its side. 6 places to look, and that was it. Now I've got to go to the main thing and look up what seems like hundreds of different topics....

[Peter Voice]

Adam, I thought exactly the same all throught the three months of testing but I've changed my mind. Most of the professional issues are easy to find and sort through. Blah, blah is living up to it's name though, and it seems to be evolving into entertainment more than anything else. Use the other boards for serious issues and if you find blah blah confusing just wade in and start a new topic preferably with a sense of humour), shove your name on it and you'll find it'll work for you.
I think you'll get used to it pretty quick and find what you're looking for.

[Jim]

Wow, Peter got to this faster than me!

Yes, Adam... you'll get used to it. After you've read through everything once, your browser will alert you of new posts to forums and new replies within topics.

Navigation is a breeze once you surf around for a day or two. And you'll find the alerts are very helpful. (Folders change color, Lightbulbs turn on.)

And I know you're a fan of HTML in your posts... I have it turned off. UBB code is similar and easier and it doesn't throw off the layout of the forums like HTML does.

Welcome back.

Jim

[Adam Gertsacov]

Peter-- I'm pretty conversant with most of the BBS systems around. (I've been the host of the WELL's theatre conference for the last 9 years) I've been on the Internet since basically before there was one. Ah, geekiness!

I think that there are still too many empty FORUMS that could be rolled into topics. For example, the Blah blah blah forum is where all the action is-- so stuff that's not blah blah blah is popping up there. That's because people will read it there!

I think that having 5 or 6 forums max would work out fine.

BIZ- The business side of performing
GIGS- Posting of gigs
SOCIAL- where you go to vent your juices
TECH- talking about technical issues
CLASSIFIED-- for sale
META-- talking about the board itself

Within each of the forums there can be plenty of TOPICS (ie, this is a topic in the META forum) And this particular message is a response within that topic.

[Adam Gertsacov]

And Jim you dove in before I could respond. I'm sure I'll get used to it... eventually, it just seems like there's a lot of things to click. Of course, I'm used to the conferences on the WELL, so I do have a preference.

Yeah, I like HTML , but only because I could do it! I'll figure out UBB one of these hours! PRETTY SOON

[Jim]

Adam,

Non-Blah Blah topics posted in the Blah Blah forum are being moved to the correct forums immediately. I think everyone is worried no one will read anything in a slower forum. I'm being very strict about it in the beginning. Once people realize that everyone at least BROWSES all the forums, more people will post around.

We've only been online for 7 days. I expect 100 users and 100-200 daily posts by the end of January. That's a LOT of stuff to wade through. I'm planning ahead with the number of forums. They will all fill up soon enough. I've already added three forums this week because we were getting posts that didn't fit any existing forum.

There are so many aspects of what we do and this system is so infinitely expandable that we can all be really specific in our conversations. Having fewer FORUMS would mean lots of random conversations (Topics) to wade through once you entered the forums. If I have a really specifc question, I can go to a really specific FORUM and post a topic. I just think more Forums filter the topics better. And the alerts really help in organisation and browsing.

I think there will be a huge amount of posts for about six months and then, once all the hot topics have been discussed and beaten to death (ethics, promo, beer in the green room, Halifax vs. Edmonton, etc....) the posts will slow to casual conversation. And new visitors will have months of recorded conversations to browse and learn from.

It's all moving really fast right now and will get faster, but then things will chill by April/May.

I researched this system for months before deciding to go with it. And there's lots more functionality coming. I'm just easing into it.

Jim


[This message has been edited by Jim (edited 12-19-2000).]

[Chance]

Actually, Jim, I was thinking the same thing myself... it's a very small point really, but ANNOUNCEMENTS/HAS ANYONE SEEN/FOR SALE/WANTED all seem to belong under a single "Classifieds" heading. How about including a "Personals" section?

[Peter Voice]

Makes sense to me.

[Brian Wilson]

Yeah it's nice to see the amount of drivel and mudslinging has tapered off a little bit.
The amount of quality posts, debates in Q&A and actual resource stuff is improving greatly. The board is starting to get a real community feel, except for a few mud-slingers that is....

I'm impressed.

[Jim]

Chance, Adam...

When you think about it, rolling several forums into one would only save yourself ONE click to get to browse the topic headings.

I'm telling you, there will be THOUSANDS of posts on these boards within a couple of months. Keeping them in specific forums will be better down the road.

I do not want to have to scroll through hundreds of "subject" headings all mixed together inside one forum. Keeping things organized and specific is the way to go. Sorry. It's staying this way. I like lots of pockets.

Jim

P.S. Chance, are you serious about the personals? I could easily re-describe the Who's Who Forum description and you can post personal stuff there. You'd have your own "Topic" heading to do what you want with. Hell, it already is starting to sound like a personal's page.

[Chance]

Actually Jim my suggestion would not save ANY clicks! The number of topics would remain the same, I was only suggesting that you might consolidate 2X2 categories into a 4X1 format called "CLASSIFIEDS". 5X1 if you add the "Personals".

------------------
Each man's given a bag of tools,
An hourglass,
A book of rules;

And each man's built,
'ere his hour's flown,
A stumbling block -
Or a stepping stone.

[Adam Gertsacov]

I have to say there are still too many topics!
It's hard to go through them all... and I've got a cable modem and a fairly fast computer.

There's a lot of looking through....

Is there a way to make the See Since... persistent? (So that once I've chosen 2 days, it always stays at two days? ) Maybe store that info in the profile?

[Jim]

Adam,

Click on "preferences."

You can make that change sitewide in your preferences.

This is explained in the FAQ.

Jim

[Adam Gertsacov]

Thanks Jim-- I had set it, but it didn't seem to be working.


Another, similar issue:

The little bright lights that indicate new posts since your last visit-- they seem to be off or wrong. I'll go into the topic that is lit up, thinking there are new posts, and there are no red folders (which are supposed to indicate new responses since your last visit in a specific topic.)