seeking input about forums

[Rigorous Intuition]

The board's moving fast - that's a good thing - and we've nearly filled the second forum. Unfortunately, I'm too swamped with life and such right now to get it together to migrate to a new platform. So I'm considering something that's been suggested several times to me: rather than create a new numbered general forum, create several themed forums, each devoted to a specific topic.<br><br>Advantages would be that archived topics would become active again as they move to new homes, it would be easier to find topics of interest, and the need to create new forums as old fill would not be so acute. <br><br>A disadvantage is that the interdisciplinary discourse may be lost. (Unless, I suppose, I create a forum specifically for that. Just thinking aloud here.)<br><br>Anyway, let me know what you think. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p097.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=rigorousintuition>Rigorous Intuition</A> at: 8/17/05 6:42 pm<br></i>

[heath7]

Because of the interdisciplinary concern, I'd say keep to the numbered forums for now, at least until more people start trying to recycle old threads<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> (interdisciplinary is good, mm'kay)<br><br>...Just a thought<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[chiggerbit]

Considering how ezboard is set up, I suspect your solution is necessary. Hope "too swamped with life and such right now" is a positive for you, Jeff. Hang in there, you have a tiger by the tail. <p></p><i></i>

[ZeroHaven]

The ultimate problem! How does a collective mind organize it's thoughts. <br>From my years of experience online, and poster trends here, I did half my best. My other head is in the wash.<br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Announcements</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - board announcements, weddings, rallies, new books published by members, etc.<br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Members</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - new here? want to share a personal story? put it here. (dunno if people WANT to get to know each other!)<br><br><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:maroon;"><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Rigorous Discussion</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></span><!--EZCODE FONT END--> -section <br>(these are my best guesses, and where to put stuff will be too)<br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Business & Money</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - Corporate buyouts, Carlyle Group, the sinking Dollar<br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Constitution & Law</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - Old laws, new laws, misinterpretations.<br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Science & Technology</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - Innovations for a brighter tomorrow, implants, hubble findings<br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Mysticism & Occult</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - Seems like several people here are doing research on it.<br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Sex</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - lots of that around here.. <br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Religion</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - The Pope did WHAT?<br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Non Human Intelligence</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - Aliens, AI<br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>It's Everywhere!</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - post covers too many categories, general section<br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:maroon;">Conspiracy Discussion</span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - section (add new headings if needed)<br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>9/11<br>NWO<br>JFK</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Mysterious Accidents</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - possibly assisted suicides, plane crashes<br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Latest Bombings</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>(i really don't know what the conspiracies are..)<br><br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Creativity</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - interactive stuff like the "share original poetry" thread, member art, stories?<br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Fun & Games</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - just for stupid stuff.. like that "Bush Comic" generator, or dropping links like "moon.google.com"<br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Strange News</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - just odd things that are found that may have relevence. Thread examples:<br>"report of unusual activity at Texas base "<br>"Antarctic ice anomaly could be man-made structure "<br><br>_____________<br>It's a half-decent baseline to get going on. I believe the board code will let you do sections with cute-sie names.<br>At the very least, if you dislike my ideas then they've helped to narrow the options <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/ZeroHaven/tinhat.gif"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p097.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=zerohaven>ZeroHaven</A> at: 8/16/05 7:15 pm<br></i>

[chiggerbit]

Weird, 659, 7:00, 7:02 <p></p><i></i>

[smiths]

it is interessting how a lot of posts end up with dicussions that are off topic, i check threads now that purely going on the title hold no real interest for me, but am searching for hidden gems of conversation/info.<br>i think an ordering of sections is a good idea and there is an obvious difference between currently relevant and archived material. i also think you would want to keep section numbers small. <br>encourage people to stay on topic or create a new thread in the relevant section, and encourage people to find and link across to other articles within the relevant section as antaristo currently does <p></p><i></i>

[Seventhson]

People can alweays link to older threads and they are NOT buried in topics that are onscure to some. many boards have the problem of becoming to dissipated. One or two forums usually dominate and the rest suck or are pracxtically invisible (except to a handful)<br><br>The way it is now everybody pretty much either weighs in or not on that which seems important and I generally, if I have time, read all the threads looking foir gems in the interdisciplinary style. But you have to look at every title and decide which to engage in. <br><br>If you do go to "off topics" like RA or alein abduction or Conspiracies, etc and a general forum, then I think it dilutes the strength of having them all piled together in one topic like a drawing of Tarot cards with things next to each and as you go through them you cover a magnificent array of fascinating subjects in minutes.<br><br>I have been reading Jung and it is amazing to me how astute he was at observing how our prejudices and subjectivity blind us to the perceptions of others and the meaning of symbols and ordinary or extraordinary or nonordinary events for others who do not share our "reality indoctrination" or worldview.<br><br>Forcing us together in numbered forums (and maybe if you did it no more than two or three would really be a good idea if at all) forces us to explore the subjective views of others (if only in topic titles) that we might entirely miss.<br><br>Plus, for folks like me on a slow computer it is so much easier just to scroll through a page or two or three of topics to find what "my threads", where I have posted either topic or comment, are doing.<br><br>I think RA and mystical threads might get overlooked by those who have not been exposed or are ready UNLESS you keep them in numbered threads.<br><br>My two cents. <br><br>Seventhson<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[marykmusic]

The way it is now, we are all exposed to many new ideas that we might not ever click on given a segmented set of fora.<br><br>As it is, I also keep my eye not only on certain topics/threads, but am also drawn to some of my favorite posters. I will check out whatever some folks have to say on any subject.<br><br>I do think that the thread titles themselves are enough of an indication of topics; and sometimes they turn into entirely unexpected but not unwelcome ideas and other subjects.<br><br>A poetry thread? Mine are all songs, about 250 of them, but don't worry; I won't post them all (some are quite embarrassing.) --MaryK <p></p><i></i>

[Peachtree Pam]

I agree with 7th and MaryK. You learn so much from little off-topic comments and links... <p></p><i></i>

[st4]

Pleeeeeeeeease don't start a forum here with the word "Conspiracy" in it. It has way too many negative connotations attached to it. IMHO of course. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[slimmouse]

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>I agree with 7th and MaryK. You learn so much from little off-topic comments and links...<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--> <br><br> I agree with the both of the above, but to be honest I like WRHs archiving system.<br><br> Basically how that works, is that all current topics displayable on the main page ( which in our case would be the current set of 20 discussion pages - and obviously the most frequently trafficked ) are bundled together as we have here.<br><br> But the previous discussions are then archived in simple categories (maybe under 6 headings) which will make them easier to find for the purpose of cross reference. <p></p><i></i>

[ZeroHaven]

I see nobody likes change, how normal of you all <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>To offset the load, I still think it would be a good idea to pull out SOME of the side stuff.<br>To me it doesn't feel right to just dump EVERYTHING in one pile, although I agree most of it really is one big pile.<br><br>How about something slimmer like:<br>Leave the "Open Discussion" as a series of numbered 'topic' areas.<br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Rants & Diversions</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> - not really significant items, personal creativity, fun sites, and the occasional "why's this board not working" posts. <br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Obituaries</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> -- accidents, sites going down, articles that mysteriously got deleted, and actual significant deaths.<br>----<br>even taking this tiny load off the main section would extend each numbered discussion's life. <br><br> <p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/ZeroHaven/tinhat.gif"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></p><i></i>

[jenz]

I read ZeroH's list and didn't see r.a. (without that the whole point is lost. I guess a lot of you don't agree with that sentiment, pity ) <p></p><i></i>

[Rigorous Intuition]

Appreciate all the imput. Here's what I'm leaning towards, let me know how this sounds:<br><br>1. Maintain a General Discussion for live threads, perhaps adding a forum for off-topic banter.<br><br>2. Create topical forums in which to slot archived threads. <br> <br>This would keep the discussion from fragmenting, yet make it easier to find archived subjects of interest.<br> <p></p><i></i>

[proldic]

Proldic votes yea <p></p><i></i>