News - Forum changes, and your thoughts please!

[scm]

The wiki sounds like a huge undertaking but we'll look into it.

That sounds like a project for someone with time on their hands!

And I believe SCM has just volunteered themselves to be the responsible adult for this task given you have a post count exceeding one million across two forums which clearly indicates you have time on your hands

Ah but sadly, technical competence is required as well as time.

[scm]

I too like the "latest post" feature. At present, my first action when visiting is to press the "What's New" button.

I just look at the index page and see which sections have new posts, and then click the red icon next to each updated thread subject - easy to get to the unread posts that way for me.

[Kev]

That sounds like a project for someone with time on their hands!

And I believe SCM has just volunteered themselves to be the responsible adult for this task given you have a post count exceeding one million across two forums which clearly indicates you have time on your hands

Ah but sadly, technical competence is required as well as time.

This is one of those tasks where you can learn on the job as you collate all of the information. Just think, you could get yourself an OBE if you succeed. Or some sausages once they’re released from captivity

[Moss]

1) Enforce additional details such as signatures on user profiles at point of registration. Useful to know country, current car engine, MY or status "owner, looking, selling" etc.

Signature information is definitely on the radar, though it may take a short while to introduce. We don't want anything which will turn people away, either by being onerous to do (eg lengthy questionnaires to join the forum) or forcing those who like privacy to reveal a lot of information, so I'm not sure exactly what form those things will take at this moment.

May I respectfully suggest that too much ID of specific cars / locations might turn people away? I think this one needs to be thought through with care.
Just my tuppence worth and not intended to offend.

[AdminFred]

1) Enforce additional details such as signatures on user profiles at point of registration. Useful to know country, current car engine, MY or status "owner, looking, selling" etc.

Signature information is definitely on the radar, though it may take a short while to introduce. We don't want anything which will turn people away, either by being onerous to do (eg lengthy questionnaires to join the forum) or forcing those who like privacy to reveal a lot of information, so I'm not sure exactly what form those things will take at this moment.

May I respectfully suggest that too much ID of specific cars / locations might turn people away? I think this one needs to be thought through with care.
Just my tuppence worth and not intended to offend.

Thank you, I tend to agree, and I think as things stand we will probably incorporate the feature but make it optional, but remain open to conversation around it...

[cj10jeeper]

Good to hear the forum is undergoing an update. So much is good so it should be incremental changes.

Few comments:
Search function just isn’t up to spec. Very difficult to narrow down what you are seeking resulting in reams or nothing.
Sponsors are important to fund forums, but let’s not let them fill the forum with responses that are hidden sales efforts. Give them a page so they can set out their stall, but for users to access it not to show as new posts all the time.
Keep the forum clean. Some get ruined by quotes of posts that become endless with repeat of pages of photos.
Have more rigorous control of the spam posters who get on and ask 1 random question or comment and are clearly not ‘real’ users.
Rank users, newbie, novice, expert. Part by post count, part by quality and value of input.
Keep up the good work - great forum

[AdminFred]

Good to hear the forum is undergoing an update. So much is good so it should be incremental changes.

Few comments:
Search function just isn’t up to spec. Very difficult to narrow down what you are seeking resulting in reams or nothing.
Sponsors are important to fund forums, but let’s not let them fill the forum with responses that are hidden sales efforts. Give them a page so they can set out their stall, but for users to access it not to show as new posts all the time.
Keep the forum clean. Some get ruined by quotes of posts that become endless with repeat of pages of photos.
Have more rigorous control of the spam posters who get on and ask 1 random question or comment and are clearly not ‘real’ users.
Rank users, newbie, novice, expert. Part by post count, part by quality and value of input.
Keep up the good work - great forum

Thank you very much, all of this input is most gratefully received.

First, regarding incremental changes, we'll be moving to a new bulletin board software, and hosting, and so I'm afraid the most significant change will have to happen in one step. We're all hoping, and crossing our fingers, that it will pass off without technical problems. The software etc which we'll be using is amongst the most mature and well-respected in the industry, so we're not doing anything novel there.

The new software comes with a much better search function.

We're defining how sponsorship will work, but I'm fundamentally in favour of being reasonable and inclusive, and if a sponsor has something valuable to add in conversation, I'm not against that being part of the landscape.

Photos are welcome, in the right place, but I agree that the way quotes work here is not ideal.

You're not the first person to allege that we have a new crop of 'spam' posters here, but we've looked carefully at several accounts recently and there is nothing to suggest that they are not genuine. We'll continue to monitor...

Yes, some kind of ranking system may come along, though possibly not at first, and we need to avoid anything which puts off dissenting voices. One of the biggest problems in forums and social media is how conversations get silo'd, and simply rotate endlessly around the same people expressing the same points of view. We'd like to avoid that.

[cj10jeeper]

Thanks AdminFred

Let me not requote the thread endlessly but a couple of items of clarification as it seems you've covered off a lot of the comments very clearly which is appreciated.

'Spam' posters may not be the correct term but several recent new joiners asking one line questions or posting rather random comments, no details if they have an F Type or are seeking buying one, then no further forum engagement. Just rather pointless and annoying to see these threads..
I agree ranking is a tough one and for many years ran a Jeep forum, where recognition of the contribution of long standing, expert or otherwise valuable contributing members was well received by all. Certainly agree re not putting off people. Many forums can be rather a bit of a clique and don't encourage healthy dialogue.
Sponsors can often bring great value, knowledge and insight and should indeed post and respond in threads, but not a blatant redirection their product or service. Just a balance.

[WhoKnows]

Whilst I agree eith the sentiment, stopping sponsors being blatant is likely to be only done with moderation rather than automated.

Maybe at least insisting sponsors and companies should be clear in their signature that they are a company will mean we can differentiate between a fellow contributor recommending something and a company promoting their product

[MArtyn Veg]

Great forum and great news you’re working to keep improving.

I agree with gasgas and mickjaguar re the latest replies first please when we click on a post. I’ve just scrolled through 38 now on this post to get to the latest reply is a good example.

Keep up the good work. Brilliant forum with brilliant people!