Topic: Forum (sguforums.com) Change suggestions

[DRmeg378]

Wonderful. Thanks!

[no1nos]

I just joined and I'm finding the organizational style of the forums fairly overwhelming. Take this post as an example, I wanted to post my suggestion of breaking the skepticism forum into sub-forums for different topic categories. I checked this forum to see if this suggestion has already been made and responded to, but there is just this one topic with 13 pages of posts to try and go through.

I know it would be a big change so I doubt anything would happen, but I have some specific interests (mainly free energy and astronomy) that I want to discuss with like minded individuals, but I don't want to be uncouth and repost a new topic on an article or story that has been previously discussed. I also find it hard to locate existing posts on topics I am interested in. Maybe there are better ways of filtering that I am just not aware of yet, but if not it would be cool to see topic based forums like:

Free Energy
Astronomy/Physics
Conspiracy Theories
Health/Medical
etc.

[Beleth]

Hi, no1nos, and welcome!

I'll admit that this is a pretty daunting thread to go through, but I don't mind if a question has been asked before.

In fact, I think that's a sentiment that's fairly common amongst the membership here.  We won't think bad things about you if you start a thread about something that we've already discussed.  Just make sure it's not on, say, the first page or two, and you'll be fine.

As a rule, the way a new subject-based forum gets created here is if the subject starts to overwhelm another forum here.  That's why there's a Global Warming subforum and not, say, a Sports forum.  If Astronomy or CT topics start crowding out other science/skepticism threads, we'll make a new forum for them.  Until then, go ahead and start threads on topics like those in Skepticism/ Science.

[no1nos]

Hi, no1nos, and welcome!

I'll admit that this is a pretty daunting thread to go through, but I don't mind if a question has been asked before.

In fact, I think that's a sentiment that's fairly common amongst the membership here.  We won't think bad things about you if you start a thread about something that we've already discussed.  Just make sure it's not on, say, the first page or two, and you'll be fine.

As a rule, the way a new subject-based forum gets created here is if the subject starts to overwhelm another forum here.  That's why there's a Global Warming subforum and not, say, a Sports forum.  If Astronomy or CT topics start crowding out other science/skepticism threads, we'll make a new forum for them.  Until then, go ahead and start threads on topics like those in Skepticism/ Science.

Ok, thanks!

[le mig]

I know this forum is only a few years old.. but we're already behind the times, people!

In addition to rather outdated ICQ, AIM, and MSN (or to replace them...), of course there could also be twitter and facebook! 

Quick-add links just to a one's facebook or twitter profile page should be simple enough to incorporate (add the profile input control & then icons link for posts)

I'm not going to go the next step and suggest adding twitter and facebook API-connects/posting functionality.. because that's quite a bit more complicated, but the simple links should be a piece of cake.

PM me if you need help.. I'm also familiar with the APIs if that's also desired.

[pandamonium]

I know this forum is only a few years old.. but we're already behind the times, people!

In addition to rather outdated ICQ, AIM, and MSN (or to replace them...), of course there could also be twitter and facebook! 

Quick-add links just to a one's facebook or twitter profile page should be simple enough to incorporate (add the profile input control & then icons link for posts)

I'm not going to go the next step and suggest adding twitter and facebook API-connects/posting functionality.. because that's quite a bit more complicated, but the simple links should be a piece of cake.

PM me if you need help.. I'm also familiar with the APIs if that's also desired.

I'm assuming this would require work. You must not know us very well.

Most people just put their Facebook/Twitter links in their sigs, but PM TheLostVertex (our tech admin) if you're serious about this. I'm sure he'd love to hear about it.

[wastrel]

I'm assuming this would require work. You must not know us very well.

Most people just put their Facebook/Twitter links in their sigs, but PM TheLostVertex (our tech admin) if you're serious about this. I'm sure he'd love to hear about it.

It actually isn't too difficult to add in SMF, there's a slot for it in the admin section.

I'm an idiot and was easily able to add it to ILS.

[Chew]

Here's a daunting suggestion: how about adding meetup.com type functionality to the calendar? Someone can start a meetup group, others can subscribe to it, and reminders could be emailed or PMed to the members.

Maybe meetup groups can be added to the member map or a separate meetup map could be made. New members can be directed to the meetup/members map as part of the registration process.

[SQ the ΣΛ/IGMд]

Here's a daunting suggestion: how about adding meetup.com type functionality to the calendar? Someone can start a meetup group, others can subscribe to it, and reminders could be emailed or PMed to the members.

Maybe meetup groups can be added to the member map or a separate meetup map could be made. New members can be directed to the meetup/members map as part of the registration process.

Love this idea ^

[gs]

a computer specific forum... for pc techies!  i think it would be really popular

[Reeltarded]

THE EMOTICONS ALL LOOK ANGRY OR DEPRESSIVE!

When I wink, it looks like a snarl. When I smile, I look as if I am digesting human flesh. We're skeptics, not murderous chainsawists.



Jees.. I'll bring my own!

[craig]

I think that it is time to close the Global Warming sub-forum.  Let all the new threads get posted in the general section and let the sunlight disinfect the topic.

[seaotter]

I think that it is time to close the Global Warming sub-forum.  Let all the new threads get posted in the general section and let the sunlight disinfect the topic.

Fine, it does't seem to slow the new threads in the ghetto, by the regular suspects.

[Beleth]

April 13? Really?  Wow I suck.

I know this forum is only a few years old.. but we're already behind the times, people!

In addition to rather outdated ICQ, AIM, and MSN (or to replace them...), of course there could also be twitter and facebook! 

You're right, but the step before that is to upgrade to SMF 2.0 Gold.  Which reminds me, it's time for my monthly nag to TLV about that.

If there are published mods to SMF to do those things, we can certainly install 'em.

Here's a daunting suggestion: how about adding meetup.com type functionality to the calendar? Someone can start a meetup group, others can subscribe to it, and reminders could be emailed or PMed to the members.

Maybe meetup groups can be added to the member map or a separate meetup map could be made. New members can be directed to the meetup/members map as part of the registration process.

Same answer. 

a computer specific forum... for pc techies!  i think it would be really popular

I make new subforums on a purely reactive basis.  If a topic is overrunning a ore general forum, I'll split off a subforum for it.  In other words, to get a computer-specific forum, start making lots of good computer-specific threads!

THE EMOTICONS ALL LOOK ANGRY OR DEPRESSIVE!

When I wink, it looks like a snarl. When I smile, I look as if I am digesting human flesh. We're skeptics, not murderous chainsawists.

I know an excellent optometrist you can make an appointment with.

I think that it is time to close the Global Warming sub-forum.  Let all the new threads get posted in the general section and let the sunlight disinfect the topic.

I'll keep an eye on this.  I was under the impression that it was still quite active.  If it turns out that lots of new threads are made all the time, the a subforum is still the right place for them.

[craig]

It is not the volume in the Global Warming sub-forumthat is a problem, it is the tone.  Because of its "members only" status it has become increasingly abusive in nature.  I just think that, in the absence of moeration, the best solution is to retun it to the general forums so that people will behave better.