Feedback/suggestion - re-org?

dietDrThunder

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tl;dr - The relentless moving of threads from the 'discussion' forum to specific sub-forums makes for a dreadful forum browsing experience, and is the primary reason I don't frequent the place.

I do greatly appreciate the dedication to moderating the forum, no doubt about that. Please take this for what it is, which is _constructive_ criticism.

When the % of posts that you have to move approaches half, maybe it's time to reconsider the structure of the forum itself. I am reminded of large spaces where people walk to get to various destinations. Inevitably, some common pathways are missed during the sidewalk design phase, and new paths are worn into the grass that demonstrate how real people actually use the space. A good manager of that space would recognize these pathways and facilitate their use. N ineffective manager of that space would needlessly work to discourage the pathways, regardless of how much evidence there is that they're needed. THis causes the manager much consternation and much time and effort, and causes the users of the space annoyance and inconvenience...results neither desired nor intended by anyone involved.
 

Dogdaze

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I like that, makes sense. Only problem is, if you let anyone walk wherever they wanted to across this manicured lawn, eventually you'll end up with just a patch of mud..........
Sometimes a subject matter is raised so often that through lack of navigating the search feature becomes yet another 'same same' thread. You could end up with 100's of new threads about tires/ tyres for example. It will never be easy unless everyone is given a walk through of how to search for threads that are similar, take a test, pass, then allowed to contribute.
 

Checkswrecks

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We really do appreciate the comment and we do try to move as few as possible, but would like to hear from more people about this.


The problem is that a LOT of folks will post whatever in the sub-forum where they happen to be and as Dogdaze wrote, a number of the sub-forums had turned to mud. We try to send an email to new folks pointing out the sub-forums and that the search function works, but getting people to do so is another matter. The worst was the "Super Tenere Discussion" section, which had everything imaginable.



So, what do others think?
 

Nikolajsen

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I have no problem with moved threads....
Actually....I am a little autistic ;-) so I like things in correct place.
 

WJBertrand

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The moved threads don't seem to be a problem as there's always an announcement as to where they went. Not a big deal. Some forums just move the thread and only tell (or perhaps more accurately, scold) the author/poster leaving everyone else wondering what's happened to it.
 

steve68steve

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It's one of the best and worst things about the forum, IMO. When I'm searching for information, it's super convenient that there are relevant "libraries". It's also frustrating to surf the forum, browse, and easily communicate with the whole population.


Let me add my voice to those appreciating the moderators - a thankless, endless, job done well.
 

barkingllizard

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I believe I am going to disagree with dietDrThunder and somewhat agree with steve68steve...

from the main page
I see Super Tenere Discussions, with about 4 days of the most recent posts and
I see General Discussions, with about 6 days of the most recent posts,
that keeps me up-to-date on happening within our community, even if I didn't visit the forum everyday...

for some of the more specific issues, like last night, the search function has been excellent for finding the available answers
and I only have to remember to revisit, using the same search, and add my experiences when the parts FINALLY arrive...

so, I find, the information is there and the moderators are doing an excellent job to insure that,
unlike some other forums who have gone well past their best before date.....
 

Andylaser

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You should be able to move threads without leaving a redirect message.

The thread goes into the correct forum and no random threads saying "this has been moved there".

Much tidier result and most people wouldn't know its been moved.
 

dietDrThunder

Why so serious, son?
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Andylaser said:
You should be able to move threads without leaving a redirect message.

The thread goes into the correct forum and no random threads saying "this has been moved there".

Much tidier result and most people wouldn't know its been moved.
This seems like a reasonable alternative. The issue would be to have a way that the OP and anyone who replies to the thread pre-move get notified in some fashion, to avoid 'hey, where did that thread go; it was just here, I know it!' issues. Even as I type that, it doesn't really seem doable in a manageable way. Hmm.

To expand on my original point, it is my opinion that the reason there's so much errant posting in the discussion thread is that there are so many sub-forums that for a newcomer, and a person new to forums especially, a post like "what windshield are you using" feels like general discussion, while the sub-forums seem at casual glance to be for people who are deeply involved in details and technical discussions etc. I would use the ADV forum as a great example of a place that needs minimal moderation when it comes to thread location. That's because there aren't a million sub forums that break down the details of possible topics of discission. For example, there is one 'equipment' forum, even though on a forum that size you could easily justify individual forums for gloves, helmets, jackets, bike covers, etc. etc. Just a thought.

Anyway, the point of my original public park metaphor is that if maintaining the integrity of this forum (and it is maintained, and to a very high standard) requires as much intervention as it seems to, it might be because the sidewalks aren't in the right places, so to speak.

Also, I am very grateful that my post was replied to in the spirit in which it was intended in the first place. I am very thankful that this forum is here, and I am equally grateful that Checkswrecks is so dedicated to the care and feeding of the forums. It is not lost on me that without his tireless work, there would be no Tenere forum for me to be posting this in.
 

Checkswrecks

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Andylaser said:
You should be able to move threads without leaving a redirect message.

The thread goes into the correct forum and no random threads saying "this has been moved there".

Much tidier result and most people wouldn't know its been moved.
I'm pretty sure we can do that, but then people who have been following their thread (or whatever thread they've been following) can be left wondering where it went.

Is changing to this something that folks would prefer?
 

Dogdaze

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Hey CW, what about something like this, say if someone was interested in a specific shield, for example a V-Stream, then only and all related to that shield about height. buffetting noise etc would be on that only, the same for a specific tyre, again that one only, then in the equipment part a label for that shield/tyre and all the related info.
I know it is hard work and laborious, also no clue as to how you would go about re-organising it and therefore deleting old threads. Maybe people could re-contribute to that again to the 'new' thread?
Just a long term view......... I could just be stir-crazy :(
 

AVGeek

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Dogdaze said:
Hey CW, what about something like this, say if someone was interested in a specific shield, for example a V-Stream, then only and all related to that shield about height. buffetting noise etc would be on that only, the same for a specific tyre, again that one only, then in the equipment part a label for that shield/tyre and all the related info.
I know it is hard work and laborious, also no clue as to how you would go about re-organising it and therefore deleting old threads. Maybe people could re-contribute to that again to the 'new' thread?
Just a long term view......... I could just be stir-crazy :(
That reads more like a wiki type of information storehouse, and moderating posts to follow that format would be more work than I would be willing to take on. The Tech forum has the most categories, and it was setup that way to help with members finding information about windshields without wading through a 1000 oil threads...

We can certainly update our greeting message for newbies to include an overview of what goes where to help, but for the most part, the majority of moved posts happened when the Tech forum was broken down into subforums.

How many people browse via specific forums, versus use Show unread posts since last visit? How many us the Show new replies to your posts option?
 

Dogdaze

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AVGeek said:
That reads more like a wiki type of information storehouse, and moderating posts to follow that format would be more work than I would be willing to take on. The Tech forum has the most categories, and it was setup that way to help with members finding information about windshields without wading through a 1000 oil threads...

We can certainly update our greeting message for newbies to include an overview of what goes where to help, but for the most part, the majority of moved posts happened when the Tech forum was broken down into subforums.

How many people browse via specific forums, versus use Show unread posts since last visit? How many us the Show new replies to your posts option?
I know it would be more work than reward, but just put it out there.
I for one use the 'Unread post since last visit' then look at the ones that I have had an interest in and following....
Either way, it works well for my purpose and I enjoy the forum and appreciate the hard work you mods put in ::008::
 

Checkswrecks

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First off - Thanks for the positive words.

If AvGeek or I don't move a thread when we first see it, going back to move things takes a lot more effort for us than following a link does for the members. Plus, AvGeek has other stuff going on and we are coming into my busy season, so time is really precious.

I know - You all can give us a raise!!!
::015::

Seriously, no problem implementing changes, just trying to see what people would want and balance it against what we have time to do. I do like AndyLaser's idea of turning off the forwarding messages, IF that is what you guys want and we can figure out how to make it happen in the back room.
 
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