[Discussion] Sub-Forums Revisited

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-10-27 02:10am

A long time ago, we mentioned the idea of using sub-forums. At the time, I didn't have time to modify the board software to accommodate sub-forums. However, I've solved that problem, and I can deploy sub-forums at any time. In fact, I have a testbed up and running with sub-forums operational (please note that the actual choice of sub-forums for the demonstration testbed was totally random, and not intended as a suggestion). See it at:

http://bbs2.stardestroyer.net/Archive/

Anybody interested in adding sub-forums? If so, which forums should be sub-forums? Or should new sub-forums be made in existing forums? If so, any suggestions?

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2007-10-27 02:40am

I'd suggest a venting subforum in the HOS, actually.

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2007-10-27 03:09am

A private senate subforum might save a little stress across the board. At the same time people might like the idea of a public gallery.

A few other ideas just off the bat:

G&C might benefit from a Tech Support sub forum
SLAM might like a seperate area for dealing with fundamentalists, leaving SLAM itself for more scientific discussion.
AMP - Maybe like a locked gallery or something
Testing - 'Actual Testing' Throw a bone to the Testingspergers guys by giving actual testers their own sub forum.

OT - Ask/Tell -Blatent Rip off of SA's Ask/Tell.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2007-10-27 03:23am

The long-talked about History forum will finally come into existence as a subforum of OT, or maybe SLAM.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2007-10-27 05:40am

Shep asked me to pass along his worry that too many subforums will result in a whole lot of dead, empty forums since there'd not enough 'critical mass' for continued discussion.

That said, I think a Venting subforum, at the least, would be good to have.

Post by **Edi** » 2007-10-27 07:27am

Putting Pure ST and Pure SW under the SW vs ST as subforums could be a good idea. Same thing for a history forum that could be placed either in OT or N&P. The Tech Support forum under G&C is also a good idea, because the majority of threads are non-tech support and often get easily lost.

Mad · Post by **Mad** » 2007-10-27 12:00pm

Edi wrote:Putting Pure ST and Pure SW under the SW vs ST as subforums could be a good idea.

I disagree. Pure SW or Pure ST have nothing to do with the Versus debates, and so should not be under them in a hierarchy.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2007-10-27 12:26pm

I agree with Spyder, Duchess and Fgalkin's suggestions.

I think that Cleaned/Completed FanFic could become a subforum of the Fanfiction.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2007-10-27 12:28pm

LadyTevar
And actually updated from time to time.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2007-10-27 12:43pm

fgalkin wrote:LadyTevar
And actually updated from time to time.

Indeed.

Having the two sections together might not only remind people to update, but make it easier to do so.

Post by **Dalton** » 2007-10-27 12:47pm

G&C could have a subforum or two for STGOD or other games of that sort.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-10-27 01:00pm

Well, so far I'm not seeing anyone who opposes the addition of this capability, anyway. So it looks like I'll be uploading the change to the main board shortly, and we'll sort out how to arrange the subforums in the next few days.

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2007-10-27 03:32pm

phongn wrote:Shep asked me to pass along his worry that too many subforums will result in a whole lot of dead, empty forums since there'd not enough 'critical mass' for continued discussion.

That said, I think a Venting subforum, at the least, would be good to have.

What we can do is set up some criteria for justifying subforums. I'd suggest looking for repetition, e.g. if we didn't have the IvP moratorium I'd be suggesting an IvP subforum of N&P.

On that subject, if anyone wants to revisit that policy now might be a good time as, correct me if I'm wrong, the original reason was to prevent 9 out of every 10 threads in N&P being IvP.

Connor MacLeod · Post by **Connor MacLeod** » 2007-10-27 03:49pm

The only sort of subforum I could maybe think of is like in Gaming and computers... something along the lines of maybe separate RPG/tabletop games, and video/computer games. I have noticed we seem to have a fair number of 40Kers, but very little 40K tabletop gaming discussion goes on.

Maybe the subforum thing would be good for fanfics as well. We could organize the various fanfiction into different types (sci fi, fantasy, horror, humor, etc.) That could make it easier for people to browse and read.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2007-10-27 06:20pm

I see some value to a history subforum, and a completed fanfic subforum would be a good idea to avoid excessive stickies. G&C doesn’t get enough traffic to justify subforums if you ask me, and I see no reason why senate discussions should suddenly become hidden.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-10-27 10:57pm

Well, I just moved the Completed Fanfic forum into a subforum of the main Fanfic forum, and discovered that the "Forum with Subforum" icon on the main index looks like shit because it was designed exclusively for the subSilver theme. So, it looks like I need to get some themed replacements for these two icons for BlackSoul, digitaltwilight, millenniumFalcon, and VereorLCARS:

As far as I can tell, I just need to add a plus sign to the following icons:

I'll try to get to it when I have time, unless somebody else here is a graphics wizard and can modify them first.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2007-10-28 01:56am

I'd like to volunteer for the task of updating the cleaned up and completed fanfics section, incidentally; no need to make me a moderator or anything grandiose like that, just give me posting privileges if it's possible, and then people who want their fanfiction posted there can PM or e-mail me the completed/cleaned up versions and I can post them.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2007-10-28 02:40am

I would like to second Mari's suggestion. No offense to Stravo, but he hasn't been doing a lot of updating lately, which made the Completed Fanfics forum kinda irrelevant.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-10-28 09:59am

The "folder with subfolder" icons have been replaced on BlackSoul, digitaltwilight, millenniumFalcon, and VereorLCARS (hit F5 to refresh if you're still seeing the old ones). Thanks to Instant Sunrise for making up new ones so quickly. Also thanks to Bounty for doing the same, although Instant Sunrise beat you to the punch

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-10-29 02:28pm

What does everyone think of the following proposed subforum layout?

http://bbs2.stardestroyer.net/Archive/

Check it out and let me know.

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2007-10-29 02:36pm

Darth Wong wrote:What does everyone think of the following proposed subforum layout?

http://bbs2.stardestroyer.net/Archive/

Check it out and let me know.

The only question I have, is how much do we actually want to collapse the forums for discussion of fiction? The Fantasy forum has about the same traffic as the PSW, PST, or STVSW forums. It could probably be tossed in with them as a subforum underneath a "Fiction Discussion" heading, if we wanted.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2007-10-29 03:26pm

Some thoughts from the gallery:

I disagree with the need for subforums, specifically in G&C. Subforming everything results in dead forums. LA partially tried that and people just end up posting very sporadically. You end up having places no one posts in. Same goes for SLAM, why split? Alot of fundie discussions such as "I need help with this debate" repeat themselves, but some turn into actually interesting discussions.

A few further comments, "actual testing" is useless. Anyone intelligient realises they don't actually need a dedicated thread to test their sigs/avs, and these threads are really about "hey, check out my bloody cool avatar I just made" rather then actual testing, so it'd just be a second testingistan. Reminds me I wouldn't mind that being renamed, but I think the senate would shoot that down in a heartbeat.

What could work is a history subforum, or personally, a sports subforum, that way, the sports people get their place to chat, which takes up enough forum view space, and it's a forum people can ignore. I'm guessing, statistically, more people would go and check history AND OT, then would check OT and sports. I.E you'd be acting an extra click and an extra forum to trawl for most people, increasing traffic in a way.

Sub forums that could work is assistance forum for SLAM, or maybe a general 'help me out in this debate', due to the forum culture.
A general guideline here could be, is the amount of traffic about subject X worthy of adding it as a sub forum? If so, why not a full forum? Most people I'm guessing, are not me and don't check everything, so why add an extra step to their check times?

Just some rambling.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2007-10-29 08:38pm

Well... the SWvST under SciFi might not work, although I agree to the Pure forums fitting there. However, it has been dying off of late.

SLAM's "Fundie Showcase" rubs me the wrong way. Whether it's the title for it, or the fact that it's believed we need a subforum for that, I don't know. But I don't like it.

G&C should remain it's own separate forum, with maybe subforums for STGODS and other RPGS.

An Art Gallery for AMP makes sense.

.............. Where's HOS?!?!?

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2007-10-29 08:41pm

LadyTevar wrote:.............. Where's HOS?!?!?

Did you log into the testbed board? HOS is invisible to guests.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2007-10-29 10:21pm

Pablo Sanchez wrote:
LadyTevar wrote:.............. Where's HOS?!?!?
Did you log into the testbed board? HOS is invisible to guests.

I feel stupid now....