Too many forums

Pres712 · 11-01-2006, 07:35 AM

Just a thought....Why so many forums? Not counting the Club Forums, there are 18 to pick from. I know you are trying not to be like another "forum" but I think they need to be narrowed down a bit. General, tech, wash & wax???

My 2 cents worth....

ynkedad · 11-01-2006, 08:54 AM

I like the way the forums have been broke down into different topics and areas of interest. Yes, it can be confusing at first, but aren't they all!?

When i'm looking for a specific type forum, whether it's florida happenings, mods, general bs, fun, etc. It makes it easier for me to find.
Same goes for when i'm wondering where to post a question, thoughts or whatever. I'm able to post it where it'll get the most attention.

I think it saves from having a lot of stuff being posted in the wrong places.
IMO, a lot of thought went into this forum to make it more user friendly and/or Less Confusing.

On this other club forum, I'm never sure Where to Post certain topics or questions. Sometimes they'd send it to another area in the forum or just lock it. Sometimes they wouldn't do anything to posts that were carbon copies of the ones they had just moved or locked.

Maybe it is "who you know".?

I'm not by any means bashing this other club forum, as I still use it often. I'm just pointing out Some of the differences I see between them, and why I think this one is less confusing .

My .02 cents.

JIM KILL · 11-01-2006, 09:32 AM

WELL SAID "ynkedad"

Melsy · 11-01-2006, 11:48 AM

I'm with you ynkedad.

**Rich Z** · 11-01-2006, 12:25 PM

Too complicated? Compared to what?

This is probably one of the least complicated sites I have ever seen. Certainly the least complicated one I have created.....

Actually I thought I was being EXTREMELY conservative with the number of forums here. I could have easily put in 10 times the number you see now with very little effort. And honestly, that may happen in a few years if traffic warrants it.

I look at the purpose of a forum being not only having members POST in relevant forums, but also being able to FIND info they may be seeking as easily as possible. As the number of posts increase, the relative number per topic will increase as well, which then leads to subtopics. Just the Maintenance, Mods, & Tips forum itself, if traffic warranted it, could be broken down into separate forums for each of the main topics there. Heck there are websites dedicated to DETAILING all by itself.

There are always tradeoffs for something like this, of course. A larger format with a lot of forums may actually be better for more accurately categorizing topics, but it can be confusing, since overlap is inevitable, and even if traffic is rather heavy, the number of posts spread out over a large number of forums just makes it LOOK much more lightly traveled than it really is. Which will sometimes put off prospective new members. But on the other hand, having a single forum as a catchall for ALL postings, although looking very active, makes trying to find anything a real chore. So you simply try to strike a compromise somewhere in the middle, then adjust things as conditions dictate a change.

But honestly, trying to please everyone, simply because the breadth of experience will vary from complete wet behind the ears newbies, to people who have been visiting sites like this for years (even running some of their own), is pretty much impossible to do.

JIM KILL · 11-01-2006, 12:51 PM

TO RICH:

YOU SAID IT ALL!!

ynkedad · 11-01-2006, 04:13 PM

I gotta tell ya.
For a guy that lives down a dirt road, Messes with reptiles, totes a gun and parks their Vette in a car port vs. a garage, you're very articulate.

I just may have to change my definition of a "red neck"

.
Just playing.
I only joke about this, because I live off a dirt road, park in a car port, have several guns, but I dislike reptiles

.
I will admit, I do need to brush up on my language and typing skills though

.

I especially liked the last statement you wrote Quote: "But honestly, trying to please everyone, simply because the breadth of experience will vary from complete wet behind the ears newbies, to people who have been visiting sites like this for years (even running some of their own), is pretty much impossible to do." It's so very true!
TTYL,

~Ray

**Rich Z** · 11-01-2006, 07:02 PM

Why thank you, Ray. I guess this is where I need to admit that I am a Damn Yankee! in disguise...

Z06 Rocket · 11-01-2006, 07:38 PM

I just hit the "New Posts" link and read all the new responses since my last visit no matter what forum it's in.

Lou G · 11-04-2006, 05:42 PM

Rich, thank you. You have done a great job with this forum.
I like it just the way it is. By the way, since I started coming to this forum, I seldom go to the other ones.