Proposal: creating sub-categories in the Technical Discussion Board

[Oliver B.]

I absolutely appreciate the NCRS Technical Discussion Board - boy, what a wealth of information!

Just one thing that appears to be improved (or maybe I just have not found out how/where to customize my view accordingly): being in the German corvetteforum a lot, I learned that threads very often are being answered, re-asked and re-answered and discussed a big lot more than here.
This is simply due to the fact that threads stay "up front" a lot longer than here (tomorrow my today's post will be on the second page already) - so more people get to see and read them immediately (instead of screening the next couple of pages with "fresh threads" as well) and contribute to them...

Same can be introduced here by creating sub-categories within the Tech Discussion Board with their individual load of "new posts". So, if I am mainly interested in the sharks, I can go to that category first and read other ones later as time permits.

Here is the order copied/translated from the German forum (changed as I found it suitable for NCRS-needs):

C1
C2
C3
C4
(C5 and C6 should these be needed)
General Technical Topics
Good to Know
Meeting Each Other
Related Items
Pictures (only)
Legislative (maybe)
For Sale
Looking For
Off Topic

Additional to these sub-categories there is another one view showing all new threads since the last visit...

What do you think, and who would need to be addressed for a change like that?

Cheers from Germany
Oliver

[Oliver B.]

Re: Proposal: creating sub-categories in the Technical Discussion Board

On http://www.corvetteforum.de you can see the start-page with the overview of latest threads and if you click "Foren" (http://www.corvetteforum.de/index.php) you can see an overview of the subcategories...

[Rob M.]

Re: Proposal: creating sub-categories in the Technical Discussion Board

Hi Olivier,

The reason why the current way of working is implemented is to mimic the old setup making it easy for all people involved to get used to the new format. This forum software has much more possibilities, like the possibility to use sub-categories. Initialialy it has been decided to use on a minimal basis so people won't get lost in all the new possibilities of this new forum.

Nevertheless it is good to think ahead and to consider new sub-categories. We already created a Forum Help area and a Forum Test area and some will follow in the future when the need is recognised.

Although the advantages of sub-categories as stated by yourself are evident there also are some disadvantages to consider: e.g. if you are interrested in C1, C2 and C3's you need to monitor three areas instead of one, personally I like nearly everything which is posted in the Technical area so currently it is matching my neads perfectly. This doesn't mean it is the best solution but carefull consideration is needed when these changes are considered...

The best thing to do is getting actively involved. E.g. volunteer to be a form moderator or, if you have programming skills, join our development team. Also discussing your suggestions with your regional director (Mark Lincoln vp@ncrs.org) is an option to get things changed within the NCRS.

Don't get me wrong. We are monitoring the remarks, suggestions and wishes of our members seriously and sometimes things are picked up, discussed and considered and finally implemented (e.g. like the online Driveline) but we have to consider the desires of 15,000+ members/families and can't implement the wishes of each individual member right away without carefull consideration.

We encourage people making suggestions (like you do) and please continue to do so but take in account it sometimes takes a while to sink in and implement...

Notes:
1) The For Sale and Looking For sub-sections won't stand a chance as forum sub-categories but we are investigating alternatives which can co-exist next to the Driveline (and not cannabalising eachothers revenue)...

2) If you click the thread icon (e.g. 53 - 55) the threads in the sub-category are filtered for the threads flagged with the selected thread icon. This reduces the amount of threads to the ones of your intrest. A downside of this is it heavely depends on the posters flagging their threads with the correct icon...

[Oliver B.]

Re: Proposal: creating sub-categories in the Technical Discussion Board

Hi Rob and thanks for your reply.

Fully understandable, that changes of whatever quality do take time - so that is not an issue.

Well, I - just as well - am interested in more than just the 70s cars; but to handle the sheer amount of new threads, it helps (at least me) to focus on one of those sub-catgories first, and working though the others later.

On 1): so, a For Sale section would rival the Driveline-ads? Okay, that's a point. And with the Driveline online, this pretty much serves the same purpose.

On 2): okay, I did not figure out that functionality - will try to right-away.

I hear you well, your challenge to volunteer for moderator-status. Unfortunately I do lack programming skills... But we will see, if cannot be of other benefit to the community.

Take care
Oliver

[Oliver B.]

Re: Proposal: creating sub-categories in the Technical Discussion Board

Selecting (in my case) the 73-77 threads works really well...
But, after doing so, no more threads appeared "unread" - strange.

Then, would it be of GENERAL benefit (I had to screen through some pages to find the first 73-77 article to make that selection) to offer this kind of "search view" centrally - say, be able to pick it on the first page view? That would help, I guess...