[CAUT] Forum format (was Re: Requirements forcontributing/posting; RPT status

[David Ilvedson]

That is similar to Piano World's Forums...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Jim Harvey" <harvey.pianotech at gmail.com>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Received: 7/15/2008 8:59:54 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Forum format (was Re: Requirements forcontributing/posting; RPT status


>Fred/others,

>I have no reason to soapbox one way or another on this matter, but
>what I believe Alan is referring to is not without precedent. And yes,
>it does involve a bulletin board "approach", but with more streamlined
>software than the old days. A subscription is often required to POST
>messages, otherwise usually free to browse.

>There are plus and minus characteristics of such a setup. On the plus
>side, a hierarchy can be created to focus on certain types of posts.
>[Aside, long ago I generated a system that is useful for such a
>subdivision of topics/subtopics.] Moderator(s) can move posts to more
>appropriate areas, stop posting of certain threads that have wandered
>too far, outlived their usefulness (information since proved
>incorrect), restrict/lock out offensive users and/or behavior, create
>'sticky' posts that do exactly as the term implies, and many other
>options. The users also have a bunch of options available to them.

>Note the plural of the word moderators. Here is where the minus
>characteristics kick in. Andy Rudolph has always advocated an 'open'
>structure, with any policing, if any, done internally by the group.
>Hmm, kind of like PTG itself. Per Andy's model, this would preclude
>moderator(s), unless, paraphrasing Andy, someone wants to step up to
>the job.

>The other, arguably significant downside and tradeoff to the power of
>these systems routinely mean you must "go there"... live... instead of
>having the latest traffic delivered to your inbox.

>As one of many examples, I offer as an example a board that I visit,
>and one that all of us might benefit from at one time or another:
><http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/>

>That's enough for now, except that on a personal level, I do not like
>our existing archive search routine. It's true that anything can be
>found, but only if one lives long enough to wade through all the fluff
>and non-substance. This is typical of the Google engine however; eg; I
>want to know the maximum air pressure for my vehicle tires, and enter
>the appropriate search terms. On page two or three, I might find a
>snippet that applies, but not before wading through the two pages
>consisting of where to buy tires six states away!

>Whoops! Sorry, hit a sore spot, and it's my own fault.


>On Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 10:27 AM, Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu> wrote:
>> Hi Alan,
>>        Is there an example of such an animal out there that you have been
>> subscribed to and have found useful and amenable? As opposed to the
>> "bulletin board" or blog formats where there is an initial "item" (could be
>> an article, a product, whatever) and then a bunch of comments posted (which
>> could be sent automatically to everyone who is involved). [With that kind of
>> format (ie, on a web page with comments posted below something or other), I
>> find that I am only interested in wading through if there has been, like on
>> Amazon, a way for readers to say "this was useful," which makes it possible
>> to "skip the crap" without wading through pages of posts.]
>>        Personally, I have my doubts that there would be enough interest in
>> such a complex means of communication: You have to search for an appropriate
>> thread before asking a question or posting an idea. What if nobody is
>> "there" (nobody happens to be subscribed to that topic, or nobody you want
>> to communicate with)? You start a new topic. How long before somebody else
>> notices? somebody responds? I guess it is a good way of creating an
>> organized archives, but I'm not so sure it works with "real people in real
>> time." Maybe you have seen an example in real life that functions well, and
>> can provide some testimony.


>-- 
>Jim Harvey, RPT
><harvey.pianotech at gmail.com>
><www.harveypiano.com>