Dear All,
We're currently looking at potential changes of the forum structure, with the aims to both modernise how we work and increase participation in the discussion we have across the site. The structure has remained pretty constant since day one, and now is perhaps the time to look at how we are doing things.
Present Setup
Started to write out a response and the battery ran out of juice...
Whilst the current format may not help flowing conversations and contributors feel as though they are going off topic, I think it helps the forum remain in 'good nick', uniform and ensures a consistency that other forums don't have.
I feel like a move back to user generated threads may see a lot more bitching occur.
Comments such as 'why have you posted that here, when there is already conversation there?'; 'What is the point of you posting that, when it's already posted' etc etc.
Appreciate we may see it now and again in the current style, but those types of comments appeared quite a bit in the past and I feel they would make a return, if the forum was to return to the user generated threads again.
I predict duplication (more than now) and repeated questions (more than now).
Wouldnt this end up with ever ending sub forums starting up?, most of the rare and odd sub forums messages are pointless and waste of time, for the latest news forum it's what it says on the tin, same as service changes forum, all am saying is that it's going to be out of control with sub forums starting up and making a mess, didn't the sub forums for latest, odd etc... started up in the first place due to sub forums getting out of control in the first place?
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(22 Nov 2017, 9:09 pm)cbma06 Wouldnt this end up with ever ending sub forums starting up?, most of the rare and odd sub forums messages are pointless and waste of time, for the latest news forum it's what it says on the tin, same as service changes forum, all am saying is that it's going to be out of control with sub forums starting up and making a mess, didn't the sub forums for latest, odd etc... started up in the first place due to sub forums getting out of control in the first place?
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(22 Nov 2017, 8:54 pm)Andreos1 Started to write out a response and the battery ran out of juice...
Whilst the current format may not help flowing conversations and contributors feel as though they are going off topic, I think it helps the forum remain in 'good nick', uniform and ensures a consistency that other forums don't have.
I feel like a move back to user generated threads may see a lot more bitching occur.
Comments such as 'why have you posted that here, when there is already conversation there?'; 'What is the point of you posting that, when it's already posted' etc etc.
Appreciate we may see it now and again in the current style, but those types of comments appeared quite a bit in the past and I feel they would make a return, if the forum was to return to the user generated threads again.
I predict duplication (more than now) and repeated questions (more than now).
(22 Nov 2017, 9:09 pm)cbma06 Wouldnt this end up with ever ending sub forums starting up?, most of the rare and odd sub forums messages are pointless and waste of time, for the latest news forum it's what it says on the tin, same as service changes forum, all am saying is that it's going to be out of control with sub forums starting up and making a mess, didn't the sub forums for latest, odd etc... started up in the first place due to sub forums getting out of control in the first place?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
(22 Nov 2017, 8:54 pm)Andreos1 Started to write out a response and the battery ran out of juice...
Whilst the current format may not help flowing conversations and contributors feel as though they are going off topic, I think it helps the forum remain in 'good nick', uniform and ensures a consistency that other forums don't have.
I feel like a move back to user generated threads may see a lot more bitching occur.
Comments such as 'why have you posted that here, when there is already conversation there?'; 'What is the point of you posting that, when it's already posted' etc etc.
Appreciate we may see it now and again in the current style, but those types of comments appeared quite a bit in the past and I feel they would make a return, if the forum was to return to the user generated threads again.
I predict duplication (more than now) and repeated questions (more than now).
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showth...379&page=2
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showth...hp?tid=576
I've been having a scoot about to see what was said in previous thread discussions.
Will edit the post as I find more. Interesting to see comments from a few years back relating to the subject.
(22 Nov 2017, 9:19 pm)Adrian My own opinion, and other have raised it too with me, is that they're exactly that - a pointless waste of time. We want threads created on the forum that generate discussion, and having an endless list of "X is on Y today" serves no purpose to anyone. But perhaps someone creating a thread about reliability of Stagecoach's Omnilinks, for example, would be?
Nobody can create sub forums but admins, and our view would be one forum for each Go North East, Arriva NE, and Stagecoach NE - no sub forums to that, and the rest of the forum would remain as is.
On the other hand, it does create a problem in searching for something specific, and it is not very friendly for search engines.
I think bitching will happen with online communities regardless, but we'd have to be prepared for that and nip it in the bud, when it does occur. The forum guidelines are quite clear that moderation should be left to the moderators.
(22 Nov 2017, 9:19 pm)Adrian My own opinion, and other have raised it too with me, is that they're exactly that - a pointless waste of time. We want threads created on the forum that generate discussion, and having an endless list of "X is on Y today" serves no purpose to anyone. But perhaps someone creating a thread about reliability of Stagecoach's Omnilinks, for example, would be?
Nobody can create sub forums but admins, and our view would be one forum for each Go North East, Arriva NE, and Stagecoach NE - no sub forums to that, and the rest of the forum would remain as is.
On the other hand, it does create a problem in searching for something specific, and it is not very friendly for search engines.
I think bitching will happen with online communities regardless, but we'd have to be prepared for that and nip it in the bud, when it does occur. The forum guidelines are quite clear that moderation should be left to the moderators.
The current format keeps it tidy, I think. Bigun, like some others, here, is fond of his lists (which is the only reason I post in rare and odd workings, though I know that some enthusiasts keep an eye open there for photo ops). Some discussions are going to go round and round in circles, regardless of the format and some people will always be annoyed with the mere allusion to certain topics. I cba with the fantasy bus allocations or service suggestions, on the whole, for example, do appreciate them having a set topic. The current monthly format for operator based discussion and annual format for order predictions makes it simpler to go back and find out, for example, what was being said about the Castles Express, around the time of its launch.
(22 Nov 2017, 9:19 pm)Adrian My own opinion, and other have raised it too with me, is that they're exactly that - a pointless waste of time. We want threads created on the forum that generate discussion, and having an endless list of "X is on Y today" serves no purpose to anyone. But perhaps someone creating a thread about reliability of Stagecoach's Omnilinks, for example, would be?
Nobody can create sub forums but admins, and our view would be one forum for each Go North East, Arriva NE, and Stagecoach NE - no sub forums to that, and the rest of the forum would remain as is.
On the other hand, it does create a problem in searching for something specific, and it is not very friendly for search engines.
I think bitching will happen with online communities regardless, but we'd have to be prepared for that and nip it in the bud, when it does occur. The forum guidelines are quite clear that moderation should be left to the moderators.
(23 Nov 2017, 9:02 am)BusLoverMum The current format keeps it tidy, I think. Bigun, like some others, here, is fond of his lists (which is the only reason I post in rare and odd workings, though I know that some enthusiasts keep an eye open there for photo ops). Some discussions are going to go round and round in circles, regardless of the format and some people will always be annoyed with the mere allusion to certain topics. I cba with the fantasy bus allocations or service suggestions, on the whole, for example, do appreciate them having a set topic. The current monthly format for operator based discussion and annual format for order predictions makes it simpler to go back and find out, for example, what was being said about the Castles Express, around the time of its launch.
Happy with it the way it is. I just look at Unusual workings, Latest News, and Upcoming Service Changes for mainly Arriva and Stagecoach, plus minor operators news, and can easily ignore things I'm not interested in, such as service suggestions and order predictions.
It's not ideal having new threads each month but I'd sooner keep it as it is than have wholesale changes. Changing it will also make it difficult to search for historical items.
(22 Nov 2017, 9:19 pm)Adrian My own opinion, and other have raised it too with me, is that they're exactly that - a pointless waste of time. We want threads created on the forum that generate discussion, and having an endless list of "X is on Y today" serves no purpose to anyone. But perhaps someone creating a thread about reliability of Stagecoach's Omnilinks, for example, would be?
Nobody can create sub forums but admins, and our view would be one forum for each Go North East, Arriva NE, and Stagecoach NE - no sub forums to that, and the rest of the forum would remain as is.
On the other hand, it does create a problem in searching for something specific, and it is not very friendly for search engines.
I think bitching will happen with online communities regardless, but we'd have to be prepared for that and nip it in the bud, when it does occur. The forum guidelines are quite clear that moderation should be left to the moderators.
(23 Nov 2017, 9:02 am)BusLoverMum The current format keeps it tidy, I think. Bigun, like some others, here, is fond of his lists (which is the only reason I post in rare and odd workings, though I know that some enthusiasts keep an eye open there for photo ops). Some discussions are going to go round and round in circles, regardless of the format and some people will always be annoyed with the mere allusion to certain topics. I cba with the fantasy bus allocations or service suggestions, on the whole, for example, do appreciate them having a set topic. The current monthly format for operator based discussion and annual format for order predictions makes it simpler to go back and find out, for example, what was being said about the Castles Express, around the time of its launch.
I say keep it the way it is. That way I can avoid some of the fantasy stuff in some of the threads.
Bring back the 'like' feature though that was removed ages ago! Saves having to send a reply just to say you agree with something.
(25 Nov 2017, 1:46 pm)Cock Robin Bring back the 'like' feature though that was removed ages ago! Saves having to send a reply just to say you agree with something.
(25 Nov 2017, 1:46 pm)Cock Robin Bring back the 'like' feature though that was removed ages ago! Saves having to send a reply just to say you agree with something.
(25 Nov 2017, 1:46 pm)Cock Robin Bring back the 'like' feature though that was removed ages ago! Saves having to send a reply just to say you agree with something.
(25 Nov 2017, 1:46 pm)Cock Robin Bring back the 'like' feature though that was removed ages ago! Saves having to send a reply just to say you agree with something.
(25 Nov 2017, 1:53 pm)Dan We can't - simply for the fact it encouraged people to make snotty remarks at each other in a bid to try and get a few "likes". As soon as it was removed, the amount of little jabs everyone was having at each other reduced.
Clearly this vote has been a landslide victory for keeping the forum as it is - thanks everyone for your feedback. We're always looking at ways to improve, so this has really helped.
A lot of comments have been made about the rare and odd working threads recently. Has anyone got any ideas on how we could improve these threads? The overwhelming majority of negative comments about these threads has been that a lot of what is noted as being rare/odd simply isn't either of those things. Do we overlook all of these posts, or do we look for a way in which we could provide guidance as to what is rare/odd? A lot of it is subject to opinion and what some people may think is unusual, others won't.
(25 Nov 2017, 1:54 pm)BusLoverMum I can understand why that was withdrawn - it wasn't being used in a positive way.
(25 Nov 2017, 1:53 pm)Dan We can't - simply for the fact it encouraged people to make snotty remarks at each other in a bid to try and get a few "likes". As soon as it was removed, the amount of little jabs everyone was having at each other reduced.
Clearly this vote has been a landslide victory for keeping the forum as it is - thanks everyone for your feedback. We're always looking at ways to improve, so this has really helped.
A lot of comments have been made about the rare and odd working threads recently. Has anyone got any ideas on how we could improve these threads? The overwhelming majority of negative comments about these threads has been that a lot of what is noted as being rare/odd simply isn't either of those things. Do we overlook all of these posts, or do we look for a way in which we could provide guidance as to what is rare/odd? A lot of it is subject to opinion and what some people may think is unusual, others won't.
(25 Nov 2017, 1:54 pm)BusLoverMum I can understand why that was withdrawn - it wasn't being used in a positive way.
(25 Nov 2017, 1:53 pm)Dan A lot of comments have been made about the rare and odd working threads recently. Has anyone got any ideas on how we could improve these threads? The overwhelming majority of negative comments about these threads has been that a lot of what is noted as being rare/odd simply isn't either of those things. Do we overlook all of these posts, or do we look for a way in which we could provide guidance as to what is rare/odd? A lot of it is subject to opinion and what some people may think is unusual, others won't.
(25 Nov 2017, 1:53 pm)Dan A lot of comments have been made about the rare and odd working threads recently. Has anyone got any ideas on how we could improve these threads? The overwhelming majority of negative comments about these threads has been that a lot of what is noted as being rare/odd simply isn't either of those things. Do we overlook all of these posts, or do we look for a way in which we could provide guidance as to what is rare/odd? A lot of it is subject to opinion and what some people may think is unusual, others won't.
(25 Nov 2017, 2:26 pm)Andreos1 Apart from mods using their judgement or speaking to repeat offenders - could (just used as an example), each ANE region have a R&OW thread? So those who spot/looking for something on the Great North Road, don't have to wade through a stack of posts relating to Darlington?
Like the R&OW thread, proper use could be encouraged. Improper use in turn discouraged.
Pro-active moderating and those abusing the system, get banned.
Or it could be that the majority of those abusing the function in the past, have been banned already or just don't bother with the forum these days...
(25 Nov 2017, 2:26 pm)Andreos1 Apart from mods using their judgement or speaking to repeat offenders - could (just used as an example), each ANE region have a R&OW thread? So those who spot/looking for something on the Great North Road, don't have to wade through a stack of posts relating to Darlington?
Like the R&OW thread, proper use could be encouraged. Improper use in turn discouraged.
Pro-active moderating and those abusing the system, get banned.
Or it could be that the majority of those abusing the function in the past, have been banned already or just don't bother with the forum these days...