Forum Structure: What's your opinion?

skyemoor

Since Peak Oil is becoming more of a common term in news and office place vernacular, we are experiencing an influx of those who have just learned a little about the subject and are interested in finding out more, especially preparation in this forum. Pops and I have had some discussion on this, but your input would be invaluable. As PO awareness continues to unfold, we will find ourselves increasing swamped with new visitors asking newbie questions, and will need to determine the best way to help them get started. If our objective is to help people learn how to assess, plan, and prepare for Peak Oil, then let’s examine the options we have available;

Option 1: Put the most important threads at the start of the forum, such as the previous list that started with Pop’s format of [category] - subtopic, such as [Food Production] -Gardening. That way, people first entering can see a wide variety of discussions on topics that interest them, and can zero in on those that they need help with right now. If the current thread doesn’t answer their need, they pose a question in it, and the subsequent answers become available for all, especially the next newbies. This is intended to proactively encourage new readers to browse first, and ask second, which should greatly reduce the number of repeat questions across all categories, especially as the coming tidal wave of new members approaches.

Option 2: Similar to Option 1, but reduces the number of threads at the top of the forum by only listing the category indexes (i.e, Assessments, Food Production, Food Storage, Water, Shelter, etc) so that those with small screens don’t have to scroll down to see the newest threads. The policy would be to look in these category indexes first, then select the thread meeting one’s information needs. No other threads other than the forum policy would be ‘stickied’, so there would only be one or two more stickies than we have now. This would be a hybrid between Options 1 and 3.

Option 3: Leave the forum the way it is now, and let people ask questions as they first enter the forum, instead of guiding them to click on the topic index and see what is already available. This approach would provide the greatest amount of personalized help to newbies, though would take a great deal of reactive hand holding and repetition of explanations. For example, note that at the time of this poll creation, 3 out of the first 50 threads are 'legacy' threads that we have invested significant time and energy into.

At some point, we have to decide if we want to be proactive or reactive in our welcoming of newbies. How much we are willing to devote to re-answering beginner questions, versus spending time on more detailed and advanced examination of the results of our efforts to date? I personally find my time limited, so as each person chooses an option from above, consider yourself as one of the people who would be willing to spend time answering questions and embedding links to current threads in the responses. Those with the gift of teaching and an abundance of time could find this appealing. Let us know your level of volunteering to help in this manner by your vote above.
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jdmartin

I voted option 2. Forums tend to die without constant input from new members. On the other hand, if it is a tidal wave, then it would be nice if they could start at the beginning, and yet still not feel like they can't ask a question.

I think "old hands" simply have to ignore the posts, or exercise patience in answering & reanswering posts. I've been on forums where every question is met with "Try searching first", and pretty soon there's about half a dozen people left.
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emersonbiggins

Option 1 or 2, with phpBB v. 3, if at all possible.
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GeoJAP

I think 1 is the best for those who have been here a while, and forces some discipline on those who are new. I've been a member of some other forums for almost 10 years, and all I see now are the same questions asked over and over. Only one out of every 20 or so questions is something I haven't seen before. Most replies to posts start with "If you had used the search function you would have found this and this and this...."

If you want to eliminate the reposting of questions by noobs who don't use the search feature, I would go so far as to say you should lock the forum to new topics and only take requests to create a new topic on a subject which is not already covered, which people can then freely question/respond within. After living in Germany for 11 years, I'm quite the organized disciplinarian.

Specop_007 · Expert Joined: Aug 12, 2004 Posts: 6265

Mixed feelings.

I can say that some of our otherwise information filled threads are becoming a bit cumbersome. Lets take my most recent experience in regards to gardening. i was directed to the gardening thread. Now while its filled with information its difficult to find 1 peice of information among the entire thread. Literally, the thread is 35 pages spanning years.

On one hand I think its time for a fresh start. On the other, there is a LOT of good info in those old threads.
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virgincrude

Looks like option 2 out of the three would be best. Option 1 simply leaves too many threads available to confuse the already spooked.

However, why don't you consider a new section in the Forum list simply called POFFAQ, Peak Oil Forum Frequently Asked Questions (to differentiate from the technical FAQ already available) where all those questions people generally have when they first come to PO, are listed and linked to the relevent thread? All these questions have been asked and answered a thousand times within the forum sections, things like: should I buy a hybrid, should I move house/buy a farm/look for a self sufficient community/start a garden/divorce my wife/husband/kill the dog and eat him ....? Also: is the economy going to 'end', should I change my job, what should I study in Uni, how do I tell my parents, WHYDOESN'TSSOMEBODY DO SOMETHING!?

Maybe that's just piling on the work Rolling Eyes

want to take this opportunity to say thanks to all those who work dedicatedly to making PO work the way it does.

skyemoor

We have a PeakWiki which, while not a FAQ, can be a place where material such as that you mention can reside.
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He that lives upon hope will die fasting. --Benjamin Franklin

RedStateGreen

When I first came here they were doing option 1. The whole first page was stickies. Then they got rid of that and we're in option 3.

I like the newbie peak oil FAQ idea a lot. I'd be willing to take a stab at writing one if that's the way we want to go with it.

ETA: If I understand option 2 correctly, you're talking about subforums for particular concerns. That's an interesting idea but one I don't know if we can implement on this board. Aaron would be a better person to ask about that.
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skyemoor

Option 2 would have about 8 stickies of categorized indexes. We've asked and pleaded for subforums in the past, but the change is substantial, so has not been implemented at this time.
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http://www.carfree.com
http://ecoplan.org/carshare/cs_index.htm
http://www.velomobile.de/GB/Advantages/advantages.html

Chance favors the prepared mind. -- Louis Pasteur

He that lives upon hope will die fasting. --Benjamin Franklin

Specop_007 · Expert Joined: Aug 12, 2004 Posts: 6265

I never did care of option 1. There were just too many stickys up there.

Just seems like there is no right answer. Theres a ton of great information, would be rather sad to just let it go. However, keeping it all available at the top makes the whole section feel overwhelmed.

Option 2 seems real slick IMO.
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"Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the
Abyss, the Abyss gazes also into you."

Ammo at a gunfight is like bubblegum in grade school: If you havent brought enough for everyone, you're in trouble

كا&#

Grifter

Pops

The conclusion I have come to is while is there are any number of more informed and informative resources available with just a few keystrokes into Google, there is not really any other place to talk with other POers about the ins and outs of doing for PO.

There was a time I thought we were a repository but I think now I was mistaken. Perhaps the same questions raised over and over puts off some Members who have been around a while but it could be those same old questions might spark interest with new Members and perhaps generate new answers.

I don't see anything wrong with splitting the index into 4 or 5 threads; General, Food, Water, Shelter, Community or some such and cutting loose the A&P and 5 Rules threads.

Smile

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