Too much Community?? IMO??

Now, don't flame me yet, I'm not sure about this. But is it possible that we are doing ourselves a disservice by listing all of the very active community thread with the tech threads in the active thread box??

Why do I ask this?? Because I have been watching for new tech threads, and it seems that the very active Community threads are overshadowing the newbie user tech threads in the box. Now, if I was a new, techie-loving newbie, what would I be looking for? Threads about the tech problems. Maybe even "older " ('scuse my language) members may prefer to see mainly tech threads. This is a tech site.

I think Community is fantastic, but if it overshadows the tech threads, maybe we could "turn off" those looking for tech stuff. We need to encourage new members to keep the site viable.

Is there a way to do both better? Can we have two boxes of active threads, one for Community, one for everything else?

I don’t know if it is practical, viable or even useful. I just wonder how we can better serve those who what to find tech stuff as well as the existing members who enjoy Community.

Now you can flame me

[Brangwen]

mickwisk:

Interesting ... never thought about that till now and I think you're onto something. I'll give it more thought and post back.

Community "chat" or bull sessions keeps the community cohesive, but yes, this is primarily (as I understand it) a tech site.

Must be careful achieving an appropriate balance.

Brangwen

[Thud]

I think you have a good point.

Restricting the "active thread" box to tech forums only might keep the focus on what the site is really about.

[RADAR1797]

Mickwish,

I agree wholeheartedly. I am a guilty party too, getting sucked into community more than the tech stuff. I would suggest removing community threads from the Discussions portion at the top of the forum screen. Should keep us more focused

-RADAR

[OuTpaTienT]

I think it's a good point. I agree that the active thread box should be tech stuff only.

I would think that most of us do visit the community forum practically every visit, but I doubt anybody visits every forum, I know I don't And if anyone post a tech message that maybe I could have contributed to then I doubt I would have seen it cause stuff gets kicked out of active thread box so fast.

Yep, very good point Mick, I like it!

[ChoaticWhisper]

I agree, Ive thought about it before.
It does seem that when you need help you have to post at a very active time and hope someone sees it before it gets sucked of the list, Alot of the commuity threads have alot of post and keep gaining I guess because Everyone sees it first or just because they like it.

Originally posted by OuTpaTienT
And if anyone post a tech message that maybe I could have contributed to then I doubt I would have seen it cause stuff gets kicked out of active thread box so fast.

Actually OuT, this is what got me thinking. I posted about an SCSI prob (and it seems we only have a couple of members interested in SCSI, at least, that's how it seems to me ), and it dropped out of the active thread box so fast I was stunned. Now I know I can (and will) <bump> it. But what if I was a REAL tech newbie looking for some help? A bit unsure of myself? I might think "nobody cares".

[DVNT1]

Excellent point mickwish. I agree completely.

I think it is even worse when the negative community threads are seen up there. Can give a bad impression at times.

[vass0922]

I do agree totally... it'd be nice if there was a community "active list" as well
Maybe even at the bottom?
Dunno

Currently I see 4 posts that do not appear technical. Granted 11/15 isn't that bad, but the point is those community posts are very active and other community posts will quickly push down those other ones. So while the overall # of them are not overwhelming its primarily the rate that they are updated which makes the difference.

(Don't mind me I've had about an hour or two of sleep )

Defiantely something to be considered

Good thinkin'