Suggestions for forum improvement

One of the big issues unfortunately is the forum ownership.  And that's not meant as a slight against FSM.

The other forums with more flexibility to make changes are closely monitored but several admins, and have access to implement upgrades/changes as they need.  Many are based on the vBulletin system which has spoiled us.  Some of the simplistic options such as merging multiple threads when 2 posters start the same topic or moving a thread if someone posts in the wrong area.  The other forum I regularly frequent has 2 admins and they are online at least once a day.  It's a huge commitment but I tell you things run smooth.

If I recall with other suggestions in the past everything is run by Kalmbach who's tech dudes I don't think we are their priority.I know Tim and Aaron pop in but more so to ensure we behave ourselves :)

I've always disliked the mobile version but it was a fire and forget implementation that the site won't remember your setting.  Part of that is because any thread with large number of relies such as the group builds you have to "load more replies" to get to the end where the most recent post was.

Oh yeah - we definitely gotta have chat!

How about having a live chat room? Sometimes it seems like that what I go to my mail box and find 30 plus emails.  

Don Stauffer

Hear are my gripes on the present forum.  The "mark as read" function doesn't seem to work.  When I read a message, or use that function, the messages keep showing up even though I am invoking the UNREAD option.  Sometimes a whole bunch of messages from a month or six weeks ago suddenly turn up in various forums.

There is no way to lock in the UNREAD option. In some groups I have to click it every day.  I would suggest that most folks want the unread option normally. I think it should default to unread, and new folks can invoke the option to view all messages once when they first go to a new forum.

In forums that have a lot of traffic the "mark as read" function should be close to the top.  Once shouldn't have to scroll down past a lot of empty screen to get to it.

Seconded.  I'd love to see that work properly. 

Gordy

schmidty

Also good points.  The "architecture" of this forum leaves a lot to be desired.  

I wonder how many potentially valuable members either don't post, or don't even join because this forum doesn't live up to what we've come to expect a modern internet forum to be...?

I don't want to seem overly critical.  This definitely isn't the worst forum I've ever been on.  But it isn't the best, either.  Just like my modeling skills, there is room for improvement!

Again; I'm only referring to the under-the-hood stuff.  The members and information on here are GREAT!

The big thing I like about this forum is the diversity. I build several genres of models, and here is a one site go-to for all of them.  Plus, there is an excellent set of forums in the tools, techniques and references area for threads common to all scale modeling.  Some friends I know have recommended other sites, but the forums are all single genre, and mechanics are different at each site.

gunner_chris

[snip]

On another forum I'm on it adds a green arrow to the threads I've replied to, this way when I read through "recent posts" I know which ones I may have responded to.  Otherwise I would look under Recent Posts then Your Discussions, which is extra unnecessary work.  Helpful especially when threads get brought back up for discussion.

This.

I love this feature on other forums. This would make for a nice enhancement.

Also good points.  The "architecture" of this forum leaves a lot to be desired.  

I wonder how many potentially valuable members either don't post, or don't even join because this forum doesn't live up to what we've come to expect a modern internet forum to be...?

I don't want to seem overly critical.  This definitely isn't the worst forum I've ever been on.  But it isn't the best, either.  Just like my modeling skills, there is room for improvement!

Again; I'm only referring to the under-the-hood stuff.  The members and information on here are GREAT!

One thing if I may is some way to distinguish that I've participated in a thread.

On another forum I'm on it adds a green arrow to the threads I've replied to, this way when I read through "recent posts" I know which ones I may have responded to.  Otherwise I would look under Recent Posts then Your Discussions, which is extra unnecessary work.  Helpful especially when threads get brought back up for discussion.

Hear are my gripes on the present forum.  The "mark as read" function doesn't seem to work.  When I read a message, or use that function, the messages keep showing up even though I am invoking the UNREAD option.  Sometimes a whole bunch of messages from a month or six weeks ago suddenly turn up in various forums.

There is no way to lock in the UNREAD option. In some groups I have to click it every day.  I would suggest that most folks want the unread option normally. I think it should default to unread, and new folks can invoke the option to view all messages once when they first go to a new forum.

In forums that have a lot of traffic the "mark as read" function should be close to the top.  Once shouldn't have to scroll down past a lot of empty screen to get to it.