Create a new "Hot Topics" Forum ???

[RD100]

Why not move all threads which have 3000 views (or some other high number) into a separate forum, called something like "Hot Topics", so they don't get lost over time ?

That way, if people are browsing ClieSource for the first time, they'll know what topics have been "discussed heavily" and won't start new threads on the same topic.

It will also help everyone quickly find the most informative threads from the entire Clie Source message boards.

The moderators can move threads into the "Hot Topics" forum when they feel the  thread appears to be worthy of being considered a "Hot Topic".

People should be allowed to add new replies to existing "Hot Topic" threads, but nobody other than the ClieSource moderators should be able to add threads to the "Hot Topics" forum.

Opinions ???

:D :D :D

[iebnn]

I find that counterintuitive. Too lazy to type out all the reasons.

The board already pushes posts with replies to the top, and indicates when it has gotten a lot of responses. Moving them to another forum means that there is no organization of topics. etc

[wellsjs]

Besides, there would be foaming at the mouth, knashing of teeth, and threats made on lives as to what should and shouldn't be a "Hot Topic!" :D

[RD100]

The problem I see in these boards now... is once a hotly discussed topic looses peoples interest, the discussion thread just fades away, and it just gets moved further and further towards the end of that message board, to a place where people aren't likely to look anymore.

So a new PDA owner who is visiting this board for the first time, may never know about some of the best information  (aka "threads") on these boards, simply because the information is now buried way at the back.

I disagree with the "fighting and clawing over what is a hot thread", since it is a simple matter of "view counts". Once a message reaches 3000 views (or some other reasonbly high number), it should be considered "hot", and either the message should be moved to a new "Hot Topics" forum, or we should create a permanent link to it, possibly in a new "Hot Threads" sticky message posted at the top of each forum.

That would at least give guidance to the new PDA owner who wants to learn as much as possible about PDAs and Apps during their first few visits to ClieSource.

Otherwise, they are just likely to be viewing whatever the "current hot topics" are now, and they may be missing out on some of the best information in the boards. 

:D :D :D

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by RD100
So a new PDA owner who is visiting this board for the first time, may never know about some of the best information (aka "threads") on these boards, simply because the information is now buried way at the back. That is one of the main reasons us 'oldtimers' suggest searches so often . . . ;) Regardless of the forum ~ there is A LOT of information to be gleaned from old posts. There are 'valuable' buried threads in everyone . . . it's not one specific forum.

:)

[n2ifp]

The UDT was a hot thread...

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by *YellowRose*
That is one of the main reasons us 'oldtimers' suggest searches so often . . . ;) Regardless of the forum ~ there is A LOT of information to be gleaned from old posts. There are 'valuable' buried threads in everyone . . . it's not one specific forum.

:) You took the words out of my mouth... though I wouldn't have said "oldtimers." ;)

[RD100]

I'm not saying "searches" are a bad idea. I think "searches" are great... providing you know what to search for.

I'm certain many new PDA owners probably come into these boards not having a clue about what to search for .. so they just read the boards from the most recent message backwards .. and hope to pick up useful advice. And when they don't find anything really useful, they leave and never return.

My thinking is that there are some pretty useful threads .. that will eventually just fade off into cyberspace ... never to be seen or heard from again. Those are the threads new PDA owners should be exposed to right from the start, in their first visit to ClieSource. You can think of these threads as "The Best of ClieSource".

I think we should put some type of permanent link to the most informative threads, and how this is done ... is not really the issue. I mentioned two ideas above.

There are probably a ton of other methods.

Another idea is to just put a text somewhere on the webpage which says:

 "Sort messages by View  to bring the most popular threads to the Top"

Please keep in mind that a few of you who responded are experts at using forums, so try to put your "expertise" aside, and think as if you were new to using forums.

Searches mostly help those who are already knowlegeable on a given topic, and know what to look for.

I've run into several PDA owners who don't realize all the potential uses for their PDAs, and still use them only for contacts and datebook type stuff, probably because they don't know what questions to ask.

And HHerbzilla .. your Favorite Apps Thread is exactly the type of thread I would want in the "Best of ClieSource". That's the type of thread I would want new PDA owners to see on their first visit. What better way to begin as a new PDA owner, than having all of the best advice right from the start.

Anyway ... that's just my 2 cents (and then some!).

Anbody who's read my reply to this point is now eligble for a free gift, which can be claimed in the lobby on the way out of the theatre. Thank you for stopping by. And have a safe trip home.

:D :D :D

[iebnn]

Sticky topics are what is used for threads that have good/important information

[Talula]

I agree with RD100 100%. This board doesn't have an FAQ. So there must be something else that can be done. I don't think this board is user friendly enough to newbies. I think Newbies might find it difficult to navigate. I also think the constant baggering to search is rude. I find the search button as rather difficult to locate. And as RD100 said, how would a Newbie know what to search for?

I'm not really a Newbie here and I am certainly not new to forums in general, but I often hesitate to start a thread or ask a question for fear those that act as if this Forum is their own territory and the rest of us are really only tresspassing will blast me.

I'm really starting to dislike the atmosphere here. I stay only because my Clie is a bit of a hobby.

Whew, glad I got off my chest!
Talula

[Reggie]

Ok, here's what I did. In each forum, if you look at the top most part, you'll see a 'Show most active threads on this forum.'

Of course this will only show 'hot topics' per forum.

I hope this is a good initial step. :)

Thanks.

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by Reggie
Ok, here's what I did. In each forum, if you look at the top most part, you'll see a 'Show most active threads on this forum.'

Of course this will only show 'hot topics' per forum.

I hope this is a good initial step. :)

Thanks. Good suggestion and good implementation of the idea...

Wait, how does the link work? When I clicked it, it seemed to bring them up in a random order (i.e., not sorted by greatest # of posts, not sorted in a date order). :confused:

[Talula]

Originally posted by Reggie
Ok, here's what I did. In each forum, if you look at the top most part, you'll see a 'Show most active threads on this forum.'

Of course this will only show 'hot topics' per forum.

I hope this is a good initial step. :)

Thanks.

I like it! I like it a lot! However, you do need to make the font bigger or something. I stared for quite a while looking for it and I knew what I was looking for. Would a Newbie who didn't know what they were looking for even notice it?

My husband, who is very familiar with forums but does not visit this site very often took 2 minutes to find it and I told him what he was looking for.

This thing should be bigger, and bolder. As should a button for searches.

Well thats my opinion.

However, like I said. I really do like this new feature.

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by *YellowRose*
That is one of the main reasons us 'oldtimers' suggest searches so often . . . ;) Regardless of the forum ~ there is A LOT of information to be gleaned from old posts. There are 'valuable' buried threads in everyone . . . it's not one specific forum.

:)

I agree, the answer may not be found in one single forum. Some of us do get tired of answering the same questions over and over again, especially if they require a lengthy answer. The end result is those who come along later get shortchanged. I have seen the same question asked 3 times on the same page. Some just jump in, don't want to bothered to register, get what they want and never intend to contribute! Personally I think it's just laziness. I also think it rude to not at least first learn out how the forums work. I had one fellow who stated that he didn't need to read the manual or search. He couldn't be bothered since he had the ClieSource users to answer it for him. Right, it's okay for me to spend my time, but not his. Some refuse to look past their nose. When I first started, I had seen the reminders about searching. Gee, I started to find all kinds of neat stuff and that searching wasn't so hard after all. Question, at what point does one start to learn? I wonder how many create the same threads over and over just to have their name displayed? Some have even admitted of going back then reposting new threads on the same old topics, instead of reading them. In some cases it appears that the time and effort that users have taken to contribute to ClieSource's valuable wealth of information isn't appreciated and it's just taken for granted. It's a worldwide community with many varied opinions, in general though, it has worked fairly well. I guess you can't please all the people all the time and there's going to always be a few who are unhappy, no matter what you do :)

I wasn't aware that ClieSource was just for newbies. I frequent about 10 forums and have helped a lot of newbies. Of course I am not the only one. I am always learning something new myself. I just get annoyed sometimes when a few think they don't have to do anything for themselves. Hot topics don't cover it all, a lot of threads with invaluable information may have only one or two posts. A lot of the hot topics, from what I see, half of it is hot air or it went into a complete different direction. I admit I have been guilty of contributing to that too, as we all have. BTW, I don't claim to be perfect either.

I suppose the buzzword of the day is tolerance...:cool:

[Unregistered]

"Some of us do get tired of answering the same questions over and over again, especially if they require a lengthy answer. "

So don't do it.

[Talula]

Have you been over to brighthand lately? Check out the m500 forums. The threads are about the same exact subjects everday. The subjects have been the same every day for more than a year now.

They subjects include SUDS
Concern over cases accidently powering on the handheld
And what is the difference between the m505 and the m515.

I have never seen anyone there do anything other than provide a polite answer. No onese b*tches at others to do a search. No one moans because they are reading the same thread a million times. They just politely answer, or at the very least politely direct the person toward the answer.

I wish I could find a Clie forum with the same sort of attitude.
Talula

[Unregistered]

Talula, when you find it, please let the rest of us know :).

[RD100]

Reggie.... Great job !!!!   :) :) :)

The "show most active threads" link in each forum was a teriffic solution !!!

As for the people who are thinking there are better Clie or Palm forums.

You've got to be kidding ???

Clie Source is a thousand percent better than every other PDA forum I've visited.... and I've visited lots of PDA forums during the last two months. (and I've been using forums for years for other topics.. so I am not a "newbie" in forums).

No other PDA forum I've visited has as many new posts each day as ClieSource.

Clie Source has constant ongoing dialogue with hundreds of intelligent people, who provide great advice, and answer pretty much all questions.

They even answer questions of "guests" who do not register (hint.. hint..) !

You should feel priviliged to be able to come to a place like ClieSource, where so many people are available to help you with PDA advice.

So have fun looking elsewhere.... but you will never find a better, more intelligent group of Palm users than those at ClieSource !!!

:D :D :D

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by Talula
Have you been over to brighthand lately? Check out the m500 forums. The threads are about the same exact subjects everday. The subjects have been the same every day for more than a year now. Yup. Go there a couple times a week. That's one reason I rarely post there . . .

Originally posted by Talula
Their subjects include SUDS; concern over cases accidently powering on the handheld; and what is the difference between the m505 and the m515.Mmmm Hmmmm. They should ALL get a Clie. :D

Originally posted by Talula
I have never seen anyone there do anything other than provide a polite answer. No onese b*tches at others to do a search. No one moans because they are reading the same thread a million times. They just politely answer, or at the very least politely direct the person toward the answer. Hmmmm. I rarely see people fussing at anybody here about a search anymore. I do suggest (maybe encourage would be a better word) it often, as do a number of other regulars here.

And, if you had read other threads at B'hand ~ The admins/mods/other users there encourage searches too. :) (See this thread (http://discussion.brighthand.com/palmhandhelds/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34206&highlight=search), or this thread in the m500 forum (http://discussion.brighthand.com/palmhandhelds/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34194&highlight=search), or this thread (http://discussion.brighthand.com/palmhandhelds/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34094&highlight=search).)

Searching in a forum is proper netiquette. It's simple. And I think a lot of 'regulars' get kinda burned out answering the same question over and over again, for the reasons n2ifp mentioned, and it's unfortunate, when the 'cure' (a quick search) is so simple.

Originally posted by Talula
I wish I could find a Clie forum with the same sort of attitude.
Talula Hmmmmm. If you do, I doubt you'd find the same level of information. I know of others, and they don't come close.

[Unregistered]

"Hmmmmm. If you do, I doubt you'd find the same level of information. I know of others, and they don't come close."


Doesn't mean one can't dream.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by Unregistered
"Hmmmmm. If you do, I doubt you'd find the same level of information. I know of others, and they don't come close."


Doesn't mean one can't dream. That's true. :)

Everybody should have dreams.

[Talula]

You know what? You're a moderator here and it is your job to keep the atmosphere here pleasent. So most likely, as it is human nature, you will feel as if the atmosphere is pleasent because you are doing your best at your job. And you're right, in general the atmosphere usually can be fine. As long as your asking the right questions.

I am expressing my view that I do not feel this forum is as user friendly as it should be. If I were brand new to handhelds I would feel intimidated and I would be reluctant to register. I registered when I did because I was into Palms for nearly a year before I bought my first Clie and I was active in other forums so I had enough confidence in my abilities so that I would not feel intimidated.

Had I bought a Clie first, and found this forum before I found others that made me feel very comfortable, I never would have registered.

Talula

[Talula]

Have you been over to brighthand lately? Check out the m500 forums. The threads are about the same exact subjects everday. The subjects have been the same every day for more than a year now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yup. Go there a couple times a week. That's one reason I rarely post there . . .



Yeah, and that is fine for you because you are an experienced handheld user and you do not need that information.

But obviously there are tons of people joining the handheld world all of the time and they do need that information. They ask and they get their answers always with a prompt and friendly reply. No one complains.

If those newbies didn't have such a friendly place to ask the questions that have absolutely no way of knowing were already asked a million times before, what would they do?

For a Newbie, EVERYTHING IS NEW. They think they are the first people to ever have these questions. They don't realize others have been there before them. Why should they even think to search? They have no idea what sort of vast compilation of previous posts a sight like this gathers. It is all new.