YD Forum Updates & Changes - ALL PLEASE READ!

[Jen S]

Originally Posted by And

I find it hard to believe that anyone is happy to browse through 74 pages (as it stands currently) of equipment threads consisting of over 21000 posts, to try and find a topic they are interested in, and that number is growing all the time.

I don't do this. Like I said above, I tend to just go into the equipment section & see what's going off. I don't even go to the second page - I just look to see the most recent discussed topics. If there's something on there I know about, I'll answer it.
If I want to know about something, I'll search for it, or just post a new thread.
The new format is great for looking for answers, but it isn't good for getting people to post answers to questions.

I personally just use the new posts button, as interesting topics get posted all over the place .

humm, ok call me thick - I didn't even know this was available! I'll start using this & see how it goes.

Once again, it is appreciated all the hard work you guys put in. I think it will be beers a plenty at the YD Leeds gig!

Jen

[RichClark]

I'm with the don't like it crowd. It seems to work for the Tech Diving sections, but the equipment fourm is rediculous. You need to consider who you have made the changes for. All the sub-forums make it great for those with questions but a real PITA for the people that are likely to answer them.

With out being over dramatic, it's unlikely I'd bother with equioment forum now, is's just too much hassle and too slow to navigate around. I don't like using the new posts button, as you still have to plow through all the crap and try and decipher content based upon it's heading.

If the equipment forum could be condensed as people have suggested, it would be a massive improvement to how it is now.

Sorry for the negative feedback to all the admins.

Rich

[Mdemon]

As it happens, I ONLY use the New Posts button. This does, for some reason, occasionally miss out some new posts, but in general, it's fine. Therefore, Bren's changes have made no odds to me whatsoever.

With the wealth of useful information here, I've always wondered how we could best show this info to those in need - stickys are a nice idea, but with few forums (fora?), they would quickly get in the way. No more, it seems. We now have the opportunity to stick particularly relevant threads rather like a faq - if indeed faqs haven't already been used. (Too lazy to check).

I don't mind the same questions coming up again and again particularly, but from the other direction, when looking for something it would be nice to check what's already been said first. As And said, the search feature, though fast, is not great for finding 100% relevant info. Hmmm... I wonder if the admins could snaffle the Google search engine...

My thoughts. If it p*sses other people off who don't use New Posts then maybe the admins need to think twice. I'd give it time. I went off on one with Jay when he first binned the dark blue format!!! Now, however, I think this site is the best I use.

Flame on...

[MartinS]

Originally Posted by tom

anyone else get a mental image of the guy from the Grolsch ads? "SHTOP! this forum is not ready yet!' ? Ok, maybe just me then

Actually, Tom, that's the first thought that came into my head too!

It will take a bit of getting used to but I do hope it will deter people from posting about repetitive issues as there will be less posts to trawl through looking to see if the question has already been asked.

Big thanks to Bren - am sure I'm not alone in saying what a sterling job you (and the rest of the admins) do to keep YD running.

Regards
Martin

[RichClark]

Originally Posted by MartinS

Big thanks to Bren - am sure I'm not alone in saying what a sterling job you (and the rest of the admins) do to keep YD running.

Agreed!! still don't like the new format of the equipment section though.

Rich

[Gavin Smith]

Originally Posted by Mdemon

As it happens, I ONLY use the New Posts button. This does, for some reason, occasionally miss out some new posts, but in general, it's fine. Therefore, Bren's changes have made no odds to me whatsoever.

Same here. Occasionally I miss things but not often.

IMHO the forum needs to act as a repository of knowledge. I take the point that it might be a little more difficult to answer questions but I think this will stop the What BCD or regs type threads.

A new reader will hopefully check the appropriate section first of all and will easily see if anything has been posted recently.

Harsh as it may be the forum needs to be easy for the seekers or knowledge not necessarily the providers.

Perhaps a few of the sub sections could be combined though (BCD & Wings for example).

[Jen S]

Originally Posted by Gavin Smith

Harsh as it may be the forum needs to be easy for the seekers or knowledge not necessarily the providers.

Agree what you're saying, but if it's not easy for the providers, they won't provide. Therefore, nothing for the seekers to look at.

BTW, the "New Posts" thing is excellent! Why have I not found this before now!! Works a treat!

Jen

[Narked@50]

I think it is for the better, old hands will notice change, which we should be able to handle as we are quite handy with the current format, new divers will find it much simpler.

Just think..........How many posts do you read that start with......."I'm not sure if this is the right place, but..........."

James

[CotoChris]

The changes seem to be OK, not too drastic. I mentioned this earlier but repeat it, there is a Dive forum in Portugal ( http://www.forum-mergulho.com/index.php) which uses similar spftware to YD but the number of topics are unreal - over 78 topics! For example equipment thre is a sub-section for each pieve, i.e fins, masks, regs, etch.. This is a killer and I'm tired of it just two minutes after logging on. Have a look at it and see what I mean.

[greekbird]

OH. MY. DOUG.! ()
i agree that some subsectioning of the forums is a good thing but the equipment section is just taking the mickey! Seriously guys, i realise u have put a lot of effort into all of this but u 've gone a weee bit too far! IMO some of those subsections need to be combined together as has been said above.

btw, i got the "shtopp! thiszh forum iszh not ready et" visual too