Forum topic breakdown

[Anonymous]

How about keeping signature photos a maximum of 2 inches in height? [:D]

[Anonymous]

Also i think have a phot gallery that people can also show their designs and goofy piucs as well

[edkowal]

I voted no. This forum has its own flavor. It is a far more general forum than any others than I actively participate in. Which fits its role as a Model Railroader creation. Its a general interest magazine.

All the other groups that I pay attention to are much more specific. On those, you don't get the mix of responses that you do here. And as has benn mentioned, here you might get a response from left field, so to speak, that will open up a way of doing things previously unknown to you.

I like it the way it is. It's different from the rest.

P.S. I just took a look at the website refered to by Grandeman. I do not want this forum to look like that. Emphatically not. It is divided up to a fair-thee-well. With as many topics as there, it would take me way too long to check up on things. Plus, I would tend to ignore some of the categories. I know, because when TrainNet was more active than it is now, around about 1996 or so, that was the way it was organized. I spent all my time in one or two topics, and the general topic. But because there were so many bins to put your post in, both interesting posts and interesting members tended to be isolated, and sometimes missed my attention. I think that's one of the reasons that TrainNet is not more active now. That's the reason that I dropped off that list, that's for sure.

-Ed

[Big_Boy_4005]

For what it's worth, I just dropped Bergie an email, asking him to specificly look at this topic. I think there are a lot of good ideas and good points here. Change is always difficult to adjust to, but maybe now is the time.

Gee, where did everyone go? I didn't mean to be a topic killer. I did get an email back from Bergie, we have his attention.

"More input !" (Johnny Five, from the movie Short Circuit.)

[grandeman]

Basically, from the start of the poll, we've had 2/3 of the membership voting for a format change. Just an observation.

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Attaboy

I checked grandeman's link to the ideal forum. The busiest forum had six people in it (the anti nitpicker's), most only had one person. At the same time there was nine people here in the general discussion forum. I don't like typing to myself.

I think you may have missed the point. What if this forum, with it's membership rolls and Model Railroader affiliation, were set up like modelrailroadforums.com? BTW, there's some great folks over there. That's why I post there too.[:)]

[Big_Boy_4005]

I voted yes.

Some have, in the past, suggested that it be broken down by scale, but that is not the answer.

I like the idea of having a seperate forums for DCC, scenery, design & construction, painting & decals, and perhaps electrical, while keeping general as the catch all for those non specific topics, and the less commonly discussed areas of the hobby.

What might also be nice would be a forum specificly for showing off photos of your layout. All of the photo fun topics would go there, and individuals could have running progress reports on their construction.

The real trick is to get the members used to visiting the new forums, and getting them to place their topics in the appropriate one. Right now most posts go to general, even if they fit into one of the others. General gets most of the action, because everyone comes here first.

There is a way to see all of the forums at once. Use the active topics button at the top of the page. I've been doing that for over a year now.

[jfugate]

David:

I agree that one new topic is probably called for, and that's for the threads that reach "classic" status.

That way they don't have to compete with the constant new threads asking what your favorite locomotive or DCC system is.

[swg]

[Anonymous]

I think that the reason the forums works well right now is we all meet here and discuss all sort of things. I agree that some of the good clinics and how to's are always falling to page 3 or so, and maybe a new forum for Clinics, and in-depth how-to's might be good, but to splinter it out to separate scales, DCC, scenery, weathering etc, will make the main forum fall in postings, and I really like how we have a very active group here, mainly because we all post here. Look at the layout and proto forums here, it may be days before a new post is made, and takes longer for a reply sometimes, of course my MRC Synchro Sound question is still un-answered [;)] but really I see this as the busiest and most helpful forum we have as model railroaders. Also the flaming is low, help is high, and I feel like I am part of the biggest club in MR. By splitting it up, I think we would get some neo-cons that would say, post on that forum, not relavent here, people having to keep track of another forum or list, I mean I already have to follow Atlas N scale, ModelTrainsWeathered.Com, TrainBoard.Com, PeoriaRails, Sig-Op List, Card Card List, Railwire.Com and about 2 or 3 others that I hit off and on. I did vote yes, but to have a central place for the clinics.

Just my 2¢

It really is up to Bergie and the powers that be, we can ponder all day and night, but they will decide, if we get additional forums, or even get to have a forum.

[johncolley]

My suggestion would be to relegate the boxcar thread back to prototype category and utilize that space for Electrical/Control issues. Easy enough to do, eh?

[Attaboy]

I voted no, although they could drop the anniversary car thing since it never gets out of Wisconsin. The main change I would like to see is more threads list per page in the main topics. Instead of just 20, maybe go to 40. As it is now a thread can be started in the morning and end up on page two, or even page 3, by noon just because other threads are busy. As has been mentioned, I also like the crossover between scales and interests, I often get a chance to consider something from another vantage point that sparks new ideas.

I checked grandeman's link to the ideal forum. The busiest forum had six people in it (the anti nitpicker's), most only had one person. At the same time there was nine people here in the general discussion forum. I don't like typing to myself.

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Isambard

I voted no. I access the Trains.com forum, hit Active Topics and zip past the Garden stuff and scan the General, Layouts/Layout Building and Prototype forums then go on down to the Trains forums. Since I usually do this at least once a day I don't miss much of interest (sometimes there's too much of interest!).
One feature that would be useful is having menu tabs along the top that would allow quick switching between General, Layouts/Layout Building and Prototype without having to first return to Model Railroader Forums then clicking down to the required forum. However that's not any real problem.
[:)]

Guys, the issue isn't that the current format can't be followed by the members, it's that the info isn't laid out better for us and new folks coming in. Also, it's that members who take the time to do informative, time consuming (text/pics, research,etc) posts are rewarded by them being buried on pg 20 a week later with limited search capability for someone who might be looking for that info.

[Isambard]

I voted no. I access the Trains.com forum, hit Active Topics and zip past the Garden stuff and scan the General, Layouts/Layout Building and Prototype forums then go on down to the Trains forums. Since I usually do this at least once a day I don't miss much of interest (sometimes there's too much of interest!).
One feature that would be useful is having menu tabs along the top that would allow quick switching between General, Layouts/Layout Building and Prototype without having to first return to Model Railroader Forums then clicking down to the required forum. However that's not any real problem.
[:)]

[grandeman]

BTT for the morning crew. [:)]

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DrummingTrainfan
One thing Grande Man said was a better search function...that I agree with. It is very difficult to do a successful search...

How about a search engine that works AT ALL. Just today I called up the advanced search engine and specifically said to "search subjects only". Did it? NO, it pulled up all kinds of stuff.

Just a FAQ would help tremendously.

[Texas Zepher]

I think it is a good idea, as long as it is not overdone. Maybe we could get all the poles that seem to repeat every month to hang around long enough so everyone joining doesn't post the same question/poll.

It would also be good if we could get people to post to the proper form of the three we have. There have been some excellent questions posted in the layout form with no anwers because they aren't about layouts. Other people seem to post their same question in all the forms.

[SpaceMouse]

It's not going to happen without a policy change. Multiple forums require more work. The way we worked it out was to appoint volunteers. Ergo, a policy change.

[Train 284]

I voted yes because I can post a topic and a couple hours later it will be on the thrid page! It would be nice!

[Pruitt]

I voted no - I really like the "blender" style of the General Discussion forum.

But I do have a suggestion - How about one more forum where threads like Aggro's trees, Joe Fugate's DCC clinic and other sustained-popularity threads can be moved after a time? Call it "Tips, Techniques and Clinics" or some such.

[Marty Cozad]

I voted YES, but I'm not sure that would keep folks from posting more on general forum hoping that folks will read it.
Many times we don't check any other topic ,but the general one.
I see that on other forums.
I know one site has a very good brake down but i usually check the 3 or 4 ones that I feel are most helpful.
BUT:
If I need info on a topic I know it can be found easier and faster on a subject forum.

[IRONROOSTER]

I vote no. I click on the topics since last visit and then go through the whole list. I pop in on topics in all the forums that look interesting. So having more forums doesn't help me - I'm going to look at it all anyway.

Plus there are Yahoo groups and other places for DCC, scenery, etc. I don't think these work too well, since most of the ones I have visited don't seem to have many posts. The forums here seem to get a synergistic effect from a wide range of topics in one place.

Let's leave this good thing the way it is. And add my vote of appreciation to Kalmbach for hosting this site and Bergie (and others) for administering it.
Enjoy
Paul

[DrummingTrainfan]

In terms of subdividing I think that would be way to much of a hassle. One thing Grande Man said was a better search function...that I agree with. It is very difficult to do a successful search...and if you just start a whole topic some people get mad.

[CNJ831]

I voted no since I feel it would impose a great deal of additional effort on those at Kalmbach handling these forums. In spite of what many may think, Kalmbach is not some huge company that can simply assign 6 or 8 more employees to moderating forums. I'm grateful for what Kalmbach currently offers and, honestly, I'm amazed at the job Bergie does as it is!

I also agree with those who suggest that creating a whole series of specialty forums would both isolate the general exchange of ideas (unless you have time to sit in front of your computer hours at a time jumping from one forum to another) and result in much weaker response volumes, since many of the better modelers would not be willing to peruse many different forums.

CNJ831

[grayfox1119]

I voted yes, I feel that DCC should have it's own forum section. This is an ever growing area, with more and more questions relating to it.

I too wnat to praise the MRF folks ( Bergie et al ) for a GREAT job!!! I cannot speak highly enough for what they have done and continue to do.

[vsmith]

I would say break out Scenery as a seperate forum and Kitbashing/Scratchbuilding or just plain label it Model Making as a seperate forum.

And dump the Boxcar as a seperate forum, just roll it into the General Discussion forum, its been there for how long? with how many replies?

[rexhea]

I voted yes, but enjoy the diversity offered by the General Forum topics and would like it to remain. However, I believe that if you break down the subjects of discussion into forums, you would end up with the same problem that exist now, i.e. Everyone posting on the General Forum and the encouragement to do so.

What would you think about the use of the General Forum being better defined as a catch-all for other than Layout Building and encourage the poster to post in the correct forum? If you think about it, that is probably what was originally intended.

If you wanted to subdivide a forum, do it to the Layout Building.

[?]
REX

[SpaceMouse]

Been there done that. I was moderator of a board--bout this size and we broke things down. It did make things easier to find, but it also segregated the groups. Some old friends didn't go where I went.

The downside is that it would be more labor intensive than one person could handle. We had about 20 different forums and 1-3 moderators for each. It was needed especially for housekeeping--moving the decoder post to DCC out of the DC forum, etc. It is very easy to forget what forum you are in when posting.

[grandeman]

Just for the sake of discussion, I think this http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/index.php would be the perfect model for a Trains.com super MR board.

[selector]

I am content with things the way they are. For the most part, Gen Disc is a great place to catch up on ...well...general stuff. The Layout forum is pretty hard core in that direction, and I like only having to switch between the two.