Forum topic breakdown

[grandeman]

First, let me start by saying thanks to the folks who provide and run this forum. I've had a great time here and don't want to be misunderstood as to what I'm trying to say.

That said, I'd love to see some changes to the format of the board. What I'm thinking of is a better breakdown of topics. How about keeping the general forum and adding forums for DCC, different scales, scenery, locos and rolling stock, equipment exchange, scratchbuilding, new releases, etc?

The problem I see with one big open forum is that some important topics drop off to quickly. Need an example? How about Aggros tree making post or some of Joe Fugate's clinics? For someone new signing on, a better breakdown would make finding things easier. Some will say, why not just use the search function? That's fine for a specific search, but you might gather more useful info that you hadn't considered while surfing specific forums. Also, how many redundant questions get posted here? That could be minimized with better topic segregation.

What do you think???

[stokesda]

I voted "yes" because I think maybe it could use a little tweaking. I'm not sure if we need a whole topic devoted to "Where is the MR 70th Anniversary Boxcar," when there are other subjects that are equally deserving of their own topic. I like the suggestion of having a scenery/scratchbuilding topic. I don't think we need different topics for different scales because, as others have noted before, there is a lot of crossover (e.g. scenery tips, etc.) that would get missed if I only looked in the HO topic and not the other ones.

[grandeman]

One other benefit would be to allow users to concentrate on their favorite areas of the hobby. Some of us are into RTR models, some into kits, some into electronics, etc Different strokes for different folks.

[edo1039]

I voted yes for same reasons mentioned above. Sublevel topics would be very helpful for those just coming into the forum and for those of us who miss alot of good info that is dropped off to quickly. My opinion.

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: How about keeping the general forum and adding forums for DCC, different scales, scenery, locos and rolling stock, equipment exchange, scratchbuilding, new releases, etc?

Since you asked... in general I'm against any significant changes, as I think it works well as it is. I'm very much against dividing it by scales. Other major forums are broken down that way and I really enjoy the interchange of ideas with people from other scales that I get here. I'd really hate to see that change.

I recognize that the popularity of the forum causes some topics to move to page two quickly, but I think it's just as easy to just click on page 2 after looking at the topics on page 1, as it is to have to switch to different sub-forums.

Just my guess, but I doubt that Kalmbach wants the hassle of providing a sale/exchange forum. These are already available on other model railroading websites.

We already have two sub-forums here (prototype info and layouts and layout building) and they both get a lot less traffic just because people tend to gravitate towards the general forum.

In any case, just my point of view. But thanks for asking.

Regards

Ed

[howmus]

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

[We already have two sub-forums here (prototype info and layouts and layout building) and they both get a lot less traffic just because people tend to gravitate towards the general forum.

There is a lot of questions that should be asked on the Layouts and Layout Building sub-forum (including DCC) that are asked here because most everybody spends the bulk of their time here. I think a lot of good threads might be missed if the forum were split into more sub-forums. I try to check out the Layout forum often but tend to stay here most of the time.

[joeyegarner]

Sounds like a great idea!!!

[MisterBeasley]

I think Ed makes a good point about "Balkanization" of the forum topics. I think we all pick up a lot of information from reading posts outside of our primary area of interest, and we end up contributing to the discussion of a wide variety of topics.

Suppose you had spent last week over in Layouts or Prototype Info. You would have completely missed out on Grandpa Coyote's fun thread about MR as an art form, and some great shots in Photo Fun or Midweek Madness would have gone right by.

One of the Commandments of Engineering is "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[jfugate]

I voted yes because the suggested breakdown by subject area ... electrical, scenery, operations ... is how my forum is broken up and it works pretty well. You go to the topic that interests you and you don't have to wade through a lot of chaff and unrelated stuff. See: http://mymemoirs.net/model-trains/forum/phpBB2/index.php?c=4

For a newbie, especially, a more topical organization would be particularly helpful.

As it is, we have the 500 pound gorilla (general discussion) and then a couple of canaries (layouts and prototype). A more topical structure might even that up more, which I would see as an improvement.

[Anonymous]

I voted yes, as I think an Electrical/Electronic area would be beneficial. I did not participate in the Weathering poll so I am not as up to speed on that area as one that could use a seperate Topic area, although I personally think that it would make an interesting addition. Some forums have a seperate "Coffee Shop" area entirely for chit-chat.
Will

[jxtrrx]

I like it as is. I enjoy wading through the General topics. It doesn't take that long to simply skip the ones that don't interest.

[Adelie]

It works okay the way it is, but I voted to change it. I'm in favor of adjusting what we already have instead of redoing the whole thing. We don't need the 70th Anniversay Box car (how long will that be a topic, until the 75th Anniversary car is released?[:D]). Having a separate topic for Electrical/DCC is a good idea. I'm not in favor of splitting it up by scale for the reasons mentioned above-some of the discussions wind up being useful across scales.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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?

[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.

[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

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[grandeman]

BTT for the morning crew. [:)]

[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]

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.