Print Page - Misc Suggestions

Title: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Spidey on August 29, 2008, 02:45:41 PM

Here are some random suggestions, some good, and some that are prolly a byproduct of [drink]

1. Break up the local boards by geographical region

2. Clean up stickies in General. Leave only "Donations" and "Please Read Before Posting." All the others can get moved to Board Policies and FAQs. To the "Please Read Before Posting" add a few links that people can read if they are interested: "Mission Statement," "Vendor Posting Rules", "How To Find Info". And while you're at it, sticky the "Vendor Posting Rules" in the Board Policies section. And add a link to the "Mission Statement" at the beginning of the "Board Guidelines."

3. Add the "Please Read Before Posting" to the news headline (where it currently says "Check Out Or New Address!") so that it shows no matter what board you are on.

4. Clean up the How-To section. Get rid of all the MOVED threads. Also, since it’s being used primarily for Tech questions, re-label the section on the index so that it makes clear that final How-To threads should be posted there.

5. Set the sig size. It’s in the Guidelines, but it doesn’t appear to be implemented. Multiple pics in sig often get stacked and/or take up an entire page.

6. Guests should be allowed to see all the boards. Check the permissions. Is there a reason that many of the boards—almost all the classifieds and the Board Suggestions board--are hidden from guests? Compare a member account v. a guest account to determine which boards have problems with permissions.

7. Either get local mods for the local boards or set up permissions that allow designated local people (without getting different stars or appearing to have superpowers) to sticky and organize their local boards as they see fit.

8. Consider asking a very small group of people to attend to the FAQ/How-To sections. They can keep an eye out for people to write up FAQs or How-Tos. They can also keep things organized.

9. Designate one person to run the Bike of the Moment, Baby. Get a schedule set ahead of time of which bikes are going up when and have a few months worth of submissions to go at once. Have a two or three week time period where submissions are open for a four month window (or something like that). It’ll motivate people to write up a BOMB and ensure that you have a stockpile of submissions.

10. I don’t know what the contracts with the sponsors say, but mebbe its worth reorganizing the sponsor board? Have the sponsor boards be child boards of a sponsor board. That way, they don’t take up half the screen. Rename “minor sponsors” so they don’t sound “minor.” Ditch the Misc board. It doesn’t serve any purpose. However, keep the links to each sponsor on the left side in the nav bar.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: somegirl on August 29, 2008, 02:50:40 PM

welcome back! ;D

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: ducpainter on August 29, 2008, 03:34:27 PM

Quote from: Spidey on August 29, 2008, 02:45:41 PM

Here are some random suggestions, some good, and some that are prolly a byproduct of [drink]

1. Break up the local boards by geographical region

2. Clean up stickies in General. Leave only Donations and Please Read Before Posting. All the others can get moved to Board Policies and FAQs. To the Please Read Before Posting add a few links that people can read if they are interested: Mission Statement, Vendor Posting Rules, How To Find Info.

3. Sticky the Vendor Posting Rules in the Board Policies section.

4. Add a link to the Mission Statement at the beginning of the Board Guidelines.

5. Add the Please Read Before Posting to the News Headline so that it shows no matter what board you are on.

6. Clean up the How-To section. Get rid of all the MOVED threads. Also, since it’s being used primarily for Tech questions, re-label the section on the index so that it makes clear that final How-To threads should be posted there.

7. Set the sig size. It’s in the Guidelines, but it doesn’t appear to be implemented. Multiple pics in sig often get stacked and/or take up an entire page.

8. Guests should be allowed to see all the boards. Check the permissions. Is there a reason that many of the boards—almost all the classifieds and the Board Suggestions board--are hidden from guests? Compare a member account v. a guest account to determine which boards have problems with permissions.

9. Either get local mods for the local boards or set up permissions that allow designated local people (without getting different stars or appearing to have superpowers) to sticky and organize their local boards as they see fit.

10. Consider asking a very small group of people to attend to the FAQ/How-To sections. They can keep an eye out for people to write up FAQs or How-Tos. They can also keep things organized.

11. Designate one person to run the Bike of the Moment, Baby. Get a schedule set ahead of time of which bikes are going up when and have a few months worth of submissions to go at once. Have a two or three week time period where submissions are open for a four month window (or something like that). It’ll motivate people to write up a BOMB and ensure that you have a stockpile of submissions.

12. I don’t know what the contracts with the sponsors say, but mebbe its worth reorganizing the sponsor board? Have the sponsor boards be child boards of a sponsor board. That way, they don’t take up half the screen. Rename “minor sponsors” so they don’t sound “minor.” Ditch the Misc board. It doesn’t serve any purpose. However, keep the links to each sponsor on the left side in the nav bar.

...another country heard from.... [roll]

I'd call you a pecker-head....

but it's against the rules. ;D

That's waaaaaay too much reading. [laugh]

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Speeddog on August 29, 2008, 05:08:35 PM

He's been gone for 4 months, so he musta been storing it all up. [laugh]

Good to see you back, man. :)

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Spidey on September 01, 2008, 10:31:50 AM

Quote from: Speeddog on August 29, 2008, 05:08:35 PM

He's been gone for 4 months, so he musta been storing it all up. [laugh]

No way. I've got a lot more. ;D [evil]

Seriously, I know it's a lot of writing, but some of the items aren't too complex. They'll only take 10-15 mins and will clean the place up a lot.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: ducpainter on September 01, 2008, 05:17:44 PM

Quote from: Spidey on September 01, 2008, 10:31:50 AM

No way. I've got a lot more. ;D [evil]

Seriously, I know it's a lot of writing, but some of the items aren't too complex. They'll only take 10-15 mins and will clean the place up a lot.

Some of them are already done.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Spidey on September 01, 2008, 05:23:16 PM

Woohoo! [beer]

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Spidey on September 03, 2008, 04:57:11 PM

Quote from: Spidey on August 29, 2008, 02:45:41 PM

4. Clean up the How-To section. Get rid of all the MOVED threads. Also, since it’s being used primarily for Tech questions, re-label the section on the index so that it makes clear that final How-To threads should be posted there.

How about changing the subtitle to "For Completed How-To Articles, Not Tech Questions"?

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Spidey on September 28, 2008, 04:35:33 PM

Quote from: Spidey on August 29, 2008, 02:45:41 PM

I like the name change from "How-To" to "Tutorials." [thumbsup]

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Spidey on March 14, 2009, 07:45:08 PM

Clean up stickies in General and in Board Policies & FAQs. Here's the suggestion:

Leave only "Donations" and "Please Read Before Posting" in General. Almost all theothers can get moved to Board Policies and FAQs.
Unsticky the BOMB.

To the "Please Read Before Posting" add links that people can read if they are interested. I did a suggested version Here (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=20592.msg367111#msg367111)

Sticky the "Vendor Posting Rules" in the Board Policies section.

Add a link to the Vendor Rules to in the "Board Guidelines."

Add a link to the "Mission Statement" at the beginning of the "Board Guidelines."

Add the "Please Read Before Posting" to the news headline (where it currently says "Welcome to the Ducati Monster Forum") so that it shows no matter what board you are on.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Mother on March 25, 2009, 07:09:00 AM

just go ahead and give warren admin rights, it would make things easier. I miss him repremanding me

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Spidey on March 25, 2009, 09:56:59 AM

Quote from: Mother on March 25, 2009, 07:09:00 AM

just go ahead and give warren admin rights, it would make things easier. I miss him repremanding me

I have no desire to reprimand anyone (or spend time in NMC). I did my time with the TOB. That said, if you're feeling neglected, Mother, I can send you PMs about what an inconsiderate shitbag you are. ;D

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: herm on March 25, 2009, 01:23:49 PM

no,

(http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/banhim.gif)

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Mother on March 27, 2009, 12:20:35 AM

Quote from: Spidey on March 25, 2009, 09:56:59 AM

Brings a tear to the eye

oh how I miss you

;D

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: ducpainter on March 27, 2009, 04:15:01 AM

Quote from: Mother on March 27, 2009, 12:20:35 AM

Brings a tear to the eye

oh how I miss you

;D

Too bad both of you are hooked up with wimmens.

I see a beautiful relationship developing here.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Spidey on May 03, 2009, 05:27:24 PM

This is going to sound insensitive, but you should get rid of the stolen motorcycles board. I know that a stolen motorcycle is a big deal to the person to whom it happens and I don't mean to minize that, but making people aware via a thread in General is more than sufficient. It's just not worth devoting an entire board to it, especially when it gets one post every three months and then often not even a monster or a Ducati.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: herm on June 09, 2009, 06:23:05 PM

move the following "sticky" threads from the general monster forum to FAQ (or somewhere else...)

why we're here
embedded video
other forums and links

the general monster forum is getting over crowded with stickies (as others have mentioned)

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Spidey on June 10, 2009, 11:36:36 PM

A while ago, I wrote-up a draft uber-sticky for the purpose of organizing the stickies in General --

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=20592.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=20592.0)

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Spidey on September 18, 2009, 06:16:49 PM

Quote from: Spidey on June 10, 2009, 11:36:36 PM

Bump. There number of stickied threads in General keeps growin' and in case it bugs anyone other than me, I didn't want the "draft" post I wrote to organize 'em to get lost.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: M(*)nster on March 08, 2010, 02:11:00 PM

Is there any way you guys could add the feature where a preview of the thread comes up when you rest your mouse pointer over the title of the thread? I've seen some other forums that have that and I think it adds some efficiency/user-friendliness to the whole forum experience.

Just a thought...

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: ducpainter on March 08, 2010, 02:54:36 PM

Quote from: M(*)nster on March 08, 2010, 02:11:00 PM

Just tried...

the mod isn't compatible with our version of SMF.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: herm on March 08, 2010, 03:53:08 PM

just as well...
i actually find that function a little annoying at times

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: M(*)nster on March 09, 2010, 05:11:40 AM

Quote from: ducpainter on March 08, 2010, 02:54:36 PM

Just tried...

the mod isn't compatible with our version of SMF.

Hey, thanks for at least trying! I think it's more annoying when people are can't seem to be descriptive enough in the title of their threads. Nothing worse than having to click through 5 threads with a title like "Help?" or "Question" and nothing else. Really muddies up the search function too.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: arai_speed on September 22, 2010, 05:02:39 PM

How about resizing or limiting the size of externally hosted avatars?

For example (and I'm not picking on the OP at all):

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=42842.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=42842.0)

Page weight = 420K
273KB of which are for the totally uncompressed avatar of a beautiful baby:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5013078126_5a8b05d213_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5013078126_5a8b05d213_b.jpg)
???

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: ducpainter on September 23, 2010, 01:13:24 AM

Quote from: arai_speed on September 22, 2010, 05:02:39 PM

The software automatically adjusts the pixel size, and while I agree it would speed page loads if people would resize before linking, I see no way of enforcing it as the software will accept any image.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: arai_speed on September 24, 2010, 08:00:49 AM

Quote from: humorless dp on September 23, 2010, 01:13:24 AM

Humm...you can't modify the code to only accept certain dimensions?

Code:


<?php
//variables
$maxW = 90;
$maxH  = 100;

//error_reporting(0);

if ($_POST['form_check']) {
	
	$image = $_POST[imageURL];
	list($width, $height) = getimagesize($image);

    if (($width/$height > $maxW/$maxH) || ($width > $maxW) || ($height > $maxH)) {
		echo "The image dimensions should not exceed 90x100";

    } else {
    	echo "Thanks for your update";
    }

} else {
print <<<_HTML_
<form method="post" onSubmit="return validate_form(this);" name="ImageTest" action="$_SERVER[PHP_SELF]">
<input type="hidden" name="form_check" value="true">
<input class="imageURL" type="text" id="imageURL" name="imageURL"  width="15" size="40"  />
<input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submitButton" />
</form>
_HTML_;
}

?>

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: ducpainter on September 24, 2010, 09:18:28 AM

Quote from: arai_speed on September 24, 2010, 08:00:49 AM

Humm...you can't modify the code to only accept certain dimensions?

Code:


<?php
//variables
$maxW = 90;
$maxH  = 100;

//error_reporting(0);

if ($_POST['form_check']) {
	
	$image = $_POST[imageURL];
	list($width, $height) = getimagesize($image);

    if (($width/$height > $maxW/$maxH) || ($width > $maxW) || ($height > $maxH)) {
		echo "The image dimensions should not exceed 90x100";

    } else {
    	echo "Thanks for your update";
    }

} else {
print <<<_HTML_
<form method="post" onSubmit="return validate_form(this);" name="ImageTest" action="$_SERVER[PHP_SELF]">
<input type="hidden" name="form_check" value="true">
<input class="imageURL" type="text" id="imageURL" name="imageURL"  width="15" size="40"  />
<input type="submit" value="Submit" class="submitButton" />
</form>
_HTML_;
}

?>

Yes we could....but...

We decided long ago that the forum software would not be modified because when we tried doing it that way it needed to be brought back to original or updates wouldn't work.

That's too much work in our opinion.

We did modify the css style sheets to get the look we have, but that doesn't mess with things.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: arai_speed on September 24, 2010, 11:11:47 AM

No worries - I understand it's easier to update/patch the standard install.

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: ducpainter on September 24, 2010, 11:20:26 AM

Quote from: arai_speed on September 24, 2010, 11:11:47 AM

No worries - I understand it's easier to update/patch the standard install.

Keep in mind if there were serious issues with the way things worked we'd do what we had to do.

Other than minor slowdowns, caused IMO by our host, things have been chugging along like the 'little engine that could'.

I firmly believe that if it isn't broke leave the thing alone.

It won't get any bigger. ;)

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: GAAN on September 25, 2010, 07:21:29 AM

what do you think about the idea of giving me money?

say around $230.00 a day?

think on it and get back to me

Title: Re: Misc Suggestions
Post by: Speeddog on September 25, 2010, 07:38:08 AM

Quote from: Mother on September 25, 2010, 07:21:29 AM

what do you think about the idea of giving me money?

say around $230.00 a day?

think on it and get back to me

Is that 7 days a week, or just 5?

Cause, y'know, it makes a difference.

Ducati Monster Forum

Kitchen Sink => Board Suggestions => Topic started by: Spidey on August 29, 2008, 02:45:41 PM