You go girl! Dither mania comin' up.
the new species details
Moderator: LoachForumModerators
- helen nightingale
- Posts: 4717
- Joined: Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:23 am
- Location: London, UK
Hi all,
Just a silly question about the new forum, why have you made all the descriptions sticky? As the species descriptions are (nearly) the only things in the forum there is no benefit from making them all sticky as they will just be ordered by last post, same as normal posts.
I have noticed that you are struggling to keep the "welcome" at the top of the announcements using bumps which kind of distracting in a forum which is otherwise filled fascinating information. If I may suggest, remove the sticky flag from all the species descriptions then, if you really want to differentiate them, set the articles to sticky which will free up the announcement category to be used exclusively for forum management issues (description template, index, welcome...).
I don't know what the end plan is for publishing all of the information here, the index page is again looking very nice, but if you use this method there seems little justification for trying to order the posts in the forum.
It is a great work you are doing here, thank you for all the time and effort given by those involved.
Just a silly question about the new forum, why have you made all the descriptions sticky? As the species descriptions are (nearly) the only things in the forum there is no benefit from making them all sticky as they will just be ordered by last post, same as normal posts.
I have noticed that you are struggling to keep the "welcome" at the top of the announcements using bumps which kind of distracting in a forum which is otherwise filled fascinating information. If I may suggest, remove the sticky flag from all the species descriptions then, if you really want to differentiate them, set the articles to sticky which will free up the announcement category to be used exclusively for forum management issues (description template, index, welcome...).
I don't know what the end plan is for publishing all of the information here, the index page is again looking very nice, but if you use this method there seems little justification for trying to order the posts in the forum.
It is a great work you are doing here, thank you for all the time and effort given by those involved.
LES.. I think the purpose was to keep them from becoming long threads full of questions and answers. Hoping to keep those writing the descriptions actually writing the descriptions.
I've been trying to find out how other sites manage to have announcements locked in place and still allow for comments (like the Welcome posts in other places). So far, no luck. It may be an admin thing...
In the meantime, we wanted to keep the process public, but not free-for-all interactive. At this point I agree, there HAS to be a better way, or we just let it wander about as it had been...all this 'bumping' is bringing me back to the 70's...pretty soon I'm gonna start doin 'The Hustle'.
If you have a solution DO please tell!
I've been trying to find out how other sites manage to have announcements locked in place and still allow for comments (like the Welcome posts in other places). So far, no luck. It may be an admin thing...
In the meantime, we wanted to keep the process public, but not free-for-all interactive. At this point I agree, there HAS to be a better way, or we just let it wander about as it had been...all this 'bumping' is bringing me back to the 70's...pretty soon I'm gonna start doin 'The Hustle'.
If you have a solution DO please tell!
- Martin Thoene
- Posts: 11186
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:38 am
- Location: Toronto.....Actually, I've been on LOL since September 1998
Jeff said that he'd made that Forum Moderator useable only. Theoretically, we can unlock the threads, make them Normal rather than Sticky and effectively nothing will change apart from the colour of the cross.
Members still can't post anything in a thread because the system won't allow them. Doesn't alter the bumping issue, etc.
Right now, you have to remember it's a construction site. Construction sites are muddy, somewhat disorganized places with construction materials littered about all over. You need a hard-hat and safety boots.
Like a construction site, it has barriers so's people can see what's going on and see it grow without getting hit by falling bricks
. Eventually, the building will be finished, the construction site will be no more, and all this information and pictures will be hosted on other pages, much like the existing Species Index is now.
We intend to finish the construction with beautification and landscaping, then move onto the next project. This is the first part of a complete redevelopment. There'll be a new Homepage, improved transport (navigation) and hopefully a new look to LOL.
Jeff rebuilt LOL a few years back and its look changed drastically. Since then it has grown immensely and the amount of knowledge and info that's available has reached a point (actually ages ago) where to make it more accessible and more accurate, particularly re: nomenclature, etc, about the only way it could happen was by dedicated members lending a huge hand.
What Shari and her husband are doing right now is trying to front-end-load the system with a searchable database and have everything organized so that Jeff's job of uploading all this information and fabulous photos is as easy as possible. It absolutely hinges on us providing him with the best materials for him to do his part of the construction process.
We're very lucky that the Moderation team here is made up of a group with multiple talents and experience who are wholeheartedly committed to making this whole site a more user-friendly and good-looking source of information on our favourite fish.
Even right now, in the craziness of this construction phase I'm hearing glowing comments from other sources from outside LOL who've had a look-see and think what we're doing so far is amazing. You ain't seen nuttin' yet!
Martin.
Members still can't post anything in a thread because the system won't allow them. Doesn't alter the bumping issue, etc.
Right now, you have to remember it's a construction site. Construction sites are muddy, somewhat disorganized places with construction materials littered about all over. You need a hard-hat and safety boots.
Like a construction site, it has barriers so's people can see what's going on and see it grow without getting hit by falling bricks
We intend to finish the construction with beautification and landscaping, then move onto the next project. This is the first part of a complete redevelopment. There'll be a new Homepage, improved transport (navigation) and hopefully a new look to LOL.
Jeff rebuilt LOL a few years back and its look changed drastically. Since then it has grown immensely and the amount of knowledge and info that's available has reached a point (actually ages ago) where to make it more accessible and more accurate, particularly re: nomenclature, etc, about the only way it could happen was by dedicated members lending a huge hand.
What Shari and her husband are doing right now is trying to front-end-load the system with a searchable database and have everything organized so that Jeff's job of uploading all this information and fabulous photos is as easy as possible. It absolutely hinges on us providing him with the best materials for him to do his part of the construction process.
We're very lucky that the Moderation team here is made up of a group with multiple talents and experience who are wholeheartedly committed to making this whole site a more user-friendly and good-looking source of information on our favourite fish.
Even right now, in the craziness of this construction phase I'm hearing glowing comments from other sources from outside LOL who've had a look-see and think what we're doing so far is amazing. You ain't seen nuttin' yet!
Martin.
Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.Who is online
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