| Grehan |
| (regular) |
| 07/08/2001 15:02 |
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Gripes . . .
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A relative newbie, I've been following things and making my own postings for, I think, about 6 weeks now.
I wonder if I might have the timerity to make a few observations and suggestions?
1. Firstly, I think the entire thing is excellent. The capacity to exchange information 'from the horse's mouth' between willing participants is just so valuable. Even when what is said is naive (e.g y.truly) or sarcastic or a bit mysteriously cliquey . . . And even though there are a few regulars who seem to have time to spare to post relentlessly.
But, I've also noticed that some postings are not where they 'should' be, and some postings are repeated across all 'boards' in the hope of eliciting a (useful) reply. This is both irritating and shews the 'system' as designed isn't quite working.
So,
2. Make it clear what each 'board' is for - at the moment this is not clear, even though the old lags obviously 'know' that Scuttlebutt is for opinion, not nuts bolts and spanners. State this somewhere/everywhere, maybe change the colour scheme, typography - subtly, please - to give a sense of 'this is where the technical discussion is' or 'this is where we voice concern, opinion, prejudice, etc' etc.
3. And of course, I fully appreciate that there is no hard and fast boundary, or precise definition between the boards. But a few 'signposts' might help us all, and most of all help promote useful - and entertaining - discussions and communications.
3. Make the navigation to, and between, boards clearer and easier. Better than the drop down box at the foot of the 'page', or going to the Main Index and then jumping in from there. Make the 'boards' like menu items at the top of the page - stronger and clearer.
4. These suggestions might help . . .
a) Cruising World getting very little action at all.
b) There being too little differentiation between Scuttlebutt and Practical Boating
c) This 'website/newsgroup' forum being little used, but plenty of comment about the YBW thing posted elsewhere
d) Complaints of 'boring' posts in Scuttlebutt - probably true, but also a little unfair on the 'boring' posters.
e) Some posts receiving no reply at all.
f) An obvious split between the old lags who have been there (including on this website) for ever, done everything, know everything, know everybody, have salt water in their veins, etc. And those they look with scorn upon - the novices.
Some of who it must be said appear to be wet behind the ears and just plain pig ignorant to an alarming and potentially unsafe degree.
5. Can I also say that I found the discussion (on the Motor Boating forum) about how to 'get the wife on board' immature, patronising, sexist and disappointing, and full of the kind of cheap remarks (jokes???) that I thought went out with Ted Ray and Charlie Chester. My sympathies lie with the poor wives and children of these dinosaurs - surely sailing or boating teaches co-operation, tolerance and chivalry?
Sorry, I do realise that's rather po-faced.
| Grehan |
| (regular) |
| 07/08/2001 15:12 |
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Re: Gripes . . .
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I've just thought . . what about a forum for novices seeking advice? - no question too basic, no question too obvious to preclude repeated asking and repeated answering - those with a some sea miles patiently helping those with only a few, or none.
Not the same, by the way, as 'I've got a Widget fridge, does anyone know how to extract the double dipole plunger mechanism?'
Then Scuttlebutt could get its edge back?
| kimhollamby |
| (Administrator) |
| 13/08/2001 23:32 |
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Re: Gripes . . .
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Thanks, there's a lot there for us to look through.
Some of the technical issues you've raised we can look at, although some are governed by the system we are using but we'll go through your list and consider it.
Other issues are really to do with the dynamic of the forums...there are some very regular users although we are also seeing upwards of 100 new users registering per week, so there's new blood coming in all the time. We don't fully moderate the forums, so they tend to follow their own paths to a certain extent (and that seems to be the way most users would have it happen).
Regarding FAQ type sections, to a certain extent that is covered by the Practical Boat Owner Reader to Reader section and also the Motor Boat forum but we have other thoughts about this type of info for ybw in the future and again, we'll keep your comments in mind.
| duncan |
| (regular) |
| 15/08/2001 17:49 |
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Re: Gripes . . .
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just as in real life it's the way you ask that can dictate the response you get to a degree.
Novice questions on the PBO board get honest answers - and pretty quickly in most cases!
Finally whilst I agree with most of your observations do be a little tolerant of thos old salt dogs who live to impart their knowledge. In the bar it costs you a beer - here it's given freely.
| duncan |
| (regular) |
| 16/08/2001 09:13 |
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Re: Gripes . . .
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given the comments earlier in this thread, and in the spirt of encouraging constructive assistance for the betterment of boating enjoyment and safety for all, can I sugest that you establish an additional category of user, namely 'old sea dog' objectively granted by the board in recognition of contribution to the above aims.
| **DONOTDELETE** |
| () |
| 19/08/2001 00:31 |
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Re: Gripes . . .
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i don't think that you can criticise the forum for the quality of contribution. that's down to the contributors, and if you find some of it not to your liking, then i think that it's inevitable as this is real life (well, it is for me anyway, but i'm just sad!) - anyone can contribute either anonymously or giving as much information about theirselevesas they like. Lets face it - a schitzophrenic could create two identities and keep himself amused all day! (And if you find that remark offensive to people with a mental illness, please relax, treat it in the manner in which it was intended -ie harmless- and just discard it.) And bear in mind that lots of people like to play "Devil's Advocte" - always a good way of stimulating an debate.
Cheers,
Rich.