P+P / Lounge idea
Discussion
If I may, I'd like to air an opinion.
The P+P, as has been pointed out in recent threads, has lost some of its character. The fragmenting has thrown obscure things that might well have been interesting right off the radar of most folk - such as is being discussed in the cyclist video / Pedal Powered debate right now. I feel this is a shame - pub banter, on which even the old forum's title was based, is flowing and random and free. This is its charm. The old forum's thread list would change every half hour and that made it interesting.
However I understand that PH Towers have ruled that the forum should be more accessible to those with particular interests, and I support this decision. I studied Information Management at UCL! But I feel that actually shifting threads into millions of sub-forums is OTT and clumsy.
Having noted the extraordinary omnipotence of PH mods, I don't think it unreasonable to suggest the following.....
that the Pie and Piston returns as it was, but that the sub-forums remain also - with relevant P+P topics linked from them.
Thus -
1) very specialised topics that OP's only expect or desire informed response on can be started and remain squirreled away in the specialist sub-forums
2) main P+P topics relevant to the specific sub-forums are linked to therefrom
and also
3) seasoned P+P regulars, and the enjoyable variety of the old Pie and Piston is retained
Would anyone support my ideas?
The P+P, as has been pointed out in recent threads, has lost some of its character. The fragmenting has thrown obscure things that might well have been interesting right off the radar of most folk - such as is being discussed in the cyclist video / Pedal Powered debate right now. I feel this is a shame - pub banter, on which even the old forum's title was based, is flowing and random and free. This is its charm. The old forum's thread list would change every half hour and that made it interesting.
However I understand that PH Towers have ruled that the forum should be more accessible to those with particular interests, and I support this decision. I studied Information Management at UCL! But I feel that actually shifting threads into millions of sub-forums is OTT and clumsy.
Having noted the extraordinary omnipotence of PH mods, I don't think it unreasonable to suggest the following.....
that the Pie and Piston returns as it was, but that the sub-forums remain also - with relevant P+P topics linked from them.
Thus -
1) very specialised topics that OP's only expect or desire informed response on can be started and remain squirreled away in the specialist sub-forums
2) main P+P topics relevant to the specific sub-forums are linked to therefrom
and also
3) seasoned P+P regulars, and the enjoyable variety of the old Pie and Piston is retained
Would anyone support my ideas?
Edited by JayKaybi on Wednesday 22 April 21:25
Gazboy said:
On a more serious note it was discussed and then dismissed as the old P&P problems would still remain and we would be at square one but with even more forums and nothing gained.
RacingPete said:
We are currently working and testing a page that shows all the posts within a particular forum group if you click the header of that group, which will help out massively in seeing all the latest posts in one group on one page, especially useful I think in the motor sport, tvr or car make forums or if you are so inclined the P&P forums
So RacingPete's rather brilliant idea has been dropped, has it?JayKaybi said:
If I may, I'd like to air an opinion.
The P+P, as has been pointed out in recent threads, has lost some of its character. The fragmenting has thrown obscure things that might well have been interesting right off the radar of most folk - such as is being discussed in the cyclist video / Pedal Powered debate right now. I feel this is a shame - pub banter, on which even the old forum's title was based, is flowing and random and free. This is its charm. The old forum's thread list would change every half hour and that made it interesting.
However I understand that PH Towers have ruled that the forum should be more accessible to those with particular interests, and I support this decision. I studied Information Management at UCL! But I feel that actually shifting threads into millions of sub-forums is OTT and clumsy.
Having noted the extraordinary omnipotence of PH mods, I don't think it unreasonable to suggest the following.....
that the Pie and Piston returns as it was, but that the sub-forums remain also - with relevant P+P topics linked from them.
Thus -
1) very specialised topics that OP's only expect or desire informed response on can be started and remain squirreled away in the specialist sub-forums
2) main P+P topics relevant to the specific sub-forums are linked to therefrom
and also
3) seasoned P+P regulars, and the enjoyable variety of the old Pie and Piston is retained
Would anyone support my ideas?
I support them, and I'll tell you how to get there:The P+P, as has been pointed out in recent threads, has lost some of its character. The fragmenting has thrown obscure things that might well have been interesting right off the radar of most folk - such as is being discussed in the cyclist video / Pedal Powered debate right now. I feel this is a shame - pub banter, on which even the old forum's title was based, is flowing and random and free. This is its charm. The old forum's thread list would change every half hour and that made it interesting.
However I understand that PH Towers have ruled that the forum should be more accessible to those with particular interests, and I support this decision. I studied Information Management at UCL! But I feel that actually shifting threads into millions of sub-forums is OTT and clumsy.
Having noted the extraordinary omnipotence of PH mods, I don't think it unreasonable to suggest the following.....
that the Pie and Piston returns as it was, but that the sub-forums remain also - with relevant P+P topics linked from them.
Thus -
1) very specialised topics that OP's only expect or desire informed response on can be started and remain squirreled away in the specialist sub-forums
2) main P+P topics relevant to the specific sub-forums are linked to therefrom
and also
3) seasoned P+P regulars, and the enjoyable variety of the old Pie and Piston is retained
Would anyone support my ideas?
Edited by JayKaybi on Wednesday 22 April 21:25
- Go to My Preferences
- select the forums your P&P should consist of
- save preferences
- To view your P&P, press What's New
- To view a specialist forum, go to Gassing Station, click the desired forum
eharding said:
Bodo said:
you just have to get used to the What's New
...and, as we've already established - at length - the existing "What's New" experience sucks so badly it could suck-start a Harley-Davidson.I'm keen to see what RacingPete comes up with.
Bodo said:
No, it doesn't. I'm using it for years, and my forum experience hasn't changed at all with the latest changes.
Look, I can't help it if you're a long-term PH forum masochist. Whatever you're into, that's your choice.
It's the sadism part, your taking pleasure from the pain inflicted on the rest of us by being pitched into your realm....that's what I have the problem with.
Now, spit out that red rubber ball, unzip the gimp mask, and tell me I'm wrong.
eharding said:
Bodo said:
No, it doesn't. I'm using it for years, and my forum experience hasn't changed at all with the latest changes.
Look, I can't help it if you're a long-term PH forum masochist. Whatever you're into, that's your choice.
It's the sadism part, your taking pleasure from the pain inflicted on the rest of us by being pitched into your realm....that's what I have the problem with.
Now, spit out that red rubber ball, unzip the gimp mask, and tell me I'm wrong.
For me these changes have improved my PH experience.
The P&P WAS fun once but it had recently slipped off of being a non-motoring pub natter and had turned in to a never ending stream of "look what I just found on the internet" crap. Serious discussions were wrecked within a single page and would then be abandoned. It was full of posters only interested in trying to say something funny or that it seems had only joined to post crap in there.
Under the new system I browse the new sub forums daily and have noticed they are all active and I am able to read / contribute to sensible discussions on subjects that interest me outside of motoring.
eharding said:
Gazboy said:
On a more serious note it was discussed and then dismissed as the old P&P problems would still remain and we would be at square one but with even more forums and nothing gained.
RacingPete said:
We are currently working and testing a page that shows all the posts within a particular forum group if you click the header of that group, which will help out massively in seeing all the latest posts in one group on one page, especially useful I think in the motor sport, tvr or car make forums or if you are so inclined the P&P forums
So RacingPete's rather brilliant idea has been dropped, has it?deviant said:
eharding said:
Bodo said:
No, it doesn't. I'm using it for years, and my forum experience hasn't changed at all with the latest changes.
Look, I can't help it if you're a long-term PH forum masochist. Whatever you're into, that's your choice.
It's the sadism part, your taking pleasure from the pain inflicted on the rest of us by being pitched into your realm....that's what I have the problem with.
Now, spit out that red rubber ball, unzip the gimp mask, and tell me I'm wrong.
For me these changes have improved my PH experience.
The P&P WAS fun once but it had recently slipped off of being a non-motoring pub natter and had turned in to a never ending stream of "look what I just found on the internet" crap. Serious discussions were wrecked within a single page and would then be abandoned. It was full of posters only interested in trying to say something funny or that it seems had only joined to post crap in there.
Under the new system I browse the new sub forums daily and have noticed they are all active and I am able to read / contribute to sensible discussions on subjects that interest me outside of motoring.
But since the changes looking in each of the new forums - while your getting the odd postings each day - there just isnt feel to the place, nor does there seem the same level of things to read. andi find i'm spending more time at the likes of Singletrackworld, MoneysavingExpert, Pricescope, Ten-Tenths, Facebook
RossendaleOnline than i am here.
ks sake) p & peharding said:
Bodo said:
No, it doesn't. I'm using it for years, and my forum experience hasn't changed at all with the latest changes.
Look, I can't help it if you're a long-term PH forum masochist. Whatever you're into, that's your choice.
It's the sadism part, your taking pleasure from the pain inflicted on the rest of us by being pitched into your realm....that's what I have the problem with.
Now, spit out that red rubber ball, unzip the gimp mask, and tell me I'm wrong.
Bodo said:
eharding said:
Bodo said:
No, it doesn't. I'm using it for years, and my forum experience hasn't changed at all with the latest changes.
Look, I can't help it if you're a long-term PH forum masochist. Whatever you're into, that's your choice.
It's the sadism part, your taking pleasure from the pain inflicted on the rest of us by being pitched into your realm....that's what I have the problem with.
Now, spit out that red rubber ball, unzip the gimp mask, and tell me I'm wrong.
trooperiziz said:
Bodo said:
eharding said:
Bodo said:
No, it doesn't. I'm using it for years, and my forum experience hasn't changed at all with the latest changes.
Look, I can't help it if you're a long-term PH forum masochist. Whatever you're into, that's your choice.
It's the sadism part, your taking pleasure from the pain inflicted on the rest of us by being pitched into your realm....that's what I have the problem with.
Now, spit out that red rubber ball, unzip the gimp mask, and tell me I'm wrong.
eharding said:
Bodo said:
you just have to get used to the What's New
...and, as we've already established - at length - the existing "What's New" experience sucks so badly it could suck-start a Harley-Davidson.I'm keen to see what RacingPete comes up with.
We still need to develop page specific favourite forums (so it remembers you want all forums on whatsnew page and not on forum home page etc) for those that use it, but we will launch next week with the new pages before doing so.
trooperiziz said:
The point isn't how you look at the p&p, the point is that there is less content now to look at.
I dont believe that for a second. Look in the new sub-forums and every single one is active with threads that probably would have never been posted at all because there was no specific area for them.I dont see how this is any different than having manufacturer specific sub-forums instead of just having General Gassing for ALL car related stuff....I dont see how its any different to having several motorsport forums instead of a single one.
Perhaps the people keeping the sub-forums active enjoy it because they can now post a question or start a discussion on a subject without having pages of people with no interest in the subject replying with moronic tripe or wrong answers they learnt on the net.
All IMHO of course and I'm sure its something that could be argued for years to come.
Each thread has less exposure, and so fewer replies. I wouldn't subscribe to the food and drink forum, but if a thread title came up in the P&P that sounded interesting I might have a look, and who knows? contribute something of use to somebody. In its present format it will go un-noticed by most.
What's New is all very well but presents sensory overload - I am subbed to a good 50 forums - but I don't want to see every single thread on changing the nubbin sprocket on a 964. Some forums I dip into occasionally for a browse, not every time I use PH. What's New doesn't work in this way.
There are so many new forums, checking them all by hand becomes a chore, particularly as the chances of finding something interesting with a wide range of responses has reduced.
But then people have mentioned these issues every time others have said "What's New works fine for me" for the last month and it still gets ignored.
What's New is all very well but presents sensory overload - I am subbed to a good 50 forums - but I don't want to see every single thread on changing the nubbin sprocket on a 964. Some forums I dip into occasionally for a browse, not every time I use PH. What's New doesn't work in this way.
There are so many new forums, checking them all by hand becomes a chore, particularly as the chances of finding something interesting with a wide range of responses has reduced.
But then people have mentioned these issues every time others have said "What's New works fine for me" for the last month and it still gets ignored.
NiceCupOfTea said:
What's New is all very well but presents sensory overload - I am subbed to a good 50 forums - but I don't want to see every single thread on changing the nubbin sprocket on a 964. Some forums I dip into occasionally for a browse, not every time I use PH. What's New doesn't work in this way.
What's New works for me pretty well. You are presented with a page of what has changed and it's really not difficult to scan the thread titles to see if it's interesting, amusing or entertaining. I don't find it makes life any more difficult to see a thread about changing the nubbin sprocket on a 964 than any other thread that I wasn't interested in in the old P&P. At least now there is more decency (changing the nubbin sprocket on a 964 is decent if irrelevant to you and me) and less internet yobbery (e.g. who is your favourite newsreader, "I would", "+1", "Susanna Reid phoaarr") which is really, REALLY boring. So, using What's New you get the same as you had before but with people posting interesting relevant posts. There are loads of forums if you want newsreaders wives or whatever. Doesn't Loaded have one or Nuts or Zoo?
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