- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Everyone, As we get new regular commenters, we are getting numerous posts that duplicate existing posts. I REALLY want to honor the wonderful comments that have been posted already, so I am redirecting new posts to older posts and asking people to comment on the existing threads.
Is there a way to create a classification / keyword / category system so that someone can search more easily to see if a topic they want to discuss exists already in an older thread? The current “Search” option at the top of the page is limited in what it can do, apparently – as some “too common” searches (like “temple”) result in so many hits that it doesn’t list them.
I agree. I think that much of what I say has probably been said better elsewhere. It’s good that people have live interaction, direct responses to their questions; but the best ideas that have already been laid out need to be available.
Well, the truth is, this is really not the right tool for such a mechanism. You can use the “advanced search” option, but that isn’t on the front page. phpBB is a forum, it is supposed to be used as a discussion mechanism, not as a reference. If we want a reference, editable by many then a wiki is the appropriate tool, and John has one of those (that we have yet to do anything with). From a technical standpoint, I propose we take the comments and threads we like and transcribe them into the wiki and then refer people to that.
Here’s how I view this situation. This is a discussion forum. People come here to discuss things (not just read them). I think part of the power of the site is being able to find people willing to discuss issues in real time. I do think it’s okay to refer people to comments from threads past, but I think it is very important to allow threads of the same topic as threads past so that they can be discussed anew. If we want to create a reference then we should do so, but a discussion forum is not the right tool for the job. I understand that as moderators and long time users (not that I’ve been here that long) we might get bored with discussing the same things over and over again, but that’s part of the point – to help people with this struggle. I think of it as a revolving door and we are the doormen (women). People are going in and out of the revolving door of disaffection all the time. Some people will be just fine being directed to previous threads, but others will want a fresh discussion or feel that their concerns are slightly different. I propose that we look more closely at developing the wiki.
Good points. Maybe I need to not redirect but rather simply paste the link and advise reading it, as well. I totally understand the efficiency of redirecting people and keeping a topic in one place. On the other hand, I think sometimes people need to feel that personal attention to their question, even if it is very similar to other topics. I can be overwhelming to jump over to another thread with 8 pages of comments to start a new discussion. I also see the merits of focusing content too. It’s a tough call. I think I lean more towards letting people be a little more free and starting up new discussions.
I think jmb275 has an excellent point. I have never even bothered to search to find if a subject has been posted on. And when some discussions get long, it is tedious to go through 6 pages of comments to see if someone already stated your point of view. It’s easier to start a new thread. If someone like Ray can point to a similar topic, then great. I know I often don’t comment on old threads because I think people have already discussed it, and might not join in.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.