View Full Version : The sign of a good forum is.....
When it goes down your AIM lights up..."hey, is sew down".."can you get to sew?"..."i think I've been banned from sew"
Nick W
09-30-2004, 04:37 PM
I dont do IM's - far to social for me LoL!
But i did keep hitting refresh till it came back :)
Nick
Jeremy_Goodrich
09-30-2004, 04:59 PM
Checking every 5 minutes for new posts.
Wondering if I should use a custom CSS in Firefox to strip all the (sorry) noise & useless graphics, so I can browse the site quicker.
Wondering if news will start breaking here more often.
Wondering if there's anyway to stop wondering about the above...ok, back to work.
Nick W
09-30-2004, 05:11 PM
Get the adblock and remove object extentions for Moz Jermemy. I have this thing stripped down pretty tight...
Nick
>I have this thing stripped down pretty tight
Same here, if they would give a text alternative to the post button it could really rock.
Nick W
09-30-2004, 05:19 PM
What do you use NFFC?
Nick
Nick W
09-30-2004, 05:29 PM
hehe,
I cant get my head round it, prefer Moz. I mean, what extensions do you use for it in order to strip this site down?
I know adblock, but it's a little immature yet. Cant find away to put an element back where it came from! I accidently blocked the logo and its also the best 'homepage' link (for me) lol!
Which reminds me, we need a "back to top" at the bottom of threads, im fed up with opening bookmarks after a long thread in order to get back to the new posts page...
Nick
"Back to Top" at the bottom and a text alternative to the post button... both would be great. I'll make a request.
grnidone
09-30-2004, 06:30 PM
The sign of a good forum is being treated with respect by those who run it.
MrMackin
09-30-2004, 06:53 PM
>The sign of a good forum is being treated with respect by those who run it.
SO TRUE
Mikkel deMib Svendsen
09-30-2004, 07:03 PM
Yes, indeed we have a rocking forum going here.
As many of you, i've been around quite some years and a bunch of forums. I think we managed to keep a good balance between the various interests and opinions here. Personally, I really like the more "relaxed" linking policies here and the room for many different opinions.
But, the main reason this forum is so great, i think, is because of the many fantastic member postings. I think there has been so many good threads and so many well thought out posts. I am truely amazed by the quality and diversity and it drags me in here every day. I just have to get the kick every morning :)
Marcia
09-30-2004, 07:18 PM
grnidone
The sign of a good forum is being treated with respect by those who run it.
You said a mouthful there, and I couldn't agree more.
MrMackin
SO TRUE
Couldn't be truer.
Nick W
10-01-2004, 01:22 AM
The sign of a good forum is being treated with respect by those who run it.
Yep, shame you've diasbled your rep. Would have given you a big green kiss for that one :D
Anyone checked Alexa recently?
Nick
I, Brian
10-01-2004, 09:30 AM
The sign of a good forum is one that pays me $1,000 per post.
Actually, that's just a great forum.
;)
grnidone
10-01-2004, 10:58 AM
Rep turned back on...kiss away. (I'm tired of seeing black)
-G
I, Brian
10-01-2004, 01:25 PM
I see a green box and I want to paint it black,
No colours anymore, leave reputation black...
Nick W
10-01-2004, 01:29 PM
ahhhh, one of my favorites! that and "sympathy" just push my buttons :)
Nick
rustybrick
10-03-2004, 01:09 AM
I think you can still give rep points to those who turn it off. So if they ever do turn it back on it will show the past rep point. Not a 100% sure, but I think this is the case.
Anyone miss me? I've been away for about 3 days. :D
I, Brian
10-03-2004, 06:09 AM
I have - but that's only because I'm trying to get a picture of you on my new site. PM sent. :)
Marcia
10-06-2004, 11:27 PM
Interesting topic, when you think about it. What's the difference between a forum and a community?
There is a difference, and calling it such doesn't necessarily make it so. What is it that makes a forum into a community?
mcanerin
10-07-2004, 12:24 AM
I think the answer to that is the Key Posters. Often, these are the mods but not always. There are a lot of people around here who help set the tone of the forum who are not mods but nonetheless help make the community. Also, some mods are NOT key posters - it depends on the forum.
This is different from a "forum", IMO, because a forum is simply the technology behind the community. It's the people involved who matter.
I was a lurker for many, many years until I screwed up the courage to make a post at either IHY or Cre8 (I can't remember which) but was immediately greeted by several luminaries who not only answered my question but also gave me a warm welcome. At that point I stopped being a forum information leech and got the confidence to begin posting and actually contributing. Later one of the ones who originally welcomed me started up her own forum and I began to contribute there.
And no one has been able to shut me up since.... :D
Ian
Jill Whalen
10-07-2004, 12:32 AM
No matter how hard we try! :D
mcanerin
10-07-2004, 12:45 AM
See? She even followed me here to try to get me to stop writing essays instead of posts! ;) It's probably 'cause she knows it's her fault for not shutting me up when she had the chance.... :p
Honestly, Jill's (and others) welcome way back then really impressed me - it's something I'd like to see happen at every forum - it certainly made me more comfortable posting without feeling I was going to get flamed.
Now, of course, I've evolved asbestos skin and that's not an issue - but I wonder how many absolutely great people are out there right now in lurk mode because they are concerned they will get flamed or look dumb if they post?
Come on in! SEW is full of good folks!
Ian
creativecraig
10-07-2004, 05:17 AM
More professionals, less noise.
rcjordan
10-08-2004, 04:30 PM
>The sign of a good forum is.....
One of the first things I look for is whether it has a "Review my site" forum --if it does, it's also likely (imho) to have a high newbie/wannabe noise quotient. It's also a tip-off that the forum is really intended for client-trolling.
The next thing I review is the water-cooler forum, like the padded room here. It's there that the real culture comes out. Particularly telling are the "how old are you" and/or "how much money do you make on the web" threads. I was invited to a forum a few weeks ago, one later mentioned here in a thread as a good forum, but the age thread indicated that the current group of posters were generally in their teens. With ONE notable exception, I've not known many 14-yr-olds that impressed me with their SEO abilities, so I moved on.
Nick W
10-08-2004, 04:34 PM
Good tips!
I'll have to go look at the one I suspect you mean, im pretty sure i got it nailed form the active list being made up of 50% teenageesqe drivel..
Nick
MrMackin
10-08-2004, 04:51 PM
I'll be 61 this month.
Had dinner with a teen in London who is "retired"
There are EXCEPTIONS to every rule!
rcjordan
10-08-2004, 04:53 PM
>Had dinner with a teen in London who is "retired"
And he's the ONE exception I mentioned, Mister Mackin.
Nick W
10-08-2004, 04:56 PM
He must be 20 now though eh LoL!
I didnt mean to knock all teens, we've all been there...
Nick
rcjordan
10-08-2004, 05:21 PM
back on topic...
The next thing I look for is how the moderators/admins/power members interact w/ the new members and what they do out in OTHER forums. Many go out primarily on self-promotion and/or member harvesting missions.
Finding some name-brand nicks in a forum is good (though I may not stay), let's me know the chemistry.
I, Brian
10-09-2004, 01:32 PM
What's the difference between a forum and a community?
Just thinking on a couple I run, it occured to me tonight - in a forum, people address each other by their aliases; in a community, people know each others real names.
Maybe that makes the SEW forums somewhere between a forum and community.
Or maybe I'm completely wrong. :)
Nick W
10-09-2004, 01:35 PM
Many people i know would be angry as hell if I used their real name when addressing them in this forum...
Of course with you and i that's a moot point ;-)
Nick
Elisabeth
10-09-2004, 01:50 PM
Many people i know would be angry as hell if I used their real name when addressing them in this forum...
Of course with you and i that's a moot point ;-)
Nick
hehe. true. Of course, one of the things that makes this forum different is the fact that many people chose to sign up with their real name, especially if the were well known from the conference or publication circuit.
of course, i'm certainly happy to see the branded nicknames here as well:)
Marcia
10-09-2004, 04:52 PM
One of the things I look at is visible moderator presence.
To draw an analogy, kids can come home from school and let themselves in to the house by themselves - and that's fine if they're of age. But there's no getting around it, when they come home and Mom is around it makes the house feel more like a home.
Also, as far as moderating goes, it's a precursive measure that can help prevent the need to edit a lot. When the kids know Mom is around they are far less likely to try to find out what happens if you try to microwave the cat.
Jill Whalen
10-09-2004, 07:48 PM
That's very true, Marcia. I remember once I was at a conference and away from my forum, and sure enough, the cat was fried when I got back! ;)
Actually, it's usually the opposite. I'm always surprised at how smoothly things run when I can't get there for a day or more. I'm there so much, normally, it always feels like it would fall apart if I wasn't.
But that's the important thing of having a great team of moderators you can trust. No blown up cats! :eek:
Chris_D
10-10-2004, 10:09 AM
I think one of the signs of the strength of the SEW forums is how many people who have their own forums actually come to SEW and actively participate.
That speaks volumes.
rustybrick
10-10-2004, 10:40 AM
Excellent point. What about those who moderate at other forums and come here to participate. ;)
Jill Whalen
10-10-2004, 10:57 AM
Yes, I agree.
I have found this place is a good one to discuss the SE issues of the day, as well as a place to hear and learn from people with many varying points of view.
I don't personally look at the "I lost all my positions in Google" posts here because I have enough of those to deal with at my own forum, but the high-level discussions about SEM in general are very interesting.
I see this place as sort of a neutral playground where all colored hats can come and play together and see each other in a new light. Almost like the conferences held by SEW, only virtually.
One thing that seems to happen a lot in this industry (and probably everywhere) is that people read one post by someone in a forum, or they don't even read a post, but hear other people's commentary on a post or an article that was written, and they base their opinion of that person on that. It's very often an inaccurate perception.
This forum has hopefully helped clear up a few misconceptions about some people in general, and has perhaps confirmed the suspicions some had about others. Either way, people are able to make better, more informed judgements instead of simply doing it based on hearsay. :D
Nick W
10-10-2004, 11:05 AM
I see this place as sort of a neutral playground where all colored hats can come and play together and see each other in a new light
...and for 99% of the membership here that's very true. There will always be a very small minority in any community however that just cant take their hat off and party. - I dont mean you...
One thing about SEW i think needs improving is "for the good of many" - Somtimes disruptive members need to asked to stop posting.
Ah @!#~! - now im scared to look at my inbox lol!
Nick
Jill Whalen
10-10-2004, 01:17 PM
...and for 99% of the membership here that's very true. There will always be a very small minority in any community however that just cant take their hat off and party. - I dont mean you...
Well, that's what I meant about "confirming the suspicions about others"!
fathom
10-10-2004, 09:15 PM
hmmm... I'm all work no play.
I sat with Nick at PubCon and all I wanted was my Google Pen! ;)
I use it every day, and the lights still work too! :D
Chris_D
10-11-2004, 10:34 AM
What about those who moderate at other forums and come here to participate
Yes - ok - I meant - the large number of posters here at SEW that own/ moderate/ are longer term (as opposed to 'old'!! :) ) members at other established forums....
:)
The other aspect of SEW I really appreciate is - despite an 'update' over the weekend - there weren't 200,000 'me too' posts. Maybe I'm just getting old - I like less noise than more noise...
:)