Please Rethink The Big Pot Design

[OldLincoln]

I really would like some support for this but am not fearful of criticism.

I propose we ask Johnny to create 2 additional sub-forums, "Off Topic" and "Site Discussion". Off topic is self explanatory and intended to stop criticism for posting that in the CPAP forum. "Site Discussion" is for feature requests and how to's.

I can appreciate the "OT:" header and I'm a sucker for them but the off topics are getting a tad edgy (love it) and I prefer they be separated. I firmly believe they are not only fun but necessary to blow off steam and flirt a bit which is healthy human nature.

Site Discussion came out of the redesign discussion. I may be surprised but I don't expect Johnny to scan all posts looking for a header suggesting a site topic.

Three forums is not the same as twenty three and I believe it would improve the forum not detract from it.

[jnk]

Could we call the edgy/flirting OT sub "the-one-stop-hot-pot-spot"? Wait, I can't even say that twice fast. Never mind.

[Snoredog]

My opinion:
It seems it's always the newbie that wants to come here and change things, they have been here 3 days have 50 posts and already want to have the board redesigned more to their liking.

There are other sleep forum boards designed with sub-categories as you describe, so I have to ask why haven't you gone over to those?

Here ya go pick one:
http://www.apneasupport.org/

Here's another:
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-boards/

I along with many others with a lot more posts under our belts and we like it the way it is. If I wanted change I'd go elsewhere, suggest you do the same.

I think Johnny does an excellent job and doesn't need to change anything other than allow "Guest" Users to be placed on the foe list

[CorgiGirl]

I've only been here a month, but I much prefer the all-in-one-pot design we have now. It's one of the reasons I chose this forum over others available. I can read what I choose to and ignore the rest, but I don't have to constantly drill down to get to everything I might be interested in.

Please, Johnny, keep it the way it is now!

[Wulfman]

I really would like some support for this but am not fearful of criticism.

I propose we ask Johnny to create 2 additional sub-forums, "Off Topic" and "Site Discussion". Off topic is self explanatory and intended to stop criticism for posting that in the CPAP forum. "Site Discussion" is for feature requests and how to's.

I can appreciate the "OT:" header and I'm a sucker for them but the off topics are getting a tad edgy (love it) and I prefer they be separated. I firmly believe they are not only fun but necessary to blow off steam and flirt a bit which is healthy human nature.

Site Discussion came out of the redesign discussion. I may be surprised but I don't expect Johnny to scan all posts looking for a header suggesting a site topic.

Three forums is not the same as twenty three and I believe it would improve the forum not detract from it.

You won't get any support from me, either!
I've watched the other (previously-mentioned) forums slide into obscurity. The only thing that will make the slide faster, is to heavily monitor and restrict meaningful information as has been done by the others. You can't "help" people if the Admins keep restricting the information. If you want to do a comparison, go to the other forums and count the number of threads that have the current day's date in them......and count the ones here. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to SEE which is the best forum.

This type of subject comes up at least once a year and (thankfully) gets nowhere.

Not trying to be "mean" or criticize, but I don't want to see this forum weakened in any way.......like the others have been.

Den

[bdp522]

I like it as it is too. I'm still getting used to the new forum design, please don't do anything to confuse me more!

Brenda

[DreamStalker]

Keep it the same ... vote for McCain!

Oh ... sorry, wrong thread

Yep, although I think this topic comes up more like 3 times a year ... we should have one more before the end of the year if I'm correct.

So I agree, the forum works just fine as it is ... seriously, it does.

[Georgio]

"I like it as it is too.................please don't do anything to confuse me more!" Yeah, what she said! Keep it simple for those of us still in a fog with limited brain activity!

[Snoredog]

"I like it as it is too.................please don't do anything to confuse me more!" Yeah, what she said! Keep it simple for those of us still in a fog with limited brain activity!

wait, Slinky hasn't chimed in on this yet, you are getting ahead of yourself

[marshaeb]

Old Lincoln, I understand your concerns, and for a pair of seconds I thought it would be a good idea. But no. Not only do I think it wouldn't work, I think it would eventually kill the forum because compartmentalizing it that way would suck the life out of it.

When we have conversations -- anybody, anywhere; I don't just mean in this forum -- it's rare for them to be limited to only one topic or one kind of topic. I might start talking with my girlfriend about going to a movie, but we'll probably also move into how her son's doing in college, frustrations at work and maybe even Tommy Lee Jones' latest movie (The Best And Sexiest Actor Of All Recorded History, Bar None, Past, Present And Future).

See? I didn't plan for that sentence to go there, but there it went. (Of course, not everybody has the added advantage of having a superball-like ADD brain like mine, but you can't have everything.) This multi-topic, life-encompassing character of our forum is one of the many things that drew me here and is keeping me here. Even Snoredog's growly ways. I really appreciate being able to connect with people AS people -- warts and all -- and at least from my little corner of the world, maybe even learning a little more about myself and how to deal with Life On Planet Earth.

If an off-topic thread is started, I appreciate the author beginning the subject with "OT." Fair warning, buyer beware, etc. But there's no guarantee that a detailed, clinical discussion of leak rates won't morph into an OT. That's the nature of conversation. Just like everything else in life, what I or anybody else does about it when that happens is each individual's choice. Sometimes we don't make the best choice, and sometimes we do. No matter what, chances are strong that we'll have a chance to learn from whatever happens. I'm willing to deal with the edgy times, the misplaced and sometimes inappropriately angry or critical times, the times of misunderstanding (hopefully quickly followed by clarification and reconciliation, if needed) and the times when Snoredog's just plain wrong. I think the alternative would be a pale imitation.

(Don't listen to Snoredog. He can be a knee-jerky kind of a guy from time to time, but I've rarely thought his knee-jerky ways were meant as personal attacks. Just more proof that my theory about our forum being a USA Network kind of place -- characters welcome -- is accurate. Stay here. Your posts always are positive, this thread was entirely reasonable, and our group is enriched by your participation. Snoredog's, too. Usually. )

Marsha

[Goofproof]

Once again it's not broken, so it doesn't need fixed. The "OT:" posts, when clearly marked, "OT:", are fine as they are, they can add insite and humor to flavor our day. Just like the with the T.V., they don't have to be viewed. (Warning, some of them do pull you in)

When done properly, there's room for everything, just pick what you like, and passover the rest. Thanks Johnny, for your continued support, and the upgrade. Jim

[Hawthorne]

My "vote" is for the forum as it is now! I visit those other forums with all the sub groups once in a while but I come here every day - actually, several times a day.

On this forum, I look at the "subject", decide if it is interesting or will help me with my sleep apnea therapy or is a subject with which I can give help (now that I've been here a while) and go with it. Simple ,easy, uncomplicated.

One thing I have noticed, on the sub group type forums - not many people adhere to the categories. They just post, mostly in the first category and there is overlap or or some posts never get seen. With our forum, scroll through, read (or not), respond (or not).

It works! It ain't broke!!

[Slinky]

Awww, SnoreDog!!! So sweet of you to think of me, you crusty ole geezer!!

Yeah, I wouldn't want to see this forum broken up into two or three or whatever. This is my favorite forum, bar none! It "ain't broke, so no need to fix it. Darn! I've gotta be a good girl and not post the "slam" about fixes and the M Series .... takes all the fun outta it.

[billbolton]

The single forum approach works well for the topic at hand...xPAP treatement.

Cheers,

Bill

[OldLincoln]

Gosh snoredoggy, I know I asked you what you think, but damn, man. Since I grew up with attitudes like yours it's just more flak over my head. Thanks for the invitation to leave but it ain't gonna happen. The board is too good, in spite of your arrogance, to leave it. Of course I do visit other forums, some small some large. The largest is an example of a well constructed board - Howard Forums - with 11,348,022 posts (looked that up just for you - aren't you special?). I imagine you'd love to be engaged with that one if it were only 1 forum (oh, 7892 currently logged on). The fact that the forum question keeps popping up here should be a clue to take a harder look.

I'm reminded of fellow developers years back that decided we can save an enormous amount of storage space by using a 2 character year field for dates in our large data systems. That one cost a bundle in 1999. Just because it isn't your 1954 Oldsmobile doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Comfortable doesn't always equate to good design.

However, this is not a Republic, actually not a Democracy either, more like a Benevolent Monarchy - hail King Johnny. I will bow to the general weight of responses and graciously withdraw my suggestion.