Any chance of sub-forums being added?

tom2112 · Post by **tom2112** » Mon May 22, 2006 1:33 pm

I'm curious. Is there any chance of some sub-forums being created so we can divide up all these posts and organize things better in here. I'm having a hard time keeping up with all of the posts and sifting out the ones that don't interest me.

Some suggested sub-forums:
- Product Reviews & Recomendations
- Software and Data Logging
- Brand Specific Info
- - ResMed
- - GoodNight
- - Respironics
- - REMstar
- - etc.
- Newbie Section
- Machine Questions
- Mask Questions
- Humidifier Questions

Just a suggestion . . .

johnnygoodman · Post by **johnnygoodman** » Mon May 22, 2006 1:56 pm

Greetings,

We had a "divide" vs "don't divide" debate a few months back. At the time "don't divide" won out. However, we will obviously have to pay the piper eventually and make all of this content organized.

I'm thinking of upgrading CPAPtalk to allow the tagging of posts into categories. Then, when you visited, you would see everything up front but could drill as desired.

Johnny

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Mon May 22, 2006 2:16 pm

I like the tag idea. I do not like the sub-forum idea. It exists elsewhere and that is fine. Here everything is streamed together and, for this forum, that is good too - IMHO. This is like a conversation that ranges far and wide and surprising things come out of it. The other way means every post has to be categorized and attempts made to put round pegs into round holes and vice versa. My life doesn't work that way very much nor does my OSA. My machine is connected to my interfaces is connected to my sleep hygiene is connected to my medical experiences is connected to my life in general. My OSA does not fit into subforums particularly well. My OSA affects all aspects of my life.

David

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Mon May 22, 2006 3:00 pm

I kinda like being able to see everything in one place. I feel like I'm at a big party and I'm floating around the room, socializing, and joining in conversations when I have something to say... kinda like now

With the understanding that I am on here every day and almost always multiple TIMES per day (I work and play at my computer when I'm not in my wood shop), I've never felt overwhelmed at teh number of posts. If things were divided up too much I might feel like.... "DARN! I left the party and never went in and heard what's going on lately out on the back patio."

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Mon May 22, 2006 3:09 pm

I'd vote for no subforums. I like the free range approach too. Titles and content can be deceiving and often when I'm just here looking I click on titles I'm "not interested in" and it is interesting, or I get a good laugh, or learn something.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon May 22, 2006 5:56 pm

The way it's laid out now, promotes learning by accident, Many time we will see something that catches our fancy. If it was devided up some people would miss a lot of good posts. Jim

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Mon May 22, 2006 6:45 pm

I'm all for the tags. While I like seeing everything at-a-glance the first time thru, it does get a bit cumbersome or time consuming with subsequent passes. (Always was told I liked to have my cake and eat it too.)
Kathy

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Mon May 22, 2006 6:52 pm

i like the idea of subforums actually, most of the other message boards i frequent are divided up that way, it makes it easier to find something i'm looking for instead of searching through 750+ pages of threads, maybe like mentioned above:
software
newbie forums
auto machines
regular cpaps
brand specific
masks
for sale
accessories
miscellaneous
product reviews
etc.

JamesCPAP · Post by **JamesCPAP** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:26 am

I have run other forums in the past and usually it's best to sub divide forums on most sites, but not to go too overboard that it makes people double post into two or three categories.

I like CPAPTalk.com but the one problem I see is that the messages scroll so quickly through the forum, so if you don't visit for 3 or 4 days, you are wading through pages to see all the topics.

Personally I'd recommend:-

- Newbie Forum for all posts regarding OSA, sleep tests and treatment required
- XPAP Machines forum
- Masks Forum
- For Sale
- General Chit Chat / Misc

That wouldn't halm the site and I think would bring much needed added value in people being able to go straight to the posts.

Perhaps even a:-

- USA Forum
- UK Forum

Mile High Sleeper · Post by **Mile High Sleeper** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:19 am

I agree with the wholistic approach that several people advocate, BUT...
it takes weeks of reading to find chunks of information, and not everyone has that time. Tags sound like a good idea, a way to combine two approaches, general and specific.

The topical lists are helpful, too.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:46 am

One of the reasons that this forum is "THE BEST" is because it is NOT subdivided into sections. The way it is now, guarantees that a person's post will get responded to a lot sooner than if it were in some "sub" category. Also, by seeing all of the threads together, new users (and older ones) are more likely to become educated a lot faster by reading a broader spectrum of topics.

Den

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:07 am

why not use the subforums, but for people that wanna see all the new posts that were posted today there should be an option to click on today's posts. like for instance on the tccoa, and the sccoa they have the subforums but they also have a link you click and it will automatically take you to the newest posts regardless of what subforums they are in, so the argument that no one will be able to see all the new posts without going through each subforum individually is invalid. don't take my word for it, got to the forums.tccoa.com you'll have to copy and paste, and look at the header that is above the subforums, there is an option to click on today's posts, take it for a test drive if you don't believe me. nothing could be easier.

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:19 am

What's wrong with the tag idea?

I"ll say again and it is just my opinion but I am strongly against the Sub-forum idea. I like reading UK posts. I like hearing about the UK. If the UK had their own sub-forum I would never go there in all likelihood.

It is interesting to observe these tugs and pulls. I suspect we have two basic types of approaches or temperaments at play here. Those who like to see the whole thing - together and those who like to classify and type. Neither is right or wrong, good or bad, each is just different. I don't spend too much time in the other forums primarily because of the sub-forums, the "sorry if I put this in the wrong place" posts, the cross posting dilemmas, etc., the "where am I likely to get my answer" question.

It's a personal preference but, besides the great people (all in one forum) and the good info (all in one forum) it is the primary one that keeps me around.

Just $.02 more from me.

David

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:26 am

well what's wrong with the view new posts thing? nobody said the uk posts would have to be in their own little subforum, it was just a suggestion by somebody else, there should be at least a for sale subforum and a misc forum, cause if i'm looking for some second hand equipment i don't want to spend hours going through 170+ pages of posts that are irrelevant to what i'm looking for. sorry but it is just too disorganized with a just one forum free for all. and the people trying to help out by selling off their old stuff will prolly have a better success rate by not having their for sale posts being buried under tons of misc posts.

RobertinTX · Post by **RobertinTX** » Tue May 23, 2006 9:01 am

Oh yes !
And we need a "singles" sub form for folks to meet, greet, dance and swing their hoses etc...
laffin ....as I wear my headgear as I table dance, hose swinging......

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