Suggestions : Dividing the posts into topics

Wish there was a way to organize the posts / conversations based on topic

Example:
Machines
Software
Masks

This has been suggested before...ain't gonna happen. The majority of folks here like it just the way it is, me too!

Brenda

I strongly prefer the "everything gets posted in one big bucket" style of this board. There's another board that I frequent that has sub-forums for different topics. It's a lot harder to simply browse the posts because there's a lot more mouse clicking.

And then there's the problem that many CPAP-related problems just don't fit neatly into one category. And that puts a burden on the newbie needing help to figure out which subforum to post too. Or they simply post (the same post) to multiple sub-forums.

There've been many good pro/con discussions about "categories."
(I still prefer it the way it is...one big place for everything.)

Oct 2010 - topic started by DHC
Forum-Specific Suggestions ?
viewtopic.php?p=524967#p524967

Mar 2010 - topic started by pokerjah
Forum Suggestion - Topic Sections
viewtopic.php?p=456847#p456847

Dec 2009 - topic started by GerryK
suggestions to Johnny for the board
viewtopic.php?p=429353#p429353

Aug 2009 - topic started by SleepNazzi
OT - Forum Suggestion
viewtopic.php?p=394780#p394780

Any value in Creating New Forum Subjects?
Feb 2009 - topic started by Mtnviewer
viewtopic/t39122/viewtopic.php?p=342140#p342140

Board suggestions
Feb 2009 - topic started by 40 Winks
viewtopic.php?p=340618#p340618

Please Rethink The Big Pot Design
Sept 2008 - topic started by OldLincoln
viewtopic.php?p=296770#p296770

Do you think adding some forums to separate content would make this site more user friendly?
May 2007 - topic started by SleepFitness
viewtopic.php?p=169484#p169484

Any chance of sub-forums being added?
May 2006 - topic started by tom2112
viewtopic.php?p=80429#p80429

Topic started by forumadmin -- Should cpaptalk Be Divided Into Categories or Subsections?
Aug 2005
viewtopic/t4149/viewtopic.php?p=33395#p33395


This next thing isn't about categories, but might help some new readers:

A suggestion about doing searches (thanks to blarg and College Girl) -- if the Advanced Search button at top of the forum's main page doesn't find what a person is looking for, or comes up with a mish mash of things that aren't useful, another way to search this board is to do a Google search.

In the Google search box, type what you want to look for, written as in the examples below. Be sure to include the words that are run together (and the colon) in that final emphasized phrase:

oral mask site:cpaptalk.com

Cflex A-flex EPR difference site:cpaptalk.com

DME definition site:cpaptalk.com

If the topic stated doesn't appeal to you, just move on to the next one...SSSOOOOOO easy!

Yeah, I've used forums with multiple subforums. It gets too hard to follow. One or two wouldn't be so bad (though I think it would be better to seperate by brand in order to target knowledge) but still I don't think would even then.

The problem with several topics, is that invariably people won't post that topic in that topic and there won't be segregation at all and some good info gets missed because of this.

JMHO.

Xena

Rogue wrote:Wish there was a way to organize the posts / conversations based on topic

Example:
Machines
Software
Masks

This reminds me of the way medicine is practiced in the U.S. The first of this year my great uncle became very ill and we thought he was going to die because he was sent from specialist to specialist to specialist over a 12-week period and his condition continued to worsen.

Finally one of the specialists knew what was wrong and immediately started treatment and my uncle is much better and expected to recover completely.

Putting things in topics like you suggested is somewhat like my uncle's experience. You can check one thing at a time but you fail to realize that everything is related and the CPAP process has to work as a whole not in pieces.

I see many times here that a new member thinks he is having a problem with one element. But then one of the smarter members on the board broadens the discussion and figures out something else has to be corrected.

Leave the forum as it is. A human is a whole and all parts can affect all other parts. The CPAP process is one integrated process and any one part can affect any other part.

I thought subforums would be a good idea as well, however as it was explained in another thread regarding another topic (regarding making guests members before being allowed to post), johnnygoodman said:

1. Not everyone is good at using the internet. If they manage to make it to CPAPtalk anyway and need CPAP help, I don't want to throw up another barrier

Considering that many victims of SA are older folks who may not be computer-friendly, as well as people who may have a disability or just trouble with concentration, focus, and memory from SA, it does make sense to leave it as it is.

I agree with the notion that it ain't gonna happen, nor should it.

This forum is great the way it is, and you'll probably feel the same after you've been here a while.

Just one thing required to find info here, read. No posting under the wrong topic, due to no topics, just posts. We do have one topic: OT for non XPAP related posts, that way those that don't like them can avoid them. Jim

Free-form big-bucket relative anarchy is not just tolerated but fully sanctioned by our wise, beloved, benevolent non-dictator.