Forum Merger

[Haljackey 17,398]

This is a discussion thread created to talk about the forum merger and what we can do do make the site more organized.

Overall, I am pleased to see some of the forum categories merged.  Some categories like "Rush Hour Expansion" have since lost their purpose because the content already known or outdated.  I have found that during the last two years, the same kind of posts have been made in both Rush Hour Expansion and SC4 General discussion.  I am happy to see them merged. 

Other mergers, such as The NHP map category to the Mapping Community Board Room makes sense because NHP is not nearly as active on this site as it once was.

I am sure this is not new news to anyone but I believe that there is one issue with these mergers:  Sticky Threads.

There is now an overwhelming number of sticky threads in the merged categories.  I think that some of these sticky threads should be looked at to ensure that they are still needed in the forum category.  Getting rid of, or merging a couple sticky threads would, in my opinion, make the site more organized. 

One merger that I find puzzling is that between Game Experiments to City Building Concepts.  I find that these two topics are different from each other and I find merger just added even more clutter to City Building Concepts, an already cluttered category.

That is why I propose that the "Show Us Your..." threads in City Building Concepts to be moved to their own category.  This would lessen the clutter, and make the topics somewhat more organized.

I was wondering what the rest of the ST community thinks about these issues and if they have any other ideas about the merger.

Anyways thanks for your time and I hope you take this into consideration!

Best,

-Haljackey

[JakeMD 107]

Sounds like a good idea! These do tend to create a lot of different topics and are hard to keep track of.

[hym 358]

Splitting  the "Show Us..." threads into a separate location is really only feasible if you have a script that can do it. Otherwise, it's all manual labor that I'm pretty sure none of the mods or admins have time to undertake.

[Tia-may 0]

I haven't got anything against these mergers but further use of sub-forums may keep the site further organized. Either way keep up the great work Simtropolis.

[dedgren 830]

Wow, that's sort of abrupt. Yes, it would take someone a while. Generally, though, anything good or worthwhile requires the expenditure of a little effort. I'd second Hal- it sounds like a good housekeeping move

David

[Hamish 1,370]

Im sure that if you asked to ST community to be on the lookout of any rouge "show us your..." threads then they would be easier to move. Just a quick PM to a modd or admin with the address would be all it needs.

[PhilsCafe 8]

I totally agree with haljackey. As for finding all the "Show us your" threads, there's an index thread created by SpecialEddie (here: https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=23&threadid=82154&enterthread=y -- sorry, linking still won't work) which should help the Mods/Admins to move the threads...

[Duke87 1,070]

Yeah, the Rush Hour Forum became superfluous years ago. Nobody's running Vanilla anymore. Glad to see that one go.

NHP... no comment, since I'm not involved in that stuff.

I'll agree with you that Game Experiments and City Building concepts are distinct topics, but the Game Experiments forum has never really been that active, so it makes sense to want to merge it into something else. Maybe it would have been better merged into general discussion.

[Patricius Maximus 236]

I am sure this is not new news to anyone but I believe that there is one issue with these mergers:  Sticky Threads.quote>

There is now an overwhelming number of sticky threads in the merged categories.  I think that some of these sticky threads should be looked at to ensure that they are still needed in the forum category.  Getting rid of, or merging a couple sticky threads would, in my opinion, make the site more organized. quote>

[rushman5 33]

I'm a fan. I second Hal's suggestion because It always seems like if those certain show us... threads aren't responded to in two days, they loose their appeal. I am guilty of that myself. Great suggestion and I hope this is supported in the new forum mergation. (yes I made that word up)

[pagenotfound 53]

I agree with your thought about the merger of those two topics. The City concept section is just way to cluttered now.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Originally posted by: pagenotfound I agree with your thought about the merger of those two topics. The City concept section is just way to cluttered now.quote>

I think you will find that there has been some 'de-cluttering' in the City Building Concepts forum.

Apparently a new mod in there has been having a tidy up. 

Any forum merger will take time to bed in, while folks get used to the new look and a little patience while it happens is certainly appreciated.

[Patricius Maximus 236]

Ah, yes. Mods, thanks for the decluttering. I believe I PM'd SkiGeek about it, and he stated that people were working on the forums.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: Patricius Maximus Ah, yes. Mods, thanks for the decluttering. I believe I PM'd SkiGeek about it, and he stated that people were working on the forums.quote>

*pokes*

SkiGeek is a she, you know.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Duke87

 

Originally posted by: Patricius Maximus Ah, yes. Mods, thanks for the decluttering. I believe I PM'd SkiGeek about it, and he stated that people were working on the forums.quote>

*pokes*

SkiGeek is a she, you know.quote>

Thank you, Duke 

[Haljackey 17,398]

Thanks for your input everyone!

And, thanks for the de-cluttering of the CBC section of the site abcvs!  It looks a lot better now!

But the posts/links in the "The Official City Building Concepts and Game Experiements Index" are heavily outdated. 

---

I still think the best way to "refresh" the site is to create a separate "Show Us Your..." category/subcategory.

Originally posted by: hym Splitting  the "Show Us..." threads into a separate location is really only feasible if you have a script that can do it. Otherwise, it's all manual labor that I'm pretty sure none of the mods or admins have time to undertake.quote>

By "manual labour", what do you mean?  Can you move entire threads or is it post-by-post? I understand the difficulty if the latter needs be done because there are quite a lot of posts in these threads.

-Also, what about getting a script you were talking about?  Is that a possibility at all?

---

Originally posted by: dedgren Wow, that's sort of abrupt. Yes, it would take someone a while. Generally, though, anything good or worthwhile requires the expenditure of a little effort. I'd second Hal- it sounds like a good housekeeping move

Davidquote>

Originally posted by: hamish Im sure that if you asked to ST community to be on the lookout of any rouge "show us your..." threads then they would be easier to move. Just a quick PM to a modd or admin with the address would be all it needs.quote>

I couldn't agree more with this.  If you need some help from the community with this, just let us know what we can do to help.  I will do what I can to lend a hand if possible.

Best,

-Haljackey

[Streetwise 3]

I think this is a good idea,as uncluttering is always a good thing.

Thanks, everyone