Forum Improvements - User Poll

[DHutch]

Something is changing in the forum at the moment. There are desires to change, grow, stay the same, interfere, fight, cooperate and more. There's more of it about than there used to be, perhaps because there are more of us than there used to be'

I think there is a reason why Daniel put this poll up. I feel that this site is growing out of it,s comfortable jacket. So, leave things as they are (and wither..) Or move on a step, and introduce some new and exciting additions to the site?

As a member who has been here for the better part of 4 years, the site has a potential to go stale, whilst still ha ving so much untapped potential to play with.

If there's an instant image upload function, this forum will EXPLODE with pics....and not just be the leading discussion resource, but definately the leading boating pic resource I imagine. CANT WAIT.

It is interesting that a number of you feel the forum is changing, or are excited for change, its certainly true that as we stand here the potential for our future is huge. I do not know as I type here where this will lead, and have have total commitment to maintain the forum aspect as the core aspect and without significant change, but as one member has said in a string of PMs on the topic, in terms of where we go from here, the sky is the limit.

 

re: Change

 

There's the 'adapt or die' mantra (which in a fast changing world is probably not a bad mantra)

Thus it follows that 'Leaving things as they are' is normally not an option. Things are changing anyway, so change will happen whether you like or not or. That change may well be entropy or stagnation...unless you adapt.

There are three aspects to change: more, different, or better.

'More' usually means just more of the same (could apply to CWDF);

'Different' usualy appears in the guise of 'things are going to be very different round here'....which can mean worse as much as better (often worse!)

 

The one to focus on is 'Better'...which could mean all sorts of things including stopping doing some things, improving some things (the 'search' facility?),adding new things.

I would agree in the main with that. I have never been an advocate for change-for-changes sake, however I do very much believe that if we stand still we will be left behind. If we where to switch back to version v2.0 of the software, which we where running only back in 2004, there would be hue outcry.

 

From my engineering background, LandRover is often mentioned in the situations. Once the only off road vehicle worht owning/buying it stood still to long, to be over taken by the hilux's of the world, and only now maintains sales, after a huge slump, due its cult status, foreign buy out and the RangeRover brand.

 

 

I'd quite like a big ass CWDF tea mug :-)

I shall add 'mug' to the list of possible items.

[Guest]

Really?

For clarity I was referring to a 33 year career in the NHS nothing at all to do with the forum.

 

I have always for the record enthusiastically embraced the changes made to the forum, the last change was brilliant IMHO.

[DHutch]

 

Whilst using an IPad I don't see that at the bottom of the page, as well as many other things.

I will look into that, and add 'cross platform testing' to the 'to do' list.

With regard to direct uploading of pictures, it would be useful if when reading threads if an option to only download "thumbnails" or what ever they are called was available. This would help those who have a small download limit when using say a dongle when cruising. Not such a problem when on a home broadband connection though.

It will certainly be looked into.

 

Well it never used to, surely? Is this not not the reason everyone thinks they have to upload their images to photobucket in order to put them in posts?

 

Given links to library images now work, we can forget all that mucking about with uploading to external hosting sites can't we?

We, its certainly far from being a neat or fast solition, given with that you are already using site/forum bandwidth?

Dan - I think there are too many pinned items - there are eight in the General Boating thread. Things that are important and need to be pinned change over time so perhaps it is an appropriate time to review what's there.

This is a thread on this, and it will be looked into.

 

 

I'd like a better mobile version (iPhone in my case) and I notice that the mobile version I use by default runs in GMT so posts on the Web are currently 1 hour out from those on the mobile version. Also as I have worked with a 24 hour clock for my entire working life I'd like to see Forum times in the 24 hour format rather than AM/PM but realise that's an individual preference - wonder if it is perhaps configurable?

I'd also like to see tablet devices able to use fuller formatting options (iPad specifically for me but understand it also affects other tablets) which seemed to disappear with the most recent upgrade.Noted

 

Apart from that it is great - and much faster since the weekend memory changes. Hope you are enjoying Delhi - I used to spend two months a year with NIIT and loved it.

Enjoying it a lot, hard work, long hours, but good fun. Reminds me of the forum actually..!

I think some of the larger and more active sub-fora could be broken down.

...we are much bigger now ...

... and there could be specialist moderators for each sub-fora to reduce the workload on moderators.

If you'd like to see how well it can work, Richard mentioned Ravelry...

....which must be the exemplar of how to run a vast forum...

If anyone would like to look at the forum as a member (visitors only see a fraction of it) drop me a pm.

Interesting points, and a good offer. I joined Ravelry last night to have a nosey having heard much about it over the past years.

Daniel

Can we still send our PM conversations to our e-mail address? I used to be able to do this but can't seem to find the button any more.

Yes. 'Archive conversation' link between the last message and the reply box.

For clarity I was referring to a 33 year career in the NHS nothing at all to do with the forum.

OK,

[Beaker]

 

I'd also like to see tablet devices able to use fuller formatting options (iPad specifically for me but understand it also affects other tablets) which seemed to disappear with the most recent upgrade.Noted

 

Daniel

OK,

 

I had this problem until I realised I could click "Desktop View" in Options. (Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1)

 

I can now do smileys without knowing the specific keypresses.

[RLWP]

Not in your list - Can we increase the number of recipients for personal messages please? Currently it is one, plus one other. Could it be one plus three others

 

Richard

[Guest]

Not in your list - Can we increase the number of recipients for personal messages please? Currently it is one, plus one other. Could it be one plus three others

 

Richard

Good suggestion...

 

I have never understood that particular limitation.

[RLWP]

Good suggestion...

 

I have never understood that particular limitation.

 

Spamming by PM

 

Richard

[Guest]

Spamming by PM

 

Richard

Possibly - but a tad frustrating if you want to share a message with a group but not the whole forum.

 

Just increase the limit.

[joeirish]

I would like to make a donation but I cannot see where the Paypal button is. I'm sure I saw one the other day. Anyway perhaps it would be a good idea to have this displayed prominently on all pages to make donating a bit easier?

[Doorman]

I'll bet Daniel is sorry he started this thread, although it epitomises the theme of democracy where members are given the opportunity to submit an input in how things are run. Respect!

[MartinClark]

I find that, if I am replying to a long post and want to reply to particular points as I go along, it is not very easy to split the quoted text up into chunks. It used to be easy. Now, the only way I could find to do it involved lots of copying and pasting, highlighting and clicking "Quote". Is there some way to get an alternative way of replying where long quotes can be split up?

 

I voted for "direct upload" because I have got used to how easy it is to do that in Facebook. However, I now wonder whether it would really be a good thing for the forum. If it takes off in a big way it will:
1) massively increase the cost of hosting the forum

2) make it difficult for people to use the forum on slow mobile connections, or cause them problems if they have download/bandwidth limits.

Edited September 3, 2013 by MartinClark

[RLWP]

I would like to make a donation but I cannot see where the Paypal button is. I'm sure I saw one the other day. Anyway perhaps it would be a good idea to have this displayed prominently on all pages to make donating a bit easier?

 

It is hidden away at the bottom of this page: http://www.canalworld.net/aboutus.htm

 

Richard

 

MORE: And now in my signature until Dan pulls his finger out

Edited September 3, 2013 by RLWP

[Guest]

I find that, if I am replying to a long post and want to reply to particular points as I go along, it is not very easy to split the quoted text up into chunks. It used to be easy. Now, the only way I could find to do it involved lots of copying and pasting, highlighting and clicking "Quote". Is there some way to get an alternative way of replying where long quotes can be split up?

 

I voted for "direct upload" because I have got used to how easy it is to do that in Facebook. However, I now wonder whether it would really be a good thing for the forum. If it takes off in a big way it will:

1) massively increase the cost of hosting the forum

2) make it difficult for people to use the forum on slow mobile connections, or cause them problems if they have download/bandwidth limits.

 

Over the years using various forums I can't think of one that I have used that allows for direct uploading of images, one I use doesn't allow even displaying linked images, you can only insert a link for it to be clicked on.

 

Facebook indeed does and it is easier than having to host the image and then link to it to get it to display but they will no doubt have the necessary resources to support this, paid for with copious amounts of advertising revenue of course. (Which I don't see anyway because I use ad-block)

 

MORE: And now in my signature until Dan pulls his finger out

 

 

I was thinking we all should add it to our sigs - but that link being moved doesn't seem to work.

Edited September 3, 2013 by The Dog House

[RLWP]

 

I was thinking we all should add it to our sigs - but that link being moved doesn't seem to work.

 

Where does the link take you? It should be to the Paypal page for CANALWORLD.NET

 

Richard

[Guest]

 

Where does the link take you? It should be to the Paypal page for CANALWORLD.NET

 

Richard

 

To the PayPal home page and this -

 

Sorry, an error occurred after you clicked the last link

If you were in the process of buying something, or sending money to family or friends, we recommend you check both your PayPal account and your email inbox for a transaction confirmation after 30 minutes.

If you came to this page from another website, you may want to return to that site (we advise that you don't just use your browser's back button) and restart your activity.

If you stumbled upon this page from the PayPal website, simply click the PayPal logo in the top left corner to return to the UK home page and restart your activity. You might have to log in again.

If you wish to sign up to PayPal, please click the PayPal logo and then click the “Sign up” button.

[Doorman]

To the PayPal home page and this -

 

 

 

Sorry, an error occurred after you clicked the last link

 

 

 

 

 

If you were in the process of buying something, or sending money to family or friends, we recommend you check both your PayPal account and your email inbox for a transaction confirmation after 30 minutes.

If you came to this page from another website, you may want to return to that site (we advise that you don't just use your browser's back button) and restart your activity.

If you stumbled upon this page from the PayPal website, simply click the PayPal logo in the top left corner to return to the UK home page and restart your activity. You might have to log in again.

If you wish to sign up to PayPal, please click the PayPal logo and then click the Sign up button.

 

Come on Richard, get your finger out! Lol

Edited September 3, 2013 by Doorman

[RLWP]

I've gone for clunkier method, linking to the About us page where the working button is

 

Richard

[Guest]

How about just putting a link to the 'about us' page in our sigs.with a brief instruction of where to find the button??

 

Something like -

 

Want to make a donation to the cost of running Canalworld? Then Click here and use the Donate button at the bottom of the page.

I've gone for clunkier method, linking to the About us page where the working button is

 

Richard

 

great minds!

 

How do you include the button though??

[RLWP]

Trade secret!

 

(It's an image on the Paypal site, so you put it on the screen like any other picture/image. Then highlight it and use it to make a link)

 

Richard

[Guest]

Trade secret!

 

(It's an image on the Paypal site, so you put it on the screen like any other picture/image. Then highlight it and use it to make a link)

 

Richard

 

 

Got it. Cheers

[Doorman]

Got it. Cheers

Thanks lads,

 

That makes the process much easier!

[Guest]

Thanks lads,

 

That makes the process much easier!

 

I should add if anybody is annoyed or irritated by seeing the Donate button in signatures it is possible to turn the signatures of individual members to 'off' using -

 

My settings>ignore preference.

 

Go to the bottom and you will see -

 

Add a new user to my list

Ignore: Posts Signature Messages Chats

Edited September 3, 2013 by The Dog House

[casper ghost]

The poll needs a place to add a vote for; i'm mostly happy with the site as is. That would get my vote. Except why doesn't it go to last post I haven't seen when I click posts since my last visit anymore?

Casp'

[Guest]

I've ditched the button for now - I think it's a bit too 'in your face'

 

Keeping the link in my sig. though.

Edited September 3, 2013 by The Dog House

[Dave_P]

The two main ideas I'd love to see would be the member's map and direct picture uploads. The member's map could become a major part of the forum experience, facilitating the cross-over from online to real life. I think it would be fab. With regard to pics, whilst Martin is right about it being possible, the proof of the pudding is in how few pictures get posted. I'd love to be able to take a pic with my phone and insert it straight into my post from my phone like I can with facebook.

 

Good on you Richard for adding the paypal button to your signature. Daniel - I think you need to be more pushy at getting in donations. Many sites now have pop-ups which occassionally appear to ask for donations. That can be annoying but you could at least have the button at the top of every forum page. I don't think anyone would mind. I haven't donated for ages (sorry) because I just forgot. A virtual dig in the ribs would be fine by me.

 

I also wouldn't object to a small amount of ads so long as they were relevant to boating. I don't want my 'bits' enlarging or to marry a thai bride thanks.