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Topic: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM? (Read 1183 times) |
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Bob_Johnson
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IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« on: Jan 31st, 2004, 4:02pm » |
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The dramatic growth in the number of participants and the volume of messages posted has, in my judgment, created structural barriers to the effectiveness of ch.com. (Please see the bottom of the message board home page for statistics on the volume of messages.)
The volume is too great to be read in its entirely. The potential is important material will be missed.
The volume creates long download times, another barrier to fully engaging in the posts.
Two board categories (general and meds/treatment) works to collapse too much non-ch material in one box.
Compounding this last issue is the pattern of "empty" headings to messages--titles which don't convey the real subject of the message. (Personally, I skip over many messages because I can't tell what they are about and the time required to download/read is too great.)
Messages with many replies further compound these issues. It's a real barrier to experience long download times only to find little substantive content about CH. In past years, we have asked folks to use more descriptive & accurate titles to their messages but behavior hasn't changed. [Suggested fix: have the program download the initial message only, then have the option to see replies. This would allow a faster scanning.]
[Suggestion: divide the "general" box into at least two:
1. Very general for the social content, jokes, etc. which are clearly important to many folks.
2. General CH issues not appropriate for the existing meds/treatment box: seeking treatment sources; reports of research, seeking sources of information, etc.]
[Suggestion: encourage everyone to respect the content categories of the boxes. I participate in several other health related groups and this encouragement helps sustain a high level of focus and valuable content.]
Basically, I hope this message will encourage a general discussion by all of us about how we can change ch.com to make it more effective in the face of its growth.
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| « Last Edit: Feb 2nd, 2004, 1:17pm by Bob_Johnson » |
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Bob Johnson
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Mr. Happy
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #1 on: Jan 31st, 2004, 6:43pm » |
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Bob,
Neat idea, in many ways. I thoroughly enjoy the thought of heaping HTML and archival work on DJ's shoulders, any day of the week. Besides, Bob, you're real smart, one of the most intelligent, elderly statesmen here on the MB. Your ideas carry validity, by default.
Quote:| The volume is too great to be read in its entirely. The potential is important material will be missed. |
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Not only is important material missed, once found, it can be almost impossible to rediscover.
Quote:| The volume creates long download times, another barrier to fully engaging in the posts. |
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I've gotta hide my head in shame here. Once one gets used to high speed access, it's easy to forget what 28.8 even meant. Not only does the text take long enough to load, but all the 300 K pix loaded everywhere turn it into a tar pit for dial up connections.
Quote:| "empty" headings to messages--titles which don't convey the real subject of the message. |
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DEATH to these unrepentant sinners, for they know who they are. I'm with you one hundred percent on this one Bob. Heck, even in the BEST of times, a meaningful, well thought out original entry degrades into meaningless diatribe all too quickly. The "empty" stuff really makes my dandruff flake too.
Quote:| Messages with many replies further compound these issues. |
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Don't mind many replies, as long as they're at least semi-pertinant. What drives me crazy is opening up a thread that's got nothing but entry after entry of them smucking filey faces. The animated ones really make my butt itch.
Quote:| Suggestion: divide the "general" box into at least two |
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Finally, the crux of the matter. You da man, Bob.
A "General Social" section for the hooligans, brain dead, or those with far too much time on their hands, and a
"General CH" for general CH bullsteamish that isn't exactly appropriate for the Meds board.
I agree with you completely..........but I think most of these folks have their trailers parked too close together to pay attention to the view.
Bob's me Uncle,
RJ
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forgetfulnot
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #2 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 3:27pm » |
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Lee
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Charlie
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #3 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 3:51pm » |
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Sorry Bob......too hard to pass up. Anyway you and the other geezer are right. Sometimes it's fun but definitely those (other people) often degrade threads.
I do pretty much the same as you Bob. I skip some pix downloads but don't tell anybody. We need a place for things like Hap's twisted ruminations
Wonder how many clusterhead category bookmarks I can add?
It's a ponderable.
Charlie
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KingOfPain
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #4 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 5:39pm » |
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http://www.clusterheadaches.com/feedback.html
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jonny
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #5 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 6:01pm » |
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Download times???
....................jonny
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Kirk
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #6 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 6:36pm » |
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Well then again on the other hand
 Whats your rush anyway? 
TTFN
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pubgirl
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #7 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 8:08pm » |
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Think you make fair points Bob (though I'm guilty of just posting a pointless game! ooops)
I have noticed recently that it is much harder to keep track of new people posting and people looking for help. Sometimes they wait a lot longer than in the past (in my memory anyway) before their post is noticed if it is anywhere other than on the General Board or it is not clear from the title that they are new/need help. This can't be good.
Wendy
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DJ
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #8 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 10:04pm » |
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Well, well.
Bob, an EMAIL or a PM to me personally on this subject probably would have gone over a lot better!
on Jan 31st, 2004, 4:02pm, Bob_Johnson wrote:| [Suggested fix: have the program download the initial message only, then have the option to see replies. This would allow a faster scanning.] |
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Write the script that will make this board do what you suggest, and I'll check it out.
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Renee
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #9 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 10:09pm » |
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what dialup connection are you using?
have you ever thought of dsl or isdn?
i have no probs getting anything to load myself.
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JohnM
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #10 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 3:18am » |
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Hi Renee
Lucky you. Some of us don't have the benefit or availability of luxuries such as ISDN (way too expensive here) or DSL (only just starting up here and also way too expensive).
56k modem is as good as it gets for the majority of people!
John
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don
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #11 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 6:59am » |
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Yeah! What he said!
Get on that right away will ya DJ.
LMMFAO
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benj
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #12 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 8:30am » |
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I have nothing but 56k dial-up and have no worries at all - yes the longer the replies the longer the download, but even then I'm only waiting 20sec or so.
I guess it sounds dumb but I just use the boards at off-peak times. (after midnight when you are too afraid to sleep is as good a time as any for symp/empathy anyways)
If you are to write the new script then possibly having the overview screen viewed like Microsoft Outlook might be a go-er (ie: subject heading, first few lines of subject?..)
just trying to be helpful...
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Opus
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #13 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 10:10am » |
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If you are having trouble with a slow connection switch to Mozilla Firebird , this version is small and faster than regular Mozilla and lets you block all pictures not coming from the url that you are looking at. Perfect for certain sites that may cause slower download times. And there is already a section for the jokes. Also check out your DSL availability in your area, I live in the sticks, cable doesn't even come to my house and I have DSL, I got the 256Kb/sec for $35 a month. I can download a 700MB file in 8 hours which is fine for overnight downloads.
Opus/Paul
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rumplestiltskin
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I cringe at any attempt of censorship or control of input at this site....even my own....almost everyday, after reading a few posts of mindless drivel, I want to post "USE IM...OR CHAT...OR E-MAIL...OR THE PHONE...OR GET A FUCKING LIFE"....but I don't....mostly because I don't want my post to bump the crap to the top. And besides...if useless drivel is outlawed...where will I post mine? It's a conundrum. When I limit others freedom...mine erodes too.
I still miss the structure of the old board....been sayin that for years. Ya can't just "take what ya need" easily at this one.
I would implore that folks used "NOT CH" in their subject if it's just their cutsy crap, an attempt to be noticed, pictures of dead animals, sports, politics, religion, or ...well...not CH related.
I know that a lot of folks personal and social lives have been ravaged by CH. Loneliness and isolation is an awful thing. They find a family who finally understands them here at this site. I don't know who to feel the most sorry for....the person who's CH post gets bumped off the page or the person who's "Just wanted to say hi" post does the bumping.
My only suggestion ...other than the "non-CH" thing is a return to the old board structure...with some way to keep the likes of the infamous "animal boy" at bay.
till then I'll "take what I need and make rude comments at the rest"
good grief
den
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| « Last Edit: Feb 2nd, 2004, 12:18pm by rumplestiltskin » |
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Bob_Johnson
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #15 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 1:07pm » |
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DEN: Agree with you. Censorship is not the issue; hope you did not read that into my message.
I am trying to focus on how to alter the arrangement of messages boxes so that we can preserve the social messages which so many people want while, at the same time, sorting out the cluster related material so that it doesn't get lost.
There is room for both types of messages. It is a matter of identifying them more clearly so that sheer volume does not become a barrier to responding to people who are seeking help with their clusters.
My last sentence may not be clear: I am hoping that we might all engage in a general discussion of how we can make ch.com more effective. Changing the physical structure is only one tool to that end purpose.
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| « Last Edit: Feb 2nd, 2004, 1:09pm by Bob_Johnson » |
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Bob Johnson
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jonny
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #16 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 3:40pm » |
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Seems to me that the title of this board says it all "General posts"...CH, not CH, Bullshit, Not bullshit, My cat was impaled with a six foot piece of re-bar......
DJ, looks like we need a new board...."CH talk only" 
........................jonny
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| « Last Edit: Feb 2nd, 2004, 3:41pm by jonny » |
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don
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #17 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 8:29pm » |
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Quote:| DJ, looks like we need a new board...."CH talk only" |
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I agree.
Did you say board?
Oh. I thought you said broad.
Can I post that here?
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justasound
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #18 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 8:35pm » |
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DJ is a sufferer......... This might be a trigger....
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don
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #19 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 8:41pm » |
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Quote:| DJ is a sufferer......... This might be a trigger.... |
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A new broad?
Yeah it'll trigger sumpin in old shiny top but it aint gonna be a headache.
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Mr. Happy
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #20 on: Feb 3rd, 2004, 12:08am » |
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on Feb 1st, 2004, 10:04pm, DJ wrote:| an EMAIL or a PM.....would have gone over a lot better.......Write the script....I'll check it out. |
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Holey Moley, DeeJ. Ruff day in Mudville? Didja wake up on the wrong side of the broad bed? We wuz just talkin.......
Quote:| I cringe at any attempt of censorship or control of input at this site |
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Pass the fukkin duct tape............
Webmaster Woes,
RJ
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Charlie
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #21 on: Feb 3rd, 2004, 12:13am » |
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It's so much damn fun accessing the old board. A (stupid) old board would be fun but don't make this one off limits.
Charlie
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Jayne
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #22 on: Feb 3rd, 2004, 6:31pm » |
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errrrrrrrrrrrr....
hey thanks Deej for all the hard work you do for us....errrrr ...I am very happy with what you have provided for us FREE OF CHARGE. I appreciate this place and have absoloutly nothing bad to say about it.
(Except, could we get rid of Mr Happy as he is a dirty old codger)
THANK YOU!!!
Jayne
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magman
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #23 on: Feb 3rd, 2004, 6:40pm » |
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Kudos for all you have done DJ.
I'm with you Jayne. As I read all of the so called 'suggestions' I wonder if those posting realize how many hours go into building a site like this.
DJ was right, an off-line suggestion would have been more appropriate.
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Ree
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Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
« Reply #24 on: Feb 3rd, 2004, 6:43pm » |
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if it ain't broke don't fix it............. you rock DJ...
ree
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