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        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2004 >> IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
        
(Message started by: Bob_Johnson on Jan 31st, 2004, 4:02pm)
Title: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jan 31st, 2004, 4:02pm
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.
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Mr.Happy on Jan 31st, 2004, 6:43pm
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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by forgetfulnot on Feb 1st, 2004, 3:27pm
[smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

Lee
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Charlie on Feb 1st, 2004, 3:51pm
http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/OUCH.png

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
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by KingOfPain on Feb 1st, 2004, 5:39pm
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/feedback.html
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by jonny on Feb 1st, 2004, 6:01pm
Download times???

....................jonny
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Kirk on Feb 1st, 2004, 6:36pm
Well then again on the other hand
http://gererstorfer.net/content/tux/TN_Peng_in_Wanne02.JPG Whats your rush anyway? [smiley=crackup.gif]

TTFN
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by pubgirl on Feb 1st, 2004, 8:08pm
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
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by DJ on Feb 1st, 2004, 10:04pm
Well, well.

Bob, an EMAIL or a PM to me personally on this subject probably would have gone over a lot better!


on 01/31/04 at 16:02:19, 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.]


Write the script that will make this board do what you suggest, and I'll check it out.
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Renee on Feb 1st, 2004, 10:09pm
what dialup connection are you using?

have you ever thought of dsl or isdn?

i have no probs getting anything to load myself.
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by jmorgan52 on Feb 2nd, 2004, 3:18am
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
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by don on Feb 2nd, 2004, 6:59am
Yeah! What he said!

Get on that right away will ya DJ.

LMMFAO
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by benj on Feb 2nd, 2004, 8:30am
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...
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Opus on Feb 2nd, 2004, 10:10am
If you are having trouble with a slow connection switch to Mozilla Firebird (http://www.mozilla.org/products/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
Title: readin my mail
Post by rumplestiltskin on Feb 2nd, 2004, 12:16pm
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
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Feb 2nd, 2004, 1:07pm
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.
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by jonny on Feb 2nd, 2004, 3:40pm
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" ;;D

........................jonny
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by don on Feb 2nd, 2004, 8:29pm

Quote:
DJ, looks like we need a new board...."CH talk only"


I agree.

Did you say board?

Oh. I thought you said broad.

Can I post that here?
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by justasound on Feb 2nd, 2004, 8:35pm
DJ is a sufferer.........  This might be a trigger....
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by don on Feb 2nd, 2004, 8:41pm

Quote:
DJ is a sufferer.........  This might be a trigger....


A new broad?

Yeah it'll trigger sumpin in old shiny top but it aint gonna be a headache.
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Mr.Happy on Feb 3rd, 2004, 12:08am

on 02/01/04 at 22:04:22, DJ wrote:
an EMAIL or a PM.....would have gone over a lot better.......Write the script....I'll check it out.


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
Pass the fukkin duct tape............

Webmaster Woes,
RJ
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Charlie on Feb 3rd, 2004, 12:13am
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
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Jayne on Feb 3rd, 2004, 6:31pm
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
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by 357Mag on Feb 3rd, 2004, 6:40pm
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.
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Ree on Feb 3rd, 2004, 6:43pm
if it ain't broke don't fix it............. you rock DJ...

ree
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by BlueMeanie on Feb 3rd, 2004, 7:20pm
I haven't been here long enough to know what the "old board" was like. My response to "this board" is I have the old slower modem connection and still have NO problems accessing anything on this board. A little slower than what some people are used to, but no problems.

As far as finding info about CH's., I have no problem  with that either. The subject line tells me if i'm gonna read about a newbie posting about CH's or if i'm gonna read about a Superbowl halftime fiascol.

Maybe I'm reading the original intent of this post wrong.
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by fubar on Feb 3rd, 2004, 7:38pm
Bob,

I think your post was well-intentioned, but probably best discussed with DJ before taking the question to the whole board.  I have boards that I run, and when my board is critiqued out in the open, contructive or not it hurts if I haven't had a chance to explain to that person why things are the way they are.

Sometimes a board can grow beyond your original plan, and eventually you do something about it.  Some of the suggestions you had are simple changes.  Others are changes to the code that the site runs on.  That code (YABB, or Yet Another Bulliten Board) is a shell of sorts that can be configured and even customized, but most poeple don't try to change the basic way it works unless they have a nice development staff.  For example, changing it so that it accomodates low-bandwidth users better is not a simple configuration change.  It requires writing new code.

Other suggestions make sense, and every once in a while people need to be reminded to at least put a decent subject line.

Overall, I think the board is fine as-is, but people could be better about *how* they post.  I'd like to see descriptive tags in subject lines ([joke], [junk], [OT], [help!], [URGENT]...) but I'm not going to die if it doesn't happen.  With tags like that, it would be easier to keep up.  It's been raining new members lately, so there's a lot of posting.  Sometimes it's hard to keep up, but that's when I just start skipping posts... oh well.

-Shawn

Well, I'll die, just not today.
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by Kirk on Feb 3rd, 2004, 8:00pm
I think DJ might need that script in Perl, not Python or Ruby.
Just a guess.

TTFN
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by cootie on Feb 3rd, 2004, 11:28pm
I prolly shouldn't say anything.....but...I love this board.  Course I'm prolly one of the big 'degressors'........it's jus nice to be able to feel yer part of a family society when yer not  feelin very social...or you jus don't lead a social life and 'need' to feel that yer part of something social. Did that make sense.........do I ever Pam  
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by kim on Feb 4th, 2004, 4:08pm
For some reason, this post pissed me off......You all know how i despise controversy.  You all know how i hate to piss people off.  Yet....Somehow....This NAGGING thought persists............

Why are you saying this post?  I just don't get it.

NOTE TO DJ:  Hey, I saw a great movie.  Ya can rent the DVD/video.  It's called "Lost In Translation".  Starring Bill Murray.  He learns one very good sentence in Japanese, which is:
"Who the Fuck Do You Think You Are Talking To"?

:)
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM? NO!
Post by BobG on Feb 4th, 2004, 4:16pm
I've been silent through this string trying to decide which side of the fence to straddle. So..........

Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?

NO! Leave it alone.

But, some folks could use better headings when starting new strings.
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM? NO!
Post by thomas on Feb 4th, 2004, 4:20pm

on 02/04/04 at 16:16:53, BobG wrote:
But, some folks could use better headings when starting new strings.

I will work on that, myself................ I agree with everything you said in the above post
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM? NO!
Post by jonny on Feb 4th, 2004, 4:30pm

on 02/04/04 at 16:16:53, BobG wrote:
But, some folks could use better headings when starting new strings.


LOL, Not me....From now on im going to title every thread I start with "When Men Were Oyster's...."
No matter what the subject is....LOL ;;D

.......................jonny
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by kim on Feb 4th, 2004, 4:49pm
Hey Jonny....Who is Oyster?  LOL! :P
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by jonny on Feb 4th, 2004, 4:57pm

on 02/04/04 at 16:49:12, kim wrote:
Hey Jonny....Who is Oyster?  LOL! :P


I'll post it tommorrow, just watch for the thread....LOL ;;D

........................jonny
Title: Want to know the real problem?
Post by forgetfulnot on Feb 4th, 2004, 5:00pm
People that don't know the damned difference between a Topic, string, or a thread. I sure as hell don't and I'm way too old to learn now.  ;;D Oh, maybe DJ could turn that "secret" area into the "Dumbshit posts" area, that would free up a lot of space on the general posts board, no?

Lee
Title: Re: IS IT TIME TO REORGANIZE CH.COM?
Post by kim on Feb 4th, 2004, 5:03pm
I am feeling somewhat ball-breakin -ish. LOL.  These are the times when i should have a little green man on my shoulder with a hammer poised  = DON'T SAY IT kim!!!!LOL ----

Okay -tell me tamarra. 8)  And God please make me not tell afore it's TIME :D

Just in case i do, I'M NOT SORRRY!!!! ;;D


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