Forum is too fragmented

[Guest Lew247]

I wish this would work but the problem with idiots (I use the term quite seperately from real newbies who deserve help) is that they don't read before they post. We have sticky threads and a search feature on the forum now. If the idiots who create the multiple threads actually used these features then 90% of the useless threads would not exist.

There's no harm to add a bit of chlorine to the gene-pool every now and then. Hand out a few bans and people would suddely learn to read before spamming.

Have you actually tried using the search function here?

I did several times before I posted a question only to be flamed down saying its been answered lots before

Its very hard to find a single post in sometimes over 100 pages of threads the search results point you to

so Yes I definitely agree sub forums are needed here, but it's down to whoever owns the forum if it will get implemented or not

[Guest Azurren]

There are a lot of people still waiting for modaco to implement a mobile version of this site using TapaTalk or Forum Runner so wouldn't get your hopes up :D

Still love this site though B)

And their are at least as many (If not more) who would be forced to quit MoDaCo if the likes of TapaTalk were introduced :unsure:

Realistically non of Modacos devices have sub forums (Android subforums atleast) so if Paul were to get the Blade subs then he would also have to give subs to every other device :angry:

Would be really nice but I can't see this happening :o

[Guest Thermostat9]

If you know the Wiki is not uptodate - then why don't you click Edit and update it?

Because I'm new to all this and I have no idea what is pertinent to update it with and have no wish to get flamed for suggesting the wrong things.

[Guest StevenHarperUK]

As long as it is VERY easy to get a thread moved to another forum, then we can keep them all tidy

Slower, but more info packed threads

• ROM & Tools & Updates
  
• Theme Updates
  
• Guides
  
  More fast moving threads

  • Hardware
    
  • Wifi & Networking
    
  • Questions
    
  • Apps (software)
    
  • General Discussion
    

[Guest Stuart_f]

Have you actually tried using the search function here?

I did several times before I posted a question only to be flamed down saying its been answered lots before

Its very hard to find a single post in sometimes over 100 pages of threads the search results point you to

so Yes I definitely agree sub forums are needed here, but it's down to whoever owns the forum if it will get implemented or not

I have and the search results aren't perfect but you can always use google to search the site.

Just put "site:http://android.modaco.com/" without quotes on the end of your search term in Google. EG wifi blade site:http://android.modaco.com/

Nothwistanding the less than perfect results on the site for the more obscure queries, just this afternoon we had a question on Virgin APN settings that have been covered 5 times, even the most basic of search attempts would have answered this. Equally, "blue tint" questions crop up every other day.

A more active moderator who could combine threads might help a bit but it's no substitute for a few week-long bans and a damn good period of self-reflection on behalf of the transgressors.

[Guest StevenHarperUK]

I have and the search results aren't perfect but you can always use google to search the site.

Just put "site:http://android.modaco.com/" without quotes on the end of your search term in Google. EG wifi blade site:http://android.modaco.com/

Nothwistanding the less than perfect results on the site for the more obscure queries, just this afternoon we had a question on Virgin APN settings that have been covered 5 times, even the most basic of search attempts would have answered this. Equally, "blue tint" questions crop up every other day.

A more active moderator who could combine threads might help a bit but it's no substitute for a few week-long bans and a damn good period of self-reflection on behalf of the transgressors.

There are roughly 1500 threads, I would happily spend a few hours sorting them out - Just moving them into other folders.

The best way would to make this the General discussion thread and move everything else out :unsure: as there is a lot of general discussion.

[Guest Ash_P]

Because I'm new to all this and I have no idea what is pertinent to update it with and have no wish to get flamed for suggesting the wrong things.

As you learn you can update it, being a recent newbie you are the perfect person to know what questions are relevant. Don't be scared of editing, a wiki evoles the good stuff gets better, and the duff information gets removed. Nobody is going to flame you for trying to improve it.

[Guest IronDoc]

Imo, a better solution would be to have a 'solved' tag which the OP can toggle. The search could then prioritise those threads.

[Guest Magnets]

Agree with subforum idea, the forum moves too fast and there is a lot of clutter/duplicate threads.

It just needs General / help / roms(or mods), even just 1 subfoum for 'help' would make it much easier to browse.

[Guest Stuart_f]

StevenHarperUK volunteering for more work than he could possibly imagine

+1 for Steven as MOD

[Guest Stuart_f]

Imo, a better solution would be to have a 'solved' tag which the OP can toggle. The search could then prioritise those threads.

You are deluded if you think people are using search before posting!

[Guest gambieter]

You are deluded if you think people are using search before posting!

Indeed. you need a very acive modforce to keep things under control, especially with a phone like the Blade which opens up the Android market to the masses. It is sad to see people opening topics like "help me please" or start asking questions about other ROMs and hence contaminate threads. Especially as these are things which are already explained in the stickies. The worst is if people then even still continue asking questions and not read.

Subforums may help, but only if there is a n00b-subforum. That will however be avoided by many and then you get the "visually impaired" (i.e. non-experts) helping the "blind" (pardon the pun).

You would really need a ruthless moderator to close topics which are just a repeat of things that people can find in stickies or simply by searching. This will however chase away people; but otherwise the risk is that the experts leave.

On the Dutch forums where I have been active, the best one has been the one with tough moderators and quick locks if a topic was opened by someone who didn't put in sufficient effort, or was present in the FAQ topics. That's the only forum where I am still active, the others just got swamped by newbies and soft/lazy questions. To keep a topic open, you have to show that you put in the effort, and just saying "I have used the search" is not sufficient. It does work, although they are softening the approach (unfortunately).

Edited January 2, 2011 by gambieter

[Guest Stuart_f]

You would really need a ruthless moderator to close topics which are kust a repeat of things that people can find in stickies or simply by searching. This will however chase away people; but otherwise the risk is that the experts leave.

This is the essential problem condensed to 2 lines. Bring on the forums bans and don't be stingy!

[Guest gambieter]

This is the essential problem condensed to 2 lines. Bring on the forums bans and don't be stingy!

Why ban people? Everyone needs to learn, just delete/lock the topic with a message why it is closed and what they need to do. A template for such a message is easily made. No need for capital punishment, keep it friendly but strict.

And also: don't help those people by feeding them the answer, but just give them a link where they can find the answer, or keywords for a search. Give a person a fish and he/she will eat for a day. Teach a person how to fish and he/she can feed him/herself (and have a hobby :unsure: ).

[Guest Simon O]

We just need more moderators to move posts into the right threads and warn users that fail to use the search.

[Guest Stuart_f]

You are like the moderate version of the Stuart_f MoDaCo thread-cleaning club. I'd love to see their wortheless contributions banished to ban-land but you are going for the popular vote with warnings :unsure:

[Guest fredewis]

We just need more moderators to move posts into the right threads and warn users that fail to use the search.

+3

[Guest gambieter]

You are like the moderate version of the Stuart_f MoDaCo thread-cleaning club. I'd love to see their wortheless contributions banished to ban-land but you are going for the popular vote with warnings B)

You don't want them to learn from their mistakes. I would say you are more the fundamentalist extremist who favors capital punishment for shoplifting :unsure: . Sharia-law, anyone? :angry:

So no, nothing to do with popular vote, but with giving people a chance. Not everyone knows how a forum works, and hence a lock on a thread and if necessary a move to the graveyard subforum should be enough.

[Guest Lew247]

I agree totally.

I was a moderator in another forum and one of the things I can proudly sau is I never banned anyone.

Everyone starts off new and not knowing much and in some cases people have never been on forums before.

Patience is a virtue, and I agree that strict moderation is needed sometimes, but banning rarely

all it takes is the right words, posts tidied up when needed and so on

But all this is irrelevant, the forum is in the hands of its owner and whatever happens is down to him (or her) and him (or her) only.

We must all abide by their decisions.

As Paul said in another thread today, its a friendly place, lets keep it that way :unsure:

[Guest Matty-p]

We just need more moderators to move posts into the right threads and warn users that fail to use the search.

have to say +1 cos subforums would mean paul would probably have to give one to all devices and would be a big fuss btw im happy to be a mod but wouln't be able to comit a massive amount of time (30-60 mins a day)

[Guest veehexx]

@Matty-p - i disagree; as already been pointed out, this area is th emost active on modaco (i've not looked, but it is very active!). that alone should warant sub-forums for ease of navigation and speed.

less active forums wouldnt as there is less posts to filter through.

this is something i've found on mutli-country sites, especially forums... people use many terms for the same thing, and it varies by country. before i started with different roms, it was HIGHLY confusing. i am extremely proficient with pcs, but going into new teritory with phone mods is completely different terminology.

no-where does it say what step does what, or why your doing it.

for a newbie it is extremely confusing as your installing a handful of programs running commands that you dont know what they do.

it would be useful if there was a brief into into each step. go find a newbie who knows what adb, clockwork and rom flashing is or why you need todo each step. i only know due to weeks of being on these forums and just picking things up.

i'm not saying the info isnt useful, or it's difficult to follow, but imo, the info on exactly WHY your doing that is very thin.

coming from XDA, alot of the devs are foreign and there is always a language barrier being native english. modaco devs seem more american/british so language seems alot better (to me!), but i know there are users who may find the info given confusing.

that said, i was on here the other day and i think i saw 4 posts on page1 asking exactly the same thing. maybe we just need a few community mods to police new posts. not sure if it's worth considering; moderate the first 5 posts of new users. this would act as a deterent and maybe increase search use?

[Guest Phoenix Silver]

there are roughly 2500 topics in this forum (50 pages * 50 topics)

so a lot of work to move them into sub forums

i'm volunteer

i'm in holidays till march

i have a lot of time to spend

[Guest Arr Too]

@Matty-p - i disagree; as already been pointed out, this area is th emost active on modaco (i've not looked, but it is very active!).

Not only does it have the most topics, it's also done that in a very short time. 2500 topics in 3 months, versus 6 months or a year or more for the next most active Device Specific forum. Clearly MoDaCo is the home for the Blade, and long may that continue.

[Guest Phoenix Silver]

Not only does it have the most topics, it's also done that in a very short time. 2500 topics in 3 months, versus 6 months or a year or more for the next most active Device Specific forum. Clearly MoDaCo is the home for the Blade, and long may that continue.

and it's just the beginning (just take a look on threads of people planning to buy a new sf because of price / quality)

perhaps time to buy 50 or more units for speculation :unsure: (joking)

seriously a lot of new users ------> a lot more of newbies questions

we really need at least a sub-forum for new buyers

[Guest 90180360]

seriously a lot of new users ------> a lot more of newbies questions

we really need at least a sub-forum for new buyers

Agreed. Much better solution than trying to scare them away with zero-tolerance moderation anyway.

Another measure would be to make sure that ALL possible newbie questions are answered in the stickies.

Also, removing legacy stickies would make finding the relevant information easier.

P.S.

On xda it's the other extreme :unsure: