How to make this site better?

[Kung]

While we're on the subject.....some other suggestions:

1. Why the need for the year listing of T4R's at the bottom? All they are is a list of each year's 4Runners, with each year linked to the proper generation subforum. Those links can be completely done away with by listing the year range beside the generations in their own subforums (e.g., "3rd Gen T4R's ('96 - '02)). I seriously doubt many are scrolling ALL the way to the bottom of the screen just to go "Ah! So THAT's how to get to that forum....right at the top of the page." LOL

2. It seems to me that 'General Discussions' and 'Off Topic' could be combined, other than the fact that 'General Discussions' seems to be more of a catch-all for topics where people don't know where to put a thread (or are too lazy to try LOL). If the site had another mod or two, this wouldn't be a problem, as threads could simply be moved to the proper forum.

3. There are SO many other things that COULD be consolidated; I guess we'd need to know what was paramount. For instance, to me, detailing IS maintenance, and therefore those forums could be combined; and suspension components definitely determine the 'performance' of your vehicle, thus they could also be combined.

 

[04rnr]

Lets see if we can get past the train wreck from this last week and try to improve on this forum.

Any ideas or thoughts that you guys have that will make this forum better, more functional, more user friendly? Another forum I visit once in a while has a chat box on the top of the main screen. I thought that was pretty cool so the active members can chat about whatever.

Post up your ideas and lets see how we can improve this forum.

1) first and most important IMHO, is to enforce the rules equailly to ALL members PERIOD.
2) when someone posts a thread, that has been talked/discussed many times before, DELETE the thread. seriously how many time can someone ask, "what size tires will fit"
3) STAY ON TOPIC...
4) get rid of the stupid pictures in the signatures.. gets REAL old seeing the same rig everysingle time that members posts something.
5) see #1

 

[CXS]

Why the need for the year listing of T4R's at the bottom? All they are is a list of each year's 4Runners, with each year linked to the proper generation subforum. Those links can be completely done away with by listing the year range beside the generations in their own subforums (e.g., "3rd Gen T4R's ('96 - '02)). I seriously doubt many are scrolling ALL the way to the bottom of the screen just to go "Ah! So THAT's how to get to that forum....right at the top of the page." LOL

I assumed that was a mistake because they're the same as found here: Links - Toyota 4Runner Forum or maybe someone's attempt at improving SEO

Personally I thing vBulletin navigation stinks, I use dropdowns which are pretty accepted and efficient.

 

[CXS]

when someone posts a thread, that has been talked/discussed many times before, DELETE the thread. seriously how many time can someone ask, "what size tires will fit"

If you look at the posters count these folks are usually totally new and newbies need to get some slack. Delete their post and you might as well just delete their access.

 

[Kung]

I assumed that was a mistake because they're the same as found here: Links - Toyota 4Runner Forum or maybe someone's attempt at improving SEO

Wow...I didn't even notice that...

 

[mikebontoft]

I dont like the "25 post count in the new members section only/ before posting a new thread" but ive seen it done. reasons why it's bad:

1. new members can make new threads in the newbie section. who EVER clicks on that section that isn't new?

2. majority of the spam we get only posts in other peoples threads. only a few make new threads. If we prevent new members from posting anywhere else but the new members forum, we might lose them. its frustrating. The spam will probably make 30 posts in that section before anyone gets to it anyway.


You need more mods. I know you guys can't all be here all the time. There's no one online very late at night. I couldn't imagine how bad the "reported posts" subforum is. Is there a way to remove all posts by user in one action? I sure hope so.

Swear filter: I don't think anyone uses (t)ard anymore. that's so annoying and when I see it I think of the more offense four letter word that I also don't have a problem with.

as for the actual forums... Ill have to check it out, but perhaps less is more. And yes, maybe having a sub forum for each gen might be nice.

just my thoughts... it's always fun to help streamline a site or at least throw out the ideas.



I'll tell you guys right now... I absolutely LOVE the style of folders you have next to each thread. makes it so easy to tell what threads I've posted in and serves a reminder to see if I need to make a follow-up.

 

[04rnr]

If you look at the posters count these folks are usually totally new and newbies need to get some slack. Delete their post and you might as well just delete their access.

thats what the "SEARCH" button is for. It gets old very fast, seeing the same question(s) asked over and over and over again :bash:

 

[02SE]

I think everyone should know the proper spelling of 'Avatar'.

 

[Dusty Driftwood]

I dont like the "25 post count in the new members section only/ before posting a new thread" but ive seen it done.

I meant that new members should have a total of 25 posts (in any/all forums) before being able to start a new thread.

Also, I dont think posts in the Off Topic section should be included in member's post count

 

[mikebontoft]

I meant that new members should have a total of 25 posts (in any/all forums) before being able to start a new thread.

Also, I dont think posts in the Off Topic section should be included in member's post count

ok. Then in that case we would get about 96% of the spam and it would make it inconvenient for new members.

Honestly... repeat questions do waste space, but how many times have you guys searched on subject only to find partial info in several threads and the rest just say "try using the search function, it's been answered many times." So frustrating. I don't mind answering the same thing over and over. If someone can't handle it, they just shouldn't say anything.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I say nay on the 25 post count.

The majority of spammers that we get are not those that start new threads, but the type that copy and paste replies and bump other threads with spam links.

Plus our New Member section would become literally useless.

 

[CXS]

thats what the "SEARCH" button is for. It gets old very fast, seeing the same question(s) asked over and over and over again :bash:

I don't like them either so I don't click on them. It's easy to get annoyed by newbies but they're newbies after all. A simple polite reply is much easier on the OP and the experienced people too. Life's too short to get worked up about a repeat post. Truth be told these forums would be pretty quiet if every post was a post that hasn't already be done. :

 

[04rnr]

I don't like them either so I don't click on them. It's easy to get annoyed by newbies but they're newbies after all. A simple polite reply is much easier on the OP and the experienced people too. Life's too short to get worked up about a repeat post. Truth be told these forums would be pretty quiet if every post was a post that hasn't already be done. :

a repeat post is one thing, but if you would have my post, I did not mention about a "repeat" post, I said "2) when someone posts a thread, that has been talked/discussed many times before, DELETE the thread. seriously how many time can someone ask, "what size tires will fit"
not just a repeat....

 

[mikebontoft]

repeat post, repeat thread... same thing at first.

see my second to last post for my answer to that. Leave it be, maybe they never used a forum before. or they're very stupid. you never know. lol. I just feel like that would be a little rude...intimidating maybe? I just doubt that they would come back again.

 

[rebelbowtie]

Telling people to search is the most asinine thing you can do and actually hurts the forum as a data base. On the off chance someone does use the search(which sucks on vB) they find 100 threads where some ******* told the new guy to search.

Whereas if you simply answer the question, the next time someone searches they will find that thread and the answer they're looking for.

 

[rebelbowtie]

a repeat post is one thing, but if you would have my post, I did not mention about a "repeat" post, I said "2) when someone posts a thread, that has been talked/discussed many times before, DELETE the thread. seriously how many time can someone ask, "what size tires will fit"
not just a repeat....

That defeats the entire purpose of a forum, if you delete the post of a person looking for answers then you might as well delete the persons account as already mentioned.

 

[ndcent]

I'd be good with getting rid of post counts all together, because they don't mean anything. Location and join date do.

I also don't like the language censorship.

 

[Kung]

Honestly... repeat questions do waste space, but how many times have you guys searched on subject only to find partial info in several threads and the rest just say "try using the search function, it's been answered many times." So frustrating. I don't mind answering the same thing over and over. If someone can't handle it, they just shouldn't say anything.

This.

A lot of people, in my opinion, forget that the entire reason we're here is to learn from others's experiences, mistakes and successes, and HELP others so that they can have their own positive experiences and successes (and help them through their setbacks and mistakes).

Telling people "Been posted before....search n00b" does not help. Sure, they may learn to search. Whoopty doo. They can learn that AFTER they get help. In the meantime, there's still a fellow T4R owner out there needing help, and we don't know what they're dealing with - they may be so upset/frustrated with the whole situation that they can't see straight.

I once gave someone crap a few years back (good naturedly, thank God) for the same thing...only to find out later that the reason he couldn't search was because on top of his WIFE passing away, he was having problems with his truck. Thank GOD I was half-joking and he knew me, and knew I was joking; but still, I felt like total crap...and it made a lasting impression.

IMHO, if we just can't refrain from telling them to search, then we either need to

a) not post at all, and let guys answer it who are used to answering the same question 234304 times (like me LOL - I do it all the time in my job as an IT guy), or

b) at least provide them with some information to links on the subject they're questioning about, and THEN tell them "BTW, there are a lot of threads on this and other common problems and quirks; here's how to find it...."

 

[Nathana92]

This.

A lot of people, in my opinion, forget that the entire reason we're here is to learn from others's experiences, mistakes and successes, and HELP others so that they can have their own positive experiences and successes (and help them through their setbacks and mistakes).

Telling people "Been posted before....search n00b" does not help. Sure, they may learn to search. Whoopty doo. They can learn that AFTER they get help. In the meantime, there's still a fellow T4R owner out there needing help, and we don't know what they're dealing with - they may be so upset/frustrated with the whole situation that they can't see straight.

I once gave someone crap a few years back (good naturedly, thank God) for the same thing...only to find out later that the reason he couldn't search was because on top of his WIFE passing away, he was having problems with his truck. Thank GOD I was half-joking and he knew me, and knew I was joking; but still, I felt like total crap...and it made a lasting impression.

IMHO, if we just can't refrain from telling them to search, then we either need to

a) not post at all, and let guys answer it who are used to answering the same question 234304 times (like me LOL - I do it all the time in my job as an IT guy), or

b) at least provide them with some information to links on the subject they're questioning about, and THEN tell them "BTW, there are a lot of threads on this and other common problems and quirks; here's how to find it...."

Good point. This can discourage people from using the forum at all. It can make people think the entire forum is a bunch of ****s. Then we may lose a potentially good member, who may in the future contribute good info to the forum. Because after all the forum is only as good as those who contribute and useful contributions make it even better.

 

[04rnr]

If the forum keeps allowing people to post the same question over and over and over again, the way this forum is allowed to run, people not, staying on topic, if gets OLD reading 10 pages to find an answer.
Some topics start out, lets say about a CB radio, then after about 4 pages, the thread has gone way off topic they are talking about tires :redbrick:

How many threads, can we have of people asking, what size tires can I fit with no lift ? whats the bigest tire I can fit with ____ lift? How do I change my oil ? whats this RR DIFF LOCK button do ? whats the best tires for ________ ?
I dont know about anyone else, but seeing the SAME question asked NUMEROUS times, gets old.
Don get me wrong, I understand there will be times where a member needs an answer RIGHT NOW, cause hes on the way to the shop etc and honestly doesnt have time to searchm but damn, asking the same question over and over, this site is more and more like yotatech everyday