OccupySacto.org

Ok so I've made a few suggestions for changes to the Forum, but wanted to gather them all in one spot here:

1) Create an "announcements" or "hot topics" area on the main forum page, so that people can easily see what the new topics are (instead of searching). You might make it so that anything marked as "sticky" or "announcement" can go into that section.

2) Reduce the number of levels on the forum, it's kind of confusing. Put more forums on the main page if necessary.

3) Enable outgoing RSS feed, and post to the web site splash page (in a box to the side). New topics will automatically update to that page.

4) Create a forum for proposals, and tell people that proposals made there will be considered by the GA if they seem to have support, and are well worded and clear.

5) Disable the comments on the main web site.

6) Only post minutes here, not on the main web site.

7) Create a Q&A section here, and change the main web site "FAQ" to link to it.

8) Enable avatars for users.

9) Put the OS logo up, instead of the PHPBB default one.

Ok, I know this looks like a lot, but I'm happy to help if you want, I'm good with this kind of stuff.

The re-organization of this forum has begun! Topics have been re-arranged and sub-forums eliminated in order to make things easier to find, so please don't be confused if your post is in a slightly different forum now.

Also, there is now an "Active Topics" link that is easier to find, right at the top of the list of topics. Click on that if you just want to see the latest posts, without looking through each section.

And, avatars are now enabled, in case you want to post your image, and make it a more personal experience for everyone.

More changes to come, and please let us know if there are any suggestions!

Nathan, HOORAY! Thank you for taking this on. In time, I think everyone will thank you, its mission critical for OcSac. I presume you have the keys to this kingdom and can make changes as you see fit. I hope so. Someone has to take charge of our sites and make them work for us. I know you will need help from other tech people as time goes on. So you techies give Nathan a jingle and lend a hand, ok?

I have also made a call on the 'Volunteer Help' forum to begin trying to assemble a tech team to create a virtual Occupy Zone for OcSac - (in time, that should replace all of this - if it ever happens - but, undoubtedly, what gets built here and on our 'landing-page' website will serve as solid testing ground and features that they will be able to use and build upon.). For now, this is what we have , let's put it to work for us.

All your items look solid, except for #2. I have a difference of opinion, I think. I find it easier to work with a system that gives me a few main functional areas on the main page, and then has numerous 'subforums' in each mainform. Below them, the actual topic items will be found. Thus, the main page might list:

Hot Topics
Calendar and Events
General Assembly
Committees & Workgroups
Help & Volunteer requests
FAQ & General Information
Donations and Needs
etc....

Then under those are subforum pages. The 'General Assembly' might have things like "GA Announcements", "GA Minutes", "Proposals - discussion", "Proposals - pending", "Motions - approved", "Consensual Process - info" , etc. (whatever categories might be usefully separated for GA subjects).

The Committees & Workgroups forum would certainly have subforums for each stable workgroup or committee. Under those, each Workgroup and Committee would have a number of topics (some comment open some not). Most would have things like "Announcements" and "Schedule", "Contact", "About" etc. Some might have "minutes of meetings" or "tasks lists", "current discussion", "help/materials wanted" etc. Each group would undoubtedly have topic areas (some permanent, some temporary) tailored to their own needs and preferences.

Other main-page forum areas would have similar lists.

The way that is made easy and relieved of unnecessary drilling-down is by including on the main page, "Hot Links" that let people go immediately to areas/pages that are of greatest interest. Likely, each workgroup or committee would be in this list, as well as a few pages found to be of most interest over time.

Anyway, I find that a much easier way to quickly go to areas of interest, than to fill a front-end with every topic or forum category. That is what we currently have and its almost impossible to decide even if its worth drilling into one of our topics or not - The hot topics and hot links would permit easy general perusal of what's current.

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ok for that. Next, I would add that the comments in a topic need to be threaded. As it is now, you have to read an entire topic page to find specific responses, sort out new threads and such. This is an important upgrade if it is technically feasible on PhBB. You can leave the option for the user to select 'open' or 'close' threads - but the facility should be there - along with 'sort-by' order options. In cases like the 'proposals/motions' discussion forums it is really essential. We need to keep a particular idea about a single motion related to discussion on that idea. With almost every motion, there are several general areas of discussion that get opened up and its hard to follow the arguments when they are all scattered.

Hope that helps. If not, you know where to throw it. And yes, I think you've got a real good sense of this and glad you are taking it on.

ps: on the first round of discussion on updating the board and site, there was much discussion about the skin and making it more attractive. People seemed to crave some art as much as info. I personally think cosmetic improvements should wait until needed features and structures are in place. But that's just my call.

Thanks Red,

I don't think we can change the threading the way you describe, but it might be easier to talk in-person about the forum somtime.

I also like the idea of more levels and having things arranged by topic, but I found it really hard to find things when it was arranged that way. Usually the idea is to fill-in the front page, then start adding sub-topics when there's no more room. Anyway, I think there's a mod that can make the outline much clearer and eaier to read, but I don't have root access to install mods (or even change the logo)

The "Active Topics" link should do what you're talking about already with the "Hot Links" idea, right?

Anyway, I'm hoping to keep getting feedback, let things settle a little, and look into more changes at the beginning of January. Most of the changes we need now involve installing mods, and I have to get help with that.

Thanks!!