Trip Planning Sub-Forums

[XTrekker]

Really? The only moderator comments in this thread said we were considering it. We'll let you know as soon as we decide.

Well from the previous post it seemed that it was not gonna happen because the community hangouts were considered secondary to the sites focus. It's all good.

One last thing. I read some offhanded remarks as to 'noobs' always posting in the feedback, the tone seems to lead me to believe that they are often dismissed entirely.
How long does someone have to be here to not be considered a 'noob'? Ive been here since June and I was a guest even longer before that. Its almost December which puts me at a good 6-7 months as a member.

[Just Jeff]

Suggestions are always considered; they're never dismissed out of hand. We just try to think of the second- and third-order effects of a new policy before we implement it. Sometimes it's these second- and third-order effects of these policies on other forums that make them different from what we want to do here, and so we don't implement a suggestion. We consider every potential change here in quite a bit of detail...which is the opposite of dismissing it out of hand.

And the newb thing isn't really the issue...we don't consider time on the forum when we consider the suggestion. It's just that some folks (not you) show up with all kinds of ideas about how the forum should be run...and they haven't even been here long enough to really get a feel for how certain policies create the atmosphere we have. And sometimes, they (again, not you) get upset when their suggestions don't get immediate acceptance...either from the mods or from the more established members on the site.

It's like going into someone else's house and telling them what great kids they have, and then telling them all the ways they should change their parenting...when you don't even have kids yourself. (How often does this happen in real life?) It's a feeling of entitlement.

And often, we get comments like, "I used to support that suggestion, but after being here a while I like it the way it is. I think that suggestion would change what we have." Happens in PMs about as often as it shows up in threads.

So your suggestion didn't ruffle any feathers, and we're honestly considering it again...the forum has changed a bit since the last time this was suggested, so it might be time to reorganize a bit in response.

[cfi on the fly]

Glad to see that the mods are taking a look at this, and its still up for discussion. I like to see ALL the comments being made.

[XTrekker]

Suggestions are always considered; they're never dismissed out of hand. We just try to think of the second- and third-order effects of a new policy before we implement it. Sometimes it's these second- and third-order effects of these policies on other forums that make them different from what we want to do here, and so we don't implement a suggestion. We consider every potential change here in quite a bit of detail...which is the opposite of dismissing it out of hand.

And the newb thing isn't really the issue...we don't consider time on the forum when we consider the suggestion. It's just that some folks (not you) show up with all kinds of ideas about how the forum should be run...and they haven't even been here long enough to really get a feel for how certain policies create the atmosphere we have. And sometimes, they (again, not you) get upset when their suggestions don't get immediate acceptance...either from the mods or from the more established members on the site.
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So your suggestion didn't ruffle any feathers, and we're honestly considering it again...the forum has changed a bit since the last time this was suggested, so it might be time to reorganize a bit in response.

Thanks for the clarification. I understand where your coming from alittle better now.

If, yall do decide to implement a change to the Trips Planning section; I would request that whatever the change may be, that the goal should be for a more user friendly approach to it. I have heard of several suggestions that seem a bit more complex than what I was hoping for.

[UncleMJM]

So, as I see the regional sub-forum section in the trip planning, I'm looking forward to seeing how it works.

[Bubba]

So, as I see the regional sub-forum section in the trip planning, I'm looking forward to seeing how it works.

Me too. While I'd love to attend hangs out of my area, the reality is I will likely stay in my region most of the time and if the day arrives when I can venture further, then I'll go to that region's subforum and check out what's happening.

[sargevining]

Mnay thanks to the Mods, and to those who participated in the discusion in a civil and adult manner.

[fishbait]

So, as I see the regional sub-forum section in the trip planning, I'm looking forward to seeing how it works.

Me too. Thanks Xtrekker for pointing me to this thread it was a fun read. So is some one going to sort and move the old postings? Will the old thread be locked? Just curious.

[Loki]

Really? The only moderator comments in this thread said we were considering it. We'll let you know as soon as we decide.

Wouldn't it be useful if the person starting a Trip thread had a specific set of info to provide - and was 'asked' those questions as well?

IE: Can the trip planning threads be 'hooked' to a webForm which would collect some necessary data for "Starting A New Trip Thread", such as STate, Region, DateRange, Planning/Scheduled, Description, Automatically Add to HF Calendar(Y/N), etc.?

Those variables, once collected, and standardized, could be concatenated into a suggested "Thread Title" too (or the beginnings of a title -leaving the rest of the title freeform).

That form should only be available for the 1st new post on any Trip-thread and of course only in Trip Planning forums.

This might make searching a bit easier, as the Title's first words will be at least somewhat consistent.

As for the regional subforums, well I'm good either way on that question and will defer to those more experienced.

[Just Jeff]

Loki - Every time we code/troubleshoot/implement a new function, we have to redo it when we update the software. And it provides another security and operational vulnerability to the forum. The cost/benefit just isn't there in this case.