UKBouldering.com
the site => suggestions, requests, support => Topic started by: ukb on June 14, 2011, 06:45:39 am
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The annual insect overlord strategy meeting (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,15322.0.html) is again approaching. Any feedback on the site, however spurious, would be helpful. We'll be upgrading the forum software to the long-awaited SMF 2.0 in the summer/ autumn - that will also be a good moment to change anything that needs changing.
A few issues on our minds:
- a quite well-known climber recently told Shark that he didn't use UKB as he found it too confusing. Obviously he should be using the unread posts (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?action=unread) view - but generally does the site need more explanation?
- dire photoshopped cartoons on the front page: funny? lame? not dire enough? talking of which, does anyone actually click through to the front page?
- integrating the UKB Vimeo and Flickr groups more tightly with the forum: good idea or not? it needs some bespoke programming so tends not to move off the "nice idea" list.
- should we have Borg style news/ articles/ etc? if so, any volunteers?
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Too confusing to use? Was it Ralph Wiggum?
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Rarely look at the front page myself as there's not masses of content on there that changes regularly enough with new information. If however there was a news section that was kept up to date regularly I might do (but then again I might just read the "news" sub-forum instead).
You've got people's blogs being pulled into the log-pile, why not have a twitter section on the front page pulling in posts from various twitter accounts, e.g. @moonclimbing, @Team_BMC, @VertebratePub, @Planetmountain, @kjorgenson, @SenderFilms, @stevehouse10, @davemacleoud09, @psychovertical etc. etc.
Quite enjoy the photoshoped picture competitions, but rarely look at them once there. Not sure what impression they give to new-comers.
Perhaps a "Getting started" section prominently linked from the front page for people, could even reside on the Wiki. Quite what it should contain I'm not sure, perhaps feedback on what is confusing would provide insight.
What tighter integration is possible with Vimeo/Flickr? One thing might be to embed the Flickr UKBouldering group as a slide show, although Flickr don't provide easy links for embedding slide shows any more, but I worked out an easy way around that (http://kimura.no-ip.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=slack:embeding_flickr_slideshows) (will be slow loading I'm afraid).
Can't think of much else at the moment, although I do think the Wiki is under used.
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Yeah, the twitter thing was something I talked about a few months/years ago... It would be easy to set uo a window that displays all tweets with the #ukb hashtag etc..
News items are good for the occasional visitor..
Cartoon figures good.keep it up
Thought about some flashy way of integrating the most recent posts graphically on the front page.. Have a look at how flipboard integrates twitter, fb and news feeds on the iPad/tablets.. Very swish.
Does ukb have a fb page? If not why not? I hate fb, but plenty of people love it some sort of mirror/cross feed between the two?
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- dire photoshopped cartoons on the front page: funny? lame? not dire enough? talking of which, does anyone actually click through to the front page?
There's a front page?
Just keep in mind when making changes that many of us come here because it's not UKC.
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- dire photoshopped cartoons on the front page: funny? lame? not dire enough? talking of which, does anyone actually click through to the front page?
There's a front page?
Just keep in mind when making changes that many of us come here because it's not UKC.
:agree:
Perhaps the perceived 'difficulty' of navigating around the site acts a filter and keeps away stupid people less desirable people? ;)
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There's a front page?
Just keep in mind when making changes that many of us come here because it's not UKC.
I don't see any harm with having a front page though and its actually quite useful for those who have never been here before and come across the domain from a search.
Just because there is a front page it doesn't mean you have to look at it (e.g. I never look at the front page on UKC either).
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One thing I'd say is well done on keeping the feel of UKB after the changeover of ownership. It's as good as it ever was.
Like the blogpile.
Cartoon/photograph thing is very lame (not the cartoon, but the constant reuse on the home page). Funny-ish at first but every time I go to that page it makes the site look like something designed a long time ago and never overhauled. It's a very in-joke at best.
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Had a thought, which many already be addressed by the upgrade of SMF to the stable 2.0, but how about a slightly fancier style sheet for those with " smart" phones?
The WAP interface is very basic text, and whilst the normal webUI does render on my phone it doesn't fit in very well and requires loss of scrolling about.
Well see if I can find a good example.
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Pulling Twitter feeds / hashtags in might be a good idea. A Facebook page might be a good idea but someone would need to keep it updated which might be quite a bit of work, also what would be on it? Links to threads, links to news articles, just lots of spammy advertising from it's 'friends'?
I rarely look at the front page, I'd rather get all my news and info from the forum but I do think it's better to have one for new people who find the forum from searches and suchlike.
I agree about the photos being a bit lame / in-jokey, the threads for the competition were awesome and very funny to read but I think it loses it a bit once it's just constantly on the front page.
I agree about the WAP thing too, I rarely look at UKB on my phone as I don't find it nice to read or very user friendly and it's not down to it being a forum as I regularly post on another forum from my phone and that one is really simple and easy to use. I could probably find out what software they are using if it was a help?
A getting started section might be good for new people, although I don't really know what you'd put in it, my mind boggles slightly at people finding the forum difficult to use / navigate but then I am a bit of anm internet forum whore so possibly not in the position to judge.
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tapatalk seems to be popular for that kind of thing but its pretty pricey as an app (IMO) and required forum integration, I certainly wouldn't buy it.
I'd be surprised if SMF 2.0 doesn't address issues regarding mobile devices?
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I'd be surprised if SMF 2.0 doesn't address issues regarding mobile devices?
Currently UKB is on 2.0-rc3 and its wap (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?wap), wap2 (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?wap2) or imobile (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?imobile) that are available. I had a quick poke around the mods section of SMF and there doesn't really appear to be anything additional out there yet (but that was only cursory, there may be more info in the forums, but I've not delved in there yet), but its mildly surprising that there isn't anything more prominent out already.
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One thing that hasn't been mentioned is an improvement to the Wiki. As it currently stands the webcam page is found under FAQs. I know Slackers mentioned once upon a time that this is from when the Wiki was very new, but maybe a re-jig of things, so it's easier to find what you're looking for.
Other than that I'm think the site (as I use it) is spot on. Just the right amount of moderation etc.
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One thing that hasn't been mentioned is an improvement to the Wiki. As it currently stands the webcam page is found under FAQs. I know Slackers mentioned once upon a time that this is from when the Wiki was very new, but maybe a re-jig of things, so it's easier to find what you're looking for.
The beauty of a wiki is that you can edit it......yourself.
If you think the WebCam page should be linked from somewhere else you can add just such a link, and best of all you don't necessarily need to remove the one that already exists. I wrote the web-cam page and put it under the "Getting Out" section of the Bouldering FAQ (http://www.ukbouldering.com/wiki/index.php/Bouldering_FAQ) because people frequently ask questions about what the conditions are like in certain venues for bouldering (twisted logic I'll admit, but thats just me).
So if you think it should be linked directly from the Venues (http://www.ukbouldering.com/wiki/index.php/Venues) page, please do go ahead and place such a link there (there is even logic to adding individual web-cam links within each area/venues page, but I've not found the time to do that yet I'm afraid). Your forum username logs you into the wiki too so you're all set to go (see the user documentation for MediaWiki if you're unfamiliar with the markup, :google: will get you there).
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One of the football forums I read has a push to twitter which highlights 'hot topics', pretty sure it's automatically generated and quite useful when you're out and about. Similar thing probably available for FB. probably need to embrace twitter and FB if you want to generate more hits to the site.
Agree re front page. it looks out of date and the fact that all the links are to forums rather than news items could be the source of the confusion for those who spend too much time climbing and might be expecting to find articles or news rather than colourful discussion.
Not sure about news, on one hand a lot of uk news does break via the forums first so you're missing out on traffic and maybe advertising etc by not articalising it; but then the need to write it up, get media, history, quotes etc will slow things up and the need to point out that e.g. LPT is a limestone sea-cliff with tidal access isn't really in keeping with the site. Could maybe take a more informal blog type approach with links in a more frequently updated home page and blog pile?
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I regularly post on another forum from my phone and that one is really simple and easy to use. I could probably find out what software they are using if it was a help?
www.catsnailvarnishandjewelry.com (http://www.catsnailvarnishandjewelry.com) ?
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Are you spying on me Jasper? >:(
We are currently talking about whether cats have eye lashes and comparing their eyeliner like markings. There is no end to the excitement in my online life. 8)
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Found this mod which might do the trick (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2408) (although it might just address theme, i.e. colours rather than layout). Despite its name it indicates it can detect other mobile devices too (and a while back the Android browser used to spoof sites by saying it was an iphone so that it got pages that worked better).
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am I seeing things or is that a SHAll banner?
/scared
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No idea what SHAII is or where the banner is that it might be (NoScript blocks UKB banners and can't see any on SMF page I linked).
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just my phone doing funnythings
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Hmm Nai's got me thinking re twitter important story feed etc.. In thing you could dois have a trending topics list (like news sites) so you can quickly see what folk are looking at most etc..?
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alternate really nice bouldering photos on the homepage, and strip down some of the other stuff? It's a very busy homepage. not keen on the cartoons.
more reviews and articles etc could be good if you can persuade people to write them.
start a fb page - they're easy to maintain and could work well alongside the site for breaking news/significant repeats etc.
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generally does the site need more explanation?
No. I found it reasonably clear what was going on after I'd browsed for a while. Requiring some level of cognitive investment from newcomers is probably good for keeping standards up, see below.
- dire photoshopped cartoons on the front page: funny? lame? not dire enough?
I like 'em
- integrating the UKB Vimeo and Flickr groups more tightly with the forum: good idea or not? it needs some bespoke programming so tends not to move off the "nice idea" list.
More integration with things outside the site = more risk of some people not seeing irritating error messages because they are not members of those other sites. See also: facebook.
- should we have Borg style news/ articles/ etc? if so, any volunteers?
No. As others already said, ukb is good because it is not ukc. By which I do not mean: ukc is all bad. But there's a place for something different.
What I like about ukb is precisely that is is more of a *discussion forum* than a news site, and a discussion forum that somehow manages to have sustained a core membership that is well informed yet doesn't take itself too seriously. I have moderated other online forums myself and know what a rare and precious thing that is and what a precarious life expectancy it has, so the mods here who are discretely doing such a good job have my highest respect.
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Incidentally, I frequently have to go through the "abusive user" filter (2+3=7 etc) to get in on my mobile. I assume this is because I'm coming in with the ip address of one of o2's routers, and there are other people on o2 doing naughty hings. (Definitely not me!) This is irritating. Might it be possible to install a less indiscriminate filter?
Other than that, the site works fine on my android phone.
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Incidentally, I frequently have to go through the "abusive user" filter (2+3=7 etc) to get in on my mobile. I assume this is because I'm coming in with the ip address of one of o2's routers, and there are other people on o2 doing naughty hings. (Definitely not me!) This is irritating. Might it be possible to install a less indiscriminate filter?
I've added you to the "trusted users" membergroup which should help to prevent this happening so often.
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Hey! What happened to the dire & cliquey in-joke cartoon picture on the front page. I liked that... :jab: ;)
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I like the way the board looks, it's easy to read and plain enough that if you have it on your screen at work it's not immediately obvious you are skiving. ;) I wouldn't bother changing it unless the majority think it's bad as it is. Some forums are almost unreadable because they have weird colours, fonts and layouts.
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Top 5/10 viewed posts in last 24 hours? Please? Its good to see where the interest gossip is if you're not keeping regular tabs..
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Top 5/10 viewed posts in last 24 hours? Please? Its good to see where the interest gossip is if you're not keeping regular tabs..
"Top" being most views or posts? Former likely biased by spiders/bots so probably the later I'd imagine?
With reagrds to themes for the site, you could either make a selection available and let users select which in their profile (http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php?topic=112.0) (first point under Basics), or users could use a Firefox plugin which lets theme use any custom theme for forums using something like userstyles (http://userstyles.org/).
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Former - there's already the 'views' info, so tally up for last 24 hours.... I only ask as most news websites I go to its the first thing I check...
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Former - there's already the 'views' info, so tally up for last 24 hours.... I only ask as most news websites I go to its the first thing I check...
I suppose there could be a case that the views might not be skewed by bots as they would systematically look across all pages, or perhaps they are written to view the top (i.e.most recent) posts in each sub-forum.
But then topics that have lots of views over the last 24 hours will also be the ones that come out near the top when you click on the "Recent unread threads" link, which admittedly will include all the new or lesser posted threads, but the icons on the left handside indicate activity within a thread, and therefore can be used as a quick visual guide.
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Former - there's already the 'views' info, so tally up for last 24 hours.... I only ask as most news websites I go to its the first thing I check...
I suppose there could be a case that the views might not be skewed by bots as they would systematically look across all pages, or perhaps they are written to view the top (i.e.most recent) posts in each sub-forum.
But then topics that have lots of views over the last 24 hours will also be the ones that come out near the top when you click on the "Recent unread threads" link, which admittedly will include all the new or lesser posted threads, but the icons on the left handside indicate activity within a thread, and therefore can be used as a quick visual guide.
Yup - you're right theres plenty of ways to do it - I like the BBC way TBH...
Sometimes when I've not checked the board for a day or two I find it quite easy to miss a funny thread that may have a completely incongrous name - you know, how "what should I have for breakfast" can turn into something hilarious etc..
I am a lazy bastard dont forget ;)
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As well as already having the numbe rof views a thread has had already available and displayed, the same is also true of the number of posts in a thread (which is how the icons determine which topics are "hot" and have had lots of posts).
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If there is a FB page will that ever mean that there will be content that you have to be on FB to access? Cos until I absolutely, totally, explicitly HAVE to I'm never joining it....
Sorry if this is an idiotic question but I know nothing of how FB works.
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No, it'd just be a link to an thread (or article) like you get via twitter.
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We haven't so far even discussed setting up an FB page.
No but plenty of people have suggested it and it seems like a good idea if it means more traffic for the site.
No, it'd just be a link to an thread (or article) like you get via twitter.
Cool. Ta.
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If there is a FB page will that ever mean that there will be content that you have to be on FB to access? Cos until I absolutely, totally, explicitly HAVE to I'm never joining it....
We haven't so far even discussed setting up an FB page. If we did, I am pretty sure we would only use it to point people at UKB content. Though of course with FB you can't prevent "friends" adding stuff to your "wall" ... though you can delete it.
Seems like a no brainer to me.. You only need to update it every week etc.. With a link to an important/interesting story/news item..
Jasper, I'll sign you up to fb if you dont want to touch it.. Just pm me your bank details and a photocopy of your passport ;)
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No problem. Once you send me your credit card number, security code and expiry date...... just to prove you are who you say you are.
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We haven't so far even discussed setting up an FB page. If we did, I am pretty sure we would only use it to point people at UKB content. Though of course with FB you can't prevent "friends" adding stuff to your "wall" ... though you can delete it.
You can with a regular person's profile, whether it's different for a group or business page I don't know but I can, with my profile, stop everyone or some of my friends having the ability to post on my wall if I choose, it's pretty customisable if you know how to do it.
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No problem. Once you send me your credit card number, security code and expiry date...... just to prove you are who you say you are.
:) sfs (Inc) already have enough details I suspect!
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Yes, yes we do. :devil-smiley:
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Does UKB really need a FB page though?
I guess if its the intention of the Overlords to pull in more interest that may be a good way to go but from where I'm sitting I can't see it being of any use/interest much like the various climbing manufacturers having pages, its like signing yourself up for mass-marketing willingly.
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maybe with a bit of direction of where you 'think' you might aim then this thread would be a bit more focussed rather than fine-tweaking what exists already. I echo what was said about liking this place exactly because its NOT the borg.
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I don't think a Facebook page would be of much interest / use to people who post regularly but it might draw in more people who otherwise wouldn't have looked at the forums.
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Does UKB really need a FB page though?
Absolutely not sure.
But you have just prompted a rare UKB tweet ...
Should have asked people to RT ;-)
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I don't think a Facebook page would be of much interest / use to people who post regularly but it might draw in more people who otherwise wouldn't have looked at the forums.
Exactly.
As I said above. I've managed to avoid having anything to do with FB so far but I can see a time when I might have to get involved from a business point of view. Mind you, maybe not (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/facebook-status-its-complicated-2297425.html).
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and there are a few specific climbers still posting at the Borg that I'd be pleased to see as regulars here
John Cox, Chris Craggs and Franco Cookson?
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and there are a few specific climbers still posting at the Borg that I'd be pleased to see as regulars here
John Cox, Chris Craggs and Franco Cookson?
Isn't Chris Craggs - Robertostallioni?
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That's a good point, Paul. I'm not sure how Shark would answer that but generally I'd say we don't yet have an official "aim" as such, and maybe will never have one. Personally I think UKB could be a bit bigger (in terms of members and posts) without compromising its quality and there are a few specific climbers still posting at the Borg that I'd be pleased to see as regulars here. A bit bigger might also mean more ad revenue but that isn't an explicit objective for us as such and we perceive an obvious and delicate balance between being commercial and preserving the integrity/ authenticity of the place.
Just done a few quick FB searches:
Climbing group 290,000 people like it
rock climbing group 410,000 people like it
bouldering - 28,000 people like it
Climbing Works page - 2000+ members
The Edge 1300 members
Core Climbing 650 members.
All potential viewers, contributors, etc and it'll cost you nothing to try via twitter & FB. Could increase traffic and lead to bigger ad revenues, etc
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I find it difficult to answer the poll because some elements are just right and a few are too dire for me!
I'm afraid the cartoons were a bit too dire for me so I'm glad they're off the front page!
As far as a FB page is concerned I can't see a problem with using it to pull in a few more visitors but I don't see me hitting that page in preference to looking at the board itself.
I don't think full blown articles or news pieces are the way to go because it lacks the immediacy of, say, the significant repeats thread. Look at how long it took the other channel to put out news of Lucinda doing Austrian Oak which was reported here long before. I can understand that if it's a glossy article with pics/vids/interviews but often with the borg you wait ages and it still doesn't contain much (the example above being a case in point)!
As Nai has briefly mentioned, I think there is a gap for blog style updates containing a little more info (but not so much that it takes forever to collate) on significant repeats/FA's etc., along the lines of what Bjorn's blog used to be before it got swallowed up. The key thing for me would be the speed at which you could get updates out as I'm an impatient bugger and I want to read about it as soon as news breaks!!!
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Steady on, Slackers. Was just checking the thing worked ...
It did (and I RT'd :-*)
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As a newbie, both to ukb and climbing/bouldering in general (when do yo stop saying that you're new to climbing?) http://ukbouldering.com/board/Smileys/ukbCustom/hmmm.gif (http://ukbouldering.com/board/Smileys/ukbCustom/hmmm.gif)
I find ukb to be both informative and funny, some of you guys are seriously screwed! No..... I mean screwed!!
As a FB and twitter user I would say the forum style would be better suited to twitter - FB is okay for getting general stuff about what's going on around the world. UKc as previously mentioned is more news and the forums generally suck with idiots trying to get one over each other and having a go at anyone who sticks their head above the parapet!!
What I like is the 'community' vibe - for the most part it's all good natured and helpful! http://ukbouldering.com/board/Smileys/ukbCustom/canOfWorms.png (http://ukbouldering.com/board/Smileys/ukbCustom/canOfWorms.png) For my part getting regular tweets of new forum posts (possibly with hash string subjects would get me to log in more often! This is why I'm here now! You can then view forums via twitter on mobiles/ iphones etc.
Apologies for ramble...!
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Good point re Twitter.
Not sure what you've done to the smileys there but you just have to click on them for them to appear in your post.
:-\ :)
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Good point re Twitter.
Not sure what you've done to the smileys there but you just have to click on them for them to appear in your post.
:-\ :)
Told you I was a newbie :oops:
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it's all good natured and helpful!
Not when Slackers gets hold of you it won't be!
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I like it as it is. If some people find it too complicated then maybe that's more their problem than the forum's.
Like most people I come here because UKC's forums depress and frustrate me so I don't want this one to go the same way.
Agreed about the cartoons. There are only about five things someone with their arms in the air can be doing and we've seen all the permutations now.
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it's all good natured and helpful!
Not when Slackers gets hold of you it won't be!
:-* :hug:
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Apologies for interrupting the UKB holiday planner; I experience frequent difficulties logging on due to some UKB IP screening software that has determined that the IP address my provider has allocated is also involved in the internet equivalent of the great training robbery; or maybe it has just determined my occasional posts are not dire enough? It is dull and boring to only get UKB access a couple of times a month – although good for meaningful productivity.
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The blacklists are controlled by a 3rd parties so there's little we can do to stop this. It seems a lot of the mobile phone company IPs are blocked. If you're getting the screens that ask you to do a sum to prove you're human then we can add you to a list that bypasses this but if it's something else there's little we can do.
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The blacklists are controlled by a 3rd parties so there's little we can do to stop this. It seems a lot of the mobile phone company IPs are blocked. If you're getting the screens that ask you to do a sum to prove you're human then we can add you to a list that bypasses this but if it's something else there's little we can do.
Getting the Prove you are human page is almost a YYFY event. Most of the time it is some blurb about the IP address being associated with spam and email the third party to get it delisted; this will work for a visit or two and then it is normal service resumed - where normal service is go and see the third party for IP de-listing.
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I guess the problem is your Emirati ISP - somebody has been naughty on it in the past - any way you can use a proxy?
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I'm a rare visitor, but I may as well have input.
The cartoons do nothing for me - I think of them as a bit juvenile.
I'm not sure why but none of the vimeo stuff works for me unless I go to the vimeo site. This on a macbook/firefox - this isn't a ukb issue because I get the same elsewhere, don't know how many people this impacts.
My question would be what is ukb trying to do? If you want to grow then you need to look not just at the existing heavy users, but the minor users and the lurkers and those who don't bother. Is it that the site as is puts them off or is it that the 'Borg' is easier/more convenient?
If someone isn't part of the 'scene' what does ukb give them? You can complain all you like about beginner articles etc elsewhere, but they draw people in - look at all the camera magazines/websites - same beginner stuff all the time but it gets them an audience.
Where is the coherent vision?
Also where is the 'dons hard hat' smiley?
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The cartoons do nothing for me - I think of them as a bit juvenile.
Are you not aware of our ethos?
'To be Ugly, juvenile and offensive, but above all - dire at every level'.
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No problems for me. I never use the front page. Can't think of any real issues.
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The cartoons do nothing for me - I think of them as a bit juvenile.
Are you not aware of our ethos?
'To be Ugly, juvenile and offensive, but above all - dire at every level'.
But only while bare-chested and wearing a beanie?
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A news editor to sort the wheat from the chaff (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,10607.msg319984.html#msg319984)?
I was also thinking that tagging threads (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=579) (and the resultant tag cloud that could be generated) might provide an easier way for people to search for content within the site. Obviously I wouldn't advocate retrospectively tagging threads (bar a few very popular ones) but using it prospectively (although that in turn depends on user participation to tag the threads as they start them/contribute to them).
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Perhaps one of these could be incorporated into the smiley sets...
(http://www.flamencodancer.eu/blog/wp-content/themes/df_new/images/smiley_xmas_irony.gif) (http://th747.photobucket.com/albums/xx113/monsterblab/Emoticons/th_smiley_emoticons_irony2.gif)
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Or maybe a fly in a glass of Chardonnay.
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10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife? :)
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10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife? :)
I'd like to see the icon for that!
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Or maybe a fly in a glass of Chardonnay.
Often a good thing ;)
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Don't you think?
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Isn't the joke about this that the list in the song lyrics aren't things that are necessarily ironic, they're just things that would immensely piss you off...and that the song is by Alanis Morrisette?
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Ed Byrne slates Alanis Morissette (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT1TVSTkAXg#)
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Isn't the joke about this that the list in the song lyrics aren't things that are necessarily ironic, they're just things that would immensely piss you off...and that the song is by Alanis Morrisette?
I would've put an irony icon in the first place but unfortunately we don't have one :tease:
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Or maybe a fly in a glass of Chardonnay.
Often a good thing ;)
You sir, need to invest more of your hard-earned on fine Meursault.
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I would've put an irony icon in the first place but unfortunately we don't have one :tease:
O'Rly? (http://th747.photobucket.com/albums/xx113/monsterblab/Emoticons/th_smiley_emoticons_irony2.gif)
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:2thumbsup:
I would've put an irony icon in the first place but unfortunately we don't have one :tease:
O'Rly? (http://th747.photobucket.com/albums/xx113/monsterblab/Emoticons/th_smiley_emoticons_irony2.gif)
:2thumbsup:
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My 10 penneth; mostly I agree with what's been said - the level is right, it's above all a discussion forum and I like that and don't think it needs news or owt.
If I could have anything (and I understand that there are development restrictions as it's basically a forum server with some customisations, yes?)
- Better integration with the factual parts that are useful resources. The number of times I've had to search for days to find a bit of info I knew was in there and wanted to send to somebody. It took me 10 minutes to find the board building FAQ the other day. Some kind of feature/list where actual USEFUL DATA threads (e.g. the be all and end all how to fix your fucked elbow/finger/shoulder/itchy nob thread list) are pulled together into more of a reference - jumping off links into old threads maybe.
- A way to filter the unread messages view. I don't read YYFY, new-wad-on-the-scene (sorry mums and dads), the compiler, for example; I know other people do so some kind of user customisable hide-thread-feature?
- Something that pulled threads with loads of action on to the top. A hot topic icon?
- More threads about yoga.
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- Profit?
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A way to filter the unread messages view. I don't read YYFY, new-wad-on-the-scene (sorry mums and dads), the compiler, for example; I know other people do so some kind of user customisable hide-thread-feature?
This would mean authoring a new modification as I can't find anything out there....or if you wanted a more personal solution and are feeling keen, it could be done in Greasemonkey.
Something that pulled threads with loads of action on to the top. A hot topic icon?
There's a really good looking mod (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=965) that would accomplish this but it appears at the moment that development has ceased.
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I thought all the UKB mods were really good looking?
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- Better integration with the factual parts that are useful resources. The number of times I've had to search for days to find a bit of info I knew was in there and wanted to send to somebody. It took me 10 minutes to find the board building FAQ the other day. Some kind of feature/list where actual USEFUL DATA threads (e.g. the be all and end all how to fix your fucked elbow/finger/shoulder/itchy nob thread list) are pulled together into more of a reference - jumping off links into old threads maybe.
Perhaps I might sound like a bit of a broken record here (deja vu?) but this is what I envisage the wiki (http://www.ukbouldering.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page) being. Collate the useful information from the forums, write it up into the Wiki with links to the original threads. Already a section on Pulley Injuries (http://www.ukbouldering.com/wiki/index.php/Pulley_Injuries_:_The_Science) and Elbow Injuries (http://www.ukbouldering.com/wiki/index.php/Elbow_Injuries_:_The_Science).
- Something that pulled threads with loads of action on to the top. A hot topic icon?
They're not at the top, but look at the icons down the left-hand side of the list of threads and you get an indication of whats hot.
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- Better integration with the factual parts that are useful resources. The number of times I've had to search for days to find a bit of info I knew was in there and wanted to send to somebody. It took me 10 minutes to find the board building FAQ the other day. Some kind of feature/list where actual USEFUL DATA threads (e.g. the be all and end all how to fix your fucked elbow/finger/shoulder/itchy nob thread list) are pulled together into more of a reference - jumping off links into old threads maybe.
Perhaps I might sound like a bit of a broken record here (deja vu?) but this is what I envisage the wiki (http://www.ukbouldering.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page) being. Collate the useful information from the forums, write it up into the Wiki with links to the original threads. Already a section on Pulley Injuries (http://www.ukbouldering.com/wiki/index.php/Pulley_Injuries_:_The_Science) and Elbow Injuries (http://www.ukbouldering.com/wiki/index.php/Elbow_Injuries_:_The_Science).
Yes, I think this is probably the right final destination. Current problem is not everything useful ends up in there - my feeling is that the wiki is below critical mass at the moment, and so it doesn't get used because there's not enough stuff in. I was wondering if there was a middle ground - that involved less effort so was easier to get stuff in...
- Something that pulled threads with loads of action on to the top. A hot topic icon?
They're not at the top, but look at the icons down the left-hand side of the list of threads and you get an indication of whats hot.
Right, but that needs me to count and be arsed.
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Yes, I think this is probably the right final destination. Current problem is not everything useful ends up in there - my feeling is that the wiki is below critical mass at the moment, and so it doesn't get used because there's not enough stuff in. I was wondering if there was a middle ground - that involved less effort so was easier to get stuff in...
Community based efforts like Wiki's require community input which ultimately boils down to individuals putting the effort in.
I was invited to moderate the Wiki, but I declined as I don't have enough time to dedicate, and also despite me harping on about it, no one seemed to be bothering to add anything to it, so there was no need for moderation that I could see at the time.
Right, but that needs me to count and be arsed.
No, there are icons that indicate if a topic is "hot" (which means > 75 replies, regardless of when they might have been though) and whether you've contributed to it etc. etc., the key is at the bottom of all of the sub-forums.
Its not exactly what you were after, but its a vague way to get to "hot" topics if you look at the icons in the "Recently viewed" page that doesn't require counting.
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I'm with lund on this one.. It's not obvious to me what hot topics are and Shirley it would be fairly straight forward to count how many views in last 12-24 hours and sort accordingly? Implementation is another matter!
Lund, you can make your own kind of favourites by just using the updated replies link.. So threads you've commented in are effectively your faves?
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Implementation is another matter!
Old thread discussing implementation (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=273483.0)
Another possible solution (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=382096.0)
Not sure there is an explicit modification package for these though.
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I have a question: "The Blogosphere; where does it end?"
When the blog pile first started you had Dobbin and others. Over time it has obviously grown and it looks like another gets added relatively often. Now, I'm not saying these aren't of interest but I certainly don't choose to read all of them and un like using RSS and your favourite reader (not to mention its much easier to take your reader on the morning loo trip). They're all included in the "Recent Unread" and as of yet, there's still no way to pick and chose.
I'd probably agree that at the moment its not 'that' intrusive and a quick click of "mark all read" isn't a travesty yet if you continue to grow that section it soon will be. /2p
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When is the IO summer strategy camp? I'd be interested in what you decide - aside from the confidential plans for global domination and the capture of the source of ultimate power. Bono's hat.
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the time on the clock is off by an hour as well
(http://omgface.com/happy/gay%20nerd1.jpg)
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Click Profile - Forum Profile - Look and Layout - Time Offset - click "Autodetect"
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Can someone tell Chris that slackers is posting on his login.
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Berry friendly site would be cool then I can have a nosey whilst travelling
Agree with Lund about the finding useful threads bit - grouping them by injury type perhaps, arm, elbow, shoulder, fingers, etc with sub-headings on recovery times 'a few weeks', 'a few months', 'throw self on railway tracks' - so its an at-a-glance 'how fucked am I' resource??
How many times does someone post and then some kind soul points them at previous threads? Maybe an obvious link/pop-up on the posting page directing you to them would save some duplication??
Other than that very happy with the site, top effort Simon and Co :)
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Can someone tell Chris that slackers is posting on his login.
:D there's not much he can do about it, Chris has him a little tied up at the moment...
(http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsH/52702-15365.gif)
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mmmmm! mmmmm! mmmmm!