blike Posted July 10, 2006 Posted July 10, 2006 Some questions for all the members here: If you could make a change to SFN, what would it be? What would you change about the front page? What would you remove from SFN? What have you seen on other forums that you think we should have?
ydoaPs Posted July 10, 2006 Posted July 10, 2006 A while back, we had a user of the week type thing. I thought that was pretty cool.
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 For the front page, there's a lot. I've made threads in Suggestions about it before, but I'll try again here. First, the sidebar on the left looks bad. The link text is as large as the headings, and that doesn't look right - perhaps we should lower the link text size some. Second, perhaps we should shrink the active topics list or move the news posts up somehow. Active topics aren't all that interesting for a newcomer. Finally, we need to update the welcome message. I know it's better than the default, but it still could use a bit of love. @yourdadonapogos: Member Spotlight or Member of the Year Awards?
ydoaPs Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 I think it was the Member Spotlight. I was unaware of a Member of the Year Award.
timo Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 What would you change about the front page? Reduce the number of links in the left column. "Staff", "Contact Us" and "Contact a Moderator" could as well be the same link. "Forum FAQ" and "SFN Ettiquette" could be merged. "So you´ve got a new theory" could as well be a sticky in the speculations forum. I wonder if someone ever seriously used the "Members List" button. I tend to do a search for the name when I´m looking up someone rather than browsing 150 pages of names.
AzurePhoenix Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 I use the members list quite a bit myself... otherwise I've seen sites with recent news articles integrated nicely onto the page. Our news threads are practical enough, but they don't have the same... zip.
herpguy Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 I would like the news to be featured more on the front page.
Kylonicus Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 I would like inactive(inactive for like a month or so) older post to be editable/deletable, this way in case you said something you don't want to keep on here you can delete it. It would still have all the advantages of the current system, because if someone was having a debate, they couldn't change what they said, and if someone looked like a goof-ball, they couldn't change it mid flight, so it wouldn't create the annoyance of the ability to edit anytime, but if there was something on there you wanted to remove, you could do it, so long as other members weren't posting in that thread, and so long as it was old enough. Another advantage of this, is if it's an older post, and you delete it, then it eliminates wasted space on the server, which can be put to use in other areas.
herpguy Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 Also, I would make it so replies in the Announcements forum don't have to be checked before posted, and that we can edit our posts here. It would also be cool if WiSci was somehow featured more on the home page. I think it has potential, it's just that very few people use it. Maybe this will help.
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 I would like inactive(inactive for like a month or so) older post to be editable/deletable, this way in case you said something you don't want to keep on here you can delete it. That's unlikely to happen. Imagine how discussions would look if someone went back and deleted half of their posts in it. People still look at old threads when they're in search engine results or they just want answers. Another advantage of this, is if it's an older post, and you delete it, then it eliminates wasted space on the server, which can be put to use in other areas. I don't think there's much of a problem with server space currently. Also, I would make it so replies in the Announcements forum don't have to be checked before posted, and that we can edit our posts here. That might be nice, although some people seem to think this forum can be more off-topic than the others. It would also be cool if WiSci was somehow featured more on the home page. I think it has potential, it's just that very few people use it. Maybe this will help. I agree.
5614 Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 I like it all generally. Maybe you don't need a "Submit News" link on the homepage. Also you don't need a link to the homepage on the homepage! I also use the member list. Maybe we could get a link to the calendar as well. I occasionally look at that to see if there are any birthdays coming up! I feel bad saying this, but IMO I don't feel we need to promote WiSci more. It's a great idea and all, but just like I dislike MSN Search for trying to be a Google (which it will never be), I don't like WiSci for trying to be a wikipedia, which I feel it will never be. That Member Spotlight thing was alright, if people are willing then go for it! Maybe if we could somehow get only the headlines (ie. no body) of the News articles we could fit more into a space. If we shortened the Active Topics and combine that with only using headlines (which will hyperlink to the articles) we could fit a lot into a small space. Finally someone mentioned the links should be smalled. Whilst I see where you are coming from I like them the size they are. They're big, easy to see and obvious - as I use them more than anything else on the homepage I like them that way.
Martin Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 Some questions for all the members here: If you could make a change to SFN' date=' what would it be?[*']What would you change about the front page? What would you remove from SFN? What have you seen on other forums that you think we should have? A reciprocal question, for you blike, is: what are your goals for the site? What would you like it to be that it isnt already, or what preserve and foster? Do you especially want to increase traffic: up the posting rate? Or do you not care so much about numbers and want to improve things in other directions.
Dak Posted July 11, 2006 Posted July 11, 2006 It would also be cool if WiSci was somehow featured more on the home page. I think it has potential, it's just that very few people use it. Maybe this will help. My last post seems to have not gone through (appologies if it was just deemed 'crap' -- won't resubmit again if this one goes awol) SFN now has lots of sites/associated sites -- this one, death to creationism, wisci, origins debate, and the upcomming philosophy and religion forum (and the chat room, i suppose). Might it be an idea, as this is the mother site, to have the SFN homepage act as a portal to all the other sites as well as this one?
blike Posted July 11, 2006 Author Posted July 11, 2006 Dak, sorry, I accidentally deleted your post while it was in the que. I read it though
Skye Posted July 12, 2006 Posted July 12, 2006 If you could make a change to SFN, what would it be? Perhaps earth sciences would be good again. They were a dud before but with all the climate change threads around it might be an idea. Maybe as subsection of physics, dealing with climatography, physical oceanography and geology. What would you change about the front page? There's two places to sign in. I don't see why. What would you remove from SFN? That weird blike character. What have you seen on other forums that you think we should have? Sexy dames and plenty of 'em.
herpguy Posted July 12, 2006 Posted July 12, 2006 Maybe the link for Origins Debate should be put under philosophy and religion instead of biology.
herpguy Posted July 13, 2006 Posted July 13, 2006 Perhaps earth sciences would be good again. They were a dud before but with all the climate change threads around it might be an idea. Maybe as subsection of physics, dealing with climatography, physical oceanography and geology. I agree. Also something for meteorology is needed.
alice Posted July 13, 2006 Posted July 13, 2006 Uhm...you could delete the previous threads which have been locked for posting...and other abandoned threads out there.
ecoli Posted July 13, 2006 Posted July 13, 2006 Make the news more promiment on the home page (I think that's more interesting than active topics).
Dak Posted July 14, 2006 Posted July 14, 2006 Not really sure wether this should go here or in the suggestions/comments forum, but how about a better poll module? One that could tell you correlation in multiple choice polls, and how many people voted?
Dak Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 What would you change about the front page? Just noticed this: there's a rather redundant link on the home page to... the home page Well... on http://www.scienceforums.net/ to http://www.scienceforums.net/index.php?, but it amounts to the same thing.
why? Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 I know.. I know. A games section. We had one didnt we, and I think it got lost while updating or something. But a games section would be awesome. Science and fun go hand in hand. It's going to be so awesome. *giving that nerdy look*
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now