How To Make These Forums More Usable - Asking for Suggestions!

[Bek]

All -

I just made a private comment to twospirits, suggesting that he sticky the "What Apps Do You Have" thread. His response was that he didn't want to sticky too many threads, as to overwhelm the main page with a dozen stickied threads. Instead, he's relying on the "Forum Guidelines" stickied item. I think that's great but in my past experience, new users don't usually check that.

In my experience, new users will simply come on in, maybe glance over the thread titles of the first page to see if any pertain to what they're interested in, then simply start a new thread to get their questions addressed. And that new thread is often redundant.

twospirits suggested that I start a discussion to see what others in the community thought.

If you have a specific thread that you think should be stickied, please list it here and why.

My nominations:

• EVO Screen Protectors Thread
• What apps to put on your EVO 4G
• Ultimate Screen Protector-Body Skin Thread

 

[80s_kid]

this is a great idea. i think "what apps to put on your EVO 4G" would be my choice. simply because not everyone knows a lot about android. and if i was new i would want some kind of guidance to some great apps. everyone can share apps, and let others know how they work before they install them on their EVO.

 

[rzenger]

I think that if people are going to ask others for their time to answer a question they should first invest some or their own time reading the information that is already out there. The forums would be a lot better of if people took it upon themselves to look before they just ask.

 

[Roman G.]

I think that if people are going to ask others for their time to answer a question they should first invest some or their own time reading the information that is already out there. The forums would be a lot better of if people took it upon themselves to look before they just ask.

Thats kinda why I was thinking a sticky called "everything you wanted to know about the EVO, but were to lazy to search for"
I think most people would really relate to that.

 

[JMD]

I think more sub forums would be more benificial than more stickies. In addition to Root we could have Hardware/Accessories, How To/Tips and Tricks, Applications, etc.

For example, Bek, you nominated two different screen protector threads. With a Hardware/Accessories sub forum they could both go in there and we wouldn't have to pick just one to sticky.

 

[80s_kid]

Thats kinda why I was thinking a sticky called "everything you wanted to know about the EVO, but were to lazy to search for"
I think most people would really relate to that.

thats very true. a lot of members are just to lazy to click that search tab at the top of the screen. i swear ive seen duplicate threads and too many similar ones. just click search and save some space and time. its a lot easier.

 

[clambert1273]

I think more sub forums would be more benificial than more stickies. In addition to Root we could have Hardware/Accessories, How To/Tips and Tricks, Applications, etc.

For example, Bek, you nominated two different screen protector threads. With a Hardware/Accessories sub forum they could both go in there and we wouldn't have to pick just one to sticky.

2nd the subforums...

 

[mr.almeida]

Yea sticky all the repetitive questions and delete threads that have already been covered numerous times.

Make a FAQ's page too.

-Cover all the basics of the Droid OS and terms that most aren't familiar with.

 

[ashykat]

A ridiculously big "SEARCH HERE FIRST" box maybe? I'm guilty of new threads sometimes too since the search doesn't always seem to bring up what I am looking for even if it exists already.

 

[travisr528]

I like the idea! Your thread you started Blew UP!!!

 

[mkampy]

I like the idea of more sub-forums. Maybe even to the point of an App thread with sub apps for individual reviews of apps ( ok that may get pretty crazy), but sub forums is what I vote...

 

[NSXLA]

I myself ignore stickies =]

 

[Bek]

 

[acp]

All -


My nominations:

• EVO Screen Protectors Thread
  Ultimate Screen Protector-Body Skin Thread[/B]

these could be combined, but anyways here is...

my list:

1. Just Received an Evo
2. Evo Accessories

 

[Agent Jones]

no more stickies!

 

[twospirits]

^ lol Ironic, I am about to sticky this thread so it doesn't get bumped off the first page. (But I am only sticking it for a few days only), until I can get a feel of what you guys want.

Shouldn't there be a poll though to measure this?

Another idea I would like to throw in, is to change the "All Forum Links" thread title to "Don't know where the thread is at, look here first"

TS

 

[PyroSporker]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!
Before June 4th, please make 1 single dedicated thread for everyone to check in at and tell everyone else that they got their Evo and how excited they are. Also, maybe 1 dedicated thread for all reviews.

I do not want to come here and see 50 different threads from 50 different people all saying
"I GOTS MY EVOS !!!!!!!!1!11 I'M SO C00L W00T!!!11111"(Exaggerated slightly for desired effect)

As of right now I find the thread redundancies to be way too excessive already, and have hoped that someone would clean this place up and lay down some posting guidelines that someone will actually see and read before posting. It can only get worse unless something changes. The horses are out of the gates and running free, and they will run more free and crazy unless they get reigned in somehow. (I'm not asking for a dictatorship, iron fist tactics, or hard nosed attitudes, I am simply pleading for some change that will bring guidance, structure, and direction.)




Rzenger said it very well in his post above:

I think that if people are going to ask others for their time to answer a question they should first invest some or their own time reading the information that is already out there. The forums would be a lot better of if people took it upon themselves to look before they just ask.

^This would solve a heck of a lot of headaches


The root of the problem:

I myself ignore stickies =]

People aren't going to see the stickied "Posting Rules and Guidelines" thread. You must expect that.

 

[twospirits]

As mentioned in this post of mine earlier. These are the sub-forums I suggested to be created. That I know of, the admins are okay with it, not only for the EVO section for for the top 12 biggest forums in AF.
All Things Root
Tips and Tricks
Support and Troubleshooting
Accessories
EVO Reviews

I believe these sections will be completed before the device is sold on June 4th.

The issue Pyro says about many review threads coming will be going in their own (EVO Reviews) section.

But there are forum specific guidelines already establish for this section as well a a bunch of important links to quickly find a specific thread.
The Rumor thread will be un-stickied on June 4th. The same with the Wall paper thread since it will be going the Tips and Tricks section.
The Wimax thread will stay being stickied in this section.

It isn't easy folks, I've tried my best to keep things in line here, but as some have explained, alot of members simply do not search or look at sticky threads to see where stuff is and just post away. With Bek, SprintFun and a few others help I am trying to find a common solution that will benefit and help everyone.



TS

 

[Bek]

Another idea I would like to throw in, is to change the "All Forum Links" thread title to "Don't know where the thread is at, look here first"

TS

I strongly support this. Any way to throw in some key words to make that particular thread jump and be a bit more pertinent to newcomers, would make it more useful.

 

[Bales]

I realize people don't read stickies. I honestly think that its because most of the time people can't find what their looking in the stickies. I think someone should index all the important threads into one super informative post.

I don't really like the idea of too many sub-forums. Splitting into sub-forums can become a bit convoluted. If sub-forums are created I think the fewer the better.

I think the All things Root, and Support sub-forums are necessary. Tips and Tricks, Reviews, and Accessories should be a sticky index.

Edit: Another suggestion I have is more on the technical side of the forums. I think the "Search this Thread" and "Search this Forum" options should be a bit more forthcoming. I don't like how they're off to the side hidden in a drop down. This alone discourages people from using them. If they were somehow a bit more prominent on the page you could avoid duplicate posts.

 

[djdisturbed]

i 2nd this, need to find someway to keep threads that have good info in them up front so that other can get that info and share info (like my apps thread, or the screen protectors thread, accessories thread stuff like that)

 

[gszeman]

Personally, I only look at the active topics when I come to the forums. I figure if it is an active topic, it has something worth looking at. Other than that, if I'm looking for something specific I do a search...which brings me to my suggestion. Make the search function easier/better. Too many times the results of a search are in no way related to what you wanted. It appears that the way the search works here is that it looks for "any" of your search words instead of "all" of your search words. For example, if you search for "can't get adb to work on droid", there will be millions of results because it will pull up any post with adb in it, along with any post with droid in it. I've tried the "adb and droid" way and the "adb + droid" way to no avail. There should be an option to search for all words in search criteria...or if there is, I apologize...i haven't seen it...

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[PyroSporker]

I believe these sections will be completed before the device is sold on June 4th.

The issue Pyro says about many review threads coming will be going in their own (EVO Reviews) section.

But there are forum specific guidelines already establish for this section as well a a bunch of important links to quickly find a specific thread.

It isn't easy folks, I've tried my best to keep things in line here, but as some have explained, alot of members simply do not search or look at sticky threads to see where stuff is and just post away. With Bek, SprintFun and a few others help I am trying to find a common solution that will benefit and help everyone.

TS

I hope my post wasn't misunderstood as being overly critical. You are doing a stand up job TS and have been since the Evo sub-forum was opened. I know it isn't easy, and I know it is a relatively thank-less job (Thank You Sir!). I also know its tough when every John, Dick, and Sally each have their own opinions about how things should be done (I'm John by the way ).

Its tough to not take stuff personally when you are invested in this sub-forum like you are. I remember from work/personal experience similar situations where I have misunderstood and mis-taken things. It's easy to do, and hard to see happening from first person view. I know if I was in your shoes, I would have a difficult time with it.

If there was something tangible I could do to help, I would, (I guess posting in here might be a bit of a help & not spouting off negativity all over the forum helps). I wish I had some answers though. Like we are all saying in here, the toughest thing is planning for the lowest common denominator user that just come and go as they please and don't bother to research or put more than one thought into their posts.

Like you say, if we can find a way to work with these users and have a common solution that will benefit and help out everyone, things would be super around here.

 

[SprintFun]

I think I'm going to prewrite some standard message to post in response to every "What appz do you guys gots?!?" and "omgz this phone suckzzzz"

 

[mkampy]

Personally, I only look at the active topics when I come to the forums. I figure if it is an active topic, it has something worth looking at. Other than that, if I'm looking for something specific I do a search...which brings me to my suggestion. Make the search function easier/better. Too many times the results of a search are in no way related to what you wanted. It appears that the way the search works here is that it looks for "any" of your search words instead of "all" of your search words. For example, if you search for "can't get adb to work on droid", there will be millions of results because it will pull up any post with adb in it, along with any post with droid in it. I've tried the "adb and droid" way and the "adb + droid" way to no avail. There should be an option to search for all words in search criteria...or if there is, I apologize...i haven't seen it...

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

Try using the quotes when you search for something specific. Especially if you are looking for something with a short name, like say EVO.

Also, you can use the go advanced option on search, and you can narrow down which forum to search, whether or not to look at titles only...


@twospirits, maybe include a search how to somewhere prominent?