Phone Sections: Sub-forums vs Prefixes vs Nothing

[Jacki1008]

I prefer Option 1- things as they are currently. For me, it has made this site so user-friendly and one of the things that differentiates these forums from others.

 

[Frisco]

I prefer Option 1- things as they are currently. For me, it has made this site so user-friendly and one of the things that differentiates these forums from others.

I sure agree with that.

It is the style of forum that takes consistent monitoring and maintenance to keep it going. It's a bit harder than just allowing a big generic area where requests for help are mixed in with banter and discussion about updates, etc. But the result over time is growing to be a structured, reliable source for Android users, many of which have little or no "geek factor" and only a question about their new phone.

We need to have places where those questions belong. We need to keep the place in order for them.

 

[Kelmar]

I agree with TS (forgot to quote him) Option 3 is NOT AN OPTION! I remember when we didn't have subforums...oh yeah...there are still phone forums that don't have subforums. It was a PITA to navigate through. I don't want to read about rooting or what case and I have to thread through a number of threads bypassing what I don't want to read to find threads I DO want.

They (subforums) have their benefit, but if we decide to keep the current method I think we need to not have subforums within subforums (if that makes sense).

 

[johnlgalt]

However, having side by side forums for All things root and ROMs is, well, not really kosher either. I mean, can you install an alternate ROM without rooting?

 

[NightAngel79]

That's one of the roles of the guides

WAit... what are our other roles?

I'm a fan of option 2, personally.



Keep the feedback coming!

2 definitely has some possibilities, leaning more towards sticking with 1 though

Option 3 is not an option. It will bring us back to the very same chaos we tried to eliminate in the first place (which resulted in creating sub-forums) to keep things organized.
TS

+9999999999999999999

Edit: Phases, do you think it would be a good idea to copy this thread into the Lounge forum as well as Android Lounge forum so that people who never scroll all the way down here can also voice their opinion (those would probably be a larger majority compared to people who check this suggestions/feedback one)?

Great idea about lounge. Would get an insane more amount of views/feedback


Honestly i would like to see the a possible blend of 1 and 2. The way i see it is if users are not gonna take the time to check out their respective phone's support section to see if they can answer anyone's question they most likely aren't gonna bother with the sort option either. Without sorting then maybe they see a newly posted support question and maybe they jump in and help.

Stick with one but make it mandatory to 'tag' every new thread. Maybe some still get tagged wrong and maybe some still need moved, but if i can search for a certain tag (tips, support, root, accessory) in the general section i only see that as making AF more user friendly

 

[bluenova]

Phases, do you know how option 2 would effect the Phandroid app?

 

[Frisco]

Phases, do you know how option 2 would effect the Phandroid app?

I was wondering about Phandroid app development, too, in relation to proposed changes in the structure of the site.

A lot of work has gone into that app, not to mention all the sub-forum creations in the device forums (mostly, all? by Phases, I gather).

It'll be interesting to see how this all turns out.

 

[Kelmar]

However, having side by side forums for All things root and ROMs is, well, not really kosher either. I mean, can you install an alternate ROM without rooting?

That, IMO, would be the exception.

However Troubleshooting/Tips/Root all under General is where I think people get confused. The XDA method of having the phone THEN forums for the phone is very beneficial in my mind.

 

[Frisco]

The XDA method of having the phone THEN forums for the phone is very beneficial in my mind.

Well I'll sure give you that; the XDA cluster does have a smooth navigation experience, especially for a place so vast.

The AF scheme, as it is, however, seems like a work in progress that could be just as good as XDA, in its differences. They're good/We're good in a different way.

Stuff like that.

 

[ScorpDX]

I say option 1. Just because as annoying as it is already to see threads in the wrong forum it's going to get 10x worse trying to decipher prefixes that aren't right because of user error!

 

[Frisco]

I say option 1. Just because as annoying as it is already to see threads in the wrong forum it's going to get 10x worse trying to decipher prefixes that aren't right because of user error!

+1

This:

General
Root
ROMs
Themes
Hacks
..etc. <--------- scarey

 

[Frisco]

Most of the frustration over the current system is probably about moving threads begun in the wrong area.

To me, the solution to that is member education. Stickies with reminders about not posting queries in Tips and Tricks, etc, don't seem to work.

I've been occasionally including a kind reminder in a post following a move. I have not done that on a regular basis, but I'm thinking that if it were done as a matter of policy, perhaps with a set spiel agreed to by Moderators/Phases, etc, it could be effective.

"Your thread has been moved from the Tips and Tricks area, where discovered tips and remedies, etc are to be posted to share with other users of the device, to the Support area, where questions belong." Something like that.

What's being proposed, the options other than #1, seem to throw out the baby with the bath water, in my opinion.

 

[StoneDeCroze]

I prefer some sort of organised layout, one single forum with everything in is just a mess. Even the smaller forums I frequent have some sort of structure. In fact most don't have the top level at all, everything HAS to go into a subforum. That makes people think about where they post things.

I also wish that people would use the search facility before posting the 42nd variation of a particular question! However, that's highly unlikely to happen

 

[lekky]

Number 2.

The reason being number 1 isn't working. Mods and guides spend an inordinate amount of their time moving threads to the correct section. It's not helping anyone.

Number 2 would make everyones life more pleasant.

 

[reinbeau]

Most of the frustration over the current system is probably about moving threads begun in the wrong area.

To me, the solution to that is member education. Stickies with reminders about not posting queries in Tips and Tricks, etc, don't seem to work.

I've been occasionally including a kind reminder in a post following a move. I have not done that on a regular basis, but I'm thinking that if it were done as a matter of policy, perhaps with a set spiel agreed to by Moderators/Phases, etc, it could be effective.

"Your thread has been moved from the Tips and Tricks area, where discovered tips and remedies, etc are to be posted to share with other users of the device, to the Support area, where questions belong." Something like that.

What's being proposed, the options other than #1, seem to throw out the baby with the bath water, in my opinion.

I think Frisco has nailed it - Member Education. They need to be taught to think before they post. So, in away, the prefixes along with leaving the structure would be a way to give them that education. Make them think before they hit the post button. I'm sure it will cut down on the number of moves that have to be made.

And I just gotta ask - what the heck is 'Updates & Cupcakes'? Awful lot of threads getting moved out of there....

 

[Frisco]

And I just gotta ask - what the heck is 'Updates & Cupcakes'? Awful lot of threads getting moved out of there....

I move threads to the area where I think the OP can get the most help, if it's a query. A high percentage of the time, posts in U&C are device specific and need to be seen by that device's users, so are moved to that forum, even though they are often update related.

 

[Xyro]

I see it as a bit of a redundant section.

If people are talking about up and coming android firmware, chances are they'll be discussing news in the android news section. If they're discussing firmware they're using/upgrading to, it's usually device specific.

 

[twospirits]

Number 2.

The reason being number 1 isn't working. Mods and guides spend an inordinate amount of their time moving threads to the correct section. It's not helping anyone.

Number 2 would make everyones life more pleasant.

Although I already changed my vote to # 2 in the poll, this statement makes me once again wonder what happens when a poster selects the wrong category from the drop down list. Wouldn't the staff still have to fix it. True it would be less work than whats going on now, but its something to think about.

Also,
Option 3 is not an Option. lol Sorry, Just had to say that again.

TS out

 

[Xyro]

this statement makes me once again wonder what happens when a poster selects the wrong category from the drop down list. Wouldn't the staff still have to fix it. True it would be less work than whats going on now, but its something to think about.

Also,
Option 3 is not an Option. lol Sorry, Just had to say that again.

TS out

Well whether we use #1 or #2 we still have to move threads in the wrong section/label, but at least with the label method you can force people to pick one. That should cut down on people just going straight for the main section for a phone when it should go into a subsection.

 

[Martimus]

I vote for option 1!

In the forums I've been on with definable prefix's, the challenge is in getting everyone on the same page in terms of what each prefix means... and that the use of prefixes must be mandatory and consistent to get any real benefit.

And to further my thought retrofitting option 2 to the forum would, in and of itself, be a painfully daunting task. Unless Phases or the Phandroid developer are planning to write a database query that modifies each entry, someone will have to manually change the prefix on each thread moved from each sub-forum.

And beyond this I'm still concerned that eliminating subforums on the more popular forums will mean that a new users help request will be on page 4 by the end of the day. That will essentially mean that they have to wait for someone to find their thread in a search.

 

[Sweet Chaos]

I feel really weird posting here because I'm a total newbie both to the site and to Android phones, but I'm bored at work so I'm gonna give you my $0.02 anyway =D

Personally, I am a very organized person so the more folders the better, for me. However, I think it should be a combo of 1 and 2. Maybe keep the folders on the really busy areas and just use the prefixes on the slowers one, where it really is not necessary for there to be folders.

Also, I agree with everything Martimus said =)

 

[woop]

One thing about option 1 is, if this is what were going with, we really should be implementing this on ALL device forums. If you put it in later, no one ever uses it (ie. HTC Hero forums). People get accustomed to just posting in the main forum, and when the new subforums are created, they are essentially ignored.

 

[Kelmar]

One thing about option 1 is, if this is what were going with, we really should be implementing this on ALL device forums. If you put it in later, no one ever uses it (ie. HTC Hero forums). People get accustomed to just posting in the main forum, and when the new subforums are created, they are essentially ignored.

Agreed.

 

[lekky]

Option 2 will produce MUCH LESS wrong section posting that option 1.

Think about the reason why people currently post in the wrong section. Its because they jump into the phone section and either dont see the subforums, or not sure where to post so go for hte general option.

If at the time of thread creation, they are forcibly given the option to choose, they are way more likely to pick the right one.


All that equals much less work for mods/guides. It helps newbies who may be confused, and it helps get them answers because people are less likely to reply telling them they have posted inthe wrong section.

 

[davidnmegan6907]

I already posted my opinion ^ but I'm still curious if anyone knows how the other options would affect mobile use?