[WAY OFF TOPIC] Title changes

[fRequEnCy]

To all admins, mods, elite members, and members,

I would like to organize a few things in the forums. One thing I would like to do is change the title of the topic to [sOLVED] Name of topic when it has been solved. This helps us know if the issues were resolved while giving support. It also helps the user know the status if they have a similar issue. Sometimes topics get overlooked and users don't get the support they are hoping for. This will help in some manner. I have seen this in many other forums and hoping to see it here as well. Also would like titles like [NEWS], [OFF TOPIC] or [OT], etc. to categorize the post and make it easier to deal with by users and by us senior members. I have only done a few this way but wanted your input on it before I continue. Thank you!

[ehuonder]

I can't say that I'm a frequent user of Forums, but I think changing the title with flags does make it easier to look back at the posts. Didn't you JUST become a moderator??? Already trying to enforce change? Congrats and thanks!

How do we change the Title? or is this only a feature for the Admins/moderators?

[fRequEnCy]

I can't say that I'm a frequent user of Forums, but I think changing the title with flags does make it easier to look back at the posts. Didn't you JUST become a moderator??? Already trying to enforce change? Congrats and thanks!

How do we change the Title? or is this only a feature for the Admins/moderators?

LOL. Yes. Thanks. I think it just organizes a little and helps with keywords in searching. Yes a title can only be changed by an admin or moderator unfortunately. Would be nice if a user can change the title of their own topic as well. This is just the beginning. Since only a mod and not an admin I still would like to see some changes but that will be at a different time.

Not so much enforcing change but suggesting. If was only enforcing then I wouldn't be asking for input from users.

[Draco1962]

LOL. Yes. Thanks. I think it just organizes a little and helps with keywords in searching. Yes a title can only be changed by an admin or moderator unfortunately. Would be nice if a user can change the title of their own topic as well. This is just the beginning. Since only a mod and not an admin I still would like to see some changes but that will be at a different time.

Not so much enforcing change but suggesting. If was only enforcing then I wouldn't be asking for input from users.

Is it possbile to "merge" some of the 269 threads into others? We have quite a few referencing emulators, wrappers, registration, themes, new GameEx version releases, etc. And, if possible, would doing so break the links making reference to threads or replies within or could the links be redirected to the new location?

[fRequEnCy]

Is it possbile to "merge" some of the 269 threads into others? We have quite a few referencing emulators, wrappers, registration, themes, new GameEx version releases, etc. And, if possible, would doing so break the links making reference to threads or replies within or could the links be redirected to the new location?

Yes Merging is possible. As far as links, i'm not sure how that would work. It may or may not break the location. We'll wait for an answer on that one from a more seasoned member.

[Brian Hoffman]

LOL. Yes. Thanks. I think it just organizes a little and helps with keywords in searching. Yes a title can only be changed by an admin or moderator unfortunately. Would be nice if a user can change the title of their own topic as well. This is just the beginning. Since only a mod and not an admin I still would like to see some changes but that will be at a different time.

Not so much enforcing change but suggesting. If was only enforcing then I wouldn't be asking for input from users.

I like the idea, so I changed the MEMBERS group to be able to edit topic and description fields of thier own posts.

This should enable users to edit their topic to [solved] or correct misspellings etc..

Lets give it a go and see how it is received.

-Brian

As far as the merging of threads go, it is really up to the users interpretation if it should be merged or not and I believe it should be the responsibility of familiar users mod or higher privileges.

[fRequEnCy]

I like the idea, so I changed the MEMBERS group to be able to edit topic and description fields of thier own posts.

This should enable users to edit their topic to [solved] or correct misspellings etc..

Lets give it a go and see how it is received.

-Brian

As far as the merging of threads go, it is really up to the users interpretation if it should be merged or not and I believe it should be the responsibility of familiar users mod or higher privileges.

Nice! Thanks Brian. Maybe not so much of merging threads unless their submissions but maybe have subforums so that things can be grouped together. This would keep things organized for the most part.

[bkenobi]

Subforums can help keep things organized. I'd be wary about dividing things up too much. If things are split up too much, we may/will lose users IMO.

[Brian Hoffman]

Subforums can help keep things organized. I'd be wary about dividing things up too much. If things are split up too much, we may/will lose users IMO.

I don't think we would lose any users, it would really make things more organized. However with so many years of posts mixed together it would be a really daunting task.

[fRequEnCy]

I don't think we would lose any users, it would really make things more organized. However with so many years of posts mixed together it would be a really daunting task.

I agree. But gotta start somewhere. LOL. Maybe I was just being hopeful.

[Draco1962]

I agree. But gotta start somewhere. LOL. Maybe I was just being hopeful.

I changed a recent post to show [THEMES] in the title regarding a graphic I uploaded for Screen Resolutions and Aspect Ratio classes. I could see us using other headings such as [EMUS] for broad emulator threads, [MAME], [MESS], [DAPHNE], etc. for specific emus, [ATARI 8-BIT], [N64], [AMIGA], [GAMECUBE], [ATARI 2600] for specific systems.

Having been a Sysop of a very active BBS a number of years ago, I know the difficulty of trying to setup forums for specific conversations or topics and "convincing" users to stick to them. So you just use best judgment, move things if/as you can to the correct area, kill the thread if it goes way off topic or becomes a flame fest, etc. when gentle nudging doesn't work.

For the most part, this community is pretty good about policing itself and embracing change!

.:.EDIT - I went through and edited my thread titles. For the most part, I try to "color within the lines" but what s life without a little non-conformity!

[Tempest]

If you kill threads that go off topic, we are all screwed. Well at least I will be.

[Draco1962]

If you kill threads that go off topic, we are all screwed. Well at least I will be.

Instead of killing, how about a gentle clubbing? The baby seals don't seem to mind it much...

[fRequEnCy]

If you kill threads that go off topic, we are all screwed. Well at least I will be.

LOL. Yeah! We wouldn't have much fun in that case as a lot of stuff is way off topic that is posted in these forums. That's not only by you my friend! It's ok to have fun but we have to remember this is a support forum. So now that we can change the names to [Off Topic] or something then we can at least know support is not needed there. That's why I really wish people would take more advantage of the Chat system. We could talk "Off Topic" more there without it affecting the forums.

[Draco1962]

LOL. Yeah! We wouldn't have much fun in that case as a lot of stuff is way off topic that is posted in these forums. That's not only by you my friend! It's ok to have fun but we have to remember this is a support forum. So now that we can change the names to [Off Topic] or something then we can at least know support is not needed there. That's why I really wish people would take more advantage of the Chat system. We could talk "Off Topic" more there without it affecting the forums.

Or you can create a thread...

[fRequEnCy]

Or you can create a thread...

That too! LOL. Wouldn't it be nice if all OT stayed there? LOL.

[Draco1962]

That too! LOL. Wouldn't it be nice if all OT stayed there? LOL.

You mean it can't? All nice and orderly like? Only sticking to the subject at hand? Where General Chaos and Major Mayhem are names of game characters and not the norm? Flame wars are same-sex couples fights instead of spats between those whose typos and misspellings in their quickness to scrap it out with another user only bespeaks of their lack of control and education? I could go on and on...

...but then I awaken to find myself here in REALITY. Crudely dragged out my bed and wonderful dreamland of dull... LOL

[fRequEnCy]

You mean it can't? All nice and orderly like? Only sticking to the subject at hand? Where General Chaos and Major Mayhem are names of game characters and not the norm? Flame wars are same-sex couples fights instead of spats between those whose typos and misspellings in their quickness to scrap it out with another user only bespeaks of their lack of control and education? I could go on and on...

...but then I awaken to find myself here in REALITY. Crudely dragged out my bed and wonderful dreamland of dull... LOL

Dang! That was mouthful. LOL. I'm pretty sure it can't as we can see that my thread is being derailed pretty quickly. LOL.

[Draco1962]

Dang! That was mouthful. LOL. I'm pretty sure it can't as we can see that my thread is being derailed pretty quickly. LOL.

I can sleep soundly now that my work here is done!

[headkaze]

[WHILE] [WE'RE] [AT] [iT] [WHY] [NOT] [GO] [CRAZY]?

Seriously though I have seen this type of thing been done on other forums. Personally not a big fan, but happy to give it a try

[fRequEnCy]

[WHILE] [WE'RE] [AT] [iT] [WHY] [NOT] [GO] [CRAZY]?

Seriously though I have seen this type of thing been done on other forums. Personally not a big fan, but happy to give it a try

LOL. I was only hoping for a few like [sOLVED],[NEWS],[OFF TOPIC]. This can get out of hand. LOL. But if we had subforums then only a couple would be needed as things would be organized in their respective sections.

[headkaze]

Perhaps it is time to add an Off Topic forum? I'm sure there would be alot more chat from the regulars if there was. Tom?

[Draco1962]

It has been my experience that you are going to have off-topic banter occur no matter what. It is the same dynamic that exists on the job. People are gregarious, social animals. As they obtain a comfort level with the personalities around them, they tend to joke more, or express something as an aside to the discussion that they feel another may be interested in.

We have a great dynamic here. While I like things all nice and orderly, as I alluded to in my farce a few posts ago, that is not the real world. Most of the forums that are failures or languishing IMHO are because they are overly regimented, too orderly, to the point of squashing any creative conversation.

It is out of that creativity that enhancement requests are born, interest is elevated, and the software evolves. GameEx is in it's 11th+ version. How many of the other FEs can say that? How many other FEs can boast the amount of enthusiasm in their userbase? From what I have observed, not many. This product evolves and matures with its users. The openness of the forum and freedom from over-regulation of the conversations encourages new users to ask questions and contribute without fear of reprisal for posting in the wrong thread or humiliation for asking the same questions that have been asked since version 1.0.

OK <SOAP BOX MODE: OFF> for now. I know we have a great bunch of moderators and admins with pretty level heads and the right decisions will follow (well, there is that Tempest dude... not so sure about him... ).

[fRequEnCy]

OK <SOAP BOX MODE: OFF> for now. I know we have a great bunch of moderators and admins with pretty level heads and the right decisions will follow (well, there is that Tempest dude... not so sure about him... ).

[headkaze]

Never thought of my head as being level and pretty