Forum Format Changes

[Forum Boss]

Guys,

You may have noticed there have been changes to the Forum.

1. Previously, one could view the Forum within the frame of the "editorial" side of the site. This did give one access to the navigation tools, but it was pretty narrow,600 pixels max), and this necessitated sideways scrolling when people posted large photos.

I've "de-linked" the smaller version of the Forum. Now there is only a link to what we've been calling the "Full-screen Forum". From what I can tell, this larger, wider format is much preferred by users.

However, if I do hear screaming and moaning, I can revive the old narrow format as an alternative.

2. Over on the right, we've created a new vertical portal. In this area I can put polls, photos, General notices etc.

I've purchased a polling module that's pretty cool. It allows one to "vote for the picture".

3. As time goes by, I can create multiple picture-polls. A different poll will display randomly each time you log in. That, I'm hoping, will add some spice to the Forum.

TROUBLE-SHOOTING: Please, if anybody is having display problems, just let me know at mailbox@6mmBR.com . I've tested this on two computers and four different browsers and it seems to be working OK.

But, two things you need to know:

A. The polling software uses javascript. If you have deactivated java, it won't work for you.

B. The poll results do display in a separate pop-up window. You may find that your pop-up blocker intercepts this. With Firefox and I-Explorer the results show up fine for me, but I notice that, with Opera browser I have to confirm that I want the pop-up window to appear. NOTE: if you click the text link at the bottom of the poll "View Results" that should over-ride a pop-up blocker.

----
About the Old "Small-Screen Forum".

Nobody has asked me to maintain the old format. But I know there are some guys out there on laptops.

If you have a narrow screen, just drag the lower right corner of your browser window to the left. You'll see that the Forum shrinks to the left and you can see all the threads etc. in about 810 pixels.

That should be narrow enough for everybody, and it is still 200 pixels wider than before.

 

[EdwinD]

The more I use the "new format" the better I like it!!!!!!!!!

Thanks,

Edwin D.

 

[Forum Boss]

Edwin,

Glad you like it. We've always had the full-width version. Now we're just taking a definitive step in that direction. Bigger is better I guess. If people want some navigation tools from the main editorial side, I can put buttons on the right.

Also, if you like the polls, you'll get a new poll each time you load the page--just hit the PAGE RELOAD/Refresh button:

 

[DesertLefty]

Arghhh! How about a poll on whether or not we like polls? A "meta-poll", get it?

I would prefer to have such clutter isolated either at the top or bottom of the page. Even with a big screen,24") it is visually distracting.

The old full-screen forum was better for me.

As always, the opinions expressed above are just my cranky 2 cents worth. YMMV,

Lefty

P.S. With all the crackpot opinions floating around here, the forums are plenty "spicy" already...

P.P.S. After studying it for all of 10 seconds, I've concluded that the poll results will be meaningless. For example, "What's your preferred scope?" Well, that depends. What's the application? What's the budget? etc., etc. Hmmm. Let's see: For $2500 I can have a Leupold on top of a custom rifle, or I can have a USO and no rifle. Gee, I like Leupold... These topics are better debated at length in the forums, where there's room to explore the different dimensions of the problem and the tradeoffs.

P.P.P.S. Keep up the good work. You're the best.

 

[Asa_Yam]

P.P.S. After studying it for all of 10 seconds, I've concluded that the poll results will be meaningless. For example, "What's your preferred scope?" Well, that depends. What's the application? What's the budget? etc., etc. Hmmm. Let's see: For $2500 I can have a Leupold on top of a custom rifle, or I can have a USO and no rifle. Gee, I like Leupold... These topics are better debated at length in the forums, where there's room to explore the different dimensions of the problem and the tradeoffs.

Yes. Some of us rarely shoot with scopes. And also rarely off a bench.

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

I would prefer to have such clutter isolated either at the top or bottom of the page. Even with a big screen,24") it is visually distracting.

The old full-screen forum was better for me.

As always, the opinions expressed above are just my cranky 2 cents worth. YMMV,

I would have to agree. I dont care for the column down the side, and it leaves a bunch of unused space beneath the poll.

I prefer the forums be as wide as possible, so this poll concept would be better if it were across the page at the top.

JMO.

 

[jb77]

I like the new format. But the polls would be better if they would close after voting and we could have the full screen for the forum.

But all in all i like this much better.

Great job!

 

[Forum Boss]

Some things to keep in mind.

#1 the strip on the right can be used for a variety of things. The polls are just one initial option that potentially can be a very powerful interactive tool,see below). In that space I can also post general announcements, Forum FAQ link, Links to Shooting Organizations, thumbnail images, or buttons that activate features from the main site,such as the calendar or articles archive).

#2 So far, people are voting, so it looks like there is quite a bit of interest. Keep in mind that 10% of the visitors to the Forum are responsible for 90% of the posts. Some of the most talented shooters who visit the board regularly tell me they read a lot but rarely post. The polls give the "quiet" forum members a chance to add their "two cents" without the obligation of posting. A poll may give a better sense of what people are really thinking than a thread which may be dominated by a few,but very outspoken) members.

#3 Most of the latest versions of stand-alone forum software are using space on the left/right for some kind of contact management or content display. This will give me some ability to use that area for a whole variety of things. The vast majority of our readers are running 1024x768 pixels or higher. I think that still leaves plenty of the room in the main area--it would still be 864 pixels wide--which should be plenty.

#4 The picture polls can really be an powerful tool for forum members to voice their opinions. Say, for example, a company is working on a new stock, and has various prototypes. The "community" can vote on which stock they like best. Or the same thing could be done with choices of reticles.

- - -

I like the idea of a poll that would close once the vote is taken. I will raise this with the programmers--no guarantees though. I think even if we can get the poll to disappear, the side column would remain.

 

[Forum Boss]

I know some of you guys think the polls may be a bit obtrusive, but personally, I've found some of the results surprising and fascinating.

So far on the Battle of the Sexes poll, not one respondent say "Men had more natural ability". 40% said women were innately better, while 60% said gender didn't matter.

I found the "NAME your GAME" poll very interesting. Initial results show a much more diverse group of shooters than I had expected. For me, this validates our editorial "mix" on the website:

 

[TonyA]

Have fun with it. I'll just stick to the front page. The strength of this site does not lie in the forums. The Daily Bulletin is nice, you have some useful information. Cartridge Info is a one shot deal to me, no pun intended. I'd like to see you get back to the Gun of the Week. Make it a Gun of the Month or something. At least then you see the info you're getting is from someone that's actually out there doing it and not just someone that likes to talk.

I'm just your average joe. Not a BR shooter. My biggest competition is myself. I don't even own a custom gun. I just try to get the guns I do own and myself to shoot their best. In my opinion, it takes too much time to sift through the BS on the net to find useful information. What you have out front, I've found to be stuff you can believe and rely on. What goes on in here, outside of from yourself and a couple others, I'm not so sure about and am not going to take the time to figure it out. I'd rather be at the bench or shooting.

Thanks for what you do,
Tony

 

[Forum Boss]

Tony, I appreciate your comments. I'm hoping to ramp up the Guns of the Week again. There are 4 nice features in the pipeline right now. Hope to release a Don Neilson story on his 600-yd Nationals winning 6.5x47 Lapua within a day or two.

The goal is to keep the "front page" content flowing. The challenge is time. 20 hours a week goes into the Bulletin as I'm doing it 7 days a week. Another 10-14 hours a week is dedicated to responding to reader emails.

If we can continue to grow the site, that opens up the opportunity to get some active hired help which can permit me to get back to the major stories. Right now, increasing Forum activity is the path of least resistance to boosting traffic.

I should say this about the Cartridge Guides--they may be of limited import to you, but those articles are the most popular elements on this web site, by an order of magnitude over the Guns of the Week, so plainly they'll remain a high priority.

But I'm going to have to figure out a way to clone myself or find more than 24 hours in a day. What people want,4 major stories a month, Daily Blog, 6000-word Cartridge Guides, multi-product comparison tests, and same-day responses to dozens of reader questions) would be a hard task for three people--even if somehow all the bills paid themselves--and you've got one guy,without a paycheck) trying to do it all.

Written at 2:58 am,

Mr. Moderator
:comp:

 

[NorCalMikie]

Paul: Whatever you're doing, you're doing it right. This is "The Best" place for info! Thanks for all your work. :thumb: Mike.

P.S. You want input and suggestions? Get some sleep!