Questions for MEMBERS About Forum Category Changes

[Forum Boss]

Folks, I'd like some feedback on a possible Forum topic category tweak. We've noticed that a high percentage of posts in the "Main Message" category are gear questions. Therefore we are considering doing two things:

1. Moving "Gear Talk: What to Buy..." to the end of the Top Level section.

2. Merging the Rimfire sub-category into "Small Stuff". The reason for doing this is to ensure that the "Marketplace" section is still visible without scrolling. Currently the Rimfire category is one of the less-busy topic areas.

Q1: Would you like seeing "Gear Talk" in the "Top Level" zone? Or do you think people will continue to simply post all their gear questions in the first (general category)?

Q2: Another possibility is moving "Gear Talk" into the Marketplace area. But I think that might confuse people. Right now Marketplace contains only classifieds and WTB listings. What do you think about putting "Gear Talk" in Marketplace?

Pistol Stuff
We know there are a lot of guys who shoot precision handguns such as the bolt-action XP100s.
Q3: Would you like to see a "Precision Handgun" section? This would be at the bottom of the main page, below the gunsmithing area.

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Comment: We are very reluctant to make changes, because we don't what to go the route of some Forums which have zillions of categories, requiring a lot of up/down scrolling.

 

[dreever]

In regard to question number one you could try that but as you said it might not make a difference and people will still post gear questions in the first catagory.

Question number two: I would definately not move it into the market place section which should remain WTS/WTB.

Question number three: I would avoid a Precision Handgun section as it will end up being overrun by semi auto (Glock etc.) questions.

I agree that to many catagories just muddle things up.

Danny

 

[Forum Boss]

Question number two: I would definitely NOT move it into the market place section which should remain WTS/WTB. -- Danny

I'm leaning to your view on this point Danny. Leave it classifieds only for simplicity.

But I do want to hear what other forum members think...

 

[T 700]

Leave it the way it is, It's worked this long. If it is not broke don't fix it!! Just my .02 cents worth.

 

[LRPV]

I wouldn't put anything else in the classifieds as I feel they are a muddled mess now with the amount of people that don't know you can put almost all of the description for an item in the subject line. I sometimes wonder which section to post questions in and some of the sections don't seem to get a lot of traffic. When I first joined, I very rarely went into the "main message board" area, but now it's just my first stop on my way down the list.
Jason

 

[Nodak7mm]

In regard to question number one you could try that but as you said it might not make a difference and people will still post gear questions in the first catagory.

Question number two: I would definately not move it into the market place section which should remain WTS/WTB.

Question number three: I would avoid a Precision Handgun section as it will end up being overrun by semi auto (Glock etc.) questions.

I agree that to many catagories just muddle things up.

Danny

Pretty much on board with Danny.. With the following additional points made.

* Do not add a pistol section, unecessary as this is a acurracy site with subforums broken down by caliber. The types of precision pistols are chambered in those calibers anyhow... Stay focused on the Precision Accuracy premise.

* I think the main reason Gear Posts are place in the main section, is: It gets the most traffic and most of those posts are by newer members not familar with the board format....

& x10, too many catagories muddle it up..

Like T700 says, aint broke, dont fix it.. Maybe just lay the law down a little bit and move the post to the appropriate forum..

My .02

Rod

 

[Flybuster]

It seemed funny that gear reviews and questions is clear at the bottom, I usually forget to check them.

Maybe to conserve space and allow the market place to be visible you could consolidate gunsmithing and what to buy under one new heading, but have three different sub forums (optics, gear and gunsmithing). Placing this new consolidated section in the top level forum where everyone looks. Leaving market place at the bottom, the market place/classified ad side bar is a great feature I use the most.

Then to shrink the top level forum, like you said combine 22, 20, 17 cal with rimfire, or make rimfire a subforum of 22, 20,17 cal.

 

[Forum Boss]

I think the main reason Gear Posts are place in the main section, is: It gets the most traffic and most of those posts are by newer members not familar with the board format....

& x10, too many catagories muddle it up... Rod

Rod, thanks for your wise comments. It would be nice if the repetitive "What Gear should I buy" threads all found their way to the Gear talk section, and people understand that's where gear discussions should be. That would help consolidate the collective wisdom on gear matters.

 

[nhm16]

It seems to me that the volume of posts in Optics seemed to go way down after it was made a sub-forum of Gear Talk, which nesting a forum too deep will kill it.

 

[Flybuster]

It seems to me that the volume of posts in Optics seemed to go way down after it was made a sub-forum of Gear Talk, which nesting a forum too deep will kill it.

That's a good point, but maybe optics, gear and gunsmithing will get more volume again if that section is placed higher on the screen. Like I said, I forget to even check them because of it being low on the screen, and lack of participation makes it slow. I understand what you mean though, the more clicks the viewer has to make to get to a place the less traffic it will get, so sub forums could create an issue.

 

[Forum Boss]

It's a conundrum, because if we move Gear Talk and/or Gunsmithing categories into the top area, then that pushes down the Marketplace, possibly below the "fold". Out of sight, out of mind....

We don't want to shrink the fonts or topic separation.

Most sites have more categories, but it's been very clear that our guys don't like to scroll down the page.

 

[okedoke]

boss , i came to this site for rifles, stocks, calibers, scopes & mainly for knowledge of presision shooting. I like things the way they are but if you want to move sites around, that's O- KAY . Also i am aware of our pistol loving members myself included, so i look at 8-9 magazines each month & see plenty of news about the latest GLOCK, SIIG,FN,1911, x 15,000 plus a few wheel guns . this site is great already, try not to add more & maybe just move things around a-little . good luck and take care craig

 

[Forum Boss]

boss , i came to this site for rifles, stocks, calibers, scopes & mainly for knowledge of presision shooting. I like things the way they are but if you want to move sites around, that's O- KAY. Try not to add more & maybe just move things around a-little -- Craig

Roger that, Craig. I think you've given good advice.

 

[Outrider27]

I'm with Danny and T700. I don't think it needs fixing; I've learned to find my way around now - if you change it, I'll probably get lost. ;D

 

[243Mendoza]

I would vote against putting 'Gear Talk' in the 'Marketplace' since, as you said, it would be confusing. I would subdivide it further, e.g. rifles actions and stocks and sights.

I would put the highest traffic topics at the top of the list.

P.S. The scope list has lost a significant amount of traffic since the last change and that has been the topic of most interest to me and think that change has been detrimental.

 

[gary0529]

I am of the mind to leave well enough alone.

On the issue of pistols- don't think they belong in here. There are plenty of other sites to hash out those things.

Just my $.02

Gary

 

[leakeyjohn]

Folks, I'd like some feedback on a possible Forum topic category tweak. We've noticed that a high percentage of posts in the "Main Message" category are gear questions. Therefore we are considering doing two things:

1. Moving "Gear Talk: What to Buy..." to the end of the Top Level section.

2. Merging the Rimfire sub-category into "Small Stuff". The reason for doing this is to ensure that the "Marketplace" section is still visible without scrolling. Currently the Rimfire category is one of the less-busy topic areas.

Q1: Would you like seeing "Gear Talk" in the "Top Level" zone? Or do you think people will continue to simply post all their gear questions in the first (general category)?

Q2: Another possibility is moving "Gear Talk" into the Marketplace area. But I think that might confuse people. Right now Marketplace contains only classifieds and WTB listings. What do you think about putting "Gear Talk" in Marketplace?

Pistol Stuff
We know there are a lot of guys who shoot precision handguns such as the bolt-action XP100s.
Q3: Would you like to see a "Precision Handgun" section? This would be at the bottom of the main page, below the gunsmithing area.

----

Comment: We are very reluctant to make changes, because we don't what to go the route of some Forums which have zillions of categories, requiring a lot of up/down scrolling.

My only comment is please leave the rimfire section where it is, I read it daily more than others, althogh I read others alot.

 

[br1111]

Folks, I'd like some feedback on a possible Forum topic category tweak. We've noticed that a high percentage of posts in the "Main Message" category are gear questions. Therefore we are considering doing two things:

1. Moving "Gear Talk: What to Buy..." to the end of the Top Level section.

2. Merging the Rimfire sub-category into "Small Stuff". The reason for doing this is to ensure that the "Marketplace" section is still visible without scrolling. Currently the Rimfire category is one of the less-busy topic areas.

Q1: Would you like seeing "Gear Talk" in the "Top Level" zone? Or do you think people will continue to simply post all their gear questions in the first (general category)?

Q2: Another possibility is moving "Gear Talk" into the Marketplace area. But I think that might confuse people. Right now Marketplace contains only classifieds and WTB listings. What do you think about putting "Gear Talk" in Marketplace?

Pistol Stuff
We know there are a lot of guys who shoot precision handguns such as the bolt-action XP100s.
Q3: Would you like to see a "Precision Handgun" section? This would be at the bottom of the main page, below the gunsmithing area.

----

Comment: We are very reluctant to make changes, because we don't what to go the route of some Forums which have zillions of categories, requiring a lot of up/down scrolling.

Boss, i thank you so much for this site. whatever you do to make it better for you and the site let it be so. i will adapt to whatever change you feel necessary. this site is part of my life every single day. thank you again

 

[snert]

I am an outlier. I strongly think a SPECIALTY Pistol sub-forum is warranted. A.S is a specialty forum already, in that it focuses on high end accuracy, high knowledge topics, and is not the run of the mill "My Glock is better than your Glock" forum- style. Specialty Pistols gets lost on those forums by simply being overrun by the "great unwashed". I would cherish the opportunity to learn more about XP, Merrills, TC, etc pistols that are accurate...Like in the title, Accurate Shooter".

That said, I also don't chase the "reviews of products" subforum at all. Maybe I am old school to a fault. So I don't have that need. I do, however, hit the 20 and under forum and the rimfire forum daily, and like it separate. But if it needed to be together (data data data) I could live with it, I think.

So, calling all specialty pistols guys...in the spirit of 6mm BR (a niche topic in the day...) let's hear it for hand cannons!

 

[Murray Brook]

2012