Suggestions and Feedback

**jamestl2** · 02-19-2008, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vangogh

James I'm not sure links to the stickies would get them read any more than they are now. And like you said those threads aren't relevant to everyone or maybe not relevant at the moment they're signing up. People are going to ask the same questions over and over at forums. It's just how things work.

It was just a random though on my part

. Are there any other possibilities you can think of that could get them read more often?

How about something like when new threads are being created in their respective forums, a notification appears like "Is this thread about PageRank? If so, make sure you've read the 'Toolbar is NOT important' Thread first." (For ones being created in the Google Forum, of course.) If not, I'll work on thinking of some more in the meantime

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vangogh

As far as deleting the threads if no one else has posted in there then sure I don't mind deleting them, but once I've seen a bunch of people already reviewing the site in question I figure it's ok to leave it.

So rules mean nothing to you

In all seriousness though, if the rest of the staff is willing to leave threads that break the rules like that, then maybe a change in the rules is necessary, so to clear up any confusion.

Also, a few members might consider it unfair that their own thread becomes deleted, just because someone reviewed another thread rather than theirs.

But then again most, if not all, probably won't care just because they're new and haven't bothered to read the rules.

**jamestl2** · 02-19-2008, 01:03 AM

One more thing to consider, I recently created a review thread:
http://www.webmaster-talk.com/websit...-feedback.html

But it doesn't belong to me. I didn't see anywhere in the rules that it was specifically against asking for a review of *another* website, so I figured it was OK. If not, feel free to move it to general

.

.......just something to consider for future threads.

**vangogh** · 02-19-2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

How about something like when new threads are being created in their respective forums, a notification appears like "Is this thread about PageRank? If so, make sure you've read the 'Toolbar is NOT important' Thread first."

That's an interesting idea. I'm not sure how easy it would be to code into vBulletin, but the idea is a good one. I won't promise anything, but I'll poke around some and see what might be entailed.

Quote:

So rules mean nothing to you

Nope. I'm a rebel. Rules, what rules?

It's just when I see a few others have already commented I figure it might be useful to someone reading. I also think the thread starter has probably seen the replies anyway at that point.

The 3 review first rule is one I don't mind not being there. I assume it's there because some people ask for a review and then take off quick. Does that happen a lot?

As for your review I have to delete it since I just made up a brand new secret rule that you can only post reviews to someone else's site on the 3rd Friday of any month that follows a month that begins on Wednesday.

I don't think there's anything wrong with asking for a review of someone else's site.

**jamestl2** · 02-19-2008, 09:44 PM

I think in order to do something like this you'd have to create a New Thread phrase, I'm not 100% sure, but I think it'd go something like this:

Go to:
Admin CP > Languages & Phrases > Phrase Manager > Show Thread: Add New Phrase

Then name it something like (for example):
$vbphrase[ToolbarPR]

and link back to the sticky thread, and ask if it relates to it, etc.

then put that phrase ($vbphrase[ToolbarPR]) into the specific newthread forum template (Show Thread).

**vangogh** · 10:41 PM

Interesting. What I was thinking would be hardest would be for vB to know which forum it was in so it would only point out the stickies in that particular forum. I wouldn't want to hard code all the different stickies into the template.

I'm sure everything could be done. The question is how much work is it (Remember I'm a volunteer) and how much changing the template is acceptable before Tim gets mad and hunts me down.

I will take a look at the phrase manager next time I'm on the admin side of things.

By the way I just noticed your user title. Cool, I have a disciple.

**jamestl2** · 02-19-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vangogh

Interesting. What I was thinking would be hardest would be for vB to know which forum it was in so it would only point out the stickies in that particular forum. I wouldn't want to hard code all the different stickies into the template.

Hmmm............
Not sure if that's possible via phrase creation, because I think it applies to every thread created, not just the ones in that particular forum (not saying it isn't possible either, because I'm not sure).

Something like this would require a little more intuitive thinking IMO. Here's something I think you could try playing with (after talking it over with everyone else, of course):

I do think it would be possible to edit just that particular forum if you give it a whole new style. Just copy the one WT is currently using, give it a different name (like "GoogleStyle" or something) and edit the newthread template in this new style.

But the thing to remember here is if Tim decides to update the rest of the forum templates (Why he would though, I have no idea, as it looks great just the way it is), he'd have to update these new styles manually along with it, the only potential downside of this that I can see ATM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vangogh

I'm sure everything could be done. The question is how much work is it (Remember I'm a volunteer) and how much changing the template is acceptable before Tim gets mad and hunts me down.

Good point though, I'd first see what he thinks about this option too; but then again you two are thousands of miles apart, he won't be able to find you

Quote:

Originally Posted by vangogh

I will take a look at the phrase manager next time I'm on the admin side of things.

By the way I just noticed your user title. Cool, I have a disciple.

Inspired by your Blog Mentor post

**jamestl2** · 02-19-2008, 11:55 PM

Actually, after dabbling around for a little while, (and more worth it, in the long run), you could also try adding a conditional to the newthread.php section. I don't have much experience with them, but I think they'd be something like this. Open up the newthread.php file, and paste in a conditional statement:

Code:

<if condition="$forumid == (Whatever the Google Forum's ID is)">
Have you read the Toolbar PR thread yet?
</if>

Or use this:

Code:

<if condition="in_array($forumid, array(X,Y,Z))">
Have you read the Toolbar PR thread yet?
</if>

With X, Y, Z, etc. representing the different forum ID's. So you could have it in Google, SEO, and whatever other forums you'd want them in.

Then create a new conditional statement to include the other notifications, like website reviews rules, different thread notifications, etc.

This way, only the specific Forums would view this message, I believe these methods should work

.

**vangogh** · 02-20-2008, 06:53 PM

I think that might work. It sounds plausible anyway. Hopefully some other mods will chime in here with their ideas about this. If not I'll bring it up somewhere they'll more likely notice.

One thing I'm thinking is it could be annoying to always see the reminder for reading the stickies every time you attempt to start a new thread. I know if I wasn't posting a new thread about PR I wouldn't want to be reminded to read it. I also think message or no we'll still get more threads started with PR questions. I think we could redirect some people to that thread with a big flashing warning to add their PR questions there and they'd still start new threads.

**jamestl2** · 02-21-2008, 03:32 AM

Isn't christopher / chroder a vB coder? You could always ask him for input on these ideas here, although I haven't seen him around in a looong while.

I can see where it might get annoying after a little while, maybe program it to have something like making it disappear after you click on it once, perhaps. I'm not sure ATM what else could be done, I'll sleep on it

**vangogh** · 02-21-2008, 08:15 PM

Chris' job keeps him away. He may still check in from time to time, but he hasn't been working on the forum like he used to.

I'm sure there's some way to set things up that would work. The question is mostly about how much time it will take and if the time is justified.