The H.A.M.B. and your opinion - a new index?

Well Ryan, you may think this an insult but here goes. You and the other mods are all fair, level-headed, and dedicated to what the HAMB is. OK,ok, I was pissin on yer leg about the insult! While I truely like it the way it is (a Hokey Ass Message Board) I can see adding some dedicated areas like art and a member's rides section. The rest as is, is really unique. You can go from tech, to "look what I found!", to WTF is this about, funny stories, all in the same serving. I find it like hangin out in the shop after a good day's work talkin about whatever comes up. Sure some of it is "out there" at times, pushing O/T, and even completely O/T. But that's kinda the juice isn't it? Just my ramble I guess. I really love what you've all done here and might miss what we have.

And BTW, thanx for askin for opinions. That's a kinda fair, level-headed, and dedicated notion...IMHO

 

I would like to see the topics split but not as much as you suggested Ryan.
My choice would be to have the technical question section and the show your project and ride section all in one forum. Off topic posts like art, tatoos in another section. And the remaining subjects like...look at this ebay ad, heres a joke, pics from the latest show, and whatever else on a separate forum. I still prefer to keep it all together because i dont like missing any subjects regardless of whether they're on topic or off.
Still things moves so fast anymore its hard to keep up with everything by just scanning one or two pages of posts.
We are just getting so big.
Regardless of what you do. I'll still be hanging out here.

 

Ryan,
If you decide to split the HAMB into sub forums do so. Make life easier for yourself. THis is not a moneymaking endeavor for you so so make it simple. One question. If you do split it up would it be possible to see across forums with the new since logged in feature? If so that would allow the different topics to be stored seperate but just as easy for someone to view all the new posts as wanted...

Tim

 

I've thought about this a bit too because, lately, the posts roll off SO quickly......

However......example...

Say you have a section on paint and body work.....I post a question there........most people hang out on the general discussion section.......not NEARLY as many people will pass over the question I have and take the time to respond. Yes, I'll get some answers but what if the ONE HAMBr that knows exactly what I'm facing doesn't look in that section.......that night.... (i know this could happen now, but not nearly as probable)

this is just one vague scenario, but i think you see my point....

l like this...

GENERAL
TECH
ART
CLASSIFIES (TOGETHER!!!! ONLY DEALERS WOULD LOOK AT WANTED ADS)
MEMBER'S RODS
EVENTS
MAYBE ONE OR TWO MORE......it is a bit over-whelming right now, though....but I really like the diversity......

Well, I guess that is basically the same as it is now....

Ryan, you have more insight than I............I'll worship you either way, dude!

 

I like it the way it is currently organized. Diversity=good.

With that said - you have the vision - do what you think is right.

 

Ryan,
I've read all the posts so far. Some pretty interesting replys.

For what its worth. I like the "all in one" setup that is here now. I spend several hours on the HAMB each night. I always read back to where I ended the night before, then swing back and pick up the "new"posts that have been added. I might not read everything, but I certianly read more then I would if I had to go through several sections instead of just the main board and the classifieds. I've never been too smart, but I can never find anything in the "tech" section, so I just don't go there. I'm afraid if the tech articals were only posted in a tech section, I would never learn anything new.

In all fairness, if I need to get an answer to something fast, I suppose a seperate section could speed things up some, but it could also not get answered at all because the guy that knows might not check in that section at all that night. I've seen that on some other boards, at least on a single board, everyone has a chance to see a question and respond.

The last board I used to live at before the HAMB used to have a single section. Then it split between tech and genneral. Then it started splitting everything else up, there are now over 20 sections. Works out Ok if you want one thing specific, but the tech section on that board really took a beating. On the tech section a question used to draw 5-10 responces in a matter of minutes, now most are lucky to draw 2 responces in a couple of hours and several go unanswered. Your are correct about things not dropping off the top couple of pages, some unanswered questions are still on page one three days later. So what happens if you need an answer to a question? If you get no responces, you have to look elswhere. I still check back there often but for quick answers I ended up on the HAMB.

Its your deal. You need to do what works for you. The rest of us will either grow to love it like we do now, or we will become disenchanted (or totally lost) and actually go out to the garage and get something done or look elsewhere... Gene

 

Listen to Muttley, he knows what he's talking about.

 

I had to sit on it for a while.

I feel your reluctance Ryan, but let me weigh in here.

I can't picture too much change in the General Discussion area even if you do split things up more. That's where we will all hang out nine times out of ten. The photoshops will probably still be posted there - the "check this out" posts will still be there - the "I just got back from a ___ and I got pics" post will still be there.

But when we want to say or read something specific - we will be able to go elsewhere. Not only that, we will be more sure that we can find it when we need to.

I frequent another site that has things broke down into each kind of tech. One forum for bodywork, one for rear ends, one for suspension, one for transmissions, one for engines, one for electric and so on and so forth.

Point is - it can only be more beneficial to the users in the end. It might be more of a headache for you and the other co-administrators, but it should help us...

 

i like the idea of breaking things up a bit. not as much for OUR sake, yes it will be a bit more cumbersome to hit all the forums, but for the sake of archiving and storing information for others who may come across the site. for them, it never occurs to them to "search"...they browse for a few minutes, see a lot of "chat" and only a bit of hardcore tech,
then move on. i like the idea of some tech forums, art, show coverage, etc. and a general b.s. forum. tech forums would be kinda neat broken down even more, flathead, banger, nailhead, early olds, mel, etc. not that there is anything WRONG with searching, but sometimes you just want to browse tech, maybe tech you don't normally read up on, but don't care to weed through a bunch of b.s. posts, or don't really know what you are even searching for.

 

it's not so much dropping back one page, it's TEN pages. i check in several times a day, so things never get more than a page or three back since i last visited, but skip a day or two, and a topic you wanted to revisit is long dead! it can take a long damn time to even quickly scan what has been posted since your last visit.

also Ryan, the first line preview of posts RULES, don't ever let it go, i always find myself running my curser over post titles in other forums expecting to see the first line!

 

I like what was done with the classifieds and also like the idea of separate art and tech sections.

 

Breaking up into sub-catagories is not going to decrease the number of threads, just spread them out. So instead of just scrolling through 6 pages of one forum, you would have to look at maybe 6 forums of on page each. Maybe some wouldnt mind not haveing to dig through forums they dont think are interesting, but I would be afraid I miss something.

 

Sold! Do it

 

I agree 100% with this. I don't post that much tech, but I would post more if I knew more people would see it. And, like C9 said, we could always go back, right?

 

Many of the ideas expressed are very good, and I will say that the speed the main section runs at now is SO FAST that a post that requires allot of time to create is down so far within minutes, it is discouraging to do it again. I truley believe that is one of the reasons that I havent spent the time to do any.
The amount of 'OT' posts are real annoying, period.

Now, having a few sections that I or you and the HAMB Team can set a TECH post, or something of real value to all of us now and into the future is a great idea. Just like the post I put up to tell everyone where to call to find NOS engine parts, if you could go to a specific section and find it, that would be great.

To many sections will make us like other boards out there, and I for one do not like that.

I just love HotRods and the HAMB.

 

Rather than the proposed additions, I'd be more interested in seeing everyone on here put their real name and location in their profile, regardless of when they joined.

To me, the single thing that the HAMB has always seemed to lack more than anything else is more involvement from manufacturers of real hot rod parts and quality speed equipment, with "involvement" meaning their being regular contributors and part of the group as opposed to just defending themselves and disappearing.

Dave
http://www.roadsters.com/

 

Personally, I like the jumble of topics we have now. The pace is considerable, but often stuff that I might not go look for turns out to be very interesting.

 

Ryan makes me happy

 

There are only two other message board I look at.
One is the Ruffrodders board.
http://www.ruffrodders.com
And the other is Hobby Heavens modeling board.
The Ruffrodders is great cause I can get through everything in a half hour.
The Hobby Heaven board is very hard to follow. At least for me.
If some of you have never seen it, Ruffrodders it is split up into lots of different sections. Check it out and see what you think. Maybe it will help you make a decision.

My biggest problem with the HAMB right now is the sheer volume.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't keep up!
I'm sure you've noticed the number of posts has risen dramaticly.
But it also seems the number of replys to those posts are way down.
And the number of quality replies is even less.
Except for that Custom 49 Chevy post, that is great.
I've never looked at the intro section. I look for the guys that have great advice. And good everyday tech help.

I don't think splitting will save me any time.
It will just create more places to look for cool stuff.
But I'm willing to give it a try. I'm like Kirk, you ain't gonna get rid of me.
Do what you think is right and we will continue to support it.

 

Might be a good idea; I like the new classifieds section better.

 

i really like it, the way it is. its nice to be able to get all kinds of tech/pics/builds/ect. in one lump sum, rather than have to "track" down what you want to check out.

i would say maybe add (if anything) a place for all of us artists to post our hot rod art. but thats just my vote.

great work on everything else.
ncg

 

I vote to keep it as is, and not break it up. I think it would lose it's feeling of community.

 

I kind of dislike change myself but often as not I can learn to live with it.However if you do it,I feel that the # of forums should be kept to a bare minimum for the sake of both moderators and participants alike.

 

I like it. Is there any way to automatically eliminate a classified ad after 21-30 days to keep the post amounts down? That way ,if the item is sold,or found, the buyer/seller doesn't have to add SOLD and we won't be going on a wild goose chase for an ad that's out dated.If it's not sold, the buyer/seller could simply re-advertise.....Mike

 

nope
don't like it.
nope just don't like it.
everybody always trying to teach old dogs new tricks.
nope don't like it.
i say leave well enough alone.

 

Good idea. Run with it.

 

Every forum I read I use the "Latest Posts" button to pull all the recent posts from all the segregated sections into one list so I can scan and read.

In other words, when forums are cut up, I use their tools to make them more like the HAMB.

As long as that "latest post" button is available, then go for it. Otherwise, forget it.

 

Having the To the Editor forum would help keep the NFGs from asking car tech questions in the Questions & Suggestions forum.

 

create an off-topic section. that way it keeps the car stuff cars and the O/T stuff.. well, separate.

 

I think the HAMB is great as it is. One of my other hobbies/illnesses/addictions is homebrewing beer. I belong to a homebrewing forum which is identical to the HAMB in layout, except for colors. That forum has many sections, covering all aspects of homebrewing, and allowing for O/T discussions. It is difficult to navigate, and sometimes a question falls into several different categories, and is difficult to get an answer for. As a result, IMO, that site sees maybe 1/10th the traffic of the HAMB, even though homebrewers are at least as passionate about that as we are here.

I do like the new Classifieds, and I think a separate Tech section would be an excellent idea, but I think too many sections would ruin that warm, fuzzy, HAMB feeling.