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

I bearly have time to read the headlines lately, let alone post. I'm pretty sure I miss out on some interesting posts. I liked the old feature of posts remaining marked as "unread" untill I click on it. I guess that eats too much memory. The HAMB is good now, but splitting it up may save time and let me participate more.

 

Since you asked, I think that dividing it up would make me miss more. I probably would not look at certain sections too much, but might not see things I would want too have I had known they were there, if that makes sense. Also, what about items that might spill over different catagories? What if someone wants to ask how to do something? Would that go in general or tech? I kind of like the ideas about our Feature cars and events coverage, but seems like once you write your section, it just sits there. A magazine is just pictures on a page, this forum is alive and ever evolving.
Now that I just typed that, I have had one idea for this place that I wasnt sure how feasable it would be. Seems like there are always post from people asking to see some kind of car or style or whatever. I was thinking there should be some kind of page where you could select what you wanted to see, and it would give you pictures. Say you wanted to se 49-51 Fords, maybe select a date range and make. Or search for differnt styles like fenderless hot rods, sleds, taildragers, bellflower, etc. Maybe a Feature car section could tie into something like this. My idea wasnt neccessarily for HAMBers cars only though, so the pickings might be slim at first.
All this being said, I like it how it is. Of course, I'm pretty conservative and don't like change. Do whatever you feel is best,or best for the majority, I'll still log on everyday.

 

The profile section would be cool, you can see what other people have and/or are working on, would put a lot more poster's comments into perspective. If someone makes a comment/suggestion in a thread for me, and I can see in his profile some really nice stuff that they're building, then I know it's good advice, or vice versa.

I like the new classifieds, should cut down on the BS quite a bit.

I don't like the idea of cutting up the main board. Seems the only reason people want to divide it up, would be to save time reading through titles. If it were up to me, it would be Tech Week forever, eliminating O/T posts all together.

 

Love it the way it is,but understand you wanting to try a couple of different things.I'm using the quick reply thing now.As big as the HAMB is now,it is tough to keep up whenever I miss a day or so checking in...But then again,my store is closed today,it's my day off,I'm here cause I'm waaaay behind,and I'm playing on the HAMB instead of working....I have my priorities straight,really I do...Thanks,Ryan,for all you do,andthanks to all the other folks moderating,helping,etc....Can't imagine a HAMB free world

 

A picture reference! That would be sweet. I wanna see bellflower wagons/Model A coupes/taildragging 40's customs/flat black 50's cars. Just click on the category and there are the pics. That's a sweet idea, although it'd be a tough one to do, maybe?

 

At some point something like this was bound to happen. The turnover rate is very high. There isnt anyhting you can do to slow it down. Just hope to contain it. I think dividing it up may help people find out what they are looking for more specifically. I have a feeling most of the posts will probably stay in general discussion anyway. I say go for it.

 

Keep it all on the same forum - its easier to navigate as a user.

 

Let me throw in my reactionary vote to keep it as-is. While I'm tempted by the sub-categories, I feel it'd water down what's going on here.

I'm tempted by the categories though - particularly the tech section - loads of stuff I feel should be in the Tech-O-Matic that never makes it there - at least if there was a separate forum for it, it'd search easier I guess...

Still, I feel you've got a winner as-is & would recommend keeping the present format.

How's that for waffling? ;D

 

well i do like the Hamb the way it is, but it can be difficult to sort through sometimes. maybe if you made it so when you make a new thread you have to select wether its tech, ot, pictures, etc, sort of like selecting a post icon. and then have an option at the top of the forum to sort them by what you are looking for ( FE like on ebay how you can sort by price and year etc) that way you could choose to read all post or sort them by what you are interested in looking at. your the man though and you have brought us this far so i trust your judgment

 

keep it the way it is......and always has been for the most part. It's part of the charm....


Mutt

 

I personally like the ease and variety with the current setup. I think I would be more likely to stick to one area. Meaning, I don't think I would go searching for event coverage. I open them because they are there when I open the page.

Try what you want, you can't get rid of me.

 

I think it's a great idea, however limit it to ONLY those sections. Other boards I frequent have 15 or 20 different sections, and it's a huge pain to look through all of them to find some substance. The ones you've got listed above make perfect sense, and there shouldn't be any reason to add more....well maybe one more.

This may be selfish, but um......maybe a model section under the art board? R&C didn't have art back in the day but they sure did have models. I'll moderate it for ya too, no charge.

 

I think the current layout is effective.
Having said that I do believe that in the way of change having the Tech as a seperate section is not a good idea[like to see it intermingled with the rest.....
The reveiw section in the HambOdex is a seemingly good sounding idea IF it were limited to HAMB -just-member's bussinesses[sp?].

I think if it were open to all bussinesses we would be exposed to in the hobby-it would be tangled up with opinions/conjecture of individuals who may have had a "bad experience" for what ever reason.....

Be it the purchaser's inexperience or just the case of a person being the sort that is "never happy" if he has to pay for a product or service......we know that exists-right?
It could easily drift into abuse of a good company's reputation without real merit....
Other than that youv'e about got it perfect here.....

 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE the hamb has become so busy i miss half of whats on here now at least..As it is now I only hit high reply posts and the classifieds I go elsewhere to slower forums for tech and pleasure...

 

Sounds perfect to me!
Back in the old days with less people posting the current layout did work better than today. But now with the great number of new topics every day, it sometimes gets hard to find the neele in the heystack. The suggested way will make it easier to navigate H.A.M.B. and an easy navigation could never be wrong.

I say: Go for it!

 

Ryan you have done an outstanding job to date. And with the HAMB's growth has came some growing pains that were harder for some than others. I agree Gen Discussion rolls over way too fast!!!! I think the steps you've outlined are certainly good ones to minimize the segregation. But the HAMB is kinda like a freeway. Do you build it to suit current traffic flows or do you broaden it for the future traffic? You have done a great job in your forward thinking.

My one and only additional thought is for a Shops/Tools/Equipment forum.

Where we can talk about everything from welder models, to ratcheting screwdrivers. These are the tools (besides our hands & brains) we use to build our loves, and this hobby. I know I am constantly perplexed by "How did JoeBlow do that?" Or where can I get such...? Or is this Harbor Freight grinder worth a damn? A lot of us are fabrication hobbiest, and aside from reinventing the wheel I think a place where "What we use to build our Rods" is in order. Also there are a lot of new guys getting into this stuff. And they are gung-ho to jump in and start wrenching. And not everyone was graced with someone to teach them the ins and outs of a shop and tools, and proper safety. As well as tips and tricks.
Sample threads:
"How to single phase that 3 phase 220 lathe you just bought"
"Shop safety* Why not to wear oil gloves around your O2."
"How did you guys decide between the Miller, Esab, or Lincoln?"
"Henrob or Plasma?"
"Tools that are a minimum to own"
"Shop Safety* Proper blocking of vehicles when putting on jack stands"
"I didn't disconnect my battery when I welded on my car??? Oh no, what do I do."
"I'm trying to drill through metal but the faster I go the more bits I burn up?"

Just my thoughts, there worth what you paid for them.

IDS

 

I just noticed there is no more posting replies to want and for sake ads... that's totally tubular... and cuts down on some of the confusion when selling a hot item.

Maybe we could do that with the HAMB! Hahaha... ok, just kidding... but here's an idea:


1) have a little box to check or click on when you post your thread. The boxes would read something like "car show coverage", "tech", "art", "hot rod history". "wouldn't it be cool if" or whatever.

2) you would have to click on it to post your post on the HAMB...

3) then, there would be something in your profile or preferences to click on that would organize the threads for you OR just leave them all scattered like they are now. You would click "Show me event's first" or "show me tech first" or "show me posts as they are posted".

This would leave it to us to decide.

FWIW... I kinda of like it the way it is... but this idea would give people a choice.

Sam.

 

I think.
(Therefore I'm only mostly-harmless)

It ain't broke now.
Please don't fix it.

In fact, get rid of the FNG intro section since 3/4s of them newbees post intro's on the main page anyway.

And how to get to that motorcyle board is a well hidden mystery to anyone who didn't book mark it way back when?
I dont see it listed in the "Forum Jump"...

Seriously, I've been to forums where the moderators get "bitchy" because people post stuff in "the wrong section" and then they move it, but not before giving a good (bad?) tongue lashing and a "demerit" to the confused soul and it just seems like it'll be a lot more work for YOU.

Just instuct people where they can choose to add more threads per page so they don't "roll over" so fast.

Or can you make it search "oldest post posted since (the last date HAMBer logged on.)such & such a date"? so it'll automatically go back to page 17 or whatever?

 

I like the idea of a seperate Art Section. Just my 2 cents!!!

 

A single section for art, bikes, personal stuff and mildly O/T subjects would keep more of the clutter off the basic forum. This is one old fart who would like to see the main forum back to basics as in days of old. I hate having to scan thru 3 new pages of mostly crap every time I come back from the crapper!

 

If the intro's really are a problem, make every new member's first post a mandatory intro. What I mean is, when you sign up, direct new users to the intro section automatically and don't allow them to post in any other board until they have an intro posted. That would eliminate non-intro posting bitching, and although I'm no software designer, I bet it wouldn't be tough to do.

Also, as far as the classifieds go, can I suggest that Location be added to the title of each classified? I know that in most cases, location is listed under people's user names, but if it said Location: Green Bay, WI, I'd definitely check out whatever that classified is for, instead of seeing stuff for sale and having to click on each ad just to find out that it's all 1000 miles away from me.

And I also want to say that I appreciate that this is even a thread. Glad to be able to weasel my opinion in here on these matters. Feels good to know someone gives a shit about what I think. (even if they really don't, just don't tell me)

 

Change sucks, theres nothing wrong with the way it is......leave it alone.

 

I think a search feature sounds like a happy medium??? Leave everything as it is right now, but have a way for people when they post to put a flag on their post as to : O/T , Art, Tech and so on and then allow HAMBers to be able to search via the flag system??? I do like the "all in one place" thing when I have time to just read on a Sunday morning and I'll find myself reading things I would have never searched for, which is alway cool. But there are times when you just want to read tech, or look for art and so on and that can be difficult sometimes if time is a consideration....

Matt

 

Um, please don't change it. I don't like change.
It makes me scared.

I miss most everything that isn't on the main forum as it is..... If it gets divided, I will just miss everything.


When you're in your little room,
and your working on something good,
but if its really good,
your gonna need a bigger room.

When your're in your bigger room,
You might not know what to do..
You're gonna have to think of, how you got started,
standing in your little room.

Thats from a white stripes song. It rules...... think about it.


Dude, I'm happy in my little room, people keep trying to pull me out.
It sucks.

 

My feelings 'zactly

 

no one like change, I am relatively new to the H.A.M.B. and my opinion should not count as much as someone who has bin here for a real long time. like I said, I have only bin here for a short time any changes would make no diference to me. I would like to Thank Ryan for what he has done so for. Thank You ~ Ryan

 

Wow.Quite a few well structured replies on this.I think you should go for it Ryan.After all,if we all appreciate and enjoy the HAMB/JJ as much as we say we do then we`ll still support it no matter how its presented.In any case,this aint no life or death situation.I`ll go stand in the corner now.

 

I'm just a newbie but it sounds like a good idea to me.I see a post and if I try to return to it,it's usually gone.Try it!