Why so many sub forums ?

braver

braver

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Seriously, i don't know if I'm placing this in the right forum. There are multiple forums for general discussion, but i don't readily see one for general discussion of the truly general kind. In fact, general discussion around here needs to be quite specific 😛

There are four things I see going on around here that i think could be improved upon with less sub forums.

First, I need the portal page to get a sense for what is new around here. No use browsing through everything I might find interesting anyway. But I just saw something there about 120 film, but I can't find it anymore!

Second, I find it hard to pick a place to look for, or to submit, information. If I use a Canon lens on an M9, and sometimes also on an M6, there are at least four forums that cover that: Leica M, M digital, Leica ltm, Canon rf.

Third, keeping it all organized. There is not another forum I know of where so many threads are moved around to keep it all within the structure. Though I'm sure with a case like in my point above, admins don't even bother anymore.

Fourth is that a lot of subforums are barren. Of course I'm going to pick the most active forum to place my question, just as long as it somehow fits. I wonder how active the 'other rf' forum is, but I'm sure I'm going to get a faster and better answer from the Leica M forum. I mean, even the CL and CLE have their own forum!

I know people are busy with a forum update, and I really know how much hard work is involved in all this. But I'm just throwing it out there. I think merging a lot of stuff down to like 10 main subjects would make this a much better, more active, less confusing place to be.
 
"a lot of subforums are barren" -- Huh? If you discount the mentors section, only a handful do not have activity in the last 48 hours (1 day or less to last post). To my mind, RFF approaches a frenetic activity level already ... Consolidation would only serve to bury a lot of interesting topics under the avalanche of a few.
 
Papercut said:
"a lot of subforums are barren" -- Huh? If you discount the mentors section, only a handful do not have activity in the last 48 hours (1 day or less to last post). To my mind, RFF approaches a frenetic activity level already ... Consolidation would only serve to bury a lot of interesting topics under the avalanche of a few.
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I don't know if you have been a lurker for any length of time or not. Especially if not, perhaps you should try us on for a while. There has been a tendency over time for the different sub-forums to specialize in certain areas, no matter the name. It may take some getting used to, but it seems to work.

I hope it works for you in time, and you can contribute as well as learn things. If not, I hope you can find something that fits you.
 
I've never used it but I see a link in the top menu bar under "Quick Links" pointing to Subscribed Threads". I imagine if you find the right buttons to push, when you see something that attracts your attention and you want to get back to it you can "subscribe" to it and find it again easily.
Anyone know how that works?
 
Leigh Youdale said:
I've never used it but I see a link in the top menu bar under "Quick Links" pointing to Subscribed Threads". I imagine if you find the right buttons to push, when you see something that attracts your attention and you want to get back to it you can "subscribe" to it and find it again easily.
Anyone know how that works?
Click to expand...

You can get notifications by subscribing to a thread. For example, I get email instant email notifications when a thread I have subscribed to gets a new post.
 
I don't know why you are confused. If you have a medium-format rangefinder, you post in the 120 RF forum, unless you are using a medium-format folder, which should go in the 120 RF folder forum, providing it is not a Bessa III, which has a forum of its own, but don't put your Bessa III posts in the 120 RF Modern forum as that is for medium-format cameras that are modern, which the Bessa III is, but it is not modern in the sense that it is not like the other modern 120 RFs that have been discontinued.

I am still wondering what the "Darkoom" section is on the links on the left?
 
I'm hoping this was meant for the OP ... after 500 odd posts, I don't really feel like a "lurker" or a "newbie" anymore ... but maybe there's some secret 1,000+ post club or something 😉

oftheherd said:
I don't know if you have been a lurker for any length of time or not. Especially if not, perhaps you should try us on for a while. There has been a tendency over time for the different sub-forums to specialize in certain areas, no matter the name. It may take some getting used to, but it seems to work.

I hope it works for you in time, and you can contribute as well as learn things. If not, I hope you can find something that fits you.
Click to expand...
 
I don't get the OP's point. There's a ton of activity here. The only reason too many forums are problematic is if there's too little activity to warrant them. That's not the case here.
 
FrozenInTime said:
I imagine most people just look on the active threads page
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/modules.php?name=Active_Topics
Think of the forums more as categories or tags for use when posting new messages.
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Wow, now thats seriously helpful, thanks! I'm gonna take that approach. Wonder how I never knew that page existed even though vie been lurking and posting for over three years...

Now, I realize there may not be much of problem, but I also see a lot of workarounds posted here:

pagpow said:
Ditto, plus to search I go to google, enter the subject, add rff, and search.
Saves going through each subforum, and much better than rff's search function.
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Google seriously helps. However, making categories should make it easier to find something you need. At some point though, you go too far and accomplish the opposite, like it does around here, and then you're back to using google.

Papercut said:
"a lot of subforums are barren" -- Huh? If you discount the mentors section, only a handful do not have activity in the last 48 hours (1 day or less to last post). To my mind, RFF approaches a frenetic activity level already ... Consolidation would only serve to bury a lot of interesting topics under the avalanche of a few.
Click to expand...

An active forum to me constitutes more that one active thread. I know thats only perception, but in a forum in which pretty much everything is several days old, I don't expect to get a quick answer. Many forums like the other rf forum have only one thread thats active. Why does that thread need its own forum?

Finder said:
I don't know why you are confused. If you have a medium-format rangefinder, you post in the 120 RF forum, unless you are using a medium-format folder, which should go in the 120 RF folder forum, providing it is not a Bessa III, which has a forum of its own, but don't put your Bessa III posts in the 120 RF Modern forum as that is for medium-format cameras that are modern, which the Bessa III is, but it is not modern in the sense that it is not like the other modern 120 RFs that have been discontinued.
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LOL, now I'm confused! I'll just post somewhere and let the mods figure it out!

crawdiddy said:
I don't get the OP's point. There's a ton of activity here. The only reason too many forums are problematic is if there's too little activity to warrant them. That's not the case here.
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My point is the opposite of yours. What is the goal of many forums and is that goal being reached? I think on several levels, his is not the case.

Well, like I said, if there are a number of forums with one active thread, you could also make a single more active forum. I realize this sort of threads will trigger mostly arguments against change. Most people will have gotten used to it anyway. So, I don't believe this place will change because of this thread, I'm just trying to plant the seed of reconsideration 😉
 
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Papercut said:
I'm hoping this was meant for the OP ... after 500 odd posts, I don't really feel like a "lurker" or a "newbie" anymore ... but maybe there's some secret 1,000+ post club or something 😉
Click to expand...

You are correct, it wasn't aimed at you. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
 
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