"Spotted" Forum Question - LotusTalk

Riddlefox · 08-31-2009, 11:16 AM

Not sure if it was asked elsewhere or what, but I was curious why there is a dedicated Spotted forum.. with one giant thread for spottings. It seems much more logical to me to have a stickied "Spotted" thread in each Regional subforum. People in SoCal probably don't care much about who was spotted in the Mid-Atlantic area.

V-RAPTOR · 08-31-2009, 11:21 AM

I'll second that. I think its a good idea.

RichS · 08-31-2009, 12:33 PM

It's easier to ignore one thread instead of 15 (15 regions) or hundreds as the case used to be.

I've never understood the need to say "I saw a Lotus!" and for someone to respond with "Oh, that was me."...

At least right now it is only a single thread.

Riddlefox · 08-31-2009, 01:20 PM

Rich, I think you are misunderstanding the difference between a thread and a forum/subforum. A forum/subforum is the general grouping, like "Community" and "Forum Feedback." A specific thread is a line of conversation inside of that subforum. It'd be dumb to have a "Spotted" subforum for each region; rather, it'd be smart to have a single thread stickied at the top of each existing regional subforum. This would help out those of us who do enjoy Lotus Spotting; it'd keep us from having to dig through 1,000+ post threads with sightings scattered all around the nation.

See, for instance, how NASIOC does it (note the stickied, "OMG, I saw teh Scubarooooo! The Sightings Thread" at the top). How is that not a hundred times cleaner and easier to use than what we have now?

RichS · 08-31-2009, 01:42 PM

Hmmm....

I certainly understand the difference between a thread and a forum/sub-forum, but I guess I read your post to be that there was one single thread where 'spotted' posts got moved to. Since I ignore anything with a 'Spotted' subject line I guess I never realized that there was a whole sub-forum for spotted threads.

I normally use the 'New Threads' link and don't browse by sub-forum.

I agree that a single sticky post in each region for 'spotted' posts makes sense. Let's just make the subject very, very easy to ignore:

Maybe something like:

Just spotted in the NorthWest region: A LOTUS! (Post your Lotus sightings here)
Just spotted in the SouthWest region: A LOTUS! (Post your Lotus sightings here)

RichS · 08-31-2009, 01:44 PM

Now that I think about it, I can see why there is a separate sub-forum. Mods don't have to know where someone was posting from to move a thread there.

"Hey, who was that riding down the I-5?" Could be California, NorthWest, etc.

It just makes the mods job easier.

So now I un-agree.

Randy Chase · 08-31-2009, 01:50 PM

Not to discount the idea... it has some merit.

BUT, it was set up to make my work easier.

Riddlefox · 08-31-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichS

Now that I think about it, I can see why there is a separate sub-forum. Mods don't have to know where someone was posting from to move a thread there.

"Hey, who was that riding down the I-5?" Could be California, NorthWest, etc.

It just makes the mods job easier.

So now I un-agree.

It'd be highly unlikely to be ambiguous between California and the Northwest, as the person should be posting in the appropriate region. And even if there were some ambiguity in, say, the Northwest (are they in OR or WA?), it'd still be better than it is now, where you have to wade through all of the regions in a single gigantic thread, on the off chance that someone even remotely near you posted.

Of course, Randy, it's up to you - but from a user standpoint, regional spotting threads would be worlds easier to cope with.

Randy Chase · 08-31-2009, 03:03 PM

Yep. I am not dismissing the suggestion. Thanks!

RacyTracy · 08-31-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichS

It just makes the mods job easier.

So now I un-agree.

.

...m... · 08-31-2009, 04:45 PM

...the single spotting thread never made much sense to me, either - over on ferrarichat, every region has one ongoing spotting thread for each of its localities...

Texas Region
[SA] Lotus and Exotic Sightings Thread
[DFW] Lotus and Exotic Sightings Thread
[HOU] Lotus and Exotic Sightings Thread
[AUS] Lotus and Exotic Sightings Thread

...they only pop up on the new posts screen when someone actually has a noteworthy sighting to report, so it's not like their multiplicity clutters up the fora, and they're also immediately recognisable and easily ignored...

...they point relevant traffic directly where people might be most interested in reading it, each regional subforum, and often make for interesting reads in the case of some of the more unusual sightings...finally, they're a handy way for for local drivers to say 'hi' to each other, and help develop a stronger sense of local community conversation...

...personally, from similar experience elsewhere, i think breaking the official spotting threads into each region is a great idea...

RacyTracy · 11-14-2009, 07:40 AM

To revive this idea, I'm thinking I will create at 'Spotted in the (XYZ) Region' stickey thread in each region.....then, the main 'Spotted' forum will be closed to new posts.....and over time, I will sort those out into each individual region that they belong in. Once they are all sorted, the 'Spotted' forum will be empty, and then deleted.

Everyone like this??

RacyTracy · 11-14-2009, 08:00 AM

BTW, my 'blank' posts will be eliminated after I begin to merge threads....so you won't be stuck seeing Charlie Brown at the top of every region.....for example, I've already done the Pacific region.

08-31-2009, 11:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Riddlefox Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Above the clouds Posts: 104	"Spotted" Forum Question Not sure if it was asked elsewhere or what, but I was curious why there is a dedicated Spotted forum.. with one giant thread for spottings. It seems much more logical to me to have a stickied "Spotted" thread in each Regional subforum. People in SoCal probably don't care much about who was spotted in the Mid-Atlantic area. __________________ 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2005 Lotus Elise 2006 Pontiac GTO 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

08-31-2009, 11:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
V-RAPTOR STARLIGHT Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NOVA (Winchester) Posts: 658	I'll second that. I think its a good idea. __________________ 2005 Starlight Black Biscuit Interior // Hard Top // Von Hep Exhaust // Von Hep Rear Delete // Full Heat Shield Removed // Fujita CAI // Rota Torque Wheels W/ Toyo R1R's // ForceFed Carbon Fiber Splitter // Carbon Fiber Engine lid cover // LidBone // JL Audio VR525-CXi Front and Rear // Micro Mirror // Painted interior bits // Bling Buttons // Darth Holder

08-31-2009, 12:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
RichS No, it's only an N/A Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,285	It's easier to ignore one thread instead of 15 (15 regions) or hundreds as the case used to be. I've never understood the need to say "I saw a Lotus!" and for someone to respond with "Oh, that was me."... At least right now it is only a single thread. __________________ Useful links to vendors removed at Nadeem's request. "Nice avatar by the way, I doubt Colin Chapman would have followed the herd as I have seen many here do. --Nadeem"

08-31-2009, 01:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Riddlefox Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Above the clouds Posts: 104	Rich, I think you are misunderstanding the difference between a thread and a forum/subforum. A forum/subforum is the general grouping, like "Community" and "Forum Feedback." A specific thread is a line of conversation inside of that subforum. It'd be dumb to have a "Spotted" subforum for each region; rather, it'd be smart to have a single thread stickied at the top of each existing regional subforum. This would help out those of us who do enjoy Lotus Spotting; it'd keep us from having to dig through 1,000+ post threads with sightings scattered all around the nation. See, for instance, how NASIOC does it (note the stickied, "OMG, I saw teh Scubarooooo! The Sightings Thread" at the top). How is that not a hundred times cleaner and easier to use than what we have now? __________________ 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2005 Lotus Elise 2006 Pontiac GTO 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

08-31-2009, 01:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
RichS No, it's only an N/A Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,285	Hmmm.... I certainly understand the difference between a thread and a forum/sub-forum, but I guess I read your post to be that there was one single thread where 'spotted' posts got moved to. Since I ignore anything with a 'Spotted' subject line I guess I never realized that there was a whole sub-forum for spotted threads. I normally use the 'New Threads' link and don't browse by sub-forum. I agree that a single sticky post in each region for 'spotted' posts makes sense. Let's just make the subject very, very easy to ignore: Maybe something like: Just spotted in the NorthWest region: A LOTUS! (Post your Lotus sightings here) Just spotted in the SouthWest region: A LOTUS! (Post your Lotus sightings here) __________________ Useful links to vendors removed at Nadeem's request. "Nice avatar by the way, I doubt Colin Chapman would have followed the herd as I have seen many here do. --Nadeem"

08-31-2009, 01:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
RichS No, it's only an N/A Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,285	Now that I think about it, I can see why there is a separate sub-forum. Mods don't have to know where someone was posting from to move a thread there. "Hey, who was that riding down the I-5?" Could be California, NorthWest, etc. It just makes the mods job easier. So now I un-agree. __________________ Useful links to vendors removed at Nadeem's request. "Nice avatar by the way, I doubt Colin Chapman would have followed the herd as I have seen many here do. --Nadeem"

08-31-2009, 01:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Randy Chase Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego and where ever the roads lead Posts: 28,174 Images: 761	Not to discount the idea... it has some merit. BUT, it was set up to make my work easier. __________________ * V E R I T A S * A E Q U I T A S * No Longer the ADMIN here, please do not PM me asking for help. Thanks! 2006 Noble M400. Getrag tranny, Quaiffe LSD, Hinged clams. Duratec dual turbo V6. Hoosier 315-18 tires. 2350 pounds. Over 500hp. Track weapon. 2009 Rossion Q1. Monaco Orange. Wing. Black leather/Alcantara with orange stitching. The street car. In build: 2009 Toniq R (300whp? 1100 pounds?). Chrome Orange. Lexus GX-470 tow vehicle.

08-31-2009, 03:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
Randy Chase Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego and where ever the roads lead Posts: 28,174 Images: 761	Yep. I am not dismissing the suggestion. Thanks! __________________ * V E R I T A S * A E Q U I T A S * No Longer the ADMIN here, please do not PM me asking for help. Thanks! 2006 Noble M400. Getrag tranny, Quaiffe LSD, Hinged clams. Duratec dual turbo V6. Hoosier 315-18 tires. 2350 pounds. Over 500hp. Track weapon. 2009 Rossion Q1. Monaco Orange. Wing. Black leather/Alcantara with orange stitching. The street car. In build: 2009 Toniq R (300whp? 1100 pounds?). Chrome Orange. Lexus GX-470 tow vehicle.

08-31-2009, 04:45 PM	#11 (permalink)
...m... Denuo Volatilis Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,715	...the single spotting thread never made much sense to me, either - over on ferrarichat, every region has one ongoing spotting thread for each of its localities... Texas Region [SA] Lotus and Exotic Sightings Thread [DFW] Lotus and Exotic Sightings Thread [HOU] Lotus and Exotic Sightings Thread [AUS] Lotus and Exotic Sightings Thread ...they only pop up on the new posts screen when someone actually has a noteworthy sighting to report, so it's not like their multiplicity clutters up the fora, and they're also immediately recognisable and easily ignored... ...they point relevant traffic directly where people might be most interested in reading it, each regional subforum, and often make for interesting reads in the case of some of the more unusual sightings...finally, they're a handy way for for local drivers to say 'hi' to each other, and help develop a stronger sense of local community conversation... ...personally, from similar experience elsewhere, i think breaking the official spotting threads into each region is a great idea... __________________ 2005 Federal Elise \| Touring \| Storm Titanium ...73,000 miles and aging beautifully... 2000 New Beetle \| Turbo \| Reflex Silver ...107,000 miles of steadfast service...

11-14-2009, 07:40 AM	#12 (permalink)
RacyTracy V Not my picture V Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 9,185	To revive this idea, I'm thinking I will create at 'Spotted in the (XYZ) Region' stickey thread in each region.....then, the main 'Spotted' forum will be closed to new posts.....and over time, I will sort those out into each individual region that they belong in. Once they are all sorted, the 'Spotted' forum will be empty, and then deleted. Everyone like this?? __________________ Tracy 1996 Porsche 993TT Big news coming Tuesday.....(hopefully). 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser LOG 29 photos

11-14-2009, 08:00 AM	#13 (permalink)
RacyTracy V Not my picture V Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 9,185	BTW, my 'blank' posts will be eliminated after I begin to merge threads....so you won't be stuck seeing Charlie Brown at the top of every region.....for example, I've already done the Pacific region. __________________ Tracy 1996 Porsche 993TT Big news coming Tuesday.....(hopefully). 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser LOG 29 photos

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