Forum Cleanup, or, Ouch, my eyes!!!

DoctorIt · August 27, 2008

Folks,
When viewing this forum, I often have to hold on to something as my eyes start to flip and the whole world spins. The amount of threads with titles containing >>>>*****>>>><<<<capital ***please***="" dss***=""><<<<<</capital> is quite frankly becoming a trainwreck. If I was a n00b surfing into the challenges forum list, I would turn and run as fast as my click could take me.

From here on in, I will be resuming my iron-fisted janitorial role. I will be "watering-down" thread titles that I see as too embellished. Some guidelines:

1. The only threads to be using >>>****<<<< are DSS entry, voting, or feedback, in other words, anything posted by Emily (Greensquared), as well as the Mini-Challenge entry threads.

*I'm contemplating only allowing the mini-"entry" thread to have these embellishments, not the winner. Open to comments here, but it is unofficial - think unselfishly: big neon for bragging rights, or a cleaner look that is less intimidating to new folks?

2. No SHOUTING.

3. In the "request for critique" threads, do we really need to include the full DSS number, details, and title? For example, instead of: "Please critique my photo entry for DSS challenge #7 communication black and white monday august 28 2008 USA Earth because I'm considering entering it today but I might change my mind tomorrow", how about just using the working photo title, as you would in other Dgrin shots forums "First Contact (7)". Those of you who are already into the competition know that if it's not an entry thread, it's a critique thread, and for new people, just seeing a photo title might entice them to view more, and get more involved.

Now as my old LPS partner, Shay Stephens, used to say: just get out there and shoot!
:thumb

JAG · August 28, 2008

actually I think you are correct in what your saying. Its hard to track down certain threads because of all the extra stuff. The only thing I would ask since I am judging this next number 7 round is that they do leave in the number of the round in the title...because I am steering clear of such threads so not to be influenced in anyway when it comes down to judging. But however you all do it...I could just stop looking at all threads except the mini challenge I suppose....I just like reading all the comments on other threads.

thebigsky · August 28, 2008

I thought it was just my eyesight, or age or something but I've been getting dizzy trying to find the correct thread so you won't find any argument here

Charlie

System · August 28, 2008

Doc,
I am glad that I am not the only one to get a headache when looking for a thread.
I honestly don't think you will get any argument from the great men and women we have on here.
Please clean away at your hearts content, Sir!

Karrie McD · August 28, 2008

yay cleaning house always gives it a fresh new feel

KevXman · August 28, 2008

"Ahem. Clean-up on aisle three. Clean-up needed on aisle three please!"

Thanks Doc, your efforts are always appreciated!

— Kevin

DJ-S1 · August 28, 2008

:bluduh Friggin' Aussies throwing their weight around...

<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/mwink.gif" border="0" alt="" > About time someone stepped up and did this. May I also suggest an icon for specific threads like entry threads, etc. I have noticed that the "eek" icon or the "pissed" icon on threads gets noticed more than ">>> <<<" in the title does.

Also, and this is a MAJOR peeve for me, the voting thread needs to be automagically (or manually) bumped a few times a day. I never browse the forums or go check the Challenge Forum on a whim. I cannot be the only one who exclusively uses a "new stuff"-type search for accessing Dgrin. This means that if I miss the original posting as I quickly scan through the new posts for interesting stuff, it never shows up again and I don't get to vote.

Thanks Doc-

anwmn1 · August 28, 2008

Can you temporarily sticky a thread?

Sticky the rules
Sticky the current DSS
Sticky the current Mini Challenge

Once the DSS or Mini is over remove the sticky and let is fall down the pages.

Maybe a font change could help too- like bold yellow?

thebigsky · August 28, 2008

I would have thought it would make sense to sticky the current challenge entry thread.

Charlie

jeffreaux2 · August 28, 2008

Maybe a sub catagorie for the actual challenges...and this original one for everything else. As in "weddings" in the "people" forum....or "assignments" in "technique".

Just a thought.

DoctorIt · August 28, 2008

anwmn1 wrote:

Can you temporarily sticky a thread?

Sticky the rules
Sticky the current DSS
Sticky the current Mini Challenge

Once the DSS or Mini is over remove the sticky and let is fall down the pages.

What a great idea! Oh wait, that's how we did it less than a month ago!

Maybe a font change could help too- like bold yellow?

Sorry, not possible with our current software - I've mentioned it before, I'll drop the hint again, we have big plans in the works

DoctorIt · August 28, 2008

DJ-S1 wrote:

May I also suggest an icon for specific threads like entry threads, etc.

Good idea.... I'll try this out right now!

Also, and this is a MAJOR peeve for me, the voting thread needs to be automagically (or manually) bumped a few times a day.

We've always been open to change, and I think on this one, I think we should change back - the VOTE thread should be stickied.

Emily?

Greensquared · August 28, 2008

DoctorIt wrote:

Good idea.... I'll try this out right now!

We've always been open to change, and I think on this one, I think we should change back - the VOTE thread should be stickied.

Emily?

Sure, vote threads only though, yes?

DoctorIt · August 28, 2008

Greensquared wrote:

Sure, vote threads only though, yes?

dlibrach · August 28, 2008

Yeah, I always found this section extremely hard on the eyes and confusing. In fact, never entered anything until I happened to notice the 'mini-9' challenge one day (and won!!

) when searching by new stuff. Otherwise I stayed away from this section with a ten-foot pole

Too many things and critiques requested that the actual challenges get lost. Any chance for a separate section for critiques or some other way to keep them away from the challenges? A sub-section? Dgrin is the only place that I've seen people post CC requests in the same section as an actual contest. Just seems kinda weird.

Anyways, as always, I'm sure you guys will figure something awesome out.

Cheers,
D

P.S. When I created the Mini-Challenge 10 thread, I only cut and pasted what had been done on the previous challenge (i.e. format of title). Would be cool to set some guidelines so that those of us that win know what to do. Was kinda left a bit blind.

WildWally · August 29, 2008

Now , if we can only clean up the Democratic Party !!!!

DoctorIt · August 29, 2008

dlibrach wrote:

Dgrin is the only place that I've seen people post CC requests in the same section as an actual contest.

Um, that's kinda the point. We have a challenge community, not just some sterile photo contest.

richtersl · August 29, 2008

WildWally wrote:

Now , if we can only clean up the Democratic Party !!!!

dlibrach · August 29, 2008

DoctorIt wrote:

Um, that's kinda the point. We have a challenge community, not just some sterile photo contest.

Fair enough.

Still support your cleanup efforts.

Cheers,
D

JAG · August 29, 2008

WildWally wrote:

Now , if we can only clean up the Democratic Party !!!!

:lol4 :lol :haha :bwg

Forum Cleanup, or, Ouch, my eyes!!!

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