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Post by CanOpener on Nov 22, 2008 14:18:26 GMT -9
I just wanted to express my views of the message board. They are a wonderful addition to the Geocache Alaska website, however in my personal opinion, there are just too seperate boards available.
I understand where you are trying to go by having all the seperate boards and it does make it easier for someone to find what they are looking for. However, a majority of the boards have very few messages on them and some have not been used in quite some time.
We also have a search tool available and it is very easy to use.
Just my $.02, but I really think that some of the smaller boards could be combined to provide a more streamlined message board.
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Post by ladybugkids on Nov 22, 2008 20:03:08 GMT -9
The Board admins are always receptive to input. Can you give specific examples of what you are suggesting?
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Post by blazingpathways on Nov 23, 2008 0:24:15 GMT -9
I've been coming to the forum for more than a year and I had never realized that I could search for more than the last 30 posts and that I could search by keyword. Neat function! Thanks for this thread clueing me in.
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Post by NorthWes on Nov 24, 2008 11:13:48 GMT -9
I wish more cachers would frequent these local boards! They were established by topic and by geographic region to encourage participation. The setup makes sense - but not the infrequent visits (or absolutely nonexistent use) that are practiced by many folks. I understand as much as anyone how time-challenged any of us can be, so it's likely there's lots of cachers who simply don't have the time to visit and participate. For myself, I find it as easy (actually easier) to visit and navigate the forums as to take time to geocache (perhaps one reason my find count isn't zooming recently... ) As with the outdoors portion of geocaching, the best knowledge about these boards is acquired through participation! As with the geocaching.com forums, there's folks who participate, and a whole bunch more who don't. Sometimes there are viewpoints and threads of conversation which occur on forums which don't represent the actual trend or admitted practice of the game outside the forum - and that's no surprise. I strongly believe every effort has been made to make participation available to all. Witness the current attempt to get a revised icon for the next version of a geocoin - the call for participation has been made, and there's been no response... On a final note - regardless of the size of a community, a communication board operates best with clear and separated threads of conversation. I think that's what's available here.
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powmia
Silver Cacher
Caches Found/Hidden xxxx/x
Posts: 208
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Post by powmia on Nov 24, 2008 15:26:53 GMT -9
I wish more cachers would frequent these local boards! They were established by topic and by geographic region to encourage participation. The setup makes sense - but not the infrequent visits (or absolutely nonexistent use) that are practiced by many folks. I understand as much as anyone how time-challenged any of us can be, so it's likely there's lots of cachers who simply don't have the time to visit and participate. For myself, I find it as easy (actually easier) to visit and navigate the forums as to take time to geocache (perhaps one reason my find count isn't zooming recently... ) As with the outdoors portion of geocaching, the best knowledge about these boards is acquired through participation! As with the geocaching.com forums, there's folks who participate, and a whole bunch more who don't. Sometimes there are viewpoints and threads of conversation which occur on forums which don't represent the actual trend or admitted practice of the game outside the forum - and that's no surprise. I strongly believe every effort has been made to make participation available to all. Witness the current attempt to get a revised icon for the next version of a geocoin - the call for participation has been made, and there's been no response... On a final note - regardless of the size of a community, a communication board operates best with clear and separated threads of conversation. I think that's what's available here. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the wisdom of elders.....so calming and reassuring in times of need.
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Post by saidbystacy on Nov 24, 2008 22:42:54 GMT -9
Speaking for myself, I find that I only participate on the Geocache Alaska forums. I like that, to me, it's smaller and easier to navigate and I like that I am connecting with geocachers who also live and work in my community.
*sigh* I didn't want to say anything until I was certain I had something good worked up. I tried working on the icon for a while today and realized this is a bit harder than it seems to make a 32 x32 and 18 x 18 pixel icon visable in the detail the last icon was made. Me and photoshop do not always get along.
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Post by CanOpener on Nov 26, 2008 22:14:23 GMT -9
I guess you've got a valid point Wes and the more I think about it, I guess I'm guilty of the point you are making. I don't participate on the boards as much as a should, but when I do visit I catch up on a lot of the happenings in the AK Caching world. It's just unfortunate that I've got to look in multiple boards to catch up on everything.
I understand that it's modeled after the geocaching.com website and this is very beneficial for some people. I on the other had like to look at one page and see everything, presented in a way that I can see all the new stuff I've missed from the last time I was here.
As a response to LBK from my first post, I'm basically refering to the boards that only have anywhere from 10-20 posts over a 2 year period of time. I understand the necessity of the seperate boards and I've looked at ways that some could be combined, however I've not been able to come up with my own solution and was hoping that someone else would understand what I was saying and could take a stab at it.
I hvae great respect for the mods and maintainers of these boards as I know what it takes to run a smooth and efficient operation. All in all I guess I was just expressing my opinion of the boards.
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Broccili
Bronze Cacher
Vehicle TB212QR "Powerstroke"
Posts: 67
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Post by Broccili on Nov 27, 2008 6:24:48 GMT -9
Regarding a one page stop and catch up for the latest... When you first arrive at the forum: geocachealaska.proboards81.com/Down at the very bottom, under Forum Statistics is a GREAT little link... "View the 30 most recent posts of this forum." Click on that... and one stop shopping for the most recent posts. Check on the site at least once/week and for the most part you'll be up to date.
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Broccili
Bronze Cacher
Vehicle TB212QR "Powerstroke"
Posts: 67
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Post by Broccili on Nov 27, 2008 6:27:55 GMT -9
My opinion...
The GeoCaching.COM forums are great - if you are interested in something 'global' about GeoCaching. Such as: Rules of Caching Latest and Greatest in tech, tools, etc. How to... Anecdotes Or you just have some time to kill and want to read.
But if you want to know what's going on in Alaska - for the most part, this is the place.
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Post by CanOpener on Nov 27, 2008 13:36:38 GMT -9
Regarding a one page stop and catch up for the latest... When you first arrive at the forum: geocachealaska.proboards81.com/Down at the very bottom, under Forum Statistics is a GREAT little link... "View the 30 most recent posts of this forum." Click on that... and one stop shopping for the most recent posts. Check on the site at least once/week and for the most part you'll be up to date. OMG! HAHAHAHAHA! I can't believe I missed that! That is absolutely amazing! I'm pretty internet savvy, but I guess I just missed this function on our forums. Thanks for the heads up! I'll start using that form now on.
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Eagle618
Silver Cacher
The Eagle Watches Over
Posts: 117
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Post by Eagle618 on Nov 27, 2008 20:17:26 GMT -9
Sorry guys been working so much on trying to get things going on the Christmas party I didn't know anything about you needing help with a icon for a coinament. Sorry What do you need and maybe I can help you out. Lots of work goes in to planning an event to. What can I help out with?
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Post by SSO JOAT on Jun 23, 2011 20:00:22 GMT -9
Just to "bump" and update this thread... Some reorg and streamlining of the forum is well underway. The "most recent" post link down at the very bottom of the forum (where it should clearly be at the top, but I digress) has been changed to the latest 49 posts. I could bump it up as high as 100, but I really like staying with the board's theme. So, 49 it is.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 22, 2012 7:18:28 GMT -9
The saga over the size and number of boards on this forum continues. Everyone who says the forum is too "sparse" has been unable to provide any specific direction on where it should be condensed. Therefore, I will take it upon myself to start a clean-up and reorganization process over the next week and we'll see how folks like or hate the results and go from there. Let the rearranging of the rocks begin...
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burtonsinak
Bronze Cacher
Posts: 60
GeocacheAlaska! Membership Level: Sourdough
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Post by burtonsinak on Dec 22, 2012 11:06:20 GMT -9
That sounds like a good idea and works for me. Streamline and less choices on the main topic section as once a thread is started that is what is looked at not what it is started under... anyways in what im seeing, tho im not the teciee. I see when the forum was used more was back in 08 and since then like on this topic only a few post. Most of those in 08 I haven't seen or hear about any more weather they moved or don't cache any longer.
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