Possible Changes to the Forum

[vintagebrett]

Hello

I've received some feedback on making some changes to the forum (reducing the number of categories) and I'd like to get feedback from all users. Please take to time read the suggestions, add your own and vote in the poll.

Lose the "introduction" category - Intros can be made in the main section. Forum information/rules will be a sticky in the main section

Combine "vintage glove discussion", "today I found" and "vintage glove pictures" into one category into one main catch-all section that should see frequent updates.

The "vintage gloves sale/trade/wanted" would stay as is, as would "vintage gloves of the week", though it would change it to month.

One combined category for "glove conditioning and restoration"

'Not a glove but still cool" could stay, but lose the suggestion section as posts like this could go into the main category.

The closed modern discussions would be rolled into an archive category

It would end up looking like this...

Vintage Glove Discussion
Vintage Gloves of the Month
Vintage Gloves Sale / Trade / Wanted
Vintage Glove Conditioning & Restoration
Not a Glove But Still Cool
Archive

What do you all think?

[murphusa]

Fine by me.

[Mr. Mitt]

I like it, less is more. The only foreseeable issue would be finding historical threads once they're combined from multiple categories. This could be a non-issue as long as the "subject" line of each thread is descriptive enough. Going forward, it may be best for those beginning new topics to pay particular attention to what they type into the subject field so not to cause undue confusion. I like consolidation.

[okdoak]

Sounds reasonable to me, especially combining the conditioning/restoring sections. I'd rather have the Vintage Glove Pictures separate from Glove Discussion, but I'm sure I'd get used to that after awhile. Some of the discussions get replies over a period of days, and I wouldn't want to interrupt that with pictures of my latest incredible find.

[Number9]

Sounds reasonable to me, especially combining the conditioning/restoring sections. I'd rather have the Vintage Glove Pictures separate from Glove Discussion, but I'm sure I'd get used to that after awhile. Some of the discussions get replies over a period of days, and I wouldn't want to interrupt that with pictures of my latest incredible find.

That's a good point. I think I'd lean in that direction as well. Consolidation is a good idea as far merging similar discussion topics, but, I like that there is a separate place to show off a recent find.

[vintagebrett]

How about combining Pictures / Today I found since they are similar categories? From the voting it seems everyone is in favor of reduction.

[Number9]

I vote yay in favor of photo group consolidation.

[Rickybulldog]

I like the categories. I feel the "Not a glove but still cool" needs to get pushed up because it doesn't get as many views when it should. I could do without the archive section, but I'm not a modern person. Just my 2 cents.

[Mr. Mitt]

Consolidation is a good idea as far merging similar discussion topics, but, I like that there is a separate place to show off a recent find.

I'm on the side that believes recent finds and pics should be in the main discussion section. If there is a hot topic, bump it into second place and replace it with a pic of what you've just found. More frequent time stamps on the main board brings more readers more often. I think, ultimately, that's what we're after. If the previous "hot" discussion really is interesting, it's still going to be read.

[vintagebrett]

I could do without the archive section, but I'm not a modern person. Just my 2 cents.

I understand this but the librarian in me is loathe to delete information - if I put it all into an "Archive" section it is still there for the people who want to read it. And people still read it - in the admin panel I can see what sections are being utilized.

I'm leaning towards the original configuration from the first post -we can always test for a few months and then come back to this topic and see what people's feelings are. I'll give it another day for discussion before I make any changes.

[ScottWNJ]

I'm for combining Today I Found and Vintage Glove Photos into one section since they are both "photo specific". Vintage Glove Discussion should remain by itself. I enjoy looking at the glove photos, but do not necessarily want to weed through discussion posts to get to the pictures. Vintage Glove Discussion will sometimes contain photos, depending on the item being discussed, but the other two sections are much more pictorial (like photo albums) and should remain separate.

I am in favor of combining the Restoration and Conditioning sections.

Leave Vintage Gloves For Sale/Trade/Wanted as is.

Not a Glove But Still Cool is one of my favorite sections. I wish you would add a category for Bat restoration and conditioning.

Not a fan of Modern Gloves, so that could just go away.

How about this:
Vintage Glove Discussion
Vintage Glove Finds & Photos
Vintage Gloves of the Month
Vintage Gloves Sale/Trade/Wanted
Not a Glove But Still Cool
Conditioning & Restoration
Archive

Scott

[vintagebrett]

Made the changes - let me know what you guys think.

[Mr. Mitt]

The main board looks great, Brett. Much more streamlined than in the past. Now that the changes have been made, I have to agree with the consensus and say that Finds & Photos belowng together.

[oldreliable]

I like it.

[okdoak]

Looks great!