Sub-forums and the main forum. Input requested.

[l_eclipse_l]

Originally Posted by E-Klips

For those who stated deleting the main forum, that would be a bad idea. We would lose everything anyone ever posted before the subforum was installed. All the important posts that people get when they search.

If that's true, then best not to delete it. Just make it so you can't post in it and there isn't a huge blank spot taking up the entire page and you can only see the sticky's.

[l_eclipse_l]

Originally Posted by sganc4life_4

Edit:

Maybe switch the off topic and main forum spots on the list and change main to Important Stickies/Archives or something of this nature.

Not sure if that would work, they need to be very obvious to see for the newbs. If they are hidden in a subforum, that might not be obvious enough and they will just post in the main forum anyway.

[xavier3jr]

Originally Posted by sganc4life_4

I think the main forum should be more of a sticky page, everything covered a billion times already should be on it for people to search through instead of going to the correct subforums and asking the same questions over and over again. I agree with the name change though.

Edit:

Maybe switch the off topic and main forum spots on the list and change main to Important Stickies/Archives or something of this nature.

i agree with this. move EVERYTHING from the main forum into a subform title "information" or something and lock it that way its out of the way. then like eclipse said move the stickies to the top of the page.

[Bodack]

I agree the main forum should be retained for its information, but should be locked and everything should be posted in a sub-forum from now on. As far as sub-forum names go...it's only a formality. Name away!

[SLoe]

First things first, newbs DON'T search. Secondly newbs DON'T read the stickies. The majority of newbies first post is a problem they are having, and they will post it in the main forum anyway because they didn't search or read the stickies. Why not make the main part problem diagnosis? You wouldn't have to move nearly as many threads.

I agree with E-Klipse you can't delete the main, there is too much info in the old threads. You also might try to do like tooners, and make a newbie forum. Keep all other subforums off limits to posting by newbs until it is determined they are experienced enough.

[defiancy]

I think the MAIN forum should be used for all the write ups and stickies. I think it would make navigation of all our usefull tech knowledge to be available on the front page. I think that we should use the main forum to put all our FAQ's(Like they are now plus whatever else comes along) And all the write ups that are important on the front page. That way all that information is readily available on the main page. A newbie would have a better chance of finding information on that "motor swap" he want's to do if the sticky that talks about motor swaps was the first thing he saw. IT would reduce newbs from posting pointless threads about the same topics because they can't navigate the sub-forums very well and also allow for us to have a main bank or database for all our writeups and knowledge. I like that the stickies go in their different sub-forums, but I think it would better benefit the new people if they were on the main page. Not necessarily all the write-ups but most of the ones that are along the lines of:

Important: Torque specs
Sticky Thread Important: THE double clutching thread...
Sticky Thread Important: Bosche Nightmare(WARNING)
Sticky Thread Important: 1g bov diagram?(How BOV works inside)
Important: For everyone interested in TURBOING AN RS/GS OR TALON ESI!!!

Not necessarily all of these but these are an example of threads that could be moved to the main page to make them more exposed for our new crowd. It also would bring to the surface the information that each thread holds in them, instead of keeping them hidden within the subforums.

I am also looking for someone who can host the wiring diagrams/schematics I have for 1g's, so that I can post them on a sticky. I have a zip file full of all the wiring diagrams of the 1g. Everything you could possibly want.

I also agree with renaming the AP subforum back to NP

[Shpyder]

Good suggestions. Keep them coming.

I was thinking, why even have a "Problem Diagnosis" section? Hear me out.

Since a great majority of posts, by newbies and regulars, involve a problem that needs your attention, how about we do this. Have a setup involving the following sub-forums:

1) Engine, Transmission & Air/Fuel

2) Electrical

3) Body & Interior

4) Classifieds

5) Videos

6) AF Project Eclipse

Ok. We all know how sometimes it gets hard to figure out which sub-forum to post in. There are many things that can be posted in more than one sub-forum. E.g., "Help, my motor is making noises, what's going on?". This can currently be addressed in both, "Problem Diagnosis" AND "Performance". Let me remind people, that "Performance" does not specifically cater to after-market performance only. It merely describes the running and operating conditions of the motor, tranny, and air/fuel system.

Given the above layout, we eliminate the "Problem Diagnosis" sub-forum, and post in whatever sub-forum best describes the nature of the issue. E.g., "Is this a good turbo?", "Check out my new turbo!!", and as well as "my turbo is not running correctly" can now all fit well into "1) Engine, Transmission & Air/Fuel". This will eliminate a lot of confusion as to where to post. Your turbo questions, your turbo gloating, and your turbo problems, will all go in one place.

As for newbies, it is a given that they will post in the wrong place as they initially commence use of our forums. No matter how many stickies there are, or how elaborate the rules and regulations, they will screw-up in the begining. I am very pleased that many of you guys have taken the excellent and commendable initiative to constantly remind newbies of which sub-forums to use, and what rules to go through. As I have always said, this makes our Eclipse/Talon/Laser forum different from all the other forums on AF, because its smooth operation is determined by everyone's involvement, not just by moderators.

What do you guys think of the above?

[scottsee]

I don't think it will ever be perfect. Bu I do agree with the main forum actually being *somthing*. Call me old fashion, but I still would like to see a tuning section. You'll do a good job no matter what so I really don't care..

[l_eclipse_l]

I think those categories would be fine, but do we really need a subforum dedicated to the AF Project Eclipse? I think devoted a sticky to the more important threads would be enough, and save making a subforum with only a few theads in it.

[Bodack]

Originally Posted by Shpyder

1) Engine, Transmission & Air/Fuel

2) Electrical

3) Body & Interior

4) Classifieds

5) Videos

6) AF Project Eclipse

I like these sub-forums.

[Shpyder]

Originally Posted by l_eclipse_l

do we really need a subforum dedicated to the AF Project Eclipse?

Because the AF Project Eclipse is precisely that, i.e., AF's project vehicle, that fact that it's an Eclipse will automatically have it listed in our forum, in addition to other forums here on AF. I do agree with you on the fact that it gets hardly any posts, but it is reasonable that it belongs here in the E/T/L forum. I will ask admin about turning it into a sticky instead of a dedicated sub-forum.

[l_eclipse_l]

Originally Posted by Shpyder

Because the AF Project Eclipse is precisely that, i.e., AF's project vehicle, that fact that it's an Eclipse will automatically have it listed in our forum, in addition to other forums here on AF. I do agree with you on the fact that it gets hardly any posts, but it is reasonable that it belongs here in the E/T/L forum. I will ask admin about turning it into a sticky instead of a dedicated sub-forum.

I realize it should be in our forum and that's fine. It should be. But my thought was that there is no need to make a subforum for it. Just sticky the most important thread or two in that subforum and be done with it, there are only like 3 or 4 actual threads about it anyway the others in there are about something else and those can be moved to another subforum.

[Shpyder]

Alright brethren.

Even though we will retain the OT subforum for the foreseeable (sp.?) future, feel free to get the Main forum populated with OT stuff (as you probably deduced from the recent posts on the Main not having been moved).

-$hpyder (now with added bling!)

[Blackcrow64]

Sit tight here folks and enjoy the construction thats going on...

Thor and I are working hard to get things organized around here. Remember how everybody threw a fit about the main forum being empty and/or junked up with redirects? Well I spent a good bit of the evening eliminating all those old redirects and now Thor and I are beginning to sort out over 400 pages of old mixed threads. lol So bear with us here.

You will also notice for the time being that our OT subforum will be renamed as Tech Articles and Writeups and the DSM Videos is being changed to just Videos. Apearance will also be renamed to Interior, Exterior, Audio and Visual... Do not fear this name change for the OT section for now. We will get it straightened out as we go here. The main forum will once again be our OT section after all this. Just continue on with your typical activites but please help us out a little bit by putting forth a little extra effort on sorting any new threads you create into the appropriate subforums.

Thank you... Soon enough you all will be enjoying a much more organized AF and an alphabetized tech section.

[Thor06]

Ok guys, looks like TS got 'er did! Lets use them well!