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Pastimes : SI Beta Site Launch - 7/01/99 -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jbe who wrote (1394)	8/5/1999 10:20:00 PM
From: Zeuspaul	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 2340

First, I have to say I don't understand what you mean about "off-topic posts," still less about providing SI members with a "methodology" for making them. What does a checkbox have to do with off-topic posts??? Sorry, trying to address too many subjects in one post. Someone suggested a check box in the post reply. If the poster considers her/his post off topic..check the box before submitting the post. Then readers could opt to filter posts that have been checked as off topic. I liked the idea at first. After thinking about it I began to wonder. Sometimes SI management pops into a thread and asks that posters stay on topic. How could SI management ask posters to stay on topic if they give users an option to post off topic? Just a thought. am not sure I understand the indexing idea, either. No, I should say I understand it; and, in itself it makes a lot of sense. What I don't understand is how SI can help maintain it......You are thinking of some kind of technical/logistical assistance, right? Yes technical and logistical assistance. ie When/if they develop the FAQ table of contents give users the same capability. I think it could be done in the message center. SI would have to make the changes in the message center...or maybe tag along with whatever they do with the FAQ concept...table of contents. Why not just store the index in a Dream Machine Clubhouse? (The Grammar Thread archives "anthologies" of important posts on specific topics in its Clubhouse. The anthologies are much, much less comprehensive than an Index would be, but still, it's a similar idea.) That is why I asked SI for the clubhouse. But I can not figure out a way to implement the index in the clubhouse in an efficient manner. A clubhouse is linear in nature..just like a thread. To maintain an index in a linear structure one has to copy forward the last index and then add the new link. Too much work. The anthologies are much, much less comprehensive than an Index would be, but still, it's a similar idea.) I agree. Why do think I am trying to convince you it is a good idea? I think the grammar thread could benefit from an index. If I can not convince you I do not think I can convince anybody. <g> Maybe on the Dream Machine thread you all stick to the point, and always say something worth remembering. Heck no. We post about anything related to computers. That is why an index would be useful. I do not want to structure a thread..free expression in the SI tradition is best. I just want to make the wealth of information available. It gets buried in a thread. Lots of good information and an easy way to access it means more hits for SI. In order to maintain an index like that, somebody has to read through each post, and decide how/where to classify it. You got it. It is a lot of work but the end product is very useful. I read every post..and so do some others. It is a great thread..keeps me busy. If I come home and there are a half dozen posts I could do the indexing myself. If things get active..fifty posts..it is too much work. That is why I am asking for a system that would allow for a group effort. I can not do all of the work myself. The pieces seem to be in place in the beta version. That is why I have discussed it. The message center seems like it would work. I can file messages in the message center in named folders. Bryan has indicated the message center will have an option to file any message. Only a few IMO more minor<g> changes have to be made. ALSO. Bryan's proposal for a table of contents might also be a model. Perhaps he would let us beta test it on the Grammar and Dream threads?? Zeuspaul

To: jbe who wrote (1394)	8/6/1999 1:24:00 AM
From: Zeuspaul	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2340

Another example RE Table of Contents/Index We have discussed many issues on this thread. Some posts relate to colors, restoring lost functions and others relate to proposed new functions. If the posts relating to colors were placed in a folder named colors..by a kind volunteer..someone interested in the color issue..it would make it easier for someone else to get a better feel for the color issue before posting on color related topics. Likewise someone else could start a public folder on new functions. Either the original poster or someone interested in the new function issue could place the post in a folder named Proposed New Functions. Cheeky could make a folder named SI Classic <g> Some posts would end up in more than one folder. Perhaps a post addresses colors and new functions. If the post covers more than one issue it could..if some one chose..be placed in more than one folder. Logistically ..there could be a button at the bottom of the page that says File Message. Clicking on the File Message button would take you to the listing of available public folders for the thread. To view public folders. There could be a second button at the bottom of the post that says View Public Folders Clicking would take one to the list of public folders. Clicking on a public folder would take you to a list of posts that had been previously filed in the folder. Duplication of effort is an issue. If someone else has already filed the post..clicking through to the message center would be a waste of time. Generally I would want to accept someone else's efforts. Maybe there is a way to flag a post..indicating that it has already been indexed. The filing system would only serve as a helpful tool..it certainly would not be used on all threads and it would not be complete. It would work in conjunction with the Thread Search Engine. Zeuspaul