Do We Need Changes To This Forum

[moose]

I say dump the Community and add a couple of machine or woodworking sections. I don't go to Woodcraft or Rockler to buy clothes. Buddy with your friends on a dedicated forum for other purposes of socializing. Use Skype or instant messaging somewhere. This forum is full of clutter to the point that a search is difficult. I like to run my mouth as much as the next person but I don't come here to do it. I'm gone anyway along with a few others. This forum no longer meets my needs.

[Ed in Tampa]

I don't see a problem if people would just use the right group

Beginning Woodworking - "Forum for people who are new to woodworking." Feel free to ask questions or contribute.

General Woodworking - "This is a forum for intermediate to advanced woodworkers. Show off your projects or share your ideas."

Woodworking Tool Review - "Create a review for a woodworking tool that you are familiar with (Shopsmith brand or Non-Shopsmith) or just post your opinion on a specific tool. Head to head comparisons welcome too."

Maintenance and Repair - "Forum for Maintenance and Repair topics. Feel free to ask questions or contribute."

Community - "This is a forum for general discussion not related to woodworking"

I think each description is clear and concise and if followed to the letter would solve most of the problems mentioned here.


I really believe the problem is two fold.
One problem is people don't use the right group to start with

Two the thread gets hijacked by a off topic comment.

But there is another problem here I don't think people read the whole thread. I have often find a problem defined and then later in the thread resolved and then 6 posts later someone gives the same solution. It is like they read the problem discounted everyone's input and then inputted their opinion. If you aren't reading the whole thread you are wasting your time and everyone else's.

I also believe there are some here that feel slighted because they aren't recognized as the authority they think they are. I have often read threads where someone gives a very authoritative answer to a problem that they obviously didn't fully understand. Then it seems if they aren't recognized for fabulous answer they get into a snit and often the thread spirals into ground by off topic posts.

I think it comes back to the old adage we have two ears and one mouth which tells us we should listen twice as much as we talk. Perhaps we all need to read and reread twice as much as we respond on the forum.

My opinion for what it is worth.

[db5]

Seriously we DON'T need a section for those. This Shopsmith forum is about the MarkV.

OMG! I didn't know that. It must be hidden somewhere and I just can't find it. I guess people who own the Mark VII (Magna Corp.) can't ask for help and I can't reply. My wife tells me that seppuku ended after WWII and that three Hail Marys, two Our Fathers and a dollar in the collection will atone for my grievous sins on this forum.

[heathicus]

I think some restructuring of the forum areas would be beneficial. For one, I'm often not sure if my question/post should go in "Beginning Woodworking" or "General Woodworking." I think those two could be combined. And do we need an area specifically for tool reviews? If I had the authority, this is how I would restructure the forums:

Shopsmith Discussion - For questions, maintenance tips, and general discussion of the Shopsmith Mark V, Mark 7, PowerPro, and accessories.

Shopsmith History - For questions, maintenance tips, and general discussion of past machines carrying the Shopsmith or Sawsmith name such as the Model 10ER, Radial Arm Saw, or table saw.

Woodworking - For beginners and experts alike. Ask for help, share ideas and tips, show off your projects, or review a new tool.

Community - General "off-topic" discussion not related to Shopsmith or woodworking.

As for how people use the forums, and the tendency to wander off topic... well that's just people. I'd probably leave it to being mostly self-moderated like we do now. At most, I might would name a moderator or two who might, rarely and with great reluctance and only when absolutely necessary, move a discussion from one of the first 3 forums to the "Community" forum. One moderator (in addition to "Admin") for each forum who would only have power in that forum and would wield that power sparingly.

[forrestb]

When a thread gets this long, some will jump to the end with an idea already given.

THIS IS A RADICAL PROPOSED CHANGE!::eek:

I realize it would be a software solution that could be complicated or at least take a long time, but what if Ed's point could be (mostly) solved by not having individual Reply posts, but rather later occurring Replys are just ADDED to the original post with poster attribution and date as the only non-post item?

Sort of like how the Forum looks as you are writing your Reply, but without the black bars.

I think that might make the post look like a letter and might entice us to read through the whole thread.

Editing (maybe, too, policing) would be easier?

Ouch! was that ADMIN using nasty words directed at me.

Forrest

[heathicus]

Addendum to my previous post...

Currently, everything is under the "Main Woodworking Forum" grouping. The forum software allows for additional groups of forums. If desired, we could have groupings of forums other than the single "Main" one. For instance:

Shopsmith Machines
∟ Current - Using and maintaining the Mark 5/V, Mark 7 and accessories
∟ Single Purpose - Bandsaw, Jointer, Dust Collector, Power Stands, etc.
∟ Vintage - 10ER, Mark II, Mark VII, Sawsmith RAS & table saw, etc.

Woodworking Forums
∟ General Woodworking - Ask for help, or share ideas and tips.
∟ Turners - Everything lathe related.
∟ Project Showcase - Show off your projects!
∟ Tool Review - Share your opinion on a specific tool.

Everything Else
∟ Community - General "off-topic" discussion not related to Shopsmith or woodworking.
∟ Forum Support - Help and discussion related to the Shopsmith forums.

That might be dividing it up a little too much for our needs, but it's an example of what could be done.

I am of the mind that the Community area needs to stay. People just need to use it instead of totally derailing other threads.

[Ed in Tampa]

I think some restructuring of the forum areas would be beneficial. For one, I'm often not sure if my question/post should go in "Beginning Woodworking" or "General Woodworking." I think those two could be combined. And do we need an area specifically for tool reviews? If I had the authority, this is how I would restructure the forums:

Shopsmith Discussion - For questions, maintenance tips, and general discussion of the Shopsmith Mark V, Mark 7, PowerPro, and accessories.

Shopsmith History - For questions, maintenance tips, and general discussion of past machines carrying the Shopsmith or Sawsmith name such as the Model 10ER, Radial Arm Saw, or table saw.

Woodworking - For beginners and experts alike. Ask for help, share ideas and tips, show off your projects, or review a new tool.

Community - General "off-topic" discussion not related to Shopsmith or woodworking.

As for how people use the forums, and the tendency to wander off topic... well that's just people. I'd probably leave it to being mostly self-moderated like we do now. At most, I might would name a moderator or two who might, rarely and with great reluctance and only when absolutely necessary, move a discussion from one of the first 3 forums to the "Community" forum. One moderator (in addition to "Admin") for each forum who would only have power in that forum and would wield that power sparingly.

I like Tools Reviews because we get users input on various tools. Most reviews in book and magazines are done to appease the sponsors not the average Joe using the machine.
I also like to know what new tool someone has found that I might want or some new way to use an existing machine.
I love all the jigs and inventions people have built through the years for the Shopsmith.
I myself often post something I come across that I think others would be interested in.

As for the older machines and Mark Vll why can't they go into maintaince and repair with the machine type in the header. Example " Mark Vll loose belt" or "10ER with stuck chuck."

That way if you have a interest in Mark Vll or 10 ER you can read the thread if not you know to pass on by.

One thing that might help the most is if people would put some real thought into the title.

How much nicer would it be to see thread on outfeed tables titled "Outfeed table." Instead of "How I increased my table size. "

Also if you invented a really spiffy jig I want to know about it. I love most of the inventions you guys have made. So why not title the thread "Mark V router jig" instead of "Guess what this is?"

Classic example "Today in the Shop." Instead of "More thoughts or info on handle position."

[robinson46176]

I think that Dusty's reason for feeling like leaving is far narrower in scope than all of these proposed solutions.

Introspection and general attitude adjustment (which seldom happens ) is the easy answer...


Guilty of rambling here.
.

[rcplaneguy]

Don't change things due to one or two bad apples. Also, if the forum gets to be too much of a problem, I can see them shutting it down entirely.

[dusty]

OKAY, I have caused far more turmoil here than I intended and the single thought of causing us all to lose the entire forum scares me to death.

I would like to see the changes that I have suggested but I will not say another word about that.

I would also like to see everyone pulling together to return this to a woodworking forum, at least in all sections other than Community and as someone else said in this thread, try to stay on the general topic of the originating post. If something said in a thread introduces a new (off-topic) thought - start a new thread.

I said in another thread that I was going to be absent for awhile. Now I am. When I come back, I hope calm has settled over the forum and everyone is friends again.