Forum Updates

[Rob]

Over the last couple of days, I've started working on the next version of the forum. There will be no major changes to the design and layout of the site, but I intend to make a few big changes to the format of the site.

I am planning the following:

• The Site News forum is to be removed. Forthcoming updates will be done through the notifications system. The Feedback! Thread will be moved to the Websites forum. All other posts will be merged into the site rules and about pages.

• There will be a new forum dedicated to television programmes.

• The sidebar (as seen in a previous failed update) will return with forthcoming television presentation events (not a calendar - that's been too tricky to implement) and a recently updated website feed.

• Improved website navigation

• The daily headers are becoming a bit of a chore. I'm struggling to find good quality images of old idents, so I will be reducing them to either weekly or monthly.

• I'll also be taking a backseat regarding the moderation of the site, as I feel I'm dominating things too much, and making things unpleasant for members. I'm happy to sit in the background and keep the site ticking over with new additions and fixes.

At present, there is no date for the launch of this new version, although I'm currently aiming for sometime in July.

I'll be messaging some of you in the next few weeks to see if you would like to help me test the new version before it goes live.

Any suggestions as to the above, or as to any further improvements are welcome.

[johnnyboy]

Sounds exciting, Rob, and thanks again for providing the platform.

I think the addition of the forum for discussion of TV programs will be great - I would have loved it if, at TVF, there was somewhere to discuss Doctor Who, Life on Mars, The Third Day, and so on.

For what it's worth, as someone who has been on the end of your warnings, you're doing a great job modding and you're deffo not making things unpleasant.

[Rob]

For what it's worth, as someone who has been on the end of your warnings, you're doing a great job modding and you're deffo not making things unpleasant.

I will still be online, I'll just be focusing more on keeping the site up and running, and doing things to make it better.

I'll certainly be around to make any decisions that need making, and to help the moderators as much as possible.

[Jon]

Will the programmes forum still be concentrated presentation aspects of programmes? Or will people be allowed discuss things like what people think will happen in a given soap storyline or who like on Love Island?

Obviously a bit of content discussion already happens but it could turn a bit Digital Spy if the distinction is made.

[Brekkie]

Programmes had long been discussed on TV Forum up until more recent times and generally speaking the threads are a bit more intelligent than Digital Spy. There is very little harm in an established community discussing content as well - indeed it could make it a more rounded forum.

I guess moving the natural place to discuss the presentation around the programmes will be in the threads in the new forum and then leave the main forum to focus more on channel presentation. May be the odd thread that fits neither (the sport thread for example), but things generally work out if people just show a bit of patience and let things evolve naturally.

[Neil Jones]

Having a separate TV Programmes forum seems a bit Digital Spy to me. Even in the days of TV Forum we used to have, as [mention]Brekkie[/mention] says, discussion of programmes that fitted in brilliantly, though in fairness a lot of that was because there was sod all else presentation wise to discuss, but it did get a bit silly on occasion especially where Loose Women of all things was concerned...

[Brekkie]

Nearly half of all threads in the Presentation forum are already programme rather than presentation related so it makes perfect sense. If you're not interested in discussing programmes just stay out of the new forum - it's that simple.

[Jon]

Nearly half of all threads in the Presentation forum are already programme rather than presentation related so it makes perfect sense. If you're not interested in discussing programmes just stay out of the new forum - it's that simple.

On the other hand is it spreading the content out too thinly? Anyway, it’s good Rob is trying out new things and putting his own stamp the forum.

[Rob]

Will the programmes forum still be concentrated presentation aspects of programmes? Or will people be allowed discuss things like what people think will happen in a given soap storyline or who like on Love Island?

Obviously a bit of content discussion already happens but it could turn a bit Digital Spy if the distinction is made.

It will continue to be as before, concentrating on presentation aspects. There are no plans to turn this place into Digial Spy.

[Steve in Pudsey]

If you are thinking about new forums, how about separating off archive discussion? I know many of us like to reminisce (and some threads naturally go off at a retro tangent) but I know some people find discussion of the good old days irritating.

[Rob]

If you are thinking about new forums, how about separating off archive discussion? I know many of us like to reminisce (and some threads naturally go off at a retro tangent) but I know some people find discussion of the good old days irritating.

If people find discussion of the good old days irritating, they can simply ignore the thread.

I'm 100% for remembering the past, it makes me and other forum members happy.

[Neil Jones]

If you are thinking about new forums, how about separating off archive discussion? I know many of us like to reminisce (and some threads naturally go off at a retro tangent) but I know some people find discussion of the good old days irritating.

If people find discussion of the good old days irritating, they can simply ignore the thread.

I'm 100% for remembering the past, it makes me and other forum members happy.

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be

(I'll get my coat)

[Rob]

Here's a small preview of the changes ahead (click the link for a larger image)

[BBI45]

Sorry if it's already been suggested, but it would be good if the Gallery icon would show an image from the latest discussed design. I thin it'd make it easier to see as opposed to just showing the time of the most recent post.

[Rob]

Sorry if it's already been suggested, but it would be good if the Gallery icon would show an image from the latest discussed design. I thin it'd make it easier to see as opposed to just showing the time of the most recent post.

It's a bit tricky to do that from the homepage, however it might be possible to do that within the forum itself. That's definitely something to look at.