The 'Other' Board

[shakkai]

Terri, that's a great idea, I think. My memory is not the greatest, so I always keep 'cheat sheets' lying around on my computer. If I think a particular post has really useful information, I will copy a link into the document I keep for orchids. (I used to favourite links and keep them in my bookmarks, but I haven't had time to organise that in so long I doubt I'd be able to find anything again!) I know I could always search and find the info here again, but this saves me time as I don't have to check so many pages in order to get back to the info that I (vaguely) remember.

Maybe we could have a contest, of sorts, and pick a selection of threads on different topics and let people vote for the ones they think are most helpful. The ones with the top votes could be listed in a sticky thread on 'start here, basic information' with the note that people should ask if their growing environment differs or if they have any other questions.

I think we want to encourage all those lurkers out there to come forward and post. But I think you are right, there are probably a lot of folks that just aren't ready and we really want to make things easy for them too.

Edit: Don't forget that there is already a lot of good information in the Member Articles section as well: http://www.orchidboard.com/taxonomy_dhtml

[Bolero]

I think I know the place, I used to go there and got a really hard time. I never really found out why.

[kiki-do]

I think Terri has a great idea, and Shakkai has the right idea of posting certain threads.
I am computer challenged, and what I can't seem to do is find an old thread that I found helpful when a problem arose. (Thank goodness for Dorothy)!!!!!!
A FAQ section is brilliant! Say, have numbered titles in dark letters, then one to three links (or more if need be) to the most direct and easy to understand (what we unofficially voted on as most helpful) answers. Links can always be added later.
Instead of making work for those that can do that "link stuff," we could just start the FAQ thread, and only add as we go. Little by little we can build on it.
I can't be the only computer challenged person on OB.
Kudos for coming up with such a fantastic idea in the middle of the night, too!!!!!
Anyone else like this idea? You guys and gals are the best!

[cb977]

I love that you've all got your thinking caps on...but I'm not sure this is a great idea

Our system seems to be working...we have over 6000 members who seem to navigate just fine. Any member who has a question is encouraged to ask it...and somebody is always there with the help that person needs.

How could we choose which threads merit "making the list"? There are numerous threads and posts on every subject.

In our About This Board forum, we've started a few threads with basic instructions on maneuvering around the board...after those are read, if anybody is still having a problem, the answer is just one post away.

Sorry...don't mean to be a party-pooper but I think this would create a whole new level of confusion...which is kind of ironic, huh?

[Marty]

I agree with Sue, before you know it you'll have a list of 20,000 great posts for which you'll need a search, then we will be back in square one... and we will make another list to navigate the 20,000 posts to find the best of the best threads, then we will need another list of threads, etc, etc until we finally come up with 1 click - "PM Dorothy"

I think our search feature is powerful enough.

I'm with Sue on this one, there's just too much info. If you have a really good post, why not convert it to an article and feature it on the front page as a tutorial. That will make it much more visible and google loves our article system

[Royal]

Originally Posted by Marty

etc, etc until we finally come up with 1 click - "PM Dorothy"

Great idea!!! If you're a newbie - PM Dorothy. If you're an expert - PM Dorothy. If you want to know how long until a keiki is ready to take off - PM Dorothy. If you want to know how long to boil an egg at 10,00 feet altitude - PM Dorothy.

[Chubidubi]

Great idea!!! If you're a newbie - PM Dorothy. If you're an expert - PM Dorothy. If you want to know how long until a keiki is ready to take off - PM Dorothy. If you want to know how long to boil an egg at 10,00 feet altitude - PM Dorothy.

TOO FUNNY

[Marty]

funny, until now I didn't know which one was the other board, I thought it was a different site all together. I stopped visiting other sites long time ago

[Royal]

I still don't know what "other" board we are talking about. Can I get a Sounds Like?

[Chubidubi]

I think it all adds up to completely different sites out there.