Attn: I'd like everyone's input on possible forum changes!!

[Eikon]

Hey gang,

I'm sure you've all heard me say this in the past, but the 'vert forum is the single greatest forum in the world! We have a fantastic group of members, participants and 'vert owners! We have a great culture and fantastic atmosphere.

This forum exists for the benefit of the members!

NICOclub has recently begun implementing some improvements to the forum structures. We've been able to divide the single car specific forums into sub-forums. We used to have a single Altima forum. We now have an altima forum with multiple subforums.. http://forums.altimas.org/G35/G37 have been restructured as well. http://forums.g35club.org/

What do you guys think about splitting up the 'vert forum into subforums? Here's my idea of how it might look:1.) General2.) Maintenance/Modification3.) Owners Gallery and Projects.

Please give some feedback on the idea!!!

It might make things better organized and more on topic. It might increase traffic to the forums by making them more attractive. On the other hand, we're not the busiest forum... would it make things too sparse? Too quiet with three forums?

How would you suggest organizing the forums? Any other ideas?

Do you like things just the way they are? Would you prefer we didn't changed things at all?

This forum belongs to the members... What do you guys want done with YOUR forum?

[DeXteR]

Subforums are a great idea!

1.) General 240sx convertible and misc. - the catch-all forum for anything regarding the verts that don't fall into the other categories as well as werid stuff like what to pack your kid for lunch tomorrow. 2.) Introductions - for all the newbies to introduce themselves3.) Maintenance and upgrades - get mechanical help, discuss possible upgrades etc.4.) Member projects - this is a no-brainer here5.) Vert-spec classifieds - instead of putting everything in a single thread.

Keep the stickies on every forum.

Just my thoughts.

[BiXLL]

Subforums are a great idea!

1.) General 240sx convertible2.) Introductions - for all the newbies to introduce themselves3.) Maintenance and upgrades - get mechanical help, discuss possible upgrades etc.4.) Member projects - this is a no-brainer here5.) Vert-spec classifieds - instead of putting everything in a single thread.

Keep the stickies on every forum.

Just my thoughts.

I like the format Dexter is suggesting, but wouldlike to see it taken just a little bit further. I would like to see it as 1-General (anything not area specific)2-Instead of Maintence and upgrades, I would like to seeExterior modsInterior mods Performance mods3- Do it yourself tech tips area- a section of tuitorials with instructions and pics of how members have done repairs/mods4-off topic section, where vert members can discuss and ask opinions of things other then vert questions5-I really like the idea of vert specific classifieds also.

[TIMELSS_vert]

Both Dexter and BiXll have it right. Either setup would be great imo!

[Eikon]

Thanks for the input so far guys! Keep it coming.

[Hijacker]

I don't see any reason to split the forums up. We don't generate that much traffic, and diversifying the content would make each sub-forum look slow.

The technical aspect is covered in 240 tech. convertible only problems are asked here. Since 1 in 10 problems posted might be vert specific, I don't see the need to make a seperate vert tech forum.

This forum also serves as a primarily Gen Chat style of format, so splitting Intro threads and Build threads seems as if it would diversify the content too much.

The only thing I think we should split up is make a seperate classifieds section. We've had the classifieds thread stickied forever, but it rarely gets used. I primarily see individual requests get posted as a seperate topic.

Seth, what prompted this topic?

[Eikon]

Seth, what prompted this topic?

Matt and I have been talking about it for months. He's got things working nicely now for the first couple of experiments.

I am on the fence about the topic for the 'vert forum. So I thought I'd run it all past the group here to see what they think.

I agree with you that 5 forums is too many. It would look like a ghost town.

I think 3 might be the right number.

We'll see.. I want to get a feel from many of the members, then talk it over with admins and see if we want to proceed with it, or just leave things alone as they are.

[jamesblonde82]

i think i agree with hijacker. it wouldn't seem as busy as it is now. and it's not really that busy. If there was to be a subforum, i would suggest making the trading post stickie into one. it's kind of nice to go one place for the verts instead of multiple subforums. If it was crazy busy though, i would feel different.

[DeXteR]

What difference does it make it if LOOKS slow?

I think subdividing a forum is a good way to keep things better organized. I personally don't care if a forum hasn't been posted to in months as long as it's there and easy to search through and access.

I do not think subdividing the forum would affect the amount of posts that we see on a regular basis. I just think it will be easier to navigate within our corner of Nico.

I don't care either way. I'm happy with it the way it is and I'd be happy with it if it changed. As long as it's still here, I'm happy.

At the very LEAST, add a classified forum and a project log forum.

[TIMELSS_vert]

the other thing that I think subdeviding a forum does, is require more interaction from the user, and incourage them to look around instead of just post a new topic. Especially if we can break down that sticky thread of stickies, into just stickies in respective subdevisions. I know, even as a moderately active member on here, I stay away from that thread unless needed just because it hurts my head to read through all of the stuff on there. That may be a personal issue, but I know it can easily scare off new users into starting a new topic then everyone jumpin their bones about not searching...-

[red_vert]

fs/ft and a wtb? instead of everything in one.

[biggie]

2-3 subforums would be the most I'd want to see. I'm also ok with it as is.

For me, simple is better:1. General2. Galley/Member's Projects/Tech3. Vert WTB/FS (maybe, not really that much traffic for Vert specific things)

[cmkelly]

I like it just the way it is. I like reading all the posts and learning more about all aspects of the vert. If I'm not interested in a topic (title) I ignore it in the future.

The "Title" to the post is the most important thing to me.

Subdivision is like demoninations in religion - it only goes to separate the flock. But that's just my $.02.

[BiXLL]

It seems like some of you are fighting or scared of change. If you give it a chance, I think you will find the subdivions a big help in navigating the areas of your interest. I still end up going through all subdivions at other places I go, but it sure makes it much easier knowing what type of question or info you are looking at when you have them in their own sections. It also allows for threads to not get burried, and stay closer to the top for a longer period of time.

[cmkelly]

Not afraid of change at all. I just look at all the other forums out there and see how broken up they are. There's a subheading for just about everything. That's not good design. Simple is usually better and change for change sake alone is not progress.

I usually look for a business reason to improve a product or service and just don't see one here.

Again, just my $.02.

[krash]

I'm with cmkelly on this one. I like the fact that all vert-associated topics are all in one place. this makes it easier to learn more about the vert in all areas. However, if we were to split it up then I think Eikon has the right idea

[94_240sx]

For me, simple is better:1. General2. Galley/Member's Projects/Tech3. Vert WTB/FS (maybe, not really that much traffic for Vert specific things)

I'm with biggie on this one. Looks perfect.

[onosqv]

The vert forum moves slow enough as it is.

I think the issue here is that you think 240sx convertible is something independant of other 240 stuff, which it isn't, hahaha.

basically any general 240 stuff is covered by one of the other forums (Silvia/240, 240 tech, online mechanic, even this subforum).

Owner/Gallery/bla bla should be a general 240 thing, not vert thing. It's basically just "build threads", which the vert subforum has been handling fine as is.

Even if we all of a sudden double, or triple, the number of 240 vert guys, this subforum would still be slow moving compared to other subforums on this site.

There is very little in terms of 240 vert specific stuff, which fits just dandy in this section - perhaps a couple tech articles in the 240 vert tech category would be okay, but splitting up an already slow moving subforum seems pointless.

If anything, I still feel Nico has WAY too many subforums (like I did a couple years ago when this current structure was being discussed).

[240DrpTop]

Looks like we have a split. Maybe a poll would help decide. Just for the record either way is fine with me. Great suggestions.

[sokrispy]

i know i def would like to see a wtb/ trade area what we have now sucks sorry to say but it realyyyyyy does cause i do have lots of parts to trade or sell but i feel it wouldnt do me much justice to post them on what we have now plus im allways looking for some odd ball things for my self to buy. would also like to see an off topic. every one goes on about how were all close and a big family here why not have a little bit of fun or humor within our family with some off topic stuff i do come to our forum every day for info and entertainment !(prime example dexters water leak in his house great for off topic and look how many ppl responed to that thread ) and off topic would work well in that case.i say 3 areasGENERAL - ( for all convertable projects issues advice and tech on verts any thing eles def can be found in the 240/silva area )WTB/TRADE - ( obvi want to buy and trading posts some thing for vert or general things even something well indoubt hard to find that you would like to sell to a fellow vert owner before you open it up to the masses of the 240/siliva section !)OFF TOPIC- ( for any thing other than your vert example a new car you bought, a new job you found some crazy info you found. funny you tubes water leaks to your house ,jokes etc )this way traffic still will mainly flow threw the general area but if your bored you can roam to other areas .
Modified by sokrispy at 4:35 PM 5/12/2008

[Loki]

^ Off-topic Forum? We already have General Chat.

Subforums are a great idea!

1.) General 240sx convertible and misc. - the catch-all forum for anything regarding the verts that don't fall into the other categories as well as werid stuff like what to pack your kid for lunch tomorrow. 2.) Introductions - for all the newbies to introduce themselves3.) Maintenance and upgrades - get mechanical help, discuss possible upgrades etc.4.) Member projects - this is a no-brainer here5.) Vert-spec classifieds - instead of putting everything in a single thread.

Keep the stickies on every forum.

Just my thoughts.

This looks pretty good, but I don't think we should have an Intro Forum. We really don't get too many newbies in, and I think that type of thing would be fine in General.

Honestly though, I agree more with QV. This forum is pretty slow anyways. I think adding a Vert Specific WTB/WTS forum is all we should do since the Vert Part Thread is just cluttered and hard to manage.

[GoinTopless240]

I think some break downs to separate the stickies from the main body would be good or maybe just using a link to a stickie forum. I agree with having an area for the newbs to introduce themselves would be great. Maybe an area for FAQ for newbs to view. I've been on the SR forums and found the traffic a bit crazy sometimes. Posts get lost really fast and not seen (sometimes within hours). The Vert forum is nice pace. I can usually miss a day and still not miss too much. I agree from a Marketing standpoint that having 20 sub groups that show 5 posts a day or one group showing 100 post a day looks better. We need to get better with supporting our vendors and the only way to bring more vendors is to have good traffic otherwise they won't stay interested. I still think a small membership fee for maybe a "premium" membership that maybe allows PM's? or IM's or Picture gallery storage as a perk? Might offset some costs. Having a better way to access FSM's would be great for most. Maybe some sidebar click links? Just my input. I want this site to succeed and grow (A force to be reckoned with).

[S15nS13vert]

i am just happy to be here

[ishkabibble]

The vert forum is pretty slow as it is. Splitting it up would make it like the Sentra/G20 forum: chirping crickets.

Plus, think of all of the work you'd make for jrsink - he'd have to start 3x as many threads.

Not that my opinion counts anymore.

[onosqv]

The vert forum is pretty slow as it is. Splitting it up would make it like the Sentra/G20 forum: chirping crickets.

Plus, think of all of the work you'd make for jrsink - he'd have to start 3x as many threads.

Not that my opinion counts anymore.

What are you doing still hanging around here? hee hee hee.

[ishkabibble]

What are you doing still hanging around here? hee hee hee.

Oh, I still own 1% of a vert (for the time being). Also, the occasional Canadian weather reports from Dexter and Seth make me appreciate D.C. a little more.

[240RB1]

Both Eikon and Hijacker are right, i think whichever way the forum goes it should be for the benefit of it. u make choices and dont look back thats how i see it.

[1SickSilvia]

I also agree with hijacker and strongly suggest we should have a separete sub forum for classifieds so not all things are in the same thread. Maybe even a vert build/pics section as well.Good job guys, good to see you guys trying to improve our great forum.

[Eikon]

Great responses everyone. I'm glad to see so many people offering well thought out advice.

I'm still not sure which way I fall on this topic.

I'm 50% for leaving things just the way they currently are. We don't get enough traffic to "need" to divide the forums. We do run the risk of dividing things too far.

I'm 50% for separating the the forum into 3 sections. I like Biggie's division. At first I didn't like the idea of a "classifieds" subforum. But based on the numerous responses, I think if we do split things, that would be a good choice for one of them. Obviously we'd have gen chat. Finally, I think a "member's rides / builds" forum would be really cool. So if we do split it up, I think it would be good to have:1.) General2.) Member's Rides3.) Classifieds.

Let's mull it over a bit more. If we do decide to do it, it will be a while before admins find the time to get to us. There are bigger, busier forums on NICO which need the help before us.

Also.. keep your eyes open for a new look to the 'vert registry soon. I'm hoping to have that live by the end of the month.

Thanks everyone!

[Loki]

Tell me this, what would we really discuss in Vert Gen Chat if not member's rides and projects?