Forum Layout
 

FlyerTalk was very responsive when we asked to split up The Buzz as it started to get out of control. However, am I the only one who thinks there are now too many forums? It is now to the point where it is often unclear where something should be posted (witness this thread) leading to duplicate posts and the necessity to switch forums several times during each visit.

I would respectfully suggest that we combine FlyerTalk Community and FlyerTalk Itineraries (as they are both meant to facilitate meetings between us) and combine In the News and The Buzz (as they are both meant to deal with recent travel news) and combine Omni and General Travel Talk (as they are both meant to deal with random thoughts). Trip Reports, Only Randy Petersen, and Coupon Connection could continue in their current incarnation as they all deal with specific, readily identifiable topics.



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Cheers,
Hong Kong Flyer
Soon to be London Flyer

My bigger concern is that the front page is now about 100K, which is not the easiest page to load.

Although I appreciate you don't want to make any airlines feel like they're not equal, let's face it, 10% of the forums produce 95% of the messages ...

Couldn't you replace all of the hardly ever used forums with an "Other Airline Programs" forum?

I agree that the front page is now very unwieldy. I also agree with HKFs specific suggestions about the main fourms (Community=itineraries; News+buzz and Omni+travel talk).

I have to disagree on one point though - I have no idea what Only Randy Peterson is supposed to be for. Looking at the threads covered in it I don't see any that couldn't be in the Buzz or Travel Talk, except (perhaps)those started by Randy himself. It also strikes me that what we think should grab Randy's attention and what he thinks should are probably not the same!

I also agree with Beckles that there are too many underused forums (I know that personally I read about 6 airlines and one hotel in addition to the general forums). I also read from home with a slow modem half the time and such a large page is a problem.
However, rather than amalgamating the small boards in to a single forum, can you create a second 'Main' menu, linked from the front page and the scrolling menus, in which these forums are included?

That would mean that those of us who aren't interested don't have to be, whilst those that are don't need to trawl through posts of absolutely no interest to their airline.

Tough to satisfy everyone I know, but I think you're getting there!

James

(Copied over from my earlier post)

I actually REALLY like the new forums.

I do agree there is too much confusion. I would suggest that this is not because of too many forums, but too many changes too fast. Yesterday again, we've had forums moved/changed. While I totally agree with what has been done, even my head is spinning with the changes. Once it settles, I think we will hit our stride and enjoy the distinctions.

The only instance I might disagree with slightly is The Buzz / General Travel Talk. While I am clear that Buzz is for frequent flyer programs, and General is for all other travel postings, as a reader of the board, I'm not sure the distinction is necessary.

The others however make my use of the board faster and I have more of an ability to read what I want when I want.

So, we've been Flyertalk 3.0 for the last 10 changes and UBB upgrades. Aren't we up to at least 3.1? Or Flyertalk Gold? Or Flyertalk 2000?


And I have no problem with the load speed. Compared to other sites, it's fine.

Anything is fine with me! Regarding Beckles comment about grouping, if you do, it mwy be better to go with categaories like "All other US based, Eur based, Asia based, All Others."

In view of the recent LanChile questions etc., any further thought to grouping of the inactive carriers by continent? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Maybe the title page could group the less active forums and then those each have their own sub-folder. This may help speed up the title page and still leave all the existing folders.