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#101 2007-09-12 5:50 am
- Orion
- Bovi-sapiens

- From: America's Dairyland
- Registered: 2000-09-12
- Posts: 2958
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
matt wrote:
Certain forums had/have been basically abandoned or get little-to-no traffic-- for example, many of the gaming forums(which have yet to be fully addressed). [MA] UT - Dark Squad has not had a single post in almost two years. That being the case, does it deserve its own forum? Shouldn't the forum list be short and easy to navigate and not have a lot of dead rooms where no one goes?
Those gaming forums you speak of are dead because they don't show up for 99.9% of the people here. How are we supposed to know they exist if they are hidden? They used to be displayed for everyone, but only accessable to members, but now they are simply gone. Frankly, I forgot they even existed. Why were they restricted access in the first place?
Farming is easy when your plow is a pencil and you are a thousand miles from the cornfield. -Dwight D. Eisenhower
Don't curse the farmer with your mouth full.
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#102 2007-09-12 7:47 am
- henebry
- Member

- Registered: 2003-04-24
- Posts: 476
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
I like the way that Circuit Board and Baloon Help have been parcelled up, so that people with questions can post to forums where other, more tech-savvy people go to browse tech news.
"I am flaccid with rage" - Steven Colbert on the iPhone
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#103 2007-09-12 9:51 am
- Pithecanthropus
- Roast Master

- From: St. Cloud, MN
- Registered: 2002-12-30
- Posts: 4448
- Website
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
Here's another vote against combining Unplugged and the Rant Room.
Grandfatherly advice: You can drink 'em pretty, but you can't drink 'em smart.
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#104 2007-09-12 9:53 am
- DukeofNuke
- Free Radical

- From: Hazard
- Registered: 2003-05-02
- Posts: 2563
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
matt wrote:
stuff...
About half of the topics in Balloon Help had no replies and the ones that did only had one or two replies total.
more stuff...
Well, how many answers to a problem are there?
Yeah, I think if you're, (i mean, we're) gonna have a help forum, then an effort to answer all questions should be made, even if your answer is "idk",
and, I think that, when the forum solves a problem, the original poster should acknowledge the results, maybe even say "Thanks"
(BTW, ScifiterX, I found an old EKG lead and clipped it to my radio antenna, doubling its length. My radio stations no longer fade in and out! Thanks for the tip!)
But threads in BH (whatever) need not go on 'n on.
Otherwise, I feel a little overwhelmed by all the post in unplugged.
"If you want to kick a tiger in the ass, you better have a plan for dealing with his teeth."
- Tom Clancy
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#105 2007-09-12 10:19 am
- DukeofNuke
- Free Radical

- From: Hazard
- Registered: 2003-05-02
- Posts: 2563
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
Also, "Everyday Tech" doesn't exactly scream "Tech Support". I predict that n00bs looking for a little help won't be able to find it any better than they found "Balloon Help".
"If you want to kick a tiger in the ass, you better have a plan for dealing with his teeth."
- Tom Clancy
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#106 2007-09-12 10:19 am
- NAG
- A witch!
- Royal Wombat

- From: /usr/local/apps/nag
- Registered: 2000-09-22
- Posts: 30229
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
The was stuff is only for a week since everyone was concerned about not knowing where to go.
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#107 2007-09-12 11:24 am
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
DukeofNuke wrote:
Also, "Everyday Tech" doesn't exactly scream "Tech Support". I predict that n00bs looking for a little help won't be able to find it any better than they found "Balloon Help".
The point of the change was not to rename Balloon Help.
The point was to get rid of Balloon Help, and have people just ask questions in the forum related to the subject they are asking about.
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#108 2007-09-12 11:25 am
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
Orion wrote:
matt wrote:
Certain forums had/have been basically abandoned or get little-to-no traffic-- for example, many of the gaming forums(which have yet to be fully addressed). [MA] UT - Dark Squad has not had a single post in almost two years. That being the case, does it deserve its own forum? Shouldn't the forum list be short and easy to navigate and not have a lot of dead rooms where no one goes?
Those gaming forums you speak of are dead because they don't show up for 99.9% of the people here. How are we supposed to know they exist if they are hidden? They used to be displayed for everyone, but only accessable to members, but now they are simply gone. Frankly, I forgot they even existed. Why were they restricted access in the first place?
I can browse those forums if I'm not logged in.
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#109 2007-09-12 12:46 pm
- Mymac4ever
- Aaaa...

- From: SWEDEN
- Registered: 2000-05-01
- Posts: 1631
- Website
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
Miles wrote:
Mymac4ever wrote:
That does sound like a good explenation but I wonder if the unanswered threads will disapear even if you change the line up. How about adding a function to show unanswered threads? I'm not sure how that works or if it even works with the current version of the forums but I have seen it implementet in the swedish forums "99.se"
We have absolutely no ability to change the forum software. Happily, that function already exists: http://www.maclife.com/forums/search/show_unanswered
Well then it should be at the top because I hadn't noticed it before. Who knows, maybee people start using it if they could find it. It IS more natural to look for useful links/buttons at the top of the page than at the bottom.
Now, where in the name of... did I put that thing that I forgot what it was and why I was looking for it?
SE/30: 16Mhz/8MB/34MB/PussyCat
PM8600: G3@550Mhz/768MB/110GB/Radeon7000/Usb2&FW/Jaguar
PMG5: DC2.3Ghz/4GB/570GB/NVidia6600/Leopard ShufflePod, iPod Touch
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#110 2007-09-12 12:55 pm
- Mymac4ever
- Aaaa...

- From: SWEDEN
- Registered: 2000-05-01
- Posts: 1631
- Website
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
matt wrote:
DukeofNuke wrote:
Also, "Everyday Tech" doesn't exactly scream "Tech Support". I predict that n00bs looking for a little help won't be able to find it any better than they found "Balloon Help".
The point of the change was not to rename Balloon Help.
The point was to get rid of Balloon Help, and have people just ask questions in the forum related to the subject they are asking about.
Well I say. Thats a way to create anarchy or more correctly to let anarchy take over in place of order and structure. So instead of telling folks that "This is the forum where you go to ask all sorts of questions and this is where people go to answer those questions" you instead tell them that you don't have to follow any rules because there aren't anyones except for not being a jerk but thats just common sense.
Now, where in the name of... did I put that thing that I forgot what it was and why I was looking for it?
SE/30: 16Mhz/8MB/34MB/PussyCat
PM8600: G3@550Mhz/768MB/110GB/Radeon7000/Usb2&FW/Jaguar
PMG5: DC2.3Ghz/4GB/570GB/NVidia6600/Leopard ShufflePod, iPod Touch
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#111 2007-09-12 12:58 pm
#112 2007-09-12 12:58 pm
- mahakali
- anti-razor

- From: easter egg
- Registered: 2002-11-06
- Posts: 5584
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
I'll be the anarchy if you want me to.
1. Instill fear.
2. ???????? (use your imagination)
3. Profit!
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#113 2007-09-12 1:49 pm
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
matt wrote:
Orion wrote:
matt wrote:
Certain forums had/have been basically abandoned or get little-to-no traffic-- for example, many of the gaming forums(which have yet to be fully addressed). [MA] UT - Dark Squad has not had a single post in almost two years. That being the case, does it deserve its own forum? Shouldn't the forum list be short and easy to navigate and not have a lot of dead rooms where no one goes?
Those gaming forums you speak of are dead because they don't show up for 99.9% of the people here. How are we supposed to know they exist if they are hidden? They used to be displayed for everyone, but only accessable to members, but now they are simply gone. Frankly, I forgot they even existed. Why were they restricted access in the first place?
I can browse those forums if I'm not logged in.
I don't see the Dark Squad forum. Or the Eclipse Squad forum. Or the Omega Squad forum...or the Alpha Squad forum...or the X Squad forum.
Or, for that matter, the [MA] Officers' Club, but I haven't seen that one in a long time. 
I know they were there once but I can't see them now.
Last edited by Daniel (2007-09-12 1:49 pm)
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#114 2007-09-12 2:37 pm
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
Balloon Help is gone, defunct, finished, terminated. It's topics have been archived within Everyday Tech along with those from Desktops, Software Search, and the Digital Hub. However the new forum is not, I repeat IS NOT a renamed Balloon Help. It is a general discussion forum for the software & technologies you use everyday. As such it's particularly geared to those technologies that are tethered (via cabling) with a little overlap into other more specific tech groups here and there. Tech support and complaints happen to fall neatly under the auspices of general discussion.
Similarly On-the-Go is also a general conversation topic that's geared to devices which tend to be more portable: Laptops, iPods, iPhones, PDAs, etc. Tech support and complaints happen to fall neatly under the auspices of general discussion but in this case it's from a perspective that only someone who uses a portable device can truly understand.
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#115 2007-09-12 5:09 pm
- Farmerkev
- Official Dementor
- Moderator
- Registered: 2003-01-03
- Posts: 18609
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
mahakali wrote:
I'll be the anarchy if you want me to.
We should explore this in depth.
Do your part to combat global warming.
Eat a cow.
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#116 2007-09-12 5:57 pm
- mahakali
- anti-razor

- From: easter egg
- Registered: 2002-11-06
- Posts: 5584
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007

1. Instill fear.
2. ???????? (use your imagination)
3. Profit!
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#117 2007-09-12 6:01 pm
- Farmerkev
- Official Dementor
- Moderator
- Registered: 2003-01-03
- Posts: 18609
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
Hey, it'll be fun.
I'm thinking something like laptop questions in Forum Feedback.
The proper syntax in vi to do a file duplicate erasure and backup on a 40 drive server farm in Unplugged.
Pictures and stories of your new kitty in Minithink.
Do your part to combat global warming.
Eat a cow.
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#118 2007-09-12 6:07 pm
#119 2007-09-12 6:12 pm
- mahakali
- anti-razor

- From: easter egg
- Registered: 2002-11-06
- Posts: 5584
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
The kitty stories can be minithink-worthy if done right.
1. Instill fear.
2. ???????? (use your imagination)
3. Profit!
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#120 2007-09-12 6:12 pm
- Farmerkev
- Official Dementor
- Moderator
- Registered: 2003-01-03
- Posts: 18609
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
hehehe, that'll get the natives restless
Do your part to combat global warming.
Eat a cow.
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#121 2007-09-12 6:39 pm
- Orion
- Bovi-sapiens

- From: America's Dairyland
- Registered: 2000-09-12
- Posts: 2958
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
Daniel wrote:
matt wrote:
Orion wrote:
Those gaming forums you speak of are dead because they don't show up for 99.9% of the people here. How are we supposed to know they exist if they are hidden? They used to be displayed for everyone, but only accessable to members, but now they are simply gone. Frankly, I forgot they even existed. Why were they restricted access in the first place?I can browse those forums if I'm not logged in.
I don't see the Dark Squad forum. Or the Eclipse Squad forum. Or the Omega Squad forum...or the Alpha Squad forum...or the X Squad forum.
Or, for that matter, the [MA] Officers' Club, but I haven't seen that one in a long time.
I know they were there once but I can't see them now.
Exactly, Dan. They used to be there, but are not anymore. Matt stated that the last post was over two years ago. No one can post if they can't access them, right? 
Farming is easy when your plow is a pencil and you are a thousand miles from the cornfield. -Dwight D. Eisenhower
Don't curse the farmer with your mouth full.
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#122 2007-09-12 6:43 pm
- NAG
- A witch!
- Royal Wombat

- From: /usr/local/apps/nag
- Registered: 2000-09-22
- Posts: 30229
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
Actually they are accessible, just not by people who aren't supposed to have access to them.
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#123 2007-09-13 12:28 pm
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
Mac|Life
- Mac|Life Readers: Discussion of Mac|Life magazine & site
- Forum Feedback: Discussion of Mac|Life forums
Digital|Life
- In Tech News: Discussion of official announcements, headlines & rumors
- Everyday Tech: Discussion of help issues & general topics related to technology systems, devices & software, particularly tethered systems & devices
- On-the-Go: Discussion of help issues & general topics related to mobile technology devices, especially Laptops, iPods & iPhones
- The Pro Shop: Discussion of Publishing, Multimedia, Audio, Graphic Design, web design topics
- Programming: Discussion of application development & web development topics
- Networking & Servers: Discussion of network & server management topics
- Games: General discussion of video games
Real|Life
- Unplugged: Discussion of life in general
- Student Lounge: Discussion of life as a student
- Ministry of Free Thought: Discussion of politics & religion
Alternative|Life
- Boot Camp: Discussion of Windows, Linux & Unix topics
- Vintage Apple: Discussion of OS 9 or under & pre-USB native hardware
- Hardware Hacking: Discussion of hardware construction and alteration
Team Mac|Life
- Folding@Home: Team Mac|Life Folding@Home discussion forum
- SETI@Home: Team Mac|Life SETI@Home discussion forum
Clan MacAddict/Clan Mac|Life
Various Clan related forums & topics
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#124 2007-09-13 12:33 pm
- DukeofNuke
- Free Radical

- From: Hazard
- Registered: 2003-05-02
- Posts: 2563
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
If you have to get rid of Rant Room,take it out of Unplugged, and put it in Mini Think.
Seems more appropriate.
"If you want to kick a tiger in the ass, you better have a plan for dealing with his teeth."
- Tom Clancy
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#125 2007-09-13 12:56 pm
Re: Proposed forum changes: Autumn 2007
Rant rooms topics were simply archived in Unplugged and it's too late for them to be unarchived. Unplugged was simply chosen as the archival location as most topics in there were of a life in general nature. If it's contents had mostly been technical in nature, we would've archived it in Everyday Tech. If they had mostly been political, we would've archived them in Minithink.
As has been repeated over and over The Rant Room's function has been spread to ALL FORUMS. You rant about life in general in Unplugged as it's the life in general forum. You rant about Bush in Minithink as it's the politics and religion forum. You rant about the iPhone in On-the-Go because it's the Laptop, iPod, iPhone, etc. forum. You rant about Halo 3 taking forever in Games because it the video games forum. You rant abut what a drag school is in student lounge be cause it's the student life forum. And so on and so forth.
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