Bill Ryan's thread

[WarriorServant]

Originally Posted by Bill Ryan

I can see this thread growing to monstrous proportions (if I can keep this up every day!) and so it's going to get more and more difficult with questions being asked which have already been answered - and responses to answers which have been missed or misread with all the good intentions in the world.

Here is my logical suggestion:

One thread is not suitable for all the information and "branches of information". You need a "forum section" of your own, where you can post information regarding various topics. This forum section should be set to "reply only" (and there are settings for that in the administration area of this forum). A reply only forum means that members do not even have the option to create new topics in that section. They can only respond to existing topics, created by "yourself". That way you can post information in the most appropriate thread, that you have created "for" the information.

To keep member to member banter to a minimum (and I see that your thread is full of it), members can post questions in the topic that you have created, but should be restricted from conversing with "each other" (exceptions would be made for "crucial" information such as "corrections". If it's not crucial, and just a personal comment - it gets deleted. People will soon get the idea.). ie: There's a whole forum with dozens of sections for members to talk with "each other" should they choose to do so -- and they should do it there. That way, you you have all the information in the appropriate sections (which is easier to find and refer to), people are able to ask questions, you are able to respond, everything is much faster and more efficient.

edit:

I would like to add that I am a full time web developer, programmer and web administrator by profession, and have built and run literally hundreds of forums over the last decade. I am well accustomed to forum behavior and how to moderate and deal with problems (which is why I am always flapping my arms around this place). What I have suggested may seem difficult at first glance, but due to my experience, I must insist that my suggestions will cause everything run more efficiently. The first objection that I think might cross your mind is: "Oh but it would all be too messy having different threads to monitor". I would suggest that the case would be quite the contrary. As the information grows, it's going to be hard to go back through a single thread full of dozens (hundreds?) of topics that's hundreds of pages long. It will be much more beneficial for not only yourself (to be able to go back to find / edit / correct / amend information), but also for people that haven't kept up with everything and are interested in a particular topic -- and want to read it without having to wade through pages and pages of unrelated material and banter.

[100thmonkey]

Maybe mods, or a volounteer, could simply compile a list of people's questions from this thread into one Sticky thread that Bill can then come along when he has a spare moment and answer, bang, bang, bang...?

[chnswam]

Hey Bill,

Many thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.

[Steven]

Hello again . To Bill and Kerry,

I don't know if it was said before, but your presence on Avalon is very much appreciated and useful. The fact we can enter directly in contact with you shows integrity, respect and dedication. You care about the "listeners". It does a tremendous work of clarification that will certainly show up in future threads.

The period of time you were "away" from the forum, you were missed and the forum did loose a portion of its energy. We are friends with other "roles" in this game. I am, and many here are, committed to inform the ones in our path to take a look at your "interviews" among others. I even translated some in real time for a small audience.

I know your time is rare and precious. I got the same kind of schedule on my hands. Nevertheless, if you guys show only for a post or two regularly just to keep in touch with the community, it would help to improve our cohesion as a group .

Namaste, Steven

[Seashore]

Originally Posted by WarriorServant

members can post questions in the topic that you have created

WarriorServant,

You are suggesting that the ability for members to initiate a question to Bill Ryan be taken away?

[WarriorServant]

Originally Posted by Seashore

WarriorServant,

You are suggesting that the ability for members to initiate a question to Bill Ryan be taken away?

No -- what I am suggesting is a more functional and easy to follow method of Bill being able to communicate with the forum and for that information to be more adequately directed. There's no reason that this thread couldn't stay operational (ie: be moved to the section that I have suggested), where people can ask direct questions that do not relate to actual topics / updates / announcements that Bill would have made in the appropriate threads. Additionally, people would be able to ask specific questions on "actual" subjects, in an easy to find area that is full of other related information on such a topic.

I am rather certain that most people will not follow the entirety of a singular thread full of "everything and anything" (even though some are). This is a powerful forum software -- there's no reason why Bill should be communicating as if he were on a glorified shoutbox. It would also be a lot Easier for Bill, because in his CP, all new responses would be listed. He would also be able to remember, more efficiently which information is where, because it would all be titled under threads that he personally created and named.

[WarriorServant]

I would like to comment further on this (said by myself above).

They can only respond to existing topics, created by "yourself". That way you can post information in the most appropriate thread, that you have created "for" the information.

This would give you the ability to create a new thread if you perceive that 1). The same question keeps coming up 2). You know of information that is going to become popular (ie: you're going to get questions about it, and you "know" it) 3). Information that you specifically "want" questions for 4). Specific information that you "want" more feedback from.

It would allow you to easily dissect and organize the information / questions / feedback into areas that you can visit at both your leisure and by priority of importance. Moderators would also be able to move questions from thread to thread, if they perceive that they are in the wrong place. This further allows you to concentrate on one thing at a time, instead of everything at once.

[Anchor]

Originally Posted by WarriorServant

I would like to comment further on this (said by myself above).



This would give you the ability to create a new thread if you perceive that 1). The same question keeps coming up 2). You know of information that is going to become popular (ie: you're going to get questions about it, and you "know" it) 3). Information that you specifically "want" questions for 4). Specific information that you "want" more feedback from.

It would allow you to easily dissect and organize the information / questions / feedback into areas that you can visit at both your leisure and by priority of importance. Moderators would also be able to move questions from thread to thread, if they perceive that they are in the wrong place. This further allows you to concentrate on one thing at a time, instead of everything at once.

This is a pretty good idea and closely matches some of the ideas expressed within the moderator team.

However there is another approach - Bill (or anyone else for that matter) could actually use the forum like, well, a forum and have more than one thread.

Instead of concentrating it all in one giant thread (which will ultimately fail as it gets more and more unwieldy ) it may be a better idea to branch out into threads.

A..