From CL: Your Opinions on this Idea, Please!

[lisad]

Hey, faithful Bulletin-board users! You seem to have gotten the hang of the new formats ... all we've heard are good things. I have a question for you, though. How would you feel about dividing the "Great Food" board into subcategories, such as (these are only suggestions):
ISO/In Search Of--for people looking for recipes, resources, etc.
911--Put too much chili pepper in the soup? Need a Father's Day brunch recipe ASAP (I saw this posting from Sunday a.m.!) Here's where to put your post.
Recipe Reactions: Post your feedback on CL recipes.
Food Forum: Here's where questions like "What's your favorite cooking gadget?" would go. We'd like to do the forums this way: We'd solicit questions from you guys by email, or ask you to fill out a form. We'd collect questions, and each week, we'd choose a question and create a new BB solely devoted to it.
Tips and Techniques: Share your ideas for lightening recipes, tips for how to handle culinary challenges (like my favorite: draining thawed frozen chopped spinach!), etc.
If you have ideas for other types of sub-boards, let us know--or, if you don't like the idea of sub-boards at all. We love the creative, interactive, enthusiastic community on this board, and we want to enhance it. Also, if you have ideas for how to generate more traffic on the Healthy Living board, please send them on. We consider you guys the experts in this area! Thanks.


[This message has been edited by lisad (edited 06-20-2000).]

[Deanna]

Since I'm an "organizer" freak, I say go with it!

If anyone wants to get an idea of what you are talking about, they can visit another bulletin board that uses this format, 3 Fat Chicks: http://216.55.5.89/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi?

Organizing like this makes it much easier to read and respond to messages!

[lindrusso]

I think sub-boards are a good idea. When this board is active, some responses get pushed down to the bottom of the list where they are more easily overlooked. Subcategories would help with this problem as well as make it easier for people to browse only the topics that interest them.

[Grace]

Whichever whay you decide to go, I'll always come to these boards, I love them! But really, my opinion is to leave them as they are, as since I'm interested in nearly every entry that's posted, it would just take me longer to go through all the different boards you're proposing to see all the new postings (something I do at least once a day, and sometimes two or three times). So if you break them down, I will have many more screens to go through, as opposed to just this one. So that's my opinion, but again, whatever happens, you'll still find me here!

[MCJiGS]

I like this knew board so much that almost anything you do sounds great.I can tell you that if we don't like it we will be sure to let you know. But it makes sense that the more organized it gets the better informed and better use of our time we will have. ~mary~

[Beth]

I'm torn. I agree with Grace that it seems like it could take longer to view everything, or that you might miss something you'd really be interested in. The ISO might not get as many people viewing since our first interest is not usually to see how many recipes we can type up and post, but everyone loves to share. Same for 911. People might tend to go mostly to the recipe comments and such, and take away some of the breadth of ideas and the sponteneity that make this board so much fun. On the other hand, it does get to be a long list, and new responses or even fairly new posts can be hard to find sometimes. Is there a way to use the icons (can we develop some new ones?) or develop a titling practice that would help sort through posts on a single board?

My question for others reading this, would you go to a number of sub-boards at least most of the time? Or would you find one or two favorites and tend not to look at the others?

[Beth H]

I think the board should be left as is -- it's fun to scroll down and see the variety of cooking topics people are talking about. Different boards would just dilute the conversation.

[Gail]

I think Beth may be on to something. While in theory the idea of subcategories is a good one, let's be honest. Right now, the Internet just isn't geared to switch from board to board at what exactly amounts to lightening speed. I, for one, have been known to get frustrated and log off when things take too long. Ergo, the longer waiting time between screens, I think the less interest you're apt to generate. I checked out the 2 Fat Chicks BB as Deanna suggested. And while certainly it's neat and orderly, I find the idea of going from screen to screen to screen a bit like automated switchboards where you're given one menu after another. After a while it gets old.
Now, the idea of perhaps refining the icons as a usable indexing tool seems to mix the best of both worlds, it allows people looking for a particular type of post to find it faster, yet maintains the basic format you've already created. I think most of us are in agreement that one of the best things about your new format is how easy and fast it is-- as compared to the multiple screens of the old system. I'd hate to take a step backwards.

[Denise]

I would definately end up only checking out recipe feedback and not contributing as much. As it is now if I happen upon a topic I can help out with I usually spontaneously respond, but if I had to go on another board to find questions I probably wouldn't bother. So I say leave it as is......Please!

[MCJiGS]

If you really want to "fix" something might I suggest the board to be able to understand when someone has added to a post to change the color to new (blue). Even if you've read the original post. I notice that once I've read something it never changes to the new color even if someone repost on it. ~mary~

[lisad]

OK, I hear you: No splitting the boards. But what if we do create a weekly Food Forum for the "favorite gadgets"-type questions? We're considering the possibility of publishing exerpts of responses to such questions in the magazine (we'd definitely alert you guys to this before we do it). And perhaps we could figure out a way of titling the posts or using the similies to help with organization, as someone suggested. What do you think?

[ElinorC]

I agree with those who say leave it as it is. If it becomes too organized it would destroy the great spontaneous replies that make this board so great. Perhaps you could make a sub-category for recipe feedback and leave the rest alone?

[Beth Y]

I am with the rest of the crowd. I am lazy in other things than cooking and would just not look around too much. I do think the idea of refining the smilies to identify the type of post would be helpful. Lisa, regarding the Food Forums, they sound great. There are lots of good cooks with good ideas here, and lots of new cooks withe the same questions that I assume many of your readers have (what am I saying, we old cooks have lots of questions too!) it would make sense to take advantage of that!

[Deanna]

Okay gals...you asked for it...(but it can certainly be changed later on).

Keep in mind, at this point we have a very SMALL group of people posting. Have you ever looked at Gails Recipe Swap on Epicurious? They have over a hundred postings a day...this one is going to grow, too, and you may have to scroll quite awhile to find the responses to YOUR request for information....

I know it would be lovely for our group to remain small (on one hand) but on the other, we know it's going to keep on growing, meaning, more postings, more searching the posts for what you were looking for. Just a thought!

[Leanne]

I agree with most others - leave as is b/c I know I won't take the time to download 12 different boards. I like just being able to scan quickly for a topic I'm interested in or know something about.

[jillr]

sounds great to me! I like the forum idea. I've had fun reading some of the creative questions other bb readers have posted, hope that part doesn't get lost.

[Susan]

Lisa~
I do like the weekly Food Forum idea. That would be fun!

Does the admin/moderator of the board have the ability to move/archive postings after they are closed or obselete (for instance an ISO recipe that has been posted or a question that has been answered)? If so, then the topics you suggested for organization could be used as folders to move older posts to once they are inactive but they would still be available for people as "read only". This would allow for the "one board" feature for initial postings that so many want to keep, but give organization to it as well. Hope that all made sense!

~~Susan~~

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by Susan:
Lisa~
I do like the weekly Food Forum idea. That would be fun!

Does the admin/moderator of the board have the ability to move/archive postings after they are closed or obselete (for instance an ISO recipe that has been posted or a question that has been answered)? If so, then the topics you suggested for organization could be used as folders to move older posts to once they are inactive but they would still be available for people as "read only". This would allow for the "one board" feature for initial postings that so many want to keep, but give organization to it as well. Hope that all made sense!

~~Susan~~


Susan - what a great idea! I have no idea o

[Tiffany]

I say leave it the way it is. I am afraid that I would miss something that is put in another portion of the site. I like to have everything in front of me. I am not one to go off looking for it if it is not in my view.

[Susan]

Here's my 2 cents...
I agree with Grace to leave the board as it is. I like having one place to go. Too much organization would discourage the sense of community that is being established here. I don't have time to visit multiple boards and like the variety that is offered here in the postings.

~~Susan~~

[lisad]

Thanks for all the feedback. I understand we're having technical difficulties, and this message is posted to help figure out why ...

[Gail]

Hope this second attempt at response doesn't disappear into the Twilight Zone!!

The forum idea is okay, as long as it isn't at the cost of our spontaneity-- meaning I hope we'll still be able to post impromptu polls should the spontaneous thought occur. (I do some of my best thinking at the strangest hours!) I think these polling kind of questions serve two functions: firstly, they're a source of valuable information (which will be well served by a forum); secondly, it's a way of bonding with fellow CLers-- a way for some readers to feel closer to the people with whom we "speak" sometimes on a daily basis (as evidenced in the several introductory type threads.) So should somebody wake up in the middle of the night with a burning desire to explore other readers' favorite comfort foods, I hope we'll still be "allowed" and not have to save the topic for a forum which may be months in the future. That's my one and only concern-- otherwise I'm all for a forum.

[PENNYNIKKEL]

Another vote for keeping the boards as they are. I've visited other forums that are organized into categories, and the lesser read forums do not have the best interaction, and you end up with un-answered questions and its less fun.

Perhaps if usership increase dramatically, the idea can be re-visited, but please use sub-forums sparingly.

[lisad]

Sure Gail--You'll be able to post spontaneously--we don't want to "police" the board. That said, I think Susan's idea is a good one. We'll explore ways we might be able to organize and archive older posts. Thanks for the feedback.

[Shirley Panek]

I'm relatively new to the boards, but love them!

I'm not sure how the sub-categories would be, but I love scrolling down and read practically every topic. (I think I'm becoming addicted! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif)

I'd have to agree with MCJiGS about not knowing when there are new responses to posts that we've already read. Is there a way to change the color for new responses?

Thanks!

[Mamasue]

Hi Lisa,

I finally made it here...thought I was loosing it when my post went "bye-bye".

Okay, honestly....I am a nosey person! Hehe. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif I can't just pass by a thread and not read it even if it doesn't interest me. Sometimes those threads that have no interest to a person may have some information that is educational. If a BB is set up with two many catagories, such as 3fatchicks, it becomes too overwelming. I have tried to frequent that board and just don't know where to post...also find myself wasting a lot of time there so unfortunately I lurk more than I post. I wouldn't mind a couple more categories but please don't get carried away. I frequent another BB that I love (www.cyber-kitchen.com)..go visit it see that setup. There is 3 or 4 forums that are frequently used....Recipe Requests, Kitchen Table (forum where postings are not food related), Internet Help Me (the webmaster is very active and helps with problems concerning the board or will help with our computer questions). Check it out! Maybe a setup like that would be feasible for all of us. Oh, and yes an archive would be FAB....good suggestion. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Thanks Lisa for including us in this decision. It shows that it even though its Cooking Light...it is our board too. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Love here..keep up the good work!

[Mamasue]

Lisa,

Just a P.S. When do we become a Senior Member? If its age related I would love to stay as a Junior, but just curious! Hehe http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Deanna]

Mamasue: With almost 7,000 registered members and hundreds of posts a day...what do you think the 3FC site would be like without the sort of organization they have? Just food for thought...

This board is growing as well, and three or four separate categories to post under is really all we need to organize...but the majority rules...we'll see how things change when this board attracts more and more registered posters.

As for those who think they will need hours of "download" time, that is incorrect. It is as simple as click on a thread, the messages appear.

I won't argue my point further...I'll just sit back...watch us grow...and smile as it gets crazier by the day! I can see it coming! Our spontaneous little world is gonna change quick.

Unfortunately I work 8+ hours a day and can't log on throughout the day to "catch up" (unless I'm cheating!) That makes the evening and a very crowded, disorganized board a little tough to navigate.

Oh to be a stay-at-home...with time on my hands for my favorite pursuits! Retirement is only 25 years away...

[Gail]

Thanks for the words of reassurance, Lisa. I feel better now.

I do have another question, since my time here has been relatively short. How long has the CL board been is existence? Has it always enjoyed such popularity?

[Mamasue]

Deanna,

I am so sorry if I hurt your feelings or stated my thoughts about the 3FC site negatively. I wasn't making a statement to be negative just an example. I realize that this board will grow and grow, but having abundance of forums may not be the right answer and thats my opinion. I am just giving my feedback as CL wanted...thats all. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Truce? **offering a hand shake**



[This message has been edited by Mamasue (edited 06-21-2000).]

[lisad]

Folks:
We're thinking the problems with postings should be corrected now. In non-technical terms, you guys have overloaded the server with postings! But it shouldn't be a problem now. Hopefully, all those who have tried to enter their opinions on this post will be able to now ... thanks!

[Gail]

Originally posted by Mamasue:
Lisa,

Just a P.S. When do we become a Senior Member? If its age related I would love to stay as a Junior, but just curious! Hehe http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

I think the magic number is 50. I see I got my wings (or chef's hat) this evening. Seems at my age, I don't get to be a junior anything for very long... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[Deanna]

Mamasue! You took my post way too seriously! I'm merely asking that you envision what a large number of postings would be like without organization.

No truce needed; it wasn't intended to be a slam! =^..^=

[Mamasue]

Originally posted by Gail:
I think the magic number is 50. I see I got my wings (or chef's hat) this evening. Seems at my age, I don't get to be a junior anything for very long... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif



LOL! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif I'm going for the Chef's Hat

[Mamasue]

Deanna,

Thank God! It is so hard to see emotions thru typed words. I feel better now because I hate conflicts even to someone I don't know. Have a great day! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[lorilei]

I know I'm late in contributing, but I really didn't think I had an opinion on the subject until just now.

I do think a bit of organization would be helpful, especially as the boards seem to be growing so... when all messages are posted in the same area, posts tend to "slip off" the main page and end up hidden somewhere in the hinterlands -- and that makes it hard to find posts when you're looking for something specific.

I do, of course, agree that things shouldn't be fragmented /too/ much, as that will confuse the issue.

Kudos to CL for creating a workable format -- and especially for considering the opinions of users. Not every BB is quite so accomodating!!

[MCJiGS]

Deanna, do you mean you get your members badge after posting 50 posts? It can't be 50 days 'cause the board hasn't been on that long? Just wondering since I'm still a jR. ~mary~

[MCJiGS]

Thanks for answering the question Gail. But, one more... how do you know how many you've posted? Do you keep track? Or does CL? And... is there something past Member? I'm just so nosey. ~mary~

[Gail]

Originally posted by MCJiGS:
how do you know how many you've posted? Do you keep track? ~mary~

Click on your profile icon to find out. Then click on everyone else's to find out about them...
Whether there's something after "Member" would be nice to know. "Super Member" maybe (comes with a cape) "Esteemed Member" (comes with a crown) "Loquacious Member" (comes with a plea from CL to please stop posting so much.) Dunno. You'll have to ask Lisa that one.

[Gail]

Originally posted by MCJiGS:
Deanna, do you mean you get your members badge after posting 50 posts? It can't be 50 days 'cause the board hasn't been on that long? Just wondering since I'm still a jR. ~mary~


Hi, Mary. I'm answering the question not because I'm nosey, rather because it was my statement about the fifty posts. I just noticed that my status changed last night to "member." And since Mamasue had posted the question, I figured the status must've changed at 50! Over 50 posts only since June 13... wow! Talk about chatty!

[MCJiGS]

Originally posted by Gail:
Click on your profile icon to find out. Then click on everyone else's to find out about them...


Gail, thanks I had no idea I could look up that much info on everyone. (I'm like a kid in a candy store now.)

But, alas, I only have 19 posting... no... wait this one makes 20! I'm on my way.Soon to be "Loquacious Member" :::lol::: ~mary~

[Maelynn Cheung]

Originally posted by Gail:

I just noticed that my status changed last night to "member." And since Mamasue had posted the question, I figured the status must've changed at 50! Over 50 posts only since June 13... wow! Talk about chatty!

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif Yep. The magic number is 50. Looks like several of you have been pretty chatty on this board in the past two weeks! More power to ya.

And, no, unfortunately we don't have a "Super Member" or "Gold Member" status. That would be fun though.


Maelynn


[This message has been edited by Maelynn Cheung (edited 06-23-2000).]

[Gail]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Maelynn Cheung:
[BAnd, no, unfortunately we don't have a "Super Member" or "Gold Member" status. That would be fun though.


Maelynn


Darn. I really was looking forward to a cape. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[Deanna]

Maelynn!

You have the power, girfriend!

You know what? You could change that Junior Member, Senior Member stuff to...

Dishwasher
Sous-chef
Master-chef

and so on!

(again...based on my experience with another board that uses this software...I hope you're not getting tired of hearing my suggestions...it would just be fun!)

[SandyDee]

I really like the idea of the subcatagories, it sounds like it would make things easier to find, however I also agree that things might not get many responses if they are listed elsewhere. I was actually thinking along the lines with Beth, if we could use more icons and have them stand for the different subcategories but still list them here that might help organize. But what ever you finally decide to do will be fine with me. I like this forum and will stay with it

[Beth]

Deanna, I like the idea of creating cooking oriented status labels. Something to reflect the interests and the fun spirit here.

By the way, I think this thread is a record for number of posts. At least of all those I remember seeing. And we keep coming up with new ideas! And Deanna, I don't mind when you or others relate what you've found elsewhere. I don't have the time or ability to surf around as much as I often would like to, so it's good to know what other people have seen and done. Whether it's with cooking and kitchen issues, web issues or whatever, the diversity of ideas shared here is wonderful.

[Annette]

I click on my profile and it says nothing about how many posts.. no mention of it anywhere:-( Also, I made a separate post on the board because of the 'technical difficulties' with this last week. I don't see it anywhere.:-( *superconfused*:-( Has it been removed from the board?:-(

[Annette]

Originally posted by Annette:
I click on my profile and it says nothing about how many posts.. no mention of it anywhere:-( Also, I made a separate post on the board because of the 'technical difficulties' with this last week. I don't see it anywhere.:-( *superconfused*:-( Has it been removed from the board?:-(

Ah.. well, found the 'post count' part... now would like to find my post on the board.

[Gail]

Originally posted by Annette:
Ah.. well, found the 'post count' part... now would like to find my post on the board.


Hi Annette! If memory serves me correctly, your message was removed from the board. The night (or day) you posted, the board was really going haywire, cutting off and deleting parts of people's messages. As I recall, you'd started a new thread (or am I confused?) and when I clicked on it, all I got was a blank white screen. Either Lisa D. or Maelynn reported the following day that they'd had to delete several messages.
(I lost one, too.)

Do you remember what you said so you can repost?

[CATHIEA]

I've been on vacation, so I'm way late responding to this. For what it's worth, I used to love the Weight Watcher's Board, but they super divided categories and it takes forever to look for new postings now. Sometimes it's also difficult to know WHERE to place a new post. So, while as an over-organizer myself, I appreciate the idea of subcategories, I also have a suspicion that it would retard the free-flow of ideas I see here. You also asked about how to get more people to sign on to healthy living. I read healthy living in each issue and I use a lot of the ideas there in the WW groups I lead, but it means moving to another board, sort of like subcategories?????
Cathiea

[Melissa P]

I just got on the board today, thanks to the reference in your most recent mag., and it's great! The subcategories sound like a great idea, anything to help me get more organized is a big bonus! By the way, the pineapple coconut cream pie from the July edition is to die for!

[DJFan88]

I know I just found this board recently but I love it and will be around now for good. I like seeing all the posts at once. However, if it is growing, Lorelei makes sense in that there should be only a few subcategories. Maybe just the feedback on recipes, the recipe request, and a miscellaneous or something like that. Also, keep the question lisad was asking about separate, because some people might not be interested in it (and some might be real interested. -- sorry that idea just doesn't grab me, but maybe I just dont' fully understand about it- I will be open minded!)-- Jen.

[Tiffany]

I say leave the board as is as much as possible, BUT I do like the weekly forum idea. I just don't think a bunch of different subcategories would work, to many avenues to go down. Keep it as simple as possible!