Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Michelle on April 12, 2013, 09:11:15 pm

Title: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Michelle on April 12, 2013, 09:11:15 pm
The "what did you do to your coach today" topic has had quite a run.  31 pages now and that's after a LOT of unique threads were split from it.

We have had a number of requests over the months (years) requesting that we encourage everyone to start new topics rather than adding to this one.  In particular, the concern about meaningful post titles has come up.  It also creates work for the moderators who have to split posts out (and the board limits us to how far back we can go for a split, which is part of the reason the topic is now 31 pages long).

So what should we do?  It's a fun topic for some, especially when "what you did" is a little different.

So vote - one per person but you can change it.  We'll let it run for 2 weeks and go with what the membership prefers.  Oh, and if you choose option 5, you're obligated to tell us what your idea is :)

Thanks,

Michelle
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Barry & Cindy on April 13, 2013, 01:19:49 pm
With the many postings made each day, we find we are better off reading topics with subjects where we can help or learn or sound interesting. We see some postings have general non-specific subjects.
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: gam on April 13, 2013, 02:40:28 pm
I think I missed it what is option#5? Gam
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Gary Bouland (RIP) on April 13, 2013, 03:34:04 pm
Gam, Option five is if you personally have a better idea and want to expound on it. 
Gary B
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on April 13, 2013, 03:50:26 pm
Is it me or are there more and more posts each day? Sometimes its hard to read all the posts so you have to be more selective. With a specific topic, the key words jump out at you while scanning down the list. Wish I had time to read all posts but do glance at the forum when I'm checking email or with one eye while watching TV.

Pierce
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Peter & Beth on April 13, 2013, 04:00:24 pm
I think it's time to lock this topic and encourage members to be specific & concise about the topic title they chose so searches are easily done.
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Patricia on April 13, 2013, 04:15:20 pm
I think it's time to lock this topic and encourage members to be specific & concise about the topic title they chose so searches are easily done.
Totally agree, Peter!
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: kb0zke on April 13, 2013, 04:55:53 pm
Perhaps there ought to be some general, but still reasonably specific, threads to guide the discussion. For example, "What I did on my coach today - electrical," "What I did on my coach today - plumbing," etc. Perhaps just using major systems would be specific enough.
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: gam on April 13, 2013, 05:26:00 pm
I like the what did you do to your coach thread. It keeps me up with what other owners are doing.But I think of it as a one liner,a statement not a request for help.I changed the oil,I waxed my coach.If you wont an answer,start a thread and ask a question.If you wont to respond to something you see in this thread start a new one with a specific topic.If I  read I installed new insulation in my engine bay and I was interested I night start a new thread for what have owners used to insulate there engine bays .I see no need to keep a record of the what did  thread.Gam
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: JohnFitz on April 13, 2013, 07:07:24 pm
I'm so grateful that Steve and Michelle created and manage this forum so well I would vote for whatever is easiest for them - which I think is #2?
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Roland Begin on April 13, 2013, 07:16:00 pm
I'm so grateful that Steve and Michelle created and manage this forum so well I would vote for whatever is easiest for them - which I think is #2?
Ditto from me

Roland
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: wa_desert_rat on April 13, 2013, 08:41:19 pm
How about a new forum, "What I did...". Like the other forums. Maybe on the order of the "Fire Ring". Then members could add their projects to that. In fact it could be labeled "Projects".

I kind of enjoy the "What I did..." thread but it does get a bit long. But I like the way the Moderators split out the outstanding topics even better.

To tell you the truth, I sometimes have a difficult time deciding where to put a post when it's about something we've done.

FWIW,
Craig :)
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Gerry Vicha on April 14, 2013, 09:34:27 am
I'm so grateful that Steve and Michelle created and manage this forum so well I would vote for whatever is easiest for them - which I think is #2?
I Agree totally !!
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Harvey Nelson on April 15, 2013, 12:55:51 pm
I think it's time to lock this topic and encourage members to be specific & concise about the topic title they chose so searches are easily done.
I agree.  As Pierce Stewart mentioned, I don't have time to read everything.  Thus I scan the unread posts for items of personal interest or where I might have something to contribute.
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Michelle on April 17, 2013, 01:05:29 pm
9 day until the poll closes.  I am not submitting a vote myself :)
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Don Hay on April 17, 2013, 06:17:51 pm
I do understand the work involved in separating out the many subjects posed in this "catch-all" category.  However, I fear that what we are going to see is a significant proliferation of new topics (some of which will be relatively insignificant) that will then have to be sent to pre-existing categories.  How much work will be saved?
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Michelle on April 17, 2013, 06:27:48 pm
I do understand the work involved in separating out the many subjects posed in this "catch-all" category.  However, I fear that what we are going to see is a significant proliferation of new topics (some of which will be relatively insignificant) that will then have to be sent to pre-existing categories.  How much work will be saved?

Don,

If you read the first post of this topic, you'll see the poll/discussion comes not from trying to save work but due to multiple requests over the years, from different members each time, suggesting that we not have a single topic.  We have had enough of these requests that we are asking the membership what they prefer.

Michelle
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Gayland Baasch on April 18, 2013, 09:42:09 am
I like the what did you do to your coach thread. It keeps me up with what other owners are doing.But I think of it as a one liner,a statement not a request for help.I changed the oil,I waxed my coach.If you wont an answer,start a thread and ask a question.If you wont to respond to something you see in this thread start a new one with a specific topic.If I  read I installed new insulation in my engine bay and I was interested I night start a new thread for what have owners used to insulate there engine bays .I see no need to keep a record of the what did  thread.Gam

I agree completely, and if something should be broke out and isn't, it's on the poster, not the moderator.  Today I checked the air in my tires, 5 of the 6 were fine.  Am I going to start a new thread for that, NO, but I might put it in the "what did you do....."
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: bbeane on April 19, 2013, 05:50:56 am
I agree completely, and if something should be broke out and isn't, it's on the poster, not the moderator.  Today I checked the air in my tires, 5 of the 6 were fine.  Am I going to start a new thread for that, NO, but I might put it in the "what did you do....."
X2 it's interesting to keep up with what others are doing themselves on thier coach. However if you want more information about something there start a new thread or send a PM.
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: geomm on April 19, 2013, 02:10:44 pm
I'm so grateful that Steve and Michelle created and manage this forum so well I would vote for whatever is easiest for them - which I think is #2?

I also agree with this option:
Title: Re: What do we do with "What did you do to your coach today"?
Post by: Michelle on April 27, 2013, 12:46:40 pm
74+% of the poll respondents prefer the topic be locked and new, individual topics be started.

Since it's in the Tech Talk board, which is for technical help on your coach, I think that makes the most sense for the current topic.  I will lock it (and as I get time, try to split out more of the topics from it), and encourage folks that if it's more than "I changed a light bulb" or "I bought it some parts" (particularly if you have some questions) then tell us about it in its own topic.

A generic, catch-all, light topic of "What did you do to your coach, part 2" can always be started in the Fire Ring since there is an interest (myself included) in sharing the smaller accomplishments.  Keep in mind than a number of folks prefer only reading Discussions, Tech Talk, and Renovations, so questions, etc. should be asked on those boards if you want their expertise.  In a Fire Ring topic, there won't be as much attention given to topic maintenance.  I won't split out off-topic posts that show up in the middle of the discussion (like photos of bears when the topic is a Prevost Bus Crash - sorry to use that example, Paul, but it's fresh in my mind since I just got done fixing it).  I may split technical discussion out as needed, but keeping on-topic/on-content won't be a priority like the first 4 forums are.

Going forward, if and when a topic in Fire Ring gets large (certainly well before 30+ pages), it will be locked and we will repeat the process.

Michelle