A Suggestion

[Clifford Pope]

We used to have a multitude of threads on different technical questions. These were very useful because the subjects of each were clearly distinguished - anyone wanting to ask a different question would start a new thread with appropriate description.
Now the majority of topics are concentrated in two multi-purpose threads, each now vast in size compared with any others. This is surely self-defeating?
I for one have nearly lost the interest in reading them - there might be something new I can contribute usefully to, but largely I have no idea what the subject of the latest post will be, so I have stopped bothering to look.

Does anyone else agree that it was better when new questions had their own threads, not just muscled in to someone else's topic?

[Wagon Sailor]

Originally Posted by Clifford Pope

Does anyone else agree that it was better when new questions had their own threads, not just muscled in to someone else's topic?

Yes. ...

[classicswede]

One thread one subject - fully agree

Lots of threads have drifted well off the original subject. It did always used to happen but has more recently gotten a lot worse. After 2 pages I am very un likely to bother reading

[Chris152]

From our perspective (Any advice, pt 2) it's worked really well keeping our questions in one place. The premise of the whole thing is that we really don't know what we're doing, and a few incredibly patient people respond accordingly, talking us through jobs in a way that needs them to know that we don't know what we're doing. Short-hand and abbreviations leave us wondering what things mean, and that often happens when people know plenty. Even something like jacking the rear of the car left me in doubt, and we needed talking through it.

Point taken though, Clifford - individual topics are way easier to follow and maybe more interest to other members. Once we get it through its upcoming MoT, I think the next job might be the steering rack. We'll start a new thread for that one and try to keep up with any advice!

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Clifford Pope

We used to have a multitude of threads on different technical questions. These were very useful because the subjects of each were clearly distinguished - anyone wanting to ask a different question would start a new thread with appropriate description.
Now the majority of topics are concentrated in two multi-purpose threads, each now vast in size compared with any others. This is surely self-defeating?
I for one have nearly lost the interest in reading them - there might be something new I can contribute usefully to, but largely I have no idea what the subject of the latest post will be, so I have stopped bothering to look.

Does anyone else agree that it was better when new questions had their own threads, not just muscled in to someone else's topic?

Good morn Clifford,

I rather suppose that was a swipe at the Royal Barge thread. I’m rather sorry you find it boring, but in my defence I made it clear from the very start (just a year ago) that it would be the story of the car rather than a technical compendium.

The RB thread does seem to have a following that enjoy it, which makes me happy, and I find it a fantastic reference document for the project. So, if you don’t like the thread - don’t read it - I won’t be offended.

AO.

[Clifford Pope]

No. Certainly not a dig Othen, but my my apologies if it seems like that.
There is nothing wrong with your Royal barge thread - that's a single restoration project in its own right, and interesting in a general sense.

My mild (very mild !) complaint was that others tend to post their queries on related subjects too, which confuses the issues and makes it very hard to follow. They detract from the RB thread too.

Some other forums have quite strict rules about not muscling in to someone else's thread. I don't think we need to be quite so strict and formal, but some kind of rough guidelines are useful I think. A certain amount of drifting off topic is no bad thing on occasions, and livens up discussions.

I think a good general rule is that specific advice about a particular problem is obviously good, as is an account of personal experience of a very similar matter because it may help to throw some light on the OP's problem. But if the post is about someone else's different problem, or a totally different subject, then it doesn't help the enquirer and may well put off lots of useful advice because, like me, they can't be bothered ploughing through a long and ever-lengthening mega-thread just in the offchance of something they might be able to help over.

[Stephen Edwin]

Originally Posted by Clifford Pope

We used to have a multitude of threads on different technical questions. These were very useful because the subjects of each were clearly distinguished - anyone wanting to ask a different question would start a new thread with appropriate description.
Now the majority of topics are concentrated in two multi-purpose threads, each now vast in size compared with any others. This is surely self-defeating?
I for one have nearly lost the interest in reading them - there might be something new I can contribute usefully to, but largely I have no idea what the subject of the latest post will be, so I have stopped bothering to look.

Does anyone else agree that it was better when new questions had their own threads, not just muscled in to someone else's topic?

Well. Actually. This section of the forum still gives us all very good information.

It has become to an extent the blog of Hinge and his friend Bracket. Both of whom are kind, well meaning and knowledgeable.

Project threads are great and interesting

The reduction of the usual forum style of mainly threads re specific issues and aspects, is a loss.

I don't really want to find the information re my car within a blog.

Just my groat's worth.










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[Othen]

"It has become to an extent the blog of Hinge and his friend Bracket".

How rude!

[Stephen Edwin]

Originally Posted by Othen

"It has become to an extent the blog of Hinge and his friend Bracket".

How rude!

Comrade





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