Forum Topic

What's happening to the forums?

Just looked at Chiswick and only 66 messages, 4/5 years ago there would be about 200 at this time of day. Ealing at its peak hovered at about 100.

Peter Wright ● 4441d5 Comments

The forum isn't simply a link from the main page. The same application and database is used across a number of different sites with differing level of permissions depending on which site you are registered on. I would guess the free sites you suggest wouldn't offer that functionality therefore they need to design and build their own software. This is far more difficult to achieve than just hooking up an off the shelf bulletin board and, given the overheads involved, it won't have been done by choice.The search function is erratic and I don't understand why that isn't improved but the threading methodology is one I favour as it is based on Usenet which to me remains the best way to handle online conversations. The use of a text editor significantly reduces the maintenance overhead and reduces spamming and is an approach that was adopted in projects I have been involved with. Keeping application design as simple as possible to achieve your basic aim for functionality is a very sound approach.

Andy Jones ● 4441d

With respect a competent search function (i.e. one that actually works)is hardly rocket science and is  minimum one should expect even from a free forum as are threaded replies where 'conversational' responses are far easier to follow. As the forum is merely a link from the main page the use of WebWiz or similar as a forum application should be straightforward as has been suggested before. However even simply emboldening or italicising text or adding a hyperlink without the use of HTML would seem too 'radical' for this site.I do agree though that the absence of the 'world is ending AND my bus was late due to immigrants' posters is welcome.

Nigel Brooks ● 4441d

Not sure about Chiswick, perhaps it was because it is the weekend and it was a nice day. The volume of posts on Ealing has declined from a few years ago but the quality has gone up because a lot of the activity was from people complaining incessantly about ethnic minorities - thankfully these disruptive posters have now departed.The forum application is not 'archaic'. Any web based application that continues to function with new browser and operating systems has probably been recently upgraded. It is very basic but that is a sensible design approach given that every additional feature you include may need patches ever time Windows is updated etc. Presumably off the shelf forum software wouldn't integrate with the other parts of the site so they have to build their own stuff. It isn't pretty but it does the job.

Andy Jones ● 4441d

You say no spell check; my browser provides a spell check. Don't need one on the forum.I actually prefer this format to the perennially scrolling answers.Search function, though, is rubbish.

Susan Kelly ● 4441d

There are so many other fora now Peter.I also have to say that the archaic application upon which these local fora 'run' is a positive 'turn-off' for the casual user. No spell check, inability to edit one's post if one makes a 'typo' random thread structures and a 'hit or miss' search function means that many who were once regular contributors have either voted with their feet or given up altogether.Positive suggestions made as to new forum software  seem to be broadly ignored and, should there be no hint of change, I, too, shall vote with my feet.

Nigel Brooks ● 4441d