having just read the "what is happening" thread, some ideas popped into my mind as to solving one or two issues easily.
adding a few more forum subjects to help ease certain problems, i know it's simlistic but try to see what i mean.
one problem lies with some questions being asked like the "pants" one.
lets use the "kit" forum as an example.
kit blogs telling people about kit or amature reviews, prehaps not requireing answers on the threads, useful to newbies and experienced alike
kit questions, genuine questions you would like answered by those with experience, here the "older members" and people that have used the stuff would be great!
quite often i have come across threads that simply have not been answered by anyone for weeks which with experience of this is a but soul destroying if you think you have a valid question that you want answered
often i will answer as many questions as i can, or make a friendly comment to help this.
quite often newbies ask what kit to take on a course or meetup, prehaps a sticky, thread could be made of the kit one would suggest for a newbie, otherwise threads often continue into a confusing huge list of kit options that would some people off!
often people have simple and cheep kit fixes prehaps a sticky thread could be made for them?
prehaps some sort of extra kit forum for group leaders/instructors i.e ways of stretching cash like using catering B'bean tins. somewwhere that true experience in leading others can be shared with others in a simular position.
this sort of forum change could help people change opinions, i know of at least 2 proffesionals that don't use this site anymore because threads are hi-jacked by people with incorrect or ill-informed strong opinions, often based on little experience! so if the forum could be tweaked like the above it may help to satisfy the "oldies" being able to help others and walcome newbies with open information, and helpfull answers.
obviously the kit blogs would need to be edited occasionally but it could work!
i hope it's a useful idea!
adding a few more forum subjects to help ease certain problems, i know it's simlistic but try to see what i mean.
one problem lies with some questions being asked like the "pants" one.
lets use the "kit" forum as an example.
kit blogs telling people about kit or amature reviews, prehaps not requireing answers on the threads, useful to newbies and experienced alike
kit questions, genuine questions you would like answered by those with experience, here the "older members" and people that have used the stuff would be great!
quite often i have come across threads that simply have not been answered by anyone for weeks which with experience of this is a but soul destroying if you think you have a valid question that you want answered
often i will answer as many questions as i can, or make a friendly comment to help this.
quite often newbies ask what kit to take on a course or meetup, prehaps a sticky, thread could be made of the kit one would suggest for a newbie, otherwise threads often continue into a confusing huge list of kit options that would some people off!
often people have simple and cheep kit fixes prehaps a sticky thread could be made for them?
prehaps some sort of extra kit forum for group leaders/instructors i.e ways of stretching cash like using catering B'bean tins. somewwhere that true experience in leading others can be shared with others in a simular position.
this sort of forum change could help people change opinions, i know of at least 2 proffesionals that don't use this site anymore because threads are hi-jacked by people with incorrect or ill-informed strong opinions, often based on little experience! so if the forum could be tweaked like the above it may help to satisfy the "oldies" being able to help others and walcome newbies with open information, and helpfull answers.
obviously the kit blogs would need to be edited occasionally but it could work!
i hope it's a useful idea!
