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#1 RainyAfterlifeDaylight

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 09:51

One of the challenges that moderators and members have faced constantly is the unrelated posts in threads specially driver related posts in car threads.

 

I think one of the reasons that this happens is the never ending change of threads order based on recent posts which sometimes encourages members to use unrelated popular threads because they are within reach. I know this is not an excuse to not follow forum rules but it happens frequently anyway.

 

So my suggestion is these screen shots that I have modified them a bit. As you can see the highlighted pinned part is new.

Screenshot-2.png

 

By clicking, it would guide you through "Formula1 teams Forum" and by entering there you would have all the F1 teams that are gonna race in Formula1. The order could be based on last year's constructors championship or based on live constructors championship. As you can see every row has the main three topics that members spent most of their times there but they are all within reach to avoid thread conflicts.

 

 

Screenshot-1.png

 

 

All in all, In this way we could have more organized (Less busy) forum which would allow other recent threads to have more exposure time as well.

 

I know it takes time, money and effort but I just wanted to share my opinion.  :wave:


Edited by RainyAfterlifeDaylight, 01 March 2019 - 10:27.


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#2 Izzyeviel

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 11:33

Sounds good! It's gets so annoying when you're trying to find a thread and have to wade past multiple Hamilton Vs Bottas threads and then multiple mercedes threads.



#3 noikeee

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Posted 01 March 2019 - 17:01

To do it exactly like you're suggesting, the forum would need specific custom-made software changes, which isn't really going to happen.
 
When I was part of the mod team a while ago, I have a vague idea at some point we discussed the possibility of opening subforums for this. I'm in favour of that, but can also see the drawbacks: most people don't want too many subforums because it dillutes discussion, it can be too many subforums to visit to keep up etc.


#4 Risil

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Posted 04 March 2019 - 20:41

Subforums are problematic because they would spread everyone out thinly and remove the communal space where everyone can see what's being discussed and pitch in accordingly. The pleasantness and hygiene of the communal space can vary but we think it's really important to keep it. We don't want the same topics being discussed in different areas of Racing Comments. Especially with team-based subforums, there's the risk that things will turn insular, and, to borrow a phrase from Ralph Nader, a member walking in off the street to contribute will immediately be asked "Who are you with?"

 

What I'm 100% in agreement with RAD about is that we should keep looking for ways to keep discussion about driver vs driver and team politics out of the technical threads. They're an invaluable resource for many users who aren't interested in daily conversations about how much quicker Lewis is than Valtteri, or which Red Bull driver just got a double scoop of ice cream from Helmut Marko.

 

Something we've been thinking about off the back of this thread is widening the remit of the Driver vs Driver topics so they explicitly include other team personnel, team politics and various other non-technical aspects of the team. Since those are all vital context to Driver vs Driver threads anyway. Hopefully leaving the car threads free for more focused discussion. What do you all think?

 

p.s. You can also use the control panel to follow the car/driver topics you're interested in.



#5 AvranaKern

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Posted 04 March 2019 - 21:48

Something we've been thinking about off the back of this thread is widening the remit of the Driver vs Driver topics so they explicitly include other team personnel, team politics and various other non-technical aspects of the team. Since those are all vital context to Driver vs Driver threads anyway. Hopefully leaving the car threads free for more focused discussion. What do you all think?


Great idea. Most of the duscission here (or in any other sports for that matter really) its driven by drivers (pardon the pun). Any and all expansions and stretching of the D vs D thread borders is welcomed.

#6 KWSN - DSM

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Posted 04 March 2019 - 21:50

One thread for everything!!1

 

:cool:



#7 pacificquay

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Posted 06 March 2019 - 09:34

Bad idea, this.

Too many sub forums dilutes content too thinly and kills the forum ultimately.

Threads live or die by the level of interest in them - they simply drop down the order if people aren’t interested.

What we have now largely works apart from those who think starting a new thread is a cardinal sin.

I much prefer individual specific topic threads rather than catch all generic ones.

#8 KWSN - DSM

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Posted 06 March 2019 - 10:33

Bad idea, this.

Too many sub forums dilutes content too thinly and kills the forum ultimately.

Threads live or die by the level of interest in them - they simply drop down the order if people aren’t interested.

What we have now largely works apart from those who think starting a new thread is a cardinal sin.

I much prefer individual specific topic threads rather than catch all generic ones.

 

So when serious, exactly what you say.

 

:cool:



#9 Zmeej

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Posted 06 March 2019 - 16:01

Ach, too bad. Was hoping you were serious about “one thread for everything.” :p

#10 KWSN - DSM

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Posted 06 March 2019 - 16:29

Ach, too bad. Was hoping you were serious about “one thread for everything.” :p

 

I can handle it, many can not, and the Nostalgia Dogmatists will have a conniption.

 

:cool:



#11 Marklar

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Posted 10 March 2019 - 00:22

Something we've been thinking about off the back of this thread is widening the remit of the Driver vs Driver topics so they explicitly include other team personnel, team politics and various other non-technical aspects of the team. Since those are all vital context to Driver vs Driver threads anyway. Hopefully leaving the car threads free for more focused discussion.


Now that this happened, does the unwritten rule "do not post driver vs driver (now personnel) threads before Melbourne" still apply?

#12 PayasYouRace

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Posted 10 March 2019 - 10:53

Feel free to create the threads as and when needed.

 

Example thread titles:

 

Ferrari 2019: Personnel and Commercial Aspects

 

Mercedes 2019: Drivers, Managers, Politics

 

Red Bull Racing 2019: Staff and Events



#13 potmotr

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Posted 10 March 2019 - 14:34

I don't really see the point of this to be honest.

 

'Ferrari generic 2019 car thread' seems the perfect place for all things Ferrari this year, for example.



#14 danmills

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Posted 16 March 2019 - 08:12

Bump for this. The state of the main forum has become an utter mess this weekend. We have double threads per team, why do we need separate tech and general team talk?

The entire front page with this current system just swallows other interesting discussions. One team per thread, simple.

#15 jcbc3

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Posted 16 March 2019 - 08:49

Unfortunately, we have experienced 'fan group wars' in the driver vs. driver threads that then spilled into the car threads. Leading to untold hundreds of complaints from users that are genuinely interested in a sober debate about the cars.

You do have the ability to favorite threads that hold a special interest for you.

#16 PayasYouRace

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Posted 16 March 2019 - 10:22

I'd like to add that we have the same number of regular threads per team: 2.

 

Before we had the overly confrontational driver vs. driver, and the car threads that spilled over into all sorts of other team talk. So we're trying something new by shifting focus and having the cars and the human factors in each particular thread. We're trying that split because the car threads used to become taken over by what was often a repetition or an extension of the teammate battle. Hopefully now the car threads can become focused on technical developments.

 

This is something of a trial, and it'll probably take a while for everyone to get used to it. But it also took a while for people to get used to not having the individual driver threads. If by Abu Dhabi it hasn't worked, then we'll reconsider.



#17 milestone 11

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Posted 16 March 2019 - 12:16

I'd like to add that we have the same number of regular threads per team: 2.

 

Before we had the overly confrontational driver vs. driver, and the car threads that spilled over into all sorts of other team talk. So we're trying something new by shifting focus and having the cars and the human factors in each particular thread.

Agreed, but a lot of members don't appear to be getting it. The car thread is working because the thread title is consistent, i.e. (team name) Technical Thread. With regard the personnel thread, there is no consistency. Some are "Team Thread", "Personnel" and other variants. Your own Williams thread is, in my opinion, the best choice of name. If they all had a similar title, the problems encountered this morning would be alleviated. There is chat dotted about all over the place because a lot of posters aren't aware of, or haven't looked for, the appropriate thread. My view would be to re-name all the other "personnel" threads in the format of your own.



#18 danmills

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Posted 17 March 2019 - 00:15

We will see. I’m sure after a week it will settle down and a lot of the threads will settle to the bottom and be barely touched giving chance to other actual interesting discussions. And then you’ll have to police the inevitable cross pollination of team talk in technical and vice versa. I took one look at the page today and closed the window.

What a repetitious mess.

#19 Nonesuch

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Posted 17 March 2019 - 21:19

While renovating the forum, a "2010-2013 support group" thread would also be nice so those who're still frustrated over Vettel winning four titles have a place to share their feelings without it cluttering up anything remotely related to Ferrari.



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#20 FirstnameLastname

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Posted 18 March 2019 - 09:49

The forum looks incredibly bland now. Nothing stands out as an eye catching conversation. Just a series of generic-looking threads.

Backwards step, in my potentially worthless and non-requested opinion.

#21 Marklar

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Posted 18 March 2019 - 10:21

Agreed, but a lot of members don't appear to be getting it. The car thread is working because the thread title is consistent, i.e. (team name) Technical Thread. With regard the personnel thread, there is no consistency. Some are "Team Thread", "Personnel" and other variants. Your own Williams thread is, in my opinion, the best choice of name. If they all had a similar title, the problems encountered this morning would be alleviated. There is chat dotted about all over the place because a lot of posters aren't aware of, or haven't looked for, the appropriate thread. My view would be to re-name all the other "personnel" threads in the format of your own.

+1

I also think that in some cases (Ferrari especially) the Team and Technical Thread look at first glance too similar. Of course you could say that folks should bother to read before clicking on it, but it's generally better for the flow of a forum if things are distinguishable at first glance, which could be achieved by writing more key words in the team thread title (like the drivers' and TP`s names, etc.) for example


Edited by Marklar, 18 March 2019 - 10:21.


#22 Risil

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Posted 18 March 2019 - 10:24

We can certainly look at creating some more interesting and eye-catching names for the "human" team threads. There's a fine line, isn't there, between the desired spice and conflict on a discussion forum and instituting a forever war between groups of fans.
 
I reckon the best thing to make the main forum page look more interesting and eye-catching is for members to start threads on topics that interest them. 
 
I don't believe we've ever shut a thread down on the grounds that things could already be discussed in the car or driver vs driver threads. The opposite in fact: we spend quite a lot of time hiving discussions out of them into separate threads.
 
Edit: new thread titles ahoy


#23 potmotr

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Posted 18 March 2019 - 11:25

I think the move is good for moderators but bad for the forum experience. 

 

That's in no way meant to diminish the respect I have for mods, but it's making the forum less attractive overall.


Edited by potmotr, 18 March 2019 - 11:26.


#24 milestone 11

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Posted 18 March 2019 - 12:53

 
Edit: new thread titles ahoy

Appreciably better, thanks Risil.

#25 MrRat

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Posted 04 April 2019 - 04:52

Why do we even have 2 threads?  :down:  

Older format of driver vs driver and one for team worked fine.



#26 SwedeForceOne

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Posted 04 April 2019 - 07:57

Why do we even have 2 threads? :down:

Older format of driver vs driver and one for team worked fine.


Agree, should be a poll about the popularity of this.

#27 kosmos

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Posted 04 April 2019 - 08:02

Why do we even have 2 threads?  :down:  

Older format of driver vs driver and one for team worked fine.

 

 

Is the mods decision to do it like this, is not up to us mere users.


Edited by kosmos, 04 April 2019 - 08:03.


#28 Victor

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Posted 04 April 2019 - 08:45

Agree, should be a poll about the popularity of this.

 

Absolutely



#29 Rinehart

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Posted 04 April 2019 - 09:02

Agree, should be a poll about the popularity of this.

Its evidently not very popular judging by the heavily reduced "traffic" on these threads since the change. 



#30 noikeee

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Posted 05 April 2019 - 11:09

I'm not a big fan of this change neither, because the "team" talk overlaps too much between both threads. For example Williams is in trouble, lots of users pointing blame at the staff/directors, do you talk about it in thread 1 or 2? Is the discussion any different between thread 1 and thread 2? It's impossible to separate what's the technical part of the argument and what's the pure team politics part. It's all a bit odd.
 
I do think it's worked well to some extent on filtering down the overly combative, childish driver vs driver stuff, but that's also because it's so early in the season... plus, all of these driver pairs are new this year and a lot of the really toxic baggage has been reset (ex Max v Dan). So it's more peaceful partially because of the threads, but also largely because the circumstances have changed and haven't gotten as heated yet.
 
My suggestion is going back to how things were, but with slightly different names. For example 2 threads on Ferrari:
 
- "Ferrari team 2019 (staff, car, and technical talk)"
- "Ferrari drivers 2019"
 
This is a lot clearer, and hopefully by simply generically saying "Ferrari drivers" instead of "Vettel vs Leclerc", it's a less combative standpoint from the beginning, instead of promoting a scoreboard-type comparison straight from the thread title. Also this eliminates the need to start a new thread each time a team changes drivers mid-season.


#31 PayasYouRace

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Posted 05 April 2019 - 13:31

 At the end of the day we want the best experience for everyone on the forum. There's always going to be overlap between threads, or potential to merge or split discussion. So thanks for the feedback.



#32 NixxxoN

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Posted 12 July 2019 - 15:07

I would do something better:

 

Provide the official F1 team threads with their respective livery colors (in the forum index I mean)



#33 PayasYouRace

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Posted 14 July 2019 - 08:53

I would do something better:

 

Provide the official F1 team threads with their respective livery colors (in the forum index I mean)

 

Interesting idea.



#34 SophieB

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Posted 14 July 2019 - 11:42

I would welcome changes that would allow us to customise threads. My concern would be about how to achieve that without strengthening the impression that only the fans as welcome.

#35 jonpollak

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Posted 23 July 2019 - 22:55

I don't really see the point of this to be honest.


We need to post better content. Be more on point than reactive...

Or something like that...
Jp