Would You Purposefully Post a Tech-Related Thread in the Main Forum...

[ItsDubC]

knowing that the thread would get more exposure than if it were posted in the Tech forum? I've often wondered how much value ppl place on having organized content vs content w/ potentially more views and responses.

Navigating to the Tech and Chatterbox subforums requires that extra click and I get the feeling that this has a significant negative impact on the amount of traffic that they see. This is an intrinsic issue w/ the way the forum is organized and unfortunately I don't have a viable solution. If I were to pose a Tech-related question for which I really needed answers to, I am stuck between doing the right thing and placing the thread in the Tech section at the risk of getting far less exposure vs ignoring the fact that the Tech subforum even exists and placing the thread in the main forum for all to see.

It would seem like the happy medium in this scenario would be to place the thread in the main forum to get as many views and responses as possible early on, and then rely on a moderator to move it to the Tech section sometime after my question is addressed. IMHO however, this is not fair to the mods and is terribly inefficient.

Does anyone else follow this train of thought prior to posting a Tech or Chatterbox-appropriate thread?

[MrPerfect]

If we think it's more fitting in a sub-forum, we'll move it there. This applies more to Chatterbox items than Tech ones because (to me anyway) the line is much easier to draw. Tech items for the most part are moved anyway based on the content within them. So if lots of useful juicy how-to or inner-workings info gets put in the first post, then great, put it in the Tech forum. If it gets added by others in responses to the first post, then we'll probably move it... at some point.

Don't feel too bad about the Tech forum confusion. That's why we (moderators) can move things around. But everyone should know better about the Chatterbox. ;)

[ItsDubC]

For sure, and I'm happy w/ the current level of thread relocation. I was just interested in hearing whether other forum users take a moment to consider where their threads should go prior to posting and if so, what their thought process in determining that location is. If we could place threads in the proper location w/out moderators having to do it, then that'd be something great to strive for for the sake of organization. Of course a self-moderated forum is an ideal goal but realistically a pipe dream for the most part.

[FmL 50cmonsters]

I've always posted in one of the sub-threads if I found it to be a more appropriate placement. The tech forum line is hard to draw, but to me it seems like mostly DIY threads and HERE IS HOW TO DO/FIX THIS threads are going there. I feel like most of the posts that are obviously misplaced are started by people relatively new to the forum. I don't think many people are posting in the main forum specifically to get more views.

[ItsDubC]

^Ya I agree w/ pretty much everything you said except when I see some threads started in the wrong section by a seasoned member (doesn't happen too often), it makes me wonder if it was done on purpose or not.

At the moment it does seem as tho the Tech section is serving as more of an archive of tech info rather than as a placeholder for active Tech discussion (which is what the main forum is being used for). The role of the Chatterbox is much more clearly defined.

[Okan509]

^Ya I agree w/ pretty much everything you said except when I see some threads started in the wrong section by a seasoned member (doesn't happen too often), it makes me wonder if it was done on purpose or not.

At the moment it does seem as tho the Tech section is serving as more of an archive of tech info rather than as a placeholder for active Tech discussion (which is what the main forum is being used for). The role of the Chatterbox is much more clearly defined.

I think some people do it on purpose... There's no way some of the "seasoned" members can be so ignorant to where it should go....

[ItsDubC]

I think some people do it on purpose... There's no way some of the "seasoned" members can be so ignorant to where it should go....

Ya increased thread exposure is a significantly compelling reason to post in the main forum vs the Tech or Chatterbox sections where the thread might rightfully belong IMHO. I'd like to think we're generally a non-ignorant bunch tho some of us are craftier than others [:)]

[TexasEric]

At the moment it does seem as tho the Tech section is serving as more of an archive of tech info rather than as a placeholder for active Tech discussion (which is what the main forum is being used for).

Personally, I am hoping this is because many of the regular modders are busy over the summer months. There are a few mods out there that have been discussed with no follow-up, and that is unusual. I am getting up the courage to do a couple mods on my own and post the results. I truly have respect for those that go first!

[ItsDubC]

I am getting up the courage to do a couple mods on my own and post the results. I truly have respect for those that go first!

Same here. Sometimes it's hard enough to do a mod, but to actually take the time to document it as well also garners a lot of respect (at least from me).