What about a DECREASE in forums?

[jmbky1]

I'm a noob so there's a fat chance at anyone actually listening to me....BUT...

The incredibly complex, cluttered main page could be a huge turn-off to a lot of new users. I'm quite familiar with the internet, and it took me like 5 minutes to first locate different sub-forums I would post in.

Considering many Christians are older and maybe newer to the internet, it could really turn them away. If I were you guys, I would begin to merge some forums, delete some, and just clean this place up. Not only would it increase efficiency for users, it would be more welcoming to new users. Also, mods wouldn't have to work so hard policing each of the 900 subforums. It would make it easier on them.


I dunno, just a suggestion...but there is a rather common trend in simplicity and success. Just look at Yahoo VS Google. Yahoo is packed full of news headlines and all kinds of stuff <Staff edit>. Google is a searchbar. Check the stocks if you need to see where I'm going with this.

Just figured I'd give my two cents. I'm sure some of you seasoned users are so comfortable with it how it is that you will be resistant to change. Just try to see this place through new eyes.

 

[jmbky1]

Also, right now you have a large number of sub-forums which by themselves are quite slow for the most part. It can take many hours or even a day or so to get replies. You have so many users here that you are spreading them all so thin which makes it seem like this place is just slow all around.

If you consolidate, more people would be concentrated in each subforum which would increase reply time, get users to stick around on the forum longer, and increase the amount of threads made since response time will be made quicker.

 

[S53]

I agree.

 

[jmbky1]

I agree.

Thanks.

Just a look at the top forums on BigBoards shows you the success of simplicity. Well, simplicity compared to the cluttered appearance of CF's main page.

big-boards.com


I've seen threads on other messageboards actually ridiculing the complex layout of this place.

 

[S53]

Yeah, I see what you mean. I doubt anyone will listen to us, but I'm behind this idea 110&#37;.

 

[Ave Maria]

Personally, I like having an abundance of forums. That is one of the main reasons that I come to Christian Forums.

 

[S.gal83]

I think having many forums is cool. For instance, the graphic novel forum is rather slow-moving, but I will rather it to be slow moving than to be merged with the manga forums. Graphic novels, after all, are quite different from Japanese manga.

However, for forums that are not very active, with very few posters, perhaps a merge might not be so bad an idea.

 

[Avatar]

I'm in favor of merging the Catholic and Calvinist forums. Good times will surely ensue.

 

[elliotps932]

Personally, I like having an abundance of forums. That is one of the main reasons that I come to Christian Forums.

hmmmm

 

[synger]

We definitely understand the frustration of having to navigate and learn a complex site like this. In fact, the Advisors and IT folks just went through an exercise looking at the number and purpose of forums and subforums. A number of underused and outdated forums were removed, and some subforums moved to a more logical location.

Most less-complicated boards can be so because they focus primarily on one or two topics, and their boards can be organized around those topics. A weight-loss board will be organized around the topic of weight-loss subject, and weight-loss groups for support and encouragement.

Christian Forums, on the other hand, is not designed just to "discuss Christianity", but rather to gather Christians and others to discuss all sorts of things from a CHristian perspective. That's why we have EIGHT major categories of discussion. We have those who want to discuss Christianity (Theology), politics (Society), music and sports (Culture), or who want to find a "home" forum for discussion and encouragement (Ministry and Congegations). And that's only some of them.

Due to the very nature of the site and the broad-reaching topics that Christians are interested in, the site tends to be very broad. And thus, rather confusing.

Rest assured that we DO recognize this problem, and that we look at the subforums to see which ones are being underused and can be removed.

 

[iamAnnabelle]

I agree with the original poster... CF is too big. Much too big. Like a church that got too big and isn't fuctioning as well anymore because of its size.

 

[Audiomatic]

I play guitar and operate the sound system in church. I've found interesting discussions in Worship Ministry, Musical Instruments, Contemporary Christian (music), Praise & Worship (music), PA/AV Stage Crew, Guitar, etc. It's hard to remember what was posted where! I'm not sure what might be a good solution. Maybe several of these would fit into a forum titled Worship Production. Just a thought.