Forum Technical Reference Sections!

Zagato

Zagato

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On the two classic car forums I use we have technical reference sections for common topics such as rebuilding gearboxes, upholstery, wiring, painting etc.

I wondered why there wasn't something similar on here? Such articles can be found sometimes in the magazines :confused: or is that the point :rolleyes:

It doesn't have to be maintenance orientated, topics such as sail trimming or an article on Col Regs as per the one in the magazine last year would be very useful to many I should think as a quick reference.
 
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There has been a few threads on this subject with promoters and rejectors of the idea expressing their points.

If you use the subscription option under thread tools and in your control panel it is possible to set up a personal directory of folders to store threads in.

For searching I find the Google Advanced Search facility (where the address of the forum can be stated to limit the search) is a very good tool for sorting through the threads.

I am a rejector of structure in this forum. I believe that the current model contributes to the forum success: lively, well populated, regular contributions, patient, free flowing. Also a structure requires policing, which introduces control and kills enthusiasm; in my humble opinion.
 
I am with Zagato on this. Cruisers Forum have a similar set up with individual boards aimed at specific subjects.

The problem I find here is that the same subject can be repeated every couple of weeks and with so many posts each day it is easy to miss.

Given some of the obscure Forums included on this board I am surprised peeps are so against the idea.
 
Blue5 said:
Given some of the obscure Forums included on this board I am surprised peeps are so against the idea.
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We're against the idea precisely because there are so many obscure forums that nobody reads, thus demonstrating that over-compartmentalising everything to appeal to somebody's idea of a tidy mind tends to lead to dead forums where you won't get an answer.

If you want a fresh discussion on your problem, ask about it in PBO or Scuttlebutt as appropriate. If you'd rather read existing information, use google with site:ybw.com/forums in your search. Breaking out a new pack of manila folders and trying to turn the forum into a filing cabinet is not the answer.

Pete
 
The problem with boxes to put things in is that the wrong things get put in the boxes, or the boxes become so full that one has to search through all the contents of the box; it's a very inefficient way of searching for the thing you want.

It is far better to be able to search one big box instantly. Below is a Google Advanced Search using the exact phrase 'Sail Trimming' and restricted to 'http://www.ybw.com/forums/'. The search provided 596 results in 0.14 seconds. Google even displays the forum page to the right of the results list, if the search doesn't look quite right, you can modify it very easily from the results list as well! I am pretty stuck in my ways but discovering this search thing makes navigating this place for information a doddle.

Google Advanced Search Sail Trimming

Re building Gearboxes

The fact that many subjects are repeated is a sign of interested, enthusiastic forum members. This place works pretty well as does Google Advanced Search. You should try it, its very easy.
 
One of the nicest things abut the forum is that anyone can be an expert, however new they are to the forum - I think having compartmentalised sections would add a sense of there being pre-ordained experts who would defend their little niche of the forum - look what happens in the for sale threads.
 
Zagato said:
On the two classic car forums I use we have technical reference sections for common topics such as rebuilding gearboxes, upholstery, wiring, painting etc.

I wondered why there wasn't something similar on here? Such articles can be found sometimes in the magazines :confused: or is that the point :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

For some reason the powers that be seem reluctant to create boards by subject as opposed to be magazine or area. We could do with one for racing, for example. Maybe also for colregs.

Engines / gearboxes etc are less use since they cary wiedly from boat to boat whereas something like (say) Mini forum only has the old A series engine to cover.
 
prv said:
We're against the idea precisely because there are so many obscure forums that nobody reads, thus demonstrating that over-compartmentalising everything to appeal to somebody's idea of a tidy mind tends to lead to dead forums where you won't get an answer.



Pete
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I take your point given the obscure forums listed, I like the Cruisers Forum model but there you go, personal choice I guess.

As an aside what happened to Wooden Boat Forum, disappeared off the face of the earth but as an archive must have a wealth of information.
 
There does seem to be a wealth of info here which is difficult to tap into.
One plea that I would make is that we use sensible titles to our threads describing just whet it about.
Another plea would be to try to qualify any tips or hints with some provenance " I did this and its worked for 20 years" has more weight than " my dad's mate told him this"
It seems that some responses are based on just hearsay but are propounded as if they were established facts.
ohh!! and merry Christmas!!
 
If you ever come across a thread where you have real expertise, and then read the other answers, you soon realise that many posters feel impelled to reply whether they have any,thing to offer or not. And some of them are quite convincing whilst writing bow locks.

How you get round that I do not know.
 
pcatterall said:
There does seem to be a wealth of info here which is difficult to tap into.
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Its very easy with Google Advanced Search (GAS): -

Click For Google Advanced Search UK

Use this web address http://www.ybw.com/forums in the GAS "site or domain field" to search the whole forum. I don't think you can search just in Scut But or Reader 2 Reader.

The top 5 fields in GAS is where you put the words or phrases you want search on. You can use just one field, a couple or all, in any combination. The logic that each field will apply when searching is described next to it.

Once you have the search displayed in your browser, at the top will be input box next to the word "Google". Your search terms will appear here. If the search isn't what you want, then you just edit the search terms in the input box and hit return. A new search will be displayed.

Please try it, it is a very easy way to search this forum, very flexible, requires no knowledge of database searches and provides easy access to the data contained here. I am not literate in computer code or esoteric search engines, GAS has been made for people like me. Its a piece of cake. Give it a go.
 
Well from what has been said I can see both sides but have to say technical libraries are an extremely useful resource on other forums and they don't detract from the main interaction, in fact they enhance it and attract new members.

A good clear and most importantly correct write up with photo's and detailed info is an invaluable resource. I have had many PM's thanking me for my write ups and they have even been referred to in national mags. Some subjects are also just too big to print in magazines, a forum can be an ideal place for in depth technical reference sections :)

It's of no real matter to me though, just an idea, last minute Christmas shopping IS a real concern :eek: but they do say gentlemen don't shop until Christmas Eve :)


Oh and Pete... Who's we? It sounds as though you are talking for all members where clearly WE are not all of the same opinion ;)

prv said:
We're against the idea....

Pete
Click to expand...
 
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Zagato said:
Oh and Pete... Who's we? It sounds as though you are talking for all members where clearly WE are not all of the same opinion ;)
Click to expand...

That certainly wasn't my intention. "We" was those of us who don't believe in detailed categorisation resulting in lots of subject-specific forums. Of course there are others who do, and my disagreement with them is hopefully amicable.

On the other hand, it's possible I may have jumped to the wrong conclusion about what exactly you proposed. I've been responding to Blue5's post, mentioning "individual boards aimed at specific subjects", not to yours which I now see may have been proposing something somewhat different.

I used to use the Usenet newsgroup uk.d-i-y, which was in many ways rather like this forum. In recent years it's acquired a companion wiki where common topics are written out once and can then be edited and expanded by other members. Follow the link above and have a browse around.

If that's the kind of thing you have in mind then my reaction is rather different. Still not convinced it will work, but supportive if people want to give it a try. I do think a wiki editable by anyone (with a user account, not any Internet passer-by like on Wikipedia) is the right format, rather than trying to abuse the software here that's designed for discussion and not documentation.

Pete
 
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