Another Idea: more work for Max

Subject: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: Jon W.
Date: 17 Sep 97 - 06:38 PM

I stumbled across another discussion forum yesterday, nearly as interesting as this one. And they had a feature I think might fit in well. If you clicked the name of the user that posted a message (registered users only, I suppose) it would take you to a little bio of that person that they had entered. This would be a nice addition and help us get to know each other better. What do you say?

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: Sharon
Date: 17 Sep 97 - 11:39 PM

Sounds like a nice idea for those who want their bio profiled. I've yet to find another chat as friendly as this one. I've feld downright ignored in most.

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: RS
Date: 17 Sep 97 - 11:47 PM

Two more ideas:

(1) Since members have unique identifiers (e.g. "RS"), it shouldn't be hard (??) to set up a messaging system so that someone who wanted to send me a note privately could just post it to "RS" - rather than tying up a whole thread with a private note.

(2) And / or, what about a little box - on the main thread listing page - under the "Chat Room" link - where we could post the name of someone we had a message for. For example, if someone who was already in the chat room wanted to speak to me, they could post "Looking for: RS". Then when I saw my name up there, I would be very likely to drop in to the Chat Room & meet with them - whereas I might otherwise not visit just at that moment, & would miss the person who was looking for me. (Or if someone was lonely, they could always post: "Looking for: anyone at all!")

Anyway Max, you said you like challenges!

P.S. to Jon W: How tantalising for you to mention "another discussion forum ... nearly as interesting as this one" - and not post its address! Please do!!!

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: RS
Date: 18 Sep 97 - 12:00 AM

Oh I'm sorry, I just can't help myself. Here's yet another thought.

It's pretty safe to say, that any thread I've posted to, is a thread I would be interesting in following. Now I have played with using the Forum Search capability to retrieve all the messages I've ever sent ... but this can be long & unwieldy, because my identifier "RS" appears within lots of other words, and names (e.g.: Pat Patterson ... etc.). Also, the list I get back lists every entry separately, so if I've posted to the same thread several times, I get an individual listing of every post, rather than a single listing of the thread itself.

SO: two possibilities: (a) Any time I post to a thread, it could automatically be added onto my tracer listing (unless it was already there) - this would automatically generate a list of all threads I had posted to; and (b) Could there a choice on the Forum Search, of "exact matches only" - then I would enter RS under User Name & get back only me!

Now if only I knew how to do the programming to bring these ideas to fruition, I could offer to help out!

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 18 Sep 97 - 10:38 AM

RS,
Isn't the private messaging already here? Go to your personal page and go down to Messages. Try it now!

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: Jon W.
Date: 18 Sep 97 - 12:34 PM

Okay, since you ask, the URL is
http://mimf.com/cgi-bin/webx.exe

It's a forum about the construction and repair of musical instruments. I take the link called "stringed instruments" from this page. I find it quite interesting, but many others may not. Also, remember I said interesting, not friendly. Mudcat is special, nothing else quite like it. But to be fair, the conversations on the other forum are cordial at least and the sysop makes sure there is no flaming, also that people stay on subject.

Another idea they have is when you post a message, you have about a half hour to edit it or even delete it.

Overall, I think the Mudcat format is superior - but it could always be better.

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: RS
Date: 18 Sep 97 - 06:35 PM

[Copy of my private message to Alan of Australia!][about private messages]

Aha! Thanks! Here it was in front of me, and I never knew it!

[In future I won't post copies ... that defeats the purpose of private messages ... but I thought that this time it was warranted to post a public, as well as private, thank you].

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: RS
Date: 30 Sep 97 - 08:02 PM

Well time for another public Thank You!!!, this time to Max for solving the puzzle of the "Add to Tracer / Delete from Tracer" toggle on the main thread listing page (to identify threads which are not / are already on the member's personal tracer page). This is very very handy!

But not to waste any time before the next suggestion!! ... see my post on the "Deportee" thread about ?? the option of an inclusive search (?don't know the correct term) on the Database itself, in the same way that already exists on the Forum Search (where it refers to a "contains routine"). Then a search for "Deportee" would have found the song listed as "Deportees", rather than "Sorry, no matches".

What do you think?

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: Jon W.
Date: 01 Oct 97 - 10:43 AM

You can already do partial-word searches by using the asterisk as a "wild-card" character - meaning it matches any or no characters. For example, "deportee*" brings up songs with "deportees" in it. "Deport*" brings up such things as "deported", "deporting", "deportees", etc. "*port*" brings up all the above and also "port", "portsmouth", etc. etc. etc. You get the idea.

NOW, what about my original suggestion (top of the thread). I'd love to know more about all you folks (and folkies).

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: Max
Date: 01 Oct 97 - 11:21 AM

I can deal with the bio thing but I think a great thing with this community is that we are truly blind. We cannot see eachother's age or color or anything else. Our relationships are pure. All we know is our codename and our always kind and true words. I'll kick it around.

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Oct 97 - 02:38 AM

Hi, Max - I kinda think the "forum home" page should be set to default to three days. If a person posts a request for an obscure song, a day is not long enough to allow time for a response. I see a lot of threads where the original poster has gone back every day to "refresh" the thread in hope of an answer; or the person posts a whole new thread. I don't think an extra couple days' worth of threads will make the page load that much slower, will it?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: Bill
Date: 02 Oct 97 - 03:05 AM

Howdy Joe,

Set your own browser for the number of days you think best by changing the final number on the URL of your bookmark. The number after &age= should (and I emphsize should because it has been known to change for me after I sing a little flat (or do something else odious, but perhaps unknown to me)) give you the number of days you want. Should just take a moment to reset your browser or bookmark.

Allinkausay,
Bill

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: Bill
Date: 02 Oct 97 - 03:16 AM

Howdy again,

I must have done one of those odious things -- as soon as I posted this, I was switched from one to three days (I generally prefer the one day choice, Joe, but I haven't checked in as much as usual for a few days, so I may have to go up to ten days when I get out from under some of the other deadlines I've got now).

Allinkausay,
Bill

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Oct 97 - 04:02 AM

Hi, Bill - I could set my Bookmark to three days, but the usual way I access the forum menu is from the "Forum Home" links at the bottom of each message - those links are set at one day. As you found out, you go to a 3-day "Forum Home" page after you post a message. My humble opinion is that a 3-day list would help discourage people from posting duplicate threads and 'refresher" messages.
At a concert I attended last year, Joan Baez started to say, "In my humble opinion..." She stopped herself and said, "You know, I've never had a humble opinion in my entire life." I'm sure she'd used the line before; but it was a good one, nonetheless.
-Joe Offer, also not very humble about his opinions-

Subject: RE: Another Idea: more work for Max
From: Bert
Date: 02 Oct 97 - 08:33 AM

Joe,BR>
I love that Joan Baez quote.
It's so true, my opinions are never humble either.