Where Has Everyone Gone???

[johnrr6]

and here's a good example.....

In 20 minutes there have been 6 guys posting.....

Good guys....

Smart guys....

who all could maybe do a new news post at least once a month.....

If we got the front end fixed with the latest posts thread back on it----and put a new news post on it at least once a day....

Now there is a reason for folks to come and visit....

Frankly----I don't even look at the front page anymore.....whereas I used to scan for new news----then immediately go to the new posts thread to see if something caught my eye

I now go immediately straight to new posts.....

And everyone could pick a subject they particular like and have plenty of news on coming in daily to them from other feeds or sources....

me for instance.....

Windows Home Server and
Windows 7

I'm a beta tester for both----and they both are exceptional products....

[Ozzie]

Thank you for being positive John. I do like you're ideas too.

It seems most of our news team is MIA and the front page hardly ever changes. That only makes things worse as it appears static.
I will sure be happy to watch submissions if the news team members don't.
Maybe we can make that actually worth looking at.

I would be happy to approach sanjay if we can come up with some ideas.
The new or active posts on the front page is something I really miss too.

[rjs735]

Well we have proven when there is an exciting issue at hand that intrests everyone postings go up.

I don't even know how the front page posting goes in this new world that we have. Even if I had news worthy item how do we get it posted. Lets start there . Do the mods still control this or Sanjay??

[Sir Skully]

Yeah John, another thanks for very good input.....

Rather then point fingers and blame placing. But looking for some
really good answers. To what we can do to draw floks in.

[johnrr6]

GREAT!

So I say put out a call for volunteers.....

Their responsibility will be One News Article a Month

You give them a Day in the Month
You give them the method-----or way you want the article posted
And we get rolling on that

With 60 Guys---we get 2 NEW news artcles Daily
With 30 Guys----we get one (unless folks would be willing to do two a month)

I'm in for one----and if we can't get enough folks------two

Who else is in???

I'm thinking that there are at least a TON of topics folks would be interested in:
Vista SP 2
Windows 7
Cloud Computing
Microsoft "Live" Offeriings
Firefox latest
Linux Latest
New Software
New Drivers
New Games
Mobile offerings
Latest Laptops
Latest Desktops
Latest High Def Camcorders
Latest High Def TVs
Home Theater
New Digital Movie viewing like the Roku Netflix and Amazon box
Windows Home Server
Anything "Server"
New Processors and reviews
New RAM and reviews
New Motherboards and reviews
New Graphics cards and reviews
Video Production News
Web Development and Software
Neworking developements
Wireless
FIOS
Cable
AMD vs Intel

The list goes on and on----each contributor could be assigned a "Speciality Area" that they are interested in-----making it EASY to find news!!!

In the meantime----can you talk to Sanjay about getting the New Posts Thread back on the front page....

There HAS to be a way to do it......

It's just HTML (he says with an evil smile on his face......)

[zapionics<alt>]

Well i posted earlier about a way of doing reviews that I think would have been fresh and exciting... but there was no interest... maybe you could dig that old post up...

Hey and I think Ozzie does a fantastic job... IMO the site lost value with that big blow up a while back and the rep system... but we cant go on blaming that forever... I think a forum needs something distinctive about it so I agree a little with polonyc2 on that point... Asus boards was about Asus boards... which gave it that distinction but we dont have much now...

I help out a little with some of the hardware/software problem posts from time to time, but really enjoy the gaming side most... happy to contribute some more reviews to it

[Ozzie]

It is largely the duties of the news team to control the front page content. They have moderator privileges of the news forum. They can approve, remove, or moderate what is in the news forum.
If a member submits a news item themselves, it is in the form of a new thread made to the news forum. Then the news team will approve that thread. It basically is a moderated thread - it won't appear until approved.
Another feature that was added to the front page news would be the images you sometimes see. I say sometimes because we cannot use copyrighted pictures, so it tends to be a bit more complicated.
If any submissions are not approved or the news team doesn't act, then moderators or admins can approve those threads.

I have put in a request from sanjay to try and get active posts back on the right side of the front page. No idea how that will play out yet...

Thanks for the positive comments, and thank you John for being proactive.
All this has worn this old fart out...I need a nap now...

[johnrr6]

Originally Posted by Ozzie

It is largely the duties of the news team to control the front page content. They have moderator privileges of the news forum. They can approve, remove, or moderate what is in the news forum.
If a member submits a news item themselves, it is in the form of a new thread made to the news forum. Then the news team will approve that thread. It basically is a moderated thread - it won't appear until approved.
Another feature that was added to the front page news would be the images you sometimes see. I say sometimes because we cannot use copyrighted pictures, so it tends to be a bit more complicated.
If any submissions are not approved or the news team doesn't act, then moderators or admins can approve those threads.

I have put in a request from sanjay to try and get active posts back on the right side of the front page. No idea how that will play out yet...

Sooooo----I think what we need is a SYSTEM......

That spreads the wealth and duties a bit.

And the method of posting seems rather simple if I understand you correctly Oz....

make a new post in the new news thread....

if it meets the test----it's posted.

Lets get a list together of folks and start posting new news artcles.

Maybe you could post a big fat link on the front page ----something like MEMBERS----CLICK HERE TO POST YOUR NEW NEWS ARTICLE -----OR REVIEW

Reviews----or even just current and updated links to good reviews on new products would be great----good idea ZAP

[PeterT]

I'm in for John's monthly news posting idea.
And Ozzie, it would be great if you could get the recent posts back on the homepage. Now go get some sleep.

[polonyc2]

Originally Posted by Sir Skully

I still associate on another forum with the members that left here. Because of Ozzie, I think not. It was their heavy handed style, PCBruiser, Paragon, and etc. ABX was loosing members fast and good members at that. To stem the flow of loss CJ stepped in and got rid PCBruiser, Paragon, and etc. He CJ wanted no more ironfisted mods period. Why because he/CJ was scared as hell of loosing his site, and of law suits. Still there are other events that I could go on about, that factor in, and Ozzie ain't one of them. You seem to have all the answers polonyc2. But it appears to me you need to stop and take another long hard look at things, that have went on here. ozzie is what helped keep members here. I know because I also was ready to leave.
Man I've heard some stuff, and kept quiet. But enough is enough, age and Ozzie are NOT the reasons for ABX decline, but the opposite.....I'll leave it there before I GO to FAR........

I was going to post something but I changed my mind...but I will say this--PCBruiser is one of the smartest people I know...period...10 times smarter then I'll ever be...the man met Albert Einstein, studied at MIT...and yes the guy will be the first to admit he made mistakes...get off his back...people make mistakes, get over it and move on

those 'heavy handed' guys left...look how great things turned out for ABX...obviously 'they' alone weren't the issue...as the saying goes, "be careful what you wish for, cause you just might get it"...and yes the site would be 100 times better if they were allowed to complete their vision...proof: look at them now, the vast majority of them are now Mods/Admins/writers of tech articles at various high end tech sites

Originally Posted by johnrr6

In the meantime----can you talk to Sanjay about getting the New Posts Thread back on the front page....

There HAS to be a way to do it......

It's just HTML (he says with an evil smile on his face......)

there is a way to do it...the problem is not that...the problem is that Sanjay designed all his Crowdgather website Front Page portals to look the same...he did that on purpose...go look at any of his sites

http://www.zuneboards.com/

http://www.motorcycleforum.com/frontpage/index.php

http://www.parentingforums.org/frontpage/index.php

notice anything similar?...I don't think he would want to change one site alone

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

IMO the site lost value with that big blow up a while back and the rep system... but we cant go on blaming that forever...

exactly...I just looked back and checked...the dustup and Ozzie being made Admin occured on 02/10/2006...over 3 years ago

[johnrr6]

I just posted a new news article in the new news thread

OZ----when you have a chance----see if that is the kind of stuff you are looking for----and if it is the correct format.

[johnrr6]

I'm glad those guys are doing well.....

I was surprised by the big dustup----and was not involved nor really knew anything about it.....

All of a sudden----a guy I was overclocking AMD and NF4 with was GONE (Sierra)

Then I heard about it......

But that was then----and this is now....

The current path is----to me---a slow death.....

We either try---ask Sanjay----do something different----try to get some juice flowing again....TRY something different

Or we simply move on----member by member

New news----and a front page that works----just might be the ticket.....

If I remember correctly----it is ALWAYS the NEW NEWS and NEW POSTS that spark input----debate----discussion.....

And right now----There is virtually no New News----and New Posts are hidden and have to be gotten to with an additional click

In Webdom......

Thats a killer.....

[johnrr6]

The right side-----Best Of ABX

Could simply be redone to be Latest Posts at ABX

skip the photographs to add room....

Lost of bolded post topics

Viola!!

I'm sorry----i'm just an old grunt.....but this doesn't look hard.

And Poly----I pretty much disagree-----I would think Sanjay would be more interested in visitation----than all his sites looking alike.....

And this doesn't delete or move ANY Advertising

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

...If I remember correctly----it is ALWAYS the NEW NEWS and NEW POSTS that spark input----debate----discussion.....

And right now----There is virtually no New News----and New Posts are hidden and have to be gotten to with an additional click

In Webdom......

Thats a killer.....

Agreed.
After looking at the homepages of Sanjay's other forum sites, posted above, I'm not sure why he would chose not to put the recent posts on the front page. Seems counter-intuitive for there not to be a recent posts list on the front page of a forum site.

[Ozzie]

Your submission approved John...see what it looks like without the image.
I have to add one, or you get the ABX logo...not a biggy, but it's prettier...