Too many forums?

[ubuntu-geek]

I would have to disagree. If we meshed everything into one huge forum we would still have the same problems. What it boils down to is, people don't read and don't post in the correct sections hence unanswered threads, people don't search to see if there has already been a solution to their problem hence duplicate and unanswered threads.

The reason Hoary and Warty sections are seperated is so we as moderators and visting end users can help others in a timely fashion. If we meshed Warty and Hoary questions into one huge forum can you imagine the chaos? I can.

As far as traffic, this forum generates almost 4 to 5 gigabyte of transfer daily, 300-400 users are online at almost all times and almost 13,000 users with around 2,000 unique forum members visiting daily.

It all goes back to the first things I mentioned. Read and Search.

We will not remove or merge any forums at this time as the current layout works and flows well.

[Xian]

I posted a desparate cry for help in repository support, but no replies...

There really needs to be a visible link in the top bar for 'No Replies'. Perhaps right next to the 'New Posts' link that is already present and very useful.

[Xian]

It all goes back to the first things I mentioned. Read and Search.

Totally agree with this point. However, using this LINK I was able to pull up at least 500 threads that were started between today and 3/17 and have no replies. Taking into account the known issues that can result in many of these, that number is still just way too high considering the level of knowledge that is present at this forum.

[Paul Sinnett]

I'm not sure about this, but I think there's no special flag to enable that

I found a couple of threads on modifications to the vBulletin software. This one gives you more options for selecting what gets syndicated. This would be great for people like me who prefer to have forum activity from many different sources gathered in one place. It also makes it standards compliant (apparently the default one isn't.):

http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=69834

And this modification allows browsers like Firefox to detect that the page contains an RSS feed and automatically displays a button to install it. A lot of news sites do this (the BBC have this feature, for example):

http://www.vbulletintemplates.com/mo...ead.php?t=6996

[Paul Sinnett]

There really needs to be a visible link in the top bar for 'No Replies'. Perhaps right next to the 'New Posts' link that is already present and very useful.

Good suggestion. Looks like somebody just added that feature. =D>

[ubuntu-geek]

Still tweaking as some of these forums will have 0 replies and that is ok. Everyone has to understand just because there are unanswered threads it isnt a bad thing. Some threads don't warrant a reply.

Not to be a grump, but instead of this thread going on about unanwered threads why don't we all just pitch in a help some of these users

[Paul Sinnett]

An actual list, no.

Okay, let's do something about that:


Announcements

Official Ubuntu Announcements

Security Announcements

Ubuntuforums News & Updates

Ubuntu Warty Warthog 4.10

Warty 4.10 FAQs & HOWTOs


Warty 4.10 Application Support

Desktop Support


Ubuntu Gaming


Stumper Questions


Other application support


Installation Help


AMD64-Bit Support


PPC/Mac Support


LIVECD Support

Warty 4.10 Hardware Help

Networking


Laptop Support


X.org / XFree86 Configuration

Ubuntu Hoary Hedgehog 5.04

Hoary 5.04 FAQs & HOWTOs


Hoary 5.04 Application Support

KDE (Kubuntu) Desktop


Gnome Desktop


Other Desktops


Ubuntu Gaming


Stumper Questions


Other application support


Installation Help


AMD64-Bit Support


PPC/Mac Support


LIVECD Support

Hoary 5.04 Hardware Help

Networking


Laptop Support


X.org / XFree86 Configuration

Hoary Hedgehog Development Release

Ubuntu Development

Ubuntu Development Mailing List

Other Ubuntu Support

Ubuntu Repository Support


Ubuntu Users Mailing List Thread


Ubuntu Server Talk


Security Issues


Programming Talk

Packaging and Compiling Programs

Ubuntu Screenshots / Art Talk


3rd Party Ubuntu Projects

Ubuntu Backports Project


Menu Editor Project

Ubuntu Community Cafe

Community Chat


Community Market Place


UbuntuForums Site Help

Note: I haven't tested them all

PS: I put this on the wiki too.

[Xian]

Not to be a grump, but instead of this thread going on about unanwered threads why don't we all just pitch in a help some of these users

Good show on putting up the link to 'Unanswered Threads'. The easier we make it for people to find these, the better the chance that some of them might get resolved, or at least addressed positively. In a forum of this size it is important to have an outlet to find threads that need attention before they get buried. Hopefully an increased number of members will give this issue some degree of increased attention.

[defkewl]

I agree with you. I think there are too many forums. Even I don't go through each of them

[kassetra]

I agree with you. I think there are too many forums. Even I don't go through each of them

What we've done is simply separated Hoary questions from Warty questions because otherwise whichever version is the "Current" version will bury the other questions - and because the answers can and usually are different for the same question.

You don't have to go through each of them - you just find the one you want to help in or the one you want to ask a question in.