DodgeCharger.com Monthly E-Newsletter or Newsthread....

[ChargerBill]

Hey everyone, I've been busy trying to make a living and just haven't had much time to get onto the website lately. When I do pop in I feel kind of disconnected and wonder what I missed...I'm sure there are more than a few members who feel the same way. It's hard to catch up and read everything and it seems like either a lot happens all at once or the site slows down for a few weeks and not much happens at all for a while.

I've been thinking about this for a while and was thinking it might be cool to have a "DC HIGHLIGHTS" thread or monthly E-Newsletter/Newsthread that everyone could post in. Basically it wouldn't be a discussion thread AT ALL, but more of a snapshot of different events. I'm not talking news about the Challenger or the Darwin Awards...more like news about each other, events and or website updates, etc.... Like "so and so bought a new Charger last week" and then a link posted to that thread, or "so and so is going in for knee surgery on this date" or "took a trip to Las Vegas..here's the link"...etc... I mean, I can get basic world news anyplace, but I can't find out what you guys have been up to unless I come here...and filtering through 200 missed threads isn't always possible.

Does this sound like a good idea or not? Would anyone be up for trying it? Maybe it could be started administratively at the beginning of the month and then limits could be set:

1) no discussions

2) brief description and link to topic needs to be pasted into post when referencing an event...

3) no duplicate posts unless adding missing info

Anyways...it might be nice to have these on a monthly basis so that we can all keep up on what each other is doing, going through, etc...when members are away or can't get online for periods of time.

How about it?.... Ideas? Opinions?

[Silver R/T]

i think its great idea as long as its not too long to read

[ChargerBill]

i think its great idea as long as its not too long to read

Regardless of how long it is (5 - 10 - 15 pages...who cares?) it would be easier to take a look at and filter through than 200 posts that you aren't aware of or don't have the time to read through....that's the whole point. One MAIN thread with quick info and links to monthly highlights and happenings.

[RD]

i like the idea, sounds good

[MyMopar]

Now that is some creative thinking.  So would we have 1 thread for each month?  Who posts to the thread and when?
Perhaps we could have a January thread and at the end of the week make a post of all the happenings.  That way by posting weekly people can have a time period to go by, it would be easier to add the info, people can search through it quicker by going by week and if a few mods were doing it they wouldn't be overwhelmed.

[67_Dodge_Charger]

I think it could work out great for all.  Highlights of the day could be organized into monthly folders.  It would take some time to set up but would benefit all.

-Robert

[Troy]

Ok, so all we gotta find is someone who reads every post, is organized, can write legibly, is non-biased, and has a boatload of free time. Who wants to volunteer?

Seriously, that's a job in itself and I can't afford to pay anyone. What happens as the site grows? We're currently adding 100 new members every 2-3 weeks and running consistently over 15,000 posts per month (we'll be close to 19,000 if this month keeps going at the same rate). It could probably be done and I can think of many sites where it would very handy to have. Maybe there's a solution out there but it will require some planning I think.

Troy

[Shakey]

Ok, so all we gotta find is someone who reads every post, is organized, can write legibly, is non-biased, and has a boatload of free time. Who wants to volunteer?

Seriously, that's a job in itself and I can't afford to pay anyone. What happens as the site grows? We're currently adding 100 new members every 2-3 weeks and running consistently over 15,000 posts per month (we'll be close to 19,000 if this month keeps going at the same rate). It could probably be done and I can think of many sites where it would very handy to have. Maybe there's a solution out there but it will require some planning I think.

Troy

Well c'mon man - what the hell ya been doin with yourself?  Certainly you have some spare time!   

[RD]

Ok, so all we gotta find is someone who reads every post, is organized, can write legibly, is non-biased, and has a boatload of free time. Who wants to volunteer?

Seriously, that's a job in itself and I can't afford to pay anyone. What happens as the site grows? We're currently adding 100 new members every 2-3 weeks and running consistently over 15,000 posts per month (we'll be close to 19,000 if this month keeps going at the same rate). It could probably be done and I can think of many sites where it would very handy to have. Maybe there's a solution out there but it will require some planning I think.

Troy

first people I would check on are the top five posters, top five people who have been on the site the most and choose from there.  Make them a moderator with specified responsibilities and access. 

If that is a no go, then I agree with you, it will take some definite planning and thought put into it.

[Headrope]

The solution is to think Web 2.0 and create a blog.

[Troy]

Ok, so all we gotta find is someone who reads every post, is organized, can write legibly, is non-biased, and has a boatload of free time. Who wants to volunteer?

Seriously, that's a job in itself and I can't afford to pay anyone. What happens as the site grows? We're currently adding 100 new members every 2-3 weeks and running consistently over 15,000 posts per month (we'll be close to 19,000 if this month keeps going at the same rate). It could probably be done and I can think of many sites where it would very handy to have. Maybe there's a solution out there but it will require some planning I think.

Troy

first people I would check on are the top five posters, top five people who have been on the site the most and choose from there.  Make them a moderator with specified responsibilities and access. 

If that is a no go, then I agree with you, it will take some definite planning and thought put into it.

You're assuming that the people who fit that set of criteria would be willing to take on the responsibility of summarizing a huge amount of information AND would actually be able to pull it off. You're also assuming that the people who spend the most time on this site or have a high post count are actually, um, er, uh, useful. 

Part of the reason for having multiple sections in the forum was to break down the threads in a more organized way so that pages don't fill up as fast and information is easier to find and update. This is a much simpler approach to maintain and modify as well. Forums tend to move fast - unless there's no one around - so it's tough to keep everyone up to date.

Troy

[Troy]

The solution is to think Web 2.0 and create a blog.

You cannot even begin to understand how much the term "blog" annoys me. Not happening on this site. Although the concept isn't inherently bad, I've had more than enough dealings with them already. A blog (primarily thoughts by an individual) about a forum (primarily thoughts by a group of people) is a strange concept isn't it? Kinda like Cliff Notes in a medium where people don't read any way. 

Troy

[67_Dodge_Charger]

 

[ChargerBill]

My original thought on this was that the post must meet certain criteria AND should be no more than a couple of complete and concise sentences giving a quick explanation. I realize that what I think is notewrthy might not be the same as what someone else does...that is why criteria should be established and adhered to. For example:

Yeat another thread has been started about hating the Creeder was started by so and so. Folow this link

or

Take a look at the pictures I took in Vegas. here are the pics...

are BOTH examples of what WOULD NOT be included in the Monthly Newsthread. I think the posted info should only pertain to the people, events, tragedies, victories, projects, completions, award winners, births, birthdays, deaths, marriages, surgeries, etc... that SPECIFICALLY pertain to DC.com and it's members. General news, rantings, opinions, jokes, politics, pix of chicks, etc...should NOT be included. Once the criteria are set then members could either be allowed to post on the thread until they ABUSE the priviledge, or better yet Troy could choose specific members in the beginning...kind of like the editor choosing contributing writers and co-editors. When I have the time I'd be more than willing to contribute, as I'm pretty good at condensing information, but the point is that AS MANY members as possible would share the priviledge and burden as a way to help fellow members who are currently unable to read through everything. I say give 30 members posting rights and let them all work together. At any given moment we could count on the fact that 10 of those 30 won't be on regularly and another 10 won't contribute very much ...and when those first 10 are able to log on and the other 10 feel like contributing more then the 10 guys who did most of the work at first will now get a break. I think it would become a natural rotation of various members posting and contributing at various times. If you see that some info has already been posted, then don't repost it (unless info was missed) and simply move onto the next topic. Since less than about 5% of what is posted here (IMO) is even worthy of making it into the Monthly Newsthread (according to the guidelines above) then it shouldn't be that difficult of a task. If you abuse your priviledge by ranting or posting useless info, then you get a warning or can no longer post....

[MyMopar]

I can see how this may be a big undertaking.  Perhaps a rotation of a group of people assigned or volunteered to wrap up one weeks activity is the key to a successful attempt.

While this is not your idea, your idea did spawn a new one.  What if the poster was able to change the color of his post on the board or have a special icon next to it.  This would do 2 things.  First if we were to go forward with a thread summary, it would be easier on the people doing the summary to locate the threads.  Secondly, if it was decided too much work and not enough people really cared about it, then the people who do care can still look through all the threads and find the "special" ones by color or icon. 
What do you think about that?  Can it be done?  Obviously criteria would need to be set up as stated but if a thread was marked as being "special" and it was another I hate the New Charger, a mod can make the appropriate changes.

[Telvis]

I bet Mustanghater would volunteer to write it. 

[Charger_Fan]

You're also assuming that the people who spend the most time on this site or have a high post count are actually, um, er, uh, useful. 

Don't look at me, I just come here for the beer.

[MyMopar]

So are any of these ideas a go or is their not enough interest?

[Brock Samson]

 I understand what ChargerBill is getting at having missed two-three weeks of posts myself, But I think it's unmanagable unless a couple or a few folks with some "smarts" are willing to volenteer,.. and frankly I don't see that happening,..
For example I'm on here pretty much 7 to 8 hours a day and can't even think of helping out,
also,..
   I can't even get the Californians to respond to my call for poster inquiries... 
list this one under aintgonnahappen.com

BTW:
Troy needs his sleep, the last dozen times weve talked he's been suffering a sleep deficit and been groggy.. 


EDIT:

It occured to me that what might possibly work, is a "What's Hot/What's Not" stickied to the top of Gen Disc.
With submissions from folks who want to contribute...

maybe the new guy Feyman can git that one going?...  he a good speller.. 

[Brock Samson]

bump..