3 sections



General

Skinning

Help





2 Lists


Hot threads list - LIsts the threads with the most activity




New threads list - lists say the ten most recently started threads



say 5 threads per list?
[Message Edited]

paxx, It seems to me there are quite a few people here that try to help out when someone posts a question. I usually try to, even though I don't have near the knowledge a lot of folks here have. I suspect those 'helpers' would go to the help category to see what is being asked/posted. If it wasn't for those 'helpers', I would still be stuck on a lot of things!

Frog boy: So if we were t have 3 forums here what would you vote on? Here's my suggestion: General User Help Skinning

As long as "User Help" reminds people to email [email protected] for product support

It all sounds good to me!

pictoratus: I too would go check in the Help section once in a while, but I can tell you that I check this messageboard minimum 30 times per day. With a help section, maybe I'd go in there once a day, but certainly not everytime I come here. I suspect it's the same for most people.

How about a fourth section titled 'Frustration and Abuse'....and the link at random either does absolutely nothing, or alternatively formats their harddrive?...

do a 4th group called "The coffe Room" or some such and make that our offthe wall, rambling and chat place hehe.

paxx, you may be right. It would be nice if the 'sense of community' would be enough to encourage more people to help.

I think the 3 message boards are a very good idea, but I don't think the Skinning message board will be the only solution for skinners. It should be an aid that IMHO should be used next to my earlier proposal that you can fiend here here: https://www.wincustomize.com/msgboard.asp?id=148503&BID=WC&page=1#toppage

The start of the thread contains the reason for the proposal. In that thread see post #44 for a detailed description.

[Message Edited]

@ Jafo
Aptly titled

I'll take all the help (section) I can get!

paxx; I would be a balance to you .............. I would be checking the General board far less than the other 2. 

I would say that I would be more willing to help if there was a Help catagory.

I like this idea a lot. I would also go into the help section to see if I could help.

Wincusto browser and SDC could have the different discussion sections as tabs above the threads window and could, as a user option, just show one tab for all 3 sections together.

Nice idea Mr Frog

i like the idea of 1 section devoted to all computer references, ie skinning, software and another section devoted to socializin and goofin off.

I have a cool idea.

In the help forum, when starting a thread - you should be able to set an 'icon' (16x16) for the thread, and that icon is shown next to each thread (on the left)

By 'icon' I mean an symbol so that people can quickly glance over the board and see what people need help with.

Basically, the starter of the thread selects a 'winamp icon' if it's a winamp skinning question, a windowblinds icon for that software, and there could be a selection of other icons (a general help icon, an advanced/programming help icon, an icon/cursors related icon etc...) and so on.

That way you could pop into the help forum, quickly scan down the list of icons next to the threads and get a feel for what's in there, and help out anyone in an area that you know well.

Just an idea

Hell Dragon, interesting idea on the icons.

i am not sure how well people would use this though, given the vast number of threads called simply "help"

having used some boards that let you put an icon on new threads, i very rarely use this myself, since i often forget to do so, and just go with the default icon

letting the admins set the icons may help, but that is simply another job for them, so not such a hot plan *shrug*

On the face of it, Hell Dragon's idea is nice, however, people, especially newbies often get confused about a given app (i.e. windowblinds vs. desktopx, objectbar vs. objectdock vs. object desktop) so they may want inadvertantly mark their thread with the wrong app/skin type and run the risk of being overlooked by a knowledgable person probably could help them but who quickly scans down the icon list

Permit me to contribute a few thoughts:

I feel that skinning in general will become more specialized -even professional! By having its own forum, everyone will have a more localized location in which to share. Perhaps I'm too optimistic, but I believe the future will have a range of issues which will need to be addressed in a more serious manner.

I personally read all help threads, simply because I learn more. I like to learn about different problems that arise and the wealth of information available is unbelievable!!

The general forum can provide a means whereby WC continues to be a community, wherein members can communicate at leisure in a non-accademic manner.

I trust this helps.

I hate to play devils advocate, but having that many different threads would play havoc on the admins right?

Not really, kona, might even help a bit.  

Hey, maybe we can split the work. Koasati, you're in charge of the Help forum, k?

Hey, maybe we can split the work. Koasati, you're in charge of the Help forum, k?

Just thought of something. If the 3 forums were t be what is suggested, where would skinning questions be asked? In the skinning forum or in the help forum?

I don't answer skinning questions anymore, cause I just don't skin very much anymore, and the programs have reallt started to be complicated, so I kinda lost touch. But on the other hand, answering user questions or questions regarding this web site, I'm always happy to help out.  So, in my opinion, the 3 forums should be as follow:

- General discussion
- Help using themes, skins or using this web site in general
- Skins and art discussions

I don't think the skinners questions should then be mixed with the rest, because the people who would be able to answer them are not necessarely the same people. Users can help users, and skinners can help skinners.

Hey paxx that a even better idea!

GeneralUser HelpSkinning

Perfect, keep the names of the forums simple. Nothing worse then trying to find help and not being able to figure out with forum to use.
I myself look for the help question first then goes on to others. Not that I know much but I have not yet tired of the simple asked again and again questions. Although I totally understand how some have.
The skinning section could come in handy for many not just newbies.

Keep it up Frog boy, you will have us under control yet.