Too Many Forums???

nuffoftexas · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009

Too many forums??? I don't mean to sound like crank, but it can be difficult navigating all the forums. Forums - sub-forums - and more sub-forums under those sub-forums. Just like this forum??? Why can't I start a new thread with this question? Why does it say to put your suggestions here? Do you mean this thread? Or this forum? Why is "Chesapeake" 3-tiers down?... under another forum called CHESAPEAKE!!! Why when I post to one, it goes to both? Which forum do I post to ask questions about boats? I thought I was in one, but really in another. Then I couldn't delete the post to put it in the "correct" forum. Then it seems I was STILL in the wrong (sub)forum. Sub-forums! and MORE sub-forums!#&^%!!#@@!!! Why does the "top" Sailnet forum list show one set of forums and another set of forums (sub-forums) on another "top" page? Why is there a Provisioning sub-forum when there's been only 116 threads in its' entire existence? Why are there four Florida forums?... with only 42 posts total in all? Same with New England - NY to Maine with sub-forums for MASS??? Same with PacNW & AK with another forum for PacNW? Same with Great Lakes. Many other forums have zero threads - but oh, wait, there's another sub-forum there where all the posts are. Why is there a sub-forum under Cruising&Liveaboard with "Articles"? Shouldn't that be under "Articles"? Why all the boat manufacturers forums listed under a "top" forum page?

Get the point? I know I'm kind of new here, but I'm also VERY computer literate. This site is absolutely the most difficult to navigate I have ever seen.

Thanks for being here though. Peace-Out... Roger in Texas

smackdaddy · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009

I agree with you on the 2 "top-level" links. In the bread crumb links at the top of the page, the "General Interest Forums" link doesn't make sense to me. I get it in terms of organizing the info - but not in linking. Of course, if you actually click on the "General Interest Forums" it's pretty insane the way the info is laid out there. So why have it?

If it were just "SailNet Community > Your Current Forum" it would make a lot more sense. That way you always navigate directly back to the top level with either the bread crumb links of the left nav.

badsanta · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009

Your right. I just click on "new posts" then no "politics/no off topic" to see whats new, unless I want to search for something. But that does not turn up everything either.

#4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009

I agree, there is far too much chaos for the eye on this fantastic site

SIMPLICITY SIMPLICITY SIMPLICITY
is always the best way to go when dealing with large groups

-JD

CalebD · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009

You guys are all channeling Andy Rooney, right? He is a genuine crank.
That said, I will half heartedly agree that way some some of the forums are 'organized' in a fairly haphazard manner.
That said, SN is not the only forum to be guilty on this count.

doubleeboy · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009

Geez, don't ya just hate it when the new guys start complaining about the way things work. Oh wait, that would include me whining about the search function.

Its a great board, warts and all.

michael

sarafinadh · #7 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009

meh... web sites, forums included, suffer from a constant need for simplicity, for navigation and complexity, for data management.

Honest, there isn't a right way to do it. As I tell my clients; "if we can build your website on time and in budget with all functions, well, functioning, and someone who visits twice can even begin to find their way around we will have done a good job."

It takes a bit of time to learn a robust site.

Patience little grasshoppers ; -)

CalebD · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009

meh... At least there is no 'Motor Vessel' section on SN as there is on CF... or is there???

I mostly use the 'Quick Links' -> 'Todays Post' function anyway so I don't really give a huge crap over how nested the various 'folders' are. This thread did remind me to dig way down deep into the 'Long Island' folder where I found a nice, old, stale post to reply to though. I almost forgot that that folder was there

Q: is sarafinadh = 'and himself'? For an 'IT' kind of guy your punctuation is not the best\'.'

sarafinadh · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalebD

Q: is sarafinadh = 'and himself'? For an 'IT' kind of guy your punctuation is not the best\'.'

Q: is CalebD = punctuation police?

maybe we need a forum for that too...

JohnRPollard · #10 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009

Folks, I agree.

We did a little reorganizing recently and it appears we have a few glitches.

Give us some time and we'll get it sorted out. Apologies.