About the State Boards ...

[John Robinson]

I want to improve the per-state message boards as found here while reducing the total amount of program code (to support.)

My idea was to create topics in the News/Activism forum for each individual state and allow interested parties to subscribe to these topics. Example. My thought was that the state-level activism conducted on the per-state message boards would then be greatly enhanced... with the ability to create separate discussion threads, and all the other tools that are included in the standard forum package.

However, my idea has been met with much resistance and I would like to know exactly what the issues are. I first thought I merely didn't communicate my intentions clearly, but I'm not so sure that is the case now.

[Constitution Day]

Thanks for the ping, kayak.

John, I do have comments on this, but will have to share them later.
I like the beta site, BTW.

[RedWing9]

The commentary on this thread has been very eye opening.

I for one never really liked the "chat" style of the My Locale boards simply because of the loss of information. But it has been pointed out very adeptly by LouD that the My Locale "format encourages a looser dialogue than we see on the threads", which is very fine opinion. I suppose, John, you could program it to serve both purposes well. i.e. A simple "chat" thread and the ability to post articles only pertaining to the State "Locale".

I would like to also add that I think some of the concerns outlined above could be directly solved by using the Free Republic Network. Especially, "blast" emails, rallying your troops, etc. I'm sure some of you will have issues with using the FRN service, and that is fine and I'm sure out of this threads context. But I think trying to make FR into the activism vehicle that has been suggested, can cause problems for the owners of FR that are unforeseen.

[RedWing9]

Shoot, I screwed up the link... Free Republic Network

[Ford Fairlane]

First, make it EASY TO USE. We aren't all CS/Web Designer/Computer geeks and if it is too complicated we won't use it.

Second, is there a way we can fly more than one flag, or maybe a main flag and a few sub flags? For example, I currently live in Illinois, but I would like to see the discussions in Indiana and Michigan also. Is there or will there be an easy way to do this?

[summer]

Please post your comments on this issue. Thanks.

Here is my suggestion for making it easier to post a message relevant to more than one state board:

Just like you have ONE page set up for posting with: a list of choices to check off (editorial or front page, etc; politics/elections, political humor, news, etc; cultural/society. etc), I think you should have a such a page with simply:

The list of state boards.

Then, have a function whereby a person could go down that one list, on one page, and check off which state or country boards the message should go to.

Right now it is very cumbersome to go into each state local to post a message if you want to post it to more than one state. And, sometimes messages really do apply to more than one state.

That's my suggestion. Hope it helps.

[summer]

Also, you would be surprised at how many people do not have a clue as to HOW to post ANY message on a state local board. And, some people do not even know there ARE state local boards. I say this after my experiences freepmailinig 50 people and asking them to post a message for me on their state board. Many people were embarassed to admit they couldn't figure out how to post on a state board. Others freely admitted they never heard of a state board. These are people who have been registered at FR for YEARS. So, maybe there needs to be some info and instructions distributed when a person first registers or something.

[ValerieUSA]

I hate to complain, but not so much that it's gonna stop me.
I don't care for the message next to the flag from the state website notes at the top of the latest posts pages (the comments to me page). Right now there is a fairly lengthy message that I have to scroll through all the time to see the latest posts. I read it once, that was more than enough. It's now very annoying.

[ValerieUSA]

You can subscribe to Indiana and Michigan sites. Click on "topics" in the upper right hand corner of the latest posts page, and follow instructions. I live in Texas and have the Texas flag, but subscribe also to the news stories from my old state, Washington.

[HairOfTheDog]

If you go to the state board... you can turn off that notification so it never appears... I did.

[ValerieUSA]

THANK YOU! That was easy.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Wow. I second everything LouD has stated. Lou, you certainly thought that out well, and I hope that John is able to incorporate those features.

The best thing about the old locale (and I'm not sure when it first popped up) is that it just beckoned me one day with its waving flag, and I discovered all these brainy, witty, conservative Wisconsin people posting. I didn't have to do anything special to be part of it. It was automatic. I think that is really important because people (especially newbies) have too much to do figuring out this site to learn to sign on to separate forums -- unless it's made really easy.

I've been around a pretty long time, and I navigate around here pretty well; but I don't know where to find all these new forums you keep talking about.

BTW, LouD, are you coming to the Fox Valley grill-your-own steak gathering so that we can finally meet you? I think I met you at Cathedral Square, but it was so cold that day that I cannot remember your face. Besides, everyone was so bundled up, that we wouldn't recognize anyone from those marches anyhow -- except Lt. Gov. Farrow in her red coat, that is.

[afraidfortherepublic]

...I am putting the member list on a separate page as a favor to Californians and Texans on dialup modems.

Yeah, yeah. The big guys just like to throw their weight around! :) I'm just kidding!

[Mr_Magoo]

John,

I like LouD's ideas. What it brought to mind is a format where the State pages had 2 columns. One with the current (or similar) "chat" forum, and the other column with an index of that state's topic threads. Have the names of registered FReepers in that state on a page 2.

[republicandiva]

Another vote for LouD's suggestions BUMP!

[Exit148]

Well, I read all the above comments and tried my best to understand them and what is being planned. Finally, I just raised my hands and said "Forget it!" Whatever you do, I don't think I will be part of it, because it is too techy for me.

I like my State Page and its waving flag. I like my state's water well. I like the informality, the personal touch, the contacts, the deep discussions, the links to the outside (to posts on the forum that have great interest), and I hope that it will not change. It is easy to get to, is a no-brainer, and it is our little corner where in one place the topics jump back and forth, and we all are one family.

[Valin]

The thing I like about the old state board system is it gives a person a list of all the freepers in a particular state. Makes it easier to contact people in your state or someone from another state.

[gnarledmaw]

FRN...some of us attempted to use that for awhile as Wisconsins own FR chapter but it allows crosspostings. Some people from elsewhere felt it necessary to abuse that function so badly that it drowned out all local activism. Whoevers in charge of that thing needs to put an end to the "all chapters" abuse and then "local boards" wouldnt be such an issue over here.

[EBUCK]

Can we have a State-Wide Ping that includes all users registered in the state? Mayhaps a regional ping for some of the more populus states NorCali for ex..

EBUCK

[RedWing9]

I believe that was taken care of, in the spam sense. The ability for someone to post to All Chapters is still there but in a more limited fashion. I believe only chapter leaders can do that now.

dio: Do I have that right?

[diotima]

Let me ask the expert....