my annual post about non-climbing threads

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dirtineye

Trad climber

the south

Dec 14, 2007 - 04:17pm PT

YOU can't handle the point.

the Fet

Knackered climber

A bivy sack in the secret campground

Dec 14, 2007 - 04:19pm PT

As long as the thread topic is clear and descriptive I don't care if it says OT or not. Unclear thread topics I just don't click on unless it gets tons of posts and I get curious.

As long as we're posting our feature requests all I'd like to see is being able to tag a thread as good. The more people tag it the higher a thread is rated. So you could sort a search or the forum list by highest rated.

Karl Baba

Trad climber

Yosemite, Ca

Dec 14, 2007 - 07:53pm PT

Hey Chris Bro

Just a note of thanks for the wisdom that you employ in providing a forum for us. Aren't young bucks like you supposed to be stupider?

It's a real service to our community that you provide. Thanks

Peace

Karl

Ed Hartouni

Trad climber

Livermore, CA

Dec 14, 2007 - 08:02pm PT

I think it is time to have an "Index" tab on the bar next to "Home," "Climbing Areas," ... "Forum".

The index would hyperlink to the threads in the index, it would be alphabetic and it is possible that there would be multiple links in the index to a single thread... e.g. 'Trip Reports,' 'Obscure Climbs,' 'Andy's Inferno'

You could have have a field on the thread creation page so that the author of a thread could suggest index categories, and have the first order index build automagically (hey khanom, is that possible?). You, or someone, might have to tweak the index from time to time, but it would seem a reasonable way to have the authors build up references to the threads accessible from another angle than the search...

Just an idea, but maybe something functional that would provide another way to browse the Forum content...

Melissa

Gym climber

berkeley, ca

Dec 14, 2007 - 08:12pm PT

I'm sure my experience here is richer b/c of the stuff that I read that I wouldn't have sought out elsewhere. I prefer to not see separate forums.

And yet, this bears repeating...and bolding too.

"If a person's only interest is in non-climbing topics, I think everyone would appreciate it if that person found a suitable forum out there more appropriate for their interest. "

Thanks for nicely stating your position, Chris.

Jerry Dodrill

climber

Bodega, CA

Dec 14, 2007 - 08:48pm PT

The whole idea of sorting threads by topic is pointless. You'd have to have a category for "Threads That Started Out On Topic But Drifted Off Into Senseless Drivel." Every thread would ultimately end up in this category. So we would ultimately just end up where we are now.

Ed Hartouni

Trad climber

Livermore, CA

Dec 14, 2007 - 09:10pm PT

the whole idea of an index is not to change the Forum structure, just to provide another way of accessing the threads independent of the order of the last post to the thread.

My guess is that the "interesting" climbing threads are mostly short and on topic. The very long "interesting" climbing threads, e.g. stonemasters, etc, are usually pretty much on topic to...

An index would allow access to them quickly, where ever they are in the stack.

There is a lot of dross... my guess is that you don't have to go to them in the index unless the author of the thread was totally deceptive, but then a mild form of "wack a mole" would be to eliminate that thread from the index... which would require a mild intervention (i.e. the thread wouldn't be eliminated from the Forum, just from the Index).

Anyway, I think an Index is a good idea, it doesn't change the Forum much (just adds index tags) and it provides the capability of quickly going to threads that are interesting....

neebee

Social climber

calif/texas

Dec 14, 2007 - 09:23pm PT

hey there cris... thanks so very much for appearing here... as i'm new here... i need to see your guidelines...

sure do love learning about all these climbers... at campside and all...

sure do love learning about climbing... and love the climbing threads, so i will try my best to bumb them...

my only trouble that keeps me back from some, is my computer downloads pics very slow...yet, i love these pic-trip post/threads... they ARE THE BEST around...

the campfire, here, though, makes it very real, and alive, and unique... never seen nothin' like it in my life... oh, my...

Michelle

Trad climber

a camper shell somewhere, soon to be the Carolinas

Dec 14, 2007 - 09:33pm PT

Dear Santa-Chris -

Do not change a f_ucking thing. thanks.

to censure the climbing community is silly. to ask climbers to only talk about climbing is silly. Sometimes talking about climbing is downright boring. if that is all you do, well, you need some other stimulation because life will shortly begin to suck ass for you. just a thought here.

However, derailing a thread that is honest and posted in earnest is equally silly and frankly insulting. I have never understood why some people feel the need to slander or start sh#t unnecisarily. ohwell.

if you have a problem with me (or anyone), waste MY (OUR) time and send me (US) an email, rather than slander and cause SHI_T in a forum (unless you want to demonstrate your juvinile nature).

Why bother having registration in the first place?

dirtineye

Trad climber

the south

Dec 14, 2007 - 09:48pm PT

Derailing, as you call it, or Hijacking, as it is more properly and commonly called, is a high art form that you obviously do not appreciate.

Sometimes stupid threads are hijacked into climbing threads FYI.

Some threads need hijacking.

Some idiots need to be called idiots, otherwise, they might go though life not knowing what idiots they are, and that could turn out tragically.

For example, in NC, where you are moving, some idiot may have broken holds and placements off a climb at Laurel Knob on purpose. Now, if enough people had called this idiot an idiot, he might have gotten the message and felt too insecure and bad about himself to take a hammer to a route.

The thing that would make an index work would be good cross referencing and LOTS of categories. The more in the index and the more info you can get just by glancing at the index heading the more useful it is, as you can get to exactly what you want faster.

A good index would take thread content (and the author) into account as well as the thread title, which sometimes is not very descriptive of what's in the thread.

Anders is working on categories and descriptions as we type, for his meta-threads. I hope if the site engineers do go with any sort of index they will get with anders and try to use some of his work, cause he's already done a huge amount of sorting and categorizing.

And, not for the last time, the Luddites who don't want change won't see anything different. the forum can look exactly the same except for an index button in the menu.

Tahoe climber

Trad climber

a dark-green forester out west

Dec 14, 2007 - 10:11pm PT

I think maybe some of you have more time and energy than Chris.

He's out climbing, man!
He's not wanting to sit around indexing and mediating and all that crap!
I wouldn't want to either.
Especially when it's arguably cooler as one big forum.

I like the way he put it.
If you're here strictly for non-climbing topics, there are other forums for you. Bump climbing threads for this CLIMBING forum. And please post OT in the title of the compelling threads that aren't climbing.

Thanks Chris for the annual message - I agree.

Aaron

Jerry Dodrill

climber

Bodega, CA

Dec 15, 2007 - 10:50am PT

khanom,
I was just being a bit dramatic, while making a point.

'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber

like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?

Dec 15, 2007 - 12:11pm PT

Hear hear! Chris' words are honest and heartfelt, and if people listened McTopo would be a better place.

Or is Chris just pissing into the wind? Will anyone [especially the most annoying] heed his advice?

I've always wanted a separation of Climbing Stuff and Non-Climbing Stuff, but agree everything should stay on one page to maintain McTopo's uniqueness. Could there be a colour coding or something? Asking people to put "Non-Climbing" in their post title seems too much to ask.

dirtineye

Trad climber

the south

Dec 15, 2007 - 12:33pm PT

Some people just have very low reading comprehension.

Several people are willing to work on creating a good index. Anders is hard at it, and has created a huge list of stuff worth having at your fingertips.

One other person who knows has said an automated index would not be too hard to do.

The only thing that makes a Luddite happy is the same old sh!t, forever. Not only do they not want improvement for themselves, they don't want anyone else to have it.

HighDesertDJ

Trad climber

Arid-zona

Dec 15, 2007 - 01:38pm PT

Just split things up into a few different sections like any other forum. Weeding through all the threads on one page really isn't that great of a "feature." Splitting things into 3 or 4 sections doesn't bury things as much as you think, and you can simply make an "unread threads" button that shows the top XX number of threads with new posts you haven't read. Or you can simply get a PPHP forum package for free or cheap which already does all this stuff.

David Nelson

climber

San Francisco

Dec 15, 2007 - 04:31pm PT

Merry Christmas, Chris, and thanks for providing this great forum. We all need to try to keep your request in mind through the year.

Also, another thanks for taking me to crags and personally helping me learn the new aid techniques that got my a$$ up El Cap. Five years ago and I am still feeling high!

Geno

Trad climber

Reston, VA

Dec 15, 2007 - 07:01pm PT

Chris,

Great site! It seems to have become the site of record for American climbing. Maybe that's an exageration, but I know a lot of climbers across generations check it out on a regular basis. Newbies can interact with legends. It's inspiring. You've attracted a lot of interesting people, with a strong love for climbing. Your job in overseeing the interaction and moderating is not easy. Your gentle touch is appreciated. Something very powerul and beautiful is happening here. Thanks. Geno