[Irish]

Under General Carving there are 87 pages listed with 20 thread per page ... 1740 individual threads. Right now there are about 12 -15 different topics. How many threads have been on this forum? As Colin's recently pointed out each thread tends to take on a life of it's own.

There have been several major threads since I joined that have been about Sharpening, each with good info. This particular thread stands out to me though because of the flow of information. Each new poster seemed to built on what the previous one had posted by expanding the information or adding new information. Plus it seemed that there was little jumping around from point to point ... it's just an easy read which means the info becomes more important than trying to weed throught to stay with one idea.

My thought was only to put it somewhere that anyone, especially newbies to the forum could quickly find it. Wouldn't that be a nice welcome to new members ... they stop by the forum ... read a little ... find the Hall of Fame and get a real honest taste of how deeply some threads can be explored and the fantastic sharing that goes on here.

Now, GRIN, I can be straped for time so even with a search string how many threads would I have to browse through to find those threads that really make great points and stay on that topic. And how many threads would I miss because they started over there but ended up over here on something that was a side line thought but very very valuable.

Maybe, if the groups decides they want such a listing, the threads could be copied so that they appeared in both the original listing and in a Hall of Fame. And threads would only go there if everyone decided they were worthy.

Anyway ... it was just a passing thought, that's all it was.

Susan

I should add here that on my other forum maybe once a month is there a thread that the group decides is a Hall of Famer ... It's not like I was suggesting that every thread with info got moved or copied. I meant just the really exceptionally great ones! I know this group shares a lot more good solid info than any forum I have been on and the number of good threads in one week is well above most forums could get in an entire month ... but I just meant the very best ones.

[Ron D]

Originally Posted by Hi_Ho_Sliver

Thats a good idea except the sharpening thread would then get lost in the "hall of fame" thread...how about just a sharpening thread? it is an ongoing thing especially for newbies...................

i never thought of that but its true,after awlie it will get lost in the hall of fame to need a way to keep it around the top

[Mitchell]

We have the capability to "stick" some threads to the top of the topic lists. Some threads do need to be kept at the top = those that contain information that is asked for frequently - like sharpening ideas or suggested tools for beginners (just for example). I don't know if a new topic line should be added or not. I believe that too many may start to be confusing.....such as the WIP topic which sort of conflicts with some of our individual groups of Holiday, woodspirits, caricature, etc.

We (as moderators) need to be more active in our related topics to keep the threads in-line and prevent them from "taking a life of their own". At least that's my opinion.

[Ron D]

even if you could stick the really important ones to the top.the ones poeple keep asking over and over like the sharpening one that there now.that way it will still be in its rite catagory.i think that would do it. and there would be alot less headaches but thats just me.
ron

[Colin_Partridge]

I can associate with all the replies but I think somewhere you have to say enough threads other wise you would have a thread for everthing. I am not against the "Hall of Fame" thread I think it is a valid suggestion and one I am all for it. I am not sure how you would go about rating a thread for the award. I know that sharpening is probably the one thing that most of us struggle with, I still do and look how long I have been carving. I like to think that if a question comes up that people are not afraid to ask it even if its been covered before. I have always believed that the dumb question is the one you didnt ask. It will be interesting to see how you all feel along with WCI staff.
Colin

[kaiserb]

There is a way on these boards to make a thread sticky. When you make it sticky it stays at the top of message list in the category.

You could make the realy good threads sticky in each catagory. That way there would not be a separate place you would have to go to look for them.

Additionally new users trying to find info on a particular subject could look in the category and potentially see the sticky thread, adding info or questions to it. That way we dont have 5 different threads on sharpening.

[wade clark]

As long as I can hit the "N E W P O S T S" heading, like it is now, and get ALL the new posts in every category, just like now, I don't care how many categories there are! I try to remember to start new posts in the right category. If I'm searching for something in particular I use the search. I look at all the pictures! But the N E W P O S T S heading serves me very well! Please don't change that!
Wade

[Irish]

Thanks everypne for the great input. I can clearly see that this is not a working suggestion for this forum ... expecially because of the number of great threads going at any one time.

Admin, I would like to retract my suggestion on the Hall of Fame.

Susan

[Paul_Guraedy]

Am I too late to jump in! We are building our "dream home" here on the ranch. To save some cost, I agreed to be the "go fer". Combine this with no blueprint, just a floor plan and elevation sketch, and the contractor suggesting novel ideas for design, forces me to be there full time. It leaves little time for visits to this forum.

I am still a member of at least 3 other on-line groups; but, read them only sporadically and have not responded to any in at least the last 6 months or so. Although, in my estimation none of them are even in the same league as this forum, there is valuable information being conveyed on each. I am not too concerned about missing these posts, since a good bit of the information makes it into "Notes from the Net" in the Woodc@arving ezine.

The failings of the "other lists" is that they are not keeping up with new technologies, ideas, and possibilities of utilizing the internet. This forum is taking input from the users, resulting in a dynamic tool for woodcarvers. I think Susan's suggestion, or at least the concept, is still an idea worth exploring. "Sticky threads" have their advantages; but, they also "clutter" the top of the topic and some go for quite a while with no activity.

I would like to suggest a new "Carving Community" category. Don't know what to suggest as a title; but, would like to see something similar to "Notes from the Net." It should be non-responsive, just a summary of the "how to" information that the moderator(s) see worthy of inclusion on a monthly or quaterly basis. If it sparks a need for response, this would be addressed to the appropriate (existing) thread. It could narrow the search necessary, assist in avoiding duplicate entries, and pare down the information to "...just the facts Ma'am!" (as you can see I am among those who are incapable of a short response).

[Ashbys]

Hi all,

I have not posted or made any statements in concern on this thread for a couple of reasons, but I think I might make a suggestion one that I have noticed very quickly. Last week Tips was added. I personally think it is a great addition to the board. I think it will become a great place for quick reference as long as the topic reflects the tip. Since tips for woodcarving can cover a great many levels of topics I would expect to see many different things in there.

But in the last few weeks , we have had off topic added: which I think was a nice addition for just general chat topics, the " welll my dog fell in the well , today" kind of thing gives a chance for everyone to talk and have a bit of fun without stuffing threads, while giving us each a chance to learn more about each other. And since the fourm is a place to speak to each other and learn from each other sometimes a bit of that extra knowlege can go a long way.

One thing I have noticed is the ammount of concern, the willingness of help those in trouble , or messages requesting help or compassion for others. Not just for those in the America's but around the world. Perhaps at this point in time it might warrant a seperated topic of "Special Request" or Points of Request, where letters to the WCI could be posted and held , like the young man needing a mentor in SC. It would remove such letters from the beginers foum and place them where actions taken would be easy to find and update.

I am not sure I personally like the WIP topic, because to me WIP is General carving , it is the blood that fuels us I love looking at the work being done and since there are so many different projects, isn't that general carving? We have the Galleries for finished work. I would hate to see the boards fall into being seen as what is being worked on , and what is finished.

As far as the sharping for dummies is concerned, I think the reason it seems so direct is because it was answering direct questions. Most posting are not directed to spefic points but ask things in general terms. Personally I would suggest it was moved to the sharping fourm. I would use the sticky and once it becomes inactive , have it edited for clarity and then lock it.

I think it is important to remember the questions will be asked over and over, as new people find the foum or use it, it is important to let them know that there is someplace they can look but that were still here and willing to answer their questions as well, in a personal format. It is the personal that gets people to open up and feel that they can ask anything.

Just my opinions
Ash