[toku58]

This is a poll to find out what the majority wants?

I tried merging the Rear TSB thread and it ended up to be 101 pages long. And that is still NOT all of them.

A lot of good info. is buried in the body of the huge thread. So I can't see this as be better? No one will sit there to read 100+ pages any way.

I also did the 5100's and it is just messed up.

I know that members have been asking for this? But this is a discussion forum.
Not an archive.

I don't think people want to sit there for hours, and read hundreds of pages when they could get the answer by asking the question?

Any way once they are merged there would be NO turning back.

So I need to know what the majority wants?

I think merging the threads will just make things harder. We need a better solution.

 

[trdguykc]

I completely agree. If the TSB thread is 101 pages in length i KNOW ppl will not sit there an read through the entire thread. Like you put it, there has to be a better solution.

-kris

 

[toku58]

Here's the 5100's thread:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173647

It now has over 1800 posts! I can't see this as being better.:disappoin:disappoin

 

[docindahouze]

yeah my concern exactly. this is why i dont merge alot of threads, and also because so questions maybe a little different from others even though they are based on the same thing.

 

[borderbrat]

yeah I'm gonna say no to mega threads here. if some of the titles were more descriptive i would be happy.

 

[eyedoc]

I'd be nice if there were some way of removing from those threads all of the unnecessary information. for example, the "+1" and the "^agreed" posts.... lots of un-needed stuff in those hundreds of posts..... It could more than likely all be summarized into 20 posts... but boy, that would take some work!!!!

 

[HoosierTacoma08]

I for one can deal with repeats. I don't mind helping out new folks. But it makes it a little hard on the new guy when their post gets merged, some don't know where to look for it.

 

[toku58]

yeah I'm gonna say no to mega threads here. if some of the titles were more descriptive i would be happy.

The titles we can try and work on!:thumbup:

I'd be nice if there were some way of removing from those threads all of the unnecessary information. for example, the "+1" and the "^agreed" posts.... lots of un-needed stuff in those hundreds of posts..... It could more than likely all be summarized into 20 posts... but boy, that would take some work!!!!

Yeah I don't think any of us get paid enough to spend that much time proof reading the threads. But if anyone would like to volunteer? LMK?:thumbup:

 

[jubrown57]

I think your time would be better spent making a FAQ page for the subjet.

 

[toku58]

I for one can deal with repeats. I don't mind helping out new folks. But it makes it a little hard on the new guy when their post gets merged, some don't know where to look for it.

I agree merging will stop. This is a forum and for better or worse there will always be "Newb's"

This is a forum. Not an Archive.
People come here to talk to other people.
So to yell at a Newb for asking a question?:disappoin

EXAMPLE:
If you go to a nice restaurant for the first time and ask the waiter

"What is the house wine?"

How would you feel? If he said?

"Why don't you read the menu you damn moron, you think you're the first person to ever ask that question!"

(I'm sure the waiter has heard it a hundred times.)

But I bet you the waiter would be fired on the spot!

Because this is the first time you asked that question!:thumbup:

Now if a member keeps asking the same question but in different ways? And starting new threads? :ahhhh: Then sure "Flame on!" :disappoin

That I can sort of understand.

But for anyone to get worked up about Newb's questions? Maybe it's time for a time out from the forum.

Something to keep in mind. :thumbup:

We will still be looking for ways to improve. :thumbup::clap::clap:

But I don't think merging is the answer.

 

[toku58]

I think your time would be better spent making a FAQ page for the subjet.

If you're willing to search through all the threads to put one together? I'd be more than happy to include it in our sticky section!:thumbup::clap::clap:

 

[Pb]

I might merge a small thread into a big one, but not two big ones. I don't sweat it too much though. You can't please everybody.

When you want to find something particular in a big thread remember that there is a search function inside the thread. Like if you want to buy some tires, but don't want to read through the whole Tacoma Stuff For Sale thread then you can click on the Search This Thread button and enter the word "Tires", and then all the posts will pop up where the word "Tires" is mentioned in that thread.

 

[mikenilson]

Sometimes it will work sometimes it will not. For instance. When the thread about the guy trying to sell his newly purchased Wet Okole's was merged with the for sale thread. There was some back and forth banter about the sale that made sense when you read the thread by itself, but when it was merged other posts segmented it and it did not flow anymore.

 

[lotust]

I might merge a small thread into a big one, but not two big ones. I don't sweat it too much though. You can't please everybody.

QUOTE]



I agree. Plus nobody wants to read the whole mega thread to find the answer there looking for. Its also hard to merge most threads together. They just dont mesh well if you know what I mean.

 

[boone]

Change the wording on the poll.

How many "mega" threads do we actually have?

And if you really want to find some good information, reading 10 pages is a good thing not a bad thing. If you are looking for something specific that would be in ONE post then that's just another reason we need an FAQ.

 

[HDGreyRider]

As a newbie..... The Tacoma Stuff for sale thread is kinda useless. 110 pages. I'd rather it be a Topi and allow us to create threads under it.

What do we gain by combining threads?

 

[redinterceptor]

What about merging the threads, and eliminating the threads that contain no useful information?

 

[Pb]

What about merging the threads, and eliminating the threads that contain no useful information?

We'd only have about 5 threads in the whole forum. LOL

 

[Phi Kai]

I think merging is ok to an extent...but the threads need to be edited for useful information and the side posts that provide no value...+1 ^agreee etc...need to be removed.

I suppose its fine if people repost...the Mega Threads do suck...I'm still in favor of subsections though as they will naturally create organization and repeats won't be as bad because things won't get pushed off page 1 so fast.

 

[marvin02]

Suggestions

In the for sale thread posts for sold items can be deleted after a short time. Post that are off-topic should be deleted (seller posts picture showing item on truck, gets 4 or 5 'nice truck!' responses). If your comment/question only has relevance to a single person PM them, don't clutter the thread. If it relates to more than one person and is off-topic, start a new thread!

For new forum users: go to the last page of the for sale thread and work back if you have never read the thread before. Once you have read the thread (and this applies to any thread) you can click the 'Go To First New Post Icon'

that is located to the left of the thread title in threads where there are new posts. Clicking on Forum Tools then Mark This Forum Read will mark all messages read and then using the 'Go To First New Post Icon' will take you to new messages posted since you marked the forum read.

Use the 'Go Advanced' option when editing posts. This option allows the post title to be added or changed (including the opening post) and all of the options that were available when you first posted are available.

When you quote a post with pictures (especially LARGE pictures) edit out the pics from the reply. This speeds up the load time and make the thread easier to read. When quoting a long post, only quote the relevant part,

If there is a definitive thread on a subject mods can lock a new thread on the same subject and point the poster to the thread where the answer is posted and ask them to continue discussion there.

When posting questions make sure you include as much info as possible that relates to your question. This keeps the thread from being littered with "What engine do you have?", "Is that an auto or stick?", type of questions. Reading How To Ask Questions The Smart Way is a must if you are going to use a forum!

Many of the 'mega-threads' are littered with asides and off-topic stuff, practicing some self-editing (don't post off-topic or smarty-pants answers) ahead of time will help shorten them.

There is no single answer to multiple threads and super-long threads. Condensing them into a FAQ can work, closing repeat threads and pointing to one 'definitive' thread can help (might mean a sticky is needed), deleting the non-essential stuff can shorten a long thread, and searching withing the thread (use the Thread Tools) makes it easier to navigate long threads.

Also, while the intention of the forum may be discussion, the contents do become an archive. This is simply the result of useful information being posted. If it is useful, people will use it as a reference.