Tigeowners.com Redesign - We want your input

[bob gronotte]

I have a few coments/suggestions that go along w/ dingle's post. First let me say that this site has been a great help to me through the years as I try and do most of the work on my boat by myself.

4 years ago when I became a regular viewer/contributor to this site, it seemed much more mechanical, tech, DIY, info based. It seems that in the last 2 years there has been a big shift from info and help to entertainment and screwing around. Don't get me wrong, my intention is not to slam anybody but now it takes forever to sift through a ton of useless comments to get any good information. As a result some excelent resources that used to be regulars here don't even bother anymore.

I'm not sure of a solution but let me try a suggestion: A HUGE GLOWING S E A R C H button that floats around the screen for anyone with less than 50 posts.(possibly not allowing a new post until a search has been done 1st) How many winterizing help?, steering problem?, which prop?, or battery install? posts are we going to have to look at before we realize they are all saying the same thing. I am guilty myself. It is now easier to just throw another post out there than to find the answer that is already there. The same goes for "General Information". I put almost everything there because I feel it gets the most looks. On that note, Is there a way to have all new topics come up in a "new topics" section on top of the main page and then after a month it automatically gets put in an appropriate category (stereo, electrical, mech, v-drive, etc.)? I use the New posts feature but I feel an auto-assign feature would really help organize things.

One problem I have with the New Posts feature is if there are several pages of posts and I don't have time to look at them all, after a while I loose them. Would it be possible to add a feature where we could enter a date and have all posts pop up that were added after our selected date?

It may not be the popular opinion but I for one would really like getting this site back to what it was years ago. I've been thinking this for years but never said anything for fear of the infamous black ball. But as they say... you asked for our comments.

Thanks for all you do for this site and thanks for seeking our input on how to make it better.

It would be nice to see more tech stuff for new owners like me, but it's also cool to read the chit chat too!

[Fast1911]

Time is never wasted on tigeowners

x2

[Matt Garcia]

I have a few coments/suggestions that go along w/ dingle's post. First let me say that this site has been a great help to me through the years as I try and do most of the work on my boat by myself.

4 years ago when I became a regular viewer/contributor to this site, it seemed much more mechanical, tech, DIY, info based. It seems that in the last 2 years there has been a big shift from info and help to entertainment and screwing around. Don't get me wrong, my intention is not to slam anybody but now it takes forever to sift through a ton of useless comments to get any good information. As a result some excelent resources that used to be regulars here don't even bother anymore.

I'm not sure of a solution but let me try a suggestion: A HUGE GLOWING S E A R C H button that floats around the screen for anyone with less than 50 posts.(possibly not allowing a new post until a search has been done 1st) How many winterizing help?, steering problem?, which prop?, or battery install? posts are we going to have to look at before we realize they are all saying the same thing. I am guilty myself. It is now easier to just throw another post out there than to find the answer that is already there. The same goes for "General Information". I put almost everything there because I feel it gets the most looks. On that note, Is there a way to have all new topics come up in a "new topics" section on top of the main page and then after a month it automatically gets put in an appropriate category (stereo, electrical, mech, v-drive, etc.)? I use the New posts feature but I feel an auto-assign feature would really help organize things.

One problem I have with the New Posts feature is if there are several pages of posts and I don't have time to look at them all, after a while I loose them. Would it be possible to add a feature where we could enter a date and have all posts pop up that were added after our selected date?

It may not be the popular opinion but I for one would really like getting this site back to what it was years ago. I've been thinking this for years but never said anything for fear of the infamous black ball. But as they say... you asked for our comments.

Thanks for all you do for this site and thanks for seeking our input on how to make it better.

jsz,

Thanks for the feedback. I understand where you are coming from.

Years ago the site was just getting started and with that there weren't as many members or forum activity so the topics either didnt exist yet or users had yet to create them. I think now its a double edge sword though. On one aspect it's better to have an active forum (regardless of topics) then to have no new content. Think about it, would you visit this site if the content never changed. The other aspect is that it finding info is diluted in off topic or hijacked comments. I don't know what the correct solution is.

One other thing that has changed is we no longer have a valuable Tige mechanic on here (for those of you that remember TigeMD). Now the site is limited to just lee, FIC and a few other up and coming regular dealer posters. Tige dealers are a valuable asset to this forum just as much as the users are however, the dealers are far outnumbered than users. I wish more Tige dealers would post often but that is out of my control.

New members posting the same info and not searching for it is common amongst any forum, IMO. Again, imagine if we only had one thread about the topic "aftermarket ballast". The internet has created the typical habit of end users wanting it now, if info can't be found in under 5 seconds then its way too long. Hence why its easier than creating a new thread then searching.

For the new post feature, this currently exists and is found under Search>Advanced Search. From there you can enter a specific date and query your results.

Great post though, definitely some good feedback.

[Matt Garcia]

What if you had a group chat area for those members that just want to BS about whatever's on their minds. That way you're not collecting posts for those things and the site isn't cluttered with a lot of off-topic stuff.

Just a thought.

Ya this was discussed a while back but never gained traction.

I will take this in to consideration.

Great feedback guys. Keep them coming.

[jsz]

Good point JSG, that is why I do not read or post as often as there is too much stuff in/on the post.

Here is a perfect example of my main point. Here we have an incredibly knowledgable person on our boats that admits to, "not reading or posting as often as there is too much stuff in/on the post".

We all own boats. Sooner or later we will all run into boating problems.
The next time any of us have a problem and might need some quick advise, all we may find are pages and pages of fluff.

[jsz]

I do agree with most of what your said. But maybe the reason that there is less tech talk is because that most new members DO search and DO find what they need and therefore dont need to post. Most problems you can have has already been well documented.

I think you kind of contraticted yourself, as you are saying that there should be more talk about boat fixes and such but you dont want people startng new threads on topics we have already covered.
.

I don't think there was any contradiction. The more (sorry it's late and I can't think of a PC term) useless comments that are posted causes people to never search through existing info for an answer but instead just ask again, starting another post, which could again lead to more bits of help burried in useless info. It's Madness... Madness I tell you!!!

I agree that most problems have already been well documented. But why are we seeing some of the same questions asked 5, 6, 7 times every year? One of my points was trying to heavily encourage (almost forcing) people to search for info that already exists instead of starting the same thing over again.

In case I'm rambling, let me sum it up:

Less fluff = easier searching
Easier searching = less duplicate posts
Less duplicate posts = a higher percentage of pertinent helpfull info
A higher percentage of pertinent helpfull info = Happiness for all the children of the tigeowners world.

So what do you say gang... how does Happiness for all the children of the tigeowners world sound???

[jsz]

I agree with Zad. Also, the playful banter and "screwing around" happens, I think, because this site has really become a friendly community, not just a technical resource. Most of this type of posting is confined to the Off-Topic area, but because of user's familiarity with each other, it does crop up sometimes in the more technical topics, also.

Is this a bad thing? While it can result in a serious thread taking a lighthearted excursion, it also keeps many very knowledgeable users hanging around this site on a regular basis. This means that when a technical question is posted, it will likely be answered with useful information much more quickly. How often would many of these users check in and reply to questions if everything on the site were dry, technical questions? Not nearly as often, IMO.

I understand, agree with, and have no problem with your first paragraph. However I think too many (look at some of the post counts) lighthearted excursions, while keeping some guys around, are running some of the most knowledgeable guys like Lee, Tige MD, etc. away.

[jsz]

I would like a way to view in the headline of the thread how many new posts have been placed since I last viewed the thread.

ie: if I was skimming headlines of this thread it would read (to me) TIGEOWNERS.COM REDESIGN - WE WANT YOUR INPUT (3 UNREAD POSTS).

That's what I need right there malarson. When you go to new posts and there are multiple pages on a thread, you are not sure where you left off. You should be able to go to first unread post or have the page # bold or something.

Excellent idea here but I would like to add:
this thread it would read (to me) TIGEOWNERS.COM REDESIGN - WE WANT YOUR INPUT "first unread post - #36"

[jsz]

What if you had a group chat area for those members that just want to BS about whatever's on their minds. That way you're not collecting posts for those things and the site isn't cluttered with a lot of off-topic stuff.

Just a thought.

outstanding idea!!!!!!! Make it super easy, maybe with an auto pup up that tells us who's on at the time.

[jsz]

jsz,

Thanks for the feedback. I understand where you are coming from.

Years ago the site was just getting started and with that there weren't as many members or forum activity so the topics either didnt exist yet or users had yet to create them. I think now its a double edge sword though. On one aspect it's better to have an active forum (regardless of topics) then to have no new content. Think about it, would you visit this site if the content never changed. The other aspect is that it finding info is diluted in off topic or hijacked comments. I don't know what the correct solution is.

One other thing that has changed is we no longer have a valuable Tige mechanic on here (for those of you that remember TigeMD). Now the site is limited to just lee, FIC and a few other up and coming regular dealer posters. Tige dealers are a valuable asset to this forum just as much as the users are however, the dealers are far outnumbered than users. I wish more Tige dealers would post often but that is out of my control.

New members posting the same info and not searching for it is common amongst any forum, IMO. Again, imagine if we only had one thread about the topic "aftermarket ballast". The internet has created the typical habit of end users wanting it now, if info can't be found in under 5 seconds then its way too long. Hence why its easier than creating a new thread then searching.

For the new post feature, this currently exists and is found under Search>Advanced Search. From there you can enter a specific date and query your results.

Great post though, definitely some good feedback.

I see what your saying. Personally, for years I have checked once or twice a week no matter what. I always like seeing if there is anything new worth reading. If nothing's new, I get more sleep that night.

AMEN to your second paragraph. I had MD in mind when I started my original post.

You make a good point. The internet is what it is. I can't see a good way to control the masses. We all just need to police ourselves.

Thanks for the head's up for the new post feature. I'll try it out.

[jsz]

jsz,

For the new post feature, this currently exists and is found under Search>Advanced Search. From there you can enter a specific date and query your results.

I tried this but this is the message I got:
"Please specify some words or valid user names to search on. There were no matches for those that you specified."

I was hoping to just type in a date and have all threads posted after that date come up.

[FIC]

It might allready be on here , but I would like to see a Tige history section with a picture of every model per year and a little data pertaining to what features that set Tige apart from other brands. In that section would be nice to see numbers on the amount of members on line in order of years , example say there are 100 1994 slm comp 2000 owners on line with pics of there boats.

[NICKYPOO]

I think I brought this up a while ago but, is it possible to link to a members gallery in their signature?

[Matt Garcia]

It might allready be on here , but I would like to see a Tige history section with a picture of every model per year and a little data pertaining to what features that set Tige apart from other brands. In that section would be nice to see numbers on the amount of members on line in order of years , example say there are 100 1994 slm comp 2000 owners on line with pics of there boats.

FIC, thats a great idea. Maybe a tough one to gather all of that data though. One issue is when users sign up they skip the "Boat Profile" field or don't fill it out yet since they don't have a boat. In other words the forum would only show people who have filled that option out on the registration form. Also I don't think this should be mandatory. But I like where you are going with that one. Maybe expand somehow on the Model Specs section.

I think I brought this up a while ago but, is it possible to link to a members gallery in their signature?

Oh ya! Forgot about that one! That will definitely be a feature in the new version.

[Matt Garcia]

I tried this but this is the message I got:
"Please specify some words or valid user names to search on. There were no matches for those that you specified."

I was hoping to just type in a date and have all threads posted after that date come up.

Ah...you're right. That feature doesnt include the "New Posts" listing. The only thing I can suggest for now is using the New Posts link and view by date.

I don't think there was any contradiction. The more (sorry it's late and I can't think of a PC term) useless comments that are posted causes people to never search through existing info for an answer but instead just ask again, starting another post, which could again lead to more bits of help burried in useless info. It's Madness... Madness I tell you!!!

I agree that most problems have already been well documented. But why are we seeing some of the same questions asked 5, 6, 7 times every year? One of my points was trying to heavily encourage (almost forcing) people to search for info that already exists instead of starting the same thing over again.

In case I'm rambling, let me sum it up:

Less fluff = easier searching
Easier searching = less duplicate posts
Less duplicate posts = a higher percentage of pertinent helpfull info
A higher percentage of pertinent helpfull info = Happiness for all the children of the tigeowners world.

So what do you say gang... how does Happiness for all the children of the tigeowners world sound???

In my opinion I think duplicate posts/questions will always be posted no matter what forum you are on. I see it on all the forums I visit, I don't think its a bad thing though. I think each duplicate post has its own value.

One thing I do daily is moving the off topic conversations in to the Off Topic category rather then members always posting them in the General Discussion area. I do this probably once a day but I can't control when users go off topic in a thread. Hopefully that helps members when they are viewing the forum categories.