Social Groups

OK folks, some of you are aware that with one the upgrades a while back, a new feature called "Social Groups" was added. These are like little mini-forums that are not publicly displayed on the main site.

They were very poorly implemented in my opinion. The biggest problem is that there is no way to be notified of new posts to a social group that you are a member of. If you don't check them on a regular basis, it is easy to forget about them. The other problem is that the discussions are not "threaded" as they are in the forum and that makes it hard to have any continuity on a particular subject.

There is a new software upgrade that will be ready soon. It is in "beta" right now which means that it is being tested and any major bugs are being worked out. Some sites are already using it and it seems to be stable now but I'll wait a while before installing it. Upgrading the software here is a major pain as I have a lot of customizations that have to be re-applied when I do an upgrade.

The REAL question I have is do we even WANT to continue with the social groups. I've had mixed feelings about them from the beginning. On one hand, it is a good place for folks with a common interest that really doesn't warrant a specific topic area in the main forum to exchange ideas, discussion, etc. One example is the "Biker's/Musicians" social forum. This site is not about musicians but we have a number of folks here who play guitar, banjo, drums...even tuba that enjoy talking about their music, gigs, etc. The social group is a great place for them to do that. On the other hand, I think that too many social groups can distract from the family atmosphere that we have here. If enough folks take their discussions to the social groups then the forum could become pretty slow. I prefer that most discussion take place here in the open so that we can all participate.

So, those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Don isn't this whole site a Social Group? :2cents:

Thom

Does not fit with your mission statement.

Curt

OK folks, some of you are aware that with one the upgrades a while back, a new feature called "Social Groups" was added. These are like little mini-forums that are not publicly displayed on the main site.

 

They were very poorly implemented in my opinion. The biggest problem is that there is no way to be notified of new posts to a social group that you are a member of. If you don't check them on a regular basis, it is easy to forget about them. The other problem is that the discussions are not "threaded" as they are in the forum and that makes it hard to have any continuity on a particular subject.

 

There is a new software upgrade that will be ready soon. It is in "beta" right now which means that it is being tested and any major bugs are being worked out. Some sites are already using it and it seems to be stable now but I'll wait a while before installing it. Upgrading the software here is a major pain as I have a lot of customizations that have to be re-applied when I do an upgrade.

 

The REAL question I have is do we even WANT to continue with the social groups. I've had mixed feelings about them from the beginning. On one hand, it is a good place for folks with a common interest that really doesn't warrant a specific topic area in the main forum to exchange ideas, discussion, etc. One example is the "Biker's/Musicians" social forum. This site is not about musicians but we have a number of folks here who play guitar, banjo, drums...even tuba that enjoy talking about their music, gigs, etc. The social group is a great place for them to do that. On the other hand, I think that too many social groups can distract from the family atmosphere that we have here. If enough folks take their discussions to the social groups then the forum could become pretty slow. I prefer that most discussion take place here in the open so that we can all participate.

 

So, those are my thoughts. What are yours?

My thoughts...........Not needed.

Don isn't this whole site a Social Group? :2cents:

Yup, it is not a dry tech only site.............. The meets are a lot of fun too, thinking back to the "good, bad & ugly" from this years International meet. Reiny are your sidekicks, going to be in the same costumes this weekend?????

For those that did not make it & seeing what is this weekend. I will post a pic of "the good, bad & ugly". Sorry it's on the dark side, maybe someone has a better pic to post.

Does not fit with your mission statement.

 

Curt

How so? and this is an honest question. I appreciate your feedback. The Social Groups ARE open to all, not hidden areas. I'm not saying that you aren't correct, just wondering upon what that opinion is based.

Seems kinda of redundant and may prompt clique's

Never made much sense to me. But, as Will Rogers said, "Don't think I would want to belong to any group that would have me as a member."

Seriously though, is there even enough interest in sub groups to go through the aggravation?

i would like to see this site just the way it is; we all have other interests beside just bikes, and when i want to feed on that other interest, i just click my way over there, course i don't adapt to changes to well:hurts:

How so? and this is an honest question. I appreciate your feedback. The Social Groups ARE open to all, not hidden areas. I'm not saying that you aren't correct, just wondering upon what that opinion is based.

Don,

My opinion comes from my interpretation of the VentureRider mission statement...nothing hidden, no cliques, etc. In a walkabout world, are not Social Groups in reality cliques, friendly ones..common interests..but still techically a clique? For purposes of the software the tag "Social Groups" is nothing more than bookmarkers, but for individual members they may viewed differently...some of the responses already bear that out.

The mission statement for the VentureRiders says no cliques, that why I said it doesn't fit with the VentureRider mission statement.

Curt

Don,

Having been here a while and being opinionated as I am, I don't think this would be a positive move. As others have said, this would lead to cliques, it's not anyone's fault, it's just human nature.

If I see a thread starting that I'm not interested in, I don't read it, plain and simple. So people who want to post about music or whatever should just post it and we can either read it or ignore it.

It's also alot more work for our moderators, IMO.

I love this site just the way it is, I enjoy the banter, sometimes even the arguments. I don't think this would be necessary.

But thats just me

I Thought we were the social gruop????

Kenw

I've been told I'm anti-social, therefore, I'm against Social Groups.

I agree with leaving it just the wonder way we have the site already.

Dave

Guess I'm going to stick my neck out, anticipating a rash of disagreement but I'll say it anyway. This site is so mild, it seems no one ever has a topic that is controversial. It is part of life to have topics that people can vent on but that doesn't mean they will suffer from hard feelings from then on. In most cases, there can be heated conversations and then when two or three get together on an m&e, there is sharing a cold one and lots of friendly talk with any past offenses long forgotten. I personally get bored talking or reading about what brand tires or what kind of oil is best. I like a discussion that one can get their teeth into and yet remain friends afterward. It almost seems that the trend is to AVOID anything that might even hint of controversy. People are emotional, let's face facts. People have definite opinions about thing and it's make for an interesting and educational read to hear all the different opinions.

Long ago, I belonged to this site and posted something controversial. I was soon told by two different people, that this is a motorcycle site and opinions about other topics aren't welcome. I left the site for quite a while because of that intolerance. Discussion on topics is needed. For instance, this election year is probably more controversial than any time in history. It boils down to whether we remain a free capitalistic society or turn to Socialism (ie, a form of communism). If things are not discussed so that one can make a logical decision, we may not have the freedoms that so many of us cherish. I know the old argument is, if you want to be controversial go to a site that allows it (that's what I was told before in essence). There are matters afoot that affect even us as bikers and there are things that need to be shared AND discussed. There is nothing wrong with having an area set aside strictly for controversial topics that do not affect the normal topical areas. If such an area were set aside, there would have to be an agreement before hand that the area is controversial and one enters with full knowledge of that.

Sorry, if this offends anyone but I felt it needs to be said.

Maybe you could create on off topic section out on the main board for these kinds of things, and any member who wanted a forum in one of these OT directions could request one. We already know there is the option available to make them not show up, for anyone who doesn't want to see them.

As far as I'm concerned, the darkside social group could be deleted, as there is a forum out here for that now. Maybe all the posts in the musician group could be brought out here too, and start with it from there. Those are the two groups that I'm a member of, but you might want to ask the members who started those what they think of that.

This is the only group I'm "social" in....

seriously tho... I don't see a need for more than what we have in that regard.

Oh, I don't know ... I think I'll like to see social groups set up for:

• the vertically challenged (5' 7" and less); and the
  
• Portuguese speaking only; and the
  
• been an RSV owner but am no longer; and the
  
• the self declared lurker, not a poster; and last but not least, the
  
• anti-social misfits ...
  

Oh heck, on second thought, get rid of 'em all and let them blend in with the rest of the population...

Cheers,

Oh, I don't know ... I think I'll like to see social groups set up for:

 

• the vertically challenged (5' 7" and less); and the
  
• Portuguese speaking only; and the
  
• been an RSV owner but am no longer; and the
  
• the self declared lurker, not a poster; and last but not least, the
  
• anti-social misfits ...
  

...

 

Cheers,

I second this ....

YES, a social Group just for me myself and I ... anti-social misfit :crackup:

Don,

 

My opinion comes from my interpretation of the VentureRider mission statement...nothing hidden, no cliques, etc. In a walkabout world, are not Social Groups in reality cliques, friendly ones..common interests..but still techically a clique? For purposes of the software the tag "Social Groups" is nothing more than bookmarkers, but for individual members they may viewed differently...some of the responses already bear that out.

 

The mission statement for the VentureRiders says no cliques, that why I said it doesn't fit with the VentureRider mission statement.

 

Curt

Good points and I can't honestly disagree with you. That really hurts me too because I ENJOY disagreeing with you.

From the responses so far, they will probably be going away.

How about a group grope!!!!!

(wouldnt be much of a grope ..its toooooooooo small)

So far as I have noticed, anytime someone wants to discuss something other than MC it's done in the watering hole. That's nice because I get to read the thread and then leave it if I want. I might learn something and then again I might learn to stay away and not learn any more. If that were 'hidden' I would not see these threads and so would not see more of what else our family is made of.

To offer up disagreements in a thread is OK by me, as long as it stays civil, but, if and when it gets nasty, I'd just as soon we stick to the rules and turf it out.

As said before, a family has issues and disagreements, and different ways of looking at things, and that's OK, but let's remember why we joined this group in the first place: it's who we are and the rules we abide by. If we make a change, that's OK, but it needs to be for the better of all concerned.

(wouldnt be much of a grope ..its toooooooooo small)

Ah yes size does matter.

In hugs what did you think I meant? :rotf::rotf:

Margaret

I didnt even know we had secret forums? I so lose em

Yup, it is not a dry tech only site.............. The meets are a lot

 

of fun too, thinking back to the "good, bad & ugly" from this years International meet. Reiny are your sidekicks, going to be in the same costumes this weekend?????

 

For those that did not make it & seeing what is this weekend. I will post a pic of "the good, bad & ugly". Sorry it's on the dark side, maybe someone has a better pic to post.

here I lightend it up for you rocket