The Wider Picture - making it wider, but also clearer, hopefully

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

I note that the Coffee Shop forum's 'The Wider Picture' board now has some 17,554 posts in 1,584 topics. 

We have also received some very valid input in the past, to the effect that it's rather hard to find / track / update some of those topics of discussion on the forum, due to the acknowledged limitations of our search facility.

Having discussed this with grahame (it is his forum, after all!), we have agreed that I can split our existing one 'wider picture' board into two separate 'UK^▸ (United Kingdom)' and 'Overseas' boards.  I've done a quick review, and I reckon they'll probably turn out about equal in terms of topics / posts - but I think it would make them much easier to reference.

This is another fairly large project for me to undertake, so please do bear with me while I move a lot of existing topics here into those new boards.

Chris from Nailsea. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

I continue to work on this project (in my spare time), so thank you all for your patience.

I have (I think!) now set this particular board to be 'reply only to existing topics'.  I've done that simply so that no more new topics are started here, while I continue to migrate the existing topics elsewhere, as appropriate.

If you wish to start a new topic, please do so - either on the Wider Picture 'within the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)' board or the 'overseas' board.

Thanks, CfN. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

As I continue to work on this project, I note that grahame has, quite rightly, raised a couple of queries as to where 'Eurostar channel tunnel' and 'journeys from the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) to overseas and / or back' posts should be made.

In the interests of simplicity, may I suggest that any such topics are added to the new 'wider picture in the UK' board.  If the journey starts or ends in the UK, then it's fair enough on the UK board.

The original intention (which remains valid) was to split off the many, very much wider, relevant, interesting and informative topics which cover rail and other transport issues elsewhere in the World, but which have no direct link to the UK - just for example, a bus crash in South Africa, or a level crossing near-miss in Bolivia.

I hope this clarifies things. 

[grahame]

As I continue to work on this project, I note that grahame has, quite rightly, raised a couple of queries as to where 'Eurostar channel tunnel' and 'journeys from the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) to overseas and / or back' posts should be made.

Always the one to ask awkward questions!

In the interests of simplicity, may I suggest that any such topics are added to the new 'wider picture in the UK' board.  If the journey starts or ends in the UK, then it's fair enough on the UK board.

Sensible decision - just needed to know which way to go to avoid subjects being doubled up. Thanks CfN

[grahame]

I have (I think!) now set this particular board to be 'reply only to existing topics'.  I've done that simply so that no more new topics are started here, while I continue to migrate the existing topics elsewhere, as appropriate.

If you wish to start a new topic, please do so - either on the Wider Picture 'within the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)' board or the 'overseas' board.

Hi, Chris and everyone ...

Moderators and admins have extraordinary powers and that has included the ability to (accidentally) start new threads on the old board.  No huge issue, except that a few threads have muddied the fact this board is closed to new topics.   I have just moved a handful of topics to the two "new" boards - links and likes will remain unchanged.

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update from me:

I was wrong, when I posted

I note that the Coffee Shop forum's 'The Wider Picture' board now has some 17,554 posts in 1,584 topics. 

We have also received some very valid input in the past, to the effect that it's rather hard to find / track / update some of those topics of discussion on the forum, due to the acknowledged limitations of our search facility.

Having discussed this with grahame (it is his forum, after all!), we have agreed that I can split our existing one 'wider picture' board into two separate 'UK^▸ (United Kingdom)' and 'Overseas' boards.  I've done a quick review, and I reckon they'll probably turn out about equal in terms of topics / posts - but I think it would make them much easier to reference.

This is another fairly large project for me to undertake, so please do bear with me while I move a lot of existing topics here into those new boards.

Chris from Nailsea. 

In fact, most of those historic posts have been moved to the 'wider picture in the UK' board (with some into more specific location-based boards).

Nothing has been deleted - I don't do that! - but our readers will hopefully find it easier to source information on our Coffee Shop forum site with this ongoing project.

CfN. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Wow! I continue to work on my self-imposed task of a relatively minor rationalisation here on the Coffee Shop forum, but I am up against numbers:

As of now, our Coffee Shop has "353640 Posts in 25751 Topics by 1144 Members"

The old board 'The Wider Picture', which was 17,554 posts in 1,584 topics in July 2019 is now down to 778 posts in 106 topics: I'm nearly there!   On the other hand, the new 'Wider picture in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)' board has increased to 36,326 posts in 2,116 topics, over the years. The new 'Wider picture overseas' board has already 3,170 posts in 427 topics.

May I reiterate that nothing has been deleted (except a few routine 'redirection' posts, generated automatically by the software when any topic is moved by any admin or moderator, historically).  All of your posts and topics have been moved to whichever board it turns out now is most appropriate.  I am still looking at some very historic topics here, with a view to completing this project.

Please do continue to start new topics, post replies and 'like' existing posts, either in our 'Wider picture in the UK' or our 'Wider picture overseas' boards, as appropriate.

Just one suggestion, though, if I may? If you are starting a new topic, giving it a precise heading, for example, about the location or date, rather than a generic "Guess what!", or "Look at this!" will make it much easier for your readers to find it.

Happy New Year!  Chris from Nailsea. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

My work here is done. 

I have now refined the Coffee Shop forum's original 'The Wider Picture - related rail and other transport issues' board, by moving all topics to more specific geographic locations and hopefully making them easier to find and reference in the future.

This particular board will remain in public view until well into the New Year, purely for our readers' information, before I then move it 'behind the scenes' - just to avoid cluttering up the external face of the forum.

Happy New Year!  Chris from Nailsea. 

[grahame]

My work here is done. 

I have now refined the Coffee Shop forum's original 'The Wider Picture - related rail and other transport issues' board, by moving all topics to more specific geographic locations and hopefully making them easier to find and reference in the future.

This particular board will remain in public view until well into the New Year, purely for our readers' information, before I then move it 'behind the scenes' - just to avoid cluttering up the external face of the forum.

Happy New Year!  Chris from Nailsea. 

Wow! ... and Thank You, Chris ...