About the State Boards ...

[John Robinson]

I want to improve the per-state message boards as found here while reducing the total amount of program code (to support.)

My idea was to create topics in the News/Activism forum for each individual state and allow interested parties to subscribe to these topics. Example. My thought was that the state-level activism conducted on the per-state message boards would then be greatly enhanced... with the ability to create separate discussion threads, and all the other tools that are included in the standard forum package.

However, my idea has been met with much resistance and I would like to know exactly what the issues are. I first thought I merely didn't communicate my intentions clearly, but I'm not so sure that is the case now.

[John Robinson]

I'm posting a link to this thread from all the state message boards. I'd like to discuss this issue and begin adding tools to enhance state-level activism.

Please post your comments on this issue. Thanks.

[petuniasevan]

The problem with a subscription board is that it requires a subscription.
Many times a post on the present "locale" state message boards is a quick way to announce important state activism, issues, and meetings.
Let's say someone posted a notice, for instance "Recall Joe Blow", on the new state board.
How many of that state's residents actually have subscribed?
I'd say no more than 10%.
Then how will all [state] residents know about the recall message?
PING everyone flying the state flag to the thread?
A lot of people don't check spam pings anyway.

Another issue is "at-a-glance" perusal, but I'll let someone else elaborate on that one.

[John Robinson]

Flying a flag on your profile page would have to automatically subscribe you to the topic. Converting to this system, everybody that has a flag would automatically be subscribed to the state topic.

This would also allow people who call several states their home the ability to keep current with each. (That is, by subscribing to multiple state topics.)

[GrandMoM]

Hi John, just wanted you to know, I like the total new look, even this idea on local. Thanks for all your hard work...........GrandMoM

[afraidfortherepublic]

...by subscribing to several state topics...

The problem I see is that we don't know in advance what topics will arise.

For instance, the recent recall of Milwaukee County Executive, Tom Ament. Who in the world could have predicted that this would happen in Milwaukee, where the original sheeple live? Yet nearly 200,000 Milwaukeans were so incensed over his outlandish and plush retirement scheme that they took the unheard of step and signed recall petitions, forcing his resignation.

The issues swirling around this incident were changing so fast and furiously that we never could have had the forsight to register to be part of those forums. We just checked the Wisconsin page for the links to the latest articles. And it's still going on.

Also, we are all just getting to know each other, with a dinner in the Fox Valley coming up in 2 weeks. By my count, Wisconsin Freepers have had 3 social gatherings in 3 different areas of the state, not counting numerous FReeps. We are just getting started.

[Texaggie79]

In the thread lists, I think it would help if you either changed the color, font, or size of the "Read Discussion" and "Read Source" so they won't be confused with the Thread titles.

Also the quick search at the top is still missing.

[Quietly]

Well, John, the emphasis on activism has shifted from national to local/state, and we're used to the state forum. (WI in my case.) So far, I'm confused on how that will continue. We need a very clear explanation of how the State forum will (if it will) continue in the kind of State semi-chat forum that it is now. I've always thought of the State forum as "Free Republic Wisconsin." Can, and how, does that continue?

[Quietly]

What afraidfortherepublic said.

[John Robinson]

Oops. If I rephrase that "by subscribing to several states" does that make more sense?

I mean, if you are flying a WI flag, you are subscribed to the WI state (which is a topic within the forum.) All threads posted to WI state (the topic) are listed in the sidebar as a function of being subscribed to a topic.

Let's walk through an example.

Somebody posts a thread to News/Current Events titled "Ament files lawsuit against recall drive". Somebody sees that Wisconsin residents would be interested in this thread, so they "Click to Add Topic" and add in the Wisconsin state topic. From then on, Wisconsin subscribers (all those who fly the WI flag) see "Ament files lawsuit against recall drive" in their sidebar.

[ValerieUSA]

The subscription thingie was kinda hard to find - but I did just now subscribe to a couple of states and can see the threads in the sidebar. I think it looks pretty cool. I hadn't noticed the feature before you pointed it out on this thread.

[altair]

Yes, I like this. I'd like to follow California too.

To get more people subscribed to a locale perhaps you could also add notification like you do for topics: "you are not assigned to a locale, click here to subscribe". Question: my locale (Japan) already has a topic. Will it get a new locale topic, or will we be automatically subscribed to the Japan topic?

[John Robinson]

Wisconsin could literally become "Free Republic Wisconsin" by adding it as an independent forum. Which is something else to think about.. Each state could have its own forum, with its own set of topics, its own latest posts, etc.

[John Robinson]

Ah, good idea. I'll remove the bold those links.

[John Robinson]

Ah, that's probably 50% of the problem here. I haven't communicated everything quite clearly, particularly the tools that would help such as the subscription stuff.

I need a spokesperson, hehe.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Wisconsin could literally become "Free Republic Wisconsin" by adding it as an independent forum. Which is something else to think about.. Each state could have its own forum, with its own set of topics, its own latest posts, etc.

That would be absolutely amazing!

Query? Could others post on it? Would it show them as out of state?

[ValerieUSA]

I'll agree that things haven't been explained clearly - or if they have, I haven't seen the explanation. It looks like a few new changes happen each day throughout the day, so I was patiently waiting for the experimenting to slow down before demanding a tutorial. (If that was a spokesperson hint, I am ignoring it *L*)

[kayak]

fyi

[steveegg]

Nice thought, but once the state topic is reduced to a sidebar, how many people are going to scroll all the way through the sidebar, then open up each thread to see which ones are new?

There's 2 big advantages with the state boards as they're constructed now: if something new is on there, we know without having to scroll through umpteen sidebars; and it's highly informal. While you could code it so that the new topics are noted, I don't see any real way to recreate the informalness of the current boards.

As long as we're looking at beta stuff, when are style sheets going to make their return <VBG>?

[afraidfortherepublic]

From then on, Wisconsin subscribers (all those who fly the WI flag) see "Ament files lawsuit against recall drive" in their sidebar.

And this special Wisconsin sidebar will be visible only to Wisconsin subscribers? What will we be missing from our sidebars to allow room fo rthe Wisconsin stories? Where will the list of Wisconsin screen names be housed, or will that be eliminated?

[afraidfortherepublic]

BTW, I put a link to this thread on the *old* Wisconsin forum, which is probably why you are getting a lot of commentary from Wisconsin. I rest my case! :)