Forum user "levels"
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I have spent some time playing with the forum software today, (I hope no one noticed it acting weird?).
So far I have changed the default wait times for comments and searches to 10s and 5s respectively. I will monitor the server load and see if that has a big impact. Let me know if you find this is still too restrictive (I have no idea why this was the default in the first place, rather overly restrictive).
I was thinking about adding levels/ranks to users based on post count like many forums do. Is this something that people like or dislike/don't care about? If you like it lets have suggestions for names for the levels.
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Despite having a fairly high post count I'm not sure I like it. A lot of posts don't make you someone. We need to know who the admins are and we do. IMO the duet forum is one of the most courteous and useful of all 3D printing forums and that's without gimmicks of any sort.
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I agree with DjDemonD though i do have a probably far fetched request
Migrating to invision power suite both the forums and the ip content module and downloads module… you could even integrate the store front module for the ecommerce portion of your operation.
No i am not affiliated with them but I would love for the Documentation to be managed from the IP content system which is also tightly integrated with the forums.
If someone writes a tutorial or posts some good tips for configuring or calibrating in the forum the moderators can choose to promote that post to the content system with a click of the mouse and comments/discussions etc for that article remain in the forum but are linked interchangeably
Members can easily contribute to documentation with versioning just like now with the wiki but the integration between the content system and forums i believe would end up creating a more complete and robust documentation system for new members to quickly get up to speed without the same questions being asked over and over again and also help prevent hood tips and tutorials getting lost within the forum system because of age of posts.
The downloads system could provide a way for people to share configurations for specific printers or even other downloadables like slicers, firmware, stl's etc.
There are a lot more possibilities with it, but i am just putting that out there because i think it would help take some of the customer support burden off of what is currently in place.
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…........................ If you like it lets have suggestions for names for the levels.
Apart from our esteemed admins, the rest of us could be classified as follows:-
0-100 Newbie plonker
100-200 Learner plonker
200-300 Plonker
300-400 Senior plonker
500-600 Know all plonker
600-700 Smart Alec plonker
700 + Retired plonker -(must be to spend so much time on these forums).I personally I think having user ratings based on post count is pretty daft unless you can discriminate between questions asked and questions answered.
Edit - Just looked at my post count - the last needs adjusting as I've got about 14 months to go until I reach state pension age.
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The IP forums does that, you can have and accepted answer setup or they can operate like normal forums also another good reason to switch
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I have spent some time playing with the forum software today, (I hope no one noticed it acting weird?).
So far I have changed the default wait times for comments and searches to 10s and 5s respectively. I will monitor the server load and see if that has a big impact. Let me know if you find this is still too restrictive (I have no idea why this was the default in the first place, rather overly restrictive).
I was thinking about adding levels/ranks to users based on post count like many forums do. Is this something that people like or dislike/don't care about? If you like it lets have suggestions for names for the levels.
I think you and DC do such a great job there is no need for levels!
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Not a fan of "ranking" of any sort - I don't think we are here to compete in any way, shape or form.
This forum is already top-notch - the help is first rate - very little "noise".
The quality of this forum is one of the reasons I have adopted the Duet family as my "go to" board for all of my printers.
Frederick
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Thanks for the feedback and kind words guys, no need to bother with ranks.
I do have investigating a better forum option on my list (and it has been there for some time!) I will look at the invision power suite as well when i get a chance.
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I have written 3000+ answers in RepRap forum and I must admit, that I choose the way I answer a question on the "level" of the thread starter. Sometimes I have to go into deep, sometimes a few words are enough.
That is the only reason I see for a ranking system.
But for the Duet Forum you should consider not everyone with a low post count here is a newbie. Many of us have a few years of experience in 3D printing before they register here.
I suggest using a "Karma" button, where thread starters and other readers can vote for a helpful answer. -
CUT
But for the Duet Forum you should consider not everyone with a low post count here is a newbie. Many of us have a few years of experience in 3D printing before they register here.
CUTI fully agree, completely, to the above statement.
My posts on this forum are really few, the same for other forums in the 3d printer field.
This does not mean that I am a newbie but only that I have little free time and also that I do not like to waste the time of others people without a true reason, serious reason.
Professionally I dealing with electronics, doing projects, so I know both hardware and firmware, I've also built up, from scratch, some important printers, I do not consider myself a newbie on this field.
But I wrote only few posts.
As example, if I write 1000 post that are 1000 nonsense, rubbish, I automatically become a guru and everyone will have to follow, for law, my directions, suggestions and deductions?my 2 cents
Dommy -
i agree, just because someone posts alot doesn't make them right. I am a newbie and learning as i go so often times comment just to aid my understanding. Is that wrong? LOL I do add the newbie disclaimer just so everyone knows i am no expert…
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I suggest using a "Karma" button, where thread starters and other readers can vote for a helpful answer.
+1
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I like the simplicity and hence quick loading of this forum. KISS is my vote.
