Developing the forum part 2

[erolz]

After having though about this some more and set up the test version of the forum below are some thoughts on hwo we can develop and implement some of the ideas.

Cyprus Events.

This to me seems like a potentialy useful 'area' to try and develop. The way I see this working is to have a an 'events editor' (TVSET if he wants the job). A forum section can be created specificaly for events. Users can post upcomming events here and others can comment on them. In addtion to this the events can be added to the forum calendar and any photos of people that attended the event can be added to the phot album section of the forum. The 'events editor' role will be one of ensuring that the events entered in this forum section and into the calendar are suitable.
Having this information in these places will then allow us to set up a specific portal page for just events that is reached from the urls events.talkcyprus.org and or www.talkcyprus.org/events/ or similar varioations. We can also place a link to thisportal page on the main portal page navigation section. The events portal page could then contain information like the calendar, a 'featured event' section, a list of all recent posts to the events section fo the forum and a list of rencet photos from the events section of the photo album and a current event poll.

This then give and idea of how I think this could work.

Of course we are not limited to doing this just for events. We could have a similar portal page for 'jokes' for example - complete with a 'jokes editor'. Another possibility would be a 'best of the forums' portal page - again with a 'best of editor' or a forum section on 'personal Cyprus blogs' again with an editor and a forum section for the review and discussion and posting of peoples own or other Cyprus relayed blogs.

Again people the more feedback we can get on this AND offers to take on the role of 'editor' the better - so get contribtuing. Ask not what your forum can do for you but what you can do for your forum

[Crash Test Dummy]

how about a more advanced profile. Maybe have a few pics and some space to write abit about yourself. I would love to help out Erolz but i only just have enough time to read this forum now-days let alone do any work for it. if you would like me to put some work in around summer-time just ask

[TVSET]

The more I think about it, the more I see the 'events' thingy as a separate project. It's just the potential complexity and flexibility of it.

Think about it as a separate project for a second. Content management system can chosen better with all the alternatives available. Image gallery can be integrated. And chosen better again. Calendaring - the same. Etc.

The 'events' project can integrate with several other Cyprus projects, like Talk Cyprus. If it will be a separate project, it can have a wider target audience, I think. For example, it can integrate with both Cyprus Forum and Talk Cyprus. And since most projects use open source software and open standards, integration shouldn't be that difficult.

The more I think about it, the more I like it. In fact, I like it so much that I am looking for a proper domain name to buy and start the project. :)

Now, regarding the portal system for the Talk Cyprus, I think it is still needed and should be done.

I would really like to see aggregated or summarized discussions, if not for all forums, then just for Cyprus Problem. I don't have the time or interest to go through all of them, but I a shorter version is something I would use.

Other ideas for the portal include a FAQ list and a Wiki for things that were talked about in the forum, but which aren't related to time much. There is a lot of useful information that gets buried in the old threads.

These are my thoughts so far.

[Hazza]

FAQ list and Wiki are pre-installed on my hosting plan.

[erolz]

Thanks for your imput again TVSET and thanks again for your kind offers Hazza.

TVSET

The suggested idea of how an 'events' feature for the site might work with the functionality of the new site was promoted by your suggestion that the site consider serving this need (for a listing of cyprus events and associated discussion of such and linking of photos ect). That is why I looked at a prtal system, installed calendar functionality and photo album functionality inot the test site If you are now lookig to persue this events idea in a seperate external so, that is fine with me. The functionality that I have added to the test site will no doubt be of value and use if we try and run a specific events thing or not.

As for wiki functionality I am still unsure how we would use such functionality. If the idea is to use it to try and create 'agreed versions' of history then I still feel that such sites already exists and wonder what the point of trying to suplicate such efforts elsewgere would be vs just encvouraging our members to fet in involved in these existing efforts.

The same pretty much goes for faqs and content management systems as well as far as I see things currently. We could have all the faq/ content managment systems and functionality on the site as possible, but if no one actualy wants to write the faq's or the content to be managed there is little point in such. The idea of a list of 'faqs' along the lines of 'how do I get residency in the Republic of Cyprus or Republic of Northern Cyprus' is a valid idea but for me the first problem to be addressed is not how do we mange the creation of such but who if anyone will do the actual work. Gvien that currently there would appear to be no one willing to do this work, there seems little point worrying about what tools they might be provded with in order to do it. The same is true for 'summaries' of areas of the site. Great idea, would be very useful and add value - but the problem is not (in first instance) what tools will these people use to create manage and publish these summaries but simply is thier anyone willing to do s at all, with any tool set.

So in summary as I see thngs at the moment I am not going to 'break my back' trying to add functionality to the site until I have a btter idea WHO will be using this functionality. IF we can get some voulanteers to try and create this kind of content then in the first insatance, it can be created managed and published using exisitng tools / site functinality. If it then turns out that this is insufficent for these people to do what they are doinf effectveily I wil certainly seek to add the functionality they need. I will not however add the functionality in the hope that maybe someday someone might want to create this kind of content.

If we can solve the 'who' issue I promise I will 'break my back' to alievate and solve any 'how' issues and as quickly as possible within my skills.

I hope that does not sound too moany or stroppy ?

[TVSET]