Know what is need and may be useful here

[rinny_tin_tin]

is some type of consensus document (somewhat similar to Wiki in a sense) for the many (recurring) issues and questions tendered here in GJ and reflecting the common denominator conclusions on a topic. For instance, the question I posed regarding air compressor lines I am sure occurred here more than once, and there is a consensus amongst us that should be captured, titled, approved and indexed and available as sort of as a standard. Given the large amount of time spent here by some, and the wide experience, such a document promises to be useful and may make GJ that more valuable. Who is (are) the moderator here ? Is this feasible/useful/problematic?

 

[PAToyota]

It has been a somewhat longstanding issue. It is possible to search for a topic and turn up threads where things have been discussed before. But people just post the question over and over again, so if you search you end up with eleventy-billion threads - most of which have no useful information. So you end up posting the question yet again.

At one point there was a thread of useful threads from the past covering specific subjects, but I don't think it got stickied.

A wiki would be a good idea, but some topics would likely end up with the two sides editing it back and forth. The subject you mention - air compressor lines - seems to have two camps in black iron and copper that turn every discussion about the topic into a mess. Both have their benefits and I'd feel comfortable using either, but it seems that there is a "black iron rusts" camp and a "copper joints fail under pressure" camp that comes out.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

It has been a somewhat longstanding issue. It is possible to search for a topic and turn up threads where things have been discussed before. But people just post the question over and over again, so if you search you end up with eleventy-billion threads - most of which have no useful information. So you end up posting the question yet again.

At one point there was a thread of useful threads from the past covering specific subjects, but I don't think it got stickied.

A wiki would be a good idea, but some topics would likely end up with the two sides editing it back and forth. The subject you mention - air compressor lines - seems to have two camps in black iron and copper that turn every discussion about the topic into a mess. Both have their benefits and I'd feel comfortable using either, but it seems that there is a "black iron rusts" camp and a "copper joints fail under pressure" camp that comes out.

Well....and I know exactly what you say - as we say in the standards world - "two things you don't want to see made is sausages and standards." The arguments will occur no matter what - however, what may be a useful way in handling such disagreements may be to summarize the comments/opinions: Such as "

Proponents of black iron identify no problem with internal corrosion citing prudent maintenance practices of periodic purging of lines to eliminate moisture, while proponents of Cu believe separation under pressure concerns are resolved by using 90/10".. whatever.

I thought the dialogue on the topic was very productive, and both sides had good points, and I came away much smarter. The emotional stuff wash away very easily like slag on a weld...and does not take away, and I like it since it serves as the impetus to stimulate participation -- that is, it shows passion, and I would encourage it.

As they say, many a good play resulted from a rough scrimmage. I think the Wiki type forum would be beneficial.

 

[PAToyota]

I thought the dialogue on the topic was very productive, and both sides had good points, and I came away much smarter.

I think the issue is that the "dialogue" has been played out every time the topic comes up. I almost think that people are cutting and pasting the arguments from the last thread on the subject...

 

[Torque1st]

To get the widest possible viewing audience and the most hits for the ads that support the board they WANT people to ask the same question over and over and over again. Just like the general subject of this thread has been asked many times, mostly in the question and suggestion forum where it belongs...

 

[Tman]

To get the widest possible viewing audience and the most hits for the ads that support the board they WANT people to ask the same question over and over and over again. Just like the general subject of this thread has been asked many times, mostly in the question and suggestion forum where it belongs...

NO, Only recently has Ryan taken on limited advertising. He has ALWAYS said this place as well as the HAMB and the Jockey are for the people and the hobby.

People just need to use the search function more and add to a thread if they have new info that can help others. Sometimes a question DOES need to be asked in a different way however.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

To get the widest possible viewing audience and the most hits for the ads that support the board they WANT people to ask the same question over and over and over again. Just like the general subject of this thread has been asked many times, mostly in the question and suggestion forum where it belongs...

I don't know if that is the plan- however, I agree that they probably want the largest possible viewing audience. In that regard, I think that having available a repository of indexed files would serve to bring in more folks and thus widen their viewing audience. If billable advertising space is the issue, then having such files available should serve to increase the value of the GJ forum and thus make such ad space more deisreable/valuable.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

NO, Only recently has Ryan taken on limited advertising. He has ALWAYS said this place as well as the HAMB and the Jockey are for the people and the hobby.

People just need to use the search function more and add to a thread if they have new info that can help others. Sometimes a question DOES need to be asked in a different way however.

I assume Ryan is the head bubba here -- how can we have him weigh in on this?

 

[Tman]

I assume Ryan is the head bubba here -- how can we have him weigh in on this?

He will see it and chime in.

There are many good ways to search, I prefer using the plus sign

compressors+plumbing would give you threads with both words in them, not always the best but it will get you started.

 

[Tman]

This thread on the HAMB explains several other good ways to search

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129171&showall=1

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

He will see it and chime in.

There are many good ways to search, I prefer using the plus sign

compressors+plumbing would give you threads with both words in them, not always the best but it will get you started.

The search function is fine and will work if the user is willing to comb through all the discussions --some of which is repetitive and/or of no use -- sort of like sorting through all the nonsense on Google to get to the god stuff. But I think the potential for a good product is at hand, and if the admin architecture is structured correctly - can be accomplished with little effort.

 

[Tman]

The search function is fine and will work if the user is willing to comb through all the discussions --some of which is repetitive and/or of no use -- sort of like sorting through all the nonsense on Google to get to the god stuff. But I think the potential for a good product is at hand, and if the admin architecture is structured correctly - can be accomplished with little effort.

I don't think Ryan has built one of the largest web communities on the Net as a fluke.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

I don't think Ryan has built one of the largest web communities on the Net as a fluke.

That is very delicious indeed .....but you need to wipe that brown stuff off yer beak.

In the interim, I'd like to hear some more progressive out-of-the-box notions for the concept, as well as the potential problems/pitfalls (and I can think of a bunch)

 

[1984GP]

Woah!

Who's bringin the popcorn!

This could get interesting!

Ryan has the best forums on the web, and yes, the search feature could be better, but it is as good as any I've used anywhere else.

 

[Torque1st]

NO, Only recently has Ryan taken on limited advertising. He has ALWAYS said this place as well as the HAMB and the Jockey are for the people and the hobby.

People just need to use the search function more and add to a thread if they have new info that can help others. Sometimes a question DOES need to be asked in a different way however.

Yes, I noticed the advertising. And in order for the board to grow it takes revenue to support the servers and bandwidth which cost major bucks. Unless some generous soul has deep pockets that usually takes revenue generated from advertising which is counting clicks and traffic.

And again, this thread is in the wrong forum.

 

[Tman]

Yes, I noticed the advertising. And in order for the board to grow it takes revenue to support the servers and bandwidth which cost major bucks. Unless some generous soul has deep pockets that usually takes revenue generated from advertising which is counting clicks and traffic.

Actually, that is how the beards were ran for many years, you have no idea who the benefactors may have been

 

[Tman]

And again, this thread is in the wrong forum.

Yes, but my magic powers and buttons only work over on the Jockey or I would have moved it to the Q&S sub forum

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Actually, that is how the beards were ran for many years, you have no idea who the benefactors may have been

The advertising has been pretty transparent to me and I didn't even notice them until someone mentioned them !

Hey - it costs time and money to support this thing - if they could rent some ad space - go for it!

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Yes, I noticed the advertising. And in order for the board to grow it takes revenue to support the servers and bandwidth which cost major bucks. Unless some generous soul has deep pockets that usually takes revenue generated from advertising which is counting clicks and traffic.

And again, this thread is in the wrong forum.

its you in the wrong forum....change the channel

 

[Torque1st]

its you in the wrong forum....change the channel

Since you can't seem to figure it out the proper forum for this suggestion or comment is here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=14
Maybe if you knew anything about how forums work it would not be so difficult for you.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Basically a FAQ, or Frequently Asked Questions forum. Where post are made by the creators of the FAQ's but not replied to. If someone has issues with them, or viable info to add to them, they PM the author and work it out with them.

The Cessna 150/152 Aircraft Club, which I moderate the Tech forum for, has done this. I am very slow creating FAQ's but every now and then, I author one, and several other knowledgeable persons have also. We use very standardized titles, in our case, "Fuel System" or "Electrical System" with something following that, Such as "Fuel System - Long Range Tank Options". Biggest problem we have is people forgetting to look in the TechFAQ's first before asking the question in another forum.

The same thing could be done here, "Building Electrical - Air Compressor Hook Ups" or "Compressed Air - Plumbing Options", It would simply be in another forum, just like Free Parking or Electricity and Lighting, except it would be called FAQ's or something similar, and locked to prevent replys, which greatly confuse the issue in many discussions if not totally relevant to the discussion at hand.

Charles

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Basically a FAQ, or Frequently Asked Questions forum. Where post are made by the creators of the FAQ's but not replied to. If someone has issues with them, or viable info to add to them, they PM the author and work it out with them.

The Cessna 150/152 Aircraft Club, which I moderate the Tech forum for, has done this. I am very slow creating FAQ's but every now and then, I author one, and several other knowledgeable persons have also. We use very standardized titles, in our case, "Fuel System" or "Electrical System" with something following that, Such as "Fuel System - Long Range Tank Options". Biggest problem we have is people forgetting to look in the TechFAQ's first before asking the question in another forum.

The same thing could be done here, "Building Electrical - Air Compressor Hook Ups" or "Compressed Air - Plumbing Options", It would simply be in another forum, just like Free Parking or Electricity and Lighting, except it would be called FAQ's or something similar, and locked to prevent replys, which greatly confuse the issue in many discussions if not totally relevant to the discussion at hand.

Charles

That could possibly work. I think that any means that serves to capture and summarizes the dialogue/conflicts/disagreements, and ultimate consensus positions w/caveats would be helpful.