forum becoming cluttered with posts in wrong sections?

[6th Gear]

I love the forum since joining almost 2 years ago. I have learned a lot here
My only gripe is that more often I am seeing posts being created in the wrong section. I think it is creating a snowball effect because as those posts remain in the wrong section, people see them and think they can also post similar off topic things in the same section.

Let me give examples:

General Garage Discussion
Everything you ever wanted to know about outfitting, organizing, or building your garage!

In here I see the following posts which should be in

Free Parking
Everything related to the toys we park in our garages. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, jetskis, etc... and even some off-topic stuff on occasion...:
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68289
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67796
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68009
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52679
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67876
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67423
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67665
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68494
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67781
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66946
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36910
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67536


The following posts belong in the Garage Gallery
Show off your garage.:
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61575
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16310
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66932
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63635


The following post belong in Lighting & Electrical:
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68346


Heating and A/C
Heat and cool your garage.:
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68339
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68190

General Tool Discussion
From hand wrenches to air compressors to welders... The Garage Journal is all about tools too!
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68410
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4901
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67307
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67146

These are all from the last 10 days. I didn't look through any of the other sections to make a list. Only mentioning it because it seems to be happening more and more lately. GJ is still my favorite forum when it comes to garages I hope the site can stay well organized and useful

 

[arkangel06]

I think you are what we call a forum nazi

 

[HOTFR8]

I have to agree with 6th Gear as many new members do not find the welcome section and some Electrical things get posted in the wrong area as do many other posts.

I think it comes down to this - Simply think about what you are posting and what section will get you the best response in.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

I think you have way to much time on your hands to compile that list. Also, several of them are much older than 10 days old. For instance, this one was started in 2006, and appears to be in it's correct spot...

General Tool Discussion
From hand wrenches to air compressors to welders... The Garage Journal is all about tools too!


http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4901

 

[babzog]

I think an additional section for what we DO in our garages would be helpful. Then, we'd have General Garage Discussion, for talk of outfitting the shop, the new forum for projects, questions related to same, maintenance discussions, HELPMEs, HOWTOs, etc and then Free Parking can remain the off-topic forum that it is.

Many times I've wondered which would be the better of the two (GGD or FP) and sometimes, it's a crapshoot, when a third option would really be a more appropriate choice.

 

[lilredex]

I think it comes down to this - Simply think about what you are posting and what section will get you the best response in.

Doesn't much matter what is posted where, when you click on the "new posts" tab above, it all comes up and you can pick and choose what interests you. Only rarely have I actually gone to a specific section, usually to find something that is not part of the search function. Works for me anyway.........

 

[caper]

I never use the new posts tab,don't even know where it is.I check the sections I like and ignore the rest.

 

[lilredex]

It is right at the top........User CP, Calendar, Community, etc.

Saves a whole lot of fumbling and BS. Just ignore that of no interest.

Most forums have that feature, this one even works if you are not logged in. Can take a sneaky peek at someone's profile also without you being ID-ed.

 

[Kevin54]

I never use the new posts tab,don't even know where it is.I check the sections I like and ignore the rest.

Same here. I find a few things out of place once in a while, but overall I find that most are where they are supposed to be. Flooring could be in General Garage discussion or in the Gallery depending on the extent of the thread and how you look at it. Same with Lighting. It will never be 100% perfect.

And just think...in the time it took to compile that list, the workbench could have been cleaned up and pictures posted of said chore

 

[Justanoldguy]

I think you are what we call a forum nazi

agreed

 

[6th Gear]

I think you have way to much time on your hands to compile that list. Also, several of them are much older than 10 days old. For instance, this one was started in 2006, and appears to be in it's correct spot...

General Tool Discussion
From hand wrenches to air compressors to welders... The Garage Journal is all about tools too!


http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4901

That one is posted is in General Garage Discussion when there is a section:
General Tool Discussion
From hand wrenches to air compressors to welders... The Garage Journal is all about tools too!
(it even has Compressors in the title)
So it has been in the wrong section for almost 4 yrs. It has been posted in within the last 10 days, so it was bumped to the top.
I should have clarified threads that were posted to in the last 10 days, not created in the last 10 days.

I've actually been thinking about mentioning something for a while now, as it has become more disorganized... finally had some time to kill at work If someone is gonna take the time to bring up an issue and provide details, it might as well be me while sitting at work.


My opinion may be wrong on a couple of the suggestions in the first post, but I hope I made the point.

edit:
a sticky at the top of the General Garage Discussion telling new members where to post topics may be helpful... such as this: http://civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=5839

Forum Nazi, possibly... fan of organization, definitely

 

[mooman]

Aren't most garages disorganized anyway????

 

[djjsr]

I think somebody has a slight touch of OCD. (not that there's anything wrong with that!)

 

[Justanoldguy]

fan of organization, definitely

Fan is short for Fanatic.
And that you surely are.
TOO extreme for me.
I like messy cluttered garage.
Makes for interesting discoveries..

I also use the "New Post" function 99% of the time.

 

[HOTFR8]

Doesn't much matter what is posted where, when you click on the "new posts" tab above, it all comes up and you can pick and choose what interests you. Only rarely have I actually gone to a specific section, usually to find something that is not part of the search function. Works for me anyway.........

I never use the new posts tab,don't even know where it is.I check the sections I like and ignore the rest.

It is right at the top........User CP, Calendar, Community, etc.

Saves a whole lot of fumbling and BS. Just ignore that of no interest.

Most forums have that feature, this one even works if you are not logged in. Can take a sneaky peek at someone's profile also without you being ID-ed.

I always look at every section but just read what interests me

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

That one is posted is in General Garage Discussion when there is a section:

General Tool Discussion
From hand wrenches to air compressors to welders... The Garage Journal is all about tools too!
(it even has Compressors in the title)
So it has been in the wrong section for almost 4 yrs.

You still havent explained how a thread about air compressors doesn't belong in the General Tool Discussion, especially in light of the fact that the definition states "from hand tools to air compressors". Do you not consider an air compressor a tool?

 

[babzog]

Aren't most garages disorganized anyway????

LOL.. Mine's a royal *********** at the best of times!

 

[6th Gear]

You still havent explained how a thread about air compressors doesn't belong in the General Tool Discussion, especially in light of the fact that the definition states "from hand tools to air compressors". Do you not consider an air compressor a tool?

Please re-read my previous reply to your post. I'm saying that a thread about air compressors DOES belong in the General Tool Discussion rather than the General Garage Discussion. We're talking about the exact same thing

 

[Bull]

Please re-read my previous reply to your post. I'm saying that a thread about air compressors DOES belong in the General Tool Discussion rather than the General Garage Discussion. We're talking about the exact same thing

Then again, the description of the General Garage Discussion says: "Everything you ever wanted to know about outfitting, organizing, or building your garage!"

I used bold for "outfitting" to highlight that because of that term, discussions about equipment such as compressors could be appropriate there, too. What else does one use to outfit their garage, if not compressors and other types of equipment?

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Please re-read my previous reply to your post. I'm saying that a thread about air compressors DOES belong in the General Tool Discussion rather than the General Garage Discussion. We're talking about the exact same thing

"So it has been in the wrong section for almost 4 yrs. "

That phrase stands out. But whatever...the general consensus seems to be that by-and-large, things are fine.