New TT Category Proposals

“Tilt, I agreed before with the "ignore this thread" suggestion for the same reasons you state - there will be far less work for Matt over time, and happier users immediately.”

“Hey Matt - what about off topic chatter that is not related to politics or religion? For example, I have a paper that I'd like some of the folk here with a science background proof read for me on Saturday - but I don't want to post this request as a political or religious thread - it's just off-topic from backpacking and general chatter.”

“treebear, sorry if it sounded like I was responding directly to your "user-friendly" comment, as I wasn't. Just appreciating Matt's work. As a writer, I always tell my students that any work can be revised to make it better, no matter how good it may already be (mine included). I agree with your point that having all the chatter bumped to the bottom disrupts finding those particulary chatter threads you DO want to follow. I like the idea of just "ignore this thread" and having the default require checking the "hot air" category rather than unchecking it .”

“That would pretty much make it complete and easy satisfy most everyone, I would think...”

“We need a page called Trollville or Troll Junction. This is where all trolls could get together and hassle other members. This would be a no-holds-barred page. You could not ignore any user in this "room". The only rule would be, "If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen." That way the whiners would have no excuse to go crying to Matt, etc.”

“Kinda like a Texas death match, where they put all the wrestlers in a cage?”

“How about an "ignore the whiners" function?

Oh wait... I already have one.”

“Yep TB, that's the idea. Let them fight it out. And all newbies would have to post in Troll Junction for the first 2 weeks after they joined TT. If they survived then they would be worthy of full membership at TT.

Yeah!... Damn that's a good idea. Matt should let me run this place for awhile. I'd have it whipped into shape post haste.”

“A 'vituperative' category for mutt trolls?”

“SH, if nothing else, it would make for some hilarious reading! lol”

“that's the best idea yet, solitary hiker”

“Matt?......buddy? Are you listening?”

“I like the controversial thread icon idea.

I also like that that would be a default ignore!

Good ideas!”

“Food cooking category would work.

Ever think about an "only woman" category. The one over on the "other board" gives gray hairs to Bp2go as guys go over there all the time impersonating women, giving gynocological advice, and causing all sorts of problems. An "all woman" category might give some of the male trolls some focus around here. What you think? Good idea?”

“No more bush bashing
And dating no longer sucks
Policing TT”

“Nothing against tweaking, but if it ain't broken, don't try to fix it.

There are features already in place that allows me to tinker with the format of this board.

To include more categories might make this board kinda like Backpacker.com (Cooking, Ultralight, etc), and I can already go there if want that kind of change of venues. I like the posts all jumbled together, but in more of a "real time" sort of layout.

To me, TT is fine the way it is.”

“How about starting a catagory for politics. That way I can click "Ignore" for that catagory.”

“Make politics a pay thread. Liberals won't put their money where their mouth is.

The will however put your tax dollars where there mouth is.”

“My inclination is somewhat like pekka's. Go in small increments and see how it works.

Suggested categories:

Gear
General Backpacking & Outdoor Fun
Places (eliminate this one--seems redundant)
East Coast
Pacific Coast
Mid Continent
Chat-ter
Trips
Hot Topics/Controversial (new)

I would say for now that ultralight falls under "Gear" and Food/Cooking falls under "General Backpacking".

My hope would be that the "Hot Topics/Controversial" category would actually stimulate more careful debate and exchange of ideas.

Chatter serves a purpose as sort of a "party line" (younger folks don't remember party lines...where several neighbors shared the same phone line). I suggested "Chat-ter" to sort of hint that it will be the closest thing to a chat room.

Then let all threads work the same and people can use the "select category" option as they desire.

See how it works. I think this format rocks and you will always be improving it.”

“phil, adventurist stole your theory!

ban adventurist!”

“radagast - Adventurist seemed to "update" my theory. I said thread degradation within 20 posts...but that was many years ago...times change.”

“The jump to thead links are killer Matt!”

“Very nice Matt! Love the jump to page links!”

“Way cool, daddy-o”

“I just thought of a really good TT category. The BITPUSHER category so he can post all his threads in one spot so we don't have so dang many of them. The icon could be a little computer with Bit across it :)”

“Well, he does push bits, Ewk!”

“PLEASE make a political icon!!!!!!”

“:-P”

“Whaddya mean by the "jump to page links"? Did I miss something?”

“Find a thread that has more than 50 posts showing, and you'll see...”

“Push Push Push Push Push Push”

“Political Icon
Political Icon
Political Icon
Political Icon
Political Icon
Political Icon
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Political Icon”

“I thought Chili posted one the other day: Donkey and Elephant bashing each other over the head.”

“well no matter what you all come up with, there will always be trolls like Bales that are allowed to stay and post.

to bad, they keep the reg off the site.”

“re: jump to page links, I thought there was something new - that's always been a feature hasn't it?

Hey mapes, where ya been?”

“Not from the main TT page it hasn't been...”

“hey bowlder, ive been around :)”

“Aha! I see what you mean now, bit. I usually have my date range set to 1 day, and none of the non-chatter threads were over 50 (I have chatter unchecked).

Sorry, 'leaf, just didn't see ya' - Hi!”

“I have a religous thread icon suggestion . ..

HOw about a Cross with an X through it??”

“skull and cross bones would do the trick!”

“Lee, lee, lee...[sigh]. Don't you know Jesus loves you? He loves you so much he wants to take a bath with you.”

“I think that having just a political/religion (although I am not onee to discuss religion) is a good idea.

It should keep it out of the general sections,

I think the best answer if it can be done is to be able to ignore threads. I have a couple od people whom I have on the ignore list, and that works fine for me.

Tes, this is a backpacking thread, but I think the other discusions are just as welcome.

I mean, an ultra-light category/thread is fine with me, even though I don't subscribe to the lightweight stuff. if something appeals, I read it, if not, I don't. Same with many other threads, I don't participate in the "Nightcrawlers" thread (Yet), but if the people involved enjoy it and participate and contribute to the forums in other ways, then why the hell not have the off-topic thread?

As far as amking friends, etc, I have been going hot and heavy with Stratdude and sometimes with prosecutor. Fact of the matter is that it was never personal and I would really enjoy arguing (whoops) MEETING them in person. I ahve also been in a lot of political discussions in lean-tos or camping along the trail. No bodies have resulted yet (The evidence is buried deep).

There are quite a few threads here that I have no interest in, that does not mean that they are not interesting, just that it's not my thing.

I would think that one of the main concerns for Matt would be storage and bandwidth. If as a result of off-topic threads, the bandwidth or server space is getting to be a problem, then tats another matter.

I am sure that there every thread here is enjoyed by some and not by others. Who is to say what is good and what is not, what should be acceptable and what is inacceptable?

For all the hot and heavy debate that goes on here, in general he behavior is good. Now and then someone over reaches, but I have also seen where a little further down the line people have apologized.

SO remember in lobbying for what YOU want. Others may feel about the ones you likethe way you feel about the ones you don't. (anyone got any idea what I said there, I don't?)So if Matt eliminates what people don't like, before long there may be little left.

I have sent an email to matt and told him that I have forum software on my server and that if people wanted, they could go there to fight (tastefully of course). I am waiting for an answer because I will not do that if anyone here thinks I am trying to take people away from here and/or if those who like the politics do not want to go elsewhere.”

“if I have a dirty joke will that go under "chatter" or under "Hot Topics/Controversial"?”

“Maybe Matt should just change the name from Trail Talk to Trail Whining.”

“how are newbies gonna know what fuego is?

wait.. i get it, they don't have to know, so it doesn't scare them away, smart... i think.”

“Love it! Thanks Matt!”

“redhawk,
I think things are under control. Thanks for the offer.”

“i can't make it stay checked... it keeps unchecking itself, why?”

“"How about something like this for thread categories:
Gear
Used gear
Gear I've bought but not used
Gear I need to sell
Places I've been
Places in the Midwest I've been
Places in the Sub Saharan desert that I plan on visiting in the next 25 years
Places in the Pac NW
Places I won't ever go again
Cooking
Cooking with fire
Cooking with a stove
Cooking without meat
Cutesy jokes that are only funny to an 8 year old
I stubbed my toe and took pictures of it turning black
Politics and why no one ever changes anyone's mind
I had a bad day at work and feel the need to whine to all of you
Chatter
General
General Chatter
Nonsense
Interesting stuff

There, that's only 22 categories. Oh and thanks for all you do Matt, keep up the good work, I think things are fine whatever way you see fit to change them, but I needed to give my opinion anyway and really think you need to update, but other than that I'm satisfied if you leave it just like it is."”

“


See? 'Fuego' is backpacking related.

So shut yer pie-holes.”