We need a new forum for general posts

JSWolf · 09-15-2009, 10:14 PM

I have a post I want to make. It's not going to be device specific overall so any device specific forum is out. It doesn't belong in the lounge, so that is out. It's not newsworthy enough to be in news and commentary so that's out. So where the heck can I start my thread?

See, I've been saying we need a general purpose forum that is not the lounge. A place to talk about readers that's not device specific overall.

ilovejedd · 09-15-2009, 10:18 PM

+1 We need a general ebook/reader-related forum.

JSWolf · 09-15-2009, 10:20 PM

I hate to say this, but I think this is why news and commentary is so cluttered with threads that do not belong there.

Superlucky · 09-15-2009, 10:28 PM

We should just call it "General Liseuse".

Pablo · 09-15-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superlucky

We should just call it "General Liseuse".

There's a French Forum already.

Xiaopanda · 09-15-2009, 11:29 PM

Like there arn't enough threads / forums for me to wander through already.

Just post it in the lounge and be done with it! Mark it with the best tag you can think of.

Meh....

montsnmags · 09-16-2009, 12:30 AM

The gods know that this is not normal for me, but I'm going to go out on a rarely frequented limb and say that I might possibly agree with Jon.

Firstly, I'll say that my general impression of the News & Commentary thread is that it is for the posting of:

News - mostly this is obvious, like posts or external links about new product releases, government/industry moves related to copyright/DRM, incidents, the kind of stuff one finds on "news" websites, be they general or specific media. That is, the "Latest on e-books, e-paper, DRM and related technologies".
Commentary - this I think is less obvious, but I think should generally be external "commentary" from some self-styled pundit or journalist or an interview with a spokesperson relevant to ebookery - that is, the kind of "opinion" stuff that we can go read and then continue to comment on. I think this is generally a quite worthy place for an extended user-created commentary (I don't wish to suggest users can't be "pundits"), but perhaps with the guiding hand of an editor (that is, moderators).

The way I see that particular section, it's almost like the "MobileRead Newspaper/Magazine" section of MobileRead - somewhere to go to catch up on news or read some well-thought and written opinion piece, with the option of then responding to it.

An "Ebooks General" section would be for all ebook-related stuff that is not related to specific software, formats, devices, news, commentary - you know, just general ebook stuff.

For instance, if I go down the front page of News & Commentary at the moment, I would pick the following items for an "Ebooks General" section:

Note that the above in no way opines negatively on the above threads, pretty much every one of which I am interested in. I just think that they're predominantly where they are because News & Commentary is the "Other" of ebook-related stuff (that is, not as per my personal view of the section). I see News & Commentary's role, to use my previous analogy, as the MR Newspaper/Magazine section (but with the benefit of the conversation not being one-way), and with some degree of editorial control present (sorry...here I am proposing more work for moderators. I am conscious of that and its limitations

).

Note that, for me, the current fullness of News & Commentary is of little inconvenience/frustration with the way I peruse the forums (which is usually through "New Posts/All New Posts"), though I can understand it would be for some. I just wanted to say that I tend to agree with Jon and wanted to explain why, to encourage a reasonable conversation even if it doesn't lead to change (and, besides, Jon might have different reasons to mine for his "Feedback").

I definitely thing The Lounge is not the right spot. It's quite specifically "Friendly banter and discussions unrelated to e-books" (emphasis mine), and even a passing glance at its content would indicate that it'd be far easier to lose one's ebook-related thread in there than in News & Commentary, and, to me, that'd be distinctly undesirable.

Just one man's opinion...don't take it to heart. I don't.

Cheers,
Marc

ficbot · 09-16-2009, 01:14 AM

Yeah, I admit to posting sometimes in the news and commentary because there doesn't really seem like any other place to put it

I agree that a general section would be good. Also, there are some things which apply to more than one device, for example, when I first joined I wanted opinions about whether the Sony 505 was better or worse than the other Sony model. I posted in one of the forums, got no answers, moved it to the 505 forum and got answers. What I really needed was just a general area. Also, posts about the Sony Store software, where do those go?

That said, I don't get the whole fixation people have with only going to this forum or that forum. Just click on 'all new posts' and then skip over the ones that don't interest you. I never visit a specific forum unless it's for the purpose of posting there.

Elfwreck · 09-16-2009, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

For instance, if I go down the front page of News & Commentary at the moment, I would pick the following items for an "Ebooks General" section:

I would leave Pocket Pro Accessories, Tear down the PRS-300, and Sony vs Cooler in News/Commentary. I think reviews & comparisons belong in News, especially when the devices are new. Kindle2/PRS-505 comparisons might belong in a "general ebook discussion" forum.

I do agree that a general-ebooks forum would be useful. Among other things, it could collect threads about "what devices read what ebooks," and "which stores have the best prices/selection" (which currently wind up in "reading recommendations," I think), the pdf-vs-epub threads, and the eternal "ebooks are/are not lost pbook sales" discussions. And a general-ebook-related forum might encourage threads we currently just don't get, because people can't figure out where to put them. (Ebook accessory discussions. Ebook publisher preferences. Favorite ebook features that pbooks don't have. Cover art that looks good on an e-ink screen. Etc.)

And yeah, there are approximately 743 forums already. 'Sokay. It's a big, active forum-place; it's not like the current forums are going to wither if a new one gets added.

nomesque · 09-16-2009, 01:33 AM

We needz a poll!

montsnmags · 09-16-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

I would leave Pocket Pro Accessories, Tear down the PRS-300, and Sony vs Cooler in News/Commentary. I think reviews & comparisons belong in News, especially when the devices are new. Kindle2/PRS-505 comparisons might belong in a "general ebook discussion" forum.
...

Yeah, after I posted, I realised that I'd meant to mention that my selections (and criteria) would likely be arguable. I included those three mostly because the "Accessories" one I thought was more a question, and the other two I thought needed elaboration to become full "Commentary" (reviews) or "News". I can see your point though, and I didn't expect total agreement with my choices at all - it was just me trying to make judgement decisions to pick examples.

And thank-you for your thoughtful response to my post, Elfwreck.

Cheers,
Marc

Sparrow · 09-16-2009, 03:51 AM

Maybe change to 'News and Commentary' to 'News and eBooks General'

- it'd save the angst of deciding whether a particular thread belonged in one forum or another.

igorsk · 09-16-2009, 07:25 AM

I second Sparrow. I don't want yet another section to follow, and it's not very cluttered as is.

kennyc · 09-16-2009, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

There's a French Forum already.

acidzebra · 09-16-2009, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have a post I want to make. It's not going to be device specific overall so any device specific forum is out. It doesn't belong in the lounge, so that is out. It's not newsworthy enough to be in news and commentary so that's out. So where the heck can I start my thread?See, I've been saying we need a general purpose forum that is not the lounge. A place to talk about readers that's not device specific overall.

I don't know it sounds like commentary to me. You know, as in "news and commentary"?

09-15-2009, 10:14 PM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,068 Karma: 144284144 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	We need a new forum for general posts I have a post I want to make. It's not going to be device specific overall so any device specific forum is out. It doesn't belong in the lounge, so that is out. It's not newsworthy enough to be in news and commentary so that's out. So where the heck can I start my thread? See, I've been saying we need a general purpose forum that is not the lounge. A place to talk about readers that's not device specific overall.

09-16-2009, 12:30 AM	#7
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	The gods know that this is not normal for me, but I'm going to go out on a rarely frequented limb and say that I might possibly agree with Jon. Firstly, I'll say that my general impression of the News & Commentary thread is that it is for the posting of: News - mostly this is obvious, like posts or external links about new product releases, government/industry moves related to copyright/DRM, incidents, the kind of stuff one finds on "news" websites, be they general or specific media. That is, the "Latest on e-books, e-paper, DRM and related technologies". Commentary - this I think is less obvious, but I think should generally be external "commentary" from some self-styled pundit or journalist or an interview with a spokesperson relevant to ebookery - that is, the kind of "opinion" stuff that we can go read and then continue to comment on. I think this is generally a quite worthy place for an extended user-created commentary (I don't wish to suggest users can't be "pundits"), but perhaps with the guiding hand of an editor (that is, moderators). The way I see that particular section, it's almost like the "MobileRead Newspaper/Magazine" section of MobileRead - somewhere to go to catch up on news or read some well-thought and written opinion piece, with the option of then responding to it. An "Ebooks General" section would be for all ebook-related stuff that is not related to specific software, formats, devices, news, commentary - you know, just general ebook stuff. For instance, if I go down the front page of News & Commentary at the moment, I would pick the following items for an "Ebooks General" section: Does an ebook sale represent, to you, a lost print sale? Does an unavailable ebook represent, to you, a lost book sale? Why does the page refresh on eink devices bother people so much? Penguin Georgraphical Restrictions The Law of Unintended Consequences - eBook Edition EZ Reader Pocket Pro Accessories? Tear down the Prs-300 Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters sony VS cooler Note that the above in no way opines negatively on the above threads, pretty much every one of which I am interested in. I just think that they're predominantly where they are because News & Commentary is the "Other" of ebook-related stuff (that is, not as per my personal view of the section). I see News & Commentary's role, to use my previous analogy, as the MR Newspaper/Magazine section (but with the benefit of the conversation not being one-way), and with some degree of editorial control present (sorry...here I am proposing more work for moderators. I am conscious of that and its limitations ). Note that, for me, the current fullness of News & Commentary is of little inconvenience/frustration with the way I peruse the forums (which is usually through "New Posts/All New Posts"), though I can understand it would be for some. I just wanted to say that I tend to agree with Jon and wanted to explain why, to encourage a reasonable conversation even if it doesn't lead to change (and, besides, Jon might have different reasons to mine for his "Feedback"). I definitely thing The Lounge is not the right spot. It's quite specifically "Friendly banter and discussions unrelated to e-books" (emphasis mine), and even a passing glance at its content would indicate that it'd be far easier to lose one's ebook-related thread in there than in News & Commentary, and, to me, that'd be distinctly undesirable. Just one man's opinion...don't take it to heart. I don't. Cheers, Marc Last edited by montsnmags; 09-16-2009 at 12:33 AM.

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09-15-2009, 10:18 PM	#2
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,110 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	+1 We need a general ebook/reader-related forum.

09-15-2009, 10:20 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,068 Karma: 144284144 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I hate to say this, but I think this is why news and commentary is so cluttered with threads that do not belong there.

09-15-2009, 10:28 PM	#4
Superlucky Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 5952 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-350	We should just call it "General Liseuse".

09-15-2009, 11:29 PM	#6
Xiaopanda Addict Posts: 230 Karma: 1290 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Like there arn't enough threads / forums for me to wander through already. Just post it in the lounge and be done with it! Mark it with the best tag you can think of. Meh....

09-16-2009, 01:14 AM	#8
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Yeah, I admit to posting sometimes in the news and commentary because there doesn't really seem like any other place to put it I agree that a general section would be good. Also, there are some things which apply to more than one device, for example, when I first joined I wanted opinions about whether the Sony 505 was better or worse than the other Sony model. I posted in one of the forums, got no answers, moved it to the 505 forum and got answers. What I really needed was just a general area. Also, posts about the Sony Store software, where do those go? That said, I don't get the whole fixation people have with only going to this forum or that forum. Just click on 'all new posts' and then skip over the ones that don't interest you. I never visit a specific forum unless it's for the purpose of posting there.

09-16-2009, 01:33 AM	#10
nomesque Snooty Bestselling Author Posts: 1,485 Karma: 1000000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ipswich, QLD, Australia Device: PRS-650	We needz a poll!

09-16-2009, 03:51 AM	#12
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Maybe change to 'News and Commentary' to 'News and eBooks General' - it'd save the angst of deciding whether a particular thread belonged in one forum or another.

09-16-2009, 07:25 AM	#13
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	I second Sparrow. I don't want yet another section to follow, and it's not very cluttered as is.

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