AARoads Forum

Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: traffic light guy on November 05, 2018, 04:18:17 PM

Title: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: traffic light guy on November 05, 2018, 04:18:17 PM
I plan on running a road geek forum on my own, mainly for traffic signal enthusiasts, and road and sign geeks. Any suggestions. I'm hoping that this site will became mainstream like Highway Divides. Any suggestions, I'm hoping that familiar users join, I also want to explore more broad topics too, such as the history behind traffic signals, or historic photos. Any suggestions on starting my own forum.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: corco on November 05, 2018, 05:30:58 PM
That bips
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: formulanone on November 05, 2018, 05:42:32 PM
1. Make sure you're allowed to promote the new forum.

2. Make sure you have several members who want to join. Also, see suggestion #1.

3. Forums that are off-shoots of another forum usually don't last (unless the other forum folds altogether).

4. Don't try to have too many sub forums; 3-5 should be enough to start, grow it slowly, if even needed. Too many empty/quiet subfora doesn't bring about new discussion.

5. Don't mimic every thread on another very-similar board...otherwise, they'd just go to that forum.

6. You need at least three in-jokes to alienate newbies, but that takes time.

7. The "We're not like the other forum" mantra wears thin after a while.

8. Don't make registration too easy, or you're going to have more spam than you'll know what to do with.

9. Do you have the time for this? Maybe school, play, work, culture, dating, music, whateverthekidsdonowadays at your age?

10. If you give up easily, don't bother.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: kevinb1994 on November 05, 2018, 06:01:10 PM
Quote from: corco on November 05, 2018, 05:30:58 PM
That bips

What?
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: kphoger on November 05, 2018, 06:26:39 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on November 05, 2018, 06:01:10 PM
Quote from: corco on November 05, 2018, 05:30:58 PM
That bips

What?

Please refer to the below.

Quote from: formulanone on November 05, 2018, 05:42:32 PM
6. You need at least three in-jokes to alienate newbies, but that takes time.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: kevinb1994 on November 05, 2018, 07:09:50 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 05, 2018, 06:26:39 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on November 05, 2018, 06:01:10 PM
Quote from: corco on November 05, 2018, 05:30:58 PM
That bips

What?

Please refer to the below.

Quote from: formulanone on November 05, 2018, 05:42:32 PM
6. You need at least three in-jokes to alienate newbies, but that takes time.

Ok, gotcha.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: hbelkins on November 05, 2018, 08:35:49 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on November 05, 2018, 04:18:17 PM
I plan on running a road geek forum on my own, mainly for traffic signal enthusiasts, and road and sign geeks. Any suggestions. I'm hoping that this site will became mainstream like Highway Divides. Any suggestions, I'm hoping that familiar users join, I also want to explore more broad topics too, such as the history behind traffic signals, or historic photos. Any suggestions on starting my own forum.

Don't be heavy-handed on moderation.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: renegade on November 05, 2018, 09:24:34 PM
... and don't let it get overly political.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: jakeroot on November 06, 2018, 01:31:49 AM
Quote from: renegade on November 05, 2018, 09:24:34 PM
... and don't let it get overly political.

Or alternatively, as to give the impression that this new forum is distinct from AARoads, encourage open discussion of politics.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: lepidopteran on November 06, 2018, 12:45:31 PM
If the forum mechanism allows it, require new-member posts to be moderated for their first 5 or so posts.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: Scott5114 on November 06, 2018, 05:06:42 PM
Make a list of rules and then stick to them. Nobody likes a mod that uses their powers in an ad-hoc manner. That is an easy way to make people angry and get called out for favoritism. If it can be demonstrated that someone was moderated for violating one of the rules that is already written down, then the other members will likely consider it just and you will be seen as merely doing your job as moderator.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: hbelkins on November 06, 2018, 08:56:53 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 06, 2018, 05:06:42 PM
Make a list of rules and then stick to them. Nobody likes a mod that uses their powers in an ad-hoc manner. That is an easy way to make people angry and get called out for favoritism. If it can be demonstrated that someone was moderated for violating one of the rules that is already written down, then the other members will likely consider it just and you will be seen as merely doing your job as moderator.

Or, let it be MTR v.2, and let anything go.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: NE2 on November 07, 2018, 07:02:20 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on November 05, 2018, 04:18:17 PM
mainstream like Highway Divides
Like what?
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: Scott5114 on November 07, 2018, 07:41:45 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 06, 2018, 08:56:53 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 06, 2018, 05:06:42 PM
Make a list of rules and then stick to them. Nobody likes a mod that uses their powers in an ad-hoc manner. That is an easy way to make people angry and get called out for favoritism. If it can be demonstrated that someone was moderated for violating one of the rules that is already written down, then the other members will likely consider it just and you will be seen as merely doing your job as moderator.

Or, let it be MTR v.2, and let anything go.

This is a good way to ensure that you end up with something that looks like MTR.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: Brandon on November 07, 2018, 07:47:08 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 07, 2018, 07:41:45 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 06, 2018, 08:56:53 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 06, 2018, 05:06:42 PM
Make a list of rules and then stick to them. Nobody likes a mod that uses their powers in an ad-hoc manner. That is an easy way to make people angry and get called out for favoritism. If it can be demonstrated that someone was moderated for violating one of the rules that is already written down, then the other members will likely consider it just and you will be seen as merely doing your job as moderator.

Or, let it be MTR v.2, and let anything go.

This is a good way to ensure that you end up with something that looks like MTR.

Oh good, I just ever-so-love flame wars. :-P
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: hbelkins on November 07, 2018, 07:24:23 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 07, 2018, 07:41:45 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 06, 2018, 08:56:53 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 06, 2018, 05:06:42 PM
Make a list of rules and then stick to them. Nobody likes a mod that uses their powers in an ad-hoc manner. That is an easy way to make people angry and get called out for favoritism. If it can be demonstrated that someone was moderated for violating one of the rules that is already written down, then the other members will likely consider it just and you will be seen as merely doing your job as moderator.

Or, let it be MTR v.2, and let anything go.

This is a good way to ensure that you end up with something that looks like MTR.

It's not just MTR. It's all of Usenet.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: traffic light guy on November 07, 2018, 09:09:15 PM
Quote from: NE2 on November 07, 2018, 07:02:20 AM
Quote from: traffic light guy on November 05, 2018, 04:18:17 PM
mainstream like Highway Divides
Like what?
It's a forum simular to this

LG-M327

Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: webny99 on November 07, 2018, 09:17:05 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on November 06, 2018, 01:31:49 AM
Quote from: renegade on November 05, 2018, 09:24:34 PM
... and don't let it get overly political.
Or alternatively, as to give the impression that this new forum is distinct from AARoads, encourage open discussion of politics.

Yeah, in the US, in 2018, that would go over, like a lead balloon.

Quote from: Scott5114 on November 06, 2018, 05:06:42 PM
Nobody likes a mod that uses their powers in an ad-hoc manner.

I dare not ask the impending question...
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: jakeroot on November 07, 2018, 11:49:25 PM
Quote from: webny99 on November 07, 2018, 09:17:05 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on November 06, 2018, 01:31:49 AM
Quote from: renegade on November 05, 2018, 09:24:34 PM
... and don't let it get overly political.
Or alternatively, as to give the impression that this new forum is distinct from AARoads, encourage open discussion of politics.
Yeah, in the US, in 2018, that would go over, like a lead balloon.

No rules on the internet!
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: hbelkins on November 08, 2018, 11:57:06 AM
Not sure where this quote came from, but...

Quote from: Scott5114 on November 06, 2018, 05:06:42 PM
Nobody likes a mod that uses their powers in an ad-hoc manner.

You mean like the end of the DST thread?  :bigass:
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: jakeroot on November 08, 2018, 12:55:04 PM
I'm not going to say I got the DST thread locked, but
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: vdeane on November 08, 2018, 01:01:04 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 08, 2018, 11:57:06 AM
Not sure where this quote came from, but...

Quote from: Scott5114 on November 06, 2018, 05:06:42 PM
Nobody likes a mod that uses their powers in an ad-hoc manner.

You mean like the end of the DST thread?  :bigass:
I think the writing was on the wall when it morphed into a discussion about political representation.  A fun and civil discussion... but one definitely in the non-road political area.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: kphoger on November 08, 2018, 01:11:47 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on November 08, 2018, 12:55:04 PM
I'm not going to say I got the DST thread locked, but

No, I think that would be my fault.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: formulanone on November 08, 2018, 01:39:03 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 08, 2018, 01:11:47 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on November 08, 2018, 12:55:04 PM
I'm not going to say I got the DST thread locked, but

No, I think that would be my fault.

Thank you for putting it out of its misery, though. Besides, DST in 2018 already ended.

On topic, if you want a section for a particular type of discussion, enforce its limits. Leave a section for that type of discussion. Otherwise, every discussion might devolve into an emotional debate without actual answers nor anything useful.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: jakeroot on November 08, 2018, 03:53:40 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 08, 2018, 01:11:47 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on November 08, 2018, 12:55:04 PM
I'm not going to say I got the DST thread locked, but

No, I think that would be my fault.

Well, we both performed a good deed.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: Scott5114 on November 08, 2018, 04:50:29 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 08, 2018, 11:57:06 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 06, 2018, 05:06:42 PM
Nobody likes a mod that uses their powers in an ad-hoc manner.

You mean like the end of the DST thread?  :bigass:

Oh, no, that was premeditated. (i.e. it was being discussed with the other mods at the time)

Quote from: kphoger on November 08, 2018, 01:11:47 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on November 08, 2018, 12:55:04 PM
I'm not going to say I got the DST thread locked, but

No, I think that would be my fault.

No one person is responsible for it, but the thread had gotten caught in basically an endless loop where reading through it seemed like reading the same five or six posts over and over, and while the political discussion was civil, novel to the thread, and mostly well-reasoned, it seemed like an indication that it was time to move on.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: kphoger on November 08, 2018, 05:15:04 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 08, 2018, 04:50:29 PM

Quote from: kphoger on November 08, 2018, 01:11:47 PM

Quote from: jakeroot on November 08, 2018, 12:55:04 PM
I'm not going to say I got the DST thread locked, but

No, I think that would be my fault.

No one person is responsible for it, but the thread had gotten caught in basically an endless loop where reading through it seemed like reading the same five or six posts over and over, and while the political discussion was civil, novel to the thread, and mostly well-reasoned, it seemed like an indication that it was time to move on.

Well, I appreciate you saying that, but I was the one who took the conversation purely into politics.  But you're right about it being the same arguments over and over again.




In other news, this thread has now become hijacked by a locked off-topic thread that wandered off of the off topic.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: US71 on November 08, 2018, 06:21:59 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on November 05, 2018, 04:18:17 PM
I plan on running a road geek forum on my own, mainly for traffic signal enthusiasts, and road and sign geeks. Any suggestions. I'm hoping that this site will became mainstream like Highway Divides. Any suggestions, I'm hoping that familiar users join, I also want to explore more broad topics too, such as the history behind traffic signals, or historic photos. Any suggestions on starting my own forum.

Why? It's your prerogative, of course, but isn't this sort of re-inventing the wheel?

I would suggest multiple moderators in case one gets their account hacked, so you can still get in.

Moderating new members wouldn't be a bad idea just so a Marf-type doesn't try to invade.

Don't be heavy handed on moderation, but watch out for being over permissive, as well. 
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: webny99 on November 08, 2018, 07:41:00 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 08, 2018, 05:15:04 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 08, 2018, 04:50:29 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 08, 2018, 01:11:47 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on November 08, 2018, 12:55:04 PM
I'm not going to say I got the DST thread locked, but
No, I think that would be my fault.
No one person is responsible for it, but the thread had gotten caught in basically an endless loop where reading through it seemed like reading the same five or six posts over and over, and while the political discussion was civil, novel to the thread, and mostly well-reasoned, it seemed like an indication that it was time to move on.
Well, I appreciate you saying that, but I was the one who took the conversation purely into politics.  But you're right about it being the same arguments over and over again.




In other news, this thread has now become hijacked by a locked off-topic thread that wandered off of the off topic.

I actually wanted the credit for derailing the DST thread too... so to come full circle... no favoritism from the mods!!

And yeah, pretty much every thread with over 1000 replies, that gets locked, spills into other threads. It's basically unavoidable. Fortunately, that particular thread was specific to 2018, so there's always 2019...  :-P

Which is actually relevant to the OP's question. Keeping discussion on-topic on a forum can be very challenging, and sometimes there's just no way around it.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: jakeroot on November 08, 2018, 09:45:05 PM
Quote from: webny99 on November 08, 2018, 07:41:00 PM
Which is actually relevant to the OP's question. Keeping discussion on-topic on a forum can be very challenging, and sometimes there's just no way around it.

That's the very nature of discussion. If we all just kept repeating the same thing to each other, over and over, there'd be no discussion. It's the "I appreciate what you said, but what about..." statements that slowly change discussions and topics. There really shouldn't be anything "off topic". It's more "closely related discussions" and "distantly related discussions".
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: hbelkins on November 09, 2018, 01:08:53 PM
The discussion on the DST thread wasn't about politics, but policy -- as to why Congressional representation was set up the way it was. Politics would have been if someone had accused the Republican-Democrats of gerrymandering the colonies to under-represent Whigs when the original state boundaries were drawn.  :-D
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: formulanone on November 09, 2018, 01:37:43 PM
Quote from: US71 on November 08, 2018, 06:21:59 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on November 05, 2018, 04:18:17 PM
I plan on running a road geek forum on my own, mainly for traffic signal enthusiasts, and road and sign geeks. Any suggestions. I'm hoping that this site will became mainstream like Highway Divides. Any suggestions, I'm hoping that familiar users join, I also want to explore more broad topics too, such as the history behind traffic signals, or historic photos. Any suggestions on starting my own forum.

Why? It's your prerogative, of course, but isn't this sort of re-inventing the wheel?

I would suggest multiple moderators in case one gets their account hacked, so you can still get in.

Moderating new members wouldn't be a bad idea just so a Marf-type doesn't try to invade.

Don't be heavy handed on moderation, but watch out for being over permissive, as well. 

To be honest, why do you need another forum? We're far from overloaded.

When you asked for traffic light photos, we helped out. We have more than a few discussions about the subject, even if this isn't an exhaustive forum dealing with the specifics.

If all you'd like is a separate sub-forum, just ask those in charge.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: Scott5114 on November 09, 2018, 02:18:50 PM
I can see the appeal in making a traffic-light-specific forum. After all, most of us are not exactly on traffic light guy's level when it comes to traffic lights–I couldn't tell any of the signal models apart until I asked him what exactly the difference was.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: jakeroot on November 09, 2018, 03:53:52 PM
I could see a sub-forum beneath Traffic Control, but I foresee issues with an entire forum dedicated to traffic signals (lack of users chiefly). I certainly like traffic signals, and their identification and placement, but more from a practical, modern-day vantage. And I do enjoy the other parts of this website too. An entire website for traffic lights? I don't know about that.

EDIT: I sometimes flood the "Traffic Signal" thread, but only because I don't want to flood the sub-forum with more threads. If there was a separate "Traffic Signal" sub-forum, that might clean things up a bit.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: US71 on November 09, 2018, 09:39:40 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on November 09, 2018, 02:18:50 PM
I can see the appeal in making a traffic-light-specific forum. After all, most of us are not exactly on traffic light guy's level when it comes to traffic lights–I couldn't tell any of the signal models apart until I asked him what exactly the difference was.

When I post to Flickr, I usually get feedback on what brands the signals are.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: hbelkins on November 10, 2018, 03:08:20 PM
There are some Facebook groups dedicated to signals. Maybe try one of those?
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: US71 on November 11, 2018, 10:09:13 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 10, 2018, 03:08:20 PM
There are some Facebook groups dedicated to signals. Maybe try one of those?

I'm not sure he's on Facebook, if memory serves correct.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: hbelkins on November 22, 2018, 09:59:30 PM
If I was starting a forum, I'd require that users have their real names visible somewhere. Not necessarily in their user name (although I more or less choose to use mine here) but on their profile page, at least.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: hotdogPi on November 22, 2018, 10:38:02 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 22, 2018, 09:59:30 PM
If I was starting a forum, I'd require that users have their real names visible somewhere. Not necessarily in their user name (although I more or less choose to use mine here) but on their profile page, at least.

Absolutely not. The whole point of usernames is so that users remain anonymous. This is for several reasons: security, preventing harassment, etc. Unless the website is a type where real names are useful (like Facebook), real names should be not only not required, but discouraged.

Fortunately, your username does not reveal too much, as even though I know you are H. B. Elkins, I do not know what H. B. stands for (and even that's not obvious, as some people call you H. Belkins).
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: kphoger on November 23, 2018, 09:22:17 AM
Quote from: 1 on November 22, 2018, 10:38:02 PM
(and even that's not obvious, as some people call you H. Belkins)

And I was recently referred to as 'Mr. Phoger' in a dis.
Title: Re: I'm creating a forum for signal geeks, anything I need to know
Post by: webny99 on November 23, 2018, 07:59:29 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 23, 2018, 09:22:17 AM
Quote from: 1 on November 22, 2018, 10:38:02 PM
(and even that's not obvious, as some people call you H. Belkins)
And I was recently referred to as 'Mr. Phoger' in a dis.

Until recently, I actually thought Phoger was your last name. I think it's the "ph" combination that just seems hard to break down, i.e. kfoger is the natural pronunciation when one sees it as a single word.

However, it wasn't NE2's post that enlightened me. I think it was a post of HB's several months ago.