reorganizing the forums

[doug]

Hi All,

The other moderators and I have been discussing reorganizing the TMC forums and we'd like your input. The goal is to have them make more sense from an organizational standpoint and to eliminate some ambiguity as to where certain threads should be located.

Easily identified and fixable problems:

• "Environment" should be expanded to include "Energy and Environment."
• "Electric Cars" should probably be renamed "Electric Vehicles" in order to be more inclusive.

Less clear cut:

• Primarily we've been discussing the elimination the the Media section of the forum. There are reasonable arguments both for and against keeping it. The main argument against keeping that section is that it creates ambiguity as to where a thread should be posted. Should a thread with an article link be in the "articles" section or should it be in the section for what the article is about...
• Overall organization. Are certain sub-forums useful or not. Many of the sub-forums in Off Topic, probably shouldn't be off topic, etc.

Anyhow, we'd like your input and ideas. Thanks!


(See also: http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/site-...tors-club.html)

[doug]

Here's a quick and dirty trial layout... what can you come up with?



Tesla Motors Forum -- Discussion about Tesla Motors

Tesla Roadster -- Discussion about the Tesla Roadster

Sub-Forums: Performance Discussion, Technical Discussion

Tesla Model S (WhiteStar) -- Discussion about the Tesla Model S (WhiteStar)

Sub-Forums: Performance Discussion, Technical Discussion

Future Cars -- Discussion about Future Cars from Tesla Motors

Tesla Motors -- Discussion about Tesla Motors the company.

Events -- Events related to Tesla Motors

Electric Performance Forum -- Discussion about EVs and EV related issues

Electric Vehicles -- Discussion about Electric Vehicles other than those from Tesla Motors

Sub-Forums: Electric Conversions, Bikes and Motorcycles, Planes, Trains, but not Automobiles

Technical -- Discussion about the Technical Side of Electric Vehicles

Sub-Forums: Battery Discussion, Charging Discussion

Energy and Environment

Car Talk -- Including those that might run on liquid fuel

Events -- General events related to EVs

Site Feedback

Off Topic

[WarpedOne]

Oh god, not again please? There is no need. Forum's heart is at its content and not structure. Nobody and absolutely nobody anymore navigates it via its structure. He uses google or forum search to find what's he interested in. Less is more.

If anything I am for removal of subforums. They are only wasting my time and energy when trying to see what is new.

[doug]

Some reasonably valid albeit contradictory opinions.






.

[malcolm]

Whatever the structure, I vow to keep drifting off topic

I believe the Media section arose because the Gallery never quite worked properly - which I had found irritating to use anyway since it placed images out of context with relevant discussions.

Following that line of argument, it seems sensible that all media should really go into appropriate threads.

Yet should there be a "sticky" or two for important/historical pics and videos? I'm thinking of things like the original Roadster launch event in July 2006.

What skews it somewhat is the presence of comments from some of the key players in the new generation of EV manufacturers. (It would be great if that can be encouraged and broadened in some way - probably if idiots like me stop making them feel unwelcome .)

In essence, it's a question of balance between structured historical EV archive and a merry EV enthusiasts sandpit.

[malcolm]

If anything I am for removal of subforums. They are only wasting my time and energy when trying to see what is new.

Does the "Today's Posts" under Quicklinks not work for you?

[WarpedOne]

Malcolm, it does look like it works, now that I've tried
But does it show all threads with unread posts or only of last day as its name suggests?

[Kevin Harney]

Warped,

I use the NEW POSTS all the time and it works GREAT for my purposes.

[Kevin Harney]

Doug,

I liked your suggestion but as I see it the last 5 things on the lists should be their own Forum - perhaps off topic or something like General information. They seem to not necessarily be related to Electric Performance.

Perhaps there should be a New Articles and Events subcategory for each category. So for example news about the Roadster would go in the Tesla Motors Category and then under the Roadster and then under News. That way we can read the news we want to and skip the rest. So say I am only interested in all things Model S I do not have to really read the rest until later if I want .... make any sense ? News about the Models S would go under Tesla Motors, Model S and then News. etc.....

Maybe off topic could have some categories as well that seem to be well used like Solar, Wind, Geothermal etc....

Also, perhaps adding a category under Tesla Motors for the Roadster Sport edition. I think that is a seperate model isn't it ?

[Kevin Harney]

Here are my thougths consolidated to make it easier....

Telsa Motors Forum


Roadster Forum


Performance

Technical

News , Articles and Events


Roadster Sport Forum


Performance

Technical

News, Articles and Events


Model S Forum


Performance

Technical

News, Articles and Events


BlueStar Model Forum


Performance

Technical

News, Articles and Events


Tesla Motors Corporation


Electric Vehicle Forum


Electric Cars


Conversions

Other Manufacturers


Electric Motorcycles

Performance

Technical

News, Articles and Events


Planes, Trains and NO Automobiles


Electric Trucks and Vans


Technical


Battery

Charging

News, Articles and Events


General Forum


Energy and Environment


Solar


Wind


Government Policy


Car Talk


Website Feedback


Off Topic