Split the front page of the forums - Official/Hub Pages and By Topic

1. 77

   Paul Maplesdenposted 11 years ago

   I have a suggestion about the forums, and that is to split the front page threads (recently updated) into two sections (which could be tabs, so people could choose which one they wanted to see.)
   
   One section (the default one) would be anything related to Hub Pages Official and Hub Pages community; the other one (in the second tab) would be anything in the 'Topics' section.
   
   The reason I suggest this is because the forums on a regular basis are getting overwhelmed by God, Religion, Gun Control and Politics threads. As a person that's here to write, learn to write and read about other hubber's experiences of the hub pages community, I'm simply not that interested in the more 'political' conversations (which ironically no-one will win anyway because by nature people are entrenched in their views.)
   
   Separating the forums into two sections would let people like me read HubPages related threads without them getting shuffled off the page by 1,700 post long threads that run and run. I also think that some of the more heated debates and threads could put ogff new writers and hubbers at a time when we should be welcoming them into our community.
   
   I realise this may be (slightly) controversial, but it would be great to see the forums offering more value, and one way to do that would be to bring the resource stuff into it's own section while still allowing those that want to debate about other topics the freedom to do so.

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   1. 83

      mary615posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I totally agree, Paul!

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2. 87

   Simone Smithposted 11 years ago

   Controversial or not, Paul Maplesden, I like the idea.  I'll bring it up in our upcoming community meeting!

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   1. 85

      Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I have been suggesting exactly this for the last two years!   I do hope it will be considered.
      
      When I first joined HubPages, the forums had a very different layout and you could choose to simply look at the latest posts in your preferred area.  I was happily oblivious to the political and religious forums, and it was a shock when the format changed and I became aware of what was going on there.
      
      As I said on another thread, I've encountered many newbie Hubbers who are scared to come to the forums for help, because they feel there is so much discord and nastiness here.

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      1. 83

         mary615posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I am so tempted to respond to some of the rude remarks made in the Forums, but I choose not to add "fuel to the fire".  I don't blame newbies for not wanting to ask for help.  They will probably get a nasty answer in return.  We used to be more friendly to each other.

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         1. 85

            Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            This is a perfect example of what I mean.
            
            If you go to the HubPages-related forums which are designed to offer help, you won't find the "nasty answers".  Too many newbies are assuming that the firebrands in the religious and political forums inhabit every corner of the forums, it's a shame.

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3. 89

   Patty Inglish, MSposted 11 years ago

   I agree and like the suggestion; the long and heated threads can be discouraging even to writers who have been with HP for a few years.

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4. 64

   Astra Nomikposted 11 years ago

   This is an interesting idea. I would partake in the forums more if there was less focus made on some topics. Some of the non-friendly stuff puts me off being a contributor.
   
   Though that said, some of those topics happen to be the most active. The forums are like a social thermometer, and are an indicator of how strongly views are felt by contributors.
   
   I have often looked at Twitter and been amazed at how comments just fly down the pages sometimes. I wonder could a short comment system be used, or something that forces a point to be construed better by its user. If it could be made better, it could perhaps be re-communicated beyond Hub Pages into other places the same way social bookmarking or retweets do it. That is why so many use Twitter and similar means of communications. Perhaps Hub Pages' Forums could be more than just what it is...with less limits?

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