Push vs Pull of information - Thread Subscriptions
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:25 pmHi folks,
Something that has always (for as long as I can remember) bugged me about forums, is the difference between the "Push" of information, as inherent in E-mail and mailing lists, to the "Pull" of information required by a forum.
I find, since I'm not able to check things daily, that I miss out on information, or when I do get time, I get overwhelmed with the amount of information there is for me to catch up on. Both of these are situations I don't like that detract from my enjoyment of the site.
I've been thinking a fair bit about this idea and I've come up with a suggestion for a possible solution, that would appease both parties and actually make a lot of sense (I think). I'm also not sure how much (if any) of this will already be included with PHP3 boards, so if it's in there, please let me know, so I can look forward to it even more!
Thread Subscriptions:
Essentially, the forums would work as they currently do. People browse them by category and interest, reading what topics they want, and what they are interested in at the time. People can post to them as normal, with no change... sounding good so far (for all you Pull information people who are reading this!
)
The change comes in allowing, more than just "watch this thread" but an actual subscription to the thread, like a proper mailing list. The author of the thread is the administrator of the mailing list (although they can't kick people off it, that's the mod's job). Posts sent to this thread then get reformatted into single posts, like pm's, and these get sent to an inbox... I hesitate to use the word inbox, since it's not going to replace pm's at all. They will operate separately to this thread watching, so lets call it a Threadbox.
In your threadbox will be, you guessed it, various folders, initially automatic for each thread, but in future perhaps even further subdividable into topic? (tourneys/maps) so people can manage it like an e-mail inbox. E-mails (or thread posts, Thread-mails) that get sent to the list will get reposted in this (note, this doesn't re-create any data, it's just a different way of referring to it, so it's not redundant). individually, and by poster, and with subject line of their own (lets encourage this extra to be used more often in reply posts!) talking about perhaps sub-threads of the thread, but still in the main thread area.
You can also reply directly, like replying to an e-mail, or post, by clicking reply. sets up a re: subject and threads it, like a news feed. Topic's are divided by initial thread.
This would mean that every post I haven't read would be available there for me to look at, in an order and format I am accustomed to, and prefer. I wouldn't have to go searching for info, and fear I've missed it.
Another part of this could be an "announce" sub-topic of a thread, where the author can announce important changes. Ie, map updates, or tourney updates, etc. which is distinct from the general "chat" area.
I think this separation of content from comment inside a thread could be quite useful.
Anyway, that's my idea as it stands, with concepts probably repeated a number of times. It's late. What do people think? Do I need to push this out to my friends in the "Push Info" world who won't even get around to reading this as it gets lost in the noise?
Something that has always (for as long as I can remember) bugged me about forums, is the difference between the "Push" of information, as inherent in E-mail and mailing lists, to the "Pull" of information required by a forum.
I find, since I'm not able to check things daily, that I miss out on information, or when I do get time, I get overwhelmed with the amount of information there is for me to catch up on. Both of these are situations I don't like that detract from my enjoyment of the site.
I've been thinking a fair bit about this idea and I've come up with a suggestion for a possible solution, that would appease both parties and actually make a lot of sense (I think). I'm also not sure how much (if any) of this will already be included with PHP3 boards, so if it's in there, please let me know, so I can look forward to it even more!
Thread Subscriptions:
Essentially, the forums would work as they currently do. People browse them by category and interest, reading what topics they want, and what they are interested in at the time. People can post to them as normal, with no change... sounding good so far (for all you Pull information people who are reading this!
)
The change comes in allowing, more than just "watch this thread" but an actual subscription to the thread, like a proper mailing list. The author of the thread is the administrator of the mailing list (although they can't kick people off it, that's the mod's job). Posts sent to this thread then get reformatted into single posts, like pm's, and these get sent to an inbox... I hesitate to use the word inbox, since it's not going to replace pm's at all. They will operate separately to this thread watching, so lets call it a Threadbox.
In your threadbox will be, you guessed it, various folders, initially automatic for each thread, but in future perhaps even further subdividable into topic? (tourneys/maps) so people can manage it like an e-mail inbox. E-mails (or thread posts, Thread-mails) that get sent to the list will get reposted in this (note, this doesn't re-create any data, it's just a different way of referring to it, so it's not redundant). individually, and by poster, and with subject line of their own (lets encourage this extra to be used more often in reply posts!) talking about perhaps sub-threads of the thread, but still in the main thread area.
You can also reply directly, like replying to an e-mail, or post, by clicking reply. sets up a re: subject and threads it, like a news feed. Topic's are divided by initial thread.
This would mean that every post I haven't read would be available there for me to look at, in an order and format I am accustomed to, and prefer. I wouldn't have to go searching for info, and fear I've missed it.
Another part of this could be an "announce" sub-topic of a thread, where the author can announce important changes. Ie, map updates, or tourney updates, etc. which is distinct from the general "chat" area.
I think this separation of content from comment inside a thread could be quite useful.
Anyway, that's my idea as it stands, with concepts probably repeated a number of times. It's late
. What do people think? Do I need to push this out to my friends in the "Push Info" world who won't even get around to reading this as it gets lost in the noise?