ForumsCommunity Feedback

Thanks for sharing your suggestions.

1. I understand the desire to insert graphics -- sometimes it would be SO much easier to answer a question with the aid of a diagram or illustration. The problem I foresee is that too many people will start posting logos, promotional pieces, etc. and junk up the site (i.e., threads will span across multiple pages, performance will get sluggish, etc.). We currently have a community guideline that states all posts should be made to benefit the person who asked the question and for the community as a whole, not for the benefit of the person making the post -- yet pretty much every day, somebody new comes along and makes a ton of posts that are pure self-promotion. I can see how graphics would make it worse. My suggestion a few months back was to allow graphics insertions after a member reaches a certain point level or elapsed time in the community (to limit the abuse risk) -- but then, that's an easy position for me to advocate!

2. Beyond correcting some of my typos, I'm not sure I see a big advantage in being able to edit posts. I do see two distinct advantages in not being able to (as things are now):
(a) Members are a little more careful about what they write, since each post is semi-permanent. Unlike many on-line communities, this one isn't overrun with unsubstantiated opinions, off-track commentary, thread hijacks, or personal sniping. We don't have people posting misinformation maliciously or just for the fun of it in this community. There's good info here, in part I think, because if we post it, we're going to have to stand by it (possibly for a long time).
(b) The continuity of each thread remains intact, which makes it a valuable education and reference resource (that's getting more valuable each day). Some threads that began last some summer have come back to the top of the board three or four times (as new members joined and asked the same questions).

3. I fully agree that the handling of outbound links could be improved in any number of ways. As it is now, you can't even direct someone to another page within this community without them having to do a two or three-part copy-and-paste to build that link. That's very awkward.

Thanks again offering your ideas!

Lighthouse24,

I think your comment

"Beyond correcting some of my typos, I'm not sure I see a big advantage in being able to edit posts."

is very short sighted. Editing posts is a common feature among most bulletin boards. Besides making the board look amatuerish (I am amazed how many basic features it doe not have), edits/deletes by authors help maintian the board and make them more functional.

Someone can edite their original post for clarifictaion to make it more meaningful rather tham adding another post, they can delete their post if their question has been answered and/or they would prefer no more comments/responses, etc.

And yes, they can correct typos - anything wrong with that?

The goal should be to make it more user friendly and edit ability does that.

Post a Poll (common feature not available here) and I am sure most members would agree that they would prefer edit ability. Don't post the poll if you really do not want to be responsive to waht members want....

Bridge, you are RIGHT ON THE MONEY as usual.

Amusing comment from someone who seems to post a lot about everything - web visibility agenda?

I think you took my statements way too personal.

By the way, I missed your point, is their a correlation between the hours as a "registered member" of this community and the usefulness of posts? Does my not being a member for as long as you (7 months) reduce the legitimacy of my suggestions? It seems you do not want to respect the rights of other and think that your "seniority" of 7 months and excessive numbers of posts on ALL subject matter gives you some type of privileged opinion.

This board has a lot of post but I believe in quality versus quantity and the ability to edit raises the quality of posts, in my opinion...

You need to show a little respect to get a little respect and you seem to dismiss the opinions of other pretty easily.

I agree, it would be nice to edit/delete only our own postings. Sometimes, we may post something and a few hours or days later realize how dumb it was.

Perhaps if there was an edit/delete function (like most boards) a poster would be able to delete their post and stop unwanted solicitations.

Perhaps a situation changes and the poster would like to provide more current information.

It is not a case of type first, think later. Things change and the board should be able to change rather than be static,

The reason most sites have an edit feature is that they have found it makes the site more relevant and professional.

It seems the positives would more than outway the negavtives.

Ah ha!!!!!

Now you see the value of being able to edit posts. The forum owners can move an entire thread to a different subsection, but contributors can't even make a typo correction.

I suppose it's a real bank mentality. They want to be new age an' all, but they just don't have it in their DNA.

Let's see if BofA can bring this forum up to snuff...

Waiting in pregnant anticipation...