If this is the central forum, there should be: an easy to find link from the website (whichever one), and multiple categories (including one where new members can post freely)”
This website has links to others at the very top on the right. It’s also linked from the Facebook group, and when the landing page (effectivealtruism.org) is redesigned, it’ll be linked more prominently from there also.
It was discussed that (at least) the landing page and the forum should have matching layout and links right across a top banner—it just didn’t pan out, but probably it should be made that way later.
As for multiple categories, well that was one of the top few criticisms of LessWrong, the site that this forum was built from. At the time of starting the forum, there was a resounding call for all the content to be lumped together into one feed. Nonetheless, people can comment straight away and only need five karma to post a new thread.
Bottom line is: there are people who are thinking hard about how to connect these sites. The forum has good usage, and steadily growing readership. If we have new ideas for how to improve this further and speed things up, let’s assess them and implement them.
I apologise if my posts sound like demands. It’s not intended. At the least, I guess I have had trouble learning what I need to know, and finding the best way to get involved. I hope this can be seen as feedback worthy of discussion. Cheers
As for multiple categories, well that was one of the top few criticisms of LessWrong, the site that this forum was built from. At the time of starting the forum, there was a resounding call for all the content to be lumped together into one feed. Nonetheless, people can comment straight away and only need five karma to post a new thread.
I think having a feed where it can all be seen is valuable, but I’m getting increasingly worried about the lack of ability to find old posts in the forum because there aren’t categories. (This wasn’t a problem in the first few months while there was little enough material.) I expect this will lead to me using the forum less than I might have done in the future.
Search is pretty helpful. I have two issues with it (neither huge):
1) For some reason it seems to work inconsistently for me. Sometimes it doesn’t load the search results. (I haven’t been able to identify enough of a pattern that reporting a bug seems useful)
2) It’s not always clear what to search for, or what material is out there. A small set of tags, consistently used, would help with this.
As for multiple categories, well that was one of the top few criticisms of LessWrong, the site that this forum was built from. At the time of starting the forum, there was a resounding call for all the content to be lumped together into one feed.
My understanding was that the LessWrong split between Main and Discussion led to some undesirable effects, no? I recall hearing someone (maybe Peter Hurford and Tom Ash?) suggest that the Forum is to the FB group as LW Main is to LW Discussion.
This website has links to others at the very top on the right. It’s also linked from the Facebook group, and when the landing page (effectivealtruism.org) is redesigned, it’ll be linked more prominently from there also.
It was discussed that (at least) the landing page and the forum should have matching layout and links right across a top banner—it just didn’t pan out, but probably it should be made that way later.
As for multiple categories, well that was one of the top few criticisms of LessWrong, the site that this forum was built from. At the time of starting the forum, there was a resounding call for all the content to be lumped together into one feed. Nonetheless, people can comment straight away and only need five karma to post a new thread.
Bottom line is: there are people who are thinking hard about how to connect these sites. The forum has good usage, and steadily growing readership. If we have new ideas for how to improve this further and speed things up, let’s assess them and implement them.
I apologise if my posts sound like demands. It’s not intended. At the least, I guess I have had trouble learning what I need to know, and finding the best way to get involved. I hope this can be seen as feedback worthy of discussion. Cheers
I think having a feed where it can all be seen is valuable, but I’m getting increasingly worried about the lack of ability to find old posts in the forum because there aren’t categories. (This wasn’t a problem in the first few months while there was little enough material.) I expect this will lead to me using the forum less than I might have done in the future.
[This is also my main problem with LessWrong.]
One can add tags to one’s posts.
We’re planning to make them more visible, when it works its way up the priority queue: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dotimpact/permalink/489215301246125/
Thanks, that’s good news.
What about having someone curate old posts to keep tags consistent? (many posts aren’t tagged)
Sounds like something we could maybe get a volunteer to do, though I don’t think it would be high priority. What do you think?
Nice idea, I think that’s exactly right. Low priority but clearly-defined and net beneficial task.
Yeah, this could work well if used more thoroughly.
You can search posts (upper right corner of screen) and can view posts from a given user by clicking their name then ‘submitted’
Search is pretty helpful. I have two issues with it (neither huge):
1) For some reason it seems to work inconsistently for me. Sometimes it doesn’t load the search results. (I haven’t been able to identify enough of a pattern that reporting a bug seems useful)
2) It’s not always clear what to search for, or what material is out there. A small set of tags, consistently used, would help with this.
I think popular wisdom is that it’s pretty-much impossible to enforce tags on a group blog.
Let me know if you find a consistent pattern!
My understanding was that the LessWrong split between Main and Discussion led to some undesirable effects, no? I recall hearing someone (maybe Peter Hurford and Tom Ash?) suggest that the Forum is to the FB group as LW Main is to LW Discussion.
Oh, seems it was David Barry, I should read the whole thread before commenting!