I’d also prefer subforums, but split by subject matter rather than level of depth.
I see the main value of them in making it easier for people to navigate old discussions when they’re interested in specific topics (I found this a big problem with LessWrong). Since I think they’re mostly an indexing tool, I’m not sure how this would have a significant effect on critical mass—though I could be wrong on that.
This seems like a good idea. I second the point that they could be easy to navigate. Which means it may become similar to subforum s, but with the advantage that there’s still a place where all posts are listed.
Does anyone know a site that has implemented this in a useful way?
EDIT: To qualify, there’s lots of sites using tags of course. I’m referring a system where you have a ‘reasonably small set of tags’ as Owen suggests and those are very visible. E.g. they are displayed on the main page as the ‘official tags’
I’d also prefer subforums, but split by subject matter rather than level of depth.
I see the main value of them in making it easier for people to navigate old discussions when they’re interested in specific topics (I found this a big problem with LessWrong). Since I think they’re mostly an indexing tool, I’m not sure how this would have a significant effect on critical mass—though I could be wrong on that.
We could also make better use of tags.
Yes, if there were a reasonably small set of tags used consistently, and a way to navigate by them, that would work just as well.
The subforums approach essentially forces that indexing work up-front at the time of posting. Otherwise it’s pretty similar.
This seems like a good idea. I second the point that they could be easy to navigate. Which means it may become similar to subforum s, but with the advantage that there’s still a place where all posts are listed.
Does anyone know a site that has implemented this in a useful way?
EDIT: To qualify, there’s lots of sites using tags of course. I’m referring a system where you have a ‘reasonably small set of tags’ as Owen suggests and those are very visible. E.g. they are displayed on the main page as the ‘official tags’
I think that would be a good feature. Current tags aren’t very useful.