Topic awaiting preservation: Sig Contest Threads In Our New Asylum

Howdy!

As the discussion about the latest thread splitting trends has come up again in the current BIG SIG thread and our shiny new Asylum isn't too far off (or so they say) it might be good to get some brainstorming done and collect ideas on how to handle this over there. If we redo the whole forum from the grounds we might just as well have sig contest threads that are cool with everyone.

One possibility I was thinking about:
We basically leave all posts in one thread to make following the month's discussion easier again, and below the Post Reply form have a checkbox saying "This post contains my contribution to the competition." Then every time someone ticks that box the post isn't only appended to the current thread but also automatically posted to a second one which always sits at the top of the BIG SIG forum's thread listing (probably labelled "This month's entries" or something) and contains only the entries, nothing else. You wouldn't be able to reply to this second thread directly, either.

That way there'd be a place for people to skim through the entries quickly (and for the "judge" to see them all in a row) and since copies of them would be left in the discussion thread there shoudn't be too much confusion there, either.


What do you think?

that sounds like a reasonable fix to me.

i was just talking with cameron via Q about this and he did make a valid point. i've been a big supporter of this since whoever it was first did it. (ok...maybe even been a bit compulsive about it at times hehe) i've said before that it's a pain in the ass to wade through heaps and heaps of posts to find a few entries. i do hafta admit though, it is a bit of a pain to go back and forth between the two threads. i would definitely be in favor of doing away with the chatter thread if it means people aren't participating and/or commenting, but i'd definitely like to see a compromise made that everyone will be happy with. i would hate to see this become an 'either or' thing.

Well, to find a solution, it's probably best to identify the problem first eh?

The multiple threads are apparently a solution, but grumpy bastards like me disagree. The problem however, was the increasing amount of dribble the sig competition judge had to wade through in order to find the actual entries. Indeed, that can be a problem but I don't think the current solution *cough* really helped matters much, in fact i'd even go as far as to say it created more problems than it solved.

Now it's easier for the one judge to quickly size up the entries (an activity that only happens once a month I might point out), but at the expense of every other reader who has to continually switch back and fourth between threads in order to make sense of the conversation. Not a very efficient solution IMHO.

So, all we really need is a system where the sig judge can easily and quickly identify what is, or more importantly what isn't an actual comp entry. Perhaps storing an extra flag in database that identifies a particular reply as an actual entry that any reader can then use to "filter" all of the replies to that thread, showing only those replys that are actual comp entries.

Shouldn't be too difficult and it'd likely be the most unobtrusive solution.

-- my 2c



[This message has been edited by Cameron (edited 01-23-2004).]

Well the split threads were suggested because I was tired of listening to people bith and whine about this or that. Course... now I'm listening to OTHER people bitch and whine. Kuckus has it fine I think. A thread with entries that doesn't allow text... of any kind. I think the complaints are stemming more from not seeing the sig in the comments thread (You CAN move it there yourself you know).

Funny how so many people complain about it but it hasn't gone away. Enough people must like it for it to stick around. Don't like it? WIN... then don't make a comments thread.

I think Kuckus' suggestion sounds like an excellent compromise.



[This message has been edited by GrythusDraconis (edited 01-23-2004).]

Why not have people who are posting an actual sig just do something that will catch the judges attention as they scroll through the posts.

*BEGIN SUBMISSION*

image here

*END SUBMISSION*

And if you don't follow the rule, your submission will get overlooked.

If it is only something that needs to be done once a month, what's the big deal if it takes 5 extra minutes of the judges time. Although coding a solution does sound nice, is it really needed?

i'd like to point out that it's not just the judge that would like to look at 'only' the sigs. i pay far more attention to the actual sig thread than i do the chatter thread. i only use the chatter thread when i'd like to comment. it's nice to have the one thread that's only the entries and not have to wade though loads of "oh wow...cool...how'djadothat" crap. when it was only one thread, it was rather irritating to see that there's been a new post and i go to check and it's only a comment like "nice".....it's just a personal preference and like i said above, if it comes down to it only being one thread again, then i'll live and go back to wading.
i think cameron's idea would be one that i'd be willing to try as well.

yup, i agree with kuckus
and since the entries will be apparently uploaded to the new asylum and served from there
instead of peoples websites
and it also seems to be set up already to my satisfaction
go check it
it seems
we could just have
fun fun fun

excuse me
my bacon is burning

What if instead of splitting it between two threads, we split it between one? There are two ways I've thought about doing this:

1). Have the aforementioned "contribution" check box as Kuckus suggested, but instead of posting to its own thread, it posts at the *top* of the single thread? That way when sigs are submitted, they appear near the top, and when a regular reply is submitted, it's posted as usual (at the bottom).

2). Have both types of posts be posted as per normal, but include one extra button that will hide/unhide the contribution/regular posts. That way you can chose to read either or both types as you wish.

"Nothin' like a pro-stabbin' from a pro." -Weadah

[This message has been edited by synax (edited 01-24-2004).]

is it really that hard to figure out?

it is that big a pain in the butt to post your entry in

(god fobid)

2 places

especially since the asylum will be hosting the sig

anyway

ed says: doublethread autopost

[This message has been edited by outcydr (edited 01-24-2004).]

synax, i really like your ideas, especially the first. i think that either would be a good compromise though

A better way imho would be like the poll system in many forums

In the make new thread field, it could be a checkbox saying "this is a sig contest thread". Then in the top of the thread thies is this table with each submission. You know like the devart user galleries (witjhout thumbs, and an actual "Title" above the pic and a "by creator" below the pic), just that beneath it there will be the thread which could work as chatter.

Sigs could be disabled by default on the sig contest.

__________________________________


Sexy Demoness cel

synax - that's almost exactly what I was going to suggest now. =)

How about:
One thread, overview of all entries at the top, options to show entries only / comments only / both.

(We could even have some sort of Flash gadget where the entries scroll through horizontally... but I guess that can wait until the rest is working...)

I'll probably have a prototype in a week or so - have to get through my exams first

hey kuckus, sounds great! glad to hear that things are rolling behind the scenes

Yep the most recent idea based on synax's idea is the one that gets my vote.

___________________
Emps

The Emperor dot org

sounds good to me!

*raises form the dead and stabs nax in the knee cap*

Do you ever read these damn posts before you reply boy! Both of those suggestions were presented already, one in the opening post, the other in the second reply.

If Naxer #1, all the pictures will be at the top right? Would that not make it a little awkward to comment on sigs?

#2 I like, because it would keep the flow of thoughts and sigs intact.

still sounds to me like much ado about nothing

hey, here's an idea:

let's everybody jump over to the grail

and have an impromtu contest the way it's already set up

break this new baby in a little more

quote:

---

Would that not make it a little awkward to comment on sigs?

---

it's not that difficult to type the name of the person/sig you're referring to. i'm sure that's easy enough and it would at least all be in one thread.

outcyder: there's really no need, as it makes two threads (contest and chatter) when the contest thread is started (at least, that's how i understand it to be).

*takes off blindfold and foot out of mouth

ya, i see now

*limps toward basement

Izz & Lacuna -
What I was thinking of is a combination of both, an overview of the entires at the top (which could be hidden) and copies in the flow of the thread.

outcydr -
Yup doing that in a week or two will give more insight I'm sure.

quote:

---

Do you ever read these damn posts before you reply boy! Both of those suggestions were presented already, one in the opening post, the other in the second reply.

---

Really? Where? Maybe you should take some of your own advice


*stabs drac*

"Nothin' like a pro-stabbin' from a pro." -Weadah

[This message has been edited by synax (edited 01-24-2004).]

Love the new stabicon

___________________
Emps

The Emperor dot org

Opening post:

quote:

---

always sits at the top of the BIG SIG forum's thread listing (probably labelled "This month's entries" or something) and contains only the entries

---

Second Reply:

quote:

---

So, all we really need is a system where the sig judge can easily and quickly identify what is, or more importantly what isn't an actual comp entry. Perhaps storing an extra flag in database that identifies a particular reply as an actual entry that any reader can then use to "filter" all of the replies to that thread, showing only those replys that are actual comp entries.

---

Stab me all ya want, I'm already dead. =)

*stuffs drac back into the coffin, then proceeds to glue, nail and weld it*

That outa hold him for a little while.

quote:

---

What I was thinking of is a combination of both, an overview of the entires at the top (which could be hidden) and copies in the flow of the thread.

---

Sounds like the perfect compromise to me, King Solomon would be proud.

what 'bout a stabbin machine?
good idea(s?), spoken out 1000 times and still no new sigs in the contest-thread...
keep up the good work

didn't want to interrupt this REALLY neccessary discussion...
is the idea of redesigning the forum up-to-date?

quote:

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good idea(s?), spoken out 1000 times and still no new sigs in the contest-thread...
keep up the good work

---

not quite sure what you mean...but this thread isn't for sigs. i'm sure you're capable of finding the appropriate thread for that.....
as for the asylum redesign, it's already done. they're just workin out some final stuff, hence havinging this discussion before the new asylum is final.

sure, this isn't the right place to say that it seems kind off odd to me that there are so many users with plenty of knowledge bout graphics at this hotspot of design and though quite little in the contest thread...
but I also don't know how many it were at the conts before for I'm a newbee in the asylum (-> posts)

all I want to say is that
I'm curiously looking forward to the new design and hope to be surprised by a well worked out SIG-thread-engine

took the wrong thread, sorry

How many people post in a sig contest with actual entries varies. Some people are really inspired by some tpoics, some aren't...and the quotient of are to aren't varies widely. Some contests get 50+ entries...some get 10. We don't really mind so long as there's more than one.

Seems to me that just shutting the fuck up in the sig contest threads is not that difficult. If your 'babble gene' takes over, post it elsewhere. There`s a name for it.....ummm..self control......errrr...consideration....not sure, ANYway, having judged a few I know all the tripe makes it more difficult that it needs to be.

Just my .02

Ah, finally, a statement that I can agree with in this thread. =)

So, to expand my thoughts -

1) scrolling through text to see images deosn't seem very diificult to me.

2) if things get out of hand with the extraneous banter, then things can be done about - overall people should just learn to behave a bit...

All this hooo-ha just seems so damn silly to me over such a minor issue,

lol @ deebs


Indeed.

"Nothin' like a pro-stabbin' from a pro." -Weadah

[This message has been edited by synax (edited 01-31-2004).]

note: The only thing I was interested in was storing the contests's sigs on the asylum server, so you don't have to wander into a month old sig contest than doesn't contain any entries anymore...

lolback@nax..

TP: you code junkies are SO pragmatic.

nah... only pesimistic, or I wouldn't have prevented posting to a 'new-sig thread' as well ;-).