Design your own message board

[Brian the Automator]

So with the whole recent ezBoard debacle, i'm seriously contemplating writing my own message board software over the next year or so.

 

So, use your imaginations. Come up with some features you'd like to see. Also of features that are baseball-related that you wouldn't mind seeing integrated into the site. (For example, i'm planning on writing a plugin that will search the text of a message for player names, automatically hyperlink them and link them to their Brewerfan.net player profiles).

 

The sky's the limit, so fire away.

 

R0.01

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- Users can register for access

- Users can create threads

- Users can create replies to threads

- replies to threads contain links to parents

 

R0.02

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- Ability to require users to validate account via email

- Ability to search posts/replies

[1992casey]

Rather than being original, I'll start with features from other forums that I like:

 

1. Being able to reply to a specific person or to 'all' (mlb.com forums do that). After people get used to using that feature, it's generally clear who's getting yelled at.

 

2. Being able to click a link to watch a given topic via e-mail (phpBB forums do that).

 

Another thing I'd like is a variation of something ezBoard currently offers: I think it'd be cool to be able to mark an individual thread as 'read' in addition to being able to do this for an entire forum or forums.

 

I also found it handy when for a time, visited links appeared in a different color. Is there a reason why that stopped?

[nsimps]

I like the boards at BigSoccer.com. They are pretty functional. The only problem they have is that threads tend to "explode" into eight or nine pages overnight because of the number of users.

 

As for features I'd like to see:

 

1. I'd like to see threads in forums that are like "expert round-tables" where only maybe 5-10 people that have "credentials" can discuss a certain topic without other posters. In example, the 5-10 best minor league thinkers on the board have discussions among themselves about certain draft picks.

[BillScottCanRake]

I'd like to see threads in forums that are like "expert round-tables" where only maybe 5-10 people that have "credentials" can discuss a certain topic without other posters. In example, the 5-10 best minor league thinkers on the board have discussions among themselves about certain draft picks.

 

I think that's a good idea, so I'll second that. There are definately times when I want to hear what the staff has to say without a WHOA SOLVDD moment interjected.

 

Another feature I'd like to see is the ability to hide or ignore threads. That way if I don't wanna see the 19th "Jenkins sucks" or "Yost needs to be fired" threads, I have the ability to hide them.

[brewstew2]

It should be made out of stainless steel.

[RyDogg66]

ohhh, and with the "roundtable" threads you can cue the "brewerfan elitist" threads as well, as I am sure there will be some who will feel left out and be bitter about it. You know the whole "what does Toby know about jack-squat that I don't" sort of threads that have started to surface in response to the Power 50.

[1992casey]

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I'd like to see threads in forums that are like "expert round-tables" where only maybe 5-10 people that have "credentials" can discuss a certain topic without other posters.

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I am sure there will be some who will feel left out and be bitter about it.

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I like the idea, but this suggestion sounds like something better suited to a blogging feature than a message board. Even with a somewhat exclusive roundtable blog, others can still be brought in by being given the ability to post comments. If comments are accessed by following a link, those not wanting to read them wouldn't have to.

[nsimps]

I knew it would sound elitest, but I was just throwing it out there. Maybe if it were a chat with a forum attached to it or something.

 

Otherwise, this website needs a lot more cowbell.

[Dollarbill13]

They did do a round table type thing previewing the minor league season where a few of the big guys (Brian, Colby, Toby, etc.) posted their thoughts on individual players and teams. I'd like to see more of that.

[rainman]

On another board I visit, there is a section called Active Topics, which shows all the threads where new things have been posted since your last visit. That would be a great feature to have.

[And That]

You know the whole "what does Toby know about jack-squat that I don't" sort of threads that have started to surface in response to the Power 50.

 

Hey, I'd love to respond to this stuff with no threat of reprisal from my Brewerfan co-founders here. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

I was watching Super Millionaire on GSN the other day and I thought that we should have something similar to the whatever-they-are-called smart guys. If we could have a forum here with the forum-voted 10 or so best posters there, I think that would help to condense the good thoughts without stuffling the particiapation on the main forums. I'm all for it, even if I don't get voted in.

 

My first four votes go to Colby, DHonks, Robert R and 1992Casey right off the top of my head.

[Brian the Automator]

[ On another board I visit, there is a section called Active Topics, which shows all the threads where new things have been posted since your last visit. That would be a great feature to have. ]

 

You can do that here... Just mark threads, forums, or ALL as read.

[pogokat]

i think madbad michael should definitely be included in any discussion

[xisxisxis]

Good Ideas guys, let me comment on a few and offer an idea or two:

 

1. Being able to reply to a specific person or to 'all' (mlb.com forums do that). After people get used to using that feature, it's generally clear who's getting yelled at.

 

Hate this idea. People will get too clickee and only carry on conversations between their little group. Since I'm always in the "not cool" group I wouldn't be able to see/hear the interesting stuff. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif The moderators use the EZboard inbox to make specific requests they want to be "hidden", an email would work just as well.

 

Another feature I'd like to see is the ability to hide or ignore threads. That way if I don't wanna see the 19th "Jenkins sucks" or "Yost needs to be fired" threads, I have the ability to hide them.

 

I'm not gonna be as diplomatic as Chris, but I want a feature to ignore specific users. I know that ESPN removed the feature due to too much processor demand for the feature, but it might work in this smaller setting depending on the server you use (BTW I am willing to chip in if you consider moving to a dedicated server, especially if it is required if you host your own message board).

 

I would like to have some cusomability on the users end. Like a check box to block other people's signatures. It gets annoying when people have signatures that exceed the text/size of their posts 95% of the time or if they have large images. Also, would it be possible to IM the person when someone has replied to one of their messages.

[brettac1]

but I want a feature to ignore specific users.

 

I was thinking the same thing.

[Katuluu]

I'm not sure about the IM'ing, as their are so many different chat clients, but most boards will allow for the user to be emailed when people respond to their topic/post.

[Katuluu]

I would like it if the board allowed HTML for linking or posting images instead of the annoying IMG tags we use now. And while I am a big fan of embeding sounds or video in threads, it is typically abused. Though I do think a scouting video thread would be so very cool. It'd kill dialup users though.

 

And Brian, what exactly are your concerns with phpbb? You are the only person I have ever heard complain about them. And I wonder just what exactly your security concerns are with them? I assume you wouldn't require credit card information, and it's not like we have even an average sized community, so I would think security concerns would be pretty low. We just aren't an attractive target.

[1992casey]

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Just mark threads, forums, or ALL as read.

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I know how to mark an individual forum or all forums as having been read, but how do I mark an individual thread?

 

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1. Being able to reply to a specific person or to 'all' (mlb.com forums do that). After people get used to using that feature, it's generally clear who's getting yelled at.

 

Hate this idea. People will get too clickee and only carry on conversations between their little group.

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That's a good point. Tweaking the quote feature so it's handier to use could accomplish much the same thing. One current problem is that it doesn't quote anything that's spread over more than one paragraph. (See what I just quoted here; that required an extra step.)

 

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I would like to have some cusomability on the users end. Like a check box to block other people's signatures.

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Good idea. I'd vote for that.

[1992casey]

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And while I am a big fan of embeding sounds or video in threads, it is typically abused. Though I do think a scouting video thread would be so very cool. It'd kill dialup users though.

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That could be a problem as many people don't even realize when a single image is too large. I see two things that could make this work, though:

1. Making sure whatever method is used is standards-compliant.
   
2. Making this type of stuff available so it can easily be downloaded. I'm not going to wait for something large to load while trying to read a message board thread, but if the content looks interesting, I might be tempted to download a large file at a convenient time for later viewing.

[brewerjamie15]

1. a "testing" area where people can attempt things like tables, etc.

 

2. I don't know if it's even possible, but could there be a "Baseball News" area that shows latest developments around the league? Is it possible to have a "crawler" at the bottom of that page? It would be a non-response format.

 

3. I'd really like to see an area that has links to newspapers from accross the league. Maybe that's something I could help out with right now.

[Katuluu]

Quote:

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My serurity concerns, along with any other open source software, is that hackers have free and easy access to all the code, so exploiting weaknesses in it is much easier.

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I take it you don't use Firefox then. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Brian the Automator]

[ I take it you don't use Firefox then. ]

 

It's a lot harder to hack a browser that doesn't allow ActiveX controls and other Microsoft crap than it is to hack a server.

[Katuluu]

Yeah, but it's also a waste of time for a hacker to go after a message board when their is no credit card info or isn't big enough to gain notoriety.

 

I'm just trying to save you some work Brian. Princess Poonces appreciates my efforts. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Brian the Automator]

[ Yeah, but it's also a waste of time for a hacker to go after a message board when their is no credit card info or isn't big enough to gain notoriety. ]

 

I disagree. A Packers fan site who ran a particular software, and several other sites that ran a particular software were brutalized a couple of months ago due to a security hole.

 

It's wasn't the case of a hacker trying to "take down" brewerfan specifically, it was the case of a hacker taking down ALL sites running down a specific software, for notariety purposes.

 

[ I'm just trying to save you some work Brian. Princess Poonces appreciates my efforts. ]

 

Well, i'm not trying to be COMPLETELY selfless here. There's a good chance that I eventually spin the forum software off into a separate customizable product, who knows. Besides, it's my hobby.

[1992casey]

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1. a "testing" area where people can attempt things like tables, etc.

 

2. I don't know if it's even possible, but could there be a "Baseball News" area that shows latest developments around the league? Is it possible to have a "crawler" at the bottom of that page? It would be a non-response format.

 

3. I'd really like to see an area that has links to newspapers from accross the league. Maybe that's something I could help out with right now.

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Convenience issues (for Brian) aside, of course, it would seem that all three of these suggestions should be able to be implemented within the current structure of this site.

 

As far as testing, I don't have any real preference. I'd say that whatever gets the best feedback back to the user without invading the main forums would be fine. I have no problem with tests on the Issues forum, although I'd have no problem with a separate forum for that, either. Myself? I usually manage to test adequately using the Preview function, but certainly there are situations where feedback is beneficial.

 

Items 2 and 3 sound like good ideas that might be better implemented outside the message board structure. I remember Brian removing all the side links recently, for instance, to address bandwidth.