Discussion Thread for new Community Forum Structure

[#1]

Quote from: James_G

Another Mod seemingly frustrated at PNs attitude towards the Community site. I wish I could say I'm surprised - my money had been on you being the first to crack though Thomas.

Well having been a forum user (and at times moderator) for so long, I feel a sense of responsibility towards it – that sense of responsibility was one of the main factors in my decision to accept the offer to return to moderating last summer. I suppose that in a very small way I feel like one of the Community's parents (as I was there from the inception of the original portal forums) – so all I want is to do the best for it. But I'm finding doing that almost impossible.

[#2]

Hi Be3g,
Whilst I understand your frustration on the lack of feedback recently, it's worth noting that we have had some other items on our plate, notably helping the CSC out reducing the ticket turnaround and picking up some billing clean-ups. I'm not meaning to make excuses, as realistically we should be further on with this than we are.
So in order to get some momentum again I'm going to book a meeting internally for us (myself, Matt, Peter) to clearly go over what's happened so far and what needs to happen next. I'm going to try and book it for tomorrow or Thursday and once that's held I'll ask Matt to start updating you regularly again.
Once again, sorry that you're feeling frustrated about this and I'll get this kicked back into life this week.
Chris.

[#3]

Thanks Chris. I do realise that Plusnet are busy with other things, but the reality of the matter is that Plusnet are always busy with something or other; I alluded to that very fact two and a half months ago in an ‘internal’ post. You (as in the company) will always be finding new problems to fix, new projects to administer that require large amounts of time. So unless a proper portion of time is devoted to sorting out these forums, they'll always seem like an afterthought, as they'll always have to survive off the scraps of time that aren't taken up with other things.
Anyway, what you say sounds promising, so I look forward to seeing some tangible progress this week.

[#4]

Might be over-simplifying things but the solution seems clear to me.
Plusnet staff are too busy. Moderators and community users want a re-structuring of forum.
Why not give a couple of well trusted and experienced moderators admin permissions and let them get on with it?

[#5]

All mods (well, apart from me) do actually have admin permissions. The problem is that Plusnet want to oversee everything; e.g. they wanted to check our draft for the restructure, then took weeks to do so, and lately they also wanted to rewrite our new board descriptions, which they're equally taking weeks over. So whilst the moderators do have the permissions to effect any required changes, we can't make any such changes as Plusnet are ultimately in control of the forums now so must approve everything, make sure everything fits in with their corporate voice, et cetera et cetera. It's quite different to the old days (and was therefore quite a culture shock for me when I starting moderating again), when the moderators actually had that ultimate control.
Edit for clarification: obviously even in the old days the mods would still check for PN's approval before doing things. But back then it'd simply be a case of checking if, say, Ian Wild agreed, and once he said he did we'd go for it – a process which'd take all of a day. The difference now is that things have to be passed around the Plusnet offices for weeks and inspected with a fine-toothed comb.

[#6]

That's a great idea Poppy.  Let's see if PN agree to it

[#7]

Quote from: jelv

This topic was started on 20th April last year. Here's a challenge to Plusnet and the moderators: get it done and dusted before the anniversary.

7 weeks ago I raised the challenge; 7 weeks and a day to the target date. The odds are shortening that they will fail to meet the target!

[#8]

I can support Thomas' statements.
It used to be easy - the Mods would agree on a course of action, and we could simply posts a notice that we were going to make a change, with say a weeks notice.
If no dissent was raised, we could effect the change.
Once the boards were merged and brought together here PN seemed to want more control, but without any commitment to provide the resource to allow them control.
Result: Decisions have to wait for a non-existent response or opinion from PN.

[#9]

[#10]

I have always had a loathing of meetings and that description is so true. At work many of them were a complete waste of the taxpayer's money. You'd look around and see hundreds of pounds go up in smoke just in salaries. The management  were forever calling 'lunchtime meetings'.
I wasn't paid for lunch time and as I was in a very stressful job (physically and mentally) I really needed the break. In the end I flatly refused to attend them.
Just the mention of the word makes me feel ill!
Anyway, not to go off topic I know that the PN staff are all pushed for time but  hope that you'll be able to find time this week to OK it. Look forward to the changes if/when they arrive.

[#11]

I'm rather beginning to think that Liam's Plusnetters wasn't such a bad idea!

[#12]

He ditched it though and pointed the domain to PUG (at least that was the case last time I checked)
I suppose PUG could be reshaped to be what the PN forums used to be.
It wouldn't effect the constitution or any of the NDA stuff - but folks could have the potential for a greater say - at least those with the relevant permissions have the authority to use them over there.
Moderation is easier too, since its far more flexible and does not need to maintain the glossy veneer that this site has to.
Not sure how PUGgers would feel about the more light hearted stuff - we already see them complaining that it is too 'chatty' over here.
Perhaps The Other Place is the way forward instead?

[#13]

For those not familiar with Plusnetters:
http://web.archive.org/web/20051227035239/www.plusnetters.co.uk/forums/
The problem with the PUG forums is that they are hosted by Plusnet; we'd need to set up something totally independent. It's pretty obvious that there's more and more control freakery going on and you don't have to look far to see where it's coming from (I guess loads of people are familiar with the BT forms/Phorm saga).

[#14]

Quote from: jelv

The problem with the PUG forums is that they are hosted by Plusnet; we'd need to set up something totally independent. It's pretty obvious that there's more and more control freakery going on and you don't have to look far to see where it's coming from (I guess loads of people are familiar with the BT forms/Phorm saga).

Whilst it is true that the PUG site AND the UserTools site are hosted on a Plusnet owned server - it is outside of their core network and we are left much to our own devices in maintaining it.  It does also mean that some functions that exist within the Plusnet core domain are not accessible for use though - quite rightly needed to maintain security.  Certainly we do not have to seek independent permission to reshape the boards or to add new items.  Of course out of respect to Plusnet, we do very much keep Plusnet appraised of any Major change of direction.  Currently we are discussing how best to represent the Userbase and deliver good feedback to Plusnet management in a reasoned manner.
There is a Chit Chat board, which is available should people want to use it.  (Not personally my preffered activity, but it is a democracy ;)) 
Maurice

Activity on the PUG site has declined as Community has prospered, but it is still "open for business"

[#15]

Quote

Activity on the PUG site has declined as Community has prospered, but it is still "open for business"

I joined up recently, hopefully with a view to help out.  I did notice after a few days that it does seem a little dead with is a shame.
I suppose with this forum being so active, it does move the traffic away from the UserGroup.