New forum/Community

[Vindex]

Having got over being such a biff, I really like this new layout. It is growing on me...thank you Jasper for answering all the queries (and PMs!!:oops: )so patiently!

[John Conyard]

I suspect Howard you may not be in a minority of one. I do appreciate that Jasper has said we do not have to particpate on the "community" side of things, contribute to groups, groups discussions, the discussions amongst friends etc. But all of those things weaken and reduce the focus of the old discussion forum. I cannot see the need for blogs, members galleries etc etc. Facebook already does all of that for those who want it, and it has little to do with sharing information about the Roman Army! However I certainly do appreciate the work that Jasper has put in, and I do understand it is ultimately his toy and he is more than entitled to take it towards a facebook-type format.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I realise I must be missing something simple(but important), but, where is the helmet database now? I can't find it!

[Vindex]

GJC

Under Index, Romanarmy.com Projects

Did you see my comment about the Flavius Bassus pictures? Can't remember myself where this was raised, but the best pictures are in Bishop's article on cavalry equipment.

[Praefectusclassis]

GJC: Actually, the helmet database is still on the unmigrated Romanarmy.com (http://www.romanarmy.com/cms/component/o...Itemid,96/). I'll transfer that over later.
John: why don't you give it some time before predicting doom, eh?

[John Conyard]

Please don't misquote me Jasper, I am not predicting doom. But I am pointing how how the new community forum RAC has moved away from what RAT used to be, weakening it in the process.

The "Friends" option allows for the exclusive groups to be set up to discuss issues. The option to set up specific "Groups" takes discussion away from the main forum. Better to keep discussions open than private.

If these options will not be used to discuss Roman topics, why bother with them. Leave them to facebook etc.

If people want to start blogs and post up photos of themselves and family why do it here? They should use their own websites, facebook etc to promote themselevs. It is completely unfocussed and nothing to do with discussion on things Roman.

Many of us could happily live without the RAC "facebook" community aspect of the new site, and concentrate on openly discussing all things Roman etc.

I'm sure the RAC will be a success. It is just a very different animal than RAT, less focussed on open discussion on Roman topic, more facebook community.

[Praefectusclassis]

Hi John
I think I pointed out at least once that I turned OFF the option to have exclusive group discussions. In fact, I noticed there's an option to always have group discussions automatically put in the forum. I'm going to check that out and see if it's useful. That way, we can form interest groups and still everyone would be able to follow what's going on.

Did you honestly think that I wanted to encourage people to post photos of their family and reports of their trip to Blackpool on this site? Of course not. Over the years, we've seen many members posting step by step reports of builds or research on the forum. The problem is that a forum is not the best and easiest way to do that. Same with appropriate galleries. That is what they are supposed to encourage. Lots of people have blogs already, everywhere on the net. I figured it'd be much easier to keep track of appropriate and interesting blogs if they're on this site!

I hope you now realize I'm not just randomly trying to Facebookerize RAT. If not, I'll try to explain it in person in York. Deal?

[hansvl]

Hi Jasper and John,


speaking of York ... I can't seem to find the topic on the York RAT conference anymore. I would like to have the program again and the other information.

Greets,

Hans

[Praefectusclassis]

Crap. It does seem like the announcements haven't carried over. I'll post the program and documents in a new thread.

[ParthianBow]

Hi Jasper

This may have been pointed out already, but I couldn't find reference to it. It may well have been your intention, but did you know that a 'guest' can now post on the forum without registering? (I did it by accident.) Or is it a temporary measure for all the RATers who are migrating from the old forum?

If not, it means that anonymous posts will always be possible, when they weren't previously. One of the things that I most liked about the old RAT, when compared to other fora, is that it insisted on people using their real names. I'm not fond - to put it mildly - of those who love to post anonymously. I do hope that it's just a temporary measure?

And thanks again for all the hard work on this new venture.

In an aside, I'm also looking forward to meeting you and everyone else in York!

[John Conyard]

I'm happy to talk to you about the RAT/RAC anytime.

I think I pointed out at least once that I turned OFF the option to have exclusive group discussions. In fact, I noticed there's an option to always have group discussions automatically put in the forum. I'm going to check that out and see if it's useful. That way, we can form interest groups and still everyone would be able to follow what's going on.

That is a good start, and I do appreciate it. Of course if you duplicate posts in the groups and on the main discussion forum, then why have the groups? Better to keep discussion in one place on the main forum.

In the same way I would ask that interesting discussions between groups of "friends" be linked to and duplicated in the relevant topics on the RAT forum. Exclusive groups operating on RAT cannot be good, and if members are really are not talking about anything Roman, why have them? People can PM instead, or use facebook, email etc.

And if people want to be put up interesting blogs or tutorials on RAT can they be linked to the relevant section of the forum as well? It would save us chasing around lots of blogs and personal stuff. Of course if they are of no interest, if all we see are photos of happy people dressed as Romans or on their holidays, well why have them? I agree with you that they can share such stuff on facebook with friends etc. and should not waste space on RAT. Those of genuine interest they need to be on the main RAT discussion forum.

That would help stop any information migration away from the RAT discussion forum into the community forums on RAC.

I do appreciate we both run the risk of hubris. Perhaps we need to concentrate on talking about Roman stuff for a while and put the Facebook idea on hold.

[Praefectusclassis]

It may well have been your intention, but did you know that a 'guest' can now post on the forum without registering? (I did it by accident.) Or is it a temporary measure for all the RATers who are migrating from the old forum?

It's a temporary measure to allow wandering souls to cry out for help.

Of course if you duplicate posts in the groups and on the main discussion forum, then why have the groups?

Won't duplicate, but be on the forum only. Just another way to keep track of your interests.

And if people want to be put up interesting blogs or tutorials on RAT can they be linked to the relevant section of the forum as well?

I think that'll be what your community homepage will be for. The overall idea is to centralize all Ancient/Roman warfare info on one single site and make it easier for members to keep track of their personal interests. I do realize it's going to take everyone some time to figure out what the best ways of doing so are. That's where the 'Help' tab at the top of the page is going to be for.

For now, I agree that it's best to just get settled in, and give me a chance to finish Ancient Warfare V.1. 8)

And for the record, I never suffer from hubris. :wink: :wink:

[John Conyard]

Without hubris! I am pleased, I was afraid you were getting a bit tetchy with me. mile:

Surely the old RAT was very centralised and easy to access without exclusive groups, inclusive groups, friends, blogs pointless photos and chat. Well, most of the time.:lol:

It was easy to spot interesting topics. No need for all this duplicating and linking the main discussion forum, the exclusive friends groups, the potential sub sections of forums, the relevant blogs etc.

Trying to tie the relevant bits of groups,blogs,exclusive groups of friends, etc. etc. etc.into personalised community pages for every member seems un-necessary hard work. Cerebrally stimulating perhaps, but unnecessary. Although I can see the appeal of vetting the blogs and friendship groups to delete the non-relevant discussion. That would be very entertaining.

RAT has little to fear from social networking sites, alternative blogs, twitter and such like. It can stand alone and we have no need to try and compete.

[Vindex]

Jasper

I have asked to turn off notifications in the privacy settings and they aren't working (specifically from a Group). Is it me being a biff again or is it a potential problem. My in box is flooded with Group Wall notifications

[Ghostmojo]

Hi Howard, It has been my intention for years to finally merge the forum and main website into a community as was envisioned 10 years ago when it was founded. It has now become technically possible to allow all members to have blogs, galleries and write contributions to the site. Some of that is available right now, some not yet. What mattered in the short term was getting both in the same technical framework. A side advantage is that upgrading the site is now a) half the work as there's only one site b) much easier with this software. Both template and site settings may need some work. Everyone's feedback will be appreciated, but please also give yourself some time to get used to the new setup.

Hi Jasper,

Thank you for your courteous and helpful reply (as always) and please do not feel I was being overtly hostile or ungrateful. I remain hugely impressed by what people do here - those that run it, and those that contribute their great knowledge for the benefit of all members. Perhaps my comments might best be seen as just being highly prasieworthy of the previous format - which I thought was excellent in every way. As far as I was concerned that style and appearance of forum quite simply couldn't be improved upon.

However, when one is a passenger riding upon somebody else's train you really can't be too critical of the fabric coverings or door handles can you? You just have to accept the new livery and see the positives, which I will endeavour to accustom myself to.

Thanks for your understanding and all your hard work.8)

Cheers

HJ

ps - the new format doesn't seem to be able to handle Greek - because my 'molon labe' quote below has now turned to question marks thus ????? ???? ... !!!