Social Groups?

Discussion in 'Network Information, Suggestions and Feedback' started by von Poop, Aug 18, 2010.

  1. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Social Groups.

    I'm still sort of puzzled by 'em.
    Anyone got any thoughts on extra uses they could be put to?

    ~A
     
  2. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Good question, I never understood exactly what these are for! And same for the Friends feature. Of course it's nice to see their pictures on the wall, but what type of functionality does it bring?
     
  3. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    I joined one but I haven't worked it out either.

    If either of these functions gave access to a larger or additional PM box then that would be handy as I'm fed up with emptying mine and most communications do seem to be with the 'few'.

    Drew 5233 is not a member of 'Flanders 1940' so it's obviously not necessary in order to prove ones fanaticicsm:)
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    :lol: @ Rich
     
  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    And same for the Friends feature. Of course it's nice to see their pictures on the wall, but what type of functionality does it bring?

    Friends: you can PM them quicker instead of searching through membership list or the forum for that last post they did that was soo interesting.

    Friends: via UserCP / Profile privacy - you can limit access to your profile page, PM-ery, albums, etc to friends only.

    Friends: yes they are nice to have on the page.

    Social groups ? No idea ... never joined one, never been invited ... or maybe I have actually and felt inadequate.:huh:
     
  6. WhiskeyGolf

    WhiskeyGolf Senior Member

    Good question, I never understood exactly what these are for! And same for the Friends feature. Of course it's nice to see their pictures on the wall, but what type of functionality does it bring?

    No idea about the social group feature, but I kind of like the friends feature - as D says you can limit what personal info gets seen. And it's nice to know I have friends here (and be able to PM them if I need to)! :p
     
  7. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Adds a bit more of a friendly environment brings about a group feel.

    free to all once signed up to join groups /make friends and prevents the insular feeling
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Am I right in thinking that discussions on social groups are not searchable via google etc where as they are on the forum?

    If that is the case could it not be there are little gems tucked away that no one will find unless you are in that group?
     
  9. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Discussions inside social groups??? It seems I have a few features to discover, but what are these, restricted sub-forums?
     
  10. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Dunno about Googlable - I'm assuming open groups are, as is the rest of the site - but it's possible closed groups may be out of view of the Google-bots. It would require a little test.

    In some ways they seem to 'steal' a little chat from the forum itself, and sometimes confuse new members who have to be directed to the forum proper.

    What might make them work better is if members could be notified of new messages in the PM/VM box, rather than just in the Usercp.
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Adam,

    If this is part of the re design/build of the forum I think I would do away with them. Like you say I think it takes WW2 discussion away from the forum main.

    One other thing not social group focused and not sure how it could be acheived is the messageing system. I love the open message system (not sure what its called) and I find PM's frustrating as like Rich mentioned I have to keep deleteing PM's all the time. So much so now I reply via the other messaging system unless its of a private matter like a number or address to encourage members not to PM me unless its something private.

    So a twick in the open message system to stop members replying on their own Usercp (If you know what I mean) would be great as I have found even myself replying to myself rather than the sender (Maybe a reason some think their help has been ignored in the past) the view convo button is brilliant but not sure everyone is aware of it (I only reaslised a few months ago). So if there could be a way that when you reply it goes to the other member rather than yourself?

    I'm thinking it can't be done though.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  12. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    If this is part of the re design/build of the forum

    Not really, I'm just musing on 'em - the next version of VB (which still seems to be settling from the bugs of a large new release) looks like it handles all this kind of stuff a bit better - it does have features that may well make the social groups an irrelevance for our sort of forum.


    I'm thinking it can't be done though.
    On the visitor messages, I don't think it can.
    They're also a kind of notice board, and if you got a different message in between the one you're replying to - an auto system would interfere.

    (I suppose it's worth mentioning again:
    If you're replying to a Visitor Message on your profile - Hit 'View conversation' first and your reply will go to the right person's profile.)
     
  13. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    I was wondering if the social groups couldn't be linked in some meaningful way to sub-forums.

    Sign up to a social group if you are willing to help out/interested in a particular area. Those "contributors"/usernames can be contacted via the usual means but their chosen sphere(s) can be seen by anyone who wants to either share or enquire ...

    and perhaps notification system to that social group about a new post in a subforum of interest might help. We do already have notifications on subscribed threads, but if away for a few days, we might miss an entirely new thread ...
     
  14. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    There's a feature on the new VB that I think will do something similar D.
    Will wait and see.

    I'm going to go through all the Social Groups options step by step and see if I've missed any useful functionality.
    Bit of a bolt-on really, though I suppose I can see them having more relevance on a more teeny-bop type site.
     
  15. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    I can see them having more relevance on a more teeny-bop type site.

    I had to 'Google' that.

    "To girate in a manner befitting a star-struk pre-teen to early teen girl."

    No, that's definitely not me. I'm more of the whirling Dervish on the receiving end of a bit of cold steel type.:)
     
  16. Algee

    Algee Very Insignificant Member

    "To girate in a manner befitting a star-struk pre-teen to early teen girl."


    Thats me all over :D
     
  17. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    This thread is useless without pictures.
     
  18. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  19. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    Never found a good use for any of them, other than to join. I guess I could strut around telling everyone had x friends here?

    Why discuss subject matter in an out of the way location? Kinda defeats the purpose of the forum.
     
  20. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    I second the Damned Colonial!
     

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