RM Wishlist

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RM Wishlist

Postby ultraslacker » Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:27 pm

Complete the following sentence: "If I could change one thing about RM, it would be....."


I just want to get a sense of everyone's thoughts/feelings about how RM is now, what could be improved, changed, etc. This could be website stuff, community stuff, mod stuff, whatever you like. We're not making any promises, just looking for ideas/feedback. :)
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby CAW » Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:45 pm

If I could change one thing about RM, it would be...

When I scroll over the pictures at the top of the page, the names of the people in them will pop up (even if just their RM moniker)
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Postby turd ferguson » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:02 pm

Ending the puritanical ban on casual nudity
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby Doonst » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:05 pm

thanks for asking

the search feature could use some work

also, some way to find people's older race reports. the column at http://doonst.com/ just works so well, could we possibly hook up something like that?
next up:


This broken wing will fly again
One fine day
This blackbird's mute gonna sing again
One fine day

So all you sinners come out
And all you drunkards crawl out
Come into the light of one fine day

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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby ultraslacker » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:09 pm

CAW wrote:If I could change one thing about RM, it would be...

When I scroll over the pictures at the top of the page, the names of the people in them will pop up (even if just their RM moniker)


definitely a possibility; it would require reworking how they currently happen... and we'd need help identifying everyone.
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby ultraslacker » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:10 pm

Doonst wrote:thanks for asking

the search feature could use some work


Yeah it just doesn't work at all, ever since we upgraded the forum. We're due for an update anyway, so maybe we could fix that in the process...

also, some way to find people's older race reports. the column at http://doonst.com/ just works so well, could we possibly hook up something like that?


where would those lists appear?
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby Doonst » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:12 pm

ultraslacker wrote:
Doonst wrote:thanks for asking

the search feature could use some work


Yeah it just doesn't work at all, ever since we upgraded the forum. We're due for an update anyway, so maybe we could fix that in the process...

also, some way to find people's older race reports. the column at http://doonst.com/ just works so well, could we possibly hook up something like that?


where would those lists appear?

maybe when you click on a member's name, the page you go to could include links to any thread that they started in the race report forum.
next up:


This broken wing will fly again
One fine day
This blackbird's mute gonna sing again
One fine day

So all you sinners come out
And all you drunkards crawl out
Come into the light of one fine day

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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby Jo-Jo » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:15 pm

This isn't a forum "upgrade" suggestion...

But wondering if we could think of another gear order some time in 2011 (yes I know we have some gear left to sell).
It's a great way to recognize Maniacs at races and we've had a bunch of new pretty active members join since the last gear order.

Perhaps a poll to see if there's any interest? And to remind people that there is some gear available.

One of the things that makes RM so special is that so many members have met in real life...so I'm thinking we need to continue to be identifiable (is that a word :roll: )....well...maybe except for Turd. Better to keep him hidden from the masses :lol: :lol: :wink:
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby La » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:21 pm

How about the ability to "tag" a post (like in blogs) thereby making it easier to search based on some pre-established tags. Though I guess the forum heading are tags, but they're fairly broad.
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby Marg » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:23 pm

Jo-Jo wrote:This isn't a forum "upgrade" suggestion...

But wondering if we could think of another gear order some time in 2011 (yes I know we have some gear left to sell).
It's a great way to recognize Maniacs at races and we've had a bunch of new pretty active members join since the last gear order.

Perhaps a poll to see if there's any interest? And to remind people that there is some gear available.

One of the things that makes RM so special is that so many members have met in real life...so I'm thinking we need to continue to be identifiable (is that a word :roll: )....well...maybe except for Turd. Better to keep him hidden from the masses :lol: :lol: :wink:



Gear order coming soon... I promise. There is very little left and we are due for some variety. It's part of my Christmas holiday to do list.
I promise! :oops:
Chilly 1/2 - March 4
Montreal 1/2 - April 29
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Army 1/2 - Sept

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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby ultraslacker » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:26 pm

La wrote:How about the ability to "tag" a post (like in blogs) thereby making it easier to search based on some pre-established tags. Though I guess the forum heading are tags, but they're fairly broad.


wow, I don't even know how those work in blogs, lol. I'd need to research that. I assume just db fields associated with a post.... sounds cumbersome though. Let me check into it.

If we can get our search engine working properly, would the tags be less necessary....?
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First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. ~Epictetus

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RM Wishlist

Postby Jwolf » Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:34 pm

I really think the site is great as it is- don't mess with much.

Well, the search function would be nice.

Except I dont really like the Sesame Street thing. That's really dumb and if that is permanent I might have to take back my "i'm never leaving" vow.
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby ultraslacker » Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:36 pm

I'm digging through old files and cleaning up my directories so I can do some work on the site, and I came across this--it was from our first birthday:

Image

anyone remember that? I had put it across the top of the site for the day. :)
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby Ironboy » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:01 pm

Doonst wrote:thanks for asking

the search feature could use some work

also, some way to find people's older race reports. the column at http://doonst.com/ just works so well, could we possibly hook up something like that?



Here are mine:

At the bottom of his profile post, Ironboy wrote:Date Event Time (note)
1- 05/29/2005 ING Ottawa Half-Marathon 2:08:08 (first race ever)
2- 01/29/2006 Ottawa Hypothermic Half Marathon 1:47:38 (first race I was prepared for)
3- 03/26/2006 Hamilton Around the Bay Road Race - 30km 3:13:31 (first big M&G)
4- 05/06/2006 Cumberland Duathlon - Sprint 1:12:22 (first multisport)
5- 05/27/2006 Cabot Trail Relay Race Leg 9 1:39:43 (first team event, first time to Nova Scotia)
6- 06/17/2006 Ottawa River Keeper Triathlon - Sprint 1:22:19 (first triathlon)
7- 09/24/2006 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon 1:47:00
8- 01/28/2007 Ottawa Hypothermic Half Marathon 1:52:20 (first time as an instructor)
9- 03/25/2007 Hamilton Around the Bay Road Races - 30km 2:33:40
10- 05/21/2007 Thunder Bay FireFighters 10 Miler 1:22:03
11- 05/27/2007 ING Ottawa Marathon 3:43:32 (first Marathon)
12- 06/16/2007 Ottawa Riverkeeper Triathlon - Sprint 1:19:31 (first shallonge)
13- 07/15/2007 Graham Beasley Triathlon - Olympic 2:58:18 (first Olympic Distance Tri)
14- 08/05/2007 Loon Lake All-Rounder ~ 1:13:00 (canoe, run all around the lake, canoe, swim)
15- 08/19/2007 Thousand Island Triathlon - Sprint 1:26:53
16- 09/29/2007 Run for the Toad 50km DNF (first Trail race, bailed at 25km)
17- 10/06/2007 Beat Beethoven - 5k 21:48.6 (first 5km race)
18- 10/07/2007 Ottawa Falls Colours Half-Marathon 1:42:46
19- 10/08/2007 Chelsea Challenge - 10k (9.87km) 45:32.2 (46:07) (first 10km race)
20- 12/02/2007 Las Vegas Marathon 3:58:52 (first bad marathon)
21- 12/09/2007 Mad Trapper 5km Snowshoe race 1:01:28 (yes 12:00/km, first and last snowshoe race)
22- 03/30/2008 Hamilton Around the Bay Road Races - 30km 2:28:12
23- 05/25/2008 Ottawa ING Ottawa Half Marathon 1:37:38 (current PB)
24- 06/14/2008 Ottawa Riverkeeper Triathlon - Olympic 2:41:43 (current PB)
25- 07/06/2008 Huronia Triathlon - Sprint 1:24:56
26- 07/20/2008 Lake Placid Ironman USA 13:47:31 IMLP Training Journal
27- 08/20/2008 The Canadian 113 - Half Iron 5:58:56 (completed Mania SLAM)
28- 09/21/2008 Army Run - Half Marathon 1:49:27 (first time as a Pace Bunny)
29- 10/05/2008 PEC Marathon 3:41:06
30- 06/28/2009 Woodbine Twister 6km 24:18
31- 07/04/2009 Meech Lake Tri - Relay (23km bike) 50:57
32- 09/20/2009 Army Run - Half Marathon 1:50:07 (second time as a Pace Bunny)
33- 03/28/2010 Hamilton Around the Bay Road race - 30km 2:24:49 (current PB)
34- 05/29/2010 Ottawa Race Weekend - 10km 46:05
35- 06/19/2010 Alterna Do it for Dad - 5km 27:25 (Pace Bunny)
36- 07/21/2010 No Frills 10 miler - 16km 1:18:17
37- 08/21/2010 Midsummer Night's Run - 15km 1:18:21
38- 09/19/2010 Army Run - Half Marathon 1:50:28 (third time as a pace bunny)
39- 10/07/2010 Wellness Challenge - 5km 21:38
40- 10/09/2010 Beer Mile - 1600m 10:58 (first beer mile)
41- 10/10/2010 Fall Colours - 10km 43:38 (new PB)
42- 11/06/2010 Cookie Run - 5km 20:33 (new PB)

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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby Ironboy » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:05 pm

RSS feed.

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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby Ironboy » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:36 pm

Doonst wrote:maybe when you click on a member's name, the page you go to could include links to any thread that they started in the race report forum.


I had to try it:
Advanced search for author: Ironboy; Search within: First Post of Topic only; Display Results as: Topics

It worked in the advanced search, so technically, it looks possible, assuming people haven't started threads in that section frivolously.

I have a couple of race reports for the kids and some "run reports" in there. so 45 results but I really only have 39 reports of my races.

Still, not a bad idea

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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby ultraslacker » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:46 pm

what about a blog? we've talked about it before (I think Turd first came up with the idea). We have a couple of great writers... double bellybuster comes to mind!

(why am I suggesting things that will create more work for myself? lol)
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby Doonst » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:51 pm

Ironboy wrote:
Doonst wrote:maybe when you click on a member's name, the page you go to could include links to any thread that they started in the race report forum.


I had to try it:
Advanced search for author: Ironboy; Search within: First Post of Topic only; Display Results as: Topics

It worked in the advanced search, so technically, it looks possible, assuming people haven't started threads in that section frivolously.

I have a couple of race reports for the kids and some "run reports" in there. so 45 results but I really only have 39 reports of my races.

Still, not a bad idea

That's very good. How hard would it be to put an autogenerated link to this for each person on the page you get when you click on their name? Most people would never think to try that. I got 86 results!
next up:


This broken wing will fly again
One fine day
This blackbird's mute gonna sing again
One fine day

So all you sinners come out
And all you drunkards crawl out
Come into the light of one fine day

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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby ultraslacker » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:56 pm

Doonst wrote:
Ironboy wrote:
Doonst wrote:maybe when you click on a member's name, the page you go to could include links to any thread that they started in the race report forum.


I had to try it:
Advanced search for author: Ironboy; Search within: First Post of Topic only; Display Results as: Topics

It worked in the advanced search, so technically, it looks possible, assuming people haven't started threads in that section frivolously.

I have a couple of race reports for the kids and some "run reports" in there. so 45 results but I really only have 39 reports of my races.

Still, not a bad idea

That's very good. How hard would it be to put an autogenerated link to this for each person on the page you get when you click on their name? Most people would never think to try that. I got 86 results!


it would actually be a lot easier for me to set up a simple script that would query the db directly (wouldn't have to go through the search form).

not saying I'll do it tomorrow (I'm compiling a to-do list based on urgency) but I'll add it to the plan. ;)
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First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. ~Epictetus

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RM Wishlist

Postby Jwolf » Thu Dec 09, 2010 11:59 pm

ultraslacker wrote:what about a blog? we've talked about it before (I think Turd first came up with the idea). We have a couple of great writers... double bellybuster comes to mind!

(why am I suggesting things that will create more work for myself? lol)
I like that idea, as long as there are people committed to keeping it up.

There actually are a couple of small things I'd like to see changed:

On the home page, get rid of the "Event Reviews" rotating list. Most of those are so outdated and they don't really represent what this forum is.

And in the "Recent Forum Topics" list, maybe list things from other forums like Speed, Nutrition, Injuries- the ones where people are likely to ask topical questions.
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby Doonst » Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:01 am

Thanks. That's why they call you Queen Bee!
next up:


This broken wing will fly again
One fine day
This blackbird's mute gonna sing again
One fine day

So all you sinners come out
And all you drunkards crawl out
Come into the light of one fine day

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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby ultraslacker » Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:05 am

Jwolf wrote:On the home page, get rid of the "Event Reviews" rotating list. Most of those are so outdated and they don't really represent what this forum is.



orrrr..... bring them up to date. ;)

And in the "Recent Forum Topics" list, maybe list things from other forums like Speed, Nutrition, Injuries- the ones where people are likely to ask topical questions.


That's a possibility and simple enough...
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby CAW » Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:40 am

I don't know if I like the blog idea. Who would determine who would get to write the entries? We have many many good writers among us some are regular posters, some are former regular posters but currently registered lurkers.

I'd hate for some people to get a feeling of cliquishness (my own word) when, currently, we don't have that feeling.

A blog may run the risk of alienating some key members of the site. It may not but I think it is something to consider.
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby ultraslacker » Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:50 am

CAW wrote:I don't know if I like the blog idea. Who would determine who would get to write the entries? We have many many good writers among us some are regular posters, some are former regular posters but currently registered lurkers.

I'd hate for some people to get a feeling of cliquishness (my own word) when, currently, we don't have that feeling.

A blog may run the risk of alienating some key members of the site. It may not but I think it is something to consider.


part of my vision for RM is to have lots of people doing what they're good at, and sharing the burden so that the mods/admin don't have to do everything (which, currently, we do). This would require setting things up in such a way that people CAN help. Some of that help might be technical, some might be content, some might be community-building. For any fixed roles, we might take nominations from the community but ultimately they would be assigned by the admin (and of course the person would have to make a commitment). This is all just a nebulous idea in my head right now so we don't need to get into details (and I have a LOT of work to do to set up the site to accommodate).

For blogs, I think we could have several members who are a) known to be great writers, b) active members on the site, and c) committed to producing a post once/week (or whatever timeframe we decided). We could also have occasional guest posts. I'm not sure how that would alienate anyone.
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Re: RM Wishlist

Postby drghfx » Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:01 pm

I would like to see the "Turn on the Poster's Webcam" button work more consistently. This might also address Turd's request.

Will an upgrade fix this?
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