Too many stickys in Reef Fishes forum

[wrott]

There are too many "stickys" for the forum, it fills half of the page. Please get rid of them ASAP.
Thanks, Rod

[snorvich]

I disagree. Please leave them. Thanks.

[wrott]

snorvich,
I consent that they are invaluably informative, it's just the matter of not seeing all of the most recent posts, that "grinds my gears".
There should be one thread that includes all of the stickys--nobody looks at those threads anyway, IMO. Even though they should look with inspiration-- (I know, ignorance is the bliss of the fanantic reef-keeper).
Keeping "stickys" to a 1-3 thread maximum, would definately make RC more informative.

[snorvich]

At the bottom of the forum are the "display rules" which you can change as benefits you the most. The worst case is having to go to a page other than the first one (for the forum) but that should not really be a big deal. The "stickies" are there because there are certain very common questions and experiences (note the view and reply counts) which people should peruse if they are interested in those specific fish. I am not trying to be argumentative and if truth be told, was one of the original proponents of the stickies as a way of holding together e.g. for leopard wrasses, a collection of information. Otherwise, for those people who do not or cannot use the search function, there is not other good way to accumulate a viable collection.

[SDguy]

How about grouping all the primers into a single thread, or folder of some sort?

[Creetin]

How about grouping all the primers into a single thread, or folder of some sort?

They dont bother me, Maybe a subforum for primers??? But that would detour people from actively looking. Catch 22 much like the ID forums. No one barely looks in there, I suggest they stay, and some should skip down a few bars.

[Kieth71]

I like the folder idea..not to mention their are two sections of the regal angel primer always showing.Maybe at least limit it to one section showing at a time like all the other threads when they split.

[SDguy]

They dont bother me, Maybe a subforum for primers??? But that would detour people from actively looking. Catch 22 much like the ID forums. No one barely looks in there, I suggest they stay, and some should skip down a few bars.

They don't bother me either. I was just offering alternatives :)

[CWP]

Seems to me that this topic should be in Feedback and Questions and is taking up a topic line that could be used for something more suitable.

[smiller]

[moved]

[returnofsid]

Heck, I don't even notice all the stickies anymore. If I need them, I know where to find them and easily refer to them. Leave them

[Michael]

the new to the hobby stickies dont want removing, they are important and helpful for our new members, and other forum stickies seem fine to me, i dont think they should be touched personally.

[dwd5813]

i can't agree with the thought of removing them. if anything there should be a prompt when signing up that brings you to the stickies when you open a forum for the first time. there's a ton of valuable information there and it sadly gets overlooked as it is. make them more prominent, i say. maybe a different color or size font.

[Kieth71]

This was for the reef fish section but since one person complained(for some unknown reason)It was moved here and now appears like the op is asking for all stickies in all forums to be removed...

[phuzzykins]

I like the stickies; they make me feel at home.

[dots]

This is all great information, this thread should be made into a sticky so we can reference it.

[IridescentLily]

In my experience on forums, there is a tendency to over sticky. I agree it gets redundant after awhile.

For instance what I did to help was to come up with an idea in the zoanthid section here, that was good for the majority. I suggested to get the 9 stickies that were there (which had numerous broken links) and redundancy, and whittle them all down to one alphabetical index list of sticky threads.

Then we moved the picture threads and the video thread into ONE sticky and TITLE it differently..."pics and videos", instead of a sticky for each. Things like that.
Now there are only three in the zoa section.
Not that this makes people READ them anymore than did previously. But the people who DO use them were very grateful, and can use these to point other newer members to for info.

[geo]

This thread has been stuck. :)

[dwd5813]

This is all great information, this thread should be made into a sticky so we can reference it.

This thread has been stuck. :)

:lol:

[LobsterOfJustice]

First off, I agree. It makes the forum hard to read. Surely there is a better alternative.

Secondly, this post was made in reference to the reef fishes forum specifically, thats why it was placed there. It probably should not have been moved since it does not make sense now. While we're on the topic of finding threads/information easily, it took me a while just to find this thread again since it was moved. Just sayin', irony.

[BrianD]

nobody looks at those threads anyway, IMO.

The "post views" for most of the threads would indicate otherwise.

If the sentiment is to remove the stickies, that is certainly doable.

[LobsterOfJustice]

I dont think they need to be removed, but the primers could be condensed. That would probably be enough in itself. You have to admit, most people dont look at those until directed anyway. But we can leave them there in a single thread - kind of how the chemistry forum has a thread for helpful reef chemistry articles/links. There could be a primer thread stuck with links to all the individual primer threads.

[dots]

Why yes it does make it a little more relevent........I now feel your pain.

However, I used the following and "rolled" right through the issue:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f285/dougspivey/scrollwheel.jpg



Just messin' wit cha.........

I would go about in the same fashion as the Reef Chemistry Articles were as well....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1379607

.......and would do it right now for you peeps, but don't have that kind of juice....

However, will offer to help the one who does.....if it helps to expedite things and make it more user-friendly.

[Korrine]

I like the stickies. If I want to read something I know right where to find it :D

[dwd5813]

i can't agree with the thought of removing them. if anything there should be a prompt when signing up that brings you to the stickies when you open a forum for the first time. there's a ton of valuable information there and it sadly gets overlooked as it is. make them more prominent, i say. maybe a different color or size font.

this was posted while the thread was moved out of this forum. i agree with the idea of condensing the primer series stickies. fwiw, i still think stickies in general might be more prominent if made a different font color.

[CorkPullerPHL]

They annoy me too. Utterly invaluable, but really annoying to scroll around.

[AquaKnight]

I would like to see them in a folder as well. The people that are actually going to read the primers before they ask about Moorish Idols or Achilles tangs, would still do so, if they are on the main page, or in a folder.

I think either way, we could do with just one Regal angel primer...

[IridescentLily]

this was posted while the thread was moved out of this forum. i agree with the idea of condensing the primer series stickies. fwiw, i still think stickies in general might be more prominent if made a different font color.
That's a good point. I've found a solution previously that is somewhat strange and a little backward. This is to make each sticky title in ALL CAPS.
Yes, I know, some of us (including myself) whince at the sight of all caps posts or thread titles. However, I've found that this CAN be an effective moderator's quick fix tool to an issue such as this.
:-)

I dont think they need to be removed, but the primers could be condensed. That would probably be enough in itself. You have to admit, most people dont look at those until directed anyway. But we can leave them there in a single thread - kind of how the chemistry forum has a thread for helpful reef chemistry articles/links. There could be a primer thread stuck with links to all the individual primer threads.
I've only recently been to that forum section, and I love the way that looks.

[Creetin]

Why should the people have to go into a folder since you guys are annoyed to scroll down. Would that not annoy the primers and other stickies contributors?
When the ID folders were created i never went in there. When they were on the forums i looked quite often. Threads are not a good way of checking if they are needed or not by simply making a thread.
The proof is in the pudding. All the primers get used often, putting them in a sub forum and tucking them away will take away from it.

[Beaun]

I would agree that having a Sticky subforum under the reef fish forum would be a good solution, it would also be easier to start other fish primers. So if you are looking for info on a certain fish, you could just look through there, rather then make an entire new thread in the regular reef fish forum. Specific questions and other stuff could stay in the regular reef fish forum.

Making them all caps would make no difference to me, its the need to scroll half the page that is the issue, although not a huge problem.

[LobsterOfJustice]

Why should the people have to go into a folder since you guys are annoyed to scroll down. Would that not annoy the primers and other stickies contributors?
When the ID folders were created i never went in there. When they were on the forums i looked quite often. Threads are not a good way of checking if they are needed or not by simply making a thread.
The proof is in the pudding. All the primers get used often, putting them in a sub forum and tucking them away will take away from it.

However you are inconveniencing the masses by catering to the few contributors. Lets face it, the primers are very specific, about a particular fish, and a small percent of traffic in interested in any one particular species.

[Creetin]

Masses? :) I think the masses show that they are getting used. JMO by looking at the vews and posts.

[LargeAngels]

I don't mind the stickies, but they should ONLY be on the first page. I can't stand that they are on the second page also.

[Creetin]

I don't mind the stickies, but they should ONLY be on the first page. I can't stand that they are on the second page also.

Now thats a winner if at all possable!!!!

[Matt_Wandell]

You bunch of helpless whiners! This took me 10 minutes!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16685082#post16685082

MODS/ADMINS: If you do decide to go with a single folder, can you simply sticky this link please? Thanks.

[Jacob D]

I agree, consolidate them. Either a sub forum or a single post with all of them in it. Nice job Matt :)

[BrianD]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1805889

Please note the poll isn't scientific, and the poll result won't necessarily dictate the final decision.

[BrianD]

For those who think there is too much clutter, please consider the fact that the primers have probably reduced the number of new threads started each day for the various fish species covered in the primers.

[Rebel]

Not to belabor the point(s), but I thought I would offer an opinion from someone new to the "reef fishes" forum. I have been reefing for over 10 years, but I am typically not active on the boards. Recently, I have begun rebuilding the reef in the Columbine HS library and will be re-stocking the fish in a few weeks.

I had not seen the primers before, and I came to this forum to ask some questions about some of the fish pertaining to the primers. Instead of starting a thread, I read some/much/not exactly "most" of them (sheesh, they're long!) and did not need to start a thread. It worked like a search function without doing the search, in a way. I actually wish there were more primers for more fish. And I think they are invaluable for noobs, too. And not just noobs to reefs, but noobs to a certain fish.

That said, I concede that I too generally dislike a forum full of stickies. It's just that I found the stickies here more useful than in any forum I have checked out in some time.

Cheers.

[KafudaFish]

What are the chances that someone who does not like to scroll down around the stickies is going searching in another area after clicking here?

Also wouldn't those questions that the stickies address begin to pop up again and again? I am all for an exchange of information but if it is the same each day when what is the point?

For example go to the equipment forum and there is a T5 specific and skimmer specific thread yet people don't post in that and get an answer rather they make a new thread about which should I buy and it will have 50 views but zero replies.

[Beaun]

You are always going to see posts about fish that have primers, I see them frequently, and people point them to the primers. The issue is will there be more of them with the primers somewhere else. It is certainly an interesting discussion with valid points on both sides.

[JHemdal]

Chiming in late, I like Matt's solution, but I find the stickies are only a mild annoyance for me to navigate around. They are, however, ponderous to the point of uselessness to actually get information from. I agree (with lobster, or whoever said it) that the primers need to be consolidated...I would take it a bit further and say that the chaff definately needs to be removed from the seed.

While it is nice to think that all-inclusive responses will give the most comprehensive information, that just isn't true - there is some misinformation in these that a good round of editing would eliminate. When I was a "duty officer" on FISHNET back in the 1980's, we had to limit responses to problem reports to only certain people - when everyone and their brother replied with their opinions, it muddled up the issue too much. Same sort of thing here - an expert's insightful post on a particular fish could be negated by a differing opinion posted by a person who read about that fish in a book once(grin).

Regarding the poll - fon't forget that there are three options, so "leaving it as is" may "win" because the two options for change are different in their methods. However, they should be added together to then to see if the majority want SOMETHING done.


Jay

[Elysia]

I don't mind the stickies, but they should ONLY be on the first page. I can't stand that they are on the second page also.

YES! :beer:

What is the problem with steamlining the sticked threads in Reef Fishes? I am all for those threads on specific fish being listed under one (locked) sticky. Then, when the individual threads are updated, having them come back up under new/updated threads just like any other thread.

IMO, to have each page of Reef Fish threads come up as stickies really is a pain to navigate.

[Creetin]

Chiming in late, I like Matt's solution, but I find the stickies are only a mild annoyance for me to navigate around. They are, however, ponderous to the point of uselessness to actually get information from. I agree (with lobster, or whoever said it) that the primers need to be consolidated...I would take it a bit further and say that the chaff definately needs to be removed from the seed.

While it is nice to think that all-inclusive responses will give the most comprehensive information, that just isn't true - there is some misinformation in these that a good round of editing would eliminate. When I was a "duty officer" on FISHNET back in the 1980's, we had to limit responses to problem reports to only certain people - when everyone and their brother replied with their opinions, it muddled up the issue too much. Same sort of thing here - an expert's insightful post on a particular fish could be negated by a differing opinion posted by a person who read about that fish in a book once(grin).

Regarding the poll - fon't forget that there are three options, so "leaving it as is" may "win" because the two options for change are different in their methods. However, they should be added together to then to see if the majority want SOMETHING done.


Jay



Where is FISHNET now?

[JHemdal]

Creetin,

Actually, I was just at the NEC annual conference this past weekend and was discussing the old FISHNET with a fellow Sysop from "back in the day". Neither of us think that any of that data got properly archived. John Benn had tried to keep it going for a time after the demise of the Compuserve forums, but I can't locate that online now at all - it was called Pet Forums or some such. Too bad - there was some really solid information in their archives. Not too applicable for reef aquaria (since it predated most all of that) but for freshwater, marine fishes and ponds...there were files there that were better than many books. If I recall, they handled FAQs by refering people to specific files, that were written and vetted by the Sysops. Then, if the people had further questions, they came back to the forum and a discussion ensued.

Jay

[Matt_Wandell]

I actually wish there were more primers for more fish.

Rebel makes a GREAT point here--how do we expand to other fish species if each one needs its own sticky? I can think of 30 fish species right off the top of my head that are as deserving of a special care sheet as, say, a powder blue tang.

I like the consolidated sticky, obviously. I also like Jay's idea, and I know it is right, but I think it'd be a tough job to do the weeding.

[ShrimpChipGal]

I don't find the stickies to be much of an annoyance to navigate around. However, I do agree with Matt here about that there are many fish species that require special care. Perhaps consolidating the stickies into a different folder/subforum would be an acceptable idea? Or maybe moving them to a location such as bottom of first page would be a better idea?

[Creetin]

Thanks Jay!!