I had been trying to judge how long I needed to wait, as a newish member, before drawing attention to this. Too many years with a red pen, I think. (Are teachers still allowed to use a red pen or is it "discouraging".) It certainly jumped out at me each time I logged in!

Note to Antheil: I'm still trying to think of a R3 programme with the initials CE. I just about managed PO3!

The Lord Roger taketh, and he then Giveth

Spatny,

I have to say that although R3ok was initially a rescue site for BBCR3MB, the BBC have restored their forum to something back to near it's former self with postings not only dealing with all the R3 programmes but also a board/threads in as they put it "a place, not associated with any particular programme, to meet and talk with other Radio 3 listeners".

So Radio 3 fans are well-catered for now I believe. If there was a real need for another forum then for3.org would be the natural place, but their forum is very quiet.

R3ok is a sort of refuge for a minority of 'former'* R3MB posters, some serious heads, some less serious, but in my opinion it has succeeded in gathering together a lot of 'like minds' though I can't put my finger on what exactly is 'like' about the varied people here. It's not the music.

The emphasis here, at R3ok, is now clearly not primarily as a 'Radio 3 fans forum' so your idea to 'bring the forum forward', if that means attacting 1000 Radio 3 fans, might not be popular.

There is a real friendship here; it's not 'cliquey' but a major change here might not be welcome.


John

P.S. As for a fresh look, well a lot of members never look at the front page, but always go straight to the Unread Posts page, and newbies are going to be more interested the postings not the front cover. Oh, and you don't need to constantly scroll to the bottom if you have an 'end' button.



* some folks post at both forums


.

John, I think you have made some very valid points. My general feeling is that if it aint broke, don't fix it. If the current format of the board works and Members are happy with it, then that is what should be borne in mind.

As you say, when this MB was originally set up it was indeed a very welcome refuge from the slash and burn that was happening at TOP. Since then this MB has taken on a life and very distinct personality  of its own (entirely due to the many and varied personalities here!). It has become far more diverse than dealing with BBC R3 topics. If people are comfortable with the 'room' then why move the furniture around? Those are just my thoughts.

However, it's good that Spatny takes enough interest in the MB to make the suggestions that he has. I hope you don't see see as too negative a response, Spatny. You obviously put time and thought into the r3ok mock up.

Just for the record, I've asked Michael and John about the 1.1.5 version of SMF on a couple of occasions, and have been assured that it's not available to us, Andy. I'd also agree that the community is probably about the right size - moderation would be a far more complicated job were there to be many more posters, for example.

 However, I  do like Spatny's mock-up: I find it much easier to see where everything is, and am mindful that questions about the safety of the board in the future still need to be considered.
.

To attract hundreds more members would be a good thing, in our opinion. There exist some forums (particularly some based in Asia, but not about music) which scroll up with new messages continuously, day and night. If this forum had five or ten thousand members and did that we would find it much more exciting and thrilling. The what is always much more worthwhile than the whom, and we certainly cannot accept the notion that the "community is the right size." If you want "community" drop in at the corner shop.

As a designer myself (by training if not by experience) the sample design offered doesn't "say" Radio Three and related interests to me. Although I do think it is more visually pleasing than the present skin. My wish list for the board is more to do with the performance of the software itself: accidentally clicking on the "Updated topics" link twice (usually with feline help) means I have to wait until later in the day to find out what's really been going on.

Just a point on the piccies on the current homepage. They were put there for two reasons

1. to add a bit of colour
2. to provide clickable links to the boards (to save having to slide the cursor to the far left of page)

Few members seem to use the front page, but newbies will see it and may appreciate the image-links.


There is a thread about this somewhere where I did ask members to submit their own set of piccies to replace the current set. Clearly the subject is not pressing and of no concern to most members.


John