Lots of forums (too many?)

[Navy OnStar]

When I first came to the board I had the same feeling "Holy $#!! - there are a lot of sub-forums" it took one day to realize "man this is great - I know exactly were to look for stuff"
I do exactly what others do. Get to the forum and hit NEW POSTS. Since I'm here so much, that gets me about 8 posts. So then I have to go to RECENT POSTS and look at the last day. But then I read all those so it doesn't help much.

If you all would do me a favor and post more it would make things easier on me!

[GruPoo]

People like to identify and classify. This allows them to connect to the information as they see it. Problem is not everyone classifies the information the same way. So what is the Admin to do? Simple they figure out how most people like to see the information using polls or their instincts and then provide a search system.

Where man has difficulty technology will always assist...at least until SkyNet becomes self-aware.

[tarheeldiver]

I like it just the way it is!!

[the register]

I understand the responses and was expecting this sort of response. I guess its more of an issue that people want posts/topics tagged with specific groups, and the only way to do that is to use different forums.

Guess the best of both worlds (simplicity and specificity) would be the ability to merge forums together on your own (basically what the New Posts button does). That plus lose forums/subforums and just have posts tagged with things.

I guess I'd just put a vote in for in the future being careful about creating new ones so as to not overexpand the list.

It does seem a bit odd from a design standpoint that the main way of viewing the forums would be something like the New Posts link. That sort of seems like an argument that more forums actually degrades the benefits of the forums, because instead of watching particular forums of interest, you'd ignore all the forums all together and look at 1 big forum.

And on the mention of using the search to find what you want in a subforum, that could also apply to finding what you want in a bigger forum too.

I guess the way I'd think about it it is what if I wanted to setup a daily email or feed of things of interest from scuba toys. If the options were either get everything, check some number out of 100, or check some number out of 10, I think I'd find it simpler to keep up to date with the out of 10 option.

But again, I definitely see the points being made, and its probably a personal preference thing I suppose.

[RoadRacer1978]

When you are on here as much as most of us, the new post button is not one big forum. It usually results in a handfull of new posts to look at and respond to. But some of us are on here for several hours a day, if not almost all of our waking hours.

[adv_diver1]

We should add a forum and name it "Where's the Rum?"

[loudgonzo]

I find it very easy to use, the amount of forums and sub-forums allow for specific information to be organized effectively.

[teog]

Originally Posted by diversteve

Been to Scubaboard? Now that's what I call a lot of forums.

I agree. ST is laid out easier and more simplified.

[wheelman]

I don't mind the format... I've seen worse as well.

[Kingpatzer]

My one question is this: where is "general scuba discussion?"

There's a forum for scuba training, but not just a "hey, I've got a generic scuba oriented post" area.