the Forum "RESOURCES" section...

TheBigYin

TheBigYin

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As part of actually starting to use some of the new bits of xenForo - i've been having a look at one or two threads with respect to turning them into a proper "resource".

The Idea is that we can either have new threads or take existing ones and link them into the Resources Section. So - for example, the Massive Film Camera Review Thread has been added to the Photography Equipment section of the Resources. The Thread itself, and all the discussion remains in here, and to be honest very little changes in terms of how we interact with them, HOWEVER the resources are there for any newcomers to see, and may just "signpost" people over here...

At the moment, I've added the following...

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/resources/the-massive-film-conventional-camera-review-thread.100/

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/resources/first-film-camera-ever-or-for-many-years.98/

and

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/resources/film-developing-in-the-uk.99/

Which I've picked up from the "sticky threads", but I'm sure that there are others.

So if anyone has suggestions for things that would make a good resource for others then stick a link in this thread...

Also, if anyone has any suggestions for "articles" which would make a good resource then again mention it here...

Potential Ideas...

What Scanner for Film - I know there's LOADS of threads - even if we simply write a "front end" post and a bunch of links that'd help pull things together.

Repairmen - Contacts for fixing various stuff. Again, could feature links to a few existing threads

Places to Source Cameras - including hints and tips of where to source barge-polls when considering Rocky Cameras :lol:

Sources of Film

Scanning Tips

Darkroom Printing


So, there you are, now over to you guys...
 
Could we take this as an excuse to thin out the number of stickies. It's getting a bit silly. That may just be me.
 
The only thing off the top of my head is a resource for out of print camera or equipment manuals, though that'd probably only be a link to butkus anyway. Good idea, nonetheless, and I look forward to the pruning of the stickies. (y)
 
Strappy said:
The only thing off the top of my head is a resource for out of print camera or equipment manuals, though that'd probably only be a link to butkus anyway. Good idea, nonetheless, and I look forward to the pruning of the stickies. (y)
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That's a good idea... Feel free to get stuck in and write something as an initial post, even if its just a link to Butkus's site, and maybe mir.com for the nikon stuff, commiecameras for the Fed and other russian/east german pig-iron kit...
 
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looking at the other sticky threads, lots seem to be regarding various competitions...

I'm thinking I set up a "Film Competitions" read-only thread that's sticky, and when we set up a new comp, I'll add the new threads (the entries/discussion/voting thread) to the list...

(that's my project for this rainy/windy afternoon sorted...)
 
Okay - we've now got a master list of the challenges stickied, and the individual threads have had their chewing-gum removed. So, I've swapped 5 stickies for one... that should help the clutter a little.

The initial post in the "master list" has the Current Challenge Threads in it, with a subsidiary post below for each separate challenges past threads. The long-running film challenge list may take me a while to "populate" (it's a matter of searching out the threads by challenge no., then cutting and pasting the links - not exactly arduous, but something I'd rather not sit and spend the next 3 hours in a block doing... i'll dip in and out until it's completed) but will at least then be a full record of some of the hare-brained ideas we've been out and shot...

I vaguely remember there being other challenges, wasn't there something like a "roll of film" one ?? Plus I haven't been over-active in here recently, I'll admit, so theres a good chance i've missed something... give me a shout and I'll add something :)
 
I think the 36EXP one has run it's course tbh.
 
robhooley167 said:
I think the 36EXP one has run it's course tbh.
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fair enough - I vaguely remembered a "roll of film" one because I shot it on the Perkeo (so i'd only have 12 duff pictures to post instead of 36/7/8 from the EOS3) - I just thought for the sake of completeness, I'd add in the "expired" comp's in their own post - just as a complete "competitions reference"...
 
TheBigYin said:
Okay - we've now got a master list of the challenges stickied, and the individual threads have had their chewing-gum removed. So, I've swapped 5 stickies for one... that should help the clutter a little.

The initial post in the "master list" has the Current Challenge Threads in it, with a subsidiary post below for each separate challenges past threads. The long-running film challenge list may take me a while to "populate" (it's a matter of searching out the threads by challenge no., then cutting and pasting the links - not exactly arduous, but something I'd rather not sit and spend the next 3 hours in a block doing... i'll dip in and out until it's completed) but will at least then be a full record of some of the hare-brained ideas we've been out and shot...

I vaguely remember there being other challenges, wasn't there something like a "roll of film" one ?? Plus I haven't been over-active in here recently, I'll admit, so theres a good chance i've missed something... give me a shout and I'll add something :)
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Like it much neater and still obvious.
 
TheBigYin said:
you will when I get my harris in gear and complete the list... don't hold your breath for challenge 1 or 2 just yet though...
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I'll give you a hand tomorrow when I'm stuck in the office procrastinating...
 
No need Steven, the search facility actually picks things up pretty easily...

I'd much rather everyone else focussed on the original premise of this thread and came up with some links I can turn into resources :lol:
 
The "So many developers..." thread? Much of the info may be in the "process you own" thread, but I didn't understand that part of the message when I read through it.
 
"It was getting a bit sticky, things hadn't got that sticky since sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun"
 
ChrisR said:
The "So many developers..." thread? Much of the info may be in the "process you own" thread, but I didn't understand that part of the message when I read through it.
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The Sticky one that was written by committee ? I started looking at that one earlier and didn't understand most of it either, and I had a hand in contributing to quite a bit of it... Needs scrapping and rewriting from scratch IMO, so I left it as it was until I (or someone competent) decides to do something better.
 
And - while I'm in tidy-up / organise things mode, I've now done another locked info. post with links to the various resources we've added to the forum's collective knowledge base...

Anyone else thought of something interesting to submit yet ??
 
Going out.... That can't be right, who will look after the forum:runaway:
 
Phew....:D
 
Okay - i've looked at the darkroom Books thread @simon ess and it's a good candidate, but as the initial post that actually sits in the resources block is just a question and all the "meat" of the information is in the thread it'd need a little "Mod Post" addition to @Carl Hall 's OP informing people to "check the discussion thread for the recommendations... I've asked him in the thread if he minds, and if he's happy to have the post tweaked, I'll get it "resourcified" (is that even a word??)
 
As an owner of a large forum I have to say that sticking threads is usually the best way of ensuring they don't get read.

Popular threads will always be such and will remain near the top for as long as people contribute. When they slip away, forums rely on new members asking the usual questions even if those of us who have been here a long time have seen it all before.

Example, just look at how many people contribute to these topics even though they're posted often. They are essential forum food that helps new members join in. Who comes to a forum to be given a bunch of links? I'd wager there will be more activity if we have less stickies.

That's not to say a single sticky with a sort of index is a good idea but all in all I think threads will prove their worth naturally if left to the whims of the usual display rules.

Cheers
ped
 
The original point of this thread was to actually build up the "Resources" section of the forum - which I dare say most people haven't even looked at - or at least hadn't until I started banging on about it in here...

While I agree with you about the best way to ensure nobody reads a thread is to sticky it, we do have a useful way to get worthwhile information held as a resource we can point people to... the Sticky "master thread" in here is just a second stage backup.

For example, how many threads have we had on "which scanner for..." - I think the best way we can deal with this is to have a simple "We get this question rather regularly, the consensus is that the Epson V500 is pretty much the best "bang for the buck", but if you want to read further on it, there's been a number of threads discussing it here.... (followed by a list of the threads)"

Most of those enquiry threads BTW, usually get MOVED into here, because they are posted in the "welcome" section or the general enquiries, or at a push talk equipment.... because nobody actually realises that we HAVE a film section. Maybe if we put lots of information into the Resources section, with the requisite film icon beside them, people may actually at least post in the right bit...
 
TheBigYin said:
For example, how many threads have we had on "which scanner for..." - I think the best way we can deal with this is to have a simple "We get this question rather regularly, the consensus is that the Epson V500 is pretty much the best "bang for the buck", but if you want to read further on it, there's been a number of threads discussing it here.... (followed by a list of the threads)"
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I agree that's a good way to send a user a bunch of information. If you keep an eye on the thread, though, you'll probably see members chipping in anyway and essentially creating a new thread of info. It's a weird one - I think forums lend themselves to people who like to help even at risk of repeating themselves.

On my forum for bass guitars we have people asking similar repetitive questions so much so that we have a joke 'what's the best bass for metal' which does the rounds. After trying an innovative pinning system, opening a wiki with ALL the FAQs and basics laid out, people keep on asking because they want fresh information from the users, and pinned threads never quite answer the exact angle or point the OP is looking for!

So I agree a thread of interesting topics is useful to point people to, but I'd be surprised if the threads remain active or used by any new members in the same way.
 
It probably helps attract new members if they ask questions and get answers rather than having all the information available and being told to rtfm when they ask.

Buuuut it is helpful to have this, whether for reference for long standing members or helping folk who might not initially be chatty.
 
ped said:
...On my forum for bass guitars we have people asking similar repetitive questions so much so that we have a joke 'what's the best bass for metal' which does the rounds.
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I think everywhere has that sort of post, I know on Singletrackworld (MTB Forum) the running joke thread was "What Tyres for..."

I doubt anyone will get a simple "RTFM" post Steven, we're not that way inclined - but it's a nice easy way to start things...

"Well - the basics of this have been covered in great detail within XXXX... however, for your specifics, i'd have a look at..."

and of course, for the regulars, it also provides a bit of a bookmark store in case we forget where our original data sources were...
 
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