Where is Blu-ray.com headed?

[gearyt]

Noobies are a problem, and always will be.. they leap before they learn to run..ok.... live with it. It took me a while to get the hang of it too. I came here to research and stayed.. IF a noobie cannot post, how does he ask for help. he can't, he gets frustrated, thinks we are a "stoopid" site and leaves.
This is not what we are here for nor what we desire.. patience is a vertue or so they say. This site should be about the technology, ever changing, and not the war - soon to be over

geary

[JimPullan]

Many years ago, a TV series called 'Dragnet' had Detective Joe Friday always saying "just the facts, ma'm", though the drama was interesting, his approach was "Dull". I became bored with it, just because of that.

Though we may be able to assist and guide a new member with product information, understanding, based upon our experience, we don't have to be like Joe Friday. I have, beyond a vast knowledge of products, a Passion and love for this industry, as difficult as it may be sometimes, be it from the manufacturers, distributors, or the consumer. This passion shows in every conversation I have with a customer or presentation I make, or in the explanation of technology. I thrive on this and enjoy every moment, with anxious anticipation of what's just over the horizon, that new technology that will amaze the consumer, be it visually or aubibly.

So, I personally, look forward to contributing here, now and in the future, knowing we just made a consumer pleased and is enjoying 21 Century technology products, amazed at what they are seeing and hearing.

Will you join me? The journey is not over !!! [Jim]

[iceman]

Originally Posted by greekjgg

The congestion on this forum is no different then any popular forum. Originally it was made up of mostly early adoptors and that led to great discussions. With blu becoming the main attraction, we are now adding to it the first of the mass adopters.

ANy popular forum is like driving down the highway.

1. THere will ALWAYS be somebody driving in the fast lane that shouldn't be
2. There will ALWAYS be spectactors who slow down to look at the accident
3. There will ALWAYS be somebody that is talking on their cell phone not paying attention and missing important information.

There is NOTHING you can do about this except to DEAL WITH IT. What your wanting to do in a sense is drive with a gun and shoot anyone who gets in your way.

Unfortunately you are quite right, as we speak someone just posted this:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=31124

[maximiza]

There will always be something to talk about regarding this HD BLU-RAY Standard. PC games on blu, blu burners, blu cam corders etc, etc.

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by DrinkMore

I agree. My post does not reflect that as usual because my wording is inadequate. As for LATEST and GREATEST hard hitting who is where in the format war - blu-ray.com will be useless at that point. HOWEVER - it will remain the pinnacle place to get any and all info related to blu-ray and how it works and what kind of equipment and so on.

Then again, it's a double edged sword. If blu-ray.com expects to stay booming, they will need to adapt - add new categories to supplement the lack of news or whatever if that makes sense? You can only talk about something so much before it becomes redundant. Without any new stimulation - things become stagnant and die off.

Of which point should do we all just try and make this some sort of social outlet to meet people and discuss our personal lifes to no end? Because that is pretty much how you've treated the boards since day one, like they are useless for Blu-ray related material. I totally disagree, and think this board will always serve a informative purpose on all things blu-ray/hometheater.

[DrinkMore]

Originally Posted by BTBuck1

Of which point should do we all just try and make this some sort of social outlet to meet people and discuss our personal lifes to no end? Because that is pretty much how you've treated the boards since day one, like they are useless for Blu-ray related material. I totally disagree, and think this board will always serve a informative purpose on all things blu-ray/hometheater.

It's ok buck. I know you are unhappy with your life and you are venting on others. I am here if you need some help and advice buddy

[JimPullan]

I wanted to comment on what I'm about to say below, after my earlier post, but refrained to do so, got offline, thought about it, and I'm going to say it:

In my opinion, as we move forward on this site, there are three things, I believe, are important for all of us here to embrace or at least think about.

There will be people coming here who will certainly be uninformed, uneducated about what 'we' know so much about, and we may see their questions as so fundimental, that to us they appear stupid. We need to realize that for everything there is a beginning, and many will start here. We will need to exercize restraint, patience, and humility. The last being the hardest, that though we were too once the uninformed, that our emassing of knowledge does not give us liberty to ridicule or put down the novice. Simply meet them at 'where they are' and bring them forward without destroying their zeal along the way. So, for what it's worth, that's my two cents! [Jim]

[iceman]

Good post and ideas again Jim

As a first step we've added "FAQ" next to the "Forum" on the main menu. By placing the "FAQ" next to the "Forum", newbies will hopefully see and click it before going to the forum. We will also try to expand the FAQ a lot to help members and to offload the forum. If any of you want to participate in creating Q/As for the FAQ, feel more than welcome... we are amassed with things to do right now

[DrinkMore]

Originally Posted by Iceman

Good post and ideas again Jim

As a first step we've added "FAQ" next to the "Forum" on the main menu. By placing the "FAQ" next to the "Forum", newbies will hopefully see and click it before going to the forum. We will also try to expand the FAQ a lot to help members and to offload the forum. If any of you want to participate in creating Q/As for the FAQ, feel more than welcome... we are amassed with things to do right now

Why not just go one step further and make the FORUM button go to FAQ and the FAQ button go to FORUM. Lol. Might do the trick

[greekjgg]

Originally Posted by Iceman

Good post and ideas again Jim

As a first step we've added "FAQ" next to the "Forum" on the main menu. By placing the "FAQ" next to the "Forum", newbies will hopefully see and click it before going to the forum. We will also try to expand the FAQ a lot to help members and to offload the forum. If any of you want to participate in creating Q/As for the FAQ, feel more than welcome... we are amassed with things to do right now

This is like expecting people to read the instruction manual first!! Never happens!!

Or my favorite!! Where are the restrooms? (While standing under the sign!)

[JimPullan]

Some see a glass as half empty, other half full, some only see obstacles, others opportunities. With all the negative comments so far, are there not any optomists on this Forum . . . . [Jim]

[DrinkMore]

Originally Posted by JimPullan

Some see a glass as half empty, other half full, some only see obstacles, others opportunities. With all the negative comments so far, are there not any optomists on this Forum . . . . [Jim]

Nope, just realists

[iceman]

We've also revised the forum rules and among other things added a rule against post whoring, for some reason it wasn't covered before

[owa]

Originally Posted by greekjgg

The real problem!!

I think the main reason there is a lot of many repeat threads is the fact that there is a most recent threads viewer at the bottom right of the home page.

You only see like the 15 most recent ones of ALL the categories. Most people just cruise this list in general and miss a lot of the REPEAT threads. I know that is what I NORMALLY do. However, when I want to START a thread. You have to click on forum and then the appropriate subject. It is there that I check to see if somebody posted the information first.

As conveinient as this little tracker is, I believe it adds to all the confusion to this board sometimes.

Actually, I thought it was the opposite of that. I'd guess that most people hang out on the forum page and just don't look through all the threads before posting since there are so many. If they hung out on the front page and watched the most recent threads, they'd see the common threads already. I don't know how many times I've seen someone post something when that tracker was already showing 1 or 2 threads on the very subject they just posted. I always wondered how could they miss that and finally came to the conclusion they weren't monitoring the site from the front page.

Anyway, I love the most recent threads section on the front page. It makes it pretty easy to follow what's going on.

[iceman]

Originally Posted by owa

Anyway, I love the most recent threads section on the front page. It makes it pretty easy to follow what's going on.

I increased the number of forum posts on the front page from 20 to 40. In the future we can even divide it in different sections and make it customizable by the user.

[mgonzo2u]

Originally Posted by GasCat

I used to love the boards here. You could post and follow a thread.
Conversations took place and friends were made. Right now the forum has reached a stage where it is too large.

We are met with the overzealous moderation due to immature posters. We also have over-reactive posters like those found on AVS demanding everything be deleted acting as if they were the MPAA ratings board.

It's odd on one hand you have a board like slashdot where nothing is really discussed just a flippant comments are made. On the other side you have people who do not want to have any discussion on certain subjects and demand removal.

Is this the sad fate of all boards and once tight communities? I thank the administrators here for the space to speak. It was a very refreshing change from other forums pro-HD-DVD.

Perhaps you can make a "Veterans of the War" board with posting limited? I don't know. What is the future of Blu-Ray.com going to look like? Maybe others here are also concerned and would love to know the direction. Perhaps this thread could be a vehicle for that.

Goodbye and thanks again. It was fun. For myself, this place isn't worth it to be here at this time.

When you create the next great website, please let me know.

Thanks and bon voyage.

[venusiansky]

It can be a double-edged sword. You want people of like minds to come and socialize and share opinions on related topics. However, there are people that spend far too much time abusing threads and posting nonsense. By going private, you may leave a negative impression on newer, or potential new members that may have something good to offer. It may give off the "members only", "we are too exclusive for you" vibe.

[SouthernBluBelle]

Originally Posted by Iceman

I increased the number of forum posts on the front page from 20 to 40. In the future we can even divide it in different sections and make it customizable by the user.

Excellent! Thanks!

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by DrinkMore

As with all things - it reaches a critical mass at some point and "explodes". After that it's a downwards trend. Once Blu-Ray is mainstream and all studios support it - this wonderful site will pretty much become useless. No offense.

In all honesty, how many people spend their days on DVD forums talking about new releases and new "editions" of the same movie? Not many. I would rather not and just buy movies


EDIT: I also think everyone here should be reset back to 0. Start from scratch. Quit a few people - the ones that cause problems - will leave because all they care about is how many posts they have.

lol Mwahahaha I'll catch up to you ... on the other note, I think it'll be alright maybe a little tighter guidelines for the new guy's maybe like 200 posts in the newbie section b4 they can move to the big one's, lol what do I know its a good site and until I see it become a mad house im staying put

Originally Posted by Iceman

Unfortunately you are quite right, as we speak someone just posted this:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=31124

lol I dont know how you havent gone nuts Ice a couple 1000 of those and Id be in the looney bin

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by Iceman

I increased the number of forum posts on the front page from 20 to 40.

Thanks, very useful .. and sort of necessary for your next part to be worth the effort in terms of usability IMO...

Originally Posted by Iceman

In the future we can even divide it in different sections and make it customizable by the user.

This would be my #1 request in terms of navigating the site ... I was thinking the customizable part would out of the question to ask for .. so even more awesome.