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These are the messages that have been posted on inthe00s over the past few years.
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Subject: Why I haven't started any new sections on amIright in a long time now
Written By: ChuckyG on 04/27/10 at 1:46 pm
Two reasons
1) Structure of the navigation menu getting too long
2) Lack of volunteers (editors) to review new entries
For the first point, once upon a time I was all set to begin rolling out a new section every week. I still have a huge list of ideas in my notebook for that. I wasn't sure however, on what impact that would have on finding things on the site. The drop down menus are already pretty long for most of the sections.
The second point is the real killer though. Without volunteers to review new stuff as it comes in, it's really pointless to start new sections. As it is I can't even keep the misheard lyrics section staffed, people just keep burning out due to the sheer number of submissions.
Subject: Re: Why I haven't started any new sections on amIright in a long time now
Written By: DJ Blaze on 04/28/10 at 8:14 pm
Two reasons
1) Structure of the navigation menu getting too long
2) Lack of volunteers (editors) to review new entries
For the first point, once upon a time I was all set to begin rolling out a new section every week. I still have a huge list of ideas in my notebook for that. I wasn't sure however, on what impact that would have on finding things on the site. The drop down menus are already pretty long for most of the sections.
The second point is the real killer though. Without volunteers to review new stuff as it comes in, it's really pointless to start new sections. As it is I can't even keep the misheard lyrics section staffed, people just keep burning out due to the sheer number of submissions.
Yes, I haven't updated the misheard lyrics in forever. Once school is out I'll try harder. I already feel like I'm the worst editor on the site, but this summer I'll try to redeem myself.
Subject: Re: Why I haven't started any new sections on amIright in a long time now
Written By: ChuckyG on 04/28/10 at 10:16 pm
Yes, I haven't updated the misheard lyrics in forever. Once school is out I'll try harder. I already feel like I'm the worst editor on the site, but this summer I'll try to redeem myself.
it's ok... because as I mention, you're not the only editor on that section. everyone's equally bad on that one >grin<
Subject: Re: Why I haven't started any new sections on amIright in a long time now
Written By: nally on 04/28/10 at 10:20 pm
it's ok... because as I mention, you're not the only editor on that section. everyone's equally bad on that one >grin<
And I notice there's only been one update on them this month. I've still been going through the existing ones (removing duplicates, bogus bands/songs/etc, and taking care of corrections as they come).
Subject: Re: Why I haven't started any new sections on amIright in a long time now
Written By: Tommy Turtle on 06/25/10 at 5:14 pm
1) Structure of the navigation menu getting too long
Call me a Luddite, but it's theoretically possible to ditch the javascript mouseovers and go back to plain HTML links, in a single column down (say) the left side (or across the top, if the ads require real-estate width), for each master category. Click master category = similar list of HTML links for the subcategories. Piece of cake to write, update, modify, etc. :) (The sudden jack-in-the-box pop-out of a mouseover menu while the pointer moves across the screen is a distraction to this ADD-le-brained one, but that's a personal problem. ;) )
I don't have an answer to the volunteer shortage (barely time to *write* anymore, myself), except maybe to offer some payment, if the expansion of the site brings in corresponding revenue. I know that's not likely.
Subject: Re: Why I haven't started any new sections on amIright in a long time now
Written By: ChuckyG on 06/25/10 at 10:01 pm
Call me a Luddite, but it's theoretically possible to ditch the javascript mouseovers and go back to plain HTML links, in a single column down (say) the left side (or across the top, if the ads require real-estate width), for each master category. Click master category = similar list of HTML links for the subcategories. Piece of cake to write, update, modify, etc. :) (The sudden jack-in-the-box pop-out of a mouseover menu while the pointer moves across the screen is a distraction to this ADD-le-brained one, but that's a personal problem. ;) )
Everything the links down the left side should be found in the navigation menus on the right side. Just broken down by section instead. Now that I've made the right nav-bar area larger maybe I should make the category titles longer. I guess I could do some AJAX magic and make the other sections appear when you click a major category. That might make things a wee-bit better.
I still need to revisit the site design soon. The current design is just a "temporary" stepping stone that seems to be hanging around a lot longer than I had hoped for. I've been too caught up in other projects, most of them left over from the addition I put on my house.
I don't have an answer to the volunteer shortage (barely time to *write* anymore, myself), except maybe to offer some payment, if the expansion of the site brings in corresponding revenue. I know that's not likely.
I'm sure additional sections might bring in a little more revenue, but until I come up with a better review model or more volunteers, adding onto the site just doesn't seem like a good idea at the moment. At one point I was going to begin adding a new section every week, even drew up a list of about a year's worth of sections. The other problem also becomes the menu navigation structure begins to get a bit unwieldy if you begin adding a few dozen more links in there.
Subject: Re: Why I haven't started any new sections on amIright in a long time now
Written By: Tommy Turtle on 06/26/10 at 3:47 am
Sorry, I just now saw that the "Misc" dropdown matches the "Misc" links on the right, and that indeed, the other dropdowns do map to *somewhere* on the right side. I personally rarely scroll past the "Latest Parodies", which ends about where the list of Editors ends... and as I don't use the other features, not really qualified to offer suggestions.
Tough call, between making for compact, quick navigation vs. having as many attention-getters as possible on home page. One possible idea on "Site Map" -- when clicked, it's a long scroll. Many sites don't have the descriptions, just the titles, and sometimes in tree-view mode. Makes for a more compact map, and many of the titles are self-explanatory, or could be made so with just another word or two. If this were done, then perhaps "Site Map" could be featured more prominently -- "See our full list of site features here!" .... just brainstorming some ideas. ....
Alphabetize the "latest page updates", just as "Misc" is alphabetized? Peeps are used to that, for fast searching.
And you could save two lines by the fact that Karen and ChuckyG are listed twice under Editors -- or is that deliberate? ;D
Subject: Re: Why I haven't started any new sections on amIright in a long time now
Written By: ChuckyG on 06/26/10 at 11:44 am
Sorry, I just now saw that the "Misc" dropdown matches the "Misc" links on the right, and that indeed, the other dropdowns do map to *somewhere* on the right side. I personally rarely scroll past the "Latest Parodies", which ends about where the list of Editors ends... and as I don't use the other features, not really qualified to offer suggestions.
Tough call, between making for compact, quick navigation vs. having as many attention-getters as possible on home page. One possible idea on "Site Map" -- when clicked, it's a long scroll. Many sites don't have the descriptions, just the titles, and sometimes in tree-view mode. Makes for a more compact map, and many of the titles are self-explanatory, or could be made so with just another word or two. If this were done, then perhaps "Site Map" could be featured more prominently -- "See our full list of site features here!" .... just brainstorming some ideas. ....
Alphabetize the "latest page updates", just as "Misc" is alphabetized? Peeps are used to that, for fast searching.
And you could save two lines by the fact that Karen and ChuckyG are listed twice under Editors -- or is that deliberate? ;D
all good suggestions. I'll have to spend some time on a site redesign this summer. I'm sure the pressure will lighten up a bit for me after this week and I can spend some more time working on it again.
Subject: Re: Why I haven't started any new sections on amIright in a long time now
Written By: DJ Blaze on 06/26/10 at 8:40 pm
all good suggestions. I'll have to spend some time on a site redesign this summer. I'm sure the pressure will lighten up a bit for me after this week and I can spend some more time working on it again.
Good luck on site updates.
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