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Subject: One Forum To Rule Them All (Brought To You By Tagging)

Basically, I make the best topics ever.

Feedback!
Duardo: This thread is locked for being stupid.
cortana 5 : It's perpetually my time of the month and I'm just grouchy.
Foman: I see absolutely no reason, either theoretical or practical, that this is not a superb idea. Excellent work, my friend.

Disclaimer: I've been pondering this idea for a while, and I would just like to state that I realize that this feature isn't really essential nor will it necessarily improve functionality. I almost didn't even create this topic because it's more experimental and idealistic than practical, but I'd still like to get the Community's feedback on it.
THE IDEA
The basic premise of this idea is to replace the current forums with one forum with every topic in it. Now before you guys go all crazy on me, there would be filters so that you would only see the posts you're interested in. Say you wanted to browse The Community and The Flood at the same time, you could set the filters to sift out everything that is not tagged with those two key words. In addition, the filter would include a search function (much like the search bar we already have) that filters through topic content to find certain words or phrases.

TECHNICALITIES
The system would operate like so:
1. User creates topic. Between their body and the 'functionality' buttons, there would be another field that allowed the user to check the topics that their thread is relevant to (i.e. Community, Reach, Off-Topic, etc.). There would also be a custom field in which the poster could add whatever tags they wish.

2. After topic is posted, all users would see it on the forum page without filters. Say a user wanted to filter the topics they can see, they would alter the filter where the forum banner currently is. There would be check boxes for each of the main topics (community, universe, flood, reach, halo 3, optimatch, gallery, etc.), a field to type in other custom tags, as well as a search bar that would go through and filter by thread content. This would also include a 'match all' or 'match one' option.

3. After the filter is applied, topics are only shown that relate to the user's specified criteria.

4. Once a topic is clicked on, there is a drop down menu under the post title that shows the metadata for the topic (main topics, tags, creation date, etc.)
Obviously this would require a complete overhaul of the current system and probably isn't practical, but do you think this would be beneficial or just cause problems?

BENEFITS:
-Can view multiple forums at the same time.
-Search bar is more useful/obvious.
-Posting to more than one forum if applicable (i.e. ideas about site improvement for game tracking. This would apply to both the game in question's forum and the community forum.)
-Easier moderation with off topic posts (Instead of locking or moving a topic if it's in the wrong 'forum' a ninja would simply change the tags.)
-Greater unity among the forums (No longer would we have Floodians or 'Reach N00Bs' because they would all be in the same 'forum')
-Greater visibility for underrated forums (Posts in the News, Universe, or Gallery forums would no longer be ignored since they would show up on the front page with all the others.)

DRAWBACKS
-Potential for abuse.
-Spam now could be sent to all forums (a way to limit this would be to limit the number of topics a thread could be in)
-Could get crowded.

TL;DR
HEY! LET'S MAKE ON FORUM WITH FILTERS WHERE WE CAN SEE ONLY WHAT WE WANT TO!

NOTE: Again, I know we don't NEED this, but I'm still interested in The Community's thoughts on this subject. Would it improve things? Would it make things easier? Is it even practical (for a site update way in the future)? Try to steer away from the fact that this idea probably won't happen soon and ask what it would be like if it were implemented.

  • 01.07.2012 11:25 AM PDT

Deviant Art: http://exaltedkezia.deviantart.com/
Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/exaltedkezia
Battlelog: http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3/user/Exalted_Kezia/

In wine there's truth but in silence there's surrender.


Posted by: sharpace77
we don't NEED this

  • 01.07.2012 11:27 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

A lot of newer members struggle with the relatively easy concept of posting in the right forum; I predict a system like this would be vastly more difficult for them.

  • 01.07.2012 11:28 AM PDT

Theme Builder 4.1 is out for Bungie.net!

Theme Builders

Sounds great in theory, but in practice it would probably be terrible...

  • 01.07.2012 11:31 AM PDT

@spawn031

"So much of what we do is ephemeral and quickly forgotten, even by ourselves, so it's gratifying to have something you have done linger in people's memories." John Williams

We already have that.

You see, the entire website is essentially one forum. I use this to navigate what content I want to see. So in a sense the Community drop bar is our "filter".

$0.02

  • 01.07.2012 11:34 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Legendary Member

Exalted Unexplainable Member

I agree with Alec. Although, like many feature ideas, you can never tell until you try them, but you might also regret trying them.
Posted by: Alec9224
A lot of newer members struggle with the relatively easy concept of posting in the right forum; I predict a system like this would be vastly more difficult for them.

  • 01.07.2012 11:54 AM PDT
  • gamertag: iBIind
  • user homepage:

Whoo.

I don't like it.

  • 01.07.2012 11:57 AM PDT

In a time long past, the armies of the dark came again to the lands of men. Their leaders became known as the fallen lords, and their terrible sorcery was without equal in the west.
In 30 years they reduced the civilized nations into carrion and ash. Until the free city of Madrigal alone defined them. An army gathered there, and a desperate battle was joined against the fallen
Heros were born in the fire and bloodshed of the wars which followed and their names and deeds will never be forgotten


Posted by: Alec9224
A lot of newer members struggle with the relatively easy concept of posting in the right forum; I predict a system like this would be vastly more difficult for them.


I have been here for over 2 years and I find this idea confusing.

  • 01.07.2012 11:58 AM PDT


Posted by: spawn031
We already have that.

You see, the entire website is essentially one forum. I use this to navigate what content I want to see. So in a sense the Community drop bar is our "filter".

$0.02
However, you cannot see multiple forums at once.

Say you want to post on the Community forum, and the Bungie Universe forum, if this was implemented, it would allow you to do so without switching back and forth.

  • 01.07.2012 11:59 AM PDT

In a time long past, the armies of the dark came again to the lands of men. Their leaders became known as the fallen lords, and their terrible sorcery was without equal in the west.
In 30 years they reduced the civilized nations into carrion and ash. Until the free city of Madrigal alone defined them. An army gathered there, and a desperate battle was joined against the fallen
Heros were born in the fire and bloodshed of the wars which followed and their names and deeds will never be forgotten


Posted by: insaneAssass1n9

Posted by: spawn031
We already have that.

You see, the entire website is essentially one forum. I use this to navigate what content I want to see. So in a sense the Community drop bar is our "filter".

$0.02
However, you cannot see multiple forums at once.

Say you want to post on the Community forum, and the Bungie Universe forum, if this was implemented, it would allow you to do so without switching back and forth.


I don't want to see multiple forums at once, that is confusing.

I like having the lines drawn on when and where to post.

If I want to post in the universe forum, I post in Universe forum. Same goes for the community forum.

You want to have an "action sack" forum of like 15 different things going on and it will be super confusing. I like how the forums are set up now and they are some of the cleanest and well polished forums on the internet.

[Edited on 01.07.2012 12:02 PM PST]

  • 01.07.2012 12:01 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Well, here we are. I guess that it was destined to come to this.

With adequate content descriptions, tags, and decent search, filter and sort functions, creating folder hierarchies are not required in email, forums, computer file system or any large collection of retrievable data.

But try telling that to people who make hundreds of specific folders in Outlook or on their PC in order to stay organized.

  • 01.07.2012 12:04 PM PDT

“Oh, it’s a little bit of everything, it’s the mountains, it’s the fog, it’s the news at six o’clock, it’s the death of my first dog, it’s the angels up above me, it’s the song that they don’t sing, It’s a little bit of everything.”
- Dawes, A little bit of everything

That's quite a novel idea!

I can see it being very confusing to newcomers, though, and it seems to have some drawbacks as you have mentioned. Sadly, I think the drawbacks outweigh the positives, as the ability to post shock site links to a larger audience seems like a quite appealing target for the people who already do that sort of thing.

If at all possible, I would like to see this attempted somewhere. Not to sound cliche or like a broken record, but Xbox.com might benefit from this. For example, a user could tag a post with "Halo: Reach, Looking for players, Co-op Campaign" and quickly find people to play with. Now that's a poor example as I imagine there's already a stickied thread for the same purpose in the Reach forum, but a new user may find it easier to search for those tags than going to the Reach forum and finding the stickied topics.

To summarize, I like the idea, but it seems to open to abuse. It seems like a new way of thinking, and I like that, but I am also someone who meticulously labels just about everything on my desktop and has every file organized in specific folders that are named so that they appear in an easy to manage fashion (like "01 - School Work", through "11 - Game Files"). The traditional system seems to work fine.

  • 01.07.2012 12:06 PM PDT

Citizens of Me! The cruelty of the old Pharaoh is a thing of the past. Let a whole new wave of cruelty wash over this lazy land.

Hear the word of Pharaoh. Build unto me a statue of ridiculous proportion. One billion cubits in height......that I might be remembered for all eternity!

And be quick about it!

Don't like that idea. Bungie.net has the easiest layout on the web, with that implemented it would be one of the most difficult.

And I want to be a Floodian.

  • 01.07.2012 12:07 PM PDT

Citizens of Me! The cruelty of the old Pharaoh is a thing of the past. Let a whole new wave of cruelty wash over this lazy land.

Hear the word of Pharaoh. Build unto me a statue of ridiculous proportion. One billion cubits in height......that I might be remembered for all eternity!

And be quick about it!

Posted by: insaneAssass1n9

Posted by: spawn031
We already have that.

You see, the entire website is essentially one forum. I use this to navigate what content I want to see. So in a sense the Community drop bar is our "filter".

$0.02
However, you cannot see multiple forums at once.

Say you want to post on the Community forum, and the Bungie Universe forum, if this was implemented, it would allow you to do so without switching back and forth.


Just use tabs.

  • 01.07.2012 12:08 PM PDT

Citizens of Me! The cruelty of the old Pharaoh is a thing of the past. Let a whole new wave of cruelty wash over this lazy land.

Hear the word of Pharaoh. Build unto me a statue of ridiculous proportion. One billion cubits in height......that I might be remembered for all eternity!

And be quick about it!

Posted by: Recon Number 54
With adequate content descriptions, tags, and decent search, filter and sort functions, creating folder hierarchies are not required in email, forums, computer file system or any large collection of retrievable data.

But try telling that to people who make hundreds of specific folders in Outlook or on their PC in order to stay organized.


Tell me about it, I have probably hundreds, even thousands of folders for organization. Perhaps because you can't tag BMPs.

  • 01.07.2012 12:10 PM PDT


Posted by: spartain ken 15

Posted by: insaneAssass1n9

Posted by: spawn031
We already have that.

You see, the entire website is essentially one forum. I use this to navigate what content I want to see. So in a sense the Community drop bar is our "filter".

$0.02
However, you cannot see multiple forums at once.

Say you want to post on the Community forum, and the Bungie Universe forum, if this was implemented, it would allow you to do so without switching back and forth.


I don't want to see multiple forums at once, that is confusing.

I like having the lines drawn on when and where to post.

If I want to post in the universe forum, I post in Universe forum. Same goes for the community forum.

You want to have an "action sack" forum of like 15 different things going on and it will be super confusing. I like how the forums are set up now and they are some of the cleanest and well polished forums on the internet.
That is the thing tough, some people don't like having to switch back and forth. With this feature, you both can have what you want.

  • 01.07.2012 12:14 PM PDT

In a time long past, the armies of the dark came again to the lands of men. Their leaders became known as the fallen lords, and their terrible sorcery was without equal in the west.
In 30 years they reduced the civilized nations into carrion and ash. Until the free city of Madrigal alone defined them. An army gathered there, and a desperate battle was joined against the fallen
Heros were born in the fire and bloodshed of the wars which followed and their names and deeds will never be forgotten


Posted by: insaneAssass1n9
That is the thing tough, some people don't like having to switch back and forth. With this feature, you both can have what you want.


I don't know anyone who doesn't like switching back and forth between forums. They are there for our own convince. There is no possible way all this information, threads, and topics can be in 1 forum.

It is perfect the way it is. People should just learn to post in the correct forums.

  • 01.07.2012 12:16 PM PDT


Posted by: spartain ken 15

Posted by: insaneAssass1n9
That is the thing tough, some people don't like having to switch back and forth. With this feature, you both can have what you want.


I don't know anyone who doesn't like switching back and forth between forums. They are there for our own convince. There is no possible way all this information, threads, and topics can be in 1 forum.

It is perfect the way it is. People should just learn to post in the correct forums.
I am in no way agreeing with the op's idea. But, it sounds like to me you are being unreasonable.

You say that there is absolutely no way that all the forums could accurately and efficiently be put into one forum. I can tell you right now, that statement is false.

With the right system and the proper work put into setting it up, it could work.

You should give every idea a chance and not just refuse it without thinking about the benefits.

  • 01.07.2012 12:23 PM PDT

// Chapter
// My PC


2/15/12: Francisco Porras, I'll miss you. Rest in Peace.

Just to let you know I didn't read through whole OP.
How about just adding one forum to the drop box that says all forums, and it's exactly what it is. In addition to that, we could just keep the others where they are at, kind of like how reddit is set up.

  • 01.07.2012 12:24 PM PDT

“Oh, it’s a little bit of everything, it’s the mountains, it’s the fog, it’s the news at six o’clock, it’s the death of my first dog, it’s the angels up above me, it’s the song that they don’t sing, It’s a little bit of everything.”
- Dawes, A little bit of everything


Posted by: GPK Ethan
Just to let you know I didn't read through whole OP.
How about just adding one forum to the drop box that says all forums, and it's exactly what it is. In addition to that, we could just keep the others where they are at, kind of like how reddit is set up.
This suggestion could be tailored down slightly and instead of an "All Forums" button one could simply view the most recent posts (say the most recent 50-100 posts on Bungie.net's public forums).

  • 01.07.2012 12:26 PM PDT

// Chapter
// My PC


2/15/12: Francisco Porras, I'll miss you. Rest in Peace.

Posted by: Kickimanjaro
Posted by: GPK Ethan
This suggestion could be tailored down slightly and instead of an "All Forums" button one could simply view the most recent posts (say the most recent 50-100 posts on Bungie.net's public forums).

I like that better. Do it Bungie!

  • 01.07.2012 12:28 PM PDT

@spawn031

"So much of what we do is ephemeral and quickly forgotten, even by ourselves, so it's gratifying to have something you have done linger in people's memories." John Williams

Posted by: Kickimanjaro

Posted by: GPK Ethan
Just to let you know I didn't read through whole OP.
How about just adding one forum to the drop box that says all forums, and it's exactly what it is. In addition to that, we could just keep the others where they are at, kind of like how reddit is set up.
This suggestion could be tailored down slightly and instead of an "All Forums" button one could simply view the most recent posts (say the most recent 50-100 posts on Bungie.net's public forums).

So like this?

Even if the only major benifit would be seeing multiple forums at once, I could just simply open another tab. I'm not completely against the idea, but I think with the current features already implemented on bnet, it's a bit of a waste to go through all that work for something that's already possible now.

I like having separate forums in different URL's. You could argue that this is also a way of seeing separate forums (which it is), but ultimately it's more work and time for the webteam on something we already have.

It's like driving to your favorite restaurant with some friends only to discover that there is a road blocked off. You could simply go another direction. But once the road is fixed you can go back the normal route. It ultimately is the same thing both ways. Just more work for less payout :/

  • 01.07.2012 12:55 PM PDT

I think this is a really kewl idea.

  • 01.07.2012 1:36 PM PDT

Basically, I make the best topics ever.

Feedback!
Duardo: This thread is locked for being stupid.
cortana 5 : It's perpetually my time of the month and I'm just grouchy.
Foman: I see absolutely no reason, either theoretical or practical, that this is not a superb idea. Excellent work, my friend.

Posted by: spawn031
Posted by: Kickimanjaro
Posted by: GPK Ethan
Just to let you know I didn't read through whole OP.
How about just adding one forum to the drop box that says all forums, and it's exactly what it is. In addition to that, we could just keep the others where they are at, kind of like how reddit is set up.
This suggestion could be tailored down slightly and instead of an "All Forums" button one could simply view the most recent posts (say the most recent 50-100 posts on Bungie.net's public forums).

So like this?

Even if the only major benifit would be seeing multiple forums at once, I could just simply open another tab. I'm not completely against the idea, but I think with the current features already implemented on bnet, it's a bit of a waste to go through all that work for something that's already possible now.

I like having separate forums in different URL's. You could argue that this is also a way of seeing separate forums (which it is), but ultimately it's more work and time for the webteam on something we already have.

It's like driving to your favorite restaurant with some friends only to discover that there is a road blocked off. You could simply go another direction. But once the road is fixed you can go back the normal route. It ultimately is the same thing both ways. Just more work for less payout :/
First off, the point isn't to have every forum in the same place, but to give the user greater control over what they're seeing. As Recon said, you don't really need hierarchies if you have the necessary tools to find what you need. Unfortunately, most users here seem opposed to the concept of doing away with the hierarchies, which I can understand.

As I said in the OP, I know this idea is unrealistic. That's pretty obvious. But most of you are missing the point: would a tagging and filter system allow for more reliable and efficient browsing of this site? This idea is NOT going to happen at any point, I can promise you that. But what this idea does do is present the possibility of an entirely new system that hasn't really been done before. There are drawbacks to every system, but they key is optimization and finding the right balance between positives and negatives.

As for the whole "Every thing's fine the way it is, the web team has bigger issues" concept, don't you realize how flawed that ideology is? I can understand if you simply don't like the idea, but to shoot it down because 'things are fine' is simply silly. Things have always been 'fine.' But the point here is to make them better, to find ways of improving upon the current system and providing users with greater control of their browsing experience.

  • 01.07.2012 2:09 PM PDT

Are you serious? Has this forum been infected with so much stupidity that people can't even take the initiative that we don't give a -blam!- about "we don't need it" posts, because they're counterproductive? No suggestion is necessary, moron; you can't discredit an idea with such an imbecilic remark. This doesn't focus on the feature itself, these posts focus moreso on its degree of necessity, which is often nil. Screw PMs, all of the jackasses that say this should see my pretty little PSA.
Posted by: Exalted Kezia

Posted by: sharpace77
we don't NEED this

Anyway, OP, I like this idea to a degree. However, this would mean that we'd have to trust people to tag their posts correctly, and it has been demonstrated multiple times that people are either too stupid or lazy or what-have-you to do something. If we can't even rely on people to give a relevant answer to the topic at hand, we certainly can't rely on them to tag their threads correctly. Not to mention the fact that trolls that make threads would be visible to all. If this were implemented, I have to say that an option to ignore/hide threads individually would also be desirable as well to go hand-in-hand with this layout.

  • 01.07.2012 2:14 PM PDT

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