20 replies to this topic

[Quad KiT]

Have you noticed that almost every news website these days have a place for members, or in some cases, non members to comment on the story or what they thought of the story? Usually these are marked with Recent comments at the end of an article and a button inviting you to "post your own."

I think it allows members to respond directly to articles plus it gets involvement in the articles allowing for direct feedback. As I was reading through some of the current issue I couldn't help catching myself talking about the articles and thought, it would be fun to share this with others directly on this page. It makes for a nice living comment document. For instance, the picture of Antman on the Wildwood report, I could post some comments there! And in articles that teach you or point out ways for improvement you could ask for some follow up and then create a forum topic out of it.

IMO, the more you can get people interacting and involved with the content, the more useful the information will be.

Just my two cents... I enjoy the articles and will continue to even if everyone thinks this is a bad idea.

[John Barresi]

You know Kris, this is an AWESOME suggestion... Something I'd considered before.

Problem is, Kitelife Magazine is done in static HTML... To do something like this, I'd have to convert everything into dynamic (database-driven).

Aside from the work involved, that in itself isn't so bad... But, you can't break static pages... Databases always run the chance of going wonky.

So, duly noted... Agreed... But... Not this time around.

I've got a lot of other stuff that needs doing "around the house" at Kitelife, but I just don't have the time.

[ilh]

Couldn't you just have a sub-forum on here devoted to articles? When you make a new article, have a link to a new forum thread about it down at the bottom. I've seen sites done this way without needing any fancy dynamic HTML. Then, lively discussions generally ensue in the forums about each article.

--Lee

[John Barresi]

I'd tried this more than a year ago, and didn't get much response at all... I was disappointed, to say the least.

The other thing that ends up happening, is a whole bunch of empty threads for articles when they aren't replied to.

My biggest issue is that all actual site creation, changes, maintenance, etc is 100% done by yours truly... Plus all the other sites I manage for others.

If someone was interested in an unpaid position with Kitelife, handling little things, I might reconsider.

[Spence Watson]

I'll do it! I'm only 15 years old, but I'm a computer nerd!

[John Barresi]

Watty... Have you ever worked with HTML coding, or semi-large sites?

[Spence Watson]

I've taken a class that involved creating and managing online websites last year. Also I own a small personal website and helped manage my brothers small forum site. I have no large website experience though. I don't know much about html coding. Feel free to turn me down!

[John Barresi]

Are you set up on IM? I think we should chat more, live.

[Quad KiT]

I don't think you have to go fully dynamic with the pages to add that content. Does IP Board have an embeddable module that could be embedded into pages? That way you could still maintain your authentication and user database through your forum software but be an extension onto the articles.


I feel ya with the full plate, I wish there was more I could do to help since I am the one that suggested it!

[Baloo]

With Watty only being 15 just think of the years of FREE you can get out of him John.