(From slartie): What new things would you like to see happen on MPC. Please explain your votes.

It's hard to make a poll like this, but I'd like to get some sort of input from you guys. It's important for me that MPC continues to be a place where you (the user/reader) keeps wanting to come back. MPC won't claim to be a one-stop resource, but if there is something I can do to make it feel like more than a forum, I'll do my best based on the feedback I get from you.

Take this opportunity to voice your ideas on how we can improve MPC and possibly introduce content that isn't confined to the forum itself.

Of course, you're alway welcome to send me your suggestions directly. Think of this as an outlet where everybody can get a feel for what the users are looking for.

Featured articles could be attractive thing. As I see it, forums are for everyday discussions (How to clean pipe?), blogs are for personally important topics (That's how I cleaned this sucker) and articles (with one-two position grading, say, informative-interesting) would occupy the next level (Diversity of pipe cleaning techniques in rural Hungary). The question is where to get authors.

What I would improve is the engine. Nested presentation of replies would be great (if I remember correct it was like this initially) and more flexible system of e-mail notifications (convenient topic subscription and the reply notification) would liven talks up, more advanced customization (I hate to hurt anyone's feelings but I would change colors in the main frame) and so on.

and being able to private message to more than one person at a time (cc and bcc) would be great.

If possible, I'd like more articles about pipes, tobaccos, and personalities from an international perspective. I would find just the links helpful, perhaps with a synopsis (a few lines would work). After almost 10 years of hovering about sites, much of the factual information has been bookmarked ad nauseum. It would be useful to understand how other smokers are withstanding the onslaught of the antis behavior. And, personally, I enjoy reading about pipe clubs, their activities and their perspectives on smoking regulations.

BTW, excellent idea for a poll.

I have all kinds of ideas that I'd like to see, but Pipe and Pipe Smoking Articles would be a great addition.

Another idea, but this is for me - basically a newbie that does a LOT of research and perusing for ideas and knowledge. What I could use is a "Notepad" section in my personal setup so I have a central location where I can log notes on blends, pipe making ideas, "Wish Lists" of things I'd like to get whether it would be new blends to try, websites that I found useful information on, etc...

I currently use my own 3-ring binder, but its hard to keep current and readily accessible.

Rick's idea on multiple PM options is a good one.
Misha's idea on engine options is excellent as well.

Don't know how you'd narrow all this down, but this is just my opinion.

I think I'll run this poll a little over a week. After that I'll sort through all the suggestions and make a summary post and take it from there. I have also received quite a few ideas through direct contact as well. They will of course also be put on the summary post.

the ability to upload pictures easier, to move around the forum easier. Still like to get some of the functionality - where we live, for example - working. I think we should just give up on the competitions idea - it's not who we are. Truth is, this is a rathe evolving but intimate little site with a band of bandits running around doing all sorts of interesting things. Where else do you get pics of tomato bugs, reports of microwaving pipes, poetry, etc?

Nested views would be grand. And Muddled is right about the competitions - they were a bad idea.

Just got to think of it, filtering out the (to me) unread posts would be great.

the "recent posts" button is great, and this site actuallt knows what posts I have read or not, but presenting me with only those I have not would be grand

I find it somewhat hard to say "articles" as it feels like a conflict of interests with http://pipelore.net but I'd definitely like to see more tobacco news as well.

So there you go.

I'd have to agree with the picture uploading as well as knowing where people are from. Muddlers comment about the band of bandits is very true...interesting people doing interesting stuff...I'm not sure how to get that integrated into this site though. Perhaps blogs could be for personal type info. members want to share, or set up a seperate bio. section? I don't know.

I agree with the suggestion about MPC having a tobacco datebase similiar to Tobacco Reviews. While Tobacco Reviews is a great site, I value the opinions here more.

If I have to nitpick, eh, I would suggest when a thread is multiple pages, that a link to the other pages be available on top of the thread instead of just the bottom. But that's hardly a pressing issue.

If this site does go in a direction of posting featured articles, perhaps an RSS feed?

Overall, I think you guys do a great job with this site. I don't have any real complaints.

... to be able to click on the avatar and see a Bio of the person. To the extent a member wants to share personal info, it would be nice. Like, where you live, age, occupation, avocation, hobbies. All would be nice to know if shared.

It is very difficult to sort out who is who from where. As a relatively recent and constant member, it took a lot of effort to connect the dots. The "sound-Off" was really appreciated by me. It really helped.

Keep up the great work. This is my only forum site and I intend to keep it that way. A staple in my life except when on vacation. That hardly ever happens!

it would seem that Bob is here for good. That is my biggest concern, not Bob it particular more this sites future. It was a long time before this band of cretins assembled and it is their fellowship which makes this site what it is. I don't think I am the only one that feels a panic when it is down or having problems. So the sites future is my main concern, those of us that have been around since last December might also feel the need for some explanation as to what happened. I myself find the entire sequence of events a bit disconcerting. I guess what I am saying is the site's continued operation is the most forefront in my mind and everything else is superfluous.

Anyone having problems with pictures may drop me a line and I will forward them instructions for the standard HTML codes to embed them. It really is not difficult and the use of online storage elsewhere reduces the server space for our forum.

This subject have been up before, there is alot of work involved...

I have accepted to do some of it, and I have looked into db programming. it will take a while though, since I am not an expert in the area.

I do not know how long it will take, or when I get my arm out of my ass and begin doing anything. Got to get my life in good order first.

I said other...because what I would like back is something that used to be here...I know we have the whole roll call thing...and that is great...but there used to be a page for each person that had a little about them stuff...including favorite pipe makers, location, age, etc. anyway...I would really like to see this back...because in my mind...it really is the people here that make this site great...

that...and a little bit of the ease of use stuff...like nested replies...and...here is one that really gets me...if a thread is multiple pages...and the new ones are at the end...then when I click on the last page to see the new replies...the little "new" sign isn't there anymore...

Cheers,

Josh

Definitely a kinder gentler picture posting process that doesn't require a Masters degree in Computer Science.

I also like the idea of a reviews database. Tobaccoreviews is indeed a decent site but one of our own where every review doesn't start out, I don't normally like (fill in tobacco type) and this one sure sucked. My automatic response is, if you know you don't like burley what ever possessed you to smoke it, let alone offer any advice. Given the close knit nature of MPC. I think we would all know the context in which the various reviews were offered and could react accordingly.

I am happy with the way things are. However, since you asked . . .

I love the forums and do not think there need to be any more forum areas. We have pipes and tobacco. That is why we are here so that should be enough. Nested replies would be a wonderful addition to the forums, though. That would improve the readability of a thread by leaps and bounds.

Well, now that I think about it, maybe one more forum topic. An industry news area might be nice.

Articles would be great if they were original and insightful. No re-hashing of topics and opinions that have been thoroughly explored in the past. A simple web search can turn those up.

Personally, I would not participate in a review database. I wrote reviews for another website that I worked with in the past and I am plain burned out doing them. But that is okay; that's just me. However, from a non-personal standpoint, it seems like a lot of work for the admins to set up and maintain. Even after the initial coding is done, all entries need to be looked at and/or approved to keep up the quality of the data. That is a lot of work. I also did this on the other site and we had a team of about 70 people that did this.

I like Bob's idea about a bio page that can be accessed by simply clicking a members avatar.

Concerning picture posting, I do not think it could be any easier. Copy and paste the code of your picture and *boom*, there it is. The comment box accepts certain HTML tags that are conveniently listed right below it. There is even a link to more formatting options. Easy peasy.

When the site was "down", I was really concerned. I wanted to email someone but I had no email or contact info.

Having a voluntary bio page will enhance relationships because we will know a little bit about the member. It will be very nice, indeed.

It would be strictly voluntary for those who desired to provide more information about themselves.

I, too, need help with posting pics. I did it in my gallery but can't figure it out for the forum pages?

Excellent input so far, guys. Some of the things you're suggesting can be somewhat easily fixed, but everything's relative, of course. I'll get back to all that later on.

Keep the ideas flowing. If something pops up, feel free to add another post to the thread. The more input I have from you, the better.

We used to have bio pages, but when we changed forum system, that bio section wen't out the window. I'll let you all know right off the bat, that I'll be looking for a way to put those pages back in the system.

The gallery has always been a sore spot. It's not really a superb module to say the least, so I'll be on the lookout for something a bit nicer.

About putting "location" and possibly other types of information on the avatar section in the forum. I would probably have to tinker around myself to add that as an extra feature. Frankly I'm not sure if it's doable without breaking something, but I'll see what I can do :)

Again, keep it coming. I'll sum up everything next week.

I like Josh's comments a lot. It bothers me to no end as well that the "new" tags are gone once you go past one page long threads. It makes it very hard to keep up.

The idea of den Hoed of an industry news area also appeals to me, and, if I knew there would be more demand for it, and some sort of guarantee it could generate actual reader responses, I'm willing to provide content. After all, that is what I used to do with the PipeLore news page, here fed into our news aggregator.

It could be discussed, and I might be willing to provide content.

... when a two page topic shows a new post, and I click on "new", it takes me to the top of the second page instead of the unread posts. Can something be done about that to save all the scrolling?

bump .. give this thread a read, and throw in any additional suggestions you may have. Thanks guys.

All ideas already covered nicely.

I thought it would be easy but somebody mailed me and said that my icon was the size of the world and slathered picture all over my posts so they couldn't be read (not that that itself was so bad).

I used the official size/weight photo but it still didn't work. :-( And this bent dress billiard is very nice (roll eyes!) but it's really not me!

In Safari, your avatar encroaches slightly into the text area of your forum posts. It does not cover the text, though. I think that this was an issue in the past with some browsers and that it was worked on before.

One more forum item. When someone posts a link, have it launch in another window and not the current one.

this is quite annoying, even though opera have a "open in background tab" selection

Must have blown thru some posts earlier, but I emphatically agree with Morleysson's idea of international articles and pipe club links.

I too would get a lot from it. Love checking out Doc's club newsletter.

I'd love to have the ability to say oops and delete something I just wrote ... in case I get hoof and mouth disease worse than normal. Sometimes editing a just posted thread just isn't good enough.

And ... while I'm at it ... when I edit a post it goes to the bottom of the stack rather than staying in its original place. This is sometimes very unfortunate because it messes up the logical sequence of reading the thread.