Today's Topic - 2008-08-10

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Closed: See proposal section for the resolution.

Contents

How to make this happen

This page is a great example of collaboration to make something new / different / cool happen. Image:Thumbsup.gif

I would like to try an experiment and see if folks can actually implement the change now without my technical involvement. I'd like to offer some design suggestions but don't feel like they are the only way to do this. In the grand scheme of system design, the change y'all came up with is a good example to begin with in demonstrating how the community can run without my involvement --- even technically sometimes! Image:Smile.gif Jim (talk/contribs) 15:21, September 17, 2008 (AKDT)

  • Completely remove the current Daily Topics and replace it with a manually controlled page. Later, after the page is up and running and being maintained by someone, I may (or may not) automate some tedious portions of the maintenance. The point is, I've generally found that taking the bull by the horns and creating a usable experimental version of what you want, maintaining it manually for awhile, and seeing if it proves up beats trying to design everything and all contingencies up-front most of the time.
  • Once you've built the page and have a usable layout, it'll be easier to see what needs to change in the URL. Off the top of my head, I imagine you could use either the date or a sequential number in the URL. i.e. Topic_001, Topic_002, Topic_003, etc. or Topic_2008_09_01, Topic_2008_09_13, Topic_2008_09_24, etc. (Year_Month_Day). I would strongly urge using the year_month_day scheme as that will allow sorting pages by date. If automation is required down the road, using date is generally easier than sequential numbers.
  • I wouldn't delete the current Daily Topics templates (yet) in case we need to go back to them. But I definitely would not use them as a model. They are probably overly complex. The task to be accomplished (a page that has multiple topics that gets archived and a new one started periodically by someone) is simple. Keep it that way starting out. I'm not even sure any templates are required.
  • Don't forget that by simply putting a Category on each page, you've already grouped them all together so it's easy to see 'em all listed out on a single page.
  • Think of how people use their talk pages. There are multiple discussions going on there frequently and when the page is full, people often create archives. That same concept can be used here.
  • I understand the desire to have multiple topics on a single page. My experience tells me it'll end up messy and more difficult to maintain ultimately with more than one topic / page. (It's a lot easier for anyone to copy a standard format for a single topic to a new page and start fresh than to pull off older topics and archive them on a page with multiple topics in my mind - but others may disagree.) But just because I have a hunch doesn't mean the community has to do it that way!

Good luck - ask questions - and don't be afraid to jump in and start.

Jim (talk/contribs) 15:21, September 17, 2008 (AKDT)

Proposal

I put together a page that I think may work for people. Please let me know what you think. It uses templates like the Discussions & news page, which means each topic is still on its own page. Topics displays the last 7 days but it can be changed for any number. Click on the date or the [edit] link beside the date to edit. It won't display pages that don't exist so sysops can delete pages on days that topics aren't started to reduce clutter. Thoughts? Other ideas? I know the previous/next links aren't working. Jim will have to answer that one. It's late. Hope this makes sense. Image:Smile.gif Kelli (talk/contribs) 20:30, September 18, 2008 (AKDT)

Looks very useable to me! Image:Clap2.gif I would just drop the "Previous day / Next day" links as they aren't particularly useful if you've got a bunch of topics on one page. I've wondered if the tagging of next person hasn't outlived its usefulness? Seems like people could be specifically invited to ask the question via their talk page. Also seems like perhaps one or two people who take this thing under their wing (Kimchifox?) and help keep it active by asking for others to contribute via talk pages ... ??? I dunno. But what you've done looks good to me. I say pop it in! Jim (talk/contribs) 00:19, September 19, 2008 (AKDT)
I'll drop the "Previous day / Next day" links but wanted to mention they also don't work on "Discussions & news" (probably not a big deal). I agree about the tagging the next person but thought I'd see what regular participators of the daily topic thought. I feel like Discussions & news is already too crowded so should it only be linked from that page (as opposed to embedded), a new link in the left hand bar, something else? Or maybe "Discussions & news" can be split into two pages and this can go on the "Discussions" part. (These are questions for anyone....) Kelli (talk/contribs) 04:43, September 19, 2008 (AKDT)
OK, I removed the "previous/next" links as well as the "tag next person" stuff from Topics. It is still located on other pages for now. Kelli (talk/contribs) 05:23, September 19, 2008 (AKDT)
Kelli I really like your format. It works well with my screen readers too. I'd say go for it. A link on the discussion page would be better than embedding the topic page, also I think 7 days is plenty, some of the topics get pretty long. Great Job! KodiBear (talk/contribs) 06:17, September 19, 2008 (AKDT)
Thanks for your feedback! It's great to know it works with screen readers. I removed the embedded Daily Topic from the discussion page and changed it to use a link. We'll see how that goes over... Kelli (talk/contribs) 07:07, September 19, 2008 (AKDT)
It's beautiful, Kelli. I really like being able to see all the topics, then all the replies. You so rock. Cater (talk/contribs) 08:41, September 19, 2008 (AKDT)
  • Kelli - I think the new format is great! I don't often jump in on the first day a topic is presented, so therefore, I don't often jump in. When I do respond to one, it is usually after most of the US people have gone for the day so the resonse goes unnoticed anyway. I think you have a great solution. Cub Driver (talk/contribs) 09:41, September 19, 2008 (AKDT)
  • I'm blown away by the simple layout that works and is easy to figure out (and that you used IF programming Image:Wow.gif) - very very good! Jim (talk/contribs) 11:02, September 19, 2008 (AKDT)
Thanks. Image:Blush.gif I do have a little programming experience. I don't do it much, but know enough to usually grasp the basic concepts and use google to fill in the holes. Image:Smile.gif Kelli (talk/contribs) 11:25, September 19, 2008 (AKDT)

EVERYTHING BELOW THIS LINE IS THE DISCUSSION AND EVERYTHING ABOVE IS A NEW DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THE AGREED CHANGE HAPPEN

Does anyone else think the topic of the day should have a longer life?

I think it would be nice if it stayed up several days or even a week. there could be several topics and people could respond to their choice.Firewalk (talk/contribs) 14:25, August 10, 2008 (AKDT)

The Daily Topic pages are created automatically which needs a regular time. So every day or every week would work. I believe in order to do what you suggest, we would need to create and maintain the pages manually. All previous Daily Topics are saved so you can contribute at any time, though many people probably won't see it. Kelli (talk/contribs) 09:30, August 11, 2008 (AKDT)

I am pleased to see the interest in this idea. Firewalk (talk/contribs) 09:58, August 18, 2008 (AKDT)

Some Random Thoughts from a Volunteer

As most of you already know, I truly enjoy the Daily Topic feature at WWR. I am usually a bit saddened when there isn't a topic to respond to and truly don't mind contributing a question once or twice a week. I agree that the Daily Topic would be better with a longer "shelf life", say two or three days, as it would give folks more time to respond and/or think of good responses. If someone is willing to volunteer coming up with questions with me, I have no problem whatsoever in contributing and keeping this cool feature alive. Kimchifox (talk/contribs) 17:31, August 11, 2008 (AKDT)

I just want to clarify that no one has suggested getting rid of this feature. The problem with "every two or three days" is that it becomes difficult to automate the name of the page and links on Disscussions & news and Live collaboration. (Currently the date is put in the links so people don't have to change it every day.) If it goes to weekly, there's no reason there can't be more than one topic on the page if desired. Kelli (talk/contribs) 17:49, August 11, 2008 (AKDT)
Hi Kelli. I didn't think anyone suggested eliminating the feature, and I apologize for giving you that impression. My concern was just having only one topic per week. If we can have a Weekly Topics page with multiple topics (3 for example), I'd certainly support it and will volunteer to contribute questions on a regular basis; that is, if the Elders and/or Jim would want my contributions. Kimchifox (talk/contribs) 19:23, August 11, 2008 (AKDT)
(moved this out of the voting area) Well, I don't see a problem with allowing more than one topic per week on the same page, as long as people don't mind having to scroll a little more. I know this is getting back to how it was originally done (before the change to separate daily pages), but I think limiting it to one week will keep it from getting out of control. And of course anyone can suggest/start topics. I don't see that changing. I've added a voting option that I hope clarifies the issue. Kelli (talk/contribs) 13:02, August 12, 2008 (AKDT)

Voting

Please add any options that you'd prefer.

  • I would like it to remain Daily Topic but remain up for several days or more adding new daily topics Firewalk (talk/contribs) 08:25, August 11, 2008 (AKDT)

No Change

Change to Weekly Topic

Change to Weekly Topics (allow for multiple topics on one page)

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