Suggestions and ideas for the forum

[spicyayam]

I am still in the process of taking over the forum from Bert, but I have been thinking a bit about the future of the forum and how to improve on the fantastic community Bert started.

I would like to migrate the forum from the current system to vbulletin which I have more experience using and is more powerful and has more interesting features, like the ability for people to have their own blog and the ability for people to upload pictures, create albums etc.
Vbulletin is also better at handling spammers.

So, what do you think can be improved? What do you want to remain the same? What features/forum categories would you like to see added?

[Jimbo]

No change from me. No idea about Forum software so cannot comment on that but I do stick to the maxin Ïf it aint broke dont fix it

[Markit]

Good question. Um would suggest that since Bali is so "visual" we get rid of the shitbrown coloring and maybe find a way to include pictures more easily in our posts.

Many websites had a facility for viewers/readers to vote for the idea/suggestion/argument/etc. placed in any particular post. Along the lines of "did you find this helpful" kind of thing. Followed by a number of choices with check boxes. This allows readers the chance to state their opinions without going to all the "work" of writing an answer. Since many threads have hundreds of "views" but often only 2 answers that might increase the interactivity and motivate more people to take part? What do you think? Might also have the opposite effect, many just check the boxes but say nothing more - but with the bunch of opinionated people here I kind of doubt that.... :lol:

[bolli]

I think there are way too many different areas of this forum. Nearly 30? and not really utilised.:shock:
I like a forum that is simple yet functional.

I like to read others ,thoughts, opinions, heated discussions, funny stories, relevant information, but am not interested in too many pictures, blogs JBR's etc.on a forum such as this. There is a place for those and I think a link would suffice.
I may not post much but I do read as I'm sure many do.
I agree about the layout and colour. It stinks ha ha . :lol: :lol:

[chickchili]

A go straight to first unread post feature would be good.

[ronb]

I hadn't heard of vBulletin, so checked some sites - for anyone interested here are a few
:arrow: http://www.hystersisters.com/ - hysterectomy support - the forums are a subsection of this site
:arrow: http://www.girlsgetgoing.com/ - browse around this one
:arrow: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/ - large number of posts
:arrow: http://forum.doom9.org/ - a geeky place about DVD conversions

My impression is that from a forum user's viewpoint - it seems to have similar functionality to the current balipod.com - (maybe I'm missing something). But very likely, to you the forum manager, it makes your job easier - if that's the case, go for it.

Then, thinking of your more general call for suggestions - I think the assets of balipod.com are the archive, which is a mine of information and entertainment, and the current posters who are the life-blood. So as long as you protect these assets through the change we should be in good shape.

To improve balipod, we need more posts, so this means we need more active members. So can we make it more appealing to newcomers? Probably we can, but I don't have any concrete suggestions right now.

[noodles]

See if it's possible to add regular activities for forum members, like BBQ or Bintang/cocktail parties

[gilbert de jong]

I agree with Jimbo...if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[eas]

Suggestions..
I see that your other website is a joomla site..why not use joomla with a phpbb - Joomla! Integration and add in jomsocial. then U will get a great social community with all the stuff U need for the future and for make some bucks ..Jomsocial has blog,album,grups,videos and chat solutions .just ask if U have some questions about it, I have some experience in joomla, addons and jomsocial.

[mimpimanis]

One nice thing would be for the admin to respond to PMs, especially when the member is passing on messages for him. Spicy is the only person who has not responded to me on PM here - even Markit had better manners :D