there goes the neighborhood :(

[buzzlightbeer]

as appreciative as i am for everything you have done,
sorry to say it, but "there goes the neighborhood" ; (
the community feeling of universe today is gone.
for me anyways...

[Fraser]

That's too bad, can you give us any specifics? It's just a larger group now, but the BABB folks are a really great bunch of people. That was one of the main reasons I proposed to Phil that we consider merging forums. I wanted our two groups of friends to get to know each other. But that takes time for you to become familiar with all the additional people. Trust me, they're great.

Are there too many conversations? Too many new people to get to know? Or do you have a problem with the forum software itself?

[Jakenorrish]

I disagree. I feel it is a bigger, bolder forum. Its bound to take time to settle in, but what pleases me most is the much larger number of people here. Better diversity is bound to lead to a wider exchange of opinions which can only be excellent. All the BA members I have had the pleasure of speaking with are well informed, and I say well done on the merger.

[crosscountry]

I'm liking the merger. There are many voices from which I can learn. But then again I'm a noob


One problem I may have is the huge number of forums. I have trouble finding all the interesting threads/stories because they are all seperated.

[worzel]

One problem I may have is the huge number of forums. I have trouble finding all the interesting threads/stories because they are all seperated.

I always go to "quick links" - "subscriptions" first to see any replies to any posts I've made and to get the latest on threads I've mark as interesting but for which I have nothing to contribute. Then, if I have time, I go to "New Posts" which lists all the threads in most-recently-posted-in order. I rarely bother with browsing particular forums.

[Maksutov]

as appreciative as i am for everything you have done,
sorry to say it, but "there goes the neighborhood" ; (
the community feeling of universe today is gone.
for me anyways...

Heh, heh, my son wants to date your daughter.

Plus I would like you and your family to come to our house for Krikštas and enjoy the celebration. A few months from now there will be Kalėdo. Perhaps later we will then be able to celebrate Užgavėnės and Velykos, thus welcoming the spring!

Be sure that with us hard-working folk, the neighborhood property values will, as always, go up.

[Moose]

Community spirit is what you make of it.

[TriangleMan]

buzzlightbeer's (BLB) concerns may have some merit. The BA board appears to have been a larger, more prolific board. Just look at the top posters list, I think only 4 or 5 in the top 50 are from UT, and most posters from BA had posts removed during the merger. Oddly enough, as a BA poster, I haven't noticed a lot here that is "new" following the merger in terms of threads and discussions as most of them were BA threads. If BLB feels that UT had a small community feel then the merger would have definately impacted that perception.

[antoniseb]

as a BA poster, I haven't noticed a lot here that is "new" following the merger in terms of threads and discussions as most of them were BA threads.

The main places that should be new to BA folk are "Story Comments" which is not really usable yet, but should be soon, and stuff about telescope equipment. I also think that UT brought a good number of threads to the ATM section.

In any case, I haven't experienced BLB's feeling. The BA people have been very warm in their welcome, and very respectful. More importantly to me as a moderator, everyone has been tolerant of the fact that we're still working out the moderation guidelines.

[Fraser]

Things have turned out exactly like I'd expected. The Universe Today community was fairly large (4500 people), but there weren't a lot of regular posters. So people would ask a question and then get silence in return. I put a lot effort into trying to channel traffic towards the forum, but things hadn't really hit that critical mass yet.

The BABB forum had already hit critical mass. Even through they had a few thousand more members, the forum had been running for two years longer, and people had gotten longer to know each other. So it's not surprising that people from UT are feeling a little overwhelmed. It's amazing to see the first page of a forum and all the threads were updated in the last day... yikes!

But you don't have to try and stay on top of everything. You can browse through the categories, pick a few threads you find interesting and subscribe to them. You should be able to find lively conversations about the exact things that interest you.

I'm asking all the old UTers and BABBlers to make the effort to get to know each other. Jump into conversations, and get involved. In a few months, people will feel like old friends.

[Bilateralrope]

It's amazing to see the first page of a forum and all the threads were updated in the last day... yikes!

Yes, thats the only complaint I've had so far. Could you increase the number of threads on a page to stop that happening as I don't like going over to page 2 just to read new posts

[worzel]

Yes, thats the only complaint I've had so far. Could you increase the number of threads on a page to stop that happening as I don't like going over to page 2 just to read new posts

You can personalize this yourself, click on "UserCP", then "Edit Options". Somewhere on that page is the number of threads per page.

[Fram]

You can personalize this yourself, click on "UserCP", then "Edit Options". Somewhere on that page is the number of threads per page.

Perhaps I've missed it, but I think what you mean is the number of posts per page, not the number of threads per page. Number of threads isn't an individual setting.

[worzel]

Perhaps I've missed it, but I think what you mean is the number of posts per page, not the number of threads per page. Number of threads isn't an individual setting.

Oh, my bad.

[worzel]

Rule 1 of BAUT club: there are no rules (yet).

Rule 2 of BAUT club: so just be nice

[Donnie B.]

Buzz, I'd like to extend a hand to you from the BABB side. What can we do to make you feel more at home?

(Do remember that this is a new place for us, too.)

Have you checked out the "Introduce Yourself" thread? It's pretty long now, but it's a pretty good place to meet and greet.

[Gillianren]

I think there's a mindset among large numbers of us that, well, we were always getting more new regulars, so adding a whole heap of 'em at once isn't all that unusual. I only glanced at a thread or two of the old UT board (aside from those I've joined since the merger), so I can't say how it felt, but I have to say, still mostly feels like home to me.

[Matthew]

There are already 30 threads on a page.

Hopefully soon there won't be a BA community, or a UT community. Just a community. Its a nice dream, just how long?

[The Supreme Canuck]

There are already 30 threads on a page.

Hopefully soon there won't be a BA community, or a UT community. Just a community. Its a nice dream, just how long?

As far as I'm concerned, we're there already.

[crosscountry]

you should have seen it when we got here.


there were only 15 per page.



I like the idea of 50..... That should be more than 24 hours of posts. (enough for the once per day people)

[crosscountry]

I tried that.


No Change

[crosscountry]

I misread it too.

[Captain Kidd]

I'll agree with TSC. I haven't seen any "camps" appearing where only UT posters post or only BABB posters post. We've integrated fairly well.

[worzel]

We've integrated fairly well.

So well it's hard to differentiate us. [ I'll get my coat ]

[Maksutov]

So well it's hard to differentiate us. [ I'll get my coat ]

I trust that coat will cover the area under the curve. Meanwhile, watch out for any Seurat paintings, those points may puncture your neighborhood.

[Fraser]

I'm actually forgetting who's who. When I see a name, I try and remember, but it's getting harder every day.

[Bilateralrope]

I'm actually forgetting who's who. When I see a name, I try and remember, but it's getting harder every day.

On BABB I had to look at a post to see who wrote it, however with avatars I can tell at a glance whos post it is. I still can't tell you their name unless I look for it

[buzzlightbeer]

i am very sorry this flurry of dicussion around my comments started with no response back from me. i have been AFK and unable to get back onto the site. i will be able to rejoin this thread in a day or so. apologies for the lag after the posting. UT has always been very important to me and i would like to explain more what i mean. everything you have done fraser (and moderators ... i do have a lil fav moderator too forming opinions as we speak ;-) i appreciate it a lot. i will be back soon and explain more about what i am saying and do my part. as a contributor to help improve everything

BRB thank you

[buzzlightbeer]

im so used to thanking fraser and UT people. i would also like to say i do appreciate what the BA people have done too as well.

[NEOWatcher]

On BABB I had to look at a post to see who wrote it, however with avatars I can tell at a glance whos post it is. I still can't tell you their name unless I look for it

So basically you're saying you don't have to look at it, you can see it?

But seriously... it works fine when you're familiar with a person's avatar; but I see a lot of cases where there are no avatars. Now, I'm not against the avatar, but I get more benefit in the name (some of who I also notice at a glance).