Front Page

[mgb]

I never look at it. I hate to say that, but I always go straight to the forums. How could we change that, but not make it intrusive?

[Ivy]

I never use it, either. I come here strictly for the forums. Is there some reason we want people to use the front page? You can access everything on the front page from the forums.

[CoHo]

Depends on if you want to separate the forum from the web site... do you want the main focus of www.intpcentral.com to be based around the forum, or do you want the forum to be an off-shoot of a larger component.

(Method 1) www.intpcentral.com
Check out our wiki, description of an intp, mbti survey, usefull links, thoughts, oh yeah and we have a forum

(Method 2) www.intpcentral.com
Check out our forum! We have an awesome forum! You should join! Here are the latest posts, who is connected, what they are saying etc etc

I'm not saying one is better then the other. You (we, they, he) would have to determine what should be the focus

[mgb]

I never use it, either. I come here strictly for the forums. Is there some reason we want people to use the front page? You can access everything on the front page from the forums.

That's probably a good place to start.

Should we have one? If yes, do we make it better? Or do we just use it to funnel people into the forums?

Would people use the extras if we added them? I mean, would there be value in them?

edit: umm, like CW said.


edit add 2: Personally, I'd like to see more. I think some of the features, like the articles are under-utiliized, especially given the time that probably goes into editting them. I think it'd be great if people swung by the frontpage from time to time, or before they head to the forums, because we've got some things on there that they want to see.

[Hustler]

I use the front page all the time. And I miss the random link.

[mgb]

I use the front page all the time. And I miss the random link.

Would you use it even more if there were more features? Or would that make you use it less?

[Nemesis]

NC has a really nice attractive one, but it's a little too cramped for my taste. Perhaps something like that with less frills?

[mgb]

What would you keep and what you get rid of? If it went that way.

[Ivy]

I use the front page all the time. And I miss the random link.

Out of curiosity, what are you using the front page for? All of the links on the front page are also accessible from the "new posts" link, but you also get the option to skip to the last post and a nifty little icon making it easier to scan for threads I've already posted in. Which is why I have it set as the entryway to INTPC on my home machine. Is it the simpler format that makes the front page more attractive to you?

If that tends to be why people use it, maybe it would be best to streamline it (consolidate the "latest" and "articles" lists, for example).

[Hustler]

Would you use it even more if there were more features? Or would that make you use it less?

That would really depend on the features in question. If, for example, there were a CreativeChaos quote and pic of the day, I am sure I would use it less. If there were a randomly generated word and definition from The Phrontistery's International House of Logorrhea (http://phrontistery.info/ihlstart.html), I'd probably use it more.

I mainly use the front page because I am on the internet all day long, and it is a quick way to see if there has been any activity on threads I'm interested in. If I get a break in the poker, email, wikipedia or whatever action, I can refresh my INTP Central frontpage window and expeditiously determine if I should check up on any threads.

[Nemesis]

What would you keep and what you get rid of? If it went that way.
Well, I think that I like that it's viewable as a welcome page to members, and I like that recently uploaded pictures are shown there. The description of the types (or type in this case) is also nice. The forum stats are pretty cool as well.

I guess if the Shoutbox were to be implemented, the front page would be best, as it would be usable, but not invasive to the rest of the forum.

[mgb]

Well, I think that I like that it's viewable as a welcome page to members, and I like that recently uploaded pictures are shown there. The description of the types (or type in this case) is also nice. The forum stats are pretty cool as well.

I guess if the Shoutbox were to be implemented, the front page would be best, as it would be usable, but not invasive to the rest of the forum.

I'd guess that I'd say that as far as the types go, N Central aready has type descriptions. So we'd sort of be competing with them, which I'm not sure is a good idea.

I kind of like the pictures idea. And I do like the stats. Maybe we could have a stat of the week or something with a link to all the stats? And we could just regenerate stats once a week (if it's not too much trouble for the person doing it).

[mgb]

That would really depend on the features in question. If, for example, there were a CreativeChaos quote and pic of the day, I am sure I would use it less. If there were a randomly generated word and definition from The Phrontistery's International House of Logorrhea (http://phrontistery.info/ihlstart.html), I'd probably use it more.

I mainly use the front page because I am on the internet all day long, and it is a quick way to see if there has been any activity on threads I'm interested in. If I get a break in the poker, email, wikipedia or whatever action, I can refresh my INTP Central frontpage window and expeditiously determine if I should check up on any threads.

So, you'd be in favor of having the most recents posts featured on the center of the page with maybe a few other things going on around it.

I guess that's a pretty reasonable function for the frontpage.

I like the word of the day too.

Do you ever read the articles?

[Hustler]

Do you ever read the articles?

I have read about 30% of the articles.

[CoHo]

What are your options for the Front Page? Is www.intpcentral.com using any sort of CMS or do all changes need to filter through file_cabinet?

[mgb]

What are your options for the Front Page? Is www.intpcentral.com (http://www.intpcentral.com) using any sort of CMS or do all changes need to filter through file_cabinet?

Not a clue. I think we are all just thinking out loud. He'd have to say...

[CoHo]

Here's my opinion,

I think the main page is trying to supply too many needs. The Front Page should be geared for new people visiting the site while a dashboard should be created for the hard-core existing members.

Front Page
This should be simple "welcome, this is who we are, navigate over there" style page. Maybe have the recent articles, a few recent posts, or something along those lines but it really should be geared towards New Visitors.

Dashboard
This is where the Articles, Random Link, Member of the Day, Post of the Day, Quote of the Day, Topic of the Day, Who's Online, Recent Posts, Stats, Charts, Pictures or whatever should go. This would be a place for the hard-core users to get all of their information in one spot.

[Ivy]

Here's my opinion,

I think the main page is trying to supply too many needs. The Front Page should be geared for new people visiting the site while a dashboard should be created for the hard-core existing members.

Front Page
This should be simple "welcome, this is who we are, navigate over there" style page. Maybe have the recent articles, a few recent posts, or something along those lines but it really should be geared towards New Visitors.

Dashboard
This is where the Articles, Random Link, Member of the Day, Post of the Day, Quote of the Day, Topic of the Day, Who's Online, Recent Posts, Stats, Charts, Pictures or whatever should go. This would be a place for the hard-core users to get all of their information in one spot.

These are great ideas. I especially like the dashboard for existing members idea. It wouldn't have to be all fancied up (let's be frank here-- I've seen how some of you guys live). It could be relatively efficient and uncluttered while still offering all the stuff people want to have one-click access to. Then the frontpage could be more geared towards aesthetics.

[s0978]

Generally there is too much redundancy between the Front Page and Forum Index.

It has always been pesky to me that both links are called "INTP Central" and located just one beneath the other. I think rename the Forum Index link to "Forum Index."

Differentiating/ developing front page per ideas above could be cool. Would think that the "What's Going On" stuff is more appropriate for the dashboard than forum index page, and would drive traffic/ attention there to highlight the new features and articles too.

[Dr. Haight]

:reading: Survey:

http://forums.intpcentral.com/showthread.php?t=11916

[shaytana]

Dashboard
This is where the Articles, Random Link, Member of the Day, Post of the Day, Quote of the Day, Topic of the Day, Who's Online, Recent Posts, Stats, Charts, Pictures or whatever should go. This would be a place for the hard-core users to get all of their information in one spot.

Can that be integrated with the forums memberlist and usergroup permissions? As it stands now whenever a new subforum is created, that not everyone has access to, fc has to block it on the home page completely. It would be good if this could use the members usergroup permissions instead.

[mgb]

I really like CW's idea about a dashboard.

Some of the stuff on the current homepage might not necessarily appeal to new members. But I think having both would be the best of both worlds.

[CoHo]

Can that be integrated with the forums memberlist and usergroup permissions? As it stands now whenever a new subforum is created, that not everyone has access to, fc has to block it on the home page completely. It would be good if this could use the members usergroup permissions instead.

In theory yeah, but there might be reasons why it may not work, or why it may not be a good idea to do it. It is impossible to say without knowing the current structure, fc would be able to answer this best.

[mgb]

In theory yeah, but there might be reasons why it may not work, or why it may not be a good idea to do it. It is impossible to say without knowing the current structure, fc would be able to answer this best.

I suppose it might be outside of the forum software...and thus open to everyone. But even then, we could always have the link to the dashboard somewhere on the site in an area only members can see...


So, what would be on the dashboard, specifically?

[Hustler]

So, what would be on the dashboard, specifically?

A bobble-head forum. Duh.

[file cabinet]

In theory yeah, but there might be reasons why it may not work, or why it may not be a good idea to do it. It is impossible to say without knowing the current structure, fc would be able to answer this best.

it's all about the cookies

[Birdsnest]

I think I'd miss the front page if it wasn't there. I almost always just type in the web address to get here first, and so I do visit that first.

I wonder if it could have a brief description of what an INTP is, for newcomers for instance with a welcome. There might be a link to mbti test for more information. I don't normally read the articles, but I do like the idea of the newspaper look and I'd be interested in the dashboard idea. It might have links of major interest to intps. Maybe international weather? Is there such a thing? Maybe the hottest threads of the day, maybe who's online. Anyway, it would seem bare without the front page, and I like the one we have, but also like the idea of adding to it with the 'newspaper' type scheme.

A photo of the day isn't bad either, but it sounds like a lot of work.

[earwax]

I must admit that I hadn't even looked at the front page in over a year. Guess it is kind of dull isn't it. I like the idea of a newspaper appearance. But I don't know what you would put on it, as there isn't much happening in the way of INTP news. Or even MBTI news for that matter

It's much more clear cut on the science forum I go to, as there is always science stuff in the news. http://www.physorg.com/

Of course, I didn't even realize that they had a front page until I looked for it this morning.

[s0978]

So I don't use the Front Page, but if I were looking for INTPC to be more than just the forums, I can imagine it being the place for announcements, say for meetups and game sessions.

And maybe a saybox is the format that allows for easy posting of that?
Haha, but then it would almost never be used. On the other hand, restricting the saybox(es) to specific topics would cut down on idle prattle.

And maybe more meetups and game sessions would happen than they do, if all this facilitated organization.

[cryingmime]

I really like the idea about the dashboard for the 'hardcore' users. i think it would make it a lot easier to reply to more articles.

What if the front page, instead of listing the 10 most recently updated posts, it was a listing of how many new posts there are per group. It would be a happy medium between the "new posts" and the front page.

Could this just as easily be handled by an RSS feed? I suppse I should ask first...do we already have an RSS feed that i'm missing?

[earwax]

It might not hurt to have a brief intro to MBTI on the front page. I had never even heard of it until about a year and a half ago when raincrow told me to go take this test. Most people that I have talked to in my age group have never heard of it.

OK - I just looked at the front page again. There is a link to MBTI Central - maybe that's enough.

Have the articles always been in a second column next to the latest posts and I'm just now noticing? I seem to remember them being under the latest posts. Anyway, I like it better now. I can see everything on one page.

[Ivy]

Will I lose my spot in the think tank if I admit that I didn't know about the articles at all until this thread?

[mgb]

Will I lose my spot in the think tank if I admit that I didn't know about the articles at all until this thread?

No. Would you use the dashboard?

[Ivy]

No. Would you use the dashboard?

If it preserved what I like about the "find new posts" option, yes. I like the ability to see at a glance which threads I have posts in, and go straight to the first post that is new to me in a thread. If I could get all that AND MORE! on a dashboard, I'd totally use it instead.

[melancholeric]

I'm picturing a random person finds this place via google without having the slightest clue what the MBTI is. The front page doesn't help much with that.

Basics of the MBTI; possibly an online test (the INFP forum at globalchatter.com have one aswell) ... links to other MBTI sites (typelogic comes to mind; greenlightwiki thingie, lifexplore).

what about a link to a random classic thread as to put our best foot forward to newbies ... you know when people read "WHEN THIS WORLD BURNS" there's no way they could resist joining.

[mgb]

I'm picturing a random person finds this place via google without having the slightest clue what the MBTI is. The front page doesn't help much with that.

Basics of the MBTI; possibly an online test (the INFP forum at globalchatter.com have one aswell) ... links to other MBTI sites (typelogic comes to mind; greenlightwiki thingie, lifexplore).

what about a link to a random classic thread as to put our best foot forward to newbies ... you know when people read "WHEN THIS WORLD BURNS" there's no way they could resist joining.

Those are great ideas.

Maybe, we could put a picture of Jemma up too.

[melancholeric]

I was actually toying with the idea of a "member of the day" and his/her image on the frontpage, could be done with a similar script garak did with the "what we look like (ADD style)" thing long ago, but I'm not sure if I'd want my pic to appear on the front page ... and why would anyone else either.

Besides someone would have to write the script for that.

[mgb]

I was actually toying with the idea of a "member of the day" and his/her image on the frontpage, could be done with a similar script garak did with the "what we look like (ADD style)" thing long ago, but I'm not sure if I'd want my pic to appear on the front page ... and why would anyone else either.

Besides someone would have to write the script for that.

I think that might be better for the dashboard, but I kind of like it. Sort of a get to know the members thing.

[s0978]

I'm not sure if I'd want my pic to appear on the front page ... and why would anyone else either.Some might not mind. I'd think others could be really really pissed. I'd think there would have to be a permissions toggle somewhere on the control panel.

That said, pics of anything would be nice.

[cryingmime]

I was actually toying with the idea of a "member of the day" and his/her image on the frontpage, could be done with a similar script garak did with the "what we look like (ADD style)" thing long ago, but I'm not sure if I'd want my pic to appear on the front page ... and why would anyone else either.

Besides someone would have to write the script for that.

what if it was just the avatar that showed up? i think that people know most of us by our avatars anyway. who needs real pictures. :)

[file cabinet]

Some might not mind. I'd think others could be really really pissed. I'd think there would have to be a permissions toggle somewhere on the control panel.

That said, pics of anything would be nice.

how about "Special Arbitrary Member of the Day" ? give it a bit of a mocking tone

[Dr. Haight]

how about "Special Arbitrary Member of the Day" ? give it a bit of a mocking tone
Yeah, and then everyday it will be me...

[s0978]

how about "Special Arbitrary Member of the Day" ? give it a bit of a mocking tonelove it. Sounds much nicer than "Camwhore of the Day," which is what I had been secretly thinking.

[earwax]

How are the articles on the front page tied into the forum? Could we have an articles forum in which each article becomes an OP in a new thread? Thereby surreptitiously drawing in unsuspecting passers-by. :devil: