Thanks, Tim . . . that is certainly easier to find. One further possible improvement would be to add the Forum to the links on the left.
I very much agree with Mike over the usefulness of the Forum space with its ability to present images and sound. How can any musical instrument-based discussion really thrive these days without such a facility? I don't see the Forum as in any way replacing the Dartmouth list, which remains a good conversational medium. It also has the advantage of simplicity and is well suited for most of its content which is entirely ephemeral. Its disadvantage is that it cannot preserve and organise anything that is worth keeping. Its archive is useful up to a point, although searches are likely to miss much of what is valuable. The problem is that topics evolve very far from their original header. One other disadvantage worth noting is that once a posting to Dartmouth has been sent, it is there permanently. There is much lying around on those electronic shelves which does nobody any credit. At present the NPS Forum is greatly under-used, despite its usefulness. I think it may take time before it is more widely adopted. What would help here is a _brief_ idiot-proof guide. As is well known you can't fully idiot-proof anything because they keep inventing cleverer idiots. However, perhaps an attempt could be made. Experienced forum users will assert that it's an entirely simple matter - an RTFM issue really. I disagree. Two suggestions for encouraging Forum use: - A simple guide, presented on Dartmouth, together with an evolving one on the Forum itself. (Mike, did I see your hand go up?) - Announcement on Dartmouth of any new topic or significant addition to the Forum which the provider thinks may be of general interest. Francis On 4 Jul 2011, at 07:36, Tim Rolls wrote: > Hi John, Mike and anyone else who's interested, > > Entry to the NPS forum, open to all, is now also on the Home page of the NPS > website, and so easier to find as you suggest, so you can now find it at > > http://www.northumbrianpipers.org.uk/ > > or go straight there at > > http://www.northumbrianpipers.org.uk/pipersforum/ > > There are links to Adrian's Forum, and many other things, including more > tune collections than you have time to read through, on the Links page of the > NPS website > http://www.northumbrianpipers.org.uk/index.php?page=Links > > Any other suggestions for improving the site, or volunteers to look after any > sections, existing or new, gratefully accepted > > cheers, Tim > > On 3 Jul 2011, at 23:22, smallpi...@machineconcepts.co.uk wrote: > >> Hi John >> The forum on the NPS web site is open to all (you just have to register) >> For some reason it is tucked away on the members page - I think that it >> should be on the front page! Currently things are a bit quiet but I hope >> that it will perk up once people try it and like it. It is certanly better >> for posting pictures, music and the threads are likely to be more coherent. >> It will only be useful if it is well used. I would like to have the chance >> to discuss various elements of pipemaking with other makers but unless >> others make an effort to get involved it will just wither. >> http://www.northumbrianpipers.org.uk/pipersforum/index.php >> >> Adrian's forum is not part of the NPS web site and is really a place for him >> to discuss his opinions with other like minds. >> >> Mike >> >> Quoting John Dally <dir...@gmail.com>: >> >>> Is this Mike Nelson? If so, hello Mike. Thanks for your efforts with the >>> NPS website. >>> >>> I'm confused. There are two forums on the NPS website. One is for members, >>> and it's difficult to find. The other is Adrian's and it's easy to find. >>> Is this correct? I get the feeling that the members' forum is for ordinary >>> pipers, like me, and Adrian's is for extraordinary pipers, like him, >>> otherwise why would there be two forums? Are they both open to the general >>> public? >>> >>> Many thanks, >>> John >>> >>> On Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 2:03 PM, <smallpi...@machineconcepts.co.uk> wrote: >>> >>>> And an even better case for posting it on the NPS forum (its open to non >>>> members) >>>> >>>> >>>> Quoting Francis Wood <oatenp...@googlemail.com>: >>>> >>>> >>>>> On 1 Jul 2011, at 20:39, david...@pt.lu wrote: >>>>> >>>>> How about posting the article here? There are lots of people who are >>>>>> interested but are not NPS members >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi Dave, >>>>> >>>>> I think you've made quite a good case here for joining the NPS. >>>>> >>>>> Francis >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> To get on or off this list see list information at >>>>> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~**wbc/lute-admin/index.html<http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> > > >
