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What do you think of a Comparison sub-forum?

shawn1224

shawn1224

Ex CEO-DNPSEA foundation
I've noticed a plethora of phone comparisons threads like iphone vs Atrix or Thunderbolt vs Evo. It led me to thinking, what if we had a comparison sub forum? I've seen this work in various other forum genres like football message boards. Almost like a smack-off of sorts where users can post 1 on 1 polls/match-ups and chime in with their reasoning's. With one central location for all comparison topics, one of the advantages would be to relieve some of the clutter and curb overcrowding,

Also, while some members love the comparison topics other members aren't interested in them. Creating a single forum for all Android comparison topics will make it easy for members to either participate in the topics or ignore them. This would improve the forum experience for all our members.

Just a suggestion.
 
I think this will be great Shawn. It will free up clutter for members. The lounge/general discussion should not be used for serious debates between devices we are all so passionate about.

I definitely vote we do something like what you are suggesting.
 
Those are cool comparison tools, but it does not allow members to openly discuss the pros/cons/opinions/experiences about each device. That type of discussion can turn up problems or solutions that the comparison tool will not reveal.

The discussion will inevitably happen (as they have been and continue to be now). That is why Shawn would like to create a separate sub for this. It will keep the site just that much cleaner.
 
Makes sense.

However, would the sub forum be for *all* comparisons? That could get hectic to manage - having threads under, say Motorola DROID, comparing it to the Dinc, D2, Dx, Galaxy S, etc. all in the same subforum would mean that inevitably someone would come along and start a new discussion on a comparison that was already discussed before, but was not on the first page anymore due to non-active participation, right?

or am I still not getting it?
 
This has come up before and it didn't' result in a sub-forum. I suppose if you could drum up enough support.........
 
Phases said:
This has come up before and it didn't' result in a sub-forum. I suppose if you could drum up enough support.........
Click to expand...

Lol. Why do i suddenly picture you drinking coffee and staring at this with an evil eye? haha
 
johnlgalt said:
Makes sense.

However, would the sub forum be for *all* comparisons? That could get hectic to manage - having threads under, say Motorola DROID, comparing it to the Dinc, D2, Dx, Galaxy S, etc. all in the same subforum would mean that inevitably someone would come along and start a new discussion on a comparison that was already discussed before, but was not on the first page anymore due to non-active participation, right?

or am I still not getting it?
Click to expand...

I could see that as being a problem but we would have some guidelines in place to ensure that everything runs smoothly. First and foremost would be to make sure members check to ensure there isn't already an existing or similar topic in play. Also to ensure the quality of discussion your post will need to have some content. Not just x phone is better than y phone but a brief description of why you think x is better than y.

I'm curious to know what some of our regular members think about this.
 
Phases said:
This has come up before and it didn't' result in a sub-forum. I suppose if you could drum up enough support.........
Click to expand...
If I knew that last year when I suggested I would have mobilized an army for support. :D

Jedii said:
Lol. Why do i suddenly picture you drinking coffee and staring at this with an evil eye? haha
Click to expand...
That's because he is. :p :D

IMHO, I think we should try it and if it doesn't work out then we can resort back to the current way of keeping such topics in the current section.

maybe a poll?

TS
 
So I am going to resurrect this thread, because I kind of think it would be a good idea. Here is my reasoning.

1. Currently these threads are all over the place in the forum, device forums, carrier forums, and android lounge. Resulting in numerous duplicate threads.

2. When they are located in a device forum, it can become biased, and a member trying to get honest information about what is the best phone for them, might make the wrong decision. When someone does come in and starts giving the pros of the other phone, they can kind of get ganged up on, even if it is still civilized conversation.

3. Carrier forums are ok, except some valid conversation that could apply to the same model on another carrier might get missed by someone who is not going to look at the first carrier's forum, since they aren't with them.

4. The Android Lounge is the best of the currently available forums, and perhaps that just needs to be what we do. But if there is a spurt of phones releasing, like right now with the One series, SGSIII, Evos etc., the rest of the threads in Android Lounge could get pushed down rather quickly, if there is a comparison thread for each two phone combination, plus tablet and carrier comparisons. Also, if the rumors of the multiple Nexus phones/tablets become reality, you can guarantee those will be heavily discussed.
 
Perhaps a sub-forum to AL would be good. Carrier forums I would think would be okay because, well.. I don't think many people leave carriers for devices too often. When I start looking into my next phone, for example, I only look at Verizon phones.

But hey, whatever is best is fine with me. Do we all think a subforum to AL would be good?
 
Ok, you should see it now. I'll let staff know and we'll give it a test and see what we think.

Thanks!
 
Ok hold up. I've hidden it. I'm afraid things posted in there won't get replies. Are we hoping everyone will be scanning that forum to give input?

How can we help this succeed. We could allow users to post in there, then post in the respective device forums asking people to go see it. Might that invite arguments from hard core device fans? Or, do the threads themselves already do that and pointing it out further not be a big deal.

I'm not sure I see success here. Thoughts?
 
if you mention it in the news and point them to a "How to use this forum"...

Yes I think if I created a One X vs SGS3 forum, I could post a thread in each forum asking for input.

You could even create a template thread title / post body in the rules for people to copy and paste.

It would be a very useful forum, it just depends on letting people know about it (maybe all guides and mods put it on their sig) and how to use it.

Also guides and modes moving and merging comparison threads they see to the new forum will get it known too.


Edit > In regards to the template, would there be any way of pressing a button on your new post in the comp forum, selecting the forum to post in and it posting the template on your behalf?
 
Well, my concern is people won't visit it even if they know about it. I'm not sure about that last bit (the edit) though.

I don't mind making the forum though, we can try it out.

Done!
 
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