old thread notifications

[Red Flare]

When I subscribe to forums with an option of "instant notification", I get notices of new threads immediately. However I do not get notices of old threads being updated (if I wasn't subscribed to them).

I changed my notification to "daily updates" and now I receive only one email daily, but at least it shows the old threads that have been updated.

Is this is a normal forum behavior?

[dotCOM_host]

Unfortunately, yes. There are some modules for VBulletin that allow it to do more than the stock forum can, including emailing every single post to you. I suggested that option to MIVA already, as have other people. They promised to "consider it" but so far it doesn't appear this mod has been installed. I'd prefer email responses for every post as well, in addition to being able to respond to forum posts via email rather than logging in to the forums manually in a web browser.

[aquariumpro]

We have those mods on our VB forums and I couldn't do without them. If Miva wants good participation, they should implement them immediately.

During the original discussions about the forums on the list and in the test forums, I was told this would happen. SIGH :(

[Jimmy Cooper]

Hey Everyone,

Please keep in mind that these forums are a little over a week old. It will take some time for us to get an accurate assessment of the features that people are requesting and how to best implement them in the forums. Julie is looking at all of the feedback and making sure she keeps it in mind when working on them everyday.

Thanks.

[dotCOM_host]

Hi Jimmy,

Thanks for the update. I emailed Julie the links to where these mods can be downloaded from. We already discussed this with her on the phone, but to reiterate, it would be nice to add these mods in the near future. Everything else being equal, this would apease the people who like the forums, as well as those who prefer direct emails.

Keep us all posted on this topic! :-)

[aquariumpro]

Thanks Jimmy:

I would like to point out though that during the entire list conversation regarding these forums, then in all the discussions on the first test forum, the NUMBER ONE request from ALL customers and devlopers without exception, was the ability to receive all posts from any subscribed forum.

That is what would make everyone happy and would eliminate 99% of the complaints about this forum.

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

I agree its the number one request...however, I think you underestimate our abilities...once we get email posting capability, I sure we can come up with other complaints<G>.

[Julie Wilber]

I agree its the number one request...however, I think you underestimate our abilities...once we get email posting capability, I sure we can come up with other complaints<G>.

Here's the deal guys,

The mod for instant notification for every post will happen. But, and Keith and I discussed this one, we feel strongly that we don't want email posting capabilities. I understand why it's wanted, and it does have its good points, however, as Keith stated before, we'd rather you see the whole and not just a snap shot. Now, this might change in the future. However, at this time, we are not planning on allowing posts from emails.

Besides, I need to keep something around for you to complain about. :D

Thanks!

[aquariumpro]

I agree with the email posting.

We implemented that on the aquariumpros.com forums at first, and it was a disaster, not to mention it opens up security vulnerabilities.

I think all anyone could hope for would be the post notification and that's what I was referring to.

And yes Bruce, Mivites will always find something to complain about. :)

[Kent Multer]

I'm glad to hear that more email support is in the works. I can understand why you would want to still allow postings only at the Web site. That's OK; most of us do a lot more reading than writing, and if it cuts down on the spam, it'll be a good compromise.

I want to suggest a couple of other things that would do a LOT to improve the efficiency of using the forums via email:

- Make the return address be the forum name; don't have the same "Community Forums" name on every message.

- Make the Subject of the message be the actual posting title, so that we can see whether we're interested or not without opening the message.

- Make the body of the message include the actual text of the posting, so we can read it without going to the Web site.

As long as your server is doing the overhead of sending an email, it doesn't take much extra to throw in some actual content. Any extra server load from sending better emails will be balanced out by all the people who don't have to visit the Web site. And these changes will cut WAY down on the amount of clicks and page-loads that it takes us to filter out the messages we don't want to read. This will encourage people to subscribe more, which will increase the size of the community and the quality of postings.

Thanks --