Blogs.

[Jack]

Firstly, don't know what a blog is? Click here

I was thinking perhaps we could create a board/sub-board where people may post their own blogs. Rather than having a host of topics people could create one topic in which they can name something like "A Post Everyday by -Insert Username Here-" Or, any other Blog name for that matter.

Then people could comment on their posts etc.

It should encourage more posting in the forum and it'd be something to be able to look back on and have a read.

Feedback?

[Steve Gardner]

Mate, honestly, you and I think so alike.

I have been scouring the web looking for anyone who can offer a blog service we could integrate into the forum. I mean properly integrate - colour scheme and all. Alas not.

I did wonder about having a Blog board with members able to create their own blogs, but we'd not have the functionality of a regular blog, such as archives, labels and a comments section.

I do have a blog, if you're interested - albeit one I haven't really used since this forum started. I don't need to tell you it's kinda political, but you get an idea of what they offer and what we'd lose.

My blog is called THE ALL-SEEING i

[Jack]

May 11, 2008 19:57:12 GMT Steve Gardner said:

Mate, honestly, you and I think so alike.

I have been scouring the web looking for anyone who can offer a blog service we could integrate into the forum. I mean properly integrate - colour scheme and all. Alas not.

I did wonder about having a Blog board with members able to create their own blogs, but we'd not have the functionality of a regular blog, such as archives, labels and a comments section.

I do have a blog, if you're interested - albeit one I haven't really used since this forum started. I don't need to tell you it's kinda political, but you get an idea of what they offer and what we'd lose.

My blog is called THE ALL-SEEING i

I really think that is something that ProBoards really need to have a look at. I don't know whether they're considering it for version 5, or not, but it'd be a great addition to what is already a great forum hosting service.

I like how Blogs are laid out, and with different people posting different comments, but having them seperate from the main post. If we did it on a forum it'd be a little bit of a bunch. Unless it was only the blogger who was the poster, although that wouldn't give anyone the chance to comment, which after all is one of the main parts of a blog.

I've seen your blog before, it's in your signature

[Steve Gardner]

If there are no plans for V5, we could try it using blog entries as a sticky with comments posted in the regular manner. Maybe use some code to reverse the order of posts too to make sure the most recent post appears at the top.

It's a bit inelegant but it might work.

The main question for me is: would anyone play along. After all, with so many 'proper' blog hosts out there, why mess around with posting in a forum?

Anyone else got a view on this?

[Jack]

May 12, 2008 17:08:00 GMT Steve Gardner said:

The main question for me is: would anyone play along. After all, with so many 'proper' blog hosts out there, why mess around with posting in a forum?

I don't think anyone would join for just the Blogs. However, I think that one of the reasons that they'd join is because it's another feature on the list. It gives them the oppurtunity to have everything on one forum, one site. It'd be a lot easier than having to switch being a few.

It's definatly a possibility. Perhaps make a poll?

[Steve Gardner]

Okay. First, why not work out exactly how they would be incorporated and then set up a poll?

Maybe talk to the guys at PB too, just to be sure there's not some all-singing, all-dancing blog capability just around the corner.

If it's well-received, we'll try it.

[Steve Gardner]

I did explore the possibility of incorporating member blogs into the ProBoards set up and it cannot be done at this stage.

I have, however, set up a blog that's associated with this forum. Hopefully it will drive a few observers and maybe potential members our way to participate in the discussions.

The plan will be to post selected news items there together with a piece of commentary. This site is linked in the blogroll and our post categories and boards replicated over there also.

The blog address is: newsandcurrentaffairs.wordpress.com/. It's got a similar (though not identical) colour scheme but is a bit basic design-wise at this stage. I'm not going to be able to address this until after the house move but I'll do what I can then the make the two sites look and feel the same.

[Jack]

This is a good update (Perhaps you should also post it in the Updates board).

I think this will be a good addition and should hopefully drive members our way. Are you also looking to post forum updates there as well and things like that?

[Steve Gardner]

Jun 11, 2008 18:26:15 GMT Jack said:

Are you also looking to post forum updates there as well and things like that?

I hadn't planned to. There's a couple of little bits that need doing, such as making sure each post links back to the same topic here in the forum. That way people can find the forum from the post as well as the sidebar.

Other than that, maybe BBC News 24 in the sidebar and some market data.

I suppose we could have an Announcements text box to regularly update.

I'll look into this more when I've settled into the new place.