On 6 Oct 2005, at 13:27, MJ Ray wrote:
David Reynolds david@reynoldsfamily.org.uk
This has become quite a convoluted thread (or threads) of which the gist to me seems to be that many Aluggers are unhappy with the state of the website and their inability to edit it.
This thread is being distorted by a few posting a lot. Enumerate participants other than me, Brett and Adam:
- Keith posted a question based on a problem;
- Paul suggested a solution and asked a related question;
- Laurie asked a related question;
- Al offered to work on a solution, partly answering Paul;
- Ben suggested a solution;
- Ten asked related questions;
- Dave tried to move the discussion forwards;
- Wayne Stallwood suggested ideas and mentioned an immediate problem;
- Jonathan McDowell answered a question;
- Darren fixed the immediate problem.
I don't think it's safe to conclude that "many ALUGgers are unhappy" from that. Maybe they are, but it's not clear yet.
OK, maybe I was reading between the lines BUT I and other people with whom I have discussed this topic with in IRC are unhappy with the site and the current way in which it is maintained.
I'm not sure how long the current site has been about, being a *fairly* new Alugger, but as Brett said in a previous email, the design is beginning to look a bit dated. [...]
As I wrote earlier, please make a template that the metadata and div#main can be put into. I strongly prefer xhtml+css +accessibility. I'd love a new design.
I agree with xhtml+css+accessibility, but why does it have to fit into the current framework? You seem to be cutting peoples suggestions of new developments by forcing them into using the already exisiting system.
Another thing that should be discussed is who is going to take responsibility for the site. As far as I can tell many people would be interested in having a hand in the website, keeping it up to date, adding content, etc but no one has even been offered the chance.
I've posted more calls for help than it's fun to count. I don't like pontification and I don't like inconsiderate "make it easy for me even if it makes it intolerably difficult for you" requests. Mostly, I've always tried to document, explain and make things easier as people explain the problems to me.
Of 10 people mentioned above, at least five have/are now contributed/ing to the site(s) in some way and I thank them for their help. More welcome. Just think of something to do, get rough consensus and let's see how to make it happen. I'm not Brett's "God", but I am taking care of the site for now.
Surely by using some kind of CMS it will allow more people to contribute and keep the site up to date without having to rely on one person to patch the site.
Why? We've tried some CMSes before, including one I advocated, and it allowed more people to ignore the site. It got into a mess faster. I don't see what stops that happening again. I think you're muddling the tasks of the site with the tools that let us perform those tasks.
What in your opinion are the tasks of the site?
There's no reason we are "having to rely on one person" but for all the flaming and idle suggestions, no-one else has yet offered to take the patches and develop some cooperation and trust.
I'd like to help bring the site more up to date. Where do I sign up?
Dave