Co-op Sticky

Dave, I think we need a sticky on the co-op forum. Just a note to say that the co-op forum is a place to post messages about interest in a co-op that the writer is personally willing to host, and then threads about active co-ops in all the different stages. We have so many new people who don't realize that the place to ask if someone else wants to host a particular co-op would probably be on either Garden Talk or on the forum of a particular plant (assuming there is one).

Would that be feasible, so you think?

Well, I guess I look at it a little differently - I'd rather all co-op threads stay in the co-op forum for two reasons:

1) If people post "is anyone interested in [fill in the blank]?" threads in another forum, some of them will inevitably snowball into co-op threads. We'll have co-op threads scattered throughout the forums, and there will be conflicting co-ops and confusion over where to go for information.

2) The co-op forum is invisible to non-subscribed members. Most gardening forums are not (the first post is visible on all of them, and some of them are open to non-subscribed members, too.) Posts asking about potential co-ops on other forums will inevitably lead to confusion and hard feelings when the co-op itself is limited to subscribers-only.

pins, I had the same thought you did then landed on the same thoughts Terry posted. I think the answer is to keep the "what are we interested in?" stuff down to minimal threads and try to only post actual co-ops as their own entry. It's easy enough to post a co-op and if it does not ever sail, just mark it closed. I do think it is awful busy if everyone posts each idea seperately. It's already sort of messy over there.

Another thought? What if there was a sticky titled "Future Co-ops" or something where ideas and interest could be collected then the actual co-ops could be posted seperately?

Would it be feasible to make another forum titled co op discussions also invisible to non subscribers? direct the chatter to that forum, and leave the co op forum just for co ops. I agree, it is really messy in the co op forum already. I can't imagine what it will be like in a few months.

My concern is that even a second forum would create more confusion than it would solve. People will forget which forum to post to or which thread to watch. (Truth be told, we have people who don't know how to "watch" or "unwatch" a thread, start a second thread, insert hyperlinks between them, or even how to click on a hyperlink in a thread ;o)

A single forum can stay fairly neat and organized if:

1) Posters let us know if/when a thread should be deleted ("oopsies" or ideas that fell flat and aren't going to be acted upon);

2) Thread starters will remember to "close" their threads when they're done - that way, you can click on the link to display only open threads and all the clutter goes away ;o)

Suggestion threads can be closed to new comments: just send us a request, and we can close up the thread to new posts. (Note: under most circumstances, we won't do this for the actual co-op organization thread, since people may have questions and comments long after the organizer wishes they'd quit posting ;o)

Good point Terry, I hadn't considered that.

I see your point, Terry. Okay, lets see how it goes. I don't think that many people know that they can request that a thread be deleted. I just thought the admins did it when they thought it needed it.

pins, it is something that we occasionally do (when a thread gets out of hand, violates the AUP, etc.) But we'll gladly do it as a courtesy for any member who asks. You can report threads to us, and we'll see what we can do (usually we contact the user before we unilaterally decide to remove their thread.) Just use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page, and - for my sanity - please provide a link to the thread within the text of the message.

Will do. Thanks, Terry.