The purpose of this message is to enlist forum member guidance for Dr. Lewis Dartnell.
Maurice Goldberg reported finding that enhanced capabilities are available for the software supporting this forum, but their installation would require the investment of precious personal time by Dr. Dartnell. From all accounts, Dr. Dartnell is heavily burdened with his scientific duties and his public activities, let alone his personal life.
In recent days, activity has resumed on this site. An opportunity exists for members who contribute to change the culture from typical Internet forum conversation which accomplishes nothing, to result oriented activities that produce measurable results.
This formum software has significant weaknesses. Please identify them in reply to this message, so Dr. Dartnell can receive feedback on where he could best allocate the few minutes he can spare for this forum.
This forum software has strengths as well. Please identify those in reply to this message, so Dr. Dartnell will know what he can build as he goes forward.
In watching the recent posts, using the Recent Activity button at the Board Index level, I would prefer that the software keep track of messages I have already read. To accomplish this, the software would have to employ a cookie on my workstation, or require me to log in so the messages read could be stored in a database keyed to my membership ID.
In order for ANY Internet forum to succeed, each member MUST derive some benefit from participation.
Many visitors to the site will derive benefit from reading the messages, and never see a need to become a member.
Visitors who DO decide to invest in the forum by becoming members should at LEAST have the option of "Liking" (or Rating) the entries contributed by contributing members. The DISADVANTAGE of composing a message that says I LIKE That! is the burden this places on the member and non-member participants, who must devote their limited online time to reading useless message content (from their perspective).
(th)