[JLOGIC]

Wyman recently started a thread suggesting a true "beginner" forum here:

http://www.bridgebas...002#entry621002

Mgoetze suggested restructuring to have a beginner forum, intermediate/advanced, and expert. This is a great idea imo as it solves the problem of true beginners needing an unintimidating place to post, as well as true experts wanting a place to post.

This is a much better and simpler idea than one I proposed 3 years ago which was hard to implement, but got a lot of support:

http://www.bridgebas...002#entry621002

I understand not wanting to tinker that much with the structure of a successful forum, but I think it would provide a lot of value at little cost, and can solve 3 problems at once. It will make the flame wars diminish and the forums a nicer and more helpful place.

My arguments for that here:

http://www.bridgebas...post__p__620893

Let's discuss this and do it if people want imo!

[mgoetze]

JLOGIC, on 2012-March-14, 23:54, said:

This is a much better and simpler idea than one I proposed 3 years ago which was hard to implement, but got a lot of support:

http://www.bridgebas...002#entry621002

C&P fail.

Otherwise, agree obviously.

[jjbrr]

Also split water cooler into B/I WC and A/E WC so that I may belong to a part of the forum.

The ideas summarized in OP are good.

[barmar]

jjbrr, on 2012-March-15, 06:16, said:

Also split water cooler into B/I WC and A/E WC so that I may belong to a part of the forum.

Which of them gets the neverending religious debates?

[inquiry]

For what it is worth, I tried to rename the 2/1 - sayc forum natural bidding methods, but for some reason the name change never took (that was based upon suggestions in the other thread).

Also for what it is worth, I am pretty sure if we had an I/a forum, and and e forum, all the stuff being posted in the a/e forum would get pushed into the e forum (just a guess). However, an i/a forum would be a better place for a lot of stuff i put in the b/i forum, so I do like the idea... i am just not up to moving thousands of post from one place to another. ... so if we can figure out how to rename forums.... i think this is what could happen...

the current b/i will become i/a
the current a/e will become e
and the new forum (empty) will become b
2/1-sayc will become natural bidding systems

THERE was also a suggestion of separating play problems from bidding problems (forums can have subforums). As structured, we get play problems and bidding problems in each of these forums, and in interesting hands and in general bridge discussion. Anyone have a useful suggestion to dealing with this issue or leave play and bidding mixed between all of the forums?

[mgoetze]

Surely if you are worried about too much non-E content in the E forum it would be psychologically better to make the old A/E the new I/A.

Personally I am more interested in separating bidding judgement problems from bidding system problems i.e. "what should I bid on this hand?" vs. "how can I fix my bidding system so I don't have this problem" or "should I make a takeout double" vs. "should this double be for takeout".

Here's a possible set of forums under "Bridge-related Discussion" from my point of view:

General Bridge Discussion
Beginner Bridge Discussion
Intermediate/Advanced Bidding Problems
Intermediate/Advanced Cardplay Problems
Expert Bidding Problems
Expert Cardplay Problems
Natural System Discussion
Non-Natural System Discussion
Offline Bridge
Junior Bridge (?)
BPO (?)
Bridge Material Review

[JLOGIC]

inquiry, on 2012-March-15, 09:53, said:

For what it is worth, I tried to rename the 2/1 - sayc forum natural bidding methods, but for some reason the name change never took (that was based upon suggestions in the other thread).

Also for what it is worth, I am pretty sure if we had an I/a forum, and and e forum, all the stuff being posted in the a/e forum would get pushed into the e forum (just a guess). However, an i/a forum would be a better place for a lot of stuff i put in the b/i forum, so I do like the idea... i am just not up to moving thousands of post from one place to another. ... so if we can figure out how to rename forums.... i think this is what could happen...

the current b/i will become i/a
the current a/e will become e
and the new forum (empty) will become b
2/1-sayc will become natural bidding systems

THERE was also a suggestion of separating play problems from bidding problems (forums can have subforums). As structured, we get play problems and bidding problems in each of these forums, and in interesting hands and in general bridge discussion. Anyone have a useful suggestion to dealing with this issue or leave play and bidding mixed between all of the forums?

Great, I hope you can figure out how to change the forum names! I am sure there is a way to do it and you guys can figure out how.

Personally, I would be against seperating play problems and bidding problems, but I don't care that much.

IMO interesting bridge hands should be used to tell a story. For instance, I played this hand, or I had this situation, it is interesting. It should not be for problem hands imo and is only used for that purpose since people don't want to post in B/I OR A/E as someone said in the "total newbies" thread. I think that the forum description:

"Talk about that nasty misfit, that troublesome opener, that awful trump split here..."

confirms my view. That is always what I have used interesting hands for.

Likewise, I do not think general bridge discussion should be used for bridge hands, imo it is used more for gossip or general bridge discussions (for instance "How should we get young players playing bridge" or something.

I think General bridge discussion is definitely necessary, and interesting bridge hands if used for the purpose that I think it is intended for would be maybe too low traffic to warrant a subforum, but whatever, not a huge deal.

[nigel_k]

inquiry, on 2012-March-15, 09:53, said:

the current b/i will become i/a
the current a/e will become e

Maybe have b/i, i/a and a/e?

There's no real problem having the overlap and it will reduce people's fear of being arrested by the forum choice police.

[cloa513]

nigel_k, on 2012-March-15, 18:58, said:

Maybe have b/i, i/a and a/e?

There's no real problem having the overlap and it will reduce people's fear of being arrested by the forum choice police.

Given there is not even suggestion of what should be in each forum.

[Phil]

I'm still trying to find a place for my uninteresting bridge hands...

[wyman]

Phil, on 2012-March-21, 09:34, said:

I'm still trying to find a place for my uninteresting bridge hands...

I have an idea of where you can put them...