[8525, TyTN, MDA Vario II, JasJam ROM Development] simon_darley:
Summary of Suggestions

As with all forums that get unweildly, could we perhaps ask for the first post to be restated with a summary of suggestions, and comments on how this is mediated and implemented.

I support:

1. Delayed posting rights

2. Prioritised forums, that you cant post in until time frame registration period and number of posts is done in junior forums

3. Allow juniors to read them, but perhaps limit download volume, download size, and also ability to posts

4. Undertake a test or tutorial on search functions

5. Direct introduction and a more noticable reference to WIKI. There is a little menu drop down that takes you there, but nobody notices the first time around, and doesnt know it exists.

6. The front page www.xda-developers.com should have big big big bright banners saying "all your answers are here" straight to WIKI. If they are not here search here.... link to the search function.... if you cant find it, input your device and take them to accessories and general information....

7. Only after they have been through x y and z do the get to the rom cooking and forum rights.

WIKI should be structured. There is much cross posting, cross discussion, cross working across multiple devices and multiple operating systems, that work across platforms.

A tabulated table structure of device by OS could be created, to cross reference links and information.

Enforce the use of the FTP site for hosting cabs and files, and prevent uploading into the forums directly, or cross link the WIKI as well to the forums.

In essence, I also support a greater volume of moderators, or power users to make edits and changes, to update peoples posts, to remove attachments and relocate them to FTP, to insert links to files

PM's should definitely be able to be blocked, or banned, eg you can only PM somebody that you have more posts than, that will stop people bothering power users, seniors, chefs.

The first posts for ROM cookers needs to be more explicit, and more upto date, and the ROM cooker should take more responsibility for their work by updating the first posts with information coming to hand, with cabs, fixes, bugs n tweaks.

Forum creators should have permission to delete, remove, or moderate their own forums.... this gives the creator and chef far more control over the content, but they have to show the respect and process also, by updating the first post.

This in itself likes the problem of 5 + ---- > 100 + page forums. It wouldnt be necessary of the forum creator could delete, remove, or relocate, AND they took the time to update the very first post.

So.... shogunmark.... perhaps you could edit the first forum of this, an list out all of the possible suggestions, good or bad, and perhaps a voting mechanism

Also, everybody has to stop useless posts, it isnt just the noobs, or even the juniors, or simple "members", it is also the seniors, the mods and the chefs in themselves not helping themselves, or the forums.

Disclaimers on ROM Forums / Posts is also a valid point. However, I prefer the prioritised forums, to limit contributors based upon seniority, and ranking.

The voting system is also a good method, as it does prevent useless posts to escalate seniority.

There are also a lot of seniors, that could become MODS to help this process, and perhaps the forum gods could look at this as an option to prevent abuse and reduce the work load of shogunmark, pof, vijay, and the others.

Perhaps we could also get back some of our lost skill base such as buzz lightyear, jojo and the like. Many get disheartened I think, and we loose knowledge and skills due to being overwhelmed.

Anyway, thats my dribble and 2 bobs worth. Happy to help, if the powers that be request it.