too many forums?
- Thread starter dadako
- Start date
- 17 Jul 2002
- 5,907
- 385
mikecash said:
That is not technically possible. This forum is for Japan Reference, China Reference (soon at least) and Eupedia. I have already separated index pages, and it should be possible to separate the "today's post" option (like before the upgrade), but I leave this to Thomas.
- 17 Jul 2002
- 5,907
- 385
dadako said:
Have you used the advanced search (inputting your name and keywords about the thread) or checked in your subscribed threads (given that you have enabled the option to automatically subscribe to all the threads where you post) ?
In fact, we have about 130 categories, including those about Europe, China and Site Administration. So that's about 100 about Japan + Member Lounge. Given that we have about 240,000 posts in almost 20,000 threads, that's only an average of a bit less than 200 threads and 2400 posts per category. I would be confusing for newcomers and people browsing the forum by topic not to have as many categories. I have never lost a thread (and I often quote/link back to old threads) thanks to the "advanced search" and "subscribed threads". ;-)
- 17 Sep 2005
- 6,017
- 1,970
I also tend to agree with mikecash and Elizabeth here. I am not interested in Europe. I do have interest in China, but I came here for only one reason: Japan. If you suddenly cut all of the European forum out, I would stay. If you cut all of the China forum out, I would stay. If you cut all of the Japan forum out, I'd be out in a flash.
I understand wanting to expand and appeal to a larger audience, but in so doing, you run the risk of just becoming nothing more than a random group of threads.
I understand wanting to expand and appeal to a larger audience, but in so doing, you run the risk of just becoming nothing more than a random group of threads.
- 15 Mar 2002
- 16,758
- 2,298
I realize it isn't my website. I know that every time the mailman doesn't bring me a bill for its upkeep.
My opinion is still the same, though.
I guess the key thing is to try to forget that "JREF" originally meant "Japan Reference". Silly me.
My opinion is still the same, though.
I guess the key thing is to try to forget that "JREF" originally meant "Japan Reference". Silly me.
Elizabeth
先輩
- 22 Apr 2003
- 9,839
- 135
There also doesn't seem to be any particular logic to making Europe and China "part and parcel" of the site but keeping the US (what percentage of current membership ?) in "Serious Discussions" with religion, philosophy, linguistics etc. except that is where the admins are most familiar with (Europe). In the case of China, I suppose it is an outgrowth of the Japan-China relationship as well as wanting to attract new Sino members ? It would be more natural to make it East Asia rather than single out a particular country....but anyway even though it isn't a regular member's site there may be someplace these changes could be logically explained and given feedback ? 
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
Elizabeth said:
The reason behind that is simply technical. The European Forum is part of Eupedia, our Europe-related website. Instead of setting up a new forum we intended to use the existing JREF user database which is built around this forum. The same applies to the Chinese forum section: we plan to launch a JREF site section dedicated to China (our China Gallery is already online).
Personally, I do not think that the number of threads related to China and Europe is overwhelming. Browsing the new posts and scanning for interesting posts takes a few seconds and is not exactly an intellectual challenge.
I will however reintroduce seperate search queries broken down into the main forum sections.
Elizabeth
先輩
- 22 Apr 2003
- 9,839
- 135
It's not so much a question of intellectual power as it is the rather odd situation when you have people running a nominally Japan forum that have such low regard for the country they feel the need to elevate certain select other places to the same level, implicitly devaluing others (such as the US) and creating a certain undercurrent of 'factions' and competition among members who are primarily either here for one or the other or neither. And perhaps stirring up a little controversy equates with active and interesting discussions, it's sometimes hard to see any other motivation. ☝
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
Elizabeth said:
I do understand your concerns, Elizabeth. If there was any technical solution that permitted us to use our member database across, let's say, two or three domains we would have taken that step. The forum sections devoted to China and Europe have already been "cosmetically" separated from the rest of the forum. Until we find a better solution I apologise for the thematic inconsistency. Oh, and I reckon that "factionalism" would exist even on a purely Japan-related board (there are even factions within the Jpop community here). However, as you have pointed out, dissenting views often contribute to lively and interesting discussions.
... although as of late, I have had enough of dissent on the forum...
konstancja
後輩
- 9 Dec 2005
- 16
- 3
Sorry to all who are against, but JREF is not only for people from Europe or US, I suppose. How about the Japanese members of this forum? Try to look at the problem as if you were in their shoes. We are interested in them, but they are interested in us, I believe. It should be a mutual transfer, as it is now, or even more. We could all share with them a bit more, adding sth. of our European cultural diversity to the threads we are not especially interested in, but which are interesting to them. Moreover, It's said that there are few active Japanese members. Why is that so? Maybe there should be a Japanese interface (I mean language of the site). People who know English at an intermediate level (or above) certainly feel here very well, but if you are not so good, you look for sth. partly in English, but mostly in Japanese. So, the Japanese interface could help them a lot, especially with technical vocabulary. It's a great advantage to have them here and their contribution to the forum is immense, without question. So, don't turn your back on them. On the contrary, Let's try to give a bit more to help them improve their English and get to know more about Europe, US and other English speaking countries.
Tsuyoiko
DON'T PANIC!
- 11 Mar 2005
- 3,136
- 165
There are forums here that I am not interested in (such as Japan Practical, J-pop or Sports Ground), so I just don't visit them. That doesn't mean I think they shouldn't be here. People who are interested in Japan have other interests too - we can discuss non-Japan related stuff while having our interest in Japan in common.
As for the fact there is not a US Forum, I'm sure if enough people asked for one, and someone volunteered to run it, it would be added - in the same way the China one was.
As for the fact there is not a US Forum, I'm sure if enough people asked for one, and someone volunteered to run it, it would be added - in the same way the China one was.
- 15 Mar 2002
- 16,758
- 2,298
Just for the record, and to emphasize that my objection to the presence of the European/Chinese sections isn't based on my being American.....I have also in the past expressed the same or similar objections to the presence of the American Issues section.
Blame it on my narrow-minded gittitude; "JREF" = "Japan Reference"
I actually deplore the existence of the JPOP/Anime/Manga junk to a far greater degree than I do the European/Chinese/American stuff....but they are Japan-related, so I don't begrudge their presence to nearly the same degree.
Blame it on my narrow-minded gittitude; "JREF" = "Japan Reference"
I actually deplore the existence of the JPOP/Anime/Manga junk to a far greater degree than I do the European/Chinese/American stuff....but they are Japan-related, so I don't begrudge their presence to nearly the same degree.
I simply see it as more content = more members = bigger better community!!!
I see the direction that jref is going is great, i mean its getting a fresh look and feel with the recent upgrades (i've got my forum skin at pure white looks great), i say keep up the good work Thomas.
I see the direction that jref is going is great, i mean its getting a fresh look and feel with the recent upgrades (i've got my forum skin at pure white looks great), i say keep up the good work Thomas.
Kinsao
Horizon Rider
- 8 May 2005
- 8,515
- 143
Hmmm, I don't visit the China forum, but I don't really notice it's there, it isn't intrusive.
I guess a bit of "off topic" (as you could call it) is a natural consequence of the fact that most people have interests outside of Japan-related things. I wish I could have a more orderly brain! I originally came here to learn about Japanese language, and now I rarely post in any section that's actually related to Japan! (I don't count music <<).
Anyway, yeah, keep up the good work Thomas, I think you do a great job faced with the difficult tasks.
I guess a bit of "off topic" (as you could call it) is a natural consequence of the fact that most people have interests outside of Japan-related things. I wish I could have a more orderly brain! I originally came here to learn about Japanese language, and now I rarely post in any section that's actually related to Japan! (I don't count music <<).
Anyway, yeah, keep up the good work Thomas, I think you do a great job faced with the difficult tasks.
Elizabeth
先輩
- 22 Apr 2003
- 9,839
- 135
That's what I still don't get very precisely either. Apart from separate searches, how would the content of the either the Europe or China fora change in the least by putting them under one of the existing forums (or creating a more inclusive 'International' category) without making "Eupedia" a separate website or China a "site section" which are largely cosmetic copies of the Japan forum and most forums linking directly back to the parent database anyway.
No one is prevented from coming here and discussing whatever country or continent they desire -- however the pages are organized or the site is arranged. Where is becomes more awkward, intrusive and just plain confusing is in the name change (why not make China now part of the official name along with JREF and Eupedia ?) and the prominence given to "other fora" not under the usual forums with other national and international concerns.
- 15 Mar 2002
- 16,758
- 2,298
Ermac said:
1. Don't presume to speak for everyone else.
2. Read carefully; the site ownership and management, while politely and tolerantly allowing me to state my opinion and preferences, have clearly indicated that no change to JREF will be result. It's my opinion....not my demand or my expectation.
- 17 Jul 2002
- 5,907
- 385
mikecash said:
Eupedia has been online for over a year now. But the idea of the site is about as old as the change of domain from japanreference.com to jref.com. Eventhough it was by luck that Thomas found the domain to be available at the time, the fact that it can serve as both a shortening of Japan Reference and as mentioned above certainly was a happy coincidence.
Elizabeth
先輩
- 22 Apr 2003
- 9,839
- 135
Maybe you should just use JREF with Japan & Eupedia Forums instead of Japan Reference and Eupedia Forums as the bannerhead to avoid an confusion with the duel meanings. It doesn't really even make sense on the surface -- what is a 'reference' anyway ? Different than a regular forum ? Or what JREF still apparently stands for on the non-forum part of the site.Maciamo said:Eupedia has been online for over a year now. But the idea of the site is about as old as the change of domain from japanreference.com to jref.com. Eventhough it was by luck that Thomas found the domain to be available at the time, the fact that it can serve as both a shortening of Japan Reference and as mentioned above certainly was a happy coincidence.
Last edited:
