All posts in the topic Are you NEW to forums like this one? - Research (Short link)
Summary
- There are 10 posts — by 9 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by Andrew Groom at 2007 Apr 12 20:45 UTC
| From | File | Date |
|---|---|---|
| John Veitch | jsveitch.vcf | 2007 Apr 11 21:18 UTC |
| Miles Dalton | miles.dalton001.vcf | 2007 Apr 11 22:37 UTC |
| Miles Dalton | miles.dalton001.vcf | 2007 Apr 11 22:40 UTC |
Hello Everyone A special hello to any "online list newbies" who are still with us. If I've just identified you, can I also have your help? Since Canterbury Issues opened 59 people have left. I have my own views about what caused that but now is not the time to expose my ideas. For 12 years now I've been actively trying to get more New Zealanders to do useful things online. I have had a little success, but generally despite the "good news" we are told about connection rates, New Zealanders are not Internet savvy. If you have struggled a little to stay on board with Canterbury Issues, can you tell me about that? <email obscured> will find me and avoid filling this list with off topic posts. You might also look at this page which is part of Canterbury Issues. http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/canterburyissues/index.html Log In Now Click on YourName (Profile) - see top right. Have you filled in your profile yet? Is doing that a challenge to you? See if you can add at least some basic details. Thanks for your help.
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Hi John,
I think the problem most people have is the flood of e-mails that have
come through.
I have my profile set for one e-mail per subject, but that is not what I
get. I get all the replies and views on one subject. I've also receive
all the e-mails that say 'unsubscribe'. This is fine for someone like me
that spends most of my day at the computer, but not for someone who only
checks their e-mail every week or so, and especially not OK for the many
that are still on dial-up connections. I suspect that when you press
'reply' it replies to everyone on the list, whereas it should only send
an e-mail to the forum which is then either distributed to all those who
have said they want every e-mail, or held in the forum website for those
that only want the starter of a conversation.
I think there are some bugs to work out on this forum and it still needs
to find its feet a bit, but I think it will be a valuable contributor to
debate in the region.
Hope that helps.
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Hi John,
I've also noticed that on the forum webpage you can only access the
latest topics. I'd also like to access the old topics such as the
'Facilities for younger citizens' topic that was raised on the first day
of the forum. At the moment there seems to be no way to do this other
than trawl though each e-mail that has been sent, or doing a site
search. Not handy if you don't really know what you are looking for but
just want to see what has been talked about in the past.
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I don't even know my password to change the settings !!
Perhaps an invitation letter (email) to join, instead of automatic join up
would have been useful.
The start up volunteers took our in-person recruitment to heart. So rather than
thinking that you lost a lot people already, please be confident of your
already sizable group and that your locally focused conversations will grow the
number of participants.
What is important is that more folks introduce themselves now that those who
didn't quite know what they signed up for have turned into web visitors.
Steven Clift
E-Democracy.Org
P.S. Ways we can improve future drives:
1. Add a check box for "digest version" on the paper form and a way to create
an account with that setting in place.
2. E-mail everyone who signed up on paper giving them a chance to opt-out a
week before the forum opens.
3. Promote "digest on" e-mail command in pre-launch notes before general
discussion starts.
4. OnlineGroups.Net folks just implemented an unsubscribe catcher that will
watch both the subject and top of the message. This will stop "me too" requests
from reaching the forum.
5. Perhaps move the "web-only" setting to "web-based" where at least one
monthly e-mail update would let folks know what is new on the forum. Then we
would be more likely to promote that setting and not feel like we've lost
folks.
Thank you Canterbury for adding valuable lessons we can share back with the
community of local forums.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steven Clift - Sent via mobile
+1 612 203 5181
<email obscured>
Thanks for that Steve.
Miles, you can easily see the older posts. Click the down arrow where it says
"earlier topics"
Good evening
I am waiting for some good issues? One that stands out is the planning of
our roadways. The planners have ignored situations such as the Westfield
Mall which is creating serious access to and from the area. They have
ignored the problems of Tower Junction, they have ignored the huge build-up
of traffic on Whiteleigh Avenue, Clarence Streets, Straven Roads, Idris
Road, Heaton Street to name just a few problems in the Riccarton Fendalton
area. The narrowing of road exits, the installation of islands at
intersections which narrow the roadways and no consideration is given to
timid motorist who are not good at judging curb distances. The fact that
controlled intersection do not have right turning phases such as Matipo
Blenheim Road no consideration has been given to the traffic moving from
Westfield Mall to the Warehouse on Blenheim Road? There also appears to have
been too much concentration on cycle lanes, perhaps the planners only ride
bikes? The waste in energy because of poor roadway planning and the lack of
funding from Central Government for the second largest city in NZ is a
disgrace. Local Government must also play its part by giving serious
consideration to the effects of major developments on traffic flows before
resource consents are approved. The congestion on the Main North Road,
Marshland and Johns Roads is another major problem what are the solutions?
In some cases better traffic light phasing could help within the City also
some coordination with Toll who always seem to run their trains at peak
times over the Clarence and Matipo crossings.
Hope these comments start some discussion?
I think I haven't been all that keen on posting in the issues because I don
feel like I have the knowledge/expertise to comment on Canterbury
administration/governance issues. Also I keep getting heaps of emails from
people posting here that I don remember agreeing to...
maybe this is why alot of people have left.. the nature of the topics and the
amount of posts coming through emails.
that's my 2 cents
from
Michael Watson
To introduce myself here I can say am just looking and learning, am
interested in a number of issues that others on this list appear to share an
interest in, and can usually find time to read each email fairly promptly
(unlike others who have unsubscribed !) Am also member of a couple of other
private and semi-private egroups, and it will be interesting to see how this
one goes.
Paula Lambert
Woodham Rd, Avonside
Quoting "clift@publicus.net" <clift@publicus.net>:
Hi Michael,
Michael wrote:
> I think I haven't been all that keen on posting in the issues because I don
feel like I have the knowledge/expertise to comment on Canterbury
administration/governance issues. Also I keep getting heaps of emails from
people posting here that I don remember agreeing to...
The intention of this forum is *not* that it be an "experts corner",
rather that it be a place for *anyone* to have their say on *any* issue
related to the Canterbury region.
Also, the issues don't have to be about the region as a whole, or about
"big" ideas like climate change - Ralph's post about Westfield Mall is a
good example (nice one, Ralph ! :-). Post about your 8:30 am bus not
being on time, the broken glass outside your house that hasn't been
cleaned up for the last two weeks, the effects of road works in your
area, what a great team the Crusaders are, just whatever you like,
really :-)
Cheers, Andrew.