Wow. Ideas are flowing!

I am currently looking into the idea of separation of powers as we have in stable democracy, so people will feel like they can do things to move the forum forward without Seun necessarily being involved.

I want to have a 'legislative' arm that makes and updates the laws and a 'judicial' arm that settles disputes and makes decisions to be carried out by the 'executive' arm which of course I will run as the 'site owner' with the admin and moderators.

Here is my opinion about some of the suggestions given so far on the forum:

Reducing the subsections by Olu Abuja: Hell, no! We are actually increasing sections based on demand - if dozens of threads are being created around a particular topic, then we would simply create a section for it. Why do you think it would be beneficial to reduce the number of sections?

Usability Enhancements by Nferyn: What usability enhancements do you think we need?

Chat and Dating Engine: We already have a chat room and dating zone.

News: I'm preparing a list of Nigerian news websites from which people can get their news.

Brand New Design by Deji Olowe: What is wrong with our current design? It loads fast, does the job and is green, what more can we ask for?

Moderators For Different Sections: Great idea, but I am resistant to it. If the moderator for a particular section decides not to show up throughout a particular week, then it will fall into disrepair while other sections will be doing ok. I like the idea of giving moderator privileges to particularly responsible people so they can edit any threads they stumble upon.

Avoid Popups and Popunders: I am committed to having user-friendly context-sensitive advertising. I regularly reject prospective advertisers and direct them to use Google so the ads can be matched to the page content.

... to be continued.

Try Contacting TV Stations by larger_20: Sorry, but I am quite shy and I cannot handle rejection. However, I have other ideas about how to get traditional media outlets interested in the "Nairaland phenomenom". I also want to appeal to Nairaland members who have connections in the media to work with me to get the mass media attention that our community needs. Having said that, I think we need to first learn how to manage the traffic we already have.

Writing Articles by Bola Oni: I am not a particularly good writer though I am making an effort in news satire.

Recommendation by Bola Oni: What about the SEND TOPIC button present in every thread?

Organizing Seminars, Workshops and Training: I am quite shy so ...

Will our server setup be able to handle extra traffic? Yes, for about a month or two after which we can simply upgrade.

Creating sections based on age groups (teens, 20-somethings, 30-somethings). I don't think it's possible.

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Anyway, I would like to know what is wrong with the design of the site. It works fine for me.

it would be nice if this website could eventually evolve to an all nigerian relaxation spot on the internet. Even though i don't post as much as others not a day goes by without my going thru this website. It is a great way to connect to all the news at home.
i would suggest you do not limit the forum as some are advising, let forum users decide which topics they want to participate in, that is the secret behind the present success.

What of including a webmail?

Why don't we have a spot where we can link up to all the nigerian newspapers, Tv and radio stations without having to go to google to look for them?

Do you mind changing the format or backdrop for this site? it's not too fine.

Are you planning to develop a blogger that will be exclusive to nigerians and other lovers of nigeria wherever they may be? It would be nice to have a catalogue of all nigerian blogs where we can easily link to.

hey! don't change the present design. it's great. i think most pple are just bored of seeing the same color all the time. you can also update the toolbar if u can.

Hi Seun,


I am sorry that I don't have anything to contribute towards "Moving Nairaland to the next level"
I've recently joined up so I have to take a little more time before I can come up with some critics and ideas for you.




Jah Guide

Seun:

Usability Enhancements by Nferyn: What usability enhancements do you think we need?

Actually, Usability is one of my expertises. I have conducted usability tests, walkthroughs and done extensive research in Interaction Design methodologies when I was in web development (already more than 4 years ago, how time flies )

I don't think a formal test is what is needed. The forum already adheres to most guidelines and the results won't give you dramatic improvements, unless you've got cash to spare for a complete overhaul. One of the main drivers for Google's succes was engaging Jacob Nielsen in their advisory board and strictly following a usability driven desing cycle.

I will do a walkthrough and list some quick fixes. It won't happen overnight though, because this would mean a few hours of concentrated effort;

My contrbutions are still on having extra moderators and implementing load sharing btw moderators. A coder's forum I belong to does it this way.
For every sub forum, there is a moderator (someone who's knowledgable about the topic)
Then, there are several super-moderators who can moderate any thread in any sub-forum. Also when 1 of the moderators is away, the super moderators take over and moderate until the moderator is back or a new one is selected.
Then there are several Advisors and 1 administrator.
As it is you're presently doing the work of all these people, Ideally, you should just be the administrator and not have to worry about modifying, moving or deleting posts. These should be done by the moderators and Super moderators.

There might be other ways, but this is just a way I know that works.

I agree with you, Icon. I would love nothing better than not to have to spend time moving posts around. But I have not really found these people yet. I haven't really find people who satisfy all the qualities I want in a moderator.

Seun:

I agree with you, Icon. I would love nothing better than not to have to spend time moving posts around. But I have not really found these people yet. I haven't really find people who satisfy all the qualities I want in a moderator.

Maybe you have unrealistic expectations. The biggest ennemy of excellent is perfect

Seun:

I agree with you, Icon. I would love nothing better than not to have to spend time moving posts around. But I have not really found these people yet. I haven't really find people who satisfy all the qualities I want in a moderator.

why don't u post the attributes of a good moderator. let us decide who a good moderator is. u might not even know it all. it might even be someone of our young lasses (hot-angel, nike4luv) and everything doesnt need to be techy techy techy....

Here's my proposal:

1) First, we set up a 'Nairaland Congress' consisting of Nairaland members who spend a lot of time on the forum and generally respect the rules. These members will be known as 'representatives'. Their duty: to maintain the rules and regulations of the Nairaland Forum.

2) Then, we set up a 'Nairaland Court' consisting of Nairaland representatives who have demnstrated their maturity, level-headedness and good jugdement. They will be known as 'judges'. Their duty: to settle all disputes by applying the rules to specific situations.

3) Finally, we set up the 'Nairaland Police', consisting of Nairaland judges I can trust with moderator privileges. They will be known as 'moderators'. They will have the power to execute the forum rules and regulations and decisions of the judges.

I want to believe that as members start participating in the congress and the court, those that are capable of functioning effectively as moderators will become obvious.

no nairaland OPC?

Heh, I'm going to rename the "Nairaland Executives" up there and call them "Nairaland Police". OPC and other paramilitary groups are only necessary when the police and armed forces are not performing.

I would have started with the congress right away but the forum configuration I'll have to do is just too complicated!

pele o. hope u v the manuals...

Seun:

Here's my proposal:

1) First, we set up a 'Nairaland Congress' consisting of Nairaland members who spend a lot of time on the forum and generally respect the rules. These members will be known as 'representatives'. Their duty: to maintain the rules and regulations of the Nairaland Forum.

2) Then, we set up a 'Nairaland Court' consisting of Nairaland representatives who have demnstrated their maturity, level-headedness and good jugdement. They will be known as 'judges'. Their duty: to settle all disputes by applying the rules to specific situations.

3) Finally, we set up the 'Nairaland Police', consisting of Nairaland judges I can trust with moderator privileges. They will be known as 'moderators'. They will have the power to execute the forum rules and regulations and decisions of the judges.

I want to believe that as members start participating in the congress and the court, those that are capable of functioning effectively as moderators will become obvious.

This is a very nice idea and a welcome development too. Good thinking, Seun!

Now, how do we go about setting up these "parties" ??

well i think the idea of moving nairaland to another level is pretty cool but i for now do not have any ideas but i promise to post them as soon as they pop into my head

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virozuru:

i wont be surprised if the separation of powers were only yoruba.

What does this have to do with the topic at hand? Look, don't come here and spam this thread with this stupid ethnic rivalry talk of yours ok? When Seun started this thread, you said you'll feed him with ideas, but what do we have here now? Pls, if you don't have anything meaningful to contribute, mess off!!

I'm expecting a stupid reply from you now.

Well there will be no separation of powers since I have discovered that most of the active Nairaland addicts aren't really interested in the congress not to talk of the court or moderation.

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@viro, ur tribal attacks are uncalled for.

@goodguy your response is too strong and too local. viro is a young woman.

*

i can make graphics for the site , like a site banner which can go up there on top n say NAIRALAND.COM or whatever

Please any site that is largely commercial like this one does not need beutifying.
See yahoo,hotmail,google these site there is notin like banner there it's just simple HTML and JAVA,thats what we want here.

Please any site that is largely commercial like this one does not need beutifying.
See yahoo,hotmail,google these site there is notin like banner there it's just simple HTML and JAVA,thats what we want here.

Thank you mike.

I personally value quick delivery over pretty-looking slow graphics.

oasis:

Thank you mike.

I personally value quick delivery over pretty-looking slow graphics.

u guys sha! a beautiful site might not have big graphics. if i get a good interface designer, i could implement a nicer design with faster download. boys, do u know u could compress ur html code before streaming them to the client side?

u guys sha! a beautiful site might not have big graphics. if i get a good interface designer, i could implement a nicer design with faster download.

Action speaks louder than words.

boys, do u know u could compress your html code before streaming them to the client side?

Yes we know that. Unfortunately, images don't compress well, and compression only happens on the server if the client headers shows that the browser can uncompress it. I believe it only works in http 1.1, i.e. newer browsers.

this site needs more colors

You also think this site needs more colors? In that case, someone should come up with a more attractive design, then we can vote on it! And in case you guys don't know, this site already compresses each html page before sending it to your browser.

like in a background form?