The future of forums: Right under Jelsoft's nose

[Razasharp]

Well this thread is more an invitation to learn more about the idea/suggestion rather than me post it here - as I don't want to spend a few hours writing it up only only to find the devs are not even interested in hearing it. So if you are PM me or say so in the thread. (Any devs from other forum platforms may contact me too if they wish - I don't care who runs with this idea, so long as someone does!). If I don't hear from the devs here, I'll post the same invitation to some of the other forum platforms, although mainly the open source ones, or maybe I'll just go ahead and use Drupal for it, and keep it all for myself

I have probably touched on the topic in previous suggestions, but, it actually took a non-vB forum to help me piece it all together in my mind, and see that with a few minor tweaks vB could be quite easily king of this 'new' approach to forums.

So what's so good about this idea?

• It's much more suited to a site that is not 'just' a forum (easily accessible and not so involving that it prevents people from using the rest of the site, and vice versa).
  
• A forum section for every possible topic related to your site! Yet not as we generally know it and MUCH more powerful yet much MORE efficient.
  
• Multiple category postings are possible (finally!), but again, not as you know it or would think of it.
  
• vB already does most of this - you just need to think outside the box to finish it off and make it a viable platform.
• So vB Devs could easily make this a possibility, with little work or alteration to the current system.

But the real question is, does Jelsoft want to be an innovative company pushing the boundaries and following the latest trends, or are they happy to stick with the old methods, just because they're tried and tested (but then later find they are left behind because they haven't had the conviction to move ahead with some of the grounbreaking suggestions posted here).

I must reiterate that this new system is ideal for sites that are more than just forums - so that means sites that also have blogs, groups, social networking profiles etc. Even news, articles or other site sections.

[TWTCommish]

I'm not sure I follow...you're referencing some "new idea," but don't seem to have explained what it is, exactly.

[---MAD---]

Devs read all the posts as you know. I doubt would they will contact you to hear more about it. You should really just post the full idea since you will have to either way (here / to the devs or at other places like open source forums).

[TheBuzzSaw]

I am interested in the full extent of your ideas. I am building a forum/CMS that seeks to implement similar ideas already. I am just curious as to whether your ideas are deeper than mine or match my vision exactly.

[Nick]

I'm not sure I follow...you're referencing some "new idea," but don't seem to have explained what it is, exactly.

I'm with 'ya.

I read the post and feel like I still know absolutely nothing about this 'idea'... Quite a bit of elaboration is needed for us to follow this.

[---MAD---]

I'm with 'ya.

I read the post and feel like I still know absolutely nothing about this 'idea'... Quite a bit of elaboration is needed for us to follow this.

Agreed.

[TomJames]

Jelsoft can't ask you to elaborate because if they did, then they put something similar into their product they could find themselves in hot water if you wanted to claim against them. At least that would be their fear.

You'll just have to post it.

[Kitebu]

Something tells me this is that terrible mass-tag idea I saw posted on TAZ. :/

http://blog.pheeto.com/2008/10/28/ma...gation-better/

^ Found it. Something similar to that, where you do away with forums entirely and just use tagging/filtering.

Personally I hate this idea. >_> It would ruin forums as we know them today.