Are the MVS Forums over-segmented?

Post by **matthew1** » 26 Aug 2017, 10:39

For example, take this top level forum group Volvo Parts, Wheels & Tires, Dealers, Mechanics & Shops.

That contains:

In your opinion, is this or other forums like Good Buy or Goodbye, despite its awesomely witty name I came up with, just over-segmentation? Should posts and topics on this stuff just live in the sometimes non-relevant parent Volvo model forums?

Note: since it is what it is currently, the bar is high to change it. I'm not going to modify things unless there's an overwhelming flood of CHANGE IT! opinion.

I want to balance "Law & Order" with "organic-origin" for where posts and topics live.

Post by **matthew1** » 26 Aug 2017, 10:44

Opinion weight is greatest with MVS Moderators, then Contributors and longtime members, but all opinions I value!

TWC · Post by **TWC** » 26 Aug 2017, 10:53

Can't say yet...still trying to find my way.

Post by **June** » 26 Aug 2017, 11:01

Everything is fine, leave it alone. June

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 28 Aug 2017, 20:39

I love the "Good buy" section. But I like imagining that I have the space for a half dozen Volvos...

Post by **matthew1** » 29 Aug 2017, 09:28

This now has a poll attached.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 29 Aug 2017, 12:59

Over fragmented. Might be a little. I'm not sure its a matter of over segmentation but maybe more of organization. It might be worth looking into grouping areas by vehicle platform due to large similarities between vehicles within the same generation. For example- I might own a '06 S60 2.5T, advice to another owner who owns a '07 XC90 2.5T is highly relevant as the engine/management system/interior elements/electrical systems are largely comparable.
Once you click into the "P2" area then it makes more sense to divide things up by model/year range.

There is somewhat of a risk if the main forum page becomes too long, like scrolling through a list of subreddits, you keep scrolling down trying to find the appropriate area for something... The main forum page might be getting a little borderline too long: a lot of people have issues with very short attention spans and glaze over pretty quick- either lose interest or end up posting content in the wrong area.

Everyone born after 1965 or so has become accustomed to the hierarchal file systems of the computer age and is accustomed to navigating that sort of environment.

Post by **abscate** » 14 Sep 2017, 05:22

One cure is to post stickies to segmentation in the right threads or even cross thread links.

Whoever sticked the good buy or bye in the Classifieds was brilliant and should get a raise.

Caveat ...keep the stickies limited to maybe five at most or use a header...it is annoying to hit too many stickies.

I am forgiven for overuse of ellipses by my insistence on ' Fora'

Post by **Kara503** » 13 Jul 2018, 12:30

My opinion-
I think that the forums are absolutely over segmented. It makes sense and is well organized, but this isn't a folder with subfolders on someone's desktop. MVS has a steady level of activity but it seems to always be the same people posting mostly with the exception of people popping up on the vehicle specific forums to ask why their car won't start, then they disappear.

I think if there were less forum choices it would make the site look more active, which may entice new users to become regular users more.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 13 Jul 2018, 14:23

Kara503 wrote: ↑13 Jul 2018, 12:30 My opinion-
I think that the forums are absolutely over segmented. It makes sense and is well organized, but this isn't a folder with subfolders on someone's desktop. MVS has a steady level of activity but it seems to always be the same people posting mostly with the exception of people popping up on the vehicle specific forums to ask why their car won't start, then they disappear.

I think if there were less forum choices it would make the site look more active, which may entice new users to become regular users more.

Agreed.

Also some segmentation isn't very helpful when it comes to finding answers to questions regarding your particular car either. The first XC90, S80, V70N and S60 for example have most things in common yet the XC90 has it's own sub-forum and the S80 shares with the new S80 which again has nothing in common. And V70II, XC70II and S80II has everything in common except the size of the boot yet don't share a forum.

The general talk sections which are less used than the model specific forums do seem to suffer a bit more from it though. It's a bit hard to tell when there's been activity. Personally I mostly browse using the "New posts"-tab though since that isn't segmented all.