[Suggestions for the Arduino ProjectWhat do you think should be improved, features for the hard/software, bugs you found]

I can see your point very well, but why are you crying here and point to administrators?
Why not to send the message directly to manufacturer?

Gary, Crossroads - what is the purpose of the forum board we are on right now?

Here's the title of it -

Suggestions for the Arduino Project

What do you think should be improved, features for the hard/software, bugs you found

In your own words, what would they have made the board for?

Clearly somebody wanted opinions on the Arduino Project. Somebody went to the trouble of creating this board. It's here. People post in it. Is it just for decoration? Is it just for people to waste time in, their ideas never even really being read? If it's not being read by the powers that be, then what is the point of it? IMHO you are derailing my proper use of the board, so really you need to be moderated, both of you. It's an idea for the Arduino Project, and if you both do not represent that, as officials, then you really have no business trying to shoot down my idea.

Somebody in charge of the forum wanted opinions on the Arduino Project and that's just what I'm using the board for. If they don't want to come to their own forum, and read what's in their own forum board, then why not just delete the board?

I'm a moderator.
I have no (nil, zippo, naff-all) knowledge of SMF, moderator slots, permissions or privileges, and until I retire and have some spare time, I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in acquiring such knowledge, and even then I can't imagine I'll be that excited about it.

I honestly don't see what everyone is getting so stressed about.

(Poacher-turned-gamekeeper, that's me - I just like thumping spammers)

Wow - finally a response.

So why do you denigrate a person with knowledge. Do you do that to people answering electronics questions here? That's a shameful attitude to present. Everyone should respect people with knowledge, no matter what the area of expertise.

If you are a Global moderator then you should have knowledge of SMF, if you don't then how can you be expected to use the tools available to moderate the forum efficiently? You mean you never got any training at all? If all you do is answer electronics questions, then you don't need to be a moderator. Moderating isn't about being an expert in the subject of the forum, it's about being an expert in running the forum.

Why don't you read my comments and respond to the relevant technical aspects, instead of showing the attitude you are, that someone with expert knowledge should be put down like you are doing? What if I did that to another person who was sharing their knowledge, would that be acceptable to you?

You think that administrators here are owners of the Arduino products, and they should answer to you?

You don't have a clue what I'm even talking about. Why don't you read the relevant threads before saying something that has nothing to do with the topics involved.

Can't the package also be cleverly re-folded and used as a project container for the card?  I think it even had cutouts to leave an opening for power or USB connector.

Oh a Global Mod!

Maybe he can tell us why the Administration team doesn't care to answer posts in the board "Website and Forum"? I guess imagining how  paper boxes might be folded is much more important.

You seem so unhappy in the Arduino world lately?

Lefty

You'll be able to tell when I'm unhappy here - I'll start signing my name to every post.

Maybe the fear of a future unpatched security hole will make the SMF upgrade climb up the priority list :-)

Well anyway, I enjoyed talking with you. I don't mind disagreements when the other party has a decent understanding of the underlying technical points being debated. If they want to disagree just because my post count is low or for some other unrelated bias, that don't really cut the mustard.

Even if they want to keep the forum moderators for most of the boards all Global Mods, they don't seem to understand that assigning a Global Mod to a board moderator slot is completely redundant. Global Mods can moderate any board without being assigned as a moderator. And it's even sillier to assign Administrators into board moderator slots. Admins can do anything at all on the entire forum, by definition!

Seeing this just makes me think they don't really understand the underlying hierarchy of SMF. But who am I right? Just some poor slob that has years of experience with this system. 

Since yours is not a simple rant but a technical suggestion from someone who dirtied his hands with the very software we're talking about, I would expect some kind of response from the admins.
My guess is they are very busy and these issues are way down their priority scale, so they "can't" even ask for help.

That goes right to my point - they need more help, and there are plenty of volunteers here to help them.

[is handled by the shipping container]

How do you suggest they package there products for shipment worldwide.

Lefty,

Do you even think about what I write? I mean, this is at least the second time that it just seems like you speed-read or skim my posts.

What did I say? I said the safe shipment of the product (at least for this small size) is handled by the shipping container - not by the actual box (again - for this small size). Do you think they just dump a bucket load of protoboard boxes into a rail car and hope for the best? Of course not. The boxes are themselves packed into other boxes. Haven't you ever ordered anything online before? Does it arrive in the original box, or is it packed into another box for shipping?

Not to mention, how do you account for the packaging difference between the Arduino and the protoboard?

If you have a constructive suggestion then send it to them, I'm sure they are very environmentally aware as a company.[/color]

If they are anything like the administration of this forum, I doubt they will care about my message.  

I was going to also add that paper is 100% recyclable. Our local garbage company takes our garbage can every week and picks up recycle paper/metals can every two weeks.

Lefty

That's not a good excuse IMHO Lefty. Why contribute more recycling than is needed? Why all that paper for a tiny little board? I just don't get it.

I have a side question Lefty - why do you sign your name to your posts, when each of your posts is already tagged with your membername? 

You have a point,
although I also think the paper is needed to protect against rough handling during transport.  I've seen too many DOA's due to transport.
Fortunately paper can be recycled 100%.

Rough handling? Look at the attachment. That's the Arduino bord itself with all the packaging that came with it, and look at how much less packaging it came with. The only thing missing is an ESD bag, which is still a mistake to leave out of the packaging.

The rough handling of shipped products is handled by the shipping system - such as peanuts or other packing materials - at least in the case of such small items.

At the risk of saying something silly, I'll throw in my 2 cents.

Being no expert about forum software in general, and SMF in particular, I can only say modeller's comments look reasonable to me, from a technical point of view. The fact that there's a mismatch between actual responsibilities and SMF "slot" assignments is indeed something that should be fixed, as the "expired document" problem reported before.

OTOH, I don't see this place being plagued with spam or a high number of misbehaving posters, name calling or things like that. IOW, my (limited, I admit) experience here tells me there's nothing (so) wrong that prevents experts and newcomers to do here what they come for. I.e. asking questions, providing answers, discussing about programming, microcontrollers and electronics in general.

So could the forum be better managed from a technical point of view ? It seems so. Is there a compelling need for this improvement ? It seems not. Or at least, I haven't seen those in charge of moderation and administration complain about technical shortcomings that make their life hard (at least in public).

Thank you for a logical and rational response tuxduino. I really appreciate that.

As a user, the only real technical concern I have is about forum performance. Maybe an SMF ugprade would bring benefits in this area. But then again, I can live with the occasional performance problem, and I think it's reasonable that a (frightening) task such as an upgrade of a huge forum like this is subjected to the time constraints of the admins' agenda.

They should really consider upgrading to SMF 2.0.4, because this version will not be supported in the coming months and it will not be receiving any more security updates after that time. I've personally done the upgrade from SMF 1.x.x to SMF 2.x.x and it isn't really a big deal.

You know what really concerns me though?

I've posted two topics on the "Website & Forum" board out of concern for an error message that should not come up, and contributing suggestions my years of experience with this forum software as a forum owner and administrator.

These topics were explicitly posted in the correct board. One can only assume that this board was created for a reason. I would also assume that the reason would be for the admins and owner to read and respond to concerns for the forum from it's users.

What are we to make of a lack of response to these topics? What are we to make of a lack of response to a concerned member's PM to Admins? The least they can do is acknowledge member's suggestions, I would think?

If they aren't willing to do this, then why does this board even exist?

Well we are just talking past each other. Lets see if any other members have comments on your recommendations.

Well, I PM'ed the Administrators yesterday. They are the ones who should care enough to look into issues. The issue I asked them about was a bona fide error message - the Document Expired error. I got Zip Zero Zilch for a response.

Since they don't care to respond, I have no other recourse than to speculate on why. Either they:

A. Don't care
B. They are too busy, which means they need more help
C. They are embarrassed that they don't know how to fix it so they choose to keep quiet
E. They like error messages to show up for members who use the search function

any other possibilities?

I just voice my opinion as just a normal member of the forum, that I don't think there is a problem with the number of and/or behaviour of the existing moderators/administrators, or their running of this forum. I understand you feel there is something wrong but have failed to be very specific in your complaint, other then more cops on the streets are needed, think of the children.

Yes I have been specific in a post above. You just glossed over the entire explanation. Is that the way you want new electronics members to act towards explanations you post?

Why don't you try to answer my points logically. For example, why are Administrators assigned to board moderator slots? Start with that.

I don't even understand the question. Membership titles mean little to me compared to membership behaviour.
Lefty

Well there you go. You don't even understand the question, which means you don't understand what SMF membergroup permissions are and who can use what permissions as relates to their membergroup.

If a person logs on and says they don't understand something about the Arduino, and you explain it to them and ask them a question, and then they tell you

"I don't even understand the question. Electronic part names titles mean little to me compared to their behavior in a a circuit." how would you respond?

I think you would keep trying to explain. It's the same behavior you are exhibiting here. You don't understand SMF permissions and membergroups, and somehow that makes what I'm telling you irrelevant to your pre-conceived opinion that the forum is set up the best it can be. It's clique behavior, which means that an outsider's opinions are usually met by opposition by the clique - I mean how can a new outsider be right about anything regarding the existing community? It's the same behavior exhibited by large corporations toward new people with new ideas. Ever try to change a large corporation as a newcomer? That's the way you are acting towards me.

Are you willing to listen to an expert on SMF (me), or are you going to exhibit to me the same behavior that you would frown upon by a newbie to electronics who wouldn't listen to your explanations of the Arduino?

Look at these two -

Federico Vanzati, UweFederer

They are already Global Mods, and don't require an assignent to a board moderator slot.

Also look at the "moderators" of General Discussion.

Moderators: admin, Massimo Banzi, David Cuartielles, mellis

They are Administrators! There is no logical reason to assign an Admin to a board moderator slot - they can already do anything a moderator can do without the permission of a board moderator. That's what I mean, the way these slots are being used tells me they don't really understand SMF.

Well I don't agree with your opinion of what this forum needs.

Now were getting some responses.

Of course you don't agree Lefty, that's because you are part of the existing "clique". I wouldn't expect you to agree with me yet. That doesn't however mean that this moderating scheme is being used properly. Your argument is nothing more than this -

"It's always been done this way so how could it be better?"

Do you answer technical questions like that? No. You answer them with logical responses. I may not know the Arduino as well as you, but I think I know SMF and how it's supposed to be set up better than just about anyone here.

Why don't you try to answer my points logically. For example, why are Administrators assigned to board moderator slots? Start with that.

It seems to me there are in fact a few "board moterators", specifically in the "international" section. Uwe is on of the moderators of the Italian board.

Well, at least someone is paying attention.

Yes indeed (except for Scandinavia), I have that board collapsed because I don't need to read it, but that's good. Now the question is, why do they not do it for the busiest boards on the forum?