Maintaining an Active Page for newbies

[ashutoshn]

Hi,

I have been reqularly been visiting this site for quite a few days. I have observed "items for sale" threads getting drowned by newer posts. Newer forum joinees need to dig down/search mail posts to check if the items they require are being sold by someone on the forum !!! Also i have seen some threads which are 2 - 3 pages discussing just two or three items for sale. A considerable amount of time needs to be spent to read all the posts and see if there is something relevant for a user. This activity will be tiresome and would get more painful when the number of forum members increase.

In order to reduce this fatigue, would there be some way where a seller can post his items on some sort of an "community maintained active" page which can be sub-catogorized into various sub heads so that the visual search is made easier? Also if a link to this active page is posted on the home page or made as a sticky note in "For Sale" section it would be very helpful. After items are sold the seller needs to remove the item from the active page in order to reflect the latest status.

Similar stuff may be done for wanted section.

Also, informative knowledge sections which are currently in a thread format may be added to this active page. Hence this page can also act as beginner's guide to aeromodelling, getting to know the technical details (eg:- glow v/s electric, computerized v/s non-commputerized radio's, etc.), airplane plans posted by members (pdf's?), general material's used, region specific local shops for biofoam, coro, and other sourcing materials.

Would it be fair to expect member's of this forum to update this active page periodically and help newbies who join in?

Can the wiki page be maintained as a generalized page for all our information needs and treated as our "active" page?

Comments?

Ashutosh

[anwar]

I will take care of the "For Sale" and "Wanted" ones (probably I will move the ones that are completed to another board). It is good to see the history on what are the prices at which second hand sales are happening, and also to see what items are being traded.

For the beginner one, I tried to bring up a list in the Gems list : http://www.rcindia.org/rc-india-forum/the-rc-india-gems/

But the right thing is to create a detailed resource list in the Wiki : http://www.rcindia.org/rc-india-forum/rc-india-wiki/ , but I am not getting enough support from the community.  So one decision I have made is that all sweepstakes going forward will be based on participation in the Wiki.  There is not thing like "money" when it comes to "motivating" people   OK... I was kidding a little bit, but it is largely true.

I want to help newcomers as much as possible, but it is not worth repeating the same information again and again.  Still I try to do my best, without annoying the beginners who are earnestly asking questions. 

Once again, I request the help of everyone with the Wiki, I will be ever grateful to everyone who participates in this noble venture.

[anwar]

I will take care of the "For Sale" and "Wanted" ones (probably I will move the ones that are completed to another board). It is good to see the history on what are the prices at which second hand sales are happening, and also to see what items are being traded.

Done.

Note that you can always search for any board alone, using the "Advanced Search" option.  That should allows you to find items of interest in the newly "cleaned-up" For-Sale board.