Articles versus Threads...help?

[SoonerDave]

I must admit to some confusion (almost certainly just dunderheadedness on my part) about why some forums are set up to post "articles" and others post "threads." I'm just accustomed to the latter and find the former to be just kinda strange - sure that's because I'm just not understanding the reason for the differentiation.

As an example, I thought I was just going to start a simple thread about the new Raisin' Cane on I-240, but realized it was going to be an "Article," not a "Thread," and wasn't sure what I did to cause that distinction. But I see it in different places where I don't really want to create "articles," just want to post something to shoot the breeze (threads), so guess I'm being concrete-between-the-ears in getting the distinction between the two. I tend to not like/shy away from "articles" because you can't "like" replies and it just seems like they aren't "intended" for discussions, but surely that's just my own perception.

Sorry to be dense

[AP]

I'm pretty sure you got right there in the end. Articles are for the wiki, and threads are for the forum. At least, that's my understanding.

[Pete]

Certain forums (Developments & Buildings, Restaurants & Bars) are set up to be in the wiki format and when a new thread is started, it automatically becomes an article.

The idea being that certain topics (development, restaurants, etc.) lend themselves to having a summary article at the top, where the most pertinent information can be stored, located and indexed... Rather than key information being scattered between hundreds of posts and usually dozens of posts on the exact same topic.

Some other topics are much more general and thus stay with the typical "thread format" without a summary article at the top.


You should note that the Restaurants & Bar forum (wiki) has a corresponding "General Food & Drink Topics" sub-forum, which is non-wiki.


In the case of Raising Canes, I found about a dozen different threads on that same restaurant! I consolidated a bunch of them into one: Raising Cane's - OKCTalk.

It makes most sense for a chain like this for there to be one thread that is easy to find in the Restaurant wiki, and then post about specific locations in that thread.

Otherwise, you end up with a thread for each location, and usually multiple versions of those as well.

[Pete]

BTW, you will never see me or any of the other moderators get upset or even agitated for posting in the wrong forum, the wrong format, etc.

We simply reorganize where necessary.


We want people to post, so post away and let us worry about moving things, making edits, etc.

At the same time, there has to be some sort of structure and order. We now have over 30,000 threads and three-quarters of a million posts!

[SoonerDave]

Certain forums (Developments & Buildings, Restaurants & Bars) are set up to be in the wiki format and when a new thread is started, it automatically becomes an article.

The idea being that certain topics (development, restaurants, etc.) lend themselves to having a summary article at the top, where the most pertinent information can be stored, located and indexed... Rather than key information being scattered between hundreds of posts and usually dozens of posts on the exact same topic.

Some other topics are much more general and thus stay with the typical "thread format" without a summary article at the top.


You should note that the Restaurants & Bar forum (wiki) has a corresponding "General Food & Drink Topics" sub-forum, which is non-wiki.


In the case of Raising Canes, I found about a dozen different threads on that same restaurant! I consolidated a bunch of them into one: Raising Cane's - OKCTalk.

It makes most sense for a chain like this for there to be one thread that is easy to find in the Restaurant wiki, and then post about specific locations in that thread.

Otherwise, you end up with a thread for each location, and usually multiple versions of those as well.

OKay, my head will take some time to wrap around that much distinction, but thanks for the info. I guess I would never have thought to put an article about a new Raisin' Cane (for example) in that kind of thread...because if I'm someone wondering what's going in on I-240, but have no clue its a Raisin' Cane, I'll have no reason to visit a Raisin' Cane thread to find it, if that makes sense. I was thinking in terms of how I used the site, at least - "Hey, I bet someone on OKCTalk knows what that pile of dirt on the north side of I-240 is...."

Just an organizational nuance I guess, but the article format does kinda throw me for a loop a bit on a forum-oriented site like this. I guess I just don't think of this place in those terms - my brain is wired into "this is a forum" and not so much into a "wikisite." Maybe someday there might be a spinoff site, eg wiki.okctalk.com and the separation/distinction would be self-evident for mules like me

Thanks for the info, Pete.

[Pete]

You can still post "what is going on at this location on I-240" in the General Real Estate Topics forum and I guarantee you'll have get an answer.

Or just post it anywhere and the moderators will make sure it ends up in the right place.


The site is still largely free-form but some structure is needed otherwise you get dozens of posts about the same subject and nobody can find what they are looking for.


Much thought and work was put into this and traffic and posting continues it's strong upward trend. It's also a million times easier to put together quick summaries of everything that is going on.