Hot Discussion Topics

[PaulT]

In another thread, Muhammad wrote;<font color=blue>

...we can basically pull any threads we want to display as the "hot topics" ... right now the settings of the script are:

- Threads with the latest post no older than 1 day
- Pick the threads with the most views
- Show top 15 results

As it's setup now, we can adjust those three variables... sort by views or replies...found that the above settings worked best.</font color=blue>

I personally don't use the hot topics links to get to the discussions, but I am still curious to see at a glance which threads are hottest. My observation is that if the criteria is for the most views, then every time a visitor "clicks through" the site, probably clicking on one of the hot topics, they are increasing the number of views. The very fact that it is out in front on the home page increases the liklihood that someone will click on it, thus keeping it in the hot topics list - sort of a self-sustaining hot topic list. It makes it harder, if not unlikely, to unseat the current list of hot topics.

Muhammad already said he could change it from most views to most replies. I think it should be based on most replies. That way, the topics that are promoting the most discussion are considered the hot topics, rather than the topics that are getting the most views. I used to (too many now) read all the posts, but I only responded to ones that hit my "hot buttons". Doesn't it only seem logical that the posts that hit the most "hot buttons" and prompt the most responses are considered the Hot Discussion Topics? I say lets keep that list controlled by the folks who actually post here, not by the ones that are just "clicking thru"

What do the rest of you think?

 

[EdKing]

Sounds reasonalbe to me, I look at the hot topics list on the home page, only to find few new replies to them.

 

[MossRoad]

I'll tell you this... I'm a prolific poster on just a few threads(this will be my 1090th post since I joined on Aug. 31st). When I go on vacation or out of town, or the weather is bad, and some of the other posters on those threads are busy as well, the threads go off the list. And when we come back, and post our questions and experiences, the threads pop back up on the list. And I think that many people are interested in these types of machines and like to read about them just because they are different. Also, they might view us as lab rats or the preferred term "test pilots" /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I believe that you are correct that the threads that are on the home page probably get more hits out of curiousity, which increases its view count, which keeps it towards the top of the list. However Muhammed chooses to build the hot topics list is all right with me. It surprised the bajeebers out of me to see it on the top of the list with only 7 owners/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif, so someone must be looking at it, and by the counts, a lot of people are posting to it as well.

We are having a great discussion over on the PT425 thread. I'm sure it will continue for a while longer /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Muhammad]

Yes, that change would be reasonable... I think when we get a chance, we're going to do some things with that like exclude certain forums (off topic, feedback, etc) from the listings, maybe just pull "most recent" topics regardless of popularity... we'll see how it goes with the replies, though. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Sounds good to me. It will be interesting, no matter what /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[bubenberg]

Muhammad, i concur with mossroad, i know that the plug, plug, plug .... pt425 will survive on this site for a long time(just a joke or maybe not) i like when new or different ways are implemented.

just a year ago our competitors laughed at us and said, why do you have to get something new and unproved, well there are three sites that we correspond about this particular make and model now.

 

[marrt]

Hans, would you mind sharing the other sites? I will always come to TBN first. However, I suspect some of the other sites my offer comments for different perspectives (like professional landscapers) that would be interesting. Thanks.

 

[bubenberg]

marrt,
lawnsite.com is where charlie and i met many moons ago. be aware that i can get rough at times and somewhat negative, but these guys are in the business of doing their landscaping, mowing etc for a living.

some of the guys are very adventures others will not buy anything but their brand.

one site you would more likely not be interested, because most of it is in swiss german dialect, where i hang out with some of my school bodies (swiss) comparing ag. and turf equipment between the two continents.

at last but not least the the compact tractor board (ctb) where i first found out about pt425. i could not afford an AEBI tractor and so i thought i would buy a steiner. as you can see the ctb converted me to power trac in less than three weeks.