From TinWiki.org
Started a page for experimenting with Community portal ideas
I really believe that a designated Community portal page would be most helpful in offering exactly the type of information users and contributors are looking for. As it is now, the Community portal link in the navigation panel on the left hand side Side bar goes straight to the discussion forum. In my view, it would great to offer a page that had a collection of features directly available from it, of course including discussion forum, but also other useful things in addition to the forum.
This topic has been discussed a little bit in the forum here and here.
Anyway, this is an experimentation page to try out ideas for the possible new Community portal page that may be set as the new target of the Community portal link in the navigation panel. Anyone who might have thoughts or ideas for a tinWiki Community portal are welcome to talk about it here and also to feel free and go right ahead with editing the page itself. Anything that might help making the portal a useful tool for tinWiki users and contributors should be added. This is just an experimentation page, and so there is infinite chances of improving and rearranging how elements are presented in the page after they have been added. Optimist 16:38, 8 September 2007 (CDT)
Helpful definition
Here is something that might help this page experimentation, namely a definition from the well-known computer dictionary Webopedia:
What is a Web portal?
Commonly referred to as simply a portal, a Web site or service that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as e-mail, forums, search engines, and on-line shopping malls. The first Web portals were online services, such as AOL, that provided access to the Web, but by now most of the traditional search engines have transformed themselves into Web portals to attract and keep a larger audience.
Also, tinWiki's "big non-relative" Wikipedia may have made discoveries as to what could belong in a wiki community portal, discoveries which of course may or may not be interesting to tinWiki. :-) Optimist 12:48, 25 September 2007 (CDT)
Any concrete pointers?
It seems I have basically put in the page the elements and also the 'style' impression which I can think of for now. Comments, thoughts, ideas? Should something be removed, changed, added? I have the feeling something is missing or something from the page, but I think some input from someone else is necessary to get the page improved since it seems that, right now, I don't have any further ideas. Feel free, of course, to go right in and edit the page as well as posting here. "Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.." Optimist 19:20, 26 September 2007 (CDT)
- I do like the page Optimist. Although I think that when you are ready, the page should be moved to a new name, like the Community Portal page, or tinwiki.org:Portal page, or something along those lines. One thing that I do find distracting is the dark golden rod color used on the sentence: "The topic of tinWiki is conspiracy theories, plus certain other "alternative knowledge" topics like UFOs, ghosts and paranormal phenomena, mythological creatures, lost civilizations, and life on other planets." I think the color is too light against the white background. Perhaps bolding the sentence, or going a shade slightlty darker would be better. I really like the banner you made, the colors and everything look great. Maybe the page could use a little image towards the middle or bottom? I have been working on the tinwiki community page and was experimenting with images, but haven't found anything I like yet. But as far as this page goes, maybe a small image of a door somewhere on the page would help, by making it more colorful and looking friendlier. I may be totally off base here but I find that an image on a page can really make viewing the page easier on the eyes. Anyhow, that is just a suggestion. If you'd like I can try some different things and you can decide if you like it or not. William One Sac | tinWiki Master 22:39, 26 September 2007 (CDT)
- Thank you for the feedback, William One Sac. I think I am partly what is called a 'visual learner' (or I think it's called that (?)), so I definitely agree that images and graphics are helpful elements. Looking at some free to use clipart, I found this which perhaps (?) could fit.
- I also agree that it's definitely sensible to put this page somewhere with a more 'permanent sounding' name once it starts to look like it's ready. As I understand you, though, you think it pretty much is starting to be ready now. I will be happy to experiment with some other color for the section you mentioned, to either use a color more visible against the white background, or use bold, like you suggest. Thanks for pointing it out.
- Anyway, please don't feel you 'have' to experiment with things just for the sake of it, I mean if you don't have anything specific which you want to try for yourself. I feel better already about the page progressing in the right direction, after I received your feedback now. However, feel free, of course, to make improvements that you want to do. Optimist 20:19, 27 September 2007 (CDT)
- I have now put a door graphic on the page (an animation, by the way), I have also made the colored text section slightly darker and also added bold formatting to it, also I have given the table cells a very light gray background color, and finally I have now moved this page, using the Move function, to a more 'normal' name (bringing discussion and page version history along, and leaving an automatic page redirect), specifically TinWiki.org:Community Portal. The new name is the exact same name as what the link in the Sidebar *seems* to link to, but apparently does in fact not link to (or so it seems). Anyway, I hope these things seem alright. Anything that should be changed and so on, feel free, of course, to make any necessary adjustments. Optimist 14:51, 28 September 2007 (CDT)
There may be a problem with the name you have chosen. When I am on the talk page (here) and I click the tab for the article, it brings me to the tinWiki forum on ATS. Also, I think the same would happen if we were to update any links to the article page, or create new links. By the way I love the door graphic you got. William One Sac | tinWiki Master 15:02, 28 September 2007 (CDT)
- The mysterious link strikes again. :-) I see what you mean, and have now moved again to a link without the space between "Community" and "Portal", and have also updated the redirect on the original page. I think it should be alright now. Thank you for pointing it out. On a side note, it's going to be nice when the 'answer the the mystery' about that link in the Sidebar is found. There probably is some kind of 'control page' or something, somewhere in here, which is where it says what should happen when going to that page ("TinWiki.org:Community Portal"). Optimist 15:18, 28 September 2007 (CDT)
- By the way, I'm glad you like the door. :-) Optimist 15:25, 28 September 2007 (CDT)
hey, Toto, are we really in Kansas?
The above was posted on 19:22, 7 March 2008 by an anonymous user at IP 68.55.4.143. --05:47, 17 March 2008 (CDT)
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
One afternoon, I was in the backyard hanging the laundry when an old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard. I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home. But when I walked into the house, he followed me, sauntered down the hall and fell asleep in a corner. An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out. The next day he was back. He resumed his position in the hallway and slept for an hour.
This continued for several weeks. Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: "Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap. "
The next day he arrived with a different note pinned to his collar: "He lives in a home with ten children - he's trying to catch up on his sleep."
I cried from laughter
Sorry, if not left a message on Rules.
The above was posted on 13:43, 7 May 2008 by 72.36.250.34
- This is a nice story, but I don't know why it is posted in the Community portal discussion. Optimist 16:30, 7 May 2008 (CDT)
