Subj : fsxNet Feedback (Echomail) To : All From : Avon Date : Sun May 16 2021 09:39 pm Echomail ======== # Is there a need for separate BBS echos? Could they be merged to one? (+1 agree, -2 disagree) # Individual echos for different software is not a bad thing. It's good to have separate places to discuss development etc. for specific software Could use more echomail areas, not a huge number but more than we have at present where we can talk about other things (+1 nice to see gen echo split up into a few more). Could we have other echos to cover non-technical hobbies / projects? Add a retro computing echo? (+1 agree). Gaming related echos? (+1 agree). Long names for echomail tags (+1 agree - 35 avail chars, let's use them). Low echomail echos are OK, quite like the separation of BBS info, good idea to keep them or at least the Mystic echo. fsxNet seems largely technical and lacking an entertainment sort of echo (+1 agree). Better message threading for posts would be good. Is there a problem in fsxNet FTN? ============================================================================= OK here are my thoughts... Generally, folks seem happy with what we have in the way of echomail areas but would welcome some more to choose from and take part in. Ideally some that are not so technically orientated but rather more general in their topics/subjects. I agree and would like to suggest a few echomail areas and will do so below. For me the key is not to have so many as they sit inactive for a long time (a bad thing) but enough to allow more room to chat about other stuff outside BBSing. It's always going to be a balancing act and I tend to err on the side of caution in this area so will likely start with a smaller number of new echomail areas than others may wish for. That said if you feel strongly there's a need for an echomail area on subject X then please post about it to this thread and lets as a community chat more about the need/desire for X. There's a mix of views about the need for the current number of specific echomail areas for BBS software options. On balance more seem happy to keep the status quo and retain the different echomail areas than others who would prefer to consolidate things. I tend to agree with keeping the status quo, let's leave those current echomail areas as they are and hope they continue to be used for the reasons they were set up for, namely - focussed chat about the subject, support/help when asked for, a place for authors to engage in and offer support/gain feedback should they wish to. I agree that the three-hyphen-three echomail area tags I fsxNet started with are restrictive in conveying meaning and that there's no real reason (other than wanting to keep it simple from the get go) to retain this style of echomail tag formatting. So going forward we will start to look at using longer echomail tag names. That said I do want to keep lengths reasonable and not strive to crack the 35-character length every time :) Better message threading for posts I am at a bit of loss to know how best to progress this. I do think we could all be better at ensuing when we change the subject/topic of something being discussed compared to what an original post made by an author was about we should all aim to update the subject of our post before we press send. If it's something more technical that's amiss let me know and I and the HUB admins can attempt to debug things. New echomail areas - here's some ideas for feedback based on what you have told me. I have not fleshed out the correct descriptions yet but hopefully you get the gist of what I am thinking. Do I have these mostly correct? What is missing from this list? Are some a bad idea and should not be setup? Let me know your thoughts. FSX_GAMING - From action, adventure and role-playing, to simulations, strategy, sports and puzzles games. Topics include MUDs to first-person shooters, real-time strategy to massively multiplayer online games and more. Xbox vs PlayStation vs Nintendo. Anything gaming related is on-topic here. FSX_SPACE - If it's space or astronomy related you've come to the right place. Topics include space industry activities (SpaceX, NASA, Blue Origin, Rocket Labs etc.) discussions about satellites, interplanetary missions, the science of space travel and more. FSX_SPORTS - Do you like sport? Some of us play it while the rest of us surf the TV to watch it. No matter how you do sport, any discussion about it is on topic here. From Baseball to Basketball, Cricket to Golf, Diving to Darts, Hunting, Fishing, Tennis, Motorsport and even Dodgeball... talking sport just got easier. Just remember those 5Ds - dodge, duck, dip, dive and... Next up I am not sure if it's best to set up a single echo or multiple echos for streaming platforms like Disney+, Amazon, Netflix etc. and the shows they carry? Or do we opt to split things out a little more like a Star Wars, Star Trek and Marvel (MCU) echo etc. Thoughts? If we split them out along those lines, I'd suggest something like this.. FSX_MARVEL_DC - Captain America, Thor, Doctor Strange, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) keep on expanding while Batman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman continue to shine in the DC Universe (DCU). Discuss your favourite characters, films, comics, theories, spoilers here. Is Steve Rodgers alive and living on the Moon? Which actor played Batman the best? I am Groot. FSX_TREK - Archer, Kirk, Picard. so many captains so many ships. Which Trek rules them all? Original Star Trek, TNG, what about the new Kelvin timeline. Strap in, we're about to discuss, ships, episodes, actors and more. things may get bumpy as we hit warp 9! Tribbles not included. FSX_STARWARS - This is the echo you have been looking for. If you know your Leia from your Lando you've come to the right Cantina! From the original trilogy to the latest Disney offerings, we discuss it all. Join us, but check your lightsaber at the door - it makes the Wookie nervous. FSX_MOVIES - Seen a movie, old or new. Did it bark like a dog or make you want to watch it another 10 times? Post your reviews, suggestions to watch and more here. If it's Starwars, DC, MCU or Trek we have other echomail areas just for you. For anything else. Have at it! Other ideas include... FSX_RETRO - Retro computing and any old tech discussions. From early computer hardware and software, calculators, watches and more. if you have collected it, use it, need it fixed tell us about it here. FSX_MOTORS - Petrol, diesel, electric - if it's got a motor in it let's discuss it here. From cars and trains to boats, planes and bikes, fsxNet Motors is open for business. FSX_DIY - Who needs a professional when you an do it yourself! Discussions about all things DIY and how best to do them so that at end of the day your significant other is still smiling. FSX_FOOD - Food glorious food! Share your favourite recipes, cooking tips and tricks etc. FSX_GARDENING - Covering everything from indoor houseplants to outdoor vegetable plots. If you have green thumb or the secret to a successful lawn, we need you here now! FSX_ARTS - Painting, photography, drawing, modeling, wood turning, sculpturing etc. If you have an artistic streak share it with others and/or get help here. I'll stop there for now... phew :) Best, Paul --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32) * Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101) .