Experiment - Poll

by **KitKat** on Sun 22 May 2011, 4:29 pm

This is just an experiment ...
(I do love experimenting Cool

)

I have activated a 'Similar Topics' module on the forum. You will see at the end of topics a box giving a link to 5 or 6 topics supposedly similar to the topic it's attached to. Thing is ... although this can be a very interesting addition to the forum - allowing you to read about topics from a different angle, etc, these links are not necessarily similar topics on this forum ... they are taken from all over the web ... and sometimes you wonder what on earth is the similarity there? (picks words from the topic that link up elsewhere).

Anyway, I've set it to run as a trial for, say ... 2 weeks, just initially to see how it goes.

It will be quite interesting to see what sort of material gets linked up with the various topics in here. Could even be fun!

I am setting up a Poll with this post (not done one before, so this is a double experiment, lol)

The question to vote in is basic and simple. Referring to the 'Similar Topics' (1) Do you like it? yes? (in which case we'll keep it) or no? (If the majority vote 'no' we'll get rid of it at the end of the 2 weeks).

PS: The hidden sections (The Cat Flap for instance) will not be included in the Similar Topics forum as obviously these sections are for the eyes of members only, and searches do not see or pick up anything that is posted there.
Anywhere that you see this symbol

is private to logged in members only.

by **Stardust** on Mon 23 May 2011, 9:22 am

Have you seen the "similar topics" for this post?

I can see why the first one's there (Poll - Do you have a Patron Saint?) but what about the others?

"Anti-Sebum Experiment with pictures"

"Ganong potometer exp."

(Looked up potometer - it's a device for measuring the rate of water uptake)

"Snail Serum Product!!! Looks like it has extreme potential" Shocked

"Day 1 of Scalp Peel Experiment"

by **Feather** on Mon 23 May 2011, 9:41 am

I won't vote just yet. I'll hold fire for a few days. shrug

by **KitKat** on Mon 23 May 2011, 1:34 pm

Well, I have voted yes ... (but only to see if this Poll thing works - it does Smile

)

by **KitKat** on Mon 23 May 2011, 1:37 pm

"Anti-Sebum Experiment with pictures"

lol - have you looked up and seen what that is all about?

Shocked

by **Stardust** on Mon 23 May 2011, 1:55 pm

Thank goodness I didn't look at the pictures. What a Face

I'll vote in a few days too, but if the links have so little to do with the subject of posts here, I don't see the points of having them. Perhaps some will be more pertinent.

by **KitKat** on Mon 23 May 2011, 3:04 pm

Stardust wrote:Thank goodness I didn't look at the pictures.

I did try, but it wouldn't let me in. tongue

by **Stardust** on Wed 25 May 2011, 11:43 am

I neither 'like' the "Similar Topics" list nor can I say I find it annoying, but in consideration of the fact that the topics listed usually bear no connection to the thread they're attached to, if I had to choose I'd probably vote 'No'.

by **KitKat** on Wed 25 May 2011, 6:22 pm

Stardust wrote:in consideration of the fact that the topics listed usually bear no connection to the thread they're attached to

That's only because the forum is so young - and tiny. It works well on other forums that have a lot more usage and viewers, and perhaps been going for longer. When (if) there is a higher and more varied volume of input, it searches out similar topics (first on the forum itself, then inter-same-host-forums and then through the net). If nothing similar is found, then it opts for the nearest thing (picking out terms and phrases in the posts and subjects). Obviously if the input is not there, it's got nothing to work on.

It would be a great asset on somewhere like Spiritlove forum, for instance, where stuff has accumulated over the years and possibly got lost in the archives, or where many subjects are brought up again - with perhaps a different slant, an update .. or even topics that are running simultaneously under different subject headings. Unfortunately, though, that option is not available [at least, not at the moment] on FreeForums (which is the host for SL - this one is Forumotion).

by **Feather** on Wed 25 May 2011, 9:18 pm

So far, I don't see the point of it. shrug

by **KitKat** on Wed 25 May 2011, 9:27 pm

Feather wrote:So far, I don't see the point of it.

Well, ok ... a current example ... the recent post on SL about the bicarbonate of soda and cancer ... I remember there being a post and discussion on that self same thing about 2 or 3 years ago... but no way could I remember where that was ... obviously lost way back in the archives of the forum now. The 'similar topics' option if it was there would pick that out and point to it.... and it may even link to similar discussion elsewhere - giving further information on the subject (slamming the myth ... or referring to actual research that may have already been done ...) I see that as a very useful tool.

by **Stardust** on Thu 26 May 2011, 8:13 am

I'll go with whatever you decide. The list isn't a bother and as the forum evolves it should become more useful (we hope). Like most things it needs time.
At the moment it's amusing to see what the threads have been linked to.

by **Feather** on Thu 26 May 2011, 4:24 pm

I'll go with that too.

by **KitKat** on Fri 27 May 2011, 9:07 am

It's not a case of what I decide ... it's what the Poll decides. judge

Please put your vote in the Poll at the top of this thread. Click into either Yes or No.
The majority vote will decide at the end of the 2 weeks. If it turns out even stevens, then we shall keep the Similar Topics. Simples!

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