Proposed Category Consolidation

Tags: #<Tag:0x00007fa4971cc5d0>
#1

Discourse has been running for 6 weeks now so it’s time for some introspection.

@unknowndomain, @tobyspark and I sat down last night and came to the conclusion that the categories are both too numerous and poorly sorted, making the default landing page crowded and confusing.

We propose the following, where (M) indicates a members-only category:

20364520120_fe9acedb66_z.jpg359×640 58.1 KB

  • Discussion
  • Projects
  • People
  • Introductions
  • Members Area (M)
  • Opportunities
  • Space
  • Construction (M)
  • Storage (M)
  • Tools
  • Rules
  • Infrastructure
  • Events

The following categories would be killed off and their topics reassigned to Discussion

  • Microcontrollers
  • 3D printing
  • Meta
  • Infrastructure (Discussion subcategory)

any further thoughts?

#2

All yes, except “Members Area” in “Members” still sticks out - it’s the only thing that isn’t functionally labelled, and it’s existence confuses privacy elsewhere. Is it for private discussion? If so, seems more consistent and better labelled to be “Private” in “Discussion”.

And – yikes. My handwriting is terrible.

#3

It’s not just for discussion. Just for anything that the public shouldn’t see. Special offers, financial details, access instructions etc.

#4

I still think its confusing, and that those are better served by private categories where they fit: ie. financials and access under the space, discounts under members. But I can see there’s a danger of over-expanding subcategories.

Thinking this through, what I’d argue for is a private category in each of our main categories, called “Private”. As we do already, we’d also have things like “Construction” as private, given there’s enough traffic there to warrant breaking it out from the default “Private” category in “Space”.

#5

I think People should be called Members, because it’s stupid…

Members Area should be Private Area

Events should be near the top.

And the categories that are being killed should be more thoughtfully redistributed, not just dumped in discussion.

Offers should move into Members/People.

#6

One way of avoiding the “which categroy?” issue is to aggressively simplify.

  • Talk
  • Private
  • Projects
  • Events
  • Private
  • Docs
  • Makes
  • Sense
  • To Have
  • More subcats
  • Here so
  • You can
  • Find what
  • You’re looking
  • For
#7

I thought what we had was close.

#8

Scrolling back, yeah you’re right.

#9

Yes. It was close. It’s right enough.

#10

Suggestions:

  • Discussion
  • Events
  • Projects
  • Members
  • Introductions
  • Private Area (Private)
  • Opportunities
  • Discounts, freebies and special offers (Private)
  • Space
  • Construction (Private)
  • Storage (Private)
  • Tools
  • Rules
  • Infrastructure
#11

Yes.

Personally I’d go with ‘Talk’ rather than ‘Discussion’

#12

A post was split to a new topic: Warning - topics/categories moving

#13

Ok. I think I’m done. Although I might still rename Discussion to Talk

Any feedback?

#14

No, it’s fine as it is.

Discourse Categories - A Review