Idea/feature request for Proboards

[SafeInSanity]

How about a sharing/Reblog type feature like WordPress dot com has that would allow forum admins to share/re-post topics that were posted on their own forums to other Proboards forums that they are a registered member of?

It would be a great way of sharing your content while promoting your forum to other members of the Global Proboards network at the same time.

You already have a global login system in place here on Proboards with a network of members who are all linked together on all Proboards forums yet you are doing nothing at all with it to allow members to socialize with other members and introduce them to other forum communities on the network and help them grow.  Why not add global community profiles for Proboards users that list all forums that they are a member of on the Proboards network, and list their latest topics/posts on all forum communities in the network?

[Former Member]

I'll go ahead and mark this suggestion as a feature request.

[Michael]

I've actually made this suggestion (or something extremely close to it) several years ago. At the end of the day the biggest issue is pushback from forum admins that don't want their forums to have any sort of connection to other "competing" forums.

I think the first step to us coming closer to something like this would be to change the attitude around competition between communities for similar or same topics. Communities will naturally segment out but that doesn't mean that they also can't embrace their differences on shared interest topics. Regardless, thanks for the suggestion!

[adminabp]

This is a good idea!

Jun 25, 2019 12:43:31 GMT -8 Michael said:

I've actually made this suggestion (or something extremely close to it) several years ago. At the end of the day the biggest issue is pushback from forum admins that don't want their forums to have any sort of connection to other "competing" forums.

I think the first step to us coming closer to something like this would be to change the attitude around competition between communities for similar or same topics. Communities will naturally segment out but that doesn't mean that they also can't embrace their differences on shared interest topics. Regardless, thanks for the suggestion!

Making it an 'opt in' feature for individual forum admins instead of something  everyone has to allow as default would probably also help to alleviate concerns.

An 'opt in' for individual members would probably be a good idea as well. Someone posting on a political debate forum might not want everyone to know they also role-play as a stray dog or a horse in the stables, for example. Could facilitate trolling or harassment.

[Michael]

The problem with an "opt-in" is that most likely wouldn't opt-in. Assuming that we get a low opt-in rate also means the feature (that is quite complicated) wouldn't get much use. Lack of initial use means that the feature will look dead and people will be far less likely to utilize it, etc. It would be a vicious circle. We currently have no evidence that the amount of time we would spend on building something like this would be worth the effort in the end. You only have to look at the number of forums with "Guests Must Login" turned on to get an idea of forums who likely wouldn't use this.

Also I think you misunderstand the feature, this wouldn't necessarily reveal what forums a member is a part of, in fact without the ability to see emails I'm not sure how you'd even be able to tell at all.

[adminabp]

Jun 25, 2019 14:24:32 GMT -8 Michael said:

The problem with an "opt-in" is that most likely wouldn't opt-in. Assuming that we get a low opt-in rate also means the feature (that is quite complicated) wouldn't get much use. Lack of initial use means that the feature will look dead and people will be far less likely to utilize it, etc. It would be a vicious circle. We currently have no evidence that the amount of time we would spend on building something like this would be worth the effort in the end. You only have to look at the number of forums with "Guests Must Login" turned on to get an idea of forums who likely wouldn't use this.

Also I think you misunderstand the feature, this wouldn't necessarily reveal what forums a member is a part of, in fact without the ability to see emails I'm not sure how you'd even be able to tell at all.

I was referencing what was being specifically requested in the 'feature request'.

"Why not add global community profiles for Proboards users that list all forums that they are a member of on the Proboards network, and list their latest topics/posts on all forum communities in the network?"