Feature Updates

[Bud]

I spent the weekend working on some core changes to the forum layout - more to come

The Private Area is now accessible to Verified Users. I have only added a few so far.

The Tribes area is ready, but is still somewhat "manual" as I am still evaluating software packages (addons). Anyone who is the head of a Tribe and wishes to discuss how this might work, or express how you want this to work, please contact me! I have a lot of ideas that I think will make this site an extremely useful tool when used in combination with other messaging apps like Signal, Telegram, Discord, or Messenger (or even just text message groups).

The Knowledge Base has been switched from "one big subforum of everything" to a categorized set of subforums. Click "Home" and scroll down to see it. Additionally, an addon has been installed that allows for more "tagging" functionality, which has now replaced the Prefix method. This allows site-wide cataloging of any tagged content. This is a "best of both worlds" approach.

Items on the to-do list:

Groups addon (for Tribes)
Calendar addon (also many to choose from)
Video tutorials
Q&A Sections
Suggestion sections

 

[RockyMountainHeathen]

I spent the weekend working on some core changes to the forum layout - more to come

The Private Area is now accessible to Verified Users. I have only added a few so far.

The Tribes area is ready, but is still somewhat "manual" as I am still evaluating software packages (addons). Anyone who is the head of a Tribe and wishes to discuss how this might work, or express how you want this to work, please contact me! I have a lot of ideas that I think will make this site an extremely useful tool when used in combination with other messaging apps like Signal, Telegram, Discord, or Messenger (or even just text message groups).

The Knowledge Base has been switched from "one big subforum of everything" to a categorized set of subforums. Click "Home" and scroll down to see it. Additionally, an addon has been installed that allows for more "tagging" functionality, which has now replaced the Prefix method. This allows site-wide cataloging of any tagged content. This is a "best of both worlds" approach.

Items on the to-do list:

Groups addon (for Tribes)
Calendar addon (also many to choose from)
Video tutorials
Q&A Sections
Suggestion sections

the new home page looks great with all those subforums! How do members get verified?

 

[Bud]

Currently, this is a manual process. If you go to your Direct Messages, you will see that I sent you one about a week ago. You should have received an email alerting you about that message (if you have that option set in your preferences) but you should also see an "envelope" icon with a red number in the upper right, indicating you have an unread message.

This like will take anyone to their personal Direct Messages page (same as clicking the Envelope icon)

https://www.observersforum.com/direct-messages/

The next step I am working on is a a function which allows for one user to attest to, verify, confirm, corroborate, endorse, or sponsor another user. Basically, once a user is established as "trusted", they can attest for others.

I'm considering moving certain things like Introductions/bios to the private area as well so that personal information is not divulged publicly.

Furthermore, I am keenly aware of the desire for some to maintain privacy to a level where certain information is only expose to people they explicitly trust (such as, the people they are forming physical communities with).

In order for me to form this site in the best way possible, I really need input from anyone willing to provide it. I have plenty of ideas, but that doesn't mean there are better ways I haven't thought of. I'll be setting up a Q&A and Suggestion forums for people to collaborate.

 

[FYREshire]

When do you expect Tribes to be available? I wanted to create one for FYREshire.org once available. Thanks!

 

[Bud]

When do you expect Tribes to be available? I wanted to create one for FYREshire.org once available. Thanks!

Hey sorry, I could have sworn that I responded to you here, but I must have not hit "post". I know I sent you a DM

But for anyone else interested, as of right now, setting up Tribes is a manual process.

There are many addons available that could be used for the Tribes part of this site. The issue is, these are all paid addons so they're kind of tough to evaluate without either obtaining a temporary license (based on trust, basically) or just buying them all and trying them out in a test environment.

The other option is to have one custom made, and I'm not against that. In fact that might have to be done due to the way I'm having Trust Circles and Vouches created.

If anyone would like for me to set up a private subforum for only people in your Tribe, I can do that now!

Then, once I've hammered out the groups method, these can be transitioned easily over to a system that is controlled by the Group Manager.