Breaking news

[Robin Pearson]

All these breaking news threads are a bit much (imo).

How about putting all the day's 'breaking news' in one thread and just add a new post each time news 'breaks'?

They don't tell you much anyway if you're not an RBA subscriber (which I am).

[DPR]

All these breaking news threads are a bit much (imo).

How about putting all the day's 'breaking news' in one thread and just add a new post each time news 'breaks'?

They don't tell you much anyway if you're not an RBA subscriber (which I am).

I think that is the idea - give the non RBA birders a taste of what they could get if they subscribed ;) . Would probably work if I didn't have a subscription to BirdGuides already.

That said I think the guys RBA do a fantastic job and they certainly get the updates out in a timely fashion. It's better to have too much information rather than too little. You would kick yourself if you missed something local because it was buried down a long list of updates.

Overall I think the addition is a positive one!

[Eddie Urbanski]

Agreed!

[dantheman]

All these breaking news threads are a bit much (imo).

How about putting all the day's 'breaking news' in one thread and just add a new post each time news 'breaks'?

For what it's worth tend to agree, its looking a bit cluttered, especially as most of the threads are a stand-alone announcement, and tend not to lead onto further discussion.

Compromise; Maybe a new thread for each week? You can tell if a new rarity has been added as the thread moves back up the page, and checking for the latest addition on a single page should be easy. Or stand-alone threads which then get moved to an archive news thread after 48hrs or so?

(Otherwise imagine how cluttered it'll become if we get a good autumn??!!)

[Andy Bright]

Yep, the main reason for these automated threads was to provoke discussion on the latest rarity, and they do contain a link to the free map for precise location.

It's been filtered so that the species have to be of a certain rarity level... although it could be that it gets restricted to megas in the future.

It may be possible (not 100% sure), if you really don't like it, to use the 'ignore member' feature for RBA. Alternatively, you can opt out of any specific forum in your user options (a new feature overlooked by many)

cheers,
Andy

[Robin Pearson]

Yep, the main reason for these automated threads was to provoke discussion on the latest rarity, and they do contain a link to the free map for precise location.

It's been filtered so that the species have to be of a certain rarity level... although it could be that it gets restricted to megas in the future.

It may be possible (not 100% sure), if you really don't like it, to use the 'ignore member' feature for RBA. Alternatively, you can opt out of any specific forum in your user options (a new feature overlooked by many)

cheers,
Andy

There doesn't seem to have been much discussion provoked though, most of the threads have zero replies, and I can't get the hang of the map (must just be me).

Another idea, again offered totally free of charge, why not create a 'breaking news' forum where all these threads can live happily forever after? :t:

[Andy Bright]

There doesn't seem to have been much discussion provoked though, most of the threads have zero replies, and I can't get the hang of the map (must just be me).


There's been some discussion on the RBA automated threads but, as some members have already mentioned elsewhere, it will take a bit of time to get used to it.

As for the map problem, one member did have an issue due to some over-zealous security features on their browser (maybe firefox with something additional security settings) ... but it works perfectly well for 99% of members.

[Grumbledook]

Alternatively, you can opt out of any specific forum in your user options (a new feature overlooked by many)



I did opt out of some forums when I recently joined, then I opted back in as I was scared I was missing something exciting :-O

[dantheman]

I did opt out of some forums when I recently joined, then I opted back in as I was scared I was missing something exciting :-O


I'm just scared of your avatar

[MikeCross]

Alternatively why not subscribe to each county's email discussion group. Cumbersome I know but given that's where the bulk of RBA news appears to come from it would be cheaper, more accurate, and detailed. A lot get's lost in translation with this Birdguides acting as a middle man in many cases.
Plus you may get some news between 4pm and 6pm when RBA appear to have their siesta.

Mike a disgruntled RBA customer of 9 years (does it show?)

[Grumbledook]

I'm just scared of your avatar


...and that's me smiling ! ;)

[johnraven]

I cant see what all the fuss is about. It seems to work really well to me, providing news quickly, and providing a forum for debate, if there is debate to be had. I vote yes to this new feature.

[johnraven]

Another thing, this website is not exactly overwhelmed with activity. Its kinda nice that there is a section with quite a bit of posting activity.

[tomjenner]

Why not just make them a subscribed thread, like with Ruffled Feathers? That way, you only sign up for them if you are interested in UK rarities. It does seem odd for such an international forum to have all these threads, which have so little information in them anyway.

Tom

[hollis_f]

Why not just make them a subscribed thread, like with Ruffled Feathers? That way, you only sign up for them if you are interested in UK rarities.
Not sure in what way this is advantageous compared to the opt-out option already suggested.

[Rob Smallwood]

Given that most of us must ignore 90% plus of all postings I don't see a problem - like all other post - you are either interested or not.

[Gastronaut]

As for the map problem, one member did have an issue due to some over-zealous security features on their browser (maybe firefox with something additional security settings) ... but it works perfectly well for 99% of members.

The map doesn't work for me either and neither do the thumbnails for photos people add to their posts. I know I'm not the only one who doesn't get to see the thumbnails but as yet I haven't seen any suggestion as to why they don't appear. For the record I'm using Windows XP, IE7 and standard security. Any ideas?

[johnraven]

The map doesn't work for me either and neither do the thumbnails for photos people add to their posts. I know I'm not the only one who doesn't get to see the thumbnails but as yet I haven't seen any suggestion as to why they don't appear. For the record I'm using Windows XP, IE7 and standard security. Any ideas?

Do you have problems with thumbnails on other sites?

[Gastronaut]

Nope, just here.
The link is there if you wave the mouse around over just the right spot but it's hard to find as it must be perhaps a single pixel wide, certainly less than a single character space.

[Lichfield Birder]

Nope, just here.
The link is there if you wave the mouse around over just the right spot but it's hard to find as it must be perhaps a single pixel wide, certainly less than a single character space.

I would post this on the Computers and Internet Forum. Will probably be something to do with IE7 settings but not sure what!!

Alan