alanmoore

As we move into the 2008 baseball graphing season, I wanted to give members a chance to give their feedback on what you what you would like to see added, changed to your community.

I have heard a few times from certain members that "they didnt like where the board is headed" so I would like some clarification about this as well. I have bumped into dozen after dozen members in person and this saying puzzles them as much as it puzzles me. I have been here since July and aside from adding features to the site and changing a few things around, people are still trading, selling, buying and sharing information like before. All the ones who have sent me messages about "where the board is headed" could not specify anything tangable about what they meant when asked. Perhaps someone can point out some areas in which you would like to see improvements or even some feedback on things you love.

Contrary to urban legend, I am actually approachable and do not ban people because they speak up, disagree with me or waste 30 minutes of their time writing their "retirement or good bye" soap opera posts. I am passionate about collecting sports autographs and about seeing this forum continue to attract like minded collectors to our community.

I have never forgotten that this is YOUR community although some may think differently about that. A community is only as good as its members and I think the core group we have here is one heck of a foundation to grow a thriving community of autograph seekers upon. With the addition of the Autograph Experience and the new "Invite Your Friends & Win" promotion, where you can win signed baseballs by referring your collector buddies, I think we are really set for some productive growth without changing up the whole "neighborhood" charm.

So, please give some respectful feedback with solutions. This is a chance for you to share your thoughts without fear of anything. Just have some ideas in mind that you would like to see put in place as if you owned the site and share them. You just might see them implimented.

Thank you for your time and for your participation!

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Alan

Help me complete some sets. Check out my Want List. Willing to buy, 50/50 or Trade. UPDATED 11-13-08

ncautos34

I think the autograph experience feature can be utilized a little better. I think TTM threads should not exist only the autograph experiance TTM successes. Although IP threads should stay. Also on the autograph experiance instead of saying when it was sent just say how long it took. Every member should have a log like on SCN, i would use it frequently because i go on here more than i go on SCN.

and all the drama people have, just walk away or deal with it

ncautos34

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I collect Matt Mangini and Josh Hamilton cards and autos

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dabigticket

I believe that a few tweaks to the IP autos in the Auto Experience can improve that facet of the Autograph Experience. The submission form for the IP section has date sent and it should be like date of the day the auto was obtained also there should be something like how many items did you get signed out of the items you had, instead of #s of obtained by a player. Nothing major but this will certainly make it more clearer to see player's signing habits.

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Trav1105

Both statements above me I agree with.

Alan, you already know how I believe Autograph Experience should be set up for In Person and I think that would be the easiest way to clearify things.

I do also believe there should be no TTM threads but just the Autograph Experience part.

Trav

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My 2005 Topps Set
(PM me if you can help with my set)
2008 In Person Autographs: 895
2008 TTM Autographs: 34
2008 Total Autographs: 929

alexsautographs

I'm not a fan of getting rid of the threads for autographs TTM.

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unclemoe

Same here unless the Autograph Experience becomes easier to navigate.

moe.

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2007 Topps Heritage : 101/495

leafschik1967

Just a small note on this one, which I think might be the source of a lot of issues. Its really, really difficult to have a 'neighbourhood' feel to a message board while trying to encourage a lot of growth. They just don't work together. Eventually, if things level out (population-wise), that neighbourhood feeling might return, but adding more people to the mix throws off a lot of things.

People get accustomed to a lot of things on a message board, and when new people come along with their own ideas and input and style, everything changes. Its not necessarily a bad thing, just different.

As much as you can say 'invite who you think would help the community' - at the end of the contest, the prizes go to the people who invite the most people, not necessarily the best people (which would be impossible to judge), and that is likely to create a few problems. Growing pains, as it were.

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Hockey TTM Blog

Preston

I've learned that regardless of how successful a person (or a board) is, there still are going to be people that disagree with certain things, certain people, how things are run, and so on....but that's just how life is. Not everyone is going to agree with every decision Alan makes, but I think the board is by and large heading in the right direction. Yes, there are people that disagree with things (there always will be), and I think the problem with "the board not heading in a good direction" is due to tacky little quarrels and that's going to happen regardless of who owns the board.

My suggestion would be to continue to do the private signings and continue to try and find not only obscure guys but also star players that perhaps do not do a lot of signings (i.e. Ricky Williams) and make them as affordable as possible. I understand this is sometimes easier said than done but I think for the most part this has been done effectively.

Another suggestion would be (and this is very "technical", per se) to (under the baseball headlines), allow for all of the major sports headlines to be posted, not just baseball ones. I'm not sure if this would open the pandora's box for way too many articles but it's just that - a suggestion

A third suggestion would be to somehow implement an address bank. I'm not sure honestly if this is being worked on but it would be a great asset IMO.

A fourth and final suggestion (for now) would be to perhaps separate the TTM successes if possible by sport and by entertainment. I know this would take a lot of work but it would allow people to be able to get to "football IP successes" that much quicker. Not sure if this is feasible but again, just a suggestion.

However, I DO like the active, hands-on approach Alan is taking to try and make this board better. By no means am I kissing up to anyone by saying any of this, but I personally like the board, I can navigate on the board pretty easily, and the information is pretty good.

Thanks and hope these help!

ncautos34

exactly

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I collect Matt Mangini and Josh Hamilton cards and autos

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alexsautographs

I like the Autograph Experience and all, but this is first and foremost a forum, and therefore we should always be allowed to post our successes in the forum.

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12 days until Thanksgiving
39 days until Christmas

ncautos34

How about a mod that takes the stuff from the TTM thread and puts them in the Autograph Experience section? That could be a problem also because of addresses and photos. Just a suggestion.

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I collect Matt Mangini and Josh Hamilton cards and autos

Tradelist (sort of) NCAUTOS34 Trade

bearfan1

a very good site that I am happy to be apart of with good navagiation, good community, communication, help, etc. 5 dollars is definelty worth it in my opinion.

Dave

HueCubs515

Paying 5$ is just dumb.

There would be so much more members if it was free.

But hey if I were the owner I would love getting 5$ from everyone, so I don't blame him...

caribbeankid92

Yea but Irobo...is that you?... 5 dollars keeps away members that are useless. If you can't pony up 5 bucks this is not the place for you.

Ben

HueCubs515

I can spend 5 bucks on other things. I'm just saying people like me who have +350 TTMs in will be sent away when they see that this site is not free.

Question: Where does the money go? To who I mean? Is it 5$ forever?