Redundant

[Sqad]

Ed, a suggestion.
The subsidiaries of Body and Soul have now become redundant and that Body and Soul is now taking the brunt of the vast majority of relevant (and irrelevant)postings.
Is it time now just to retain Body and Soul and jettison the 3 subsidiaries?
My main concern is that the rare, but relevant posting may get lost and not receive the attention that is deserved by posting in a subsidiary of Body and Soul.

[Chinajan]

Agree. Long overdue for an overhaul all round.

[pixie374]

I thought that was due to happen when the site was changed overall, to make it easier for mobile devices? All the subcategories are more difficult to find and see on a phone, plus there are a few like R&S that probably get more than the main topic. Streamlining would be good.

[Chinajan]

It would be good to have something in place to mark the 21st anniversary. Nothing much happened in 2020 apart from the jigsaw.

[Hopkirk]

Every single subsidiary should be deleted.

[rowanwitch]

I agree, I usually check there in case I can help.
I think only keeping the active subsections makes sense, even upgrading them to main headings and culling the dying ones

[pixie374]

Animals art &lit, body &soul, chatterbank, films, jokes, motors, religion, polls, science, travel. Ed's Blog.

What else isn't covered?
Maybe science should be separated. I'm currently not qualified to even read it.

[pixie374]

Sports

[rowanwitch]

Tech, animals and nature, we dont need a separate birdwatching section, Homes and gardens could be split though. We like playing identify the plant/ bug

[ladybirder]

Hmmm Birdwatching's one of my favourite bits.

[Mamyalynne]

There's no need for the 3 subs in either Shopping or Family topics.

[pixie374]

May be worth looking at most used, then. Forgot about Tech. But birdwatching- or hobbies?

[pixie374]

News. Doh.

[Sqad]

Technology.....essential....Buenchico irreplaceable.
Chatterbank.....essential......mamya a star.
Crosswords and puzzles.....essential.
News...average since AOG...departed.
That's about all AB needs.
All the others could be squeezed into Chatterbank
Body and Soul at best passible at worst not worth the paper it is typed on.

[pixie374]

Sqad, much as I admire buenchico- its patience. He is Google King.
I think there are categories that are valuable, but also, most that aren't.

[pixie374]

Having looked through- crosswords, quizzes and music also.

[anneasquith]

Yes I agree sqad. A spring clean required .

[pixie374]

CB is no longer the free-all it was. It used to be pretty much anything- but now happy things only.
Maybe an obit section, as people have asked for that before.

[Mamyalynne]

I disagree that bundling anything that we personally have no interest in into CB is the right move, topics do serve a purpose - CB is supposed to be the garden fence we chat across (yes,I know I break that rule every night - just the way it evolved).

Q&P is part of the site's success and should stay as 2 separate topics, as should some other much less used ones - History,Science and Society & Culture.

If anything saddens me lately it's not the redundant sub topics but the constant arguing on what is supposed to be a helpful question and answer site (and bank).

[pixie374]

Q&P and Crosswords, I believe are the most important. Mamya, I don't understand about CB? When I first joined, it was pretty much- anything goes. And also, anything that wasn't a "serious subject". It seems to be the opposite more recently that people say "should this be in CB", where it had been the default. I don't mind, but it's helpful to know.
As far as arguing goes- that will happen on any public site, about anything at all. Providing it doesn't become abusive, I think that should just be expected, that not everyone will always agree x

[pastafreak]

Re sqad @ 17:21...why should serious enquiries regarding pets or other animal and nature topics be sent to chatterbank. Of medical/ food/ etc?
And, the world does not revolve around quizzes and puzzles for some of us.
The history of CB is non serious chat.

Sorry, just realised I'm late to the party here...but I'll post any way:)