A Proposal for the Sub-Section Debate

[SteveD]

How about removing all the sub-sections and instead list under each topic appropriate subjects for that topic? This would surely also have the advantage of fewer question being posted in the wrong topic. In other words, the Topics list would look something like this:

ADVERTS
(TV, Radio, Press, Other)

ANIMALS & NATURE
(Environment, Pets, Wildlife)

ARTS & LITERATURE
(Books & Authors, Performing Arts, Visual Arts)

BODY & SOUL
(Beauty, Health & Fitness, Relationships & Dating)

BUSINESS & FINANCE
(Business, Investing, Personal Finance)

FAMILY
(Family Life, Parenting, Pregnancy)

FILM, TV & RADIO
(Cinema, TV, Radio, Celebrity Gossip)

FOOD & DRINK
(Food, Diet, Drinks, Eating Out, Recipes)

GAMING
(On-Line, Playstation, Nintendo, X-Box)

HISTORY
(Genealogy, History, Myths & Legends)

HOME & GARDEN
(DIY, Gardening, Interiors, Furnishing, Kitchen & Bathroom Equipment, Property)

[SteveD]

Sorry, I should have put part 2 here:

HOW IT WORKS

JOBS & EDUCATION
(Career Advice, Jobs, Schooling & Education)

LAW
(Business, Contracts, Personal)

MOTORING
(Cars, Motorcycles, Recreational Vehicles, Motor-homes, Caravanning, Road Safety, Regulations & Laws)

MUSIC
(Artists, CDs, DVDs, Videos, Gigs & Clubs, Celebrity Gossip)

NEWS
(Current Affairs, Politics & Government)

PHRASES & SAYINGS
(Humour, Quotations, Origins of Words & Phrases, Language)

QUIZZES & PUZZLES
(Crosswords, Riddles, Ditloids, Competitions)

SHOPPING
(Celebrity Style, Fashion, Gift Ideas, Where can I get�..?

SOCIETY & CULTURE
(Hobbies & Pastimes, People & Places, Religion & Spirituality)

SPORT

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(Computers, Internet, Electronics, Science)

TRAVEL
(Destinations, How to Get There, Things to Do, Adventure and Outdoor Activities, Airlines, Hotels)

AB SUGGESTIONS
(All suggestions for the improvement of AnswerBank welcome)

[JoolsTwo]

I think that would work much better than what we have now.

[PinkFizz]

Thats a much better idea!

[smudge]

I think with a little bit of tweaking, your idea might make it more user friendly Steve - providing there's enough room under the Topics Section of course.

[smudge]

As someone else has suggested, if you click on the word Topics to the left of this page, it opens up showing all the Categories & Sub-categories - neat eh?!

[SteveD]

Yes, but my point is that there are now 95 places where questions can be posted plus AB Ed's blog. This is too many and is too time-consuming to go through looking for something interesting or for something to which you might like to give an answer even if, like me, you don't look at all topics.

My original suggestion was to do away with the sub-sections and to list appropriate subjects for each topic.

[smudge]

>>>>Back again - Sorry Steve, I was in a hurry this morning & was about to dash out for the day!

Since re-reading your question, it certainly makes more sense to do what you have suggested. Plus the fact that I've just had time to peruse & notice that some AB'ers aren't even using the sub-cat's, only the main headings.

Bit of a waste of time having them if they're not going to be used to their full potential. nite, nite!

[Cetti]

That is brilliant Steve, but Religion should be included with Body & Soul and I must insist on a Bird category with Animals & Nature.

Well, I can but hope ;-)

[SteveD]

Yes, of course (also Spirituality as in the new sub-topics).

Surely birds are included in Pets and Wildlife. If you add birds, people will want dogs, cats, fish, plants etc and it will be never-ending.

[smudge]

Yes, I agree Religion should come under Body & Soul. (Although personally, I'm not too bothered, as apart from money, it can sometimes be the root of all evil)....

I'd have looked for all 'Wild Animals' including 'Wild Birds' under Animals & Nature's 'Wildlife' sub-category.

[Cetti]

I was only jesting Steve - my passion being all things birdy!
You're right of course they should be under wildlife. The problem being they don't always end up there. Check todays post.....

[smudge]

Me too Cetti!

We've just bought even more bird feeders & it's wonderful watching them all flitting about, picking & choosing which one to eat from!

P.S. Just got back from visiting our 6 year old Granddaughter in hospital - she had her tonsils out at 4:00pm today & looks like a poor little bird, bless her!