Originally posted by Glibc
Hi all,

I'm a new member. I've read many articles on these forums in the last couple of days, and it seems like a nice place. Not perfect though. I'll just give a few comments, please feel free to ignore or discuss. I'm posting to "Site Announcements", please move the thread if that's the wrong place.

We appreciate your membership. However, I have yet to see a site that I would consider "perfect," although this one ain't too bad.


Originally posted by Glibc
1) The forums
I want information! The starting page should tell the surfer what this page is, and what the general purpose of the forums is. A small text from the site admin or something like that.
I'd also like a forum FAQ - not the vBulletin FAQ, but a FAQ specifically for the forum.
Who's the technical webmaster?

This page, or rather the start page here, is the BDSM Library Forums. I think that's fairly obvious. As for small text, there is a description of every forum and the information that it should contain directly below each forum's title on the mainpage.

Forum FAQ? Like, FAQ for what?

The literal and technical webmaster of this site is Jinn, but both Gary Wilcox and I have the ability and authority to make just about any decision here regarding the forums.


Originally posted by Glibc
2) The future
As I said I think the specific purpose of the forums needs to be spelled out. I guess it started as a companion to the story library, but the "community forums" seems to indicate that people want to discuss BDSM in general. So there are two purposes, which is fine. The fact is that there really aren't very many good, free BDSM discussion boards on the net. I really think there is a niche for bdsmlibrary to expand in that area.

The Library Forums encompass a wide variety of subject matter: From peoples' real BDSM lives to comments about stories to ideas for other stories to completely un-BDSM-related stuff like politics and New Year's resolutions.

And I agree. I think this place has a huge potential to become that 'definitive' BDSM discussion board. Sadly, though, since this site actually advocates reading, it gets passed over by a large portion of the online community. Those that want chat, porn and active scenes of bound, naked women being flogged.

Okay. sadly might have been the wrong word. Fortunately might have been more appropriate.


Originally posted by Glibc
3) Design and usability
There is a completely different design on the bdsmlibrary intro page, the story pages and here in the forum. None of them are very good imo. I think they should be more alike, more connected.

The site is functionial and easy to navigate. I could care less how it looks, personally, but I'm just like that.

Jinn is the only programmer for this site. Between story updates and his real life, I'm sure he's not left with a whole lot of time for hefty site redesigning. Although, he has mentioned to me that he wants to do more to it and make it look more professional.

I'd look for some big site changes in the coming year.