How should XMTS grow and improve?

[Rob Wright]

I would like to see a modern kilt wearing section. Something that is in between non-traditional and traditional. Hamish' pin stripe kilt suits, Freedom Kilts dress model are good examples. Kilts that do not fit either of the two main camps. I love the country gentleman look bit i also like the possibilities for the modern setting for the expansion of how the kilt is capable of being worn.

Rob

[Raphael]

I would like to see a modern kilt wearing section. Something that is in between non-traditional and traditional. Hamish' pin stripe kilt suits, Freedom Kilts dress model are good examples. Kilts that do not fit either of the two main camps. I love the country gentleman look bit i also like the possibilities for the modern setting for the expansion of how the kilt is capable of being worn.

Rob

Well Said.

[IRISH]

back in december i posted in comments and suggestions, suggesting a kilt photo gallery (link below). my idea was a single destination for members or visitors to view as many different tartans and styles as possible in one location of the xmts site. it seemed to generate a bit of interest from others replying to the post (2 pgs of replies and a 5 star rating from someone out there). in the end i dropped it with the logic being that there is nothing stopping anyone from posting pictures of their kilts on any of the boards of xmts, specifically show us your pics. it was also suggested in the thread that there could be an additional cost involved in implementing my idea, which i hadn't considered and certainly didn't expect the owners of xmts to immediately assume new expenses.

i still think it would be a good idea and useful to members and visitors alike. i just don't feel the need to pursue it any further for the reasons stated above.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...552/index.html

[GMan]

As an old timer here, I feel that things are going fairly well. Busy yes, so much that I cannot really keep up with many threads, which I do regret as I too have a busy life.

I am glad that the threads in regards to religion, politics, and firearms are deemed unacceptable here. I am a moderator on one forum that is dedicated to one of those topics, so I do know why discussion is limited. I do have many ideas in that regard but I feel that many would not understand my position. So limiting is good.

I have seen so many people come and go and miss many who do not post here much anymore, but also am glad to see so many new people here. I am finding that I too am glad to see them here. We are a grand community with many growing pains which does sometimes hurt but as a general rule a good thing.

[Raphael]

Xmarks should be a discussion forum, and I can't see the reason to morph into a information board.

Although there are only so much to talk about the kilt, but Xmarks is more than that. Aside from learning about the kilt, we make friends in the cyber space. We exchange our life stories and share our thoughts. I have learn about how people live in other parts of Canada, the U.S, and Europe. I love looking at pictures fellow members posted. People are inspiring.

Kilted fashion is dynamic. Many members had influenced others to change their styles and their colour palates. For example, Stillwater's Nightstalker Sporran changes many people's view on how sporran should look and feel. Without discussion, we may not have Freelander Sporrans.

Wearing the kilt is a complex experience as many people have different views on how it should be done.

Xmarks should also continue the ban of talking of firearms, because it is a very controversial subjects and not every one is comfortable with the subject. We have had some serious discussions in the past and they didn't end well. There are forums for that and Xmarks is about kilted living.

"Better living through Kilting' sounds like a great section as the threads will not be lost in the general kilt talk section. It will be very inspiring. Wearing the kilt have improved my life and I would to share it with other members once this section is up.

[pdcorlis]

It could be helpful to have some rough statistics to guide the discussion. For example, how many of the "regular" daily/weekly posters have been on XMarks for four years, three years, two years, one year or less? That might help us know how the forum(s) should be shaped. Do we focus on newcomers, do we provide deeper resources for veteran posters, or do we????

One thing is certain, I would hate to see us ever lose the casual chatter that makes this such a wonderful place to hang out. To that end, we need to be cautious of any topics or structure that makes us (dare I say it?) too formal. Our informality is the life blood of our "clan." IMHO we need to avoid becoming XMarks the Wikki Scot no matter how many times we converse about flat caps, scrunched hose, or budget sporran alternatives. It is, after all, possible to just walk on by a conversation without pulling up a stool.

Now, personally, I would love to be taken on a virtual grouse hunt, or stalk the cyber Monarch of the Glen but I also understand that may be very uncomfortable for some members. No worries. This is my home away from home - and just like at home, sometimes its my turn to get my way and some times its not.

Peace.

[HeathBar]

If we're talking new or changed forum topics then I have a few suggestions.
Traditional attire forum, not just traditional kilts.
Contemporary/modern attire forum (scrunched hose and flat caps)
I think we need a forum dedicated to the x-kilt.
I think we need to split Tartans and Heraldry, and add clans and societies.

Can you have a tutorial for beginners on where to start threads in a certain topic? Or can you have a "generic" thread starter and then a drop-down to choose which area you want it to go in? This would solve having to move threads...maybe.

Could you assign members as leaders in the different topic areas? Not on the level of a moderator, but a level below. They could help guide discussons in there areas or bring up new discussions during "dry spells".

Just off the top of my head ....you know...

[Rex_Tremende]

I really like a lot of Steve's suggestions - particularly a more robust tutorial section and a redesigned top page. In addition to "tutorials," I wouldn't mind seeing it include essays, which have been reviewed by an editorial board (sort of like articles in scientific journals are vetted by peer groups and SME's). The editorial board could be rotating, or cast ad hoc when an article is submitted.

Here's a for instance: once upon a time, it seemed like every other new poster would ask "The Question," and it was always squashed (the question, that is), but I've often thought that was a little unfair to newbies. We allude to The Answer often enough that this seems to me like there ought to be able to address it in a non-prurient, point/counterpoint sort of way. An editorial board would help ensure that any essays would meet the standards of XMTS and truthfulness without requiring full-time moderating duties. Perhaps even retired mods would consider lending their unique sensitivities to this part-time role.

From a technical perspective, I'd like to suggest two enhancements:

1. Ignore this forum - the "New Posts" link almost my exclusive entry point to XMTS, and there are several high-traffic forums that I would just as soon never encounter except through explicit searches.
2. Ignore this thread - sometimes I've had it with a particular thread - it has become inane and I'm ready to have it drop off my radar, by which I mean the "New Posts" results.

Finally, I wonder if there is not a way to include a less moderated sub-forum with, let's say, more controlled or credentialed access that would allow for a more free-wheeling range of discussion. To protect the kiddies and all, you know. "The Pub" was sort of that sort of place, I guess, but I never used it much mostly because I didn't like having to go outside to smoke, so to speak.

Regards,
Rex.

[herminator]

From a technical perspective, I'd like to suggest two enhancements:

1. Ignore this forum - the "New Posts" link almost my exclusive entry point to XMTS, and there are several high-traffic forums that I would just as soon never encounter except through explicit searches.
2. Ignore this thread - sometimes I've had it with a particular thread - it has become inane and I'm ready to have it drop off my radar, by which I mean the "New Posts" results.

Me too!!

[DWFII]

From a technical perspective, I'd like to suggest two enhancements:

1. Ignore this forum - the "New Posts" link almost my exclusive entry point to XMTS, and there are several high-traffic forums that I would just as soon never encounter except through explicit searches.
2. Ignore this thread - sometimes I've had it with a particular thread - it has become inane and I'm ready to have it drop off my radar, by which I mean the "New Posts" results.

My apologies but I don't understand why this is a problem? I don't get email from threads or forums that I don't post and subscribe to. And if a thread wears out its welcome by becoming "inane" (and they sometimes do) I simply "unsubscribe."

I would make note that even some of the best ideas being floated in this discussion are impractical simply because either the software (the underlying program that creates and runs the forum) won't allow it , or such ideas take up too much bandwidth or server-space. How much of that is applicable to XMarks, I don't know but that's the way it works with other forums.