I'm okay with that as long as there is a mapped way to do it.
Keep in mind that more modern forum software removes some of the problems that older software tried to solve by having so many sub headings. A decent search feature helps a lot, and they all have a "show new posts" feature now. For some important stuff like handy links or tips or the like, three or four "sticky" threads at the top can be useful for keeping them easy to reach but still easy to navigate. Personally I prefer forums which have
at most five headings total, and even then sometimes I only look at one or two except for rare occasions. I know this may be difficult for a lot here to warm up to because you're so used to the way it's been for many years, but I sincerely believe that even the brand-specific headings could be condensed and after a while nobody would miss it.
The idea is to put the
traffic in one place and sub headings (and
I cannot stress this enough) are not that important unless 1) the traffic is way too thick (which isn't a problem here at all) 2) the headings are way different enough to want to keep the traffic segregated, such as off-topic discussion or the like. My favorite forums have things like business matters, project threads, "help me" questions, etc. all in one heading and you just see all of them when you open the forum page and you can either read them or not. A decent search feature will usually work very well if looking for an old thread or something specific you want to look up.
Again, the important thing for a healthy forum is to design it so the
traffic is all in one place. If you get more than 30 or 50 posts per day, then it is time to look at what's being discussed and figure out how to evenly divide it up so it's not being washed clean with new topics twice a day. This forum doesn't have nearly that much traffic and I do sincerely think that
one heading with
maybe a couple off-topic or unusual tangent headings (which wouldn't get used much probably) would get some more interesting posts and be much easier to navigate.
I realize that this may not sound like it would have the right feel compared to the way the forum has been set up, but I'm confident that if it only had between one and three headings max, it would be a lot funner place to come to.
It's like a party. There are all these people talking in a big room and you just walk around and overhear different conversations, then just join in on the ones you find interesting. If all these conversations are in different small rooms with just a couple people in there (or worse, mostly empty) you won't go in. Keep everybody in the same place where all the action is and the party is a lot funner, and you will probably get in on some surprise discussions accidentally just because you were near.
Anyway, I'm offering this not just off the cuff based on a feeling. This is what I notice from various forums I've joined. And I'm not kidding, the fewer headings the better, even if it's just one. I cold go on but this is pretty long already.
