Poll: Location fields

[Legman]

I know this isn't exactly a matter of life or death, but still, I've wondered recently about people's location fields and the often humorous phrases that go in there. Humorous or not, I would prefer the location fields to reflect the actual location of people, thereby allowing us to know a little bit more about our fellow posters - and making time zone differences more apparent. Also, with the relatively high number of new posters and handle changes these days, I think it would be nice to be able to quickly get information on people's location.

So what do you think? Should we ask to have the geographic location made mandatory (enter yes), or should we just leave it for each poster to decide, as it is now (enter no)?

Votes cast so far:

Yes -------- 1
No --------- -
Undecided -- -

Note: Technically, this would belong in the Apolyton forum, but I'd like to hear the OT posters opinion on this, so...

[MarkG]

since the OT posters are not any kind of special group of Apolytoners whose opinion would be more important in any issue around Apolyton towards other groups of Apolytoners(nor of course is any group(whatever it's definition is) more special that any other), this thread is being moved to the Apolyton forum

beyond that, there is no way to make the placing of location mandatory. anyone can edit his location to whatever he wants. what do you propose? a vacation to anyone who doesnt have his real location in the location field?!?

[Legman]

MarkG, no of course I don't propose vacations, how did you read that into my post?

Since you've made such a very clear stance on not being willing to consider this idea, there's no point in having a poll, wouldn't you agree?

So please delete this topic right away...

[Ming]

Nahhh... I don't think MarkG was stating that you thought vacations would be appropriate for those that didn't put a real location in the field.

However, since there is no way to make it so you have to put a real location in the field, it would have to be voluntary. His point was that many probably wouldn't do it unless there was some punishment for not doing so.

Originally, I had similar feelings to yours. I thought the location field showing where somebody was from was a nice feature... especially for setting up MP games. You knew what time zone they were in.

But now, since many people have used that field for more creative things, I kind of like it the way it is.
It just provides another way for people to be individuals. (and some of them are really funny)

[Gary]

Nahhh... hanging's too good for them

[Legman]

<center><table width=80%><tr><td><font color=000080 face="Verdana" size=2><font size="1">quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
</font><font size=1>Originally posted by Ming on 10-10-2000 08:29 AM</font>
However, since there is no way to make it so you have to put a real location in the field, it would have to be voluntary. His point was that many probably wouldn't do it unless there was some punishment for not doing so.

<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></font></td></tr></table></center>

You're probably right about that being MarkG's point Ming.

However, if I stretch my imagination far enough, I can think of a number of ways of implementing this without resorting to vacations or other forms of punishment. One being a drop down menu in the location entry field, listing the 20-30 countries (or 24 time zones), another being a nice request from site admin's about people entering their actual location - but since MarkG doesn't seem very inclined to move on with the idea, there's little point in debating it further. Too bad, really.

[Ming]

Interesting idea on the drop down menus... However, many people don't like providing any more information than they have to on the internet. So even if you did something like that, you would have to allow the option for people to leave it blank.
With that being case, you might as well allow people to do what they wish with it... it's more fun that way

[Legman]

Fun... that's all you think of. Pah!

[MarkG]

in the near future, it might be possible to have a time zone field in the profiles, in which case it could be shown on each post...

[Legman]

Now that would be nice. And fun... Just make sure that it doesn't turn into another comedy field like the locations - if it's to have any real value to the community. A drop down menu in the time zone entry field would prevent that - if the script allows it.

[Stefan Härtel]

You should also have a time zone comparisson somewhere on top of pages or so. I always get confused with the EDT. How 'bout some different tiome zones that are also very common to the posters here (CET for example)?

[MarkG]

<center><table width=80%><tr><td><font color=000080 face="Verdana" size=2><font size="1">quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
</font><font size=1>Originally posted by Stefan Härtel on 10-10-2000 02:33 PM</font>
You should also have a time zone comparisson somewhere on top of pages or so. I always get confused with the EDT.
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></font></td></tr></table></center>you'll be surprised with what we may have in the near future

[UltraSonix]

To extend the drop down combos idea - how about this:

*Have a image map of the world where you click your general location (ie south-eastern Australia).
*The page then zooms into a bigger image map where you then click where you are.
*Then the page come up with the nearest city/town in its database that is near the place you clicked.
*You then have the option of saying whether you are near the place, or at that place.

Although this process may be a bit slow, it'll only need to be done once so that doesn't matter.

(This looks like on of my civ3 posts! )

------------------
No, in Australia we don't live with kangaroos and koalas in our backyards... Despite any stupid advertisments you may see to the contrary...

[MikeH]

I'm slightly worried that I might hit King and have to change my location any way to lock me at prince?

[MarkG]

<center><table width=80%><tr><td><font color=000080 face="Verdana" size=2><font size="1">quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
</font><font size=1>Originally posted by MikeH on 10-12-2000 05:30 AM</font>
I'm slightly worried that I might hit King and have to change my location any way to lock me at prince?
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></font></td></tr></table></center>i can give you a pcr if you like