SPEAKERS CORNER.

I believe that speakers corner has a valuable place on dooyoo if it stays the way that it is, and has subjects of general interest to the public. Ciao has gone too far the other way and although we approached them in an effort to get rid of innane categories they wanted them, so not much you can do to help a situation they cause themselves.

However, making the Writers Corner area of Dooyoo a thriving place with useful reviews on topics that are of interest to the public rather than to other members of the site seems a good way forward. I have already thought of one proposal that would greatly help the public, but can members think of things that they think would aid the Speakers Corner and make it a mine of information and not a dumping ground like a lot of the ciao cafe is, i.e. not challenges, etc., but subjects that help the reader in some way.

I think what you are saying is member/consumer advice pieces and I like the idea of more of that and less in the way of "Whats in my bag".

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subjects that help the reader in some way

What they NEED is a Happy Birthday category.

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What they NEED is a Happy Birthday category.

I think thats the last thing they need.

I came back here, because I think it would help to know what members think would constitute good subjects for writers corner. I looked through the categories that are there, and some have never been written on and look like football things. I believe that value can be added to the site by having some really good advice sections. What would you see as useful in this section.

The problem in Speaker's Corner is that it became the dumping ground during a previous re-write of the site - Aurora. Before that, each category had a 'forum' area for discussion topics and Speaker's Corner was limited to social and political debate. However, the navigation isn't clear and it's difficult to see what categories were originally intended to be. That's why there are so many 'general' categories. Some were 'general' in the old Sports category, or 'general' in the old Lifestyle category, etc etc.

Many of these categories will be moved to the archive eventually - with eventually being the operative word.

I think the best way forward certainly is to suggest new and current topics and thus not run the risk of opinions being consigned to the archive in the fullness of time.

I agree with that as some looked strange. The "general" categories seemed a little odd on there, and I did not understand them. I suppose that as the database grows, these will be deleted, and replaced by more up to date ones. Found some neat photos to go with mine on a site called acclaimimages which is basically copyright free images that anyone can use, as we have to put an image link into the proposal.

The only thing i would change about the speakers corner is to have a section for short stories/poetry, as these are things i enjoy reading.....

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The only thing i would change about the speakers corner is to have a section for short stories/poetry, as these are things i enjoy reading.....

Ciao overdid it. Partly my fault as I like writing stuff like that as well and proposed loads. The problem is where do you stop ? I think as the Dooyoo place is called Speakers Corner, it is more useful to have reviews giving advice on aspects that the general public are interested in, whereas Ciao made theirs out to be cafe where reviews are more generalised. I've looked into alternative sites and there are some good ones for fiction and poetry although Speakers Corner perhaps isn't the place for poems and stories. Only my view.

Thats a neat link. Poetry.com comes to mind as well although not keen on their sales techniques.