SpudFiles

To All,

For years now, SpudFiles has been strictly a Spudgun-Related website. There is really only 1 area you are supposed to talk about "other" stuff, and that's the Non-SpudGun Related category.

However, it is very clear and understandable that most spudders are the general "hobbyist" types of people... doing all kinds of projects with all kinds of materials. Lots of engineering going on here on SpudFiles. The Non-SpudGun section shows this clearly, there is quite a bit of discussion in that area with the total number of posts for that section even exceeding the "Combustion Cannon" section.

What if, in the future, SpudFiles was still mainly Spud Cannon oriented but had more "hobbyist" sections?

Post your thoughts...

Thanks!

I think that would be a good idea. Or just loosen up on what is let slide in the NSGR section. My only worry is the site will be over run with no spud gunners.

Maybe have 3 sections in the Non-SpudGun Related category.

1. Electronics (anything electronic, from cannon ignition to car radio's)
2. Automotive (if it has a engine on it...)
3. Free For All (anything that doesn't fit in the 1st 2 sections)

Moderator responsibilities: Anyone posting in these sections must have at least one showcased or work in progress cannon, must be linked in members signature. Keep the trolls and spammers post out. No flaming allowed. Standard Spudfiles rules apply.

That's what I got for right now...

I think jrrdw's suggestion is too strict, and clemsonguy's is too loose. I think that possibly under NSGRD, we should add electronics and automotive, since that seems to cover most of the hobbying that's posted to the site, but I think requiring a cannon in progress or showcased is too much to ask.

I'd ask instead that mods lock threads of members that are only active in the NSGRD section (or expanded section(s)), and inform them that they need to contribute to the rest of the site.

Though I don't spud personally (inner suburb in a country where anything that goes boom or bang is frowned upon) the BBMG section has been invaluable to me as a learning tool. Right there is an example already on the site that is NSGR.

I would second @saefroch thoughts on an electronics section; I got into Spudfiles by accident when looking for a hobby that combined electronics, mechanical engineering and CAD/CNC. The clever engineering I see here every day covers a lot more than spud gunning and as long as the SPAM/Trolls can be managed I would be a supporter.

Thanks

Direction? Forwards not backwards! Upwards not forwards! And always twirling, twirling!

Simpsons quotes aside, I'd like to see at least an Electronics section. A lot of people are working on electromagnetic launchers that would be slightly less lost amongst the other threads if they were amongst Electronics threads as opposed to just in NSGRD.

I wouldn't start imposing restrictions about members who haven't necessarily got their own cannon threads - people are unlikely to be here if they don't have something of an interest in spudding (it's not exactly a place you show up to if you're not looking for that kind of thing), and it's more work keeping track of it than just letting it be.
Sure, if someone's obviously not keeping to the spirit of the site and is just being generally useless and argumentative, then it's fair enough to boot them (possibly in the man bits), but that's unlikely to be a big concern.

I'd like to see an "alternate launchers" section, as Rag said a few of us are working on electrical launchers, but others are working on mechanical launchers.

Also, I know this has been raised before, but a section for those mature enough to discuss devices that use chemical energy would be good. Much akin to APC Forum's HE section.

It might be too much to ask for but, I think if we did move into other hobbies it would be a nice feature to separate the recent threads bar. I noticed recently I would log on and the entire active topics bar would be full of random NSGR threads and that would only get worse.

A section for chemical energy launchers would be great, if we could find some way to filter the maturity... but that borders on impossible.

It appears you can't see the HE section unless you log in on APC forum.

I'm certain that it wouldn't be too hard to filter k3wls from those more mature. They ask the mod for the section, a thread is started within the board, the members of that board then decide if this person is mature enough.

I converse with a few of the members interested in such topics, I'm sure most with such interests do. Now if a chemical energy powered launchers section was started, those who I talk to would then decide if I'm mature enough.

That way, the whole board is happy, and there's a lot more filtering done.

One possible risk of adding an explosive section is the attention it could bring to the site. I know some of the members here are worried about the police and with an explosives section it seems logical that this site may receive more attention from them.

We could do, to see certain parts you have to ask a mod for a password. Maybe somethin like this for the chemical energy section.

That could work pretty well. Only a small number of members are actively interested in this type of discussion, I think it would be easy for Mods to give access to only a few people.

If you included this section however, I would include some sort of waiver/release form saying SF is not responsible for any consequences that may result from discussion on these boards.

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irisher wrote:One possible risk of adding an explosive section is the attention it could bring to the site. I know some of the members here are worried about the police and with an explosives section it seems logical that this site may receive more attention from them.

I agree, What we don't want is threads about making bombs.

I am more inclined towards jrrdw's idea.