On line chat -

[mag]

how about placing a online chat for members to chat with each other?? - any subjects raised could then be posted onto the forums for later reference by members and viewable by guests - after being vetted by admin?

cheers :beer

[Dave]

Thanks for the suggestion Michael :thumb.

If we implemented chat functionality it would need to be something that tightly integrates with vBulletin (the forum script we use). I did a quick search and found this product (http://www.123flashchat.com/vBulletin_chat.html) which looks like it would work ok.

At this point in time our main goal is to increase the number of registered users and more importantly the number of people that post on the forums. I would say once we reach around 400-500 members we might have enough interest to start looking at the chat feature seriously.

Chat software is notorious for being greedy with server resources. We would need to ensure that the chat feature does not negatively affect the rest of the site. If it did it might become a question of economics i.e. upgrading the server or introducing a subscription system for users that want to use it.

[Bruce Evans]

I realise I am old (over 80), but I find it difficult to navigate this site. I have been using computers for over 25 years, starting on an Apple 2e and have my own website that I have set myself. I would like to share the information I have obtained from government sources that demonstrates why country areas are in economic decline. I have a very slow dialup internet connection so may be I get too imapatient waiting for too many graphics to download.

It may be of interest that a prominent private school network has a link to my site asking students to compare what I have to say about the decline in rural communities compared with those of a lecturer on sustainable rural communities. My site has also been archived by the National Library as a site of significant cultural interest.

The major concern I have is that Australians are not being told the real reasons why country towns are in decline. In Victoria, owners of property outside the metropolitan area pay a massive $200,000,000 more in local government rates every year than they would if they owned property of the same value in the city. We pay a high price to live in the country.

[Dave]

Bruce, if you have any suggestions on how to improve the navigation of the site I am happy to hear them.

The links directory (which is the 'main' part of the site) is very well organised in my opinion. There are categories and sub-categories, with most pages having a navigation 'breadcrumb' trail at the top of the page.

The forum part of the site (i.e. where you are now) is somewhat separate to the links directory, but the top of every page has a 'Return to main AgLinks site' link.

I am open to suggestions on how to better integrate the two parts of the site.

As for your other comments regarding your web site, you are welcome to discuss those issues in another forum but this forum is for web site suggestions only :).