A request for mods and admins re: Gustav, et. al.

[Cerridwen]

Would it be possible to put a "sticky" thread at the top of each of the "large" forums, i.e., LBN, GD-P, GD, The Lounge, etc. to be used as a common gathering place for those DUers impacted by Gustav, et. al. and we can all see, read, and post without having to search through pages of threads.

I don't mean limit threads, of course I want to see individual stories and threads, I just mean, in addition to what are going to be copious amounts of threads, a common place to gather and do a "head count" and check-in.

I'm not sure if DU software has the capability, but if it could in fact, be one thread propagated across the forums, that would be even better.

So many of us are concerned with the safety of our friends and so many are concerned their friends know they're safe and sound, it would make that process a bit easier on such a busy board.

My thoughts, prayers, good vibes, and hopes for "good luck" go out to all the people potentially impacted by this latest cluster of storms.

Be safe. Please, let us know as soon as feasible, when you're okay and keep us posted as you can.

:grouphug:

eta:

Just in case: see posts 8 & 10 for additional ideas.

Please add other ideas to make this as simple and effective as possible.

[doublethink]

1. Kick for the mods to get their thinking caps on this .....

good suggestion. Maybe they can come up with something similar to your idea. Peace.

:kick:

[Cerridwen]

3. Thank you. This thread is already fighting the for attention amongst

all the traffic. Guess that proves my point, sort of.

[SeattleGirl]

2. Wonderful idea.

I agree totally with you. It would be nice to have a thread pinned to the top of the mai forums, so that people in the Gulf area can check in, and those of us who care about them can see if they're all right.

[doublethink]

8. Think it should be a 'Gustav Forum' pinned to the top of the major forums.

A thread might fill up pretty quickly? Doesn't DU have a weather forum that can be temporally re-titled and pinned to the top? Just a thought and another kick :kick:

[Cerridwen]

10. Good points. Something I didn't think of which should be addressed,

many may be limited to dial-up; fewer signatures and images would work best as well as, as you just noted, if the thread gets too long it's tough on dial up.

[doublethink]

13. I see down thread that your your OP has been picked up by the Mods.

I was just getting back in here to send them an e mail too. Cool. :thumbsup:

[Cerridwen]

14. Yeah, thank you. Any ideas to make it a better idea are always

welcome.

Maybe if others have ideas to make it easier for our (hopefully NOT) storm-tossed friends, they can email them or put them in here; I think posting here would be easier on the mods/admins, i.e., 50 posts in a thread versus 50 emails to get through.

[doublethink]

18. Here's the emergency Louisiana Gustav Website .....

http://www.emergency.louisiana.gov/

With lots of information in it for residents there. Would be a good thing to post links and such somewhere they all can be found in one place along with keeping up with friends/relatives etc... (hence your original idea) ......

[Cerridwen]

20. Add this ^^^^ idea, please to whatever admin comes up with.

Oy, English grammar bites dust for idea. ;)

The link in the above post is great for the "all on one page" idea.

Thank you! doublethink. :hi:

[doublethink]

23. No problem Cerridwen ......

If I find anymore relevant links I'll just post them in this thread of yours ..... feel free yourself or whoever to transfer them over to whatever the Mods come up with if I happen to not be around when that happens. Umm we can all gather this stuff in the meantime into your thread for now I suppose ..... then they will all be centrally localized for now anyway. Did that make sense? :P:

Local Weather tracking links, Local Red Cross links, Animal Shelter Links, Evacuation Links, Update Links etc... etc... relevant to the area, this thing will effect the surrounding states too so those links might do someone some good too .... on and on ....

[Cerridwen]

25. MODS/ADMINS - see here, too, please. I loves commas.

Thank you, doublethink.

I'm currently "seeing" a hybrid of your ideas, my ideas and ColbertWatcher's ideas. That's why I hollered for the mods/admins.

Hybrid: A regular forum, with the sticky at top of the forum for specific events, with a sticky link at top of major forums.

I'm still trying to distill the number of clicks and the load times to the smallest possible.

edit: apostrophe

[Cerridwen]

4. P.S. For those getting ready to say email the admins, I did that

just moments ago with a link to this thread.

Your support of this idea may help it to become a reality.

[rasputin1952]

5. Just so you know, we have seen your idea and have kicked it up

to Admin.

Let's all hope that those in Gustav's way will be safely evacuated and the necessary measures for their medical housing and food problems will be addressed by both FEMA and the states, as well as the many private relief organizations.

Thank you for your sincere concern and suggestion in this matter.

Ras

[Cerridwen]

7. Thank you, Ras, for letting me know.

I do hope you mean "thank you for your concern" in the non-snark way. :D

Thank you, very much for at least thinking on it.

[rasputin1952]

9. Me..."snarky"...well, I might be in some instances...

but where lives are of concern...no way...:hi:

I even edited it to add "sincere"...:hug:

[Cerridwen]

11. :D

Naw, I didn't think so. Just my weird funny bone doing it's weird thing.

Thank you for the edit and the response. I see upthread there are some additional ideas for this which may be worth a look as well. :hi:

:hug: for the edit.

[malaise]

6. K & R

Stay safe everyone. Move away from Gustav.

[Kire]

12. K&R

nt

[lonestarnot]

15. K & R!

[ColbertWatcher]

16. You know what would be a really good idea: an Emergency Preparedness forum. n/t

[Cerridwen]

17. While true, my idea is specific to this particular, potential disaster.

I agree, an Emergency Preparedness Forum is a good idea; however, during these types of wide-spread events I think we need something specific to the event; we need a single gathering area available and obvious to all the forums to be seen by the new poster, the knowledgeable poster, and the tired and worn out poster who just wants to say "hey all. I'm home and safe and I'll talk with you later".

But yeah, I like your forum idea, too.

:D

[ColbertWatcher]

19. I'm glad you like the EP forum idea.

Perhaps if DU created the EP instead of these temporary fixes, there would be one place for people to check in, discuss plans, look for help, etc.

[Cerridwen]

21. A single place to check in is just as likely to get lost in a forum...

that was why I requested something along the "one thread - all 'major' forums" idea.

The forum is a good idea. In addition, we need a single point of contact during large scale (or even not-so-large-scale) disasters.

A click or two here and there can be quite a difference if you're on dial-up or have limited time. It may seem weird, but it was once the "mantra" of good web-design.

[ColbertWatcher]

22. I don't agree.

People can check in with a new thread or in a sticky.

it's not like DU ever has duplicate threads.

[Cerridwen]

24. I'm not surprised. We're on two sides of the same page.

My point is to keep whatever the admins choose, from disappearing off the page. That can happen as easily in a busy forum as it can on busy forums.

A lot of what you and I are discussing may be contingent upon where the majority of DUers go when first "logging in."

My idea presumes they "login to" or click to a major forum first. It could be a bad presumption; I don't know. Your idea has them going to a certain, what amounts to, "sub"-forum. I'm thinking in fewest clicks for maximum coverage.

Same idea; different perspective; both valid.

eta: See post #25.

[ColbertWatcher]

27. People can set the DU log-in page to whatever they choose.

They can also change it and click to open another.

My assumption is that if they are in an area that may be experiencing an emergency of some sort, they could to there.

But, sadly, there is no "there" to go to.

[Cerridwen]

26. ANY MORE IDEAS? Before I let this drop into oblivion.

eta: this post drops to oblivion; not the idea which the mods/admins are contemplating.

[rasputin1952]

28. Just to let youknow, we haven't heard anything from Admin on this yet,

but I expect something in the AM.

Once again thanks for the suggestions...:hi:

Ras

[Cerridwen]

30. Thank you for keeping me, and those watching, updated.

I greatly appreciate it.

:hi:

[doublethink]

29. Here's a cool link ..... 4 stations .... local news coverage New Orleans.

http://www.maroonspoon.com/wx/gustav.html

[Greyhound]

31. K & R.

Brilliant notion.