I think Kathy's categories are good and also suggest that around 90% of the current postings are archived. I think the complexity of the forum and evident depth of history is likely to be offputting to new members.
There are a number of ways of navigating the forum - I realise that it's not the case that one is 'best' it depends on one's aims. However I suspect that after all this time I am still not great at it as sometimes I come across a really interesting post that I would swear I have never seen before.
I'm still not very good at searching. A long time ago I realised that you have to make sure your starting point is broad before putting something into 'Search' box but I don't think that was self-evident.
To give a specific example of my difficulties - Peter mentioned 'P21" framework in an email - I thought I'd better search for that but can't find it either through search box or through navigating from the broad menus trying to guess where it would be.
You might well think 'you dumbo'
(nearest thing approaching to long ears) and probably be able to tell me where it is - and maybe next time I take a look I'll find it right away - but my point is that it is still quite difficult to search the forum. This isn't perhaps a very constructive comment - I'm sorry about that - but perhaps archiving the great bulk of it would make it less intimidating to newcomers?
Also we haven't yet done anything about the fact that in the top left hand corner of the wiki is clickable text that says 'log on to the wiki' and yet this doesn't work. (I reported some time ago that one member of staff said this was why they had never edited the wiki - and as far as I can see they still haven't.)
Yes I know there are other ways of logging on the wiki...
I am sorry this posting is a bit grumpy in tone I am disappointed I cannot get onto Second Life today and am sitting at home sneezing and snuffling
a look at the islands would be really cheering
