Should all public posts go on the RDVP frontpage?

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This is one of the most critical issues that fellows want to be addressed. Although fellows currently can select their posts to be private and visible only to members of specific user groups, there seems to be a need for posting content that is public but that is not profiled in the front page.

The need for "Not Private but Not Publicized either"
Why would someone want to post content that is public but not portraitedd on the front page?

If a fellow makes a post private, it's only visible to members of the specific user group(s) he/she selects and is a member of. For users to see this post, they need to be a member of this group.

This creates 2 limitations:

1. In order to be a member of a group, you need to be registered in the collaboration framework (our site). So, if the fellow wants to invite an "outsider" to view this content, the outsider needs to go through the process of registering on the collaboration framework and then requesting access to the specific private group the post was placed in. Although this is a simple process, many people are reluctant to register or find it a hassle to take the time to do so.
    

2. On the other hand, the fellow may want other fellows to be able to read and comment the post and help round up and idea or structure a propossal, but if it's private, only those members of the private group it was placed on will see it.

How could this be done

The solution can be as simple as

1. adding a checkbox that allows the user to select is the content will be portraited in the front page or
    
2. creating a new category called "Show on Frontpage of RDVP.org" on the "Fellows Space" list of categories. Only when this category is selected by the user would a post be shown on the RDVP front page.

From the user's point of view, this would be a simple action and we can make sure the user is aware and remembers this by adding a visible note in the form.

From a developer's point of view, option 1 is more complicated, given the way the application works and the way the collaboration framework communicates with the front page (via RSS Feeds). Option 2 (setting up a category) can be implemented immediately if fellows agree on this request.
Another simple question (but more difficult from the programming side) is if by default the "show post on front page" should be selected or not.

Perhaps the Usability Group can provide some guideline or direction toward a user-friendly, minimal impact way of implementing this option.

Fellows should express their preference and also be informed of this change when implemented to make sure they are aware of it and how to take advantage of it.

Implications

The inmediate consequence could be a decrease in the number of posts that make it to the front page as it is usual for people to be self-conscious of their writings and more often than not they may choose not to be portraited on the front page.

On the other hand, it could trigger an increase in the number of posts by the fellows once they feel liberated from been profiled on the front page. Many fellows have explicitely expressed their reserves in posting their ideas to avoid been profiled on their front page.

The Open Space Paradigm

This issue also uncovers another phenomenom: the paradigm of formal content and spaces. For more users, www.RDVP.org is seen as a formal publication and they would not like to be profiled there with a casual comment.

Others, in particular those with past experiences participating in virtual communities, do not see it as such and are comfortable and familiar with casual comments being profiled and constantly rotated on the front page of any publication. Such is the current and acceptable trend of blogs, on-line collaborative spaces such as forums and virtual learning environments and even formal publications such as newspapers and magazines.

More and more, casual posts are not seen as a negative thing, but as an indication of activity and engagement by users and members.

But on the other hand, we should be able to acommodate and serve our users diverse perceptions and preferences.

So another question arises, are fellows only uncomfortable with their posts being portraited by default on http://www.rdvp.org or are they troubled also by their posts being listed on the initial page (and side blocks) of the collaboration framework?

Summary

Please, indicate your preferences...

1. Would you like to have the option of choosing when your post makes it to the front page or not? (yes/no)
    
2. Would you like to have the option of being portraited on the front page of www.rdvp.org to be on or off by default? (portrait by default / don't portrait by default)
    
3. Should the same rule apply for displaying recent posts on the front page and side blocks in the collaboration framework -- fellows.rdvp.org--? (yes/no)
    

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Note that I have set up an on-line survey with the above questions to make it easier for everyone to "vote" on this issue/request. Click here to go to the simple 3 multiple choice questions survey now...

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