There are many threads in Strictly Survey that could be in other categories such as CAD Software etc. I'd like to see a category for strictly boundary survey. It would save having to weed through the general aka strictly survey category. Just a thought.
That is a really good point about the Strictly Surveying category. Everyone seems to be piling everything in there. I just cleaned up several topics and put them where they belong. Admittedly, I've been a bit lax in watching that.
I will keep your suggestion under advisement as I try to reserve a small chunk of my time each morning to cleaning up the Strictly Surveying category.
Is there really a group of readers who only want to read about boundary survey and want to skip posts that could have something to do with boundary surveys, but also apply to other things, such as topo surveys or control surveys? Such as a post about tape measures.
Some discussion boards allow posts to be in a main category but also have tags to indicate sub-categories. But my experience is the tools to actually read sub-categories are not so great.
Maybe a category named "Dog Chasing Its Own Tail" where threads could be moved to once the discussion in the original post degrades to mindless back and forth 😆
@ashton Yes, we do have the ability to add tags here, but they don't seem to be getting used much. They are only good if people actually use them when creating topics or replies. 🤨
This also prompted me to add a tag cloud above the latest topics list on the main Forums page. Perhaps seeing that will encourage folks to use them. 🧐🙂
I didn't intend to cause more work for you Wendell. I'm sure you have enough already. I plead guilty to not using tags. Never took time to learn using them. Like I said, just a thought.
Won't try to speak for anyone other than myself.
Sometimes I take a quick glance for boundary topics and save the other stuff for when I have more time to browse or just skip it based on the title line. I'd say my interest in boundary topics is 80% or more over the years compared to the rest.
Now that I have the time to read everything posted if I so desired, I typically fly over topics that are tied to specified hardware or software, something like hydrography and virtually everything that is truly construction staking only. This place is becoming too quiet and dull compared to prior years. I have the feeling we are becoming overcome with button pushers and those who couldn't find their way to the job site without punching it into their GPS. Sorry, but, someone asked and I answered.
For those currently participating who don't know much about me. I am a boundary surveyor who started in the days of transits with four posts and a 100-foot steel tape. AutoCad was a fantasy. Printers that required seconds instead of multiple minutes (or an hour) to kick out a large print were not economically available to small shope. Blue prints were blue and ammonia could impact your mental processes. Hand drafting on linen in ink is a task I avoided but others in the office had to do it. Elevations frequently were adjusted (up to the top of boot) or (up to the top of belt). Plane table and alidade work was common.
But, turn me loose on researching a tract, and you will get a history lesson in who whittled up Black's little acre, when, why and how. The true answers are in the details, not the magic black box. Anyone reporting a bearing as 87 degrees 47 minutes and 23.1132546 seconds needs to have all magic boxes removed from their access.
@Norm No worries! I'm glad you brought it up. I appreciate the feedback as it gets me thinking, too. I like to hear what you guys and gals are thinking, so hopefully I can use that information to make RPLS.com even better. 🙂
