TOPIC: What are your thoughts on how to let folks contact each other on td.events?

Hey folks,

We've been planning to add a feature for a while to td.events to enable folks with tickets in the same timeslot to be able to contact each other ahead of the event. Originally we thought of a mini-forum for each timeslot but that would probably end up requiring moderation so that idea was discarded.

The current idea is to add a button to the account page ( td.events/account ), along with a note at the top of the timeslot listing page pointing to it, that would allow folks to OPTIONALLY:

1. Type in their True Dungeon forum username that would be visible to ALL users who view a specific timeslot page (eg td.events/conventions/vtd3b/slots/18124 ). This username would not be validated so there is a chance for malicious behavior but I think that would be minor.

2. Type in a contact email address that would be visible ONLY to users who have purchased a ticket for the timeslot when they view the specific timeslot page. The td.events site would not validate this email so again there is a chance someone would enter a bogus email address.

3. Type in a short (250 character max?) statement that would be visible ONLY to users who have purchased a ticket for the timeslot. This could be used as a free form contact field for things like Twitter/Facebook/etc usernames or it could just be an introduction or an outlet for your Vogon cosplay poetry.

I'll be implementing this within the next day or so - if you have any ideas for improvements let me know. I'll check back here later in the day. Thanks!

Doug Martin wrote: Hey folks,

We've been planning to add a feature for a while to td.events to enable folks with tickets in the same timeslot to be able to contact each other ahead of the event. Originally we thought of a mini-forum for each timeslot but that would probably end up requiring moderation so that idea was discarded.

The current idea is to add a button to the account page ( td.events/account ), along with a note at the top of the timeslot listing page pointing to it, that would allow folks to OPTIONALLY:

1. Type in their True Dungeon forum username that would be visible to ALL users who view a specific timeslot page (eg td.events/conventions/vtd3b/slots/18124 ). This username would not be validated so there is a chance for malicious behavior but I think that would be minor.

2. Type in a contact email address that would be visible ONLY to users who have purchased a ticket for the timeslot when they view the specific timeslot page. The td.events site would not validate this email so again there is a chance someone would enter a bogus email address.

3. Type in a short (250 character max?) statement that would be visible ONLY to users who have purchased a ticket for the timeslot. This could be used as a free form contact field for things like Twitter/Facebook/etc usernames or it could just be an introduction or an outlet for your Vogon cosplay poetry.

I'll be implementing this within the next day or so - if you have any ideas for improvements let me know. I'll check back here later in the day. Thanks!

Will URL's be allowed in the short message? Being able to provide a link back to the forums might be handy.

I dislike option 1, because then it becomes a question of "which" forum username? The one that appears on posts? Or the one that appears when you send someone a message?

Option 3 allows the person to put in the information from 1 or 2 if they want, so seems like the most flexible solution to me.

I'm not a fan of 2. as it appears to give extra authority to emails.

Not Vogon poetry! Have mercy!

Seriously I do like the idea of bring able to link up with others in the group who don't get on the forums or FB group.

My concern would be someone potentially being bullied out of the class they have by someone who purchased a ticket for the run after them.

Love the idea, if it can be linked to the forum it would be ideal, but otherwise the information being available to just the group with tickets is a good compromise.

#3 sounds good if we can put a link to a forum thread in it

Ryan Gresch wrote: My concern would be someone potentially being bullied out of the class they have by someone who purchased a ticket for the run after them.

That could theoretically happen with the forum postings for each time, but I've yet to see it. Feels really unlikely.

#3

Much as I like the idea of a uniform method of contact, I like the idea of a freeform text box for each individual to put whatever method of contact works best for them even more.

#3 is my favorite.

#3 but allow a custom statement per timeslot, not just one per account, so we can link to the individual forum thread for that specific run. i.e. I would actually put the feature on the timeslot page not the account page.