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Q: What improvements could be made to this site?
Personally I think it would be good if there were an area where people could ask just any question, not just China related stuff. Yeh, apparently there is, but it doesn't seem to be very good, and nobody knows it exists. Also some kind of notification that someone has replied to one of your comments, rather than having to check back from time to time which makes any conversational element to this forum stunted. And lastly I think it would be a good idea if the thumb system was not anonymous and you could click on it and see who's giving you a smile (or the finger). It would cut down on the thumb trolls, which I think most people find a little annoying.
Well I think they could free up some server space and get rid of the huge amount of old Questions and Answers because judging from the number of times a particular question is asked NOBODY refers back to see if it had been asked and answered before.
Or better still, before a question is allowed to be posted, Admin flames it with the comment: Please refer to previous 62 questions posted on this topic!
How about utterly stupid questions being allowed to be posted (and there are many) but no-one is allowed to post an answer? That would show the asker that he/she asked a silly question.
BTW I thought there was a system of notification here already?
Deleting questions and answers that encourage people to work illegally, or that advise people how to get illegal visas. This is only setting people up for hardships, and adding to a problem that many expats already experience - illegal and unskilled immigrants forcing wages down. It is also contributing to the poor quality of goods, particularly education, in China.
mArtiAn:
Agreed and rectified, but then you can hardly blame some people. If you don't have a degree it can be hard to get a decent wage as a teacher, even if you are a competent and conscientious teacher with years of experience. I mean, what use is a degree in the performing arts say, to a teacher of English? Sometimes when a person's hands are tied they have to find their own way to untie them. Especially if they have a family to support.
Traveler:
When I first started teaching at government colleges in Australia, I only needed a 20 hour Trainer's Certificate to be able to teach. That was upgraded to a 200 hour Trade Certificate, which has since been upgraded several times (now 300+ hours).
Every time there is an upgrade to the Trade Certificate, all teachers must upgrade to that newer certificate. Teachers must also have trade or university qualifications in the subject they are teaching. Most long term teachers have upgraded 3-4 times.
In Australia, it is no longer a matter of just training at the Police Academy. Now a Diploma of Policing, issued by a university, is required just to apply to become a cop. Nurses once just needed a trade certificate. Now a degree in Nursing is required.
The requirements in Australia for Skilled migration are much higher now than they were in the past. I believe it is the same in other western countries.
Other countries are upgrading their requirements for professional jobs, and the people in those jobs comply. I don't think it is unreasonable for China to do the same, nor for China to expect teachers to comply with their new requirements.
Put country flags next to our avatars. And if someone like 981 or another wumao posts in Chinglish and pretends to be American/Canadian/whatever, switch her flag to a new Chinglish flag.
Traveler:
People would get Kiwis mixed up with Australians. We don't want that.
Amonk:
Don't worry Traveler, I would never mix Kiwis up with Australians. Everyone knows that New Zealand is the 9th territory of Australia.
I agree with adding the country flag next to the avatar. It's just to confusing to tell who is from where. I've read many questions about teaching and to honest I'd only really read the one's that are from a particular place. The illegal stuff like bad advice should go.
If you added a country flag to the avatars it would make it a whole lot easier....to see where someone is coming from.
I really like the flag idea
however you know the trolls will just use it to sure up their disguise
I do feel sorry for admin on some days when the moon is full and the bridge up
it must be like running a day care center for them 
Amonk:
Hence the 'power users' could simply report people for falsifying their flag, and the admin could simply switch their phony flag to that of the Chinglish wallaby.
Amonk:
Members of the site that have been here a while, have posted a lot, and always have something worthwhile to say. "Top users" I believe is the phrase used here.
Traveler:
981 was the top user when he/she was here. Just being in the top of the list doesn't mean the advice is good.
Amonk:
'Always have something worthwhile to say' being the operative phrase.
I think the reward system is a cool idea, I just wish there were more rewards!
Get in touch with some restaurants in the major cities (like those for classifieds) and trade in points for coupons would be cool. Plus, it would be a good trackable promotion for those restaurants. Could even send the "coupon code" via SMS. Just an idea.
Other good things for rewards, since this is primarily an expat based forum, would be things expats like or need: deodorant, cheese, etc. A lot of those things can be bought on Taobao, but for a lot of people, they don't have a Taobao account or can't read the site. Just find some items and a supplier on there and offer a few of those things as a reward. They don't have to be expensive either, just difficult for some people to get. You'd be surprised how many people would join the site if they knew they might get a free box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese out of the deal.
Also: BOOKS. English language books can be very difficult to find, and they'd make a nice reward.
Things we want/need would be awesome, but also some other things that could help in daily life: China Mobile pre-paid cards, studying Mandarin books/programs or discounts on classes, promo codes for any number of $0.99 phone apps (maps, translation, subway guides, etc.) or Appstore/Android market gift cards, you get the idea.
Amonk:
I still haven't found good deodorant. The only thing they have here is a tiny bottle of roll-on crap that smells like Axe. For 5 bucks. Do Chinese people not use deodorant? I have very little nose sensation, but like... do they smell like BO all day? I know they don't shower more than twice a week.
Oh and yeah, deodorant, cheese, an English version of Taobao, location of a good country fried steak... all would be great rewards.
If I post and get an immediate thumbs down, I just look to the right and see who's here, usually Matty or 981 did it. But I don't care about points.
Has anyone noticed that sometimes when you post your points don't go up, even thought you haven't answered the max amount of questions for the day? I have.
Scandinavian:
there is a max amount of wisdom I can spread per day ?
mArtiAn:
That's what i'm saying, half of those thumbs downs passed around are character based and have nothing to do with the content of the post itself. They're not giving you the thumb, they're giving you the finger. Silly thing to concern yourself with but at least if you could click on that box and see who it was you'd know who to flip one back to.
TedDBayer:
You can answer 10 questios a day for points. I don't care if an AH gives me the thumbs down or finger, I just know where it comes from, from out of their ass.
I want alerts for replies to any thread/answer that I commented on. That would be a huge improvement since I basically only use my alerts box to communicate, and often go without replying to people for a long time... it makes me feel bad, since I never intentionally ignore anyone.
Subscription to posts by other members of your choosing
ability to alter email address associated with account
All good suggestions folks! I'll add them to my "big list 'o' changes" for Answers 2.0.
mArtiAn:
Yeh, that alert idea is the main one. It'd make a big difference to the fluency of interaction between users.
PS: What is it with Disney characters like you and Donald that you all want to go around wearing jackets but don't bother slipping on a pair of trousers to cover your junk? It's kind of kinky.
I would like to be able to post a photo along with text. A photo as part of the post. I know it can be done (I think),, but I don't mean a link to a photo,,, I mean put the photo right here along with the post.
'a picture is worth a thousand words'
*yeah, I know it could be abused, but then I guess most things can be abused if someone is keen on doing so.
Hulk:
<p>
<h2>Title of Image</h2>
<img src="urlofimage.jpg/whatever_extention_is_used" alt="Hi" title="Title of Picture"/>
</p>
It's worth mentioning that you need to add that to the box which you edit.
pls. ignore. just trying to learn how to put a photo in post...
Amonk:
Testing testing, this text is for testing purposes only. Please do not ingest it.
The Modern Story of Ah Q
Thank you for your attention. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.
I'd like to see if a comment I make to an answer gets a comment. Some times I ask a question and I don't know if I get an answer to my comment on the answer.
mArtiAn:
I know exactly what you mean; you comment an answer but don't know if the comment's answered or if the answerer chooses not to comment on your comment to their answer or has left an answer to your comment. It's very confusing.
TedDBayer:
Exactly, you do not get a notice that your comments to my answer gets comments or answers to your comments that you made to my answer. Commenting to comments is the same as to answers but you get no notice of comments to comments either, just as with comments to answers that get comments.
MissA:
I agree, and the suggestion has been made, and not followed up, a few times before.
Maybe, adding this thought I had today: What about an app of the website that can be downloaded on any smart phones? User friendly, intuitive and the minimum amount of data to use. Any updates, from news to comments, from questions to answers and coments, thumbs up or down, who's answered, followed you or is following you. The following part it could be on the website first. I can subscribe to someone's storry. I would then follow him and anytime there is an update of his activity I can be aware of it. Well, there should be done some serious changes on the main page too. But I guess the question it's relate to answer beta page. Although if I would be asked to describe the main page in one word I would say it's a Bazar. For a main website page it's just far too much of infomration that I simply don't read it. I know this is not the question, so I stop here.
I'd like to see anonymous posts done away with. Registering is free and easy so there's no cause for anonymous posts. It seems the same questions appear anonymously on a regular basis and usually they're trolling/flame-bait posts.
Amonk:
I would like for users who've been downvoted at a ratio of 10 to 1 to be automatically banned from the site.
Some articles reading in another language, french, spanish, italian, arab,ecc
When one reaches the rank of "Grand Master Flash," I'd like a refrigerated Harbin truck to pull up in front of my house (fully stocked) and the driver hands me the keys, courtesy of ECC . Ganbei!
The search functionality could be improved. E.g. the searching for "Scandinavian Ice cream" yields no results. Surely I must have written in a thread with the words "ice" and "cream"
Scandinavian:
the point is that the search functionality will not find this thread if you search for my username and ice cream
note: regarding scandinavian ice cream production. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A4agen-Dazs#Origin_of_brand_name
Personal attacks that are made public should be given a warning.....the people that attack don't need to show a display of ignorance by making a post aimed at someone. If they want to make a personal attack they can do it through messages and then the person who gets the message can decide if it was harmful or not. Thus, letting the admin cat know about the messages and then if they feel that it was unjust send the person that is doing the personal attacks a comment to stop.
I feel those that make personal attacks public are just acting like kids that need attention that's all.
Traveler:
If you bring it on yourself, you really shouldn't be complaining about it.
Would it be beyond the scope of this question to look into relocating the servers to a non-CCP country?
If a post is hidden because of thumbs down, it should lose it's points, and not count in the number of posts to go higher in rank. This would discourage people making posts just for the points, or to get to a higher rank. It would decrease the number stupid and irrelevant posts.
