I've been debating with myself how to set up the "introductions" area/page-whatever.
One thing that I found awkward about that page here is that a new member writes a long introduction telling all about their projects, hopes, dreams, ambitions etc
Then, crickets.
They are, infact compelled to post (within 3 days as an anti-spam measure) but get no response, there is no hello, no welcome, no opportunity for conversation.
So, I see a new member post and want to respond... Very interesting... Or whatever, start a conversation, but, the obscure location and format are not conducive to any continuing exchange of dialogue with a member.
So...
Maybe new members could just post their introduction as a "New Topic". Then others could post their welcome messages, ask questions and have an actual get to know you kind of conversation.
So no space limitations or crowding out other's introductions, no getting lost or buried, so it's not just an obligatory post to keep from getting banned.
Not that I want to be critical of this forum. I love this forum and have very much appreciated Darryl Boyd's generosity in keeping it going for over a decade, never asking for anything and never monetizing, no advertising, because he said this forum was special to him.
Still, if we are going to remake a new forum from the ground up, there is the opportunity to re-think a few things.
Maybe the "introductions" could be a combination introduction/member pages.
I noticed that phpbb has a "pages" plugin. So you can add static web pages to the forum. Not sure what it does exactly but in theory at least, each member could have a kind of personal "blog" and a webpage rather than the somewhat awkward obligatory isolated introductions post and in addition to the limited "profile".
I guess not everyone would have a use for it.
Anyway, for now, if anyone happens over there, an introduction post is not obligatory and would need to be posted as a "New Topic".
People here, I notice over the years, often put a lot of time and heartfelt effort into writing an introduction that is then lost and ignored. Not much of a welcome.
https://www.stirlingengineforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=918
To find a new introduction you have to go there and go all the way to page 53 or whatever. Nobody ever sees it.