I think just creating a special guests forum one time only is the way to go but its your call revlis. You have made a great site already and whatever way you want to go is more than likely the correct way.

I was actually thinking Idea #2. This has the advantage of being easily identifiable when one first enters the forums. It might give people a good introduction on what the forums can be about if VinoCellar gets these "Special guests" on a regular basis.

Idea #2. But go with what you think, great Rev-linator

Rev,

I was thinking something like Idea #2, although I believe everyone should be able to post a topic. That way, like on eBob, different topics can get going for consideration and response by the Special Guest -- after all, if the guest doesn't know what the specific questions are, how can he or she answer? We certainly wouldn't want all of the disparate conversations on the same thread. Unlike eBob, it would all be segregated in its own area so it doesn't get lost amidst the clutter.

Also, when entering the Special Guest forum, I would think that decorum and order would be best served if people parked their autoposting software at the door.

So the special guest will read through the questions and just make a big long post about it?

No, the guest should answer each post (ideally, they are guests so if they want to do everything in a single post...). Thus if I post something asking Terry Thiese about Champagne and GATC starts a post about riesling I would expect Terry to answer each question separately under each post. There could be back and forth on the questions as necessary. The real nice thing about vinocellar is the guest could easily tell where the new posts are and just look at those as opposed to having to search through the subjects/posts for new questions. This board is setup really well so implementing this should be fairly easy (and easy to use for everyone, us and the guest). Btw, after the guest answer time is over the section should probably be locked. So when Terry Thiese finishes you would lock the /special guests/Terry Thiese section. Then Brian Loring starts his Q&A the /special guests/Brian Loring section would be opened for business

No, the SG will respond to the different topics in the "SG Forum".

For instance, let's say you create a Special Guest area, on an equivalent heirarchical (sp?) standing with all of the other main topics.

Under this you would have "Terry Thiese", just as you have "California Red" and "Oregon" under "US Tasting Notes".

Then, just as there are separate threads about different wines, there would be separate threads under "Terry Thiese". For example:

-- 2002 Germans. How do they compare to 2001?
-- How Much Sugar and Acid in German wines?
-- Riesling: How do they age?
-- Spatburgunder: What's up wid dat?
-- Alsace isn't just a kitchen spice anymore
-- Is Scheurebe really the sexpot of the wine world?
-- Terry, comments on how to get into the WineBiz


.... and so on, etc., etc. Each conversation would be different, so you wouldn't want them sloshing all together in one unwieldy thread. However, each one WOULD have the SG as the common denominator, so it would be convenient to cluster them all together under the Guest's name for his/her convenience and for ease of future reference.

At least, in my opinion.

Ahh... thanks for the explanations fellas. I understand now how it's all supposed to work.

GATC or whoever... If Terry is on board, I'll immediately create the needed category and forum and open it up for questions with a lead post to explain how it'll work.

I'd like to have a small date range in which Terry will respond to the questions if possible.

Let me know how it goes with Terry, and if anyone thinks of anything else in this regard post it here.

Very well put Stemor.

Stemor would you really ask these questions of Terry?

All Hail Revlis!

skwid,

Some of these I've already asked him, some he's already addressed in his 2003 catalogue, and some ... well, we need SOMEthing new to discuss, eh? Terry's a fun and knowledgeable guy. This promises to be fun!

Even I will refrain from using my auto-posting software in that section, but somebody will need to talk to LCC (heh heh).

TJ,

I'll believe it when I (don't) see it!

Who's going to do a short write up on Terry? We need to explain who he his and why he's such a valuable asset to the world's wine communities.

I'd like to put the write up into a post (whoever does the write up gets credit for it of course) and make it "sticky" so it stay at the top.

I nominate Stemor and/or GATC.

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

I nominate GATC, but will be happy to do it if he doesn't.

GATC, have you confirmed Terry's participation?

Sorry, I have not checked this section for awhile. Terry said he'll do it. It would be best if you do his bio. Frankly, I don't know anything about him except for his catalog.

I'll email Revlis with the contact information. This will be good because Terry said that he had a hard time getting on before.

Revlis will be opening the Terry Theise conversation section soon (REAL soon!). Terry will be with us from this Monday (7/28) through Thursday the 31st, "cleaning up any loose ends" on Friday.

For those that have not yet gotten to understand who Terry is, it is best to get a sense of that from his own words. Check out his informative (and entertaining!) catalogs here:


German Wines

Austrian Wines

Champagne


I'm itchin' to start posting questions. More importantly to me, I am looking forward to discussing the Wonderful World of Wine with Terry. He's a refreshing character in a business that sometimes can take itself a tad too seriously. Fear not, Terry isn't one of those!

Yes! Time to get those Champagne questions ready to go.

...already posted my Champagne questions. This is awesome. Thank You for putting this together.

More to come, I hope...