If this was turned into a permanent link, I think it might be worthwhile to start over with a poll that leaves the option of putting your LW name attached to your location.
Even better, if you could hover over/click on a plot point, and have their name pop up.
For example, instead of just knowing that there are 2 people located within driving distance, you could know that Person A and Person B were within driving distance.
Even better would be to have the option to attach a zipcode to your account, so that people can check where you live, and so that you can manage your information easily if you change locations (or want to obfuscate your location by repeatedly altering it, since I know some people will want to do that). Additionally this would allow implementation of location-specific actions (eg, you get an email if a nearby meetup is announced), which could be very convenient.
Under ‘Preferences’, you can enter a location on your profile, so you could put your zipcode there (I just did). The downside is that this isn’t searchable, so it’d be hard to compile location-specific e-mail lists from that. Another option is to create a Wiki page with the usernames and zipcodes of anyone who’d like to disclose them—that way, you’d just need to PM the relevant people to get e-mail addresses to start an e-mail group.
But I am wary of anything that involves too much work changing the LW website. Mainly because, as far as I can tell, except for minor fixes, no one’s really bothered getting the LW interface to a decent standard. People are happy to suggest changes, but very few are willing or able to implement them.
In reality, though, IMO It really needs a complete overhaul, but I doubt anyone is going to take on the responsibility. (If anyone DOES want to, let me know. My graduate studies were in interface design and usability, and I’d be happy to help with the layout and navigation. I just can’t do the actual work of coding and developing and all the useful stuff)
In other words, great idea, but I doubt it will ever get done. (But I;m upvoting the idea anyways, because I hope it does!)
Or a permanent link somewhere, some kind of “where are we?” button.
If this was turned into a permanent link, I think it might be worthwhile to start over with a poll that leaves the option of putting your LW name attached to your location.
Even better, if you could hover over/click on a plot point, and have their name pop up.
For example, instead of just knowing that there are 2 people located within driving distance, you could know that Person A and Person B were within driving distance.
Even better would be to have the option to attach a zipcode to your account, so that people can check where you live, and so that you can manage your information easily if you change locations (or want to obfuscate your location by repeatedly altering it, since I know some people will want to do that). Additionally this would allow implementation of location-specific actions (eg, you get an email if a nearby meetup is announced), which could be very convenient.
Under ‘Preferences’, you can enter a location on your profile, so you could put your zipcode there (I just did). The downside is that this isn’t searchable, so it’d be hard to compile location-specific e-mail lists from that. Another option is to create a Wiki page with the usernames and zipcodes of anyone who’d like to disclose them—that way, you’d just need to PM the relevant people to get e-mail addresses to start an e-mail group.
This is a great idea!
But I am wary of anything that involves too much work changing the LW website. Mainly because, as far as I can tell, except for minor fixes, no one’s really bothered getting the LW interface to a decent standard. People are happy to suggest changes, but very few are willing or able to implement them.
In reality, though, IMO It really needs a complete overhaul, but I doubt anyone is going to take on the responsibility. (If anyone DOES want to, let me know. My graduate studies were in interface design and usability, and I’d be happy to help with the layout and navigation. I just can’t do the actual work of coding and developing and all the useful stuff)
In other words, great idea, but I doubt it will ever get done. (But I;m upvoting the idea anyways, because I hope it does!)