Forum improvement suggestions

[CatherineID]

May I be so bold as to make a few suggestions for improvements to this forum?

~ Could the board header be made smaller? There is so much verbage on top that you have to scroll down every single time to see the board. It is a minor thing, but fustrating. All that information can be either eliminated or condensed. There is no reason for the header to be so spread out. When I come to the forum, I want to read the thread titles, not the same verbage over and over again.

~ A 'new posts' button. If the board leaves cookies that knows which threads I've already read - as indicated by the 'mark all threads read' option - perhaps we could get a button that will list all the new posts that have happened since the last time we visited. If nothing else, perhaps we could get a button that lists all the new threads for the day. So many other board have this feature and I find I get sucked into more threads that I normally would.

[admin]

May I be so bold as to make a few suggestions for improvements to this forum?
Suggestions are always welcome. No boldness required.


~ Could the board header be made smaller? There is so much verbage on top that you have to scroll down every single time to see the board. It is a minor thing, but fustrating. All that information can be either eliminated or condensed. There is no reason for the header to be so spread out. When I come to the forum, I want to read the thread titles, not the same verbage over and over again.
Is that a little better? It's the best we can do with the Ads Right layout. If you are using one of the others, try Ads Right.

~ A 'new posts' button. If the board leaves cookies that knows which threads I've already read - as indicated by the 'mark all threads read' option - perhaps we could get a button that will list all the new posts that have happened since the last time we visited. If nothing else, perhaps we could get a button that lists all the new threads for the day. So many other board have this feature and I find I get sucked into more threads that I normally would.

Unfortunately, that would require programming time and expense that can't be justified on a free Forum.

We do have "50 most recent posts" in the Info Center near the bottom of the page. And when you enter a Board, the Blue "new" icons let you know which threads have new posts.


Oliver

[Deberosa]

Suggestions are always welcome. No boldness required.

Is that a little better? It's the best we can do with the Ads Right layout. If you are using one of the others, try Ads Right.

Unfortunately, that would require programming time and expense that can't be justified on a free Forum.

We do have "50 most recent posts" in the Info Center near the bottom of the page. And when you enter a Board, the Blue "new" icons let you know which threads have new posts.


Oliver




Oliver, I like this format, but the chat room icon is not overlaying the google search on the upper right of the screen.
Debbie

[admin]

Okay. So I lied.

I was able to squeeze out a few more pixels, but this really is the best I can do.

I think. ;D

Oliver

[Deberosa]

Looks great now Oliver!

Thanks,
Debbie

[Terri]

I have been able to stay logged in for the last few weeks.

This is unheard of: for many months I could only post if I was in the library. I have no idea if the sudden improvement is due to an improvement in my computer, or in the BWH site.

Any chance that it could be related to the above "fiddling" with the site?

[admin]

I have been able to stay logged in for the last few weeks.

This is unheard of: for many months I could only post if I was in the library. I have no idea if the sudden improvement is due to an improvement in my computer, or in the BWH site.

Any chance that it could be related to the above "fiddling" with the site?
I suspect that if you have a new computer, the old computer was the source of the problem, though I can't imagine why you would not be able to stay logged in unless you did not have cookies enabled.

In any event, I'm glad to hear the problem is resolved and you'll be able to spend hours and hours here every day now!! ;D


Oliver

[Terri]

I suspect that if you have a new computer, the old computer was the source of the problem, though I can't imagine why you would not be able to stay logged in unless you did not have cookies enabled.

In any event, I'm glad to hear the problem is resolved and you'll be able to spend hours and hours here every day now!! *;D


Oliver

It isn't a new computer, it is the old one. Though, SOMETHING has changed as the speed that it runs has suddenly changed!

And, I googled instructions on how to enable my cookies, tried weakening the firewall, and it did not help.

Whatever!

I am glad to be able to come here when I WANT to, instead of when I have the chance to!

[cinok]

Hey Oliver,
any way to improve the profile section maybe adding a little more info about each user maybe this could be usefull in not insulting anybody by accident when responding to a post

[admin]

Hey Oliver,
any way to improve the profile section maybe adding a little more info about each user maybe this could be usefull in not insulting anybody by accident when responding to a post
Hi, cinok.

All things are possible given enough time and money. Alas, both are in short supply these days.

I can check to see if there is an already-written modification that might do the trick.

What additional information did you have in mind?

As for insulting people by accident, insults are usually pretty clear to everyone. Someone who's insulted by an otherwise innocuous comment needs to grow a thicker skin and not expect everyone else to cater to their individuality.

Can you imagine having to memorize hundreds or thousands of individual profiles and trying to apply all that to crafting a message? Just thinking about it is giving me a headache. ;D

Let me know what additional info you think might be useful and I'll see if I can find a mod that will accomplish it.


Oliver

[OzarkMtnDaredevil]

Hey Oliver,
*any way to improve the profile section maybe adding a little more info about each user maybe *this could be usefull in not insulting anybody by accident when responding to a post

Hey Cinok. I thought that was a pretty good idea but, I opened one up and really don't know what should be added, either. I don't know if the program automatically adjusts your age or if you have to change it when you have one. Oliver? If not, maybe Age could be replaced by Birthday.
Not knocking your idea, bro, but all I can think of is adding Race, Religion, Marital Status, Fave Music and Fave Football Team. None of which really matter when you get right down to the point of why we're here.
Heck, if you've noticed, a lot of folks don't even specify a Gender, Location or much else.
I guess my point is; I've made several good aquaintances here and learned much more about them through postings, PMs and e-mails than any amount of info a profile could offer. I even plan to meet 2 or 3 if we ever get a break at the same time. You're less than a 3 hour drive from me, I think?

I echo what Oliver said about unintentional insults. If you want to poke a 'friend' in the ribs in a good-natured sort of way, your 'friend' may 'get it' but others may not, and may take you as harassing the other party and come to that members defence when none was needed. I guess that the best we can do is use the emoticons as required and be civil always. Unless you really wanna fight about it! Wanna fight about it? Huh? >:(

:) :) ;) 8)

[walls0stone]

Ditto OzMtDe.. It's like the Add for a car 10 years back, 4 people in a car.. the only word they say is "dude" but the inflection of the voice is the actual comunication.

their are a few people here I'd love to sit with in a coffee shop some place...I just wonder if I'd get along with them better or worse based on other types of comunication that I use to interact with others.

[cinok]

I was thinking maybe a little bio about yourself limmited in size. Nothing like a my space page