If you could change ONE thing about this forum... (Updated)
Jun 27, 2016 11:43:17 GMT
linda~lou, gillyp, and 11 more like this
Post by admin on Jun 27, 2016 11:43:17 GMT
What would that be?
Having just started our third year here it seems like a good time to consider freshening the place up.
I make absolutely no promises that what you ask for can or will be delivered (or when), but I'll certainly consider all suggestions.
As the title says, just one thing per person please - even if you have lots of ideas I want you to pick the one that is most important to you.
(and although it shouldn't have to be said, nothing that relates to other members - this is about the board as a whole, not personal grievances)
Thanks!
***** UPDATE 1 *******
Well that moved fast! I will deal with some of these straight away but keep the ideas coming
Firstly, there will be no further separation of topics into different boards, including political. It has been discussed many times before, and I've seen what happens when it's done, which is principally that the main board slows right down.
Similarly I'm not going to add a dislike button. On that same theme, whilst I understand the appeal of a hugs button, I would still urge the use of the many smileys we have for that and similar. It is technically possible to add a button that would allow you to add a range of reactions, somewhat a la Facebook, but I feel like that would disincentivize people to actually post (and it wouldn't work on mobile)
As a general point, there are quite a few things I can do using additional functionality that at the moment only works on the desktop site. That means that anything added in that way needs to be carefully considered, as the proportion of members Peaing mostly or entirely from their phones will no doubt continue to increase. As and when Proboards move to responsive design this will no longer be true and everyone should get the same experience of the board no matter what device they're on, but although that is coming I doubt it will be for at least another year.
------
Block/ignore. This function is as good as it's going to get, at least for the immediately foreseeable future. Proboards have said:
In any case it could never be 100% reliable, as someone could simply copy and paste text they want to quote into their own post and because there's then no link back to the original poster the software wouldn't know to block it and you'd still end up seeing it.
Likewise no to blocking other people from seeing your posts - all they'd need to do is log out and they could read them just fine.
I have been able to add the ability to block threads started by specific users, but that is one of the the functions that only works on the desktop site. Hiding individual threads isn't possible .
One thing that you could look into if there are specific words or phrases that you want to avoid seeing (for example in titles, swearing) is find out if there is an extension for your browser which will replace what you specify with something you prefer. I know Chrome has an extension that does this. That way you can customize for your own needs - anything that I could do this end will apply to everyone, so not really suited for that situation.
(Sorry, seems like all I'm doing is saying no so far!)
--------
Repeat topics / monthly & weekly topics / making things 'easier to find'
Same as my first point, but the use of the search function here would really help people I think!
------
This already exists! On the home page scroll down to the Information and Statistics section (see screenshot below) and there is a Recent Threads link which will do that - just keep reading through until they don't have a New button next to them, and that's when you were last on the board!
--------
Great idea, already done It's on the default theme for now, and assuming you all like it I'll roll it out to the rest of the themes in the next few days.
-------
Ironically there used to be a 'hot topic' designation, but PB removed it as their algorithm was frankly the opposite of sophisticated. I'd be very surprised if they reverse that decision, as it's not something they see as worth investing the resources in to do properly.
However... did you know that in the thread list the number of replies is a clickable link? Clicking on it brings up a list of the posters who have participated on the thread, and the number of posts they each have. Won't help with knowing who has been posting most recently, but might get you part way there at least!
------
I like this idea, and it is possible. It would be word labels rather than icons. If this is to be done, it would have to be a very restricted list of labels I think - single figures for sure. I just set up a few as a sample to give you an idea what the board list would look like with labels - they appear in different colours in front of the thread title:
If there is more support for this idea I'll post separately about it in due course.
------
Recipes.
The intention of the recipe board was as someone said to act more as a recipe book/depository than a discussion board. However, I'm happy to re-combine with NSBR if that is the preferred option - y'all just have to promise to learn to use the search function properly Again, I'll post separately about this, probably by way of a poll.
------
Photo posting
Looks like some of you have figured that out already. I can't possibly write instructions for every situation, as a lot of it will be device specific. I will however add some key points re phones to the how-to post for photos (using desktop view to add attachments, or using Tapatalk)
------
Interesting idea. OTOH sometimes we get updates on threads long after the OP.
-------
It really is very easy to multi quote - how to
-------
this one... ? It's one of the many smileys available to everyone since last October - link
------
Bring them to me and I'll try to fit them in!
-------
Phew! I think that covers the majority of points so far.
*******END UPDATE 1********
UPDATE 2 is in this post
Having just started our third year here it seems like a good time to consider freshening the place up.
I make absolutely no promises that what you ask for can or will be delivered (or when), but I'll certainly consider all suggestions.
As the title says, just one thing per person please - even if you have lots of ideas I want you to pick the one that is most important to you.
(and although it shouldn't have to be said, nothing that relates to other members - this is about the board as a whole, not personal grievances)
Thanks!
***** UPDATE 1 *******
Well that moved fast! I will deal with some of these straight away but keep the ideas coming
Firstly, there will be no further separation of topics into different boards, including political. It has been discussed many times before, and I've seen what happens when it's done, which is principally that the main board slows right down.
Similarly I'm not going to add a dislike button. On that same theme, whilst I understand the appeal of a hugs button, I would still urge the use of the many smileys we have for that and similar. It is technically possible to add a button that would allow you to add a range of reactions, somewhat a la Facebook, but I feel like that would disincentivize people to actually post (and it wouldn't work on mobile)
As a general point, there are quite a few things I can do using additional functionality that at the moment only works on the desktop site. That means that anything added in that way needs to be carefully considered, as the proportion of members Peaing mostly or entirely from their phones will no doubt continue to increase. As and when Proboards move to responsive design this will no longer be true and everyone should get the same experience of the board no matter what device they're on, but although that is coming I doubt it will be for at least another year.
------
Block/ignore. This function is as good as it's going to get, at least for the immediately foreseeable future. Proboards have said:
There is currently no way to block quoted posts. The block feature is not supposed to be absolute, but simply make it easier to avoid another users posts, it still relies on both members being mature enough to not respond in some situations.
Likewise no to blocking other people from seeing your posts - all they'd need to do is log out and they could read them just fine.
I have been able to add the ability to block threads started by specific users, but that is one of the the functions that only works on the desktop site. Hiding individual threads isn't possible .
One thing that you could look into if there are specific words or phrases that you want to avoid seeing (for example in titles, swearing) is find out if there is an extension for your browser which will replace what you specify with something you prefer. I know Chrome has an extension that does this. That way you can customize for your own needs - anything that I could do this end will apply to everyone, so not really suited for that situation.
(Sorry, seems like all I'm doing is saying no so far!)
--------
Repeat topics / monthly & weekly topics / making things 'easier to find'
Same as my first point, but the use of the search function here would really help people I think!
------
Linda
I would love to have a button for 'active topics' that brings up all the posts on ALL the boards that have been posted to in the past day or week or (best of all) since my last visit to the board.
I would love to have a button for 'active topics' that brings up all the posts on ALL the boards that have been posted to in the past day or week or (best of all) since my last visit to the board.
This already exists! On the home page scroll down to the Information and Statistics section (see screenshot below) and there is a Recent Threads link which will do that - just keep reading through until they don't have a New button next to them, and that's when you were last on the board!
--------
GiantsFan
I would like to see the date of original post (in italics maybe) under the username in the Created By column. I get sucked into a post only to find that for whatever reason it's been resurrected from 2015.
I would like to see the date of original post (in italics maybe) under the username in the Created By column. I get sucked into a post only to find that for whatever reason it's been resurrected from 2015.
Great idea, already done It's on the default theme for now, and assuming you all like it I'll roll it out to the rest of the themes in the next few days.
-------
epeanymous
I wouldn't mind a "hot" designation for threads that are very active. We get threads here that have a ton of pages, but they may be zombie threads, or a thread war between two posters that is just going on forever. If I could see at a glance that a ten-pager was actually active with a bunch of posters, I'd be more likely to open it; maybe there is an algorithm that could be set up to designate a thread "hot" based on the number of recent replies by the number of posters
I wouldn't mind a "hot" designation for threads that are very active. We get threads here that have a ton of pages, but they may be zombie threads, or a thread war between two posters that is just going on forever. If I could see at a glance that a ten-pager was actually active with a bunch of posters, I'd be more likely to open it; maybe there is an algorithm that could be set up to designate a thread "hot" based on the number of recent replies by the number of posters
Ironically there used to be a 'hot topic' designation, but PB removed it as their algorithm was frankly the opposite of sophisticated. I'd be very surprised if they reverse that decision, as it's not something they see as worth investing the resources in to do properly.
However... did you know that in the thread list the number of replies is a clickable link? Clicking on it brings up a list of the posters who have participated on the thread, and the number of posts they each have. Won't help with knowing who has been posting most recently, but might get you part way there at least!
------
houston249
Instead can we label the threads with an icon? We have red push pins for some posts. How qbout a green symbol for monthlly/weekly ongoing (green for ongrowing) threads?
Instead can we label the threads with an icon? We have red push pins for some posts. How qbout a green symbol for monthlly/weekly ongoing (green for ongrowing) threads?
If there is more support for this idea I'll post separately about it in due course.
------
Recipes.
The intention of the recipe board was as someone said to act more as a recipe book/depository than a discussion board. However, I'm happy to re-combine with NSBR if that is the preferred option - y'all just have to promise to learn to use the search function properly Again, I'll post separately about this, probably by way of a poll.
------
Photo posting
Looks like some of you have figured that out already. I can't possibly write instructions for every situation, as a lot of it will be device specific. I will however add some key points re phones to the how-to post for photos (using desktop view to add attachments, or using Tapatalk)
------
peaname
Threads expire after six months and can't be bumped.
Threads expire after six months and can't be bumped.
-------
bigbundt
I would love a "Multi Quote" button to the left of the current "Quote" button. Many times I want to quote different posters as I am reading on my one response but I have to C&P and add it to a quote from someone else. I see that you might be able to do that with the gear menu on each post but it would be more convenient if it was just a button.
I would love a "Multi Quote" button to the left of the current "Quote" button. Many times I want to quote different posters as I am reading on my one response but I have to C&P and add it to a quote from someone else. I see that you might be able to do that with the gear menu on each post but it would be more convenient if it was just a button.
It really is very easy to multi quote - how to
-------
leftturnonly
dueling sword app admin had recently
dueling sword app admin had recently
------
gar
more pea specific smilies
more pea specific smilies
Bring them to me and I'll try to fit them in!
-------
Phew! I think that covers the majority of points so far.
*******END UPDATE 1********
UPDATE 2 is in this post