VANITY: Forum Format?

3-13-2005 | Frapster

[Frapster]

Your thoughts?

[jocon307]

It took me a long time to get used to it, but now it works for me. I think you should make more use of the search feature, and maybe the various forums if you have particular areas of interest. Now those other formats actually confuse me!

[Frapster]

I don't like search features on any package out there. While the search feature was a bit confusing in how they implemented it in the home page and sub-page template respectively - it seems more intuitive now. Either that or I've just adapted. lol

[Fiddlstix]

I've never had any problems with the FR format. Not even the older versions.

[FreedomCalls]

I like it just fine. As it is it sucks way too much of my time away from me. I would hesitate to have it become more friendly. There is only 24 hours in a day.

[July 4th]

I use the "messages" view so that I can gauge current interest in a thread. If something's been posted to 5 or 10 times on the page, I can see that's where the current action is. You can't really do that with the number of posts in a thread, as there are always 5,000 post threads out there that get dragged back to life once in a while.

[TexasTransplant]

I prefer this format to what DU has

[dan1123]

I'd like nested comments a la slashdot myself...

[Not A Snowbird]

'why this format?'

Why not?

[Theresawithanh]

"I prefer this format to what DU has"

I find DU's format kind of confusing myself, along with a couple of other conservative sites I visit. I think FR's format is pretty simple to use. I'm not an expert at a computer or using one, so it works well for me.

[Frapster]

Because there are better?

[ArcadeQuarters]

I agree. Another issue is that the links at the top of the page disappear or move depending on where you are on the site. When reading a post, for example, the pings link disappears and the other links suddenly are on the left side. A consistent set of quick links would make it possible to get to the most commonly used areas with a single click regardless of where you were.

[jennyjenny]

I repeatedly find myself asking 'why this format?'

Because he, (Jim Dad) said so.

[Frapster]

I don't liek DU's format either. It's a bastardization of more standard formats. One of the best formats I've found can be seen on a gaming site I visit regularly. I'll have to go check what software they're using.

[Frapster]

lol - can't argue with that. :-)

[Frapster]

Yeah - I've seen that too.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

why don't we go to a more 'standard' format where we can review thread titles in such a way as to not see the same thread title 100 times on the same page....

Have you tried this Latest Articles?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Now those other formats actually confuse me!

Same here. I find the format so popular and prevalent in other online forums simply annoying and unnavigable.

[Don W]

No flame here. I also browse several other fora, and find JimRob's by several orders of magnitude EASIER to follow.

Try this or this to see what a "commercially available and user adaptable" database program does.

This format works for me, and (obviously) for most users here. If you can do better, develope it and sell it.

I'm sure there are LOTS of sites looking for a better, more user-friendly and intuitive forum format.

[Jenya]

I agree. I've been here a year and still can't get a handle on how to navigate with ease, and I'm a whiz with computers. I also hate all the work that goes into formatting...i.e, html code. I've given up posting pictures or cartoons. I'd like just upload them.

I love the banter and information on FR, so I just go with the flow, but truth be told, I absolutely hate the layout.