Posted on 03/13/2005 8:44:32 PM PST by Frapster
I've been reading FR for years now and during that time I've always found that the format for FR is rather confusing and convoluted. While I keep coming back I repeatedly find myself asking 'why this format?'
I know that this was custom written by Jim Robinson and that's pretty cool. But having participated in a multitude of online communities I've seen many formats that work and many that don't. FR is unique in that it's need and user interest has overcome the usability issues that would normally drive off a user base but I still have to wonder - 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 (if I'm browsing posts) or have to peruse threads posted in the order in which they were posted.
It would seem that a more standard approach to this forum would make it more enjoyable than it already is. While I visit every day mutliple times a day I'd sure like to see a change.
Just my thoughts. Flame away.
I wish I can organize my ping account. I can't find anything past two weeks ago. The ping account is great but I hesitate jumping onto high volume ping lists.
Otherwise, I love this site more than any other.
Likewise adding the Google "site:freerepublic.com" search function to limit Google to searching FR works well.
Bookmark it.
This one?
I like it just fine. FR seems to get even better with each update / upgrade of software.
The problem with that theory is that you have to know the keywords.
That is not always possible, nor do all articles have keywords. Thus, they get lost. A good search engine should have several different methds of honing in on a data item.
For my particular recent search, I did it on U.S.S. Lincoln. Someone else posted that USS Lincoln is the keyword. Ok, but the article I lost was U.S.S. (I specifically remember the periods). U.S.S. Lincoln did not work as a keyword term, and Lincoln brought up a mixture of articles from President Lincoln (remember all the posts about his supposed sexual habits, his second Inaugural), as well as the carrier. The search result only presented one page of listed items. It would not allow me to go back further than about the last 20 articles.
My point is, the search feature is broke and needs a serious fix, if it is to have any real value for finding articles older than a couple of weeks.
I don't know, I like it. I guess it comes down to familiarity... I'm used to it, so it's okay. DU, on the other hand, is completely incomprehensible.
??
To a degree familiarity overcomes a lot of useability - but again not necessarily well or efficiently. Anyway - this is all moot and more for my own need to express my observations and be heard. hehe
Agreed - FR is making improvements with each upgrade.
I hate the lack of filtering stupid vanity post.
I hate that I hate the fact that people hate the lack of filtering of vanity posts. Isn't this in the 'general opinion/chat' forum? What choo complaining about?
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