Suggestions for a better Free Republic

Vanity | October 10, 2003 | RightFighter

[RightFighter]

I was just wondering if any of you have any suggestions for how to make Free Republic easier to use and a better place in general. This is NOT a criticism of Jim Robinson and I am most appreciative of all his hard work. This site is great and I enjoy coming here to learn about and discuss the conservative issues of the day. This is just my desire to see this site become more "viewer-friendly" than it is in its present iteration. I've had thoughts over the years about this and these are the ones that I keep coming back to:

1. Different background colors for alternating posts within a thread, for readability

2. Ability to set up chat rooms for certain events, rather than using the "Live Thread" concept. The entire idea of a "Live Thread" is somewhat of an oxymoron and EXTREMELY difficult to follow.

3. Smilies and other icons available when posting messages

4. Keeping track of numbers of posts by each user. Many forum sites do this, and some even give titles to users who reach certain posting milestones.

5. The ability to mark a thread for later reading, rather than having to "bump" the thread

[per loin]

Fewer vanities!

[new cruelty]

Regarding 5- Wouldn't this work? Bookmark

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Trouble maker! :o)

[boris]

I've been arguing that we need a separate category for "Environmentalism"...but nobody seems to agree.

Also the search feature needs to have an option to search the body of articles and responses...not just the title.

--Boris

[Support Free Republic]

 

	Keep Our Republic Free Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER and say THANKS to Jim Robinson! IT'S IN THE BREAKING NEWS SIDEBAR THANKS!

[Always Right]

5. The ability to mark a thread for later reading, rather than having to "bump" the thread

Ever notice that little "Bookmark" link?

[Sir Gawain]

Change sucks! Ned Lud rules!

[11th Earl of Mar]

Do we have to be logged in to give advice?

[js1138]

Number 5, the ability to subscribe to a thread. Definitely at the top of the wishlist.

[max_rpf]

RE: 2. I love the live threads! They are amazing to go back and read after the fact. If it is changed, the text of the chats should be stored and posted to preserve them.

[AAABEST]

Well for what it's worth I don't like any of your suggestions with the exception of live chat, which we have already and nobody uses.

LIVE CHAT

[new cruelty]

Regarding 4- Keeping track of numbers of posts by each user. Many forum sites do this, and some even give titles to users who reach certain posting milestones.

The member profile 'In Forum' shows the post for each user... for example: RightFighter

[msgt]

I've got a suggestion - I've started using Mozilla Firebird, and have multiple tabs open - I'd like the option to have a thread open in a new tab instead of a new window.

[John123]

How about a spell checker?

[EggsAckley]

I must admit I agree with you AAA.



IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.

[Consort]

Keep images down to a reasonable size.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Isn't that a ping list?

[TheBigB]

Nude Fridays!

Also, maybe it's time to remove the "Anthrax Scare" category from Hot Topics.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Please add 'Live Thread' to the title.

Oh, and move it to Breaking News.