Well, maybe there have already been a few threads on the site redesign :) But I would like to see a thousand more until this message is received by those who came up with the new format:
1. More bells and whistles, while fun for software designers, but there is a point where you can cross the line into confusion, crowded format, and poor usability. FreeRepublic has now achieved it.
2. Large side border graphics (the faded flag) are passe on most sites, but for some reason this site thinks a 1 1/2 inch border that crowds out REAL information is "pretty." It ain't.
3.Now the sidebars have only 5 messages per sidebar. This isn't even close to enough for Breaking and Front Page News sidebars. And along with a sidebar comes yet another "United We Stand" flag ad, to compliment the one already in the new obnoxious flag border sidebar I guess?
4. All the links on the new left side flag border sidbar could easily be placed at the 5inches or so of unused top frame of the page, freeing up well over an inch of horizontal screen. With this new sidebar, the real text like breaking news is now crammed between two large borders.
5.Its hard to get everyone to be happy with a style, especially a new one. So why not offer several styles, including the old one? This would NOT be hard to do, in fact, it would be easier than some of the other bells and whistle added.
6. There are a lot of new features such as customization improvements, thats good. But does this require a fancy new layout that elimiates the hard text stuff in favor of a pretty sidebar? Why throw what works away just because you add new features. 7.Don't hide important functions like subscribing to a topic by using tiny 2 point fonts saying "You do not subscribe to this topic. Click here to subscribe. " Consider using a 10 point "SUBSCRIBE." in bold. Uh, by the way, how do we UNSUBSCRIBE?
8. FreeRepublic uses links to topics, functions, and adds with the same style. Do something to differentiate FUNCTION LINKS, TOPIC LINKS, and ADs.
9. Conduct usability testing of beta formats, not just "are all the new features working ok?" Now you may have done this, and if you have, FIRE YOUR USABILITY TESTERS, they stink! lol...