Copy of My Freepmail to JimRob on the Forum Changes

[Maedhros]

JimRob, I like most of your changes to the forums, especially the increased user customization. However, I feel compelled to point out several problems that I and others have encountered.

#1. The width of the main post browsing area as been unnecessarily reduced, thereby increasing tedious scrolling.

#2. Only showing five posts in the topic sidebars is not enough.

#3. There also needs to be at least an option to to fix the position of the sidebars, instead of always bumping the one with the latest post to the top. In other words, Breaking News needs to stay on top.

#4. I don't mean to sound unpatriotic, but the American flag banner on the left of the screen is annoying. As the only graphic on the page, it constantly draws the reader's eye away from the main post browsing area.

Sincerely,

Maedhros

[Maedhros]

Are there any other problems?

[McGavin999]

You e-mailed Jim? Do you think he isn't monitoring the 20,000 threads on this?

[Looking4Truth]

The only problems I can see are too many threads on this topic. Not meant to be a slam to you, but there are already tons of threads on this topic. Personally, I'm having a little fun trying out all the new stuff and I like the flag graphic myself. Just my 2 cents. L8R.

[Maedhros]

I read all the other threads as well, but decided to compile what seemed like the consesus problems into one post.

[Araminta Vavasour]

My only problem is that the text in the sidebars is nearly transparent, but no doubt that will be rectified shortly.

[hoosiermama]

I can't find the archieve to do a search in. Will that be coming or do I just not know where to look.
Otherwise I like it.

[Maedhros]

One more thing I noticed:

#5. Move/remove the poll already!

[DCBryan1]

I can sum up everyones feelings in four (4) words:

NEW FORMAT SUCKS ASS

Nuff said, bring back the old format, have another fundraiser if you actually paid someone to screw up your website JimRob. I'll donate quickly. At least bring back sidebars for breaking/front page news.

[Don Munn]

One more thing I noticed....REMOVE THIS STUPID THREAD.

That felt good.

Try the new format for more than a couple of hours and see how it really works.

Then forward your suggestions.

[Araminta Vavasour]

Go HERE HERE HERE and bookmark the full Breaking News page until John can make adjustments.

[HairOfTheDog]

Very classy response. < /sarcasm > jeepers.

Look around for TWO minutes before complaining and you will find that John Robinson has thought of even you in this redesign. Create your own sidebars...

[Geezerette]

I have been having a problem finding what used to be Self-Search. I used this to get back to threads I was interested in and had replied on. I like to see if anyone had an answer to a reply of mine.

And, gee, when I logged in this AM, the first thing that met my eyes was a message from someone in AZ bashing my part of town! Apparently, he was advising someone what part o' town not to live in! I did learn how to de-state myself so I don't have to deal with stuff like that!

I DO LIKE the ability to select our own Time Zone so we don't have to add/deduct hours on posts.

g

[Maedhros]

That has already been accomplished. I tried out the Beta extensively, but stopped using it because of the aforementioned problems.

[Libertina]

I don't understand why I must "sign up" for breaking news et al... but that being said, when I "subscribed" ( :( to the side bar topics, although they show a hyperlink they don't load up. I see the hand icon indicating the link is there, but it somehow isn't connected and my page doesn't load up.

Also, when I click on latest topics, for instance, in the main area, the article Title (such as "Copy of my FReepmail to JimRob") the link also does not work. At the bottom of my page it says done, but I am still on the same page and have not gone to the article. The only way I can access an article is to click on a reply number of a poster. Then I scroll back to the top to read the article. And why do I have to "subscribe" to 20 different news topics anyway?

[BillyBoy]

>> NEW FORMAT SUCKS ASS
Nuff said, bring back the old format, have another fundraiser if you actually paid someone to screw up your website JimRob. I'll donate quickly. At least bring back sidebars for breaking/front page news. <<

As much I respect JimRob, I must second this motion. I'm a conservative and my philo. is: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!". Please bring back our old forum. It's sorta like the 1980s where they tried to sell the annoying "New Coke" until people demanded they have their Coca Cola Classic back.

And how the heck are we supposed to know when a new freeper from our state joins without the state forums page?!

BRING BACK THE OLD FORUM!

[Don Munn]

I signed on this morning and saw the new format for the first time. With the posted help from people who try new things...mostly us who have seen many changes of the format,I had no problem.

I have breaking news on the sidebar and am still learning but until I work with it I am not going to send e-mails to Jim about my wants, my needs, my desires.

It not my site. It's a place I found that really lets express myself and how it's formatted is not my problem.

[DCBryan1]

I don't understand why I must "sign up" for breaking news et al...

I feel that Logging on is your "sign up" procedure for full access. Looks like FR is becoming too bureaucratic.

[DoughtyOne]

Folks, with all due respect, the implementation of any new product warrants tweaks and improvements. Take a valium and give it a few days. Sheesh!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And why do I have to "subscribe" to 20 different news topics anyway?

Don't you like to customize things?

I think the volume of traffic is driving a lot of these changes!

[CounterCounterCulture]

So far the only thing I see missing in the new format is the FIND IN FORUM feature. Is there/will there be a way to search for an individual Freeper's posts in the near future?