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

[beckett]

I have noticed that the position of sidebar topics do change (e.g., 'breaking news' may be on top, then after a refresh 'front page news' is on top), but I haven't been able to determine the cause. You're guess makes sense. Maybe new posts in a particular sidebar topic push that topic to the top of the sidebar.

[CounterCounterCulture]

OK, thanks! The link works. Still couldn't find it via the other suggestions, but at least I have the link bookmarked.

[LarryLied]

I'm having a little fun trying out all the new stuff and I like the flag graphic myself.

Took me a while to figure out it was even there. I browse the net with graphics turned off. Thought FR had a black latest post page with the itty bitty forum in the middle. Oddly enough, it loads faster with graphics on than off.Doesn't look like some anarchist site now either.

[Some hope remaining.]

Wow, how did you find that? I don't see a finduser link in any of the places you mentioned. This will suffice but is much more cumbersome that the old find-in-forum.

I used to have bookmarks containing a search for each user that I want to find. Now there's no unique URL after the search that can be saved.

[hole_n_one]

I simply created links on my browser's toolbar to all the forums I wish to view, and the only forums I "subscribe" to and have shown on the FR sidebar are News/Current Events and Breaking News.........

It works rather well............

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

We're a nation of whiners. Just watch, there will soon be a thread demanding reparations.

Best quote of this day!!!!

[deport]

GO to the very bottom of this tread and click on SEARCH... When it opens up there is a search box and just ABOVE it is the following

Find User Click Here

Click on it or use the link I gave you. Yep can't bookmark others now so You'll have to search anew each time for them

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

One more way to find posts by a given Freeper:

Find User Click Here
Search Words to be found in article titles.

and then click on the red --- Find User Click Here

[CounterCounterCulture]

Okay, I see it now...GRACIAS

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Wow, how did you find that? I don't see a finduser link in any of the places you mentioned. This will suffice but is much more cumbersome that the old find-in-forum.

See posts # 47 and # 48!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Excellent idea :

I think it might be a huge help to everyone for John to put on the top of the more commonly used screens a clickable entry point to a list of threads which essentially would be directions for navigation to the new and vastly enhanced FREEREPUBLIC!

Perhaps just call it Navigation Suggestions!

[mercy]

No software pleases everybody. I don't think the new format is perfect and it takes some exploration to figure this one out as it is much more user directed. It's nowhere near as bad as learning a new word processor as a lot of the whiners seem to think. SHEESH. I'm amazed some of you people ever figured out how to use a computer. Get out of your ruts now or in a few years you'll be dead on your feet.

[JessicaDragonet]

If I had the choice between driving down an scenic highway or driving through Atlanta.....I'd take the highway. This feels like driving through Atlanta during rush hour.

[Fred Mertz]

Give me three days to test drive this new FR format. If I have major recommendations to make, I'll do it then.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And in New Mexico when you order a burrito you get asked whether you want red or green sauce!

[CedarDave]

Good comments -- totally agree with all. You've boiled down the essence of the problems folks are having!! Hope Jim and John listen. (I've been on since 11 a.m. MST this morning and just got to this thread!!)

[CedarDave]

or Christmas!!

[slimer]

Are there any other problems?

Yeah, a moose ate my cheese.

[Registered]

You are a FReep geek to the nth degree.

[john in missouri]

For some reason, search fails to turn up a lot of the articles it previously would have. that's probably been mentioned a zillion times already, but i thought I would just make sure...