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The slow death of forums *see OP for Admin warning and update 28/02/18*

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Comments

  • #1892
    Ursus Horribilis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,168 ✭✭✭Ursus Horribilis


    I can't find any mention of it within this thread but I'd like to have the option of hiding my username when browsing the site on the computer. I don't want anyone I know in real life to be able to see my username at a glance.


  • #1893
    Jayop
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,387 ✭✭✭✭Jayop


    dxhound2005 wrote: »
    The user experience is the same for me as it was five years ago, and ten years ago. Improving it for one person might be making it worse for others.

    I don't mean the user experience as in the lay out. I mean the entire user experience.

    And in fairness something being the same as it was in the last 5 years as the place has lost millions of posts per year isn't exactly a good selling point.


  • #1894
    Tell me how
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,055 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    These are way down the list of what could be done but seeing as this is an opportunity to give feedback. Also, might have been covered previously.

    It's interesting that some posters are annoyed with what they see as racist threads running riot and some posters within those threads still see they're voices as being silenced. It is like broader society in this respect, you will have people from both ends of the spectrum and it is impossible to please everyone.

    I wonder how many posters close their account and 2-4 weeks later regret it, could there be an option to select a 1, 4 or 10 week hiatus during which you could not re-access the site as well as the straight out option to close?

    The app doesn't allow the option to unfollow threads which is annoying, it still shows posts from posters who are on your ignore list and it doesn't allow for easy insertion of url's or images which is also a bit annoying at times.

    On some threads where they started with a specific question, I sometimes feel the person who asked the question is forgotten about very quickly as it is not clear when they respond to comments that they initially asked the question.
    Could it be set up so that the starter of a thread would be identified as such when they subsequently respond. Maybe a simple text box above the icon showing when they are online in each post could indicate "thread starter"?

    I dislike the responsive and touch sites (as much as I can tell the difference) and only use the legacy one as I dislike the amount of white space on the other sites. In my view you have to scroll or click much more to access the same information which I find annoying.


  • #1895
    the_pen_turner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,693 ✭✭✭the_pen_turner


    Tell me how wrote: »

    On some threads where they started with a specific question, I sometimes feel the person who asked the question is forgotten about very quickly as it is not clear when they respond to comments that they initially asked the question.
    Could it be set up so that the starter of a thread would be identified as such when they subsequently respond. Maybe a simple text box above the icon showing when they are online in each post could indicate "thread starter"?

    great idea. . sometimes it is very hard to follow. identifying the OP someway would be great.
    changing the colour of the box around the text could work. or some kind of button that would light up like are you online button


  • #1896
    dxhound2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,765 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    Jayop wrote: »
    I don't mean the user experience as in the lay out. I mean the entire user experience.

    And in fairness something being the same as it was in the last 5 years as the place has lost millions of posts per year isn't exactly a good selling point.

    I also meant the entire user experience. A lot of posts here are claiming that it has got worse, but my personal experience does not bear that out. In the main those posts have been complaints about moderation.

    I simply do not believe that there has been such a fundamental change in moderation practices in my years here to firstly produce a very large increase in posts, and subsequently to see a sharp decline. The real reason lies elsewhere.


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  • #1897
    Jayop
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,387 ✭✭✭✭Jayop


    dxhound2005 wrote: »
    I also meant the entire user experience. A lot of posts here are claiming that it has got worse, but my personal experience does not bear that out. In the main those posts have been complaints about moderation.

    I simply do not believe that there has been such a fundamental change in moderation practices in my years here to firstly produce a very large increase in posts, and subsequently to see a sharp decline. The real reason lies elsewhere.

    The real reason lies in the fact that there's other options that suit people better that weren't around or as popular 5/10 years ago.

    Twitter
    Reddit
    Even the likes of group chats on Whatsapp arev ery popular now

    For boards to compete with those it needs to be better than what it is and inconsistent at times agenda driven moderation is without doubt the worst thing about boards right now.


  • #1898
    John mac
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,165 ✭✭✭John mac


    Not having read the entire thread ,
    my 2c .... i would love to see a proper search function.


  • #1899
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    dxhound2005 wrote: »
    I also meant the entire user experience. A lot of posts here are claiming that it has got worse, but my personal experience does not bear that out. In the main those posts have been complaints about moderation.

    I simply do not believe that there has been such a fundamental change in moderation practices in my years here to firstly produce a very large increase in posts, and subsequently to see a sharp decline. The real reason lies elsewhere.

    I have to echo this. Usually feedback threads are dominated by posters with complaints, gripes, dissatisfaction or demands for change. I'm here over 11 years and don't see many of the issues regarding moderation or thread closing as a hindrance to me. I also don't see a major change in them over that period. It cannot be denied that the fall in users has to have it's origins in the advent of other media like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit etc.
    I usually stick to 6 or 8 forums and certainly 5 of them are very active. Many seem to think that AH is the busy forum and the opinions of it's regulars should carry more sway but Motors for example have more active users at this moment in time and most certainly rarely needs moderator intervention.
    I know I'm rambling now but I honestly don't see Boards failing any time soon, as there is a steady cohort of users across many forums who post away happily and for whom the site simply works as it is.
    Certainly some changes would be nice to see. I would welcome Moderators only showing as Mods when on their own forums, as it can be confusing not knowing immediately if they are speaking as Mods or not at times. There have been a few other good suggestions through this thread too.
    But let's be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.


  • #1900
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Please, please, please review the functionality of the touch site.

    If I want to change posts per page, post a YouTube vid or embed an image, I have to switch to full site. I also didn’t know that this was now a site wide thread until I turned on the laptop (I rarely use it) this evening and saw the sticky at top of page. This doesn’t show on touch either.

    On the topic of stickies, there are too many. What are your thoughts of having the charter as a button beside the thanks and report posts? It would free up space on main page and might even get more clicks and reads.

    Also, +1 to whoever suggested having a rolling page 1 rather than existing setup. I sometimes go to page 2 but very rarely reach page 3. Ooo matron ;)


  • #1901
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,722 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    I think dealing with the organised bigotry band-wagoning on After Hours is something that would be desirable. I don't see much such hatred on the internet (I know it still exists), other than on AH.

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  • #1902
    TOss Sweep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,905 ✭✭✭TOss Sweep


    I still love Boards. I have been on it since 2006(re-reg). I really only ever post in American Football forum though because its mainly what I am interested in and I find the moderation has been really good over the years even when I got frustrated got banned and blamed the mods it wasn't them it was more me :D It does get morons from times to times who have nothing better to do than be trolls or wind up merchants. They usually never last and the mods get to them quickly. Even through disagreements, heated debates and arguments the American Football forum is one place where it feels like everyone still gets a long and respect each others opinions. The mods have done a good job letting it flow until necessary to step in.

    I don't post as often as I used to due to moving abroad and working 60 hour weeks but I used to post a lot when I went through a stint of being unemployed and a student again.

    I will say I do prefer the legacy site over the new format. I normally do like change at times but for me the older look feels better. I would be sad if the discussion ever stopped on boards.


  • #1903
    _Dara_
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,971 ✭✭✭_Dara_


    John mac wrote: »
    Not having read the entire thread ,
    my 2c .... i would love to see a proper search function.

    As someone who finds the search function really easy to use and useful, I’ve asked before what people’s issue with it is. Nobody has elaborated, only said that it’s terrible. Can you enlighten me?


  • #1904
    Calhoun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,447 ✭✭✭Calhoun


    I have a real questions with the quality of moderation at times of boards, you know what they say about something being free your not the customer but the product.

    Back when i first joined boards i viewed the moderators as people devoting their time to make the site run smoothly, that seems to have changed into folk with certain political points of view taking up moderation posts and their own views influenced how they moderated / what was allowed to be discussed.

    There doesn't seem to be a consistency in dealing with people fairly, if your on the wrong side of the political argument you will either, 1. be baited into going to far by many posters and will get banned or 2.will be shut down/abused when ever you try to post.

    Not two weeks ago we had a poster who was going from 1-2 threads calling another user a racist and bigot, now they could have been but if they were so bad why were they not banned? It was only after the self appointed mod started to argue on thread with an actual mod that they got banned.

    Its not so much a discussion site anymore than an echo chamber at times.


  • #1905
    _Dara_
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,971 ✭✭✭_Dara_


    If I know the thread you’re talking about, the poster being called racist was certainly saying racist things. I’ll never feel sympathetic towards someone who feels aggrieved at being admonished for expressing repugnant views. Diddums.


  • #1906
    Billy86
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,495 ✭✭✭✭Billy86


    Victor wrote: »
    I think dealing with the organised bigotry band-wagoning on After Hours is something that would be desirable. I don't see much such hatred on the internet (I know it still exists), other than on AH.
    Suddenly, the obsessive thanks-whore-circle-jerk bridge that pop up whenever certain topics are being discussed makes a lot more sense.


  • #1907
    Fathom
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 9,443 CMod ✭✭✭✭Fathom


    Cool summary Beasty! My 2 cents per your request...
    Beasty wrote: »
    Moderation ...However (and this applies equally to the suggestion of doing away with forum charters altogether), there is never going to be a one-size fits all solution when we cover such diverse topics
    "Be civil to one another" works, if followed consistently by members and mods. Reference/link Terms of Use. Avoid redundancy with Terms in charters. Add a few specific posting standards recognizing forum diversity, when needed. Charters should be short. Very short. Reading long ones problematic. Comparatively, who reads long app user agreements? Same for long charters?
    Beasty wrote: »
    Post 376 – mods to only be shown as mods in the forums they moderate
    Unnecessary. Members simply look below mod's username. All forums they mod are given. Outside of these, they post only as members. As for mods requesting this disappearing feature, mods should be given a choice. Choice is important for volunteers. My choice (for me) is to leave it as is. Let others disappear by choice. To the contrary of this hidden mod proposal, I've had members say they discovered my forums because they were listed below my user name, when I posted elsewhere.
    Beasty wrote: »
    An additional point was raised at post 1740 about trying to give prominence to more threads on the front page, but there has not been much further discussion on this particular point
    Too many defeats purpose. How about one screen? Dedicating half to most prolific, and half randomly picked daily from less prolific throughout site. Latter to drive up posts & views in lesser known forums? Write an algorithm to do this. Take advantage of programming.
    Beasty wrote: »
    Post 894 - Hiding inactive forums (maybe dropping them down a level could be considered though)
    Hiding kills them. Rather decide: to keep and creatively simulate; or consolidate; or archive? Example: Environmental Science with few recent posts was archived under Sustainability & Environmental Issues.
    Beasty wrote: »
    Post 401 – feedback stickies in every forum
    Will do this now for forums I mod.
    Beasty wrote: »
    Post 91 – user survey
    I volunteer to help with survey construction, analysis, and reporting. PM me.


  • #1908
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,975 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    Fathom wrote: »

    Unnecessary. Members simply look below mod's username. All forums they mod are given. .

    Not on touch site.

    Not your ornery onager



  • #1909
    Calhoun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,447 ✭✭✭Calhoun


    _Dara_ wrote: »
    If I know the thread you’re talking about, the poster being called racist was certainly saying racist things. I’ll never feel sympathetic towards someone who feels aggrieved at being admonished for expressing repugnant views. Diddums.

    The thread i am talking about had a number of pages of posting with people engaging in conversation, while one poster who has since been banned was allowed throw abuse around.

    If people are so bad then let the mod take action on it as per their role, or outlaw all topics of conversation that people are not allowed to discuss.


  • #1910
    Samuel T. Cogley
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,684 ✭✭✭✭Samuel T. Cogley


    What's going on with the VR forum?

    Up until recently there was no word. Not great especially when various users have PM'd about it.


  • #1911
    Calahonda52
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,359 ✭✭✭✭Calahonda52


    Re this
    Post 577 – removal of usernames from closed accounts – it would be incredibly confusing if posters cannot see the way a thread developed, and equally I’m not sure what benefit we would get from this.


    Not sure who the we is here, however I think, if requested, substituting a closed account username with with a generic name such as CAXXXX, where XXXX is a sequential number.
    Ask any lawyer who is dealing with an acrimonious divorce...

    “I can’t pay my staff or mortgage with instagram likes”.



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  • #1912
    c.p.w.g.w
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,998 ✭✭✭c.p.w.g.w


    Conspectus wrote: »
    This would work no problem if people were forced to sign up with their own names and addresses and not able to hide behind a user name so that when the solicitors letters arrived Boards could pass them on.

    I doubt many would agree to that.

    But boards have access to user's IP address so address could be found out. Thought the site had done that in the past? Or am i confusing boards with another site


  • #1913
    Tell me how
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,055 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    Deedsie wrote:
    You should be allowed delete posts if You want. Stupid rule that you can't.

    You can within 5 minutes. I think that that is enough.

    If it were more, people might delete significant portions of a thread making it impossible to follow.

    Also, would make it very easy for someone to say provocative statements and then remove them.

    If you are not willing to stand by your posts, don't write them.


  • #1914
    Delirium
    Moderators Posts: 52,035 ✭✭✭✭Delirium


    Fathom wrote: »
    Unnecessary. Members simply look below mod's username. All forums they mod are given. Outside of these, they post only as members. As for mods requesting this disappearing feature, mods should be given a choice. Choice is important for volunteers. My choice (for me) is to leave it as is. Let others disappear by choice. To the contrary of this hidden mod proposal, I've had members say they discovered my forums because they were listed below my user name, when I posted elsewhere.

    Just on this point, while that is true on boards desktop version, if you're using the touch site it just says moderator under a moderator regardless if they post in their forum or not.

    This can certainly lead to confusion for new users experiencing boards for the first time via the touch site.

    If you can read this, you're too close!



  • #1915
    ch750536
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,736 ✭✭✭ch750536


    The rise of reddit is the demise of many boards.


  • #1916
    NeVeR
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,360 ✭✭✭NeVeR


    You need to fix the menu. Personally I found it much better when you had lots of topics across the top. It's too hard to find the old forums. I know it's been gone a long time.. but I still miss it.

    Having Talk To and Adverts up there shows it's all about the money !


  • #1917
    .......
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,057 ✭✭✭.......


    This post has been deleted.


  • #1918
    whoopsadoodles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,058 ✭✭✭whoopsadoodles


    Victor wrote: »
    I think dealing with the organised bigotry band-wagoning on After Hours is something that would be desirable. I don't see much such hatred on the internet (I know it still exists), other than on AH.

    439021.jpg

    439022.jpg

    439023.jpg

    Correct me if I'm wrong, or if some thing has gone straight over my head then I'll happily say whoopsies, but haven't you just provided evidence that AH is very much not the place this so called hatred starts and therefore you have most definitely seen it elsewhere on the internet. AH (along with politics cafe and from what you quoted, reddit) are being used as vehicles for this hatred rather than being the starting point. No?

    Sorry if I'm completing misunderstanding your point.


  • #1919
    Kurtosis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,881 ✭✭✭Kurtosis


    whoopsadoodles wrote: »
    Correct me if I'm wrong, or if some thing has gone straight over my head then I'll happily say whoopsies, but haven't you just provided evidence that AH is very much not the place this so called hatred starts and therefore you have most definitely seen it elsewhere on the internet. AH (along with politics cafe and from what you quoted, reddit) are being used as vehicles for this hatred rather than being the starting point. No?

    Sorry if I'm completing misunderstanding your point.

    I didn't interpret Victor's post as suggesting AH was the starting point for this hatred, moreso that he didn't see much of it elsewhere so perhaps these organised efforts to spout bigotry aren't dealt with as well as they could be in AH. I think you're spot on though, those screenshots show a lot of this is coming from elsewhere, but it also shows the site is seen as an avenue to spread this kind of thing. I agree it'd be nice to prevent this but that's much easier said than done.


  • #1920
    qo2cj1dsne8y4k
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,646 ✭✭✭✭qo2cj1dsne8y4k


    ch750536 wrote: »
    The rise of reddit is the demise of many boards.
    Interesting topics, different opinions, less cliquey, self moderation without anyone dying, not an echo chamber, customise what you like to see. What's not to like!


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  • #1921
    Boom_Bap
    Moderators, Music Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,734 Mod ✭✭✭✭Boom_Bap


    Based on the feedback here, there's been one small change made to After Hours. One issue raised was that there are too many stickies, so it's been reduced from 4 to 2 now. Hopefully that eases up the clutter on the front page of AH a bit.
    Only a minor change, but it's a start.

    As Beasty has noted, he's keeping a list of site-wide feedback items, the AH mods are keeping a note on the AH specific ones. These are being discussed and we are thrashing them out behind the scenes.


This discussion has been closed.
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