Many WC'ers have advanced ideas for The Forums and problems encountered using them. They're spread out all over the place. That's the reason I'm making this Post: To centralize things to make the job of others who want to make WC the best it can be easier.
Everyone is welcome. Have fun. I'll do my best to sift through it all and post it up here to try and save evryone's time (Zubaz's suggestion)
A. Make last post read work.. for everyoneB. 1. Return to top of page at bottom of each page. 2. Clicking on Recent forum Activity take you to latest post not first page. 3. Expanded smiley list. 4, Separate section for Political discussions, Humor (including shopping shots) and personals. 5. General section would be for general Stardock and WC realated conversations. 6. Recent posts list either expanded to 20 listings, or separated into help related and non-help related subjects. 7. Better search function.C. 1. Polls.. everyone could create polls. 2. Introduction of negative karma. 3. Increased Firefox compatibility. 4. Lower/shorter render times. 5. Bann on using adult words 6. Animated Gif avatars less than 100 kb 7. Integration between WC main site and forums.....(sign on)D. actually having the built-in browser spell checkers function in these post boxes.E. I think rather than trying to implement more ideas for the forums...like birthdays etc...as done previously....best to try and get what we already have working.....or back to working....again.F. 1. Fix the "insert link" function. It currently works backwards. It should work as follows: Click the insert link, put in the url, it puts in the appropriate code with the url doubled as the name, which is highlighted so you can name it whatever you wish. (any problems with this suggestion please ask bebi bulma for a better/fuller explanation). 2. actually having the built-in browser spell checkers function in these post boxes.
G, 1.subscription emails for watch list) and other features that are totally broken/nonfunctioning (guestbook comment deletion, the photo albums) that those should be fixed before anything else gets added. 2. make the smilies style='vertical-align:middle' like they were before. 3. fix the Quote mechanism: attribution should work even for limited portions of posts/replies.
H. Please make the comment book 'remove comment' function work again.
I. I would like to see a timer perhaps. You have 2 minutes to edit your post . .and then it's locked.
J. There are times when you need to edit something after 2-5 min.
K. 1. uploading images directly into the post as opposed to calling on an external site to relay the image back. this would be especially helpful in the help sections of the forums . 2. [do something with the wiki to make it effective, it seems pretty barren on information/help.]
L. 1. Faster refresh rate for the forum pages to prevent mistimed replies.
2. Fixing the "double post" problem.
M. 1. No changes to karma. Should remain positive incentive.
2. Mod edit objectionable picture content.
N. No animated avatars. Forums not a video store.
O. 1. Several ideas for time limit to "edit" function: Range from 2-10 minutes from time of post.
2. the time limit should be fairly long until they get around to putting a spell checker in the editor.
3. Edit would only add new comment in the same box and require printed 'reason for edit' above the newer post and notfication in the thread that a post was changed.
4. Karma should not be anonymous. Karma has become pointless.
5. Karma is ok, it's meant to be taken lightly, and there's no need to kill the fun
6. Karma is nothing but a novelty. It's FUN trying to get that karma up. Add negative Karma and the fun is gone, and with that it'll be entirely useless.
7. Karma: It's kind of relative and for me it has had a positive effect.
P. 1. Edit function should last a few minutes. Original post/reply should remain along with it.
2. Freezing the post after a short time, if someone wants to correct or change a thought, let them post another.
3. Re the editing of comments....I'm totally against it. Posts [and threads] being altered for whatever 'agenda' is not acceptable. Whatever is decided, the number one demand is accountability....the thread comment must be tagged with 'edited by....' publicly .... and ideally if that's the case the edit text should be linked [hidden] but visible for review by the Admins. I've always thought the height of bad manners was/is to edit a thread topic, etc AFTER several/many people have taken the time/effort to respond/comment.
Q. 1. The forums shouldn't parse any html whatsoever from the post box.
2. Unless you are a member of a specific user class, your html isn't parsed, period.
3. User posted html just wrecks havoc on the forums and should be completely ignored from parsing. It should all be plain text (with the exception of the bbcode buttons in the editor). There just doesn't seem to be any checking for open tags, which causes all the problems.
4. I think 2-3 mins for the post locking. negative Karma is a bad idea.
5. Several of the classic smilies do not match when posted...would be nice to have them tidied up...the sad goes to angry and the Yum goes to the big smile.
6. Cross posting errors if two windows are open.
R. {1. Inaccurate time/date stamping keeping comments at the top of notes on Personal sites}
S. Fix the need for double sign in @ WC Home page then again @ Forums.
T. Subscribers still see ads.
Umm.. I wasn't seriously comparing it to a death camp, and it wasn't meant to be offensive, and apparently, nobody else found it offensive, and it's ridiculous that I even need to justify that..
Over & out.
I thought that the thread had merit and a way to present ideas/thoughts/comments to WC in a concise manner. Although not an official thread (whatever that is) DrJBHL clearly stated his intent and presented a set of guidelines that if the posters followed would be appreciated.
It seems that some have gotten their knickers in a twit over the crosstalk issue and disagreement with some of the suggestions presented. I, for one, would have liked to know that WC had registered our thoughts and comments, tossed out the bad and consider the good.
Is this our first family squabble???
I think the intent was good for this post but knowing the comunity and the forums you have to expect tangents and cross-talk.
I further think that the post has some merit.
Here's what can be done:
Or let this one die and start again some other time.
It's not a bad idea though. You just have to assume in any forums that things will get off-topic. Accept and move on.
It's totally unnecessary...it's a given....and the word 'many'...was never used......
good post Zubaz....
maybe the main points can be gleaned by DrJ and emailed to Stardock in point form thus sidestepping our forum interaction....
So did I.
However....sometimes it's just seen as another place to 'socialize' rather than contribute/add positive input.
* edit
I wasn't socializing, I posted that it's hard to put forth an idea, and not be 'allowed' to elaborate on it..
I dont think people are opposed to positive input.. just having rules laid out.. that was the point
My two cents would be that the forums here are probably the cleanest, least cluttered I have seen when compared to a lot of sites. They are fairly easy to navigate and read. I don't think we need 'signatures', etc., cluttering it up.
I also agree with a few of the previous statements...let's get what we already have working properly.
It's a good thread. Pick your chin up and carry on, my freind. The people interested in what is being said 'on topic' will sort through it all and contribute.
New From Here:
I have copied suggestions (hope I didn't miss any).
No rules. Everyone welcome. Enjoy the suggestions for fixing forums.
A. Make last post read work.. for everyone
B. Return to top of page at bottom of each page.Clicking on Recent forum Activity take you to latest post not first page.Expanded smiley list.........we know they are out there. bwa ha ha.Seperate section for Political discussions, Humor (including shopping shots) and personals.General section would be for general Stardock and WC realated conversations.Recent posts list either expanded to 20 listings, or separated into help related and non-help related subjects.Better search funtion.
C. 1. Polls.. everyone could create polls. 2. Introduction of negative karma. 3. Increased Firefox compatibility. 4. Less render times. 5. Bann on using adult words
6. Animated Gif avatars less than 100 kb 7. Integration between WC main site and forums.....(sign on)
D. actually having the built-in browser spell checkers function in these post boxes.
E. I think rather than trying to implement more ideas for the forums...like birthdays etc...as done previously....best to try and get what we already have working.....or back to working....again.
F. 1. Fix the "insert link" function. (as in mIRC)
2. actually having the built-in browser spell checkers function in these post boxes.
hmmm. interesting. so, only suggestions you think are important are listed?
I can't find the suggestion bebi mentioned earlier in your list. (oh is it too big? you weren't able to paraphrase?)
@Wulfn1: Sorry, I missed it and have edited and pasted it in F. Thanx for calling my attention to that .
I was rushing to get to a business meeting while trying to read, copy and paste. Not a great multitasker.
No censorship was intended. This was an error of omission, not commission.
"...for what they're payin' me..."
I missed the poll last year, sorry. And there has been a lot of activity in the forums lately regading changes to the site and WC as we now know it. Until the changes happen it can't hurt to reinterate/appeal/grovel/beg and hope that some of our thoughts are being taken under consideration.
if you're going to keep track you could have mentioned my suggestion that was left off also. (is there an imagecon for "snicker, snicker") It is okay though as Island Dog mentioned it under another post as being considered.
You know what, I totally forgot about that. The birthdays were there and taking up a HUGE amount of space, and in fact I think it was for the whole month, not each day, which defeated the purpose. Anyway, then they were suddenly removed and we lost the recently active users list too, oh well.
But yes, there were so many features that were removed (subscription emails for watch list) and other features that are totally broken/nonfunctioning (guestbook comment deletion, the photo albums) that THOSE should be fixed FIRST before anything else gets added. What's the point of having a bunch of new features if the core ones don't even work at all?
Not sure If I mentioned Last Post Read getting fixed
But that would be great!
Post #37 plus:
G, subscription emails for watch list) and other features that are totally broken/nonfunctioning (guestbook comment deletion, the photo albums) that those should be fixed before anything else gets added.
I don't even remember which one got left off. A year or two ago I also made a thread full of suggestions (much like this one), I think maybe a handful of them got around to being on the site.
And here's one more: make the smilies style='vertical-align:middle' like they were before. They look totally crappy off to the top like they are now instead of being centered with the text. It throws everything off.
2. make the smilies style='vertical-align:middle' like they were before.
3. fix the Quote mechanism: attribution should work even for limited portions of posts/replies.
Doc. . post all the suggestions to the original post. . and add to as you get them.
Web devs are not going to have time filter through all the replies.
And if you can find bebi's post . . add those items too.
The easier it is . . the easier it is.
May I just re-iterate a former suggestion that may, or may have not been added..... PLEASE make the comment book 'remove comment' function work again
Those are items 1 and two in the box above your post, Zu. And thanx for the suggestion.
*Note to self updated thru this post
think people also need to think about whether the new feature for the individual's post...of being able to edit it after the subsequent posts have gone through....is best left....or revert to the previous... it is fine...and very handy to be able to correct spelling or grammar or minor changes.....but I have noticed in a number of threads, including this one....newer members who are not familiar with the old way....are using it to completely delete their comments...or completely alter them..thus destroying the continuity of the thread....especially when these posts have been quoted....and making some future comments just look strange...as they are no longer seemingly in step....
it is fine to be left....as long as people observe the correct posting etiquette....
then again....having it permanent after the next post has gone through...also makes people think a little more carefully about the content...and not write so rashly perhaps.....you write it....you live with it....
I agree Sydney . . I would like to see a timer perhaps. YOu have 2 minutes to edit your post . .and then it's locked.
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