The new board

**notnerb** · 27-07-23, 10:43

Thanks from me too - though I don't post much I always find reading the comments of others illuminating and educational. I feel that some of the carping about the different layout of the new board is down to people being used to the old format and resistant to change - quite understandable but on its own terms the new layout is perfectly clear and logical, so I think we should spend more time getting used to it rather than talking it down by comparing it to old times . . .

**french frank** · 27-07-23, 11:06

Originally posted by notnerb View Post

Thanks from me too - though I don't post much I always find reading the comments of others illuminating and educational. I feel that some of the carping about the different layout of the new board is down to people being used to the old format and resistant to change - quite understandable but on its own terms the new layout is perfectly clear and logical, so I think we should spend more time getting used to it rather than talking it down by comparing it to old times . . .

To use one of the more irritating coinages: It is what it is. I suspect that each one of us will find particular irritations, some shared by others, some not. As a non techie involved with the admin, I find not merely irritations but hideous difficulties which make me think I might bring the entire forum to sudden, abrupt collapse. "Don't touch it without asking Andrew or Mark first!" I think, cautiously, I shall get there. And it's good mental exercise.

**oddoneout** · 27-07-23, 14:25

Originally posted by notnerb View Post

Thanks from me too - though I don't post much I always find reading the comments of others illuminating and educational. I feel that some of the carping about the different layout of the new board is down to people being used to the old format and resistant to change - quite understandable but on its own terms the new layout is perfectly clear and logical, so I think we should spend more time getting used to it rather than talking it down by comparing it to old times . . .

There is an element of not liking change but my issues are that the new arrangement isn't logical. Depending on how I approach it I will get different results, whereas the old version had a simple "everything there to view" home page, and ability to read latest posts without needing to login, so very quick and easy to skim for activity/items of interest, and logging in only needed if replying or otherwise engaging. Now it's several stages - login - even if I don't want to participate at the time(otherwise can't see what's new), what's new button, latest activity button (haven't been able to fiddle with settings to get posts in the right date order, and many threads have too many pages just to scroll through) and if posting then other considerations come into play- not least disappearing posts! Finding that threads have gone from what's new once I've read them is disconcerting and time consuming.Post numbers missing makes it difficult to find/reference previous posts in a thread.
Getting used to different terms for actions is one thing but there comes a point when my default setting of "the technology is there to serve us, not us to serve technology" kicks in and if a new version of something just makes a previous process more time-consuming/ difficult without any benefits to offset it I become less inclined to engage positively.
There is also the aspect of how casual viewers find accessing the forum; it was easy on the old set-up for people to be on the outside, just reading posts,and getting a feel for what topics were included, until they felt inclined or brave enough to join in. That was my route in, and I'm not alone in that.

**Dave2002** · 28-07-23, 07:12

Originally posted by oddoneout View Post

As a result of going around the houses(again!) muttering "I know it's in there somewhere" I've finally tracked down this post in order to say that in the course of establishing that the massage centre doesn't have posts I did discover how to find my (real, rather than what this system chooses to give me)latest posts.

Well done.

I hope that's useful. I am still disovering features which I didn't know existed too.

**oddoneout** · 28-07-23, 09:31

Originally posted by eighthobstruction View Post

Having to log in all the time for a start sounds a....pain....i hope someone helps you with that - I am permanently logged in....is there a chance that what you get on a handheld is diff than what you get on a laptop....i hope it is sorted for you....I generally find it adequate ++
True what you say about the lurking/lurker phenomena....of new and longterm lurkers....

Don't have either device, and in any case am averse to remaining permanently logged in to anything, even something as benign as this forum. The furthest I go is "remember me" for certain passwords. Now I know it is necessary it's just another click to add to all the others which now seem essential to get anywhere.

**Petrushka** · 28-07-23, 10:02

Originally posted by oddoneout View Post

Don't have either device, and in any case am averse to remaining permanently logged in to anything, even something as benign as this forum. The furthest I go is "remember me" for certain passwords. Now I know it is necessary it's just another click to add to all the others which now seem essential to get anywhere.

How did you quote a comment? There is no 'quote' icon for the comment, only the main post and I've wanted to quote a comment in another post but gave up.

**Old Grumpy** · 28-07-23, 10:06

Originally posted by oddoneout View Post

Don't have either device, and in any case am averse to remaining permanently logged in to anything, even something as benign as this forum. The furthest I go is "remember me" for certain passwords. Now I know it is necessary it's just another click to add to all the others which now seem essential to get anywhere.

As with VIIIth, I just remain permanently logged in, by checking [i.e. ticking] the box to remember me at the primary log in stage. I personally don't see the problem if one is using a personal device. If logging in on a library machine or similar, obviously one would need to log out.

**french frank** · 28-07-23, 10:11

Originally posted by Petrushka View Post

How did you quote a comment? There is no 'quote' icon for the comment, only the main post and I've wanted to quote a comment in another post but gave up.

I hadn't noticed the quote was on a comment. Yes, there is no quote link for a comment. So how did you do that, odders?

**oddoneout** · 28-07-23, 12:43

Originally posted by french frank View Post

I hadn't noticed the quote was on a comment. Yes, there is no quote link for a comment. So how did you do that, odders?

Erm...I used the quote button at the bottom of the comment box. Why do I have one but you and Petrushka not? Looking at it again there is only the choice of quote or flag as actions though.

**oddoneout** · 28-07-23, 12:50

Originally posted by Old Grumpy View Post

As with VIIIth, I just remain permanently logged in, by checking [i.e. ticking] the box to remember me at the primary log in stage. I personally don't see the problem if one is using a personal device. If logging in on a library machine or similar, obviously one would need to log out.

I just tick the login box as my forum name is there and the password is remembered, does that count as permanently logged in? I don't see it as such since I logout at the end of each session. Given my experience yesterday with being timed out and having to log in again for taking too long(in the system's terms) to write a message, I don't see how I could stay permanently logged in anyway?

**Petrushka** · 28-07-23, 13:13

Originally posted by oddoneout View Post

Erm...I used the quote button at the bottom of the comment box. Why do I have one but you and Petrushka not? Looking at it again there is only the choice of quote or flag as actions though.

Just checked again to make sure my ropey eyesight hadn't missed something. I only have 'flag' on a comment, there is no option to 'quote'.

**oddoneout** · 28-07-23, 15:18

Originally posted by Petrushka View Post

Just checked again to make sure my ropey eyesight hadn't missed something. I only have 'flag' on a comment, there is no option to 'quote'.

Perhaps I'm just living up to my forum name?

**Joseph K** · 28-07-23, 15:21

Originally posted by Petrushka View Post

Just checked again to make sure my ropey eyesight hadn't missed something. I only have 'flag' on a comment, there is no option to 'quote'.

Ditto. I had to quote a comment of Bryn yesterday by simply copying and pasting it.

**french frank** · 28-07-23, 15:59

Originally posted by Petrushka View Post

Just checked again to make sure my ropey eyesight hadn't missed something. I only have 'flag' on a comment, there is no option to 'quote'.

"Ve are all confused." When I look at 8thO's comment to oddoneout's reply (yesterday 17:47) I can indeed now see Edit Quote Flag (and no Comment). There is also (I read) an exception in that you cannot 'comment' on an OP.

I have posed the question on the Anomalies thread as to whether we want to retain the Comment function as long as we can Quote and Reply (as before). What is the point of commenting?

Petrushka, JK - what device are you using , mobile or computer?

**Joseph K** · 28-07-23, 16:30

Originally posted by french frank View Post

"Ve are all confused." When I look at 8thO's comment to oddoneout's reply (yesterday 17:47) I can indeed now see Edit Quote Flag (and no Comment). There is also (I read) an exception in that you cannot 'comment' on an OP.

I have posed the question on the Anomalies thread as to whether we want to retain the Comment function as long as we can Quote and Reply (as before). What is the point of commenting?

Petrushka, JK - what device are you using , mobile or computer?

Yeah I agree, the comment function just strikes me as superfluous. I'm using a laptop.