I've only been reading these forums for a few days now, but I find the general layout very annoying. I am somewhat of a forum geek in that whatever I am interested in I will generally look for a forum or two to watch and post in, which is to say that I have seen and used quite a few of them and I find this one to be needlessly bad.

First of all, the original post goes on top of the thread. The first thing I want to read in any thread is the one that started the topic, and I want to be able to do that quickly without having to scroll to the very bottom of up to 75 other posts. The fact that the original post is on the bottom is not only troublesome in itself, but one of the side effects of such a format is that if people put graphics such as signatures in their posts the screen will scroll up while they load (a way of compensating for the change in material), making it difficult to read starting at the bottom until all of the graphics have loaded. Putting the first post on the top would correct this in addition to just generally being convenient.

75 posts per page is too many, it should be broken down to a maximum of 20 per page for ease of use. In most other forums I have used I found it very easy to sift through large numbers of posts if there were only 15 or so per page, even if the server retained every post ever made in the thread (the reason is that it is easier to remember which page you left off on than which post). Which brings up another issue, truncation. Truncating the thread to the 75 most recent posts does not have a positive effect on discussion. Although limiting the number of posts in a thread to 75 doesn't matter in some cases, there are other cases where it is nice to be able to easily look back through all of the posts. Text really requires very little hard disk space, so I can't see a reason why it's a good idea to truncate threads in such a way. As an example, my Yahoo! mail account (one which I don't mind getting junk mail on) has over 6,000 emails on it which takes up less than 10 megabytes of the server's disk space. That means a single 200GB hard disk, which is not even very large these days, should be able to hold at least 1.2 million random junk emails, and emails seem generally larger and more graphically intensive than the average forum post.

I'm sure there is plenty of decent, free forum code out there for you guys to use. If not, just look around the net for some well-made forums and copy their style. Not only is there no excuse for a poor forum format, but it doesn't really make me want to visit this forum on a regular basis if it is a chore to use it. I'm not one of the vets of these forums, so I'm not sure if anyone really cares about my opinion, but I assure you it is an educated one having used many different forums over the past years.

Edit: Perhaps I was too quick to judge about the truncation bit, it appears as though that can be changed through preferences, however there is no way to break it up into smaller pages as far as I can tell and everything else still stands.

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I've only been reading these forums for a few days now, but I find the general layout very annoying. I am somewhat of a forum geek in that whatever I am interested in I will generally look for a forum or two to watch and post in, which is to say that I have seen and used quite a few of them and I find this one to be needlessly bad.

First of all, the original post goes on top of the thread. The first thing I want to read in any thread is the one that started the topic, and I want to be able to do that quickly without having to scroll to the very bottom of up to 75 other posts. The fact that the original post is on the bottom is not only troublesome in itself, but one of the side effects of such a format is that if people put graphics such as signatures in their posts the screen will scroll up while they load (a way of compensating for the change in material), making it difficult to read starting at the bottom until all of the graphics have loaded. Putting the first post on the top would correct this in addition to just generally being convenient.

75 posts per page is too many, it should be broken down to a maximum of 20 per page for ease of use. In most other forums I have used I found it very easy to sift through large numbers of posts if there were only 15 or so per page, even if the server retained every post ever made in the thread (the reason is that it is easier to remember which page you left off on than which post). Which brings up another issue, truncation. Truncating the thread to the 75 most recent posts does not have a positive effect on discussion. Although limiting the number of posts in a thread to 75 doesn't matter in some cases, there are other cases where it is nice to be able to easily look back through all of the posts. Text really requires very little hard disk space, so I can't see a reason why it's a good idea to truncate threads in such a way. As an example, my Yahoo! mail account (one which I don't mind getting junk mail on) has over 6,000 emails on it which takes up less than 10 megabytes of the server's disk space. That means a single 200GB hard disk, which is not even very large these days, should be able to hold at least 1.2 million random junk emails, and emails seem generally larger and more graphically intensive than the average forum post.

I'm sure there is plenty of decent, free forum code out there for you guys to use. If not, just look around the net for some well-made forums and copy their style. Not only is there no excuse for a poor forum format, but it doesn't really make me want to visit this forum on a regular basis if it is a chore to use it. I'm not one of the vets of these forums, so I'm not sure if anyone really cares about my opinion, but I assure you it is an educated one having used many different forums over the past years.

If you check out the Forum preferences in your account...You'll find you can change the posting order to run the way you want it...I think you're looking at the default view now...But I'm pretty sure there are many others who like to view the original post first like you do...I like to see the most recent post first...But i can see where that would be a hassle if you were away from the boards for awhile and wanted to catch up.

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PROUD TO BE TFFE!

Even easier, there's a sort selector right at the top of the thread when you open it, on the right. And if you're logged in, the forum should bring you to the earliest post you have not yet read.

Welcome to SETI! Check out my avatar. :-)

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Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data!
I did NOT authorize this belly writing!

I've only been reading these forums for a few days now, but I find the general layout very annoying. I am somewhat of a forum geek in that whatever I am interested in I will generally look for a forum or two to watch and post in, which is to say that I have seen and used quite a few of them and I find this one to be needlessly bad.

First of all, the original post goes on top of the thread. The first thing I want to read in any thread is the one that started the topic, and I want to be able to do that quickly without having to scroll to the very bottom of up to 75 other posts. The fact that the original post is on the bottom is not only troublesome in itself, but one of the side effects of such a format is that if people put graphics such as signatures in their posts the screen will scroll up while they load (a way of compensating for the change in material), making it difficult to read starting at the bottom until all of the graphics have loaded. Putting the first post on the top would correct this in addition to just generally being convenient.

75 posts per page is too many, it should be broken down to a maximum of 20 per page for ease of use. In most other forums I have used I found it very easy to sift through large numbers of posts if there were only 15 or so per page, even if the server retained every post ever made in the thread (the reason is that it is easier to remember which page you left off on than which post). Which brings up another issue, truncation. Truncating the thread to the 75 most recent posts does not have a positive effect on discussion. Although limiting the number of posts in a thread to 75 doesn't matter in some cases, there are other cases where it is nice to be able to easily look back through all of the posts. Text really requires very little hard disk space, so I can't see a reason why it's a good idea to truncate threads in such a way. As an example, my Yahoo! mail account (one which I don't mind getting junk mail on) has over 6,000 emails on it which takes up less than 10 megabytes of the server's disk space. That means a single 200GB hard disk, which is not even very large these days, should be able to hold at least 1.2 million random junk emails, and emails seem generally larger and more graphically intensive than the average forum post.

I'm sure there is plenty of decent, free forum code out there for you guys to use. If not, just look around the net for some well-made forums and copy their style. Not only is there no excuse for a poor forum format, but it doesn't really make me want to visit this forum on a regular basis if it is a chore to use it. I'm not one of the vets of these forums, so I'm not sure if anyone really cares about my opinion, but I assure you it is an educated one having used many different forums over the past years.

Edit: Perhaps I was too quick to judge about the truncation bit, it appears as though that can be changed through preferences, however there is no way to break it up into smaller pages as far as I can tell and everything else still stands.

^^^^^^^^^^junk^^^^^^^^^^^
go to forum setting and set what order you want the posts to load, and how many you want it to show.
when you have done that, then find something else to bitch about, your stupidity being the #1 topic comes to mind.

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I AM NOT FAT! I AM BIG-BONED!

Ouch! Everyone has a learning curve...we were all there once...kinda, sorta, maybe...oh, well.

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Account frozen...

Ouch! Everyone has a learning curve...we were all there once...kinda, sorta, maybe...oh, well.

its still no excuse for stupidity

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I AM NOT FAT! I AM BIG-BONED!

Ouch! Everyone has a learning curve...we were all there once...kinda, sorta, maybe...oh, well.

its still no excuse for stupidity

Not every newbie knows that the fora are running on custom software. He may have assumed is was PHBB or PostNuke with a custom skin

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Need help? Check out the excellent Unofficial BOINC-Wiki!
'We are the BOINC. Prepare to be assimilated.'

Ouch! Everyone has a learning curve...we were all there once...kinda, sorta, maybe...oh, well.

I find myself in agreement with Samantha.
By his own admission he's a "forum geek".
Sounds like somebody just looking to whine.

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Perhaps.

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Account frozen...

In my opinion Atlas just wants to engage some of us who are interested in this topic in a conversation about alternatives to our present forum...I detected no intent to "stir the ****"...But if we assume that his intent his hostile from his first post here in the cafe...Then our assumption could turn into reality...None of the things we have here are too good to be improved...And even though changing the forum format probably isn't high on Berkeley's agenda right now...I see nothing wrong with sharing ideas that could make this place could work better in the future...It is true that it probably isn't the best tactic to enter a new forum with a critique of it's shortcomings...But if we look beyond that...We can bend this awkward introduction into something better...I look forward to finding out more about Atlas...Being as this is not a field of battle...And we aren't using live ammo here...I feel safe in going with my gut feeling...That Atlas is a potential friend...I'll make him prove he's not my friend before i think of him as an adversary...So Atlas...Welcome to the SETI cafe...Drop in some of the other threads...Say hello to the other people here...And make sure you stop by Rocky's Cafe...I hope you find some good friends here.

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PROUD TO BE TFFE!

In my opinion Atlas just wants to engage some of us who are interested in this topic in a conversation about alternatives to our present forum...I detected no intent to "stir the ****"...But if we assume that his intent his hostile from his first post here in the cafe...Then our assumption could turn into reality...None of the things we have here are too good to be improved...And even though changing the forum format probably isn't high on Berkeley's agenda right now...I see nothing wrong with sharing ideas that could make this place could work better in the future...It is true that it probably isn't the best tactic to enter a new forum with a critique of it's shortcomings...But if we look beyond that...We can bend this awkward introduction into something better...I look forward to finding out more about Atlas...Being as this is not a field of battle...And we aren't using live ammo here...I feel safe in going with my gut feeling...That Atlas is a potential friend...I'll make him prove he's not my friend before i think of him as an adversary...So Atlas...Welcome to the SETI cafe...Drop in some of the other threads...Say hello to the other people here...And make sure you stop by Rocky's Cafe...I hope you find some good friends here.

As Dan says, give the lad a chance and let us see how things pan out. Some interesting ideas may be bottomed (leave mine alone!).

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It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues

Some interesting ideas may be bottomed (leave mine alone!).

GOOSEY GOOSEY!

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Account frozen...

I think DB has it right. Atlas just popped in to give us all a little "goose", and though he may have read some of these responses, as he has not responded, it's clear that he simply wanted to vent. As of my posting this, Atlas has only one post. He has not reacted to any of the rather level-headed responses and suggestions here. So, it seems he was not so interested in improvements here as stirring people up.

Gawd, look at all the netizen xenophobes...Geez. Did any of you design this forums code and structure? Why take his critique personally...

Not a good way to make new people feel welcome. He DOES have credits, you know.
[edit-sp]

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Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data!
I did NOT authorize this belly writing!

Gawd, look at all the netizen xenophobes...Geez. Did any of you design this forums code and structure? Why take his critique personally...

Not a good way to make new people feel welcome. He DOES have credits, you know.
[edit-sp]

I should clarify my feelings regarding this thread.
First, Atlas I apologise. I don't think you're stupid.
You may have some valid points and suggestions to make.
Your approach was not the greatest. To come in here and make your first post
a "critique" shall we say, makes you seem like some of the noob whiners that
we often get here. That may not be the case and some of the ensuing replies
may have chased or turned you off. That was not my intention! This is not
an excuse for my conduct and had I conducted myself properly, we may have
had a proper discussion. Again I apologise.

@ Robert: Credits or not, it was as I explained above.

Atlas please return and discuss this further.

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Not every newbie knows that the fora are running on custom software. He may have assumed is was PHBB or PostNuke with a custom skin

But he said he was an expert.

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Click here to join the #1 Aussie Alliance in SETI

I find myself in agreement with Samantha.
By his own admission he's a "forum geek".
Sounds like somebody just looking to whine.

I'd almost have to agree with that, but not so much a "whine" as a wind-up ;-)

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Click here to join the #1 Aussie Alliance in SETI

I've only been reading these forums for a few days now, but I find the general layout very annoying. I am somewhat of a forum geek in that whatever I am interested in I will generally look for a forum or two to watch and post in, which is to say that I have seen and used quite a few of them and I find this one to be needlessly bad.

Beware Geeks bearing tiffs?

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The expansion of the universe is driven by a need to get away from it all ...