Folks-

In the thread that Andrew started about which mode people use, mf stated his dislike of the views that include threads, especially in the following cases:
...forums that have always run linear before (because threaded simply wasn't available), and/or with forum members that don't always respect the reply to post thing (simply hitting reply will default to the last post).
As I look at the vB interface, the "reply" button is big and prominant, the "reply to post" is small, off to the side and has no lable--might that be why people use one more than the other?

On my site, I am thinking about removing the "Reply" button altogether and making the "reply to post" more prominant. This should force people to reply to specific messages and make the threads more logical.

Whata ya think? Any downside to this plan?

--don

It won't work :) I always click the reply to post button on the last post, since I want to read through a thread. Before commenting on it, I see no working in this system, unless linear is made completely unavailable. In which case threaded might make more sense...

Isn't there circumstances where you want to reply before you read everyone else's opinon? To avoid them influencing on your reply?

[QUOTE=Mephisteus]I always click the reply to post button on the last post...[/QUOTE
In your case, I'd still be no worse off for having gotten rid of the "post reply."

--don

Ambumann-

Your post, to which I am replying, is a good example--it was a response to Mephisteus and would have made less sense if was just tacked onto some message 5 posts down the thread.

One of the things I miss in linear boards is a sense of conversation.

I have worked the parent id and a link to the parent message into my postbit template. I'm working on getting the name of the author of the parent message into it too. If I can encourage posters to respond to specific messages instead of just tacking onto the end of a thread, then I think I can regain some of that sense of conversation.

--don

I can see your point here don, it's often very hard to tell wich post the user is replying to, especially in longer threads. I'd loved to see how you put your ideas into practical use.

Ambumann-

Your post, to which I am replying, is a good example--it was a response to Mephisteus and would have made less sense if was just tacked onto some message 5 posts down the thread.

One of the things I miss in linear boards is a sense of conversation.

I have worked the parent id and a link to the parent message into my postbit template. I'm working on getting the name of the author of the parent message into it too. If I can encourage posters to respond to specific messages instead of just tacking onto the end of a thread, then I think I can regain some of that sense of conversation.

--don
And from my point of view here, what you just did was double post, which is confusing for linear.

Therefor a choice should be made between the two, and not have both enabled. It will only confuse everyone.

And from my point of view here, what you just did was double post, which is confusing for linear.

So, if you read two or more posts, to which you wanted to respond, you would do it all in one message--because that's clearer to people using linear view?

Hmmm!


--don

But what mode do you think is most commonly in use by the general forum member?

But what mode do you think is most commonly in use by the general forum member?

I dunno.

In the case of the forum I am helping to develop--none, since it is not yet open. However most of the initial members will be coming from an environment where threaded messages are the norm.

One of the criteria we used when choosing software was support of threaded messages.

I tend to use hybrid mode here.

OTOH, it really shouldn't matter which display mode the visitor uses. I think that good interface design means that the reader can follow the conversation.

This is why I put a link to the parent message into the postbit template, and why I want to add in the name of the person to whom one is replying--to give people a sense that they are having a conversation with several individuals. It also would make it clear (even in linear mode) when a person post several replies, to whom he is addressing each.

--don

Would love to see the result when you're done, this is very interesting.

Would love to see the result when you're done, this is very interesting.

I'll put up a screen shot once I do a few more tweeks.

I think that community development/management is the really interesting stuff. For me, the technology part is only valuable in its contribution to human interaction.

--don