We've made some improvements to the forums. Discuss here

I haven’t read the whole thread b/c I can’t zoom in on the threads like before and I don’t like that...I will have to get a magnifying glass to read the posts.?

LoneStarXC wrote:

Nooo!!! I liked the old message boards!!! ?

Another one bites the dust.

Another appreciator of the new single-anonymous-username-per-thread limit here. I realize some may find ways around it, but the signal-to-noise ratio had been getting so bad on a large enough number of threads that I've been bailing out much more frequently and reading a lot less of the forums in recent months/years. I might look at the first page or two of a junky thread, then the last page, and if it's the same ole trolling going on, fuggeddaboutit, I'll just bail and move on.

I've only got limited time to read forums like LRC. The worse the noise, the less time I spend here, and the more I'll allot to the much-better-moderated T&FN board, where the signal-to-noise ratio is 5x to 10x better. Although the issue there is not enough activity, since LRC is the 800-lb. gorilla sucking down most of the oxygen in the room. If LRC can control the trolls better, it's a win-win for me and the site both.

Test

It won't change anything. The trolls will continue to make as many posts as before just using one name. I already found a glitch. Every time I stop at a different place and use their WiFi, I can use a different username on the same thread.

The white borders make the page way too bright. Give an option for a dark - black or grey theme. Its going to hurt my eyes looking at it.

The changes have made it a little harder to report link spam. Or am I wasting everyone's time reporting it?

That’s not a “glitch”. That’s how IP addresses work.

WoW.

Wonderful.

Alleluia!!!

Coach Jeff ROC wrote:

Looks OK and all.

I dislike the reply window opening over the page I'm on. In the past, I'd right-click "reply" in a new window, so I can scroll through a thread to multiple posts as I respond. At least on safari (using MacBook), I don't have that "right-click new window" option anymore.

I understand about not being able to please everyone, but you asked for feedback and that's my initial reaction.

I did the same thing. Wonder if there is some solution we can come up with as I'd start my reply and then keep reading and finish.

Some points of clarification about the one-anonymous-username-per-thread rule:

We do not rely solely on IP addresses to identify anonymous posters. We use several methods to make a solid assessment. Without revealing the entire process, I will say: it is unlikely that if you're on the same IP as a teammate or coach or co-worker who has posted anonymously, you too will not be able to. It does more checks than that. Likewise, it would be very unlikely that you'd be able to identify someone else's anonymous post even if you were on their same IP trying to post under a bunch of different names. IPs alone don't trip the filter.

I think people will find that this is a non-issue except for bad actors.

I'd also like to emphasize that we've put a lot of good-faith thought into how to protect anonymity while maintaining honest discussion. There are trade-offs to every choice and we're trying to find a good middle-ground.

That said, next week I am going to develop a feature that stores any anonymous usernames you've used on your computer as you use the site. If you can't remember your username, we can show you a list of ones you've used. None of this will be server-side, so no one would ever be able to access that list but you.

wejo wrote:

Coach Jeff ROC wrote:

Looks OK and all.

I dislike the reply window opening over the page I'm on. In the past, I'd right-click "reply" in a new window, so I can scroll through a thread to multiple posts as I respond. At least on safari (using MacBook), I don't have that "right-click new window" option anymore.

I understand about not being able to please everyone, but you asked for feedback and that's my initial reaction.

I did the same thing. Wonder if there is some solution we can come up with as I'd start my reply and then keep reading and finish.

It's your lucky day:

^ this change is on its way.

wannabe mod wrote:

The changes have made it a little harder to report link spam. Or am I wasting everyone's time reporting it?

What do you mean? It's now supposed to be much easier to report spam or offensive posts as you don't have to leave the page you are on. Just click report post and the popup is there on the page you are on. In the past you had to go to a new page.

i need bifocals wrote:

I haven’t read the whole thread b/c I can’t zoom in on the threads like before and I don’t like that...I will have to get a magnifying glass to read the posts.?

what do you mean? I think the font might be a tad smaller which is something we can adress but does your computer now zoom the same way with the new system?

Burning the midnight oil a little to make some changes in response to feedback. These should be live soon.

1. I have darkened the text on the yellow/gray backgrounds across the forum. It was using an almost-black that looks good on white background, but I think the full-black is more readable on those slightly colored backgrounds.

2. Page number links now correctly show the visited color.

3. I've created a standalone reply form so you don't have to post replies in the popup modal if you don't want to.

3a. On mobile devices/tablets, the default behavior on clicking "reply" will be to go to this standalone form.

3b. If you right-click, and open the reply link, you'll now be brought to this standalone form.

Keep the feedback coming. That includes the haters -- I do my best work coding on pure hate.

Did I miss something?

Coach Jeff ROC wrote:

Did I miss something?

Yes I did, by 42 seconds.

erik wrote:

That said, next week I am going to develop a feature that stores any anonymous usernames you've used on your computer as you use the site. If you can't remember your username, we can show you a list of ones you've used. None of this will be server-side, so no one would ever be able to access that list but you.

I'm outta here ??, this all getting a bit too Putinesque for me.

RF wrote:

erik wrote:

That said, next week I am going to develop a feature that stores any anonymous usernames you've used on your computer as you use the site. If you can't remember your username, we can show you a list of ones you've used. None of this will be server-side, so no one would ever be able to access that list but you.

I'm outta here ??, this all getting a bit too Putinesque for me.

No puppet.