what is wrong with the forums? - Page 2

Well, I beg to differ. We differ in our definition.......I suppose this is because it appears we fundamentally view and use information differently. I prefer the bottom line, organized and concise. Content and its absorption into my brain is more important than the "features" with which I can manipulate that information. I find the manipulation of such information pointless, quite frankly, as it's not meant to be used for other purposes. It's not like I'm gonna cut and paste it, quote it, organize it into a chart, attach a flag or image to it, repost it, and let the world comment. It's just a PM, a message. A simple note, nothing more, nothing less.

I am of the persuasion that: 1) just because something can be done, doesn't mean it's better; 2) visual clutter is still clutter; 3) more "powerful" doesn't always mean "better".

So it would seem we shall agree to disagree. Time will tell which garners the greater preference. My suspicion is that the "younger" people won't mind the visual clutter.....they're used to it. Visual noise/trash/clutter has become far more prevalent today, and the younger people have no basis for comparison, so it seems "normal" to them. They've not experienced the other side of the fence, where the pasture is more streamlined, less "flashy", and has far more substance than style.

Old phpbb?

Please.

Yes, I hate the new Inbox layout for PMs. I was one that loved the initial change back in... 2004? But to me, this change is for the worst. I see boards with much better structure based on phpbb.

I liked the idea of consolidating topics... but this definately didn't require new software or a completely new layout. An inbox should be an inbox (like email... you do know what that is, right?), not a separate "post section". I find the new layout extremely confusing... and this is coming from a guy that usually embraces changes. (At least those made for the better).

If your intent was to force most of the older posters out, you're doing a bang-up job. The community should have been consulted on a change this drastic... and we should have had the chance to offer feedback on what we wanted. But you simply make the change and then pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Well congratulations... you've managed to tick off more people than Baron ever could.

Can anyone tell me what happened to the "reply to post", "watch this topic" and email alert functions?

All of them are essential and I'll quit this place if it is really true that the most important functions are gone...

Oh brother! where do I start? Obnoxious banner at the top of the page, then free smilies, followed by popup pages, then to top it all off at the bottom of the forum page a string of advertisers. If someone doesn't pick up malware in this mess o' crap I'll eat my shirt.
I won't be back here and it is definitely off my favorites lis of places to go for 'help'.....this whole site needs 'help'!(vomit smilie).
Disappointed totally,
Jakeman97

Why the hell do I get a french notification email for the forumz???

I assume it's because Docteur Korma has set his profile to french.
I'll do my best to fix this issue ASAP, but actually it's a tricky one

ahah, I see you want to learn french !

As for the special characters, looks like an integration issue, I'll report it.

Happy to see some people starts to like the forum, those kind of migrations are always difficult to live for me (also I'm conscious some things can be improved and I'm taking your feedbacks in consideration to improve the software )

Nop he's not, I'm the only one in the MyDiscussions.net team to post on this forum

They are just MD fans

Just check my post and you'll see the original quote before you changed it

BTW, I'm surprised noone as yet uploaded their own personnal smilies (in your profile, picture management, you can upload up to 10 personnal smilies which will be associated with your profile, and available to anyone else on the forum)

We're totally addicts to MyDiscussions software.

This is the absolute worst forum redesign in the history of redesigns. It's as if they set out to make it difficult to navigate and nebulous, the icons are hard to understand, and modifying your profile is ridiculous. The difficulty here is not a "learning curve" issue... just straight-up bad design. After a week, I still can't figure out how to change/re-enter my sig for example.

What a shame... I'm off to greener pastures at Anands.

Nice to provide the link, truly. But the point is that you shouldn't have to. It should be self-evident to every user of these forums, especially the new ones. With such a huge readership and member base, it should be simple and straightforward. You can't possibly post a link for thousands of people Korma, nor should you have to. Forums are not something that should require an Instruction Manual. By definition and design, they should be usable and understandable within minutes. MINUTES.

To test that, drop someone into these forums, and give them 15 minutes to get logged in, a profile set and updated, a theme updated, send a test PM, post a test topic, follow that thread to receive updates. Can it be done by the MAJORITY of users? Not tech development people, the average Joe n00b who just came here looking for help?

If it can't be done, then the design is unsuccessful and needs revision. This is not my opinion nor conjecture, it is simple fact. I am a designer in real life and if someone can't understand my design, then I am the one at fault. At we're not talking one or two people, we're talking THOUSANDS. If the vast majority cannot complete that simple set of tasks I outlined, then the interface is a failure. Nevermind the code. The INTERFACE.

I am a betting man, and I am willing to bet the litmus test will show that the interface is not successful because people cannot complete the simple test I outlined. And this is not some bogus, loaded test. It is a straightforward, standard test to determine the most basic of tasks.

So considering seasoned veterans cannot pass the simple test, I cannot fathom how average Joe would pass. THG is no longer an enthusiast hardware site, it is a mainstream competitor to CNET, it was stated as such by the new management and quoted. I'm not making this stuff up, it's fact. So since it's now gone mainstream (ie-n00bish), how can anyone here be expected to pass the simple test? These visitors are NOT TECH-SAVVY, otherwise they wouldn't be here in the first place!!!

Surely you devs can see the irony, no? THG is for mainstream/noobs. They can't use or navigate the forums. So they can't learn or contribute. That my dear devs, is the definition of failure.......

It was one example

Judging by the countless responses on a multitude of other topics, I think it's best to start looking there, it may prove to yield more information and examples than just this one.

Look, you only joined after the switch to your favorite forum software was made. I think the people that were here before and that are complaining now deserve a bit more understanding from MD enthusiasts like you. I know you mean well, but just go over somewhere where they're not running MD and try to operate it as you would an MD forum, just to get a feel of how it is when someone replaces the software overnight.

Most people come here to gather or share information, not to learn new forum software. Everything that hampers that, will be experienced as a dissatisfier, and that especially holds for functionality that is no longer there. I feel there are no "irrelevant" comments, we have to try assist everyone that is willing to make the transition with TH. Only over time people will discover new features and hopefully start enjoying those.

This "Which type of forums to use" argument sounds alot like Mac vs PC. Neither is wrong, each have their pros and cons. Drop a PC user onto a Mac and they'll be just as frustrated as a Mac user onto a PC. Both are good systems in their respective right.

Same thing here. Maybe it's better, maybe it's not. More than likely it's just DIFFERENT.

But it's that SUDDEN CHANGE that has everyone's panties in a knot. Surely THG foresaw this happening? But no word. Nothing on the front page. There's BS articles and news about cars and who knows what else under the sun.........everything but news about their OWN SITE!! That's reprehensible.

Not even a heads-up. No help until after it's "broke". (notice I used that word in quotes). The thousands of people that regularly visit these forums are in a lurch!!! Do we hear anything from management? No. Do we even see a "chin up, it'll get better, we feel your pain" on the front page? NO.

Is this how THG treats its customers. And make no mistake, we are CUSTOMERS. We are the reason why it got sold for a boatload of cash, because people visit the site and it gets traffic, and that equals money. And to P!$$ on your own customers? Wow, I'm shocked.

With all due respect Korma, you're focusing on the boards. I understand. That is your interest and specialty. I won't knock your preference for one type of board over another......personal preference, not a problem. But ultimately you (and MANY OTHERS) are missing the point:

It's not about the BOARDS. It's about this site and the attitude of its new owners (or lack thereof).

THG is a business and the visitors are the customers and revenue source. To alienate and insult their customers is poor business at the very least. At most, it's ethically wrong how many of us have been treated.

It's not about the boards.

Why is that continually being missed here?


Honestly, I'm not sure why I'm still visiting this site and posting here. Maybe out of habit. There is only acknowledgment of the symptoms, not the PROBLEM. They either can't see or don't want to admit it. Regardless, THG is P!$$ING on its consumer base and making this site go down the toilet with it. I fail to see how that is defensible.

People wanna go on about the icons and buttons and color scheme, fine. Whatever. It's arguing about trivialities while your heads are in the sand, oblivous to what is actually happening. It's a classic bait-and-switch strategy.....keep em busy while we do _____, they'll never notice!

Well, those that are feeble-minded won't notice, but those that care and look beyond their own little field of selfish interest will notice. The irony is that when that happens and they see the reality of the situation, they'll realize it's not worth caring about any more.

I was going to make some comment on how can you tell this board was taken over by... but thought better of it.

The problem is, a lot of people that have been around here for a lot longer than any of you (Korma in particular) are basically being told "like it or lump it". Instead of working with the community to improve the situation, you simply ignore and push on ahead anyway... believing that the rest of us will somehow "see the light". I'm sure I'm not alone when I say a bunch of new guys shouldn't be dictating to the rest of us what we should or shouldn't like.

Instead of trying to make yourselves a part of the community, you immediately come in and make sweeping changes and then expect the community to somehow embrace those changes. You're seriously delusional if you believe that will happen. Instead of consulting the user base, you made the changes because it's what you're used to and the rest of us can just go to hell. Definately not the kind of attitude you'd expect if you're looking for acceptance from the community.