Major New Forum Function Launch! Like-it, Spam, Expired & see things differently

MSE_Martin

We're pleased to be able to introduce some new features to the forums!

They will be available to any users who have been active on the forums for a short while. Hurrah! (Some heavy posters will have already tested them out, though there are minor changes to the new launched version).

1. Like-it button.
   
   Ever read a thread thought so good you wanted to tell everyone? Now you can! Click the 'Like-it' button when viewing a thread
   
   What happens: Firstly it alerts the MSE team of a great deal and it also adds a rating, which in some boards you'll soon be able to sort by the 'ratings view'.
   
   
2. Spam button.
   
   In most boards you can now click the button above a thread, to signal you believe that it is 'Spam'. Hopefully it goes without saying but please only click something that you genuinely think to be Spam!
   
   What happens: The thread gets removed from the forums when enough users agree it's spam (it may be brought back after review by the abuseteam though).
   
   If it's a single post that is spam, or an abusive rather than spam thread, please continue to use [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL] to report it.
   
   
3. Expired button.
   
   This appears above threads in the Grab It, Shop but don't drop and Freebies boards. Click it to indicate a deal has now expired.
   
   What happens: Once enough people have clicked this, threads will move to the relevant 'expired' forum eg. 'Freebies Gone but not forgotten'.
   
   
4. See things differently!.
   
   This bar appears at the top of the Grab It, Shop but don't drop, Freebies, and Competition boards. It lets you view the forum in different ways. We're planning on toning down the colour of the bar, so if you think it's a bit bright, fear not!
   
   Standard View. This is the default view (the one you've always had). Threads with recent posts are listed first.
   
   New Topic View. Here newly started threads are listed first.
   
   Rating View. This links in with the 'Like-it' button. Each thread is given a rating based on the number of RECENT likes (we use a ratio to work it out) so you can see which threads are being recommended (there'll also be a list of all-time likes but it can't be sorted on that)
   
   Most Viewed. This shows the most viewed threads STARTED in the last 7 days (not in testing it was most viewed threads started over the last two years - but was changed as this is more useful).
   
   The plan is once this specific feature has bedded in it will be available to all users (logged in or not) - though the like it button will still be only for users who've been active for a short time.

These are some big changes, and we really hope it will help speed up some of the frustrations users have reported to us over time. Effectively for 'out of date' and 'spam' threads the forum is self-policing which should really improve things.

We also hope the like-it system and new way of sorting, will help people filter info more quickly.

These are some of the first results of the forum upgrades we've been doing (when we've had to close the forum down) and hopefully you'll think they're worth it.

Please (gently) let us know what you think.

Martin

zenseeker

Woot!! Can't wait to use them...any idea what time the update will happen?

ormus

i think the changes will be good for the website.

but please can you do something about the search facility.
can you at least make the search specific to the various sections/forums?
its real PITA to sift through 200 pages!
thx.

freyasmum

Martine wrote:

(Some heavy posters will have already tested them out, though there are minor changes to the new launched version)

That why I've already seen them, then

I like them, I think it's a great idea

ormus wrote: »

i think the changes will be good for the website.

but please can you do something about the search facility.
can you at least make the search specific to the various sections/forums?
its real PITA to sift through 200 pages!
thx.

You can already do that :undecided

MSE_Martin

ormus wrote: »

i think the changes will be good for the website.

but please can you do something about the search facility.
can you at least make the search specific to the various sections/forums?
its real PITA to sift through 200 pages!
thx.

Just click advanced search and you can do just that - you can also click search this board when you're in a board - so Im confused to the problme

IMPORTANT. This isnt a thread to discuss search though, if my answer doesn't answer what you're talking to - please explain in detail but start a new thread to do it - rather than doing it here

zenseeker

ormus wrote: »

i think the changes will be good for the website.

but please can you do something about the search facility.
can you at least make the search specific to the various sections/forums?
its real PITA to sift through 200 pages!
thx.

Try the button that I have circled (badly) in this pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v690/magnius77/searchforum.jpg

Tulip

love the new changes

thanks Martin!

cazispen

brillant changes, great idea

annie21_2

changes sound good

fire**fly

Great idea, thank you martin & all the team

Pip26

Thanks for helping ormus zenkeeper - I had problems when I first started to search but know this is not the place to continue/have 'search' discussion so .....

onto real discussion and board changes !!!!! ......

Exciting!!!!!!

All sound a really good idea.

Glad to hear about the spam button as will be v. useful. Also, sometimes people do post spam as a genuine mistake - this may help to stop the unuseful or sometimes unpleasant replies/comments they unecessarily get ... plus each comment bumps the post which we do not really want to do if it is spam.

Expired button also useful and like the spam buttuon, may help take pressure of board guides.

...... we really hope it will help speed up some of the frustrations users have reported to us over time......

I'm sure it will - and thanks for taking notice.

I think disruption to the board was kept to a minimum and I'm amazed all this has been going on without it affecting the board more.