Forum Update

DVardysShadow

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Im very interested to see the 'bounce' impact - that's the forum's biggest issue far too many people come here - say they can't understand it and leave. So we're interest to see the impact on new users of the what we believe is easier to comprehend look now (less info is good in that case)

custardy wrote: »

I think your biggest issue is folks simply not knowing where to post
its a big forum with many sections. even as a long termer I struggle to sometimes find section I know exist.

+1

I fully expect the difference this change to make to 'bounce' to be somewhere in the noise margins. The change does nothing to make the forums look easier to use. It is probably just a theory advanced by web techies because it is something they have influence over.

Biggest problem is probably that people who have never used a forum are struggling with a 3 level model of forums, threads and posts. You often find newbies do not know how to start a new thread. They don't even know what a thread is, they just find some vaguely not too irrelevant thread and post their question on the end of it. These are the brave ones. The non brave ones bounce.

I would say that a well written and easily accessible 'howto', with a few screen shots will do loads more for reducing bounce than shrinking the width of the forum.

meher

Sandhy wrote: »

Unless I've not been very observant to announcements but was this change was rather unexpected?

we were informed of the webpage title change, not that the forum would be narrowed - no one was prepared for it

gettingready

Ohhhhh great for the info how to change back to STRETCHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY wohoooo

Fixed was absolutely awful, sorry. So are the colours on top of the screen - yukkk

MothballsWallet

MSE_Martin wrote: »

The fixed width is set at standard web dimensions - you'll find almost all big editorial sites and many forum / social networking sites are fixed width too.

All of the other forums I'm a member of use variable-width, e.g., MacGyver Online, Sluggy Freelance, Mozilla Zine and That Guy With The Glasses.

MSE_Martin wrote: »

This isn't an MSE on its own - actually we've been in the minority a long time.

Sometimes being in the minority is a good thing

MSE_Martin wrote: »

I accept some won't like it. I would ask you to try it. Yet if you hate it choose the stretchy option. We can't say fairer than allowing you to choose.

I'd like to suggest having a look at the instructions to find the option to change the width style in User CP.

Perhaps have a look at this article I found on About.com about web design.

meher

Im really lovinge this look more so because it has such a dramatic effect HAHAha :rotfl::o

actually I get the feeling that they might adjust and tweak a little more to our liking

And I don't understand this bounce thing - may be they have some advantage we lesser techi mortals don't understand. I only know that if I went into a website that is pleasing to look around, I'd stay - if it isn't kind to the eye, even if it is a resourceful one, I wouldn't stay. But the main page is simply fabulous with the exception of the thick gray header and footer and the grainy gray backgwound.

MonkeySaving?

Martin, sort this out please, I can play Skyrim in the blank grey sides of this board on a 24" monitor, that is until I took an arrow to the knee.

MonkeySaving?

..and your pic at the top looks like you're saying, this is my forum and I have ****** it up just for you

josie301

Fixed width giving me a headache - honestly! Can't cope with gaping white bars down the side of a 17" screen.

I've gone with stretchy, and the bad head has gone!

Mikeyorks

MSE_Martin wrote: »

I know I can say until Im blue in the face - try it, wait and see, its far better for readability.

Martin - I've been on here nearly as long as you have! Read - and enjoyed - for a good year before I signed up.

And I've gone through the whole gamut of changes / improvements et al - without demur. Until today when - if nothing else I object to the waste of money I've spent on the monitor - which is significantly underutilised all of a sudden. You, of all people should empathise? And it feels / looks significantly cramped.

Don't go blue in the face ....... it won't look at all right with the colour of shirt on the new masthead!

tobiascurious

bordercars wrote: »

im on a mac. just hit "cmd +" increases page size, no white edges no reading glasses needed.

works with PCs as well (Ctrl +)