Changes to the Competitions Time Section

MSE_Stephen

One-Eye said:

MSE_Stephen said:

For the Search widget, we can certainly sort by Newest if there's consensus. 

There has been no consensus to have it as "Best Match" and will be no consensus to have it as "Newest". I suggest change it immediately and see if anyone objects.

'Best Match' is the default for the whole forum. So since it's making the search box different from the default, the emphasis should be that Compers want change, rather than having that as a Starting point.

gdmoney said:

PLEASE can "Newest" be the default sort order for the search widget.

...but okay I've changed it because of the current consensus.

libra10

Some useful suggestions, thank you.

When clicking either Enter or Skipped at the bottom of a post, can this also be highlighted when returning to the main thread list?  Previously it used to be.

Blulu

Easy access to Game Over is useful for a number of reasons: To thank the poster if you win; to check that a congratulations email relates to a comp you entered (this would be easier if it showed the complete list of thanks, but we get round this by clicking thanks to see if the number goes up or down) and for posters of comps, to be able to include useful information posted previously.

Sorting searches by newest post should definitely be the default setting. Most searches on this forum are time related.

Blu XXX

One-Eye

MSE_Stephen said:

We can also look at adding Game Over (Game Over Archive?) - but in considering whether that's a good idea, we would want to make sure we're making it especially easy for a new member looking for Comps since they will find it the the hardest to find their way around, whereas our regular Compers will know how navigate the quirks of Search even if it means a few extra clicks - would be very interested in hearing opinions on this. 

No need at all for the Archive.

Unfortunately many regular compers are akin to newbies when it comes to the quirks of Search. Having a compers specific Search function on the page is massive step forward for all but the very few "expert searchers". Surely it is obvious that having Game Over in the box (where it can be deleted using the "x") is better than non-experts trying to add it in.

The biggest reasons for searching with Game Over included are:
1) You want to copy the format or details of a previous iteration of a competition. This is used a lot when the Advents start and last year's comp provides a lot of useful info.
2) You want to see if the competition has already been posted but is in Game Over due to an extended closing date or date error when originally posted.
3) You want to find the answer to a competition (promotions are often run across multiple media with the same question and answer - in which case it can be quicker to find the answer on the forum)
4) You want to check if you entered a competition.
5) You want to find details of a competition that you have won!

Again, this is something I think is so obvious that I suggest changing it immediately and then seeing if anyone objects.

One-Eye

MSE_Stephen said:

If the Search widget is to appear on all Comps pages, it would have to be immediately under the Quick Links - So the one on the new main page would probably also have to be moved down just so that it's consistent on every page.

I assume this is because the widget has replaced the "create new" button on the top-level page, but individual categories must have the "create new" button in that position.

What a massive shame. I feel the widget must be somewhere at the top of the page. The way a page scrolls means  the top of quick links doesn't move until you have scrolled well down a page, and you don't reach the bottom of quick links until you are almost at the bottom of the page. Putting it at the bottom would be a dead loss. Please continue to look for a solution, but if a place can't be found at the top then it is probably better to have it just on the top-level page.

pate-ci0

Definitely would prefer Search to default to Newest. Would also prefer it to be available at least on the page most of us have open all the time, the one now called Standard Competitions. Otherwise we need to have two tabs open on a regular basis.

Freelikeabird

I agree with all of the above comments. Good changes, thank you

I don't mind the background as it is because it gives nice contrast between the boxes and the background, but also wouldn't mind if it was just a solid colour if it's better for others that way.

Someone mentioned about the comp-liment button... will it be possible now or in a future update to make it obvious when you've comp-limented a post? At the moment the only way is to either hover over if it's a short list or click to see what happens to the number. If it changed colour or had something like a thumbs up appear next to it that would really help, especially when on the puzzle threads!

Moneybot

One-Eye said:

Category Names & Straplines

Some of the historic category names & straplines are now wrong for the way the forum is used, especially the "Regular Competitions". A few changes would help users, especially newbies, find the correct area in which to post or find what they are looking for, and alongside the new "Standard Competitions" this would massively cut down on the number of comps posted in the wrong part of the forum.
___________________________________________________________________________________

Standard Competitions

Share and find new competitions you’d like to enter to win here.

I suggest:

Standard Competitions

FREE competitions you enter online, by email or through social media.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Post, phone & text comps

Spending to enter competitions is NOT MoneySaving. Always include the free entry route if there is one and never post a pay-to-enter competition costing more than £2.10

I suggest

Post, phone & text comps

Competitions with no free online entry. NEVER post a pay-to-enter competition costing more than £2.10

___________________________________________________________________________________

Regular competitions

This is the place for ongoing and recurring competitions which regularly produce winners - weekly, monthly etc.

(this strapline is totally wrong - weekly and monthly comps are not posted here.)
I suggest

Regular competitions - Lists & Indexes

Regularly updated lists of magazine puzzles, daily entry comps etc

(I have deliberately retained the "Regular Competitions" at the start of the title as this wording appears in other places in the forum)

___________________________________________________________________________________

Totally agree with these suggestion and think it would help posters find the correct section to post in. Before the default was the main board as it was obvious that is where competitions were posted. 

Could I suggest the Advent strapline is also altered to make it clear it is daily entry free competitions in the run up to Christmas? Last year there were a few enter once before the start of the advents which might have been better on the main board. They had daily prizes but not daily entry. 

philsu

gdmoney said:

PLEASE can "Newest" be the default sort order for the search widget.

I Agree - would prefer "Newest"

Scorpioangel

Could include a link to the search in the quick links rather than a separate entry above or below.