Is it a test?

[MoodyBlues]

What's up with the format change? Is it a test? Will it go away? I looked through my settings but didn't see anything likely there.

I'm not crazy about the 'related posts' at the bottom of a thread; please make that a user setting if it's going to stick around.

And I noticed the absence of member ranks.

 

[Steven58]

Yes and no. Format is streamlining to make AF more navigation friendly. One test is the new format of taking the stats out of the picture and smaller pics.

 

[olbriar]

An ongoing effort to increase traffic flow Moody. Some changes and additions might not be well received by us long time members but keep in mind... every change is in a trial basis and is in an attempt to increase forum use.

 

[Rob]

We're testing a bunch of things right now! Some will stay, some will go, some will be adjusted based on feedback. But 100% of the changes are meant to improve the site for the majority of members.

Curious what you dislike about the "Similar threads" showing at the bottom of threads? By the time you get to the bottom of the page there's nothing left to see... do you typically click something in the footer that you can no longer access?

The idea is that A LOT of people find AF from search engines and we want to give them reasons to continue browsing AF rather than leaving. If they get to the bottom of the thread and the page ends they're likely to leave. We may not always show "related posts" but it's likely we will continue showing some type of content to keep people engaged.

We may reduce the number from 10 to 5, change what content is there altogether, or making it an option in the usercp is also a good idea.

Thanks for noticing!

 

[MoodyBlues]

Thanks for the info, @Rob.

I'm all for getting more traffic--I miss our crazy-busy days!--so I appreciate and understand trying changes that may help.

By the time you get to the bottom of the page there's nothing left to see... do you typically click something in the footer that you can no longer access?

Yes...no. I can still get to it, but now I have to scroll past the list of related threads--it's the link for the board I'm on. For example, if I'm reading a thread in Android Help, after its last post there's a link for Android Help. That's how I navigate until I'm ready to leave a board, then I use my 'favorites' list. Note that I've only seen the new look on my phone (browser, not app).

Curious what you dislike about the "Similar threads" showing at the bottom of threads?

From what little I've had a chance to see so far, it looked like some of them were really old. Just because a thread from 2010 has a word in common with a current post, doesn't mean it's relevant! If I, as a random visitor arriving from a search, clicked a 'related' post and found that its content was 10 years old, I'd roll my eyes, sigh, and leave in a huff.

f they get to the bottom of the thread and the page ends they're likely to leave.

Why not have a 'have you seen our other boards?' block, with links to some sub-forums, or to a comprehensive listing of all the boards? That could be more relevant/inviting than a post from 2013!

 

[Hadron]

Oh, I hadn't even noticed the "related threads" at the bottom. I guess I just know the layout well enough that I don't even look for anything below the quick reply box .

I wonder how long it would have taken me to spot the absence of member ranks as well...?

Edit: but I spotted the rearrange of the top bar! Well I did when I pressed the "what's new" button without looking and found myself within apps/games...

 

[Rob]

Thanks @MoodyBlues

Based on your feedback, I adjusted the "Similar Threads" to only show items from the past 2 years. My once concern here is that although some of the content displayed is VERY old it's often super helpful. People often find us by Googling for support on a device that's 5 years old. Not everyone is looking for this content but for others it's EXACTLY what they're looking for...

That being said, I think 2 years is a fair middle ground.

Will look into adding a breadcrumb link somewhere helpful at the bottom and the idea to add other content (in addition to or in replace of Similar Threads) is a great idea!

 

[ocnbrze]

Oh, I hadn't even noticed the "related threads" at the bottom. I guess I just know the layout well enough that I don't even look for anything below the quick reply box .

I wonder how long it would have taken me to spot the absence of member ranks as well...?

Edit: but I spotted the rearrange of the top bar! Well I did when I pressed the "what's new" button without looking and found myself within apps/games...

LOL i just did the same thing. it took me a second or two to realize what just happened. ****sigh*** yet another thing i have to get used to

 

[Rob]

yet another thing i have to get used to

It's just... you just.. you gotta just gotta move your clicker an inch to the right? lol

 

[ocnbrze]

It's just... you just.. you gotta just gotta move your clicker an inch to the right? lol

sorry but my carpel tunnel is not thanking you......LOL

 

[MoodyBlues]

Thanks @MoodyBlues

You're welcome.

Based on your feedback, I adjusted the "Similar Threads" to only show items from the past 2 years....

I think that's good.

I understand your concern regarding searchers with 5-year-old devices. However, I think a case can be made that their searches would lead them to the very threads I'm talking about. In other words, people who are searching for 5-year-old device help would find it. I hope that makes sense.

Breadcrumbs would be good, or a shorter list of related threads, or rearranging things so the current forum link appears in its usual spot and the related threads follow.

Thanks for listening, and being receptive to feedback/suggestions.

 

[ocnbrze]

so one thing i do not like right now is that we can't see the member's post count. i uses this to see if this is their first post or not. it just helps on knowing whether to officially greet them or not.

 

[MoodyBlues]

so one thing i do not like right now is that we can't see the member's post count. i uses this to see if this is their first post or not. it just helps on knowing whether to officially greet them or not.

I'm seeing it, using my standard routine: I click their name and look for 'member since,' then if it's today or yesterday I welcome them. But their post count is there, too.

 

[ocnbrze]

I'm seeing it, using my standard routine: I click their name and look for 'member since,' then if it's today or yesterday I welcome them. But their post count is there, too.

again carpal tunnel......HELLO!!!!!!

Spoiler: Spoiler

just kidding
i do not have carpal tunnel

 

[MoodyBlues]

How about restoring member rankings?

I've pondered why they're gone...

Maybe just the top 100? I think seeing that a member who's replied to a new member/guest, has a high ranking lends credence to them somehow. Just a thought.

 

[Hadron]

The "ranking" thing was always a little odd: us long-term members probably had some idea what it was based on, but it's not a common forum feature and was probably obscure to most.

But most forums show post counts or join dates without you having to click to check. I'm not saying those are the best indicators, but it is unusual to have no indication at a glance of whether you are dealing with a long-established contributor, a newly-created account or someone who maybe reads a lot but posts a few times per year.

 

[ocnbrze]

The "ranking" thing was always a little odd: us long-term members probably had some idea what it was based on, but it's not a common forum feature and was probably obscure to most.

But most forums show post counts or join dates without you having to click to check. I'm not saying those are the best indicators, but it is unusual to have no indication at a glance of whether you are dealing with a long-established contributor, a newly-created account or someone who maybe reads a lot but posts a few times per year.

i agree with this totally. it helps me when i'm over at xda. i can see those stats and know which one i can trust more.

 

[Hadron]

Well, you at least know who has been around longer.

"likes/thanks" totals are another indicator, though of course those are also not infallible. We replaced them by "points" long ago, but these are also stats that you need to click on to see them, which a new member might not realise you need to do.

So yeah, @Rob, I don't claim to know the right answer, but providing no such indicators is unusual. And I've no reason to believe that being unable to tell at a glance who is a respected member and who registered that morning will improve engagement with the forum. So while I'm not sure what the right balance is, I'm not sure that hiding everything is the best choice.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Good points, Hadron.

Now that we're talking about rankings, I'd like to point out something I dislike about a related issue, the labels such as 'Android Expert.' Its algorithm apparently doesn't take into account whether the member is actually helpful/knowledgeable.

Without naming any names, there are some 'Android Experts' who can barely turn on their own devices! Calling them experts sullies the word.

IMNSHO, the algorithm should take into account at least some combination of: number of replies 'liked;' number of 'liked' posts versus total number of posts; number of 'best answer' replies; some other stuff!

 

[dontpanicbobby]

I just noticed today. Doesn't bother me.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

We'll some of it bothers me...

 

[Rob]

I don't disagree that having a way to establish someone's standing in the community at quick glance is helpful. I don't think using XDA as a measuring stick is a good idea- they've put the forum on the back burner in favor of a Wordpress homepage with news and full-time writers. I don't think that's the direction we want to take (or is it)? Reddit on the other hand shows even less information than us and they do pretty darn good.

I think showing posts would probably be the most helpful since you could click and get directly into all that person's posts but then is post count really the metric on which to value a member? There are so many different factors. I think "Staff" and "VIP" are very good indicators that someone is the real deal. And I think when we had "Guides" was probably AF's pinnacle.

Let me think about this and we can revisit. Either I'll ask Morgan to pop post count back in there temporarily or let the ideas marinate and figure it out in the near future. It's helpful for me to strip out all these maybe-ish features so we can look at the bones of our site - the content - and rethink how to make things work going forward, not based on what we used to do or what other sites are doing, but based on what works the best for the AF we envision being most helpful.

Thanks for all this feedback. It's been great. The rank idea is on my radar, rest assured!

 

[Unforgiven]

As someone near the top in all stats let me say if one stat comes back, let it be rank. It's both a combination of posts, likes, and best answers, but also takes into account recent activity. So if you've bugged out, you are no longer ranked, and that's as important or more important than post, likes, and best answers.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Thanks for the ongoing discourse, @Rob. It's reassuring to know that you're listening.

I think "Staff" and "VIP" are very good indicators that someone is the real deal.

Yes...and no. We have some very valued/valuable [at least in my eyes] members who are neither. I've been both, but I don't think that makes my comments better or more important than someone else's. By the same token, just because someone pays for VIP doesn't really make them one! At least not in terms of their Android knowledge.

And I think when we had "Guides" was probably AF's pinnacle.

Those were the days.

I definitely don't want AF to turn into Reddit--where mudslinging abounds, and opposing opinions are not tolerated. Please don't let it devolve into that...

But I'm strongly in favor of some ranking system. Basically, some thing that lets new members and visitors know who they're talking to, that you're not a drive-by poster, but a regular on the boards--and takes into account the actual quality of your contributions. 40,000 posts may look impressive when compared to 400--but if the 40,000-er only has 10 likes, while the 400-er has 300...there's no comparison in terms of quality.

 

[Xavier Black]

I've been meaning to ask you..I can't see the rank numbers of the members any more..it started happening happening about two or three days ago..

Well it seems like your testing isn't working out..so let's go back to normal