My beefs with this forum software

[Jeff Olsen]

Hello folks.

I like this forum; I like the tone, and the people are knowledgeable and very nice to be around.

I am a big Nosler fan and they are always the bullets I try first.

There's a couple things about this forum, though, that drive me nuts and I really feel that they are holding back the growth and/or "reach" that it has. I hope it's not inappropriate to air them here. I chose the "Reloading" section because it has the highest traffic.

First, if I want to actually do anything other than read posts here, it makes me log in. I am a member of several other internet forums and they all remember my computer and save me this tedious step. Sometimes it will make me log in TWICE- once to get here, and again if I want to post something. I have got to think this is just a software setting in the hosting software.

Second, most other forums work this way: you make a post. You tell the software if you want to subscribe to that thread or not. The software then emails you the posts from the thread from that point on- so you can very quickly and easily read what is happening, from your email program. This allows great efficiency; you don't have to log onto the forum just to see what's going on in the thread(s) you are interested in.

I know it might seem to the forum operators that to allow folks to subscribe to a thread and then view it in their emailer will keep traffic OFF the web forum, but I believe just the opposite is true. The efficiency sucks you in; you are more likely to participate, not less.

I offer these suggestions in the kindest possible spirit of constructive criticism! Please don't flay me alive.



-jeff

 

[baltz526]

the site works exactly like you discribe, for me most of the time

 

[JD338]

Jeff,

I have Mozilla Firefox and it eliminated the double log ons.
On the upper left are sort buttons. Much better that getting email in box filled up with replys.

JD338

 

[Jeff Olsen]

Do you mean as I WISH it would behave, or how it behaves for me?

See, this time I DIDN'T have to log back in, which makes me think that it's just a software setting and if you haven't been back here in XX hours or whatever, then it forgets your computer's "cookies" or whatever and makes you log back in.

I have to think that could be changed in a jiffy by their webmaster. To be able to pop back here and NOT log in every time would make me come here more often.

(These days I have so many various accounts and passwords and so on that to have to dredge 'em up or look 'em up is enough of a pain that sometimes, I just say screw it... grin...)

 

[JD338]

(These days I have so many various accounts and passwords and so on that to have to dredge 'em up or look 'em up is enough of a pain that sometimes, I just say screw it... grin...)

Mozilla Firefox will do this for you. :wink:

JD338

 

[baltz526]

it works the way you wish it worked

 

[Jeff Olsen]

baltz, so you can see the body of people's posts, in an email? Not just get a notification that there was a reply??

Gosh, if so then it looks like the problem is with MY software!

 

[Richracer1]

If I click on the box that states to log me in automatically, I don't have to log in unless I clear out my IE cookies, history, or internet files. I went into my profile and turned off the thread subscription service as I got tired of the multitude of messages I was getting. Also, if you look at the bottom of one of your replies, there's a check box for subscribing to that thread.

As for the loggig in to do something other than reading, keeps the spammers, crap, and porn out that thankfully this forum isn't plagued with.

So, in my opinion, this forum actually does what you want, you aren't utilizing the features already present. Just my opinion, take it or leave.

 

[Jeff Olsen]

Well... but if I go to get on here TOMORROW, it's gonna make me log in. That's beef one. And yes, I know about the little checkbox but it just notifies me that a reply has been made. To have to log on (usually) just to even see what that reply was, to find out if I care, is tedious- IMHO.

I am not advocating tossing the baby with the bathwater. As I say, I really like the "tone" of this forum and perhaps having it be fairly low-traffic and tedious in the ways I am describing are good things in some way.

Just saying, basically, that it's a significantly more cumbersome internet experience than most other forums, and that's unfortunate- from my perspective.

Carry on folks, PLEASE don't take this wrong...

 

[Richracer1]

Trust me, I'm not taking anything you say the wrong way. My comments are to inform you that I can do everything you say this forum doesn't do. I rarely have to log in because I tell it to log me in automatically and I have gone weeks without atually doing anything to log in. I choose not to receive e-mail updates about the threads I post on because I choose not to 1) checking "no" in my profile and 2) by not checking the little box at the bottom of the reply screen, located directly above the "Preview" button.

So, maybe it's not actually the forum software, but your computer settings or just you.

Hopefully you can get it working for you. 8)

 

[FOTIS]

(These days I have so many various accounts and passwords and so on that to have to dredge 'em up or look 'em up is enough of a pain that sometimes, I just say screw it... grin...)

Mozilla Firefox will do this for you. :wink:

JD338

That is what I use.

 

[JDMAG]

It logs me in automatically when I come to the site. If the cookies get deleted, then I have to log back on and it makes me do it twice. I don't mind the notifications. Crap I've been so bored this week I refresh my email page just to see if anythings new! :lol:

 

[Greg Nolan]

Ditto JDMAG :grin:

 

[JD338]

Jeff,

Try this set up in your profile.......

Always show my e-mail address: No
Hide your online status: No
Always notify me of replies:
Sends an e-mail when someone replies to a topic you have posted in. This can be changed whenever you post. No
Notify on new Private Message: No
Pop up window on new Private Message:
Some templates may open a new window to inform you when new private messages arrive. No
Always attach my signature: Yes
Always allow BBCode: Yes
Always allow HTML: Yes
Always enable Smilies: Yes


Then get Mozilla Firefox (its free) and it will remember all your log ins and you are done. Now life is good..........

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Jeff,

I'll pile in with another plug for Firefox. I'm running the current Beta, and it works beautifully. If you're uncomfortable running a Beta, then download the stable version (3.0.6). Consequently, I've checked the latest version of Opera (9.63), and it is every bit as quick and responsive. Either will address the issues you raised.

 

[tjRoberts]

I most of the time need to ,og in manualy too,
but its not much of a problem , only takes a second, minor pain in the keester but I would love to see it go away !
...tj3006

 

[DrMike]

I choose a manual log-in, having set Firefox to delete all cookies after every session. It is an extra layer of security since I frequently work from my laptop, which is more portable and thus more readily available to theft. I'm leery about having passwords stored on my computer. Likely, I'm just paranoid, but there can be good reasons why people choose to avoid cookies. I do permit Opera to store a few cookies; it has an added layer of security to protect accessing the cookies.

 

[Tiny]

I mentioned this a good while back and seeing this topic reminds me of it,,,

I still have to log in 2-10 to make 1 post.

May log in and be able to make to a post then the next have to log in again.

Checked remember me doesn't matter.

An is the big reason I don't come here often. to much of a hassle.

There is something up with this board or it users internet providers.

 

[Tiny]

Well it worked this time even though I had to submit and re-submit the above 4x

 

[Ol` Joe]

I mentioned this a good while back and seeing this topic reminds me of it,,,

I still have to log in 2-10 to make 1 post.

May log in and be able to make to a post then the next have to log in again.

Checked remember me doesn't matter.

An is the big reason I don't come here often. to much of a hassle.

There is something up with this board or it users internet providers.

I have a similar problem. I go right to the forum with no trouble everytime I click my bookmark, new posts are highighted, ect. If however, I want to reply or start a post, it makes me log in everytime. I had to log in to make this reply, and if I start a post when I`m done I`m sure it will require me to do it again.
Once I reply to a post the forum also tells me there are no new posts since my last visit, although there may have been 10 showing when I 1st when to one.