Posted by BrendaTx on 6/3/07 10:42am
Msg #193422

OT Kinda...I wish all forums used this type of lay out

I have been trying to get into another (non-notary/mortgage biz) forum and it seems like everyone and their dawg is going to phpBB. Once they set that up then they make 100 different categories and it's like you are going to fifteen different forums. They over organize.

I know others probably feel differently but I really appreciate NR after probing around on the other ones.

Too many bells and whistles just don't yield a better forum IMHO.

Thanks, Harry, for keeping NR almost exactly the same forever.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 6/3/07 10:47am
Msg #193423

I agree - I like that all NotRot messages are in one place. No searching a multitude of different categories for something that may or may not interest you. Your're right, Brenda, simpler is better.

Reply by Rachel/ORWA on 6/3/07 11:02am
Msg #193428

Re: OT Kinda...I would like to add...

that not only is this a great format, but the content is unparalleled. In the last few months, I have spent hundreds of hours lurking around this and other sites, and this is the best--hands down. So many of you are so generous with your experience and insight, even when giving a newbie (which I am, btw, I confess) 20 lashes.

So, thank you Harry, and thank you to all of you who post, snippy, funny, ranting, as the case may be: your posts have provided (and continue to) an education for me. I appreciate it so much.

Rachel

Reply by thnotary_NY on 6/3/07 11:57am
Msg #193439

Re: OT Kinda...I would like to add...

Ok Ok, what is it you want to know Rachel.!? lol

Reply by JanetK_CA on 6/3/07 2:50pm
Msg #193451

Re: OT Kinda...I would like to add...

Your attitude is a breath of fresh air from the newbie community! I'm sure it will serve you well...

Reply by Neecy/CA on 6/3/07 3:50pm
Msg #193458

Re: OT Kinda...I would like to add...

Rachel,
I am glad to hear that you are receiving positive feedback as a newbie. Good luck in your endeavors. I unfortunately, have not had the greatest experience and I am glad to see their are people on Not Rot willing to help newbies.

Neecy

Reply by MelissaCT on 6/3/07 9:18pm
Msg #193486

Help those who help themselves n/m

Reply by Rachel/ORWA on 6/3/07 11:28pm
Msg #193498

Re: OT Kinda...I would like to add...

I just figured out how to link my post to my profile... guess I wasn't quite as "up" on the site as I thought!

Reply by Ernest__CT on 6/4/07 6:42am
Msg #193506

Rachel/ORWA: Nice Profile! n/m

Reply by PAW on 6/4/07 5:26am
Msg #193503

I would prefer a hybrid ...

As with any format, there is overkill and phpBB (and many others) allow it to happen too easily. But, with most other forums, like phpBB, there are "bells and whistles" (if employed) to allow a user to view the posts in many different ways.

phpBB has lots to offer if properly implemented and used. This format does too. But neither one will satisfy all the users all the time, no matter what.

For example, there are two major drawbacks, imo, to this layout: lack of cookies (user side or server side) to show what posts have already been viewed. It seems to work if not logged in, but not otherwise; not being able to simply view unread posts. Sometimes, especially at EOM, vacations, etc., many days go by and I'm not able to read the forum. By the time I get to, a thread I was interested in may be three, four or more pages back.

As I said, there are good points here and in other boards and drawbacks too. Some folks have a harder time than others adjusting to the varied ways that folks present information. We've all learned to deal with it, some kicking and screaming, and others so placid that you may wonder if they're there at all.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 6/4/07 6:40am
Msg #193505

Re: I'm with PAW, ...

... especially on read versus unread Posts. It is very frustrating to log in, begin reading to catch up, have to pause (maybe for hours++), then have to log back in again because my session has expired, and have ALL the Posts colored as unread!

Does anyone know of any sotware that would solve the problem of keeping track of read and unread Posts?

Reply by PAW on 6/4/07 4:31pm
Msg #193585

It has to be 'built in'

Most bulletin boards (e.g. BoardHost) and forum software have that capability, but it has to coded into the software. phpBB, for instance, uses cookies, either server side or client side or both, to track user information and a database lookup when the user returns.