so much for that
Usability Improvements Locked In
Filed under:
So this year I implemented a new policy: all donations not ticketed for site contributors or Phil Brabbs get tallied at the end of the year and then I go spend that money on improvements to the site. This year we've made some adjustments to the comment system:
- Comments have been re-themed to take up less space and hopefully cut down on the phenomenon where a series of replies ends up with comically thin content areas.
- Comments have been ajaxified: no need to reload the page to post a comment.
- The voting system has had a major hole closed: votes on items older than a week do not affect userpoints.
- Another system hole closed: it now costs a point to vote, whether it's up or down. This will prevent people from getting slightly over 20 points with a series of sock puppets and vote-spamming other people. Also, the ratio for posting new threads and diaries has been altered: it's now +1 for up, –1 for down. Comments remain +2 up, –1 down.
There are a couple bugs with the sidebar and placement of some of the new features that should get worked out in the next couple days.
UPDATE: The AJAX was not quite ready for prime time and has been temporarily pulled.
UPDATE II: A lot of users are issuing complaints, which I will address over the next few days. Bear with us.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:11 PM | 
Oh thank God it's not the terrorists
Oh thank God it's not the terrorists
August 12th, 2010 at 4:16 PM |
an issue I'm having
an issue I'm having
Have to switch to plain text editor to post
(using Chrome) Just informative, I'm not trying to stir up trouble
Also, now there are a finite number of MGoPoints in the universe? Cannot be created or destroyed? MGoPoints are matter? Are they the dark matter people are looking for?
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
August 12th, 2010 at 4:18 PM |
Same here. Shit, just lost a
Same here. Shit, just lost a
Same here.
Shit, just lost a point voting for you! Quick, someone vote for me!!! I'm nothing without more points!
/I like the point tally that shows up, it seems really impressive.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:19 PM |
Actually, points are still generated
Actually, points are still generated
They're just generated by generating content (posts, diaries, forum topics)
You no longer can vote for no cost. But by posting this (I think at least) I'm getting a point. So points are more entropy than matter... they can be created, but not destroyed...
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
August 12th, 2010 at 7:42 PM |
They can indeed be destroyed
They can indeed be destroyed
A down-vote negs both you (indirectly) and the other guy.
August 13th, 2010 at 12:08 AM |
I do not like this
I do not like this
I do not like this policy.
If someone else says something stupid, why should I too be punished as well as them?
CJK5H
August 12th, 2010 at 4:21 PM |
Don't worry!
Don't worry!
Don't worry! I'll vote for you! I feel so chivalrous sacrificing my precious MGoPoints for the sake of the blog, the blog, the blog.
I SAID "M" AS IN MANCY...
August 12th, 2010 at 4:18 PM |
nope
nope
The points will continue to increase because an upvote gives the commenter +2 but only subtracts 1 from the voter
August 12th, 2010 at 4:31 PM |
so...
so...
how will this stop vote spammers from giving themselves more points? i'm assuming they would be using multiple accounts to vote for themselves. in that case they would still be adding 1pt to their collective point total with each vote
August 12th, 2010 at 4:54 PM |
sad
sad
Points really mean nothing. Somebody creating a second account to upvote their own posts is really sad.
August 12th, 2010 at 6:38 PM |
the point of that is
the point of that is
they keep their point total high enough so they can still generate content, comment, and vote (presumably -1 since we're talking about spammers). It's not just so they have a high point total that means generally nothing.
Also, though it's a cliche that generally means it was intended, I did not intend the pun in this comment's header
Mike Martin told me he loves me. My life is quite possibly complete.
Join the bone marrow donor registry today: www.dkmsamericas.org (do it.)
August 12th, 2010 at 4:14 PM |
Thanks for the explanation
Thanks for the explanation
I was wondering what the hell was going on. Big changes since the humble haloscan days.
http://twitter.com/#!/JHScramble
August 12th, 2010 at 5:51 PM |
Those were the days,
Those were the days,
wooden ships, iron men, and ... haloscan.
Taking it one week at a time
August 12th, 2010 at 4:20 PM |
Switching to Plain Text
Switching to Plain Text
I have found I have to switch to plain text as well. Perhaps it is an issue with the browser being used? Just wanted to document that with you as well.
Also I was an MgoPoint spamming whore, pos-banging everyone I came across. I guess I will have to change this habit now. I like the idea though, an eye for an eye per se...
A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something. - Plato
August 12th, 2010 at 4:20 PM |
I dig the new price to vote.
I dig the new price to vote.
I dig the new price to vote. Gas, grass, or ass . . . nobody rides for free.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:20 PM |
This may still be coming...
This may still be coming...
or maybe it's something that's been removed on purpose, but I really liked having some sort of box around each post. Helps to differentiate between them all.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:44 PM |
Yes, glad I'm not alone
Yes, glad I'm not alone
Yes, glad I'm not alone on this.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:58 PM |
I agree
I agree
Particularly when one person replies to another, it's hard to tell what follows what. It waterfalls from post to post, rather than steps down.
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
August 12th, 2010 at 5:12 PM |
In the event this becomes a
In the event this becomes a
In the event this becomes a de facto petition.../cosign.
August 12th, 2010 at 5:38 PM |
I also
I also
agree
Keep believing
August 12th, 2010 at 8:57 PM |
I agree
I agree
I really liked having the box around the text and having a point taken away fro voting is not cool. I am here daily and rarely post, but I vote quite a bit. This is going to force a portion (atleast myself) to feel disconnected from the community.
"If they ever catch me, they can have 'em." -Denard Robinson
August 12th, 2010 at 10:04 PM |
I can understand the
I can understand the
I can understand the reasoning behind having negative votes cost points, but it seems strange for positive votes to do so. I can see this resulting in fewer votes and more redundant "I agree" replies.
August 13th, 2010 at 4:31 AM |
I agree.
I agree.
I agree.
CJK5H
August 12th, 2010 at 4:21 PM |
The change is not bad, but I
The change is not bad, but I
The change is not bad, but I do wish the avatars and MGoPoints were still on the left side.
“What the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve and those who stay will be champions.” - Bo
][V][
August 12th, 2010 at 4:34 PM |
the indentations
the indentations
the indentations for seeing who's replying to what comment is easier to follow with the avatars on the right IME
August 12th, 2010 at 4:36 PM |
agree, i like to see whose
agree, i like to see whose
agree, i like to see whose comments i am reading first, so i know if it is a reputable poster
2013 resolution - make it onto the 2014 favorite MGoPosters post, not ironically
August 12th, 2010 at 5:05 PM |
Yes, now when I move my
Yes, now when I move my
Yes, now when I move my browser window over at work to cover up the avatar so it looks like I'm doing research I have to swicth directions. Let's get that fixed.
Let's eat Grandpa.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:22 PM |
i can't seem to edit
i can't seem to edit
i can't seem to edit comments... gives a validation error
Harvard: The MICHIGAN of the East
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:23 PM |
This is weird. I think I like
This is weird. I think I like
This is weird. I think I like the new look though.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:23 PM |
Hope you all like
Hope you all like
your point totals, because they're not changing much now
Don't really like the format either. Kind of looks like all the other boards now. Where's the backwater charm?
August 12th, 2010 at 5:46 PM |
speaking of New Coke
speaking of New Coke
I think this new "boxless" format would make Max Headroom more spastic than he already was. This will take getting used to.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:24 PM |
actually
actually
if you think about it a downvote on a post takes a point away from you and from that person, so a downvote results in -2 points. An upvote gives the commenter 2 points but takes one from the vote. So an upvote results in +1 point.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:26 PM |
actually
actually
the page froze up resulting in multiple posts, sorry about that.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:24 PM |
You can still up-vote
You can still up-vote
You can still up-vote yourself then and receive positive points. But that's really the only scenario where voting will actually benefit the voter.
I see a lot of conceited mgovotes in the future...
A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something. - Plato
August 12th, 2010 at 5:02 PM |
You found that out by
You found that out by
You found that out by accident, eh? I'd neg the shit out of you, but if I don't move into the top 15 point holders by the end of the season my wife will leave me.
August 12th, 2010 at 5:22 PM |
Just don't accidentally
Just don't accidentally
Just don't accidentally neg-bang yourself. That could get expensive.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:45 PM |
-
-
Did you actually check out your points before and after upvoting yourself, or just the point total on your comment?
Spoiler: Only the point total on the comment is affected.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:24 PM |
The RTE doesn't work in
The RTE doesn't work in
The RTE doesn't work in Chrome so I had to switch to the PTE.
The only problem I have with this format is that it is hard to tell what is a reply to another comment and what is a new thread of comments. You might consider drawing some lines along the left side to make it a bit easier in that sense.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:27 PM |
sorry
sorry
the page froze up resulting in multiple posts, sorry about that.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:38 PM |
That was a pretty damn sweet
That was a pretty damn sweet
That was a pretty damn sweet quadruple post. Kudos!
I can't promise I'll try, but I'll try to try.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:24 PM |
Ahhhhhh, the names of posters
Ahhhhhh, the names of posters
Ahhhhhh, the names of posters are on the right instead of the left..so lost!!!
August 12th, 2010 at 4:28 PM |
sorry
sorry
the page froze up resulting in multiple posts, sorry about that.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:29 PM |
sorry
sorry
the page froze up resulting in multiple posts, sorry about that.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:38 PM |
It's OK
It's OK
No one will neg you because they won't give up the points
... wait a minute, is this exactly the behavior change Brian wanted? It angers me when Cook acts like a god and I comply... The hell with you Crom and all that
August 12th, 2010 at 4:55 PM |
bizarre
bizarre
Haha, this might be the first quintuple post to ever avoid negbang. To be fair though I blame the quintuple post on the site changes.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:25 PM |
I see now
I see now
Ah... I get it now. I got so worried when I saw negative points. I've been doing my best to not be a worthless poster in this great community. I think I viewed the forum for 4 months with solid reading before even making an account.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:30 PM |
How long have you been a member?
How long have you been a member?
I CAN"T TELLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *
*until you actually hit the reply button, then the user's info. comes up
August 12th, 2010 at 4:36 PM |
Yeah, that's a bummer
Yeah, that's a bummer
I was proud of my first-day-possible registration merit badge. You can still see a user's joined date, but only if/when you reply to their comment. (Edit: oh - now I see your footnote...I need to read more DFW apparently.)
Also, it just took a really long time for me to be directed to this reply page, but that could be totally unrelated.
I like the new look. Thanks for the continued improvements, Brian.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:29 PM |
thoughts
thoughts
the editor is still a bit wonky. and it seems like the new ajax commenting has been temporarily disabled.
The one sad thing about the new pay-to-vote system - it'll cut down on the neg/pos bangs (and consequentially, a lot of the off-season entertainment).IMHO, instead of charging people to vote, I'd rather have the threshold for voting increased to 100 or 500 points. Also institute a time limit between join and voting, so like a new user cannot vote until they've been a member for at least a week or a month or something.
The one
IMHO, instead of charging people to vote, I'd rather have the threshold for voting increased to 100 or 500 points. Also institute a time limit between join and voting, so like a new user cannot vote until they've been a member for at least a week or a month or something.
This is home...
August 12th, 2010 at 4:37 PM |
I agree with you. I know the
I agree with you. I know the
I agree with you. I know the points mean nothing, but that doesn't mean that people won't be stingy with them.
There seems to be bugs with writing in the comments section if you're using Firefox.
Christ in me arise and dispel all the darkness.