Reverse order or forward order of postings on this site

Wise Young · 12-11-2003, 02:47 PM

For many years now, since 1998, this site and its precursors (Spinewire and Cando) have always listed the postings in reverse order. The original topic almost remains at the top but all subsequent postings are listed in reverse order, so that the latest posting is always near the top, next to the original topic. The reason for doing this is to reduce the number of keyclicks necessary for users to see the latest posting. A user, for example, usually can click on a given topic and see the original topic and the most recent post without having to scroll.

Some people, however, have expressed the desire for a forward (rather than reverse) order of postings. This is because they may be used to such on other bulletin boards. How many people would prefer:

tank · 12-13-2003, 10:51 PM

it would be great to have the option of forward order of posts. I find more often than not it slows me down having it in reverse order. Come on people, vote for forward!

metronycguy · 12-14-2003, 03:02 AM

i like the way it is now, when i go to a site that has the opposite, i find i have toscroll to find the last posted topic , maybe through all the pages, its easier to catch up this way, especilly once you have watched a post.
the first page will show the most recent post

~Patrick~ · 12-14-2003, 06:29 AM

I like it the way it is. If you are following a long thread you dont have to guess what page you have read up to. ~sorry tank~

Scott Pruett · 12-14-2003, 12:53 PM

I voted 'don't care' -- Personally I find forward order more user-friendly if one is trying to read through the progression a thread, but either works for me.

FWIW, most forums I frequent are forward-ordered.

cheers,
~ scott

______________
Remember yesterday... Live today... Dream about tomorrow...

Carl R · 12-14-2003, 11:29 PM

I say leave things the way they are now. Much easier for those of us who use voice software. The less clicks the better.

Scott Pruett · 12-15-2003, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Carl R:

I say leave things the way they are now. Much easier for those of us who use voice software. The less clicks the better.

that's a *very* good point Carl... didn't think about that. I agree.

______________
Remember yesterday... Live today... Dream about tomorrow...

~Patrick~ · 12-22-2003, 01:43 PM

I was just on another site and when you register they ask if you want newest post first under topic or last in order. First time I ever saw that.

Kaprikorn1 · 12-22-2003, 08:15 PM

some topics have over 100 pages of posts...i would hate to have to wade thru these everytime you want to see the new posts on it...leave it as is.

Kap

"It's not easy being green"

Wise Young · 12-23-2003, 06:48 AM

Pat, I guess that it would be doable. Probably the site that you went to was running UBB (Ultimate Bulletin Board) which is also written by Infopop. The server would just need to assign twice as much cache space (so that pages with both forward and reverse formats) will be created for each topic. We have been thinking of switching over to the UBB program (which would be hosted on our own server) rather than on the infopop servers. It would be possible to assign more cache space on our own server.

Wise.

View Poll Results:
reverse order of posts (the current display approach)	29	56.86%
forward order of posts (latest post at the bottom)	18	35.29%
don't care	3	5.88%
don't know	1	1.96%
	0	0%
Voters: 51. You may not vote on this poll

12-11-2003, 02:47 PM	#1
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 34,097	Reverse order or forward order of postings on this site For many years now, since 1998, this site and its precursors (Spinewire and Cando) have always listed the postings in reverse order. The original topic almost remains at the top but all subsequent postings are listed in reverse order, so that the latest posting is always near the top, next to the original topic. The reason for doing this is to reduce the number of keyclicks necessary for users to see the latest posting. A user, for example, usually can click on a given topic and see the original topic and the most recent post without having to scroll. Some people, however, have expressed the desire for a forward (rather than reverse) order of postings. This is because they may be used to such on other bulletin boards. How many people would prefer:

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12-13-2003, 10:51 PM	#2
tank Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 67	it would be great to have the option of forward order of posts. I find more often than not it slows me down having it in reverse order. Come on people, vote for forward!

12-14-2003, 03:02 AM	#3
metronycguy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: ny Posts: 5,118	i like the way it is now, when i go to a site that has the opposite, i find i have toscroll to find the last posted topic , maybe through all the pages, its easier to catch up this way, especilly once you have watched a post. the first page will show the most recent post

12-14-2003, 06:29 AM	#4
~Patrick~ Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lewistown,Pennsylvania Posts: 1,512	I like it the way it is. If you are following a long thread you dont have to guess what page you have read up to. ~sorry tank~

12-14-2003, 12:53 PM	#5
Scott Pruett Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NC Triad Posts: 6,997	I voted 'don't care' -- Personally I find forward order more user-friendly if one is trying to read through the progression a thread, but either works for me. FWIW, most forums I frequent are forward-ordered. cheers, ~ scott ______________ Remember yesterday... Live today... Dream about tomorrow...

12-14-2003, 11:29 PM	#6
Carl R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Houston, Tx. USA Posts: 1,888	I say leave things the way they are now. Much easier for those of us who use voice software. The less clicks the better.

12-22-2003, 01:43 PM	#8
~Patrick~ Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lewistown,Pennsylvania Posts: 1,512	I was just on another site and when you register they ask if you want newest post first under topic or last in order. First time I ever saw that.

12-22-2003, 08:15 PM	#9
Kaprikorn1 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.F. Bay Area, Calif. Posts: 1,369	some topics have over 100 pages of posts...i would hate to have to wade thru these everytime you want to see the new posts on it...leave it as is. Kap "It's not easy being green"

12-23-2003, 06:48 AM	#10
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 34,097	Pat, I guess that it would be doable. Probably the site that you went to was running UBB (Ultimate Bulletin Board) which is also written by Infopop. The server would just need to assign twice as much cache space (so that pages with both forward and reverse formats) will be created for each topic. We have been thinking of switching over to the UBB program (which would be hosted on our own server) rather than on the infopop servers. It would be possible to assign more cache space on our own server. Wise.