Uncommon Descent Serving The Intelligent Design Community

New Look Coming Soon to Uncommon Descent

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Tomorrow (Sunday), I will be implementing a new look to the Uncommon Descent website.  This will not be an instantaneous process, so there may be a period of time when the site appearance is incomplete.  We appreciate your patience in this process.

In addition to the new look, there will also be some new features that we hope you will like.  Comments will be threaded, so you will no longer need to refer to comment numbers when posting replies.  Your comments and feedback on the changes will be welcome.

On another note, Uncommon Descent has had 5 successive record months in terms of traffic.  We appreciate all the hard work of the authors who have been producing excellent content, and most of all, the 100’s of thousands of readers who visit every month.

Comments
Fantastic!material.infantacy
August 23, 2011
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All, For those want to follow comments in a format as they come in, I have finally fixed the comments RSS feed. If you don't want to subscribe, you can simply click on Comments RSS and click the link to go to the comment. JackJack Cole
August 23, 2011
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In case the idea hasn't been posted yet, I think I may have discovered what sometimes causes a post to be posted to the wrong thread. There is a "Reply" button in the post-preview textbox. Recently, meaning to post something, I accidentally clicked that button, instead of the "Post Comment" button ... and then, when I did click the "Post Comment" button, the post went to the wrong thread.Ilion
August 20, 2011
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Okaykairosfocus
August 18, 2011
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I agree that something along those lines would be useful. It will be awhile before that can happen.Jack Cole
August 18, 2011
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Jack Pardon, but I really think we need a timeline view alternative for comments. GEM of TKIkairosfocus
August 18, 2011
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That's a good idea.Jack Cole
August 16, 2011
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Dont get me wrong, I really like the expanded 'recent comments' section, but you have them grouped by thread title. So if a post is made to a thread that is not being featured among those in the recent comments, then that post is simply not shown as a recent comment. Why not lose the thread title idea, or even better, lose the date/time stamp on the recent comments (its useless there anyway) and replace it with the thread title that the comment was made on, this leaving you a little real estate to continue allowing a preview of the comment itself.Upright BiPed
August 16, 2011
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Am I correct on this new format. If a thread title is no longer featured on the right hand 'recent comments' section, then no comments made on that thread as ever shown as a "recent comment" - meaning that no one (not even those on the site at the time of the comment) will know a new comment has been made?? Thats really weird.Upright BiPed
August 16, 2011
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I just replied to Dr Liddle on the "It Stunning" thread, and it is not showing up anywhere at all that a post was made. I've been cheated. ;)Upright BiPed
August 16, 2011
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I will say that the expanded "Recent Comments" section is a real improvement. And I like the "Daily Popular" section as well.lastyearon
August 16, 2011
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Why was the site redesigned in the first place? Was it based on new requirements, or just a general feeling that a "refresh" was in order? I agree with faded_glory above. The reason I visit this site is for the conversation in the comments. The posts themselves are just a conversation starter. It seems to me that the old site served that purpose reasonably well, with 2 important exceptions... 1 - In the last few months the number of posts have drastically increased. Since this is a blog, and the posts are in chronological order without regard to number of comments, the front page didn't really reflect the lively conversation going on inside the site. "Recent comments" became the most important feature on the page. 2 - In the last few months the number of comments have also drastically increased. And, again, since this is a blog, it is not ideal for multiple, long conversations within a post. The first problem could have been solved in a number of different ways. Reducing the number of posts might be one. Or, dedicating one section to recent posts, and another to recent active posts. The second problem is endemic to almost all online conversations no matter what the format is. It cannot be solved by technology, but only by adherence to a strict set of guidelines, for example: - what is and what isn't part of a conversation - when has a conversation ended - when does it deserves a new thread - how do you reply to a comment up the thread The new design doesn't address either of these issues. In fact it's now harder to find a conversation (either a specific post, or something new) than it used to be. The new layout in the main section(where some posts are displayed in a two column format) implies an editorial process, when in reality it's just an ordered list of the 15 most recent entries. Some of the entries don't show the number of comments they received(which is key). The post's author is barely legible. The new format for comments (where your reply to another commenter is placed underneath theirs) makes it much harder to follow along, and therefore less likely to generate comments. Here's the key. Make it easy for those willing to contribute. Those wanting to read will come for the content, not the design.lastyearon
August 16, 2011
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That's clever, KF. I still like plain FAQ myself (for its universality) but I could hardly be disappointed with your inventive approach.material.infantacy
August 16, 2011
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The Watt's Up With That? blog has a nice feature where people can submit stories to be considered for future blog posts, or even write their own blog entries that can be approved, and posted, by the blog admins. It'd be a nice feature for U.D., in my opinion; a nice way to make the site more interactive and spur on new, interesting discussions. Here's the link to the feature for anyone interested in checking it out.Jammer
August 16, 2011
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Can I suggest something? If you want a site that thrives on discussions between the visitors, don't use this blog software - use some kind of Bulletin Board software instead. They have much better functionality to manage and keep track of many separate active threads of comments and counter-comments. If you use blog software, I think you really want to clearly assign the value of the site in people reading the OP's rather than in the ensuing prolonged discussions that very often wander widely from the topic of the OP. If blogging is what you're after, you should consider limiting the follow-on discussions in some way. They distract from the core purpose of people reading the OP, the software annoys people because the discussions become intractable, and in general the long threads suggest to people that this is a discussion board when in fact it is a blog. BB software doesn't mean you relinquish control - you can still limit thread opening privileges, control who can post and who can't, and moderate to your heart's content. It is just so much more user friendly for the community of commenters than this confused maze we are having right now. fGfaded_Glory
August 16, 2011
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Does it have to be a cloud? How about a tag flagellum?CannuckianYankee
August 16, 2011
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re Jack's vacation time... :-) what are friends for??tgpeeler
August 16, 2011
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If that can be done, I think it approaches what I mean by optimal. Doesn't Facebook offer a feature like that? Another thing is, YouTube places the most recent comments at the top rather than the bottom, and you can reply directly to a comment while it is still placed at the top. The way they do it is that the responder and the respondent are identified in the comment. I really don't like YouTube's format other than that particular feature.CannuckianYankee
August 16, 2011
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"That’s because I have it set to only go 5 levels deep with threading." Ah. I see. Yes, that resolves the problem of a continued narrowing of the comment block, but it does present a problem with a person's desire to respond directly to a post that is at the 5th level, and for the person who posted at that level to be aware that there is further comment when a responder resolves to reply elsewhere as I have done here.CannuckianYankee
August 16, 2011
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Ok i see it. That is the spot you want it. the larger 360 blocks generate higher ctr, but then the 360's in that spot can look a little spammy. The new menu options look good too.junkdnaforlife
August 16, 2011
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Pardon, could I also suggest that the headers for the subsections in the RH col have a standout background colour much like the old format? Maybe even just the white space like in-thread comments?kairosfocus
August 15, 2011
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Easy way would be to say a few words, then clip en bloc. BTW, format headaches on that page with the new format.kairosfocus
August 15, 2011
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I hear you on the server load issue!kairosfocus
August 15, 2011
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Steve, that hot-linkable tag cloud is indeed very nice! (Now you know where PM made his money!)kairosfocus
August 15, 2011
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JC: I do indeed suggest that the IDEA FAQ be listed as a sort of header redirect on precisely the WAC page. (That way the person looking for a heads up can go there, and the one needing to deal with common but weak objections can continue here. [I would also add a link to the glossary page.]) Great to see the definition and the glossary at the top. That in turn brings up another headache -- oh boy I am sorry for you. I am thinking that some of the headlines are disproportionately large, and could come down in size. In the case of the string of in-site tabs or links at the top (wouldn't it be nice if that list looked like tabs?) that would probably keep within one line, and if it goes over tabs look nicer. BTW, headlines for posts are also disproportionate, and in the home tab, are uneven. Maybe the very top header only? (I assume this is the sticky feature in action?) Also, I notice that post headers are hot only on home page. For various reasons, I would like them hot when we go to the post page too, in addition to having an option on viewing the full thread, and an option to see threaded comments or comments in chronological order. I know this one -- unless somebody out there has it as a plug-in -- will be a headache to implement if you have to roll your own. I also go with those who vote for the comment box having limited WYSIWYG features. But I accept that that may be hard to do. Overall, we are getting there and the decision to go live and respond as users have their say is an excellent one. Really respect that. GEM of TKI PS: JM's recent post on OOL chemistry should be added to the WACs. A real knockout punch, that. I would also look hard at his post on value of probability arguments in the same regard. TGP's clip on chirality should be worked in too.kairosfocus
August 15, 2011
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Jack: ForeWORD -- pardon, note the emphasis -- is more conventional, and less controversial, and I am speaking of the same frequently raised but weak arguments responses.kairosfocus
August 15, 2011
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Understood.kairosfocus
August 15, 2011
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The tag cloud (or something in that direction) that Perry Marshall has on his Cosmicfingerprints Blog site would be a fantastic addition. I dont know how much bandwidth is needed for it or if it proprietary. Another idea is animating the BF header (and possibly linking something to it). I think interactive, mobile elements (which dovetails nicely with we see in the workings of the cell) are key additions needed. Tie the two in together. That would show commitment to and application of what ID is all about. Regards, Steve ProulxSteve
August 15, 2011
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Good call, I like it: a list of all threads one has commented on, perhaps listed in the dashboard. If we're diligent, we can make sure none of Jack's vacation time goes to waste. xpmaterial.infantacy
August 15, 2011
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Something else that would be nice (isn't there always something else?) is a search feature that would allow us to find posts we have made. Maybe ordered from newest to oldest. I know that sometimes I make a post, forget to bookmark it, can't remember the thread name, and then can't find the post. Or maybe I want to look up something by KF, SB, BA, UB or many others. This would be sweet. Thanks for all the hard work. Is this site running on SharePoint?tgpeeler
August 15, 2011
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