Does anyone notice that in any typical thread that by page 10, there are usually several conversations going on at once?  I have been trying to think of a way to better structure threads in a forum to enable conversations to stay together and whatnot.  On the other hand, does anyone else think this is worth caring about?

I wouldn't mind so much if they were civil conversations but by page 10 all the discussions are flames.

Originally posted by TwistedFire

I wouldn't mind so much if they were civil conversations but by page 10 all the discussions are flames.

You're a flame!

But yea, quote pyramids annoy me.

There is of course the tree view structure often used on sites for comments, however that has its own disadvantages as well. I think most people are used to how forums operate, I only wish people would stop creating huge quote pyramids, maybe an option to quote without the actual content, only reference of poster and maybe post #, etc.

Mr. Crazyton has assured me that everything is under control.

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Originally posted by sanicek
There is of course the tree view structure often used on sites for comments, however that has its own disadvantages as well. I think most people are used to how forums operate, I only wish people would stop creating huge quote pyramids, maybe an option to quote without the actual content, only reference of poster and maybe post #, etc.

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I'm actually creating a forum right now to address that problem. I hate when people quote a quote inside a quote inside a quote inside a quote.

http://jaguargames.com/forum

This is all coded by me. Registration isn't turned on, I'm still doing a lot of work on it. The quote handling issue I'm still figuring out exactly what to do, but it won't be direct quotes. There's some other unique things I'm doing with it.

lifesbrink, I'm interested in how you think you can handle threads going off topic?

for forum chaos use invisible ink.

Like this if you don't quote me or highlight my post you'll never know

Originally posted by paulscott

for forum chaos use invisible ink.

Like this if you don't quote me or highlight my post you'll never know

Unless you use the black backround (Like me)

I wondered what he was talking about. Who uses the gray? The black is easier to read, it offers higher contrast.

Originally posted by -Jaguar-

I wondered what he was talking about. Who uses the gray? The black is easier to read, it offers higher contrast.

^This

The elimination of quote pyramids is an excellent compromise. I try not to use them myself.

Taking out post content can already be done by hand and is something I wouldn't agree with because of its forcible manner. Free approach for a free peoples.

I'd also add I wish you could have something similar to the Recently VisitedThread on the main page. Except this would be whatever forum you viewed/whatever page in said thread. It would also be able to divide between quoted conversations or just single responses to the OP. Maybe label the quoted "Conversations" and the the singles "Response"?

Dunno.

Edit: Additional content; correction on name of main page feature

Originally posted by -Jaguar-

 

 

I'm actually creating a forum right now to address that problem. I hate when people quote a quote inside a quote inside a quote inside a quote.

http://jaguargames.com/forum

This is all coded by me. Registration isn't turned on, I'm still doing a lot of work on it. The quote handling issue I'm still figuring out exactly what to do, but it won't be direct quotes. There's some other unique things I'm doing with it.

lifesbrink, I'm interested in how you think you can handle threads going off topic?

Well, I have no specific ideas per se, however, I do have a general thought.  There are multiple types of people who tend to populate a thread, all of them with specific agendas in mind when replying.  Some will detract, others will cause fights, and others will go ahead and stay unerrringly on course.  With this in mind, it becomes clear that all threads that go somewhere will inevitably blow off course without some sort of assistance.  But with larger forums, human moderation becomes harder. 

So my thought, I guess is this:  could there be some way to enable the participants of the thread to make replies and maybe categorize what they are posting?  I mean, I am guessing there might be a way to have the ability to click on a thread and have it structured with branching paths, if any.  I know that not everyone would use a feature like this, but you never know until you try. 

In response to the guy who mentioned the tree-type forums, I have seen those too, but they don't seem to work so well.

Originally posted by lifesbrink

So my thought, I guess is this:  could there be some way to enable the participants of the thread to make replies and maybe categorize what they are posting?

Makes it sound like reading a debate would be obsolete. I'm sure an atheist will read a "conservative christian" response. I thought the whole point of forums was to read people's opinions on a subject and respond to them.

I am not talking about different opinions in the debate or post itself, but rather topic changes that some people make.

I think what would help some would be the formatting.  On this site, lots of times a poster only has one line to say but about 100 lines of signature.  Espicially that anima girl that posts here.  Plus the site is coded for smaller monitors.  I use 1600x 1200 on a 24" monitor but only use half the page since it's so slim. 

Take a look at shacknews.com for a neat way to do conversations.