new board
- Thread starter docwilly
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I agree. I loved the thread - hybrid view. I'm out of here for the most part. Just like the new ESPN format, new isn't always better. The extra effort to read isn't worth it.
This change may cause me to leave this forum. I hate this format. Thread view gives you the opportunity to have a conversation in a thread without everyone getting confused as to who you're talking to and removes the un-needed business of constantly quoting people. This format is so dumb when it comes to actually having an online conversation. Oh well.
Where are you going to go? To another forum that doesn't exist, but has thread view? There is a reason every single message board went to topic view. Unless you severely handicapped, having a conversation is just as easy. You simply click "reply" the the post you want to reply to and this newfangled doo dad quotes the post you are responding to. It also automatically takes you back to the last post you read.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
What is the reason every single message board went to topic view? The most popular message board on the internet uses a modified thread view; certainly people are allowed to have their own preferences, aren't they?
One could argue it's a modified topic view as well. Sure, people are allowed to have a preference. If it sucked so bad I'm pretty sure 247sports, Rivals, Scout, etc wouldn't have used it.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
I don't know that because something exists or is the 'standard' that it's automatically the best. Reddit uses a Topic View for their main page and Thread View for their subreddits. If Thread View sucked so bad would they use it? The difference is that Reddit, and other boards who use Thread View, value more conversation driven content, while Topic View boards are best at distributing information. I get why folks here don't like the update - we like to talk to each other, not drudge through pages of replies finding one worth responding to.
I would venture to say that people, through experience and practice, concluded that it's an ideal format. I'm not arguing that it's the best or not the best. We are or are not having a conversation? Are you drudging?
You guys might not realize it, but you'll end up doing what you always did. Look to see who is posting and if it's a topic you are interested in you check it out. If you have a conversation or make a post you will get an alert that you can click once on and it will take you to the exact message you want to see or you can scroll through the topic to see if what others had to say and maybe you converse with more people.
I'm not sure that Reddit is an apples-apples comparison, IMO.
The sheer traffic and number of different topics/users there lends itself to Thread View.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
Well, I thought we were talking about message boards in general; not those limited to one or a few topics. While the BWI Board was never as big as Reddit, it was probably the most diverse topic-wise on the Rivals network.
Yeah, what's that? I'm pretty sure that what happened was Rivals saw it's user base shrinking, while 247Sports was growing, and they assumed it was because of the discussion board format. The fact is, 247 -- for the most part -- went out and scooped up many of the best reporters, and were (are) cranking out top notch content. THAT is why people are going there. I know you frequent the Lions247 forum, so you probably know -- if you're honest with yourself -- that if it weren't for about 4-8 posters, the forum would be dead. Meanwhile, the McA board -- and even the BWI Test board, for crying out loud -- were much more active (even without content). How do you explain that?
It's pretty clear that -- generally speaking -- people like the content of 247, but when it comes to discussing content/topics, prefer the Rivals forums.
We'll see, but IMO it's a no-brainer that discussion forum activity is going to significantly decrease by going to this format.
This format ("topic view") is fine for things like facebook where a picture is posted, and people just comment away on it. It's terrible if you want people to actually converse back and forth (i.e. hold conversations) -- which they want to do when it comes to college sports. College Sports is not a picture posted on facebook.
As I said in another post, I believe that Rivals chose to make topic view the default view in order to better conceal premium info on message boards. I think that when they went to the new format they had to to choose something universal. JMO.
Are you having trouble conversing in this thread?
I don't believe for one second Rivals thought topic view was the reason 247 is growing. Topic view is a more efficient way to consume information and to converse.
As for 247, I believe there are a lot more than 4-8 posters that contribute a ton to that board. There are more than 8 staff members and mods. The other thing is a board like this is generally an OT board, which does not exist on Lions247, on purpose. I really think you've understated how many more users are on the 247 site compared to here.
You really think thread view is the reason why the BWI and test boards are 'busy'?
No, in that it's still possible and do-able. It's just a lot more clunky now.
Normally here I would say "to each their own," but I honestly don't know how on god's green earth you can say that (with a straight face). Did you actually use thread view before, or are you one of these people that has a stake in the ground and are going to argue no matter what?
I have almost 3500 posts on Lions247 (probably about as smooth of a "topic view" board as you're going to find), so I'm giving it an honest try -- But as someone who doesn't have time to sift through tens of threads to see where the conversation is, I still found my time on the BWI thread view board light-years more efficient and enjoyable. Even though there is much more/better content over there to discuss, I still spend more discussion forum time here at BWI. There is no reason for that, other than the style, which lends itself to better more efficient conversation.
Of course there are more than 4-8 that "contribute," but I'll bet 8 posters make up 50% of the posts over there.
If you think I'm understating how many users are on the 247 site compared to here, then you're helping me make my point. Discussions are much more active/lively/frequent here, even though there are more people, and better content to stir discussion over there.
If 247 offered easy-use thread view like Rivals did before today, their servers wouldn't be able to keep up with the activity.
I disagree with all of this, tcf.
What you're missing is that Phil Grosz/BWI was "the original" PSU fan site. As such, the client base here is much different. BWI, being first game in town, is the place many people congregate for conversation.
However, the paid content here is easily the worst of the 3. I'd wager a hefty sum that this site's paying customers are peanuts compared to 24/7 and FOS. But, because it was first....BWI will always generate the lion's share of traffic.
To get a metaphor, BWI is the Skellar (classic), and the other places are Cafe 210 and Phyrst.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
This is only a 'conversation' because we've responded to each other's posts early on in this 'topic' and I'm notified if you respond. That's all well and good, but it doesn't help me discover posts from those I don't follow or haven't conversed with.
I have no idea how or why you think that 'people' concluded this was the 'ideal' format. Again, Reddit is the most popular message board on the planet and it's Thread View. If Topic View were anywhere near the 'ideal' format 'decided by the people', Reddit would surely implement it.
Pretty obvious people concluded this was ideal or it wouldn't have happened. You like the people who run these sites and make decisions. Sort of felt like we concluded reddit uses a hybrid view besides the fact this isn't reddit.
As for TCF ... You do or don't know about the green envelopes on 247? Much like this format you simply click on the topic or envelope and it takes you to where you last read.
I posted in thread view on this board since 2004 (another name) and I liked it very much. Then I went to 247 and enjoyed the format once I figured it out. Considering I've used topic view for quite a few years now I've seen the benefits.
