Forum: Community Center


Subject: Forum Usage

fur opened this issue on Jan 21, 2000 ยท 35 posts


fur posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 2:29 PM

I've noticed that only about 1% of the members of this site, use the "Mark All Read" feature. This lets the site automatically keep track of what is new since the last time you came to the site. My question is, why does noone use this feature? Do you not understand how it works? Do you never goto the Forum Descriptions link, and instead just use the forum links listed on the right? Please help me understand how everyone uses the forums, so I can make better improvements to them. Thanks! fur


wiz posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 2:36 PM

I use it constantly. It's one of the best features. Perhaps no one uses it because few other forum software packages have it... Now, why are the new item counts red, all of a sudden? Red and green and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... Ciao! Joe


fur posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 2:38 PM

Oh, just experimenting. :-) Now that the forum list is getting so long, I wanted something to make those forums with new messages stand out!


fur posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 2:41 PM

To see old messages again, just press the [Archive] link.


BAM posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 2:54 PM

I think it is one of the most outstanding features of this system. You might change Archive to Access old messages.


Jack D. Kammerer posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 2:55 PM

I am one of the 1%er's...it's the only way I keep my sanity here LOL Jack


KateTheShrew posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 3:28 PM

Amen. I constantly use the "mark all read" and "message listing" options. Otherwise, I'd spend 27 hours a day here just trying to find the new threads and replies. Kate


ClintH posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 3:30 PM

Mark all Read is awsome. I use it all the time. Clint

Clint Hawkins
MarketPlace Manager/Copyright Agent



All my life I've been over the top ... I don't know what I'm doing ... All I know is I don't wana stop!
(Zakk Wylde (2007))



fur posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 3:31 PM

I added a [Help] link, so maybe people will pick up on how it works quicker.


Foxhollow posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 4:12 PM

Only 1% use this!!!!!!!????? I can't exist without it!!


fur posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 4:16 PM

Only 134 people have used it in the last seven days. Only 512 people have used it for the entire life of the site. I've double-checked the stats, but that's what they really appear to be. ps. 343 people have posted in the last seven days, so I know for certain we have people posting who don't know how it works...


MartinC posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 4:24 PM

I used it right from the start, and if we continue we will probably get the full 1% list here... :-) fur, sorry for complaining again and again about forum technics - it's not my usual style to do this, honestly!! - but I must complain about the BLUE. Haven't seen the RED before, but please give it a decent style that suits the eyes... (actually, I'm also within the probably 0.5% who look at the number, no matter which colour it has!) It took me some time to get used to that GREEN, and I still don't like it too much, but please no more Warhol colours on top of it...


fur posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 4:39 PM

aaaaaiiiiiiigh! ok, i made it the same yellow the links use, so everyone's eyes must already be adjusted to it.


Traveler posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 4:40 PM

I am a 1% er too. I love that feature. I also like the new colored bolder message counts. Thanks again Roy! -Trav


MartinC posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 4:52 PM

fur, you are the fastest trouble-fixer I've ever seen in my life. I just hit the "Reply" button, and seconds later everything is adjusted... WOW !!! :-) :-) :-) Traveler, sorry that it is gone again... I hope it wasn't just me alone who didn't like the LOUD colours...


ClintH posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 5:08 PM

MartinC, fur is amazing isnt he?! (Clint takes his hat off to fur) Clint

Clint Hawkins
MarketPlace Manager/Copyright Agent



All my life I've been over the top ... I don't know what I'm doing ... All I know is I don't wana stop!
(Zakk Wylde (2007))



fur posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 5:10 PM

takes his bow thank you.. thank you.. please, no applause, just throw money! :-)


bloodsong posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 5:11 PM

aaaaaaaaaah! mark all read is a must! in fact, it'd be cool if it sees which ones i've read and they magically vanish... (er, well, maybe not.) and i was NOT gonna complain about a single thing on this message, roy, honest... but where'd the 'mark all read' in the message thread window go? i use that when i'm on the last message on a board and don't want to hit back before i jump to another. :) (lookie me, i'm a .001% power-mark-all-read-user! ;D )


fur posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 5:20 PM

well, there was a small chance of missing a newly posted message with the link there, so i took it out. also, i've been thinking about a [Next Forum] link, which would take you to the next forum with unread messages.


WarriorDL posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 5:29 PM

I use the "Mark All Read for the forums I go to. I don't go to all of them, so many are building up L If I ever check into one I don't normally check, it'll propably be up to 500 messages!


wiz posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 5:29 PM

That's it! That's the color scheme that works. Visited forums and "no new messages" in the same color. Not visited forums and "xxx unread messages" in the same color. Then, when you see mismatched colors, you've got messages on a forum that you visit. Ciao! Joe


edarsenal posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 6:31 PM

add my name to the the 1%ers! Mark All is a MUST to keep the HOURS spent here down somewhat YOU DA MAN, fur!!! ed


wyrwulf posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 7:22 PM

Hey! I'm finally a one percenter!! I use the "mark all read" all the time, too. My bookmark is to the front page to see what's new, and I use the link there to go to the forums page. I go through most of the forums, and "mark all read" as I go, except for the 3D Links. That one I have tried to keep active. It really doesn't matter when I can go the the archives.


picnic posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 9:50 PM

Me too, me too (a 1%???). However, I have to admit I sometimes forget to click on it and wonder what in the world happened--so many new messages and then realize as I start to read them that I already HAVE read them. How one could keep up without using the 'mark all read' I don't know. I don't think I'd use a 'go to next forum' because I don't read every forum. I'd love a 'go to next thread' though (or have I missed something?). Diane


kristyn posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 9:53 PM

I'm also a 1 percenter :) I LOVE that feature, and would be lost without it... kristyn


picnic posted Fri, 21 January 2000 at 10:08 PM

Nope, I don't believe I missed anything, so would >really< love a 'go to next thread' option. Diane B


EdW posted Sat, 22 January 2000 at 3:57 AM

Well I must be one of the 1% too.. I always use it Don't like to look thru all the old message I have already read to find the new ones. EdW


fur posted Sat, 22 January 2000 at 9:48 AM

calandil, it takes all currently existing messages and hides them. it doesn't actually keep track of which ones you really read or not..


diana posted Sat, 22 January 2000 at 3:48 PM

I use mark all read too but it really doesn't help much when I keep seeing the same thread in its entirety again when someone posts a reply to the thread which makes for another slow round of loading the full page (and/or image) and I'm on a cable modem. If the thread list showed only the new replies, and an option to read the full thread or back up using previous or next reply, next thread, it would make things go a lot faster still, like the Netscape newsgroup reader does, show unread, hide the read messages unless you click on a number for each of the replies prior to the one you are on. The color scheme here is hard on my eyes too but I still manage to visit pretty often. I can read what I'm typing in this box better than what is on those black pages, even better on an eggshell colored page.


ARADTech posted Sat, 22 January 2000 at 8:14 PM

Yeah Fur , said it before and will say it again..YOU ROCK, all the new changes are great S ARADTech


melanie posted Sat, 22 January 2000 at 10:00 PM

I've never really noticed it there. I guess I'll have to try it. Melanie


LoboUK posted Sun, 23 January 2000 at 4:15 AM

I tend to use "mark all read" every month or so -just in case a question arises that I've already seen an answer to. That way, I can send the questioner to that thread :) Paul


Larry F posted Sun, 23 January 2000 at 4:57 PM

I generally don't like "me, too" posting, but I have used the "Mark All Read" feature for quite some time. It is a handy little tool. Larry F


rbtwhiz posted Mon, 24 January 2000 at 5:11 AM

Roy, that "Mark All Read" function has got to be the only way I've stayed sane trying to keep up since it was first implemented. I don't read all of the forums, but the few I do pile up quick, and without that feature I'd surely drown. Heck, I have been a little absent the last few days due to a few personal life events, and those forums were stacked! With the wealth of information that flows through this place, I can't see how you could stay on top without it... Mark me up for the top 1% of the 1% that use it! :) -Rob


ghostboat posted Fri, 28 January 2000 at 8:37 PM

Well it's a great feature and I actually used it once then turned around and decided that I was going to read every message that has been placed on it.So I'm almost caught up.then back to the button I go hehe