Updating a Few Forum Features

I'm working on updating a few forum features, and could use your help.

First, I'm adding the ability to "@mention" other forum members. To do this, type the "@" symbol, then start typing a username. You'll be able to select their posts. If a user is @mentioned, they'll be notified in the updates bar.

Second, I modified the text area where you type messages. It should start out a little less tall than usual, but automatically expand as needed.

Please test these functions out and let me know what bugs/issues you encounter.

Thank you!

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Already a member? Log In.

@JacobJ: I love this feature and even more so, when I began typing your name and saw a list of names from which to choose. Thank you so much!

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
Is this maybe why my "Updates" have been screwy for the past several weeks? (I get two or three notifications in a row that (so-and-so) liked my post and none for several threads on which I've posted.)

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
Interesting. I actually wouldn't have noticed the change to the reply box if you hadn't mentioned itwinking smiley

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@JacobJ: Hahaha! Okay, I don't want you to think you accidentally hit the "whining button", however I don't remember getting "Updates" in the past, like I am now, for when someone posts on the "Word Association" or "True or False" threads. I will admit that I have fun on those threads, however I don't really want to be notified every time someone posts a new reply. smiling smiley

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
@stilllearning -- good point. I think that's something I'll try to fix in the future.
Wait, we have a whining button? Where? I think I would rather have a wine button.

@stilllearning wrote:

I don't want you to think you accidentally hit the "whining button" smiling smiley

(heart)

Kim
I know where the wine is at all times. I'm looking for the whine button.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
I would like a "mark as unread" feature. I don't always have time to keep up with forum posts. When my time is limited, I scan or speed read. For threads or posts catching my attention, I would like to return to them when I have time.
I don't mind the text area being smaller or shorter, and extends as we need it for our replies. But I am not getting the @mention style. Unless a poster is not in the current post, why would we need a choice of whom to respond back to?

Mind reading is only a side job, so "@ABC" has not responded to the post yet so their thoughts would be a secondary concern. Are you saying that the "quote" button is no longer useful?

How about updating some of those "old"/archiveshed post that are put back into current status after more than two years of OPosting and a year of replies?grinning smiley The modern wheel does not need to be re-invented.
How are we coming (if at all) with the "hide this thread" feature? There's a nightmare of a thread that actually put me and bgriffin on the same side of an argument for once that I would dearly love never to see again (not because of him, because of the OP) but it's like a train wreck -- I can't keep myself from looking at it.

Time to build a bigger bridge.
Thank you for clearing away the debris, Jacob. Yup, that was the thread I was alluding to. Maybe I can get those 1099's finished up and get on some tax returns now that a certain poster can't keep up his aggiejim imitation anymore. At least, not on that topic.

But I'd still love a "hide this thread" feature.

Time to build a bigger bridge.
We seem to be developing a consensus regarding his previous persona. I think it was fairly obvious from the beginning even if most of us decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I just re-read that thread from last July ... I was the last poster to it, and predicted he would behave awhile before showing his true colors. Never thought it would be seven months; Aggie was only here 6 weeks before melting down.

Time to build a bigger bridge.
But as aggie he figured out he was getting nowhere. As an uneducated newbie he could string people along. Isn't there some rule of thumb about dating that a person can only go six months or so without revealing their true personality? Apparently it can translate to forums, lolsmiling smiley

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@sojo917 --

I just made it so that old threads are automatically closed to replies. Right now, if they haven't had a reply in 120 days, then you're not able to reply. Hopefully this will encourage more new posts -- and stop the dredging up of old ones.

I'm not sure if 120 days is the right number. Thoughts?
Yay! Three months should be sufficient in most cases. I was thinking six would be better to allow followup, but someone following up could start the new thread and link to the old one enabling continuity without having to dredge up the old thread and its possibly no-longer-relevant title.

Example: "ACME refuses to pay me!" as the original title resulting four months later in payment and apologies could be wrapped up with a new title of "ACME finally paid me" with a link to the original discussion, which would avoid the first post coming up, leading people to think ACME was still refusing to pay.

Time to build a bigger bridge.
Sounds good to me, Mr. J.

@dspeakes - three months = 120 days? Were you using common core math to figure that out? LOL tongue sticking out smiley

There are two types of people in this world: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
KISS KISS HUG HUG.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Is the change going to apply to General Chat as well?

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@LisaSTL --

the change applies to all sections of the forum. Threads that haven't had any activity in 120 are closed to replies. Please let me know if you encounter any bugs, or if somethign seems off.

Warmly,

Jacob
@LJ wrote:

Sounds good to me, Mr. J.

@dspeakes - three months = 120 days? Were you using common core math to figure that out? LOL tongue sticking out smiley


LOL. You got me there. Duh.... smiling smiley Tax season has begun and the months all feel like they have 40 days now. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Time to build a bigger bridge.
That's a pretty good story, D. I'll buy it! grinning smiley

There are two types of people in this world: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
Jacob,
120 days/4 months or 6 months. after the last reply sounds great. This will stops old arguments from repeating their grumble, and perhaps have a MSC respond sooner, if they have anything to say. As I look back on two recent posts were brought back to life after more than two years of absent replies although the Subject Post line was a current MSC.

The posts should be closed but not removed, unless the original post is more than three years old. This way newbies have a way at looking at the "history" and moving forward.smiling smiley

I'm still not getting the "@ xyz"sad smiley
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login