View Full Version : The Suggestion Box
Hey MoFos,
I've recently finished overhauling another site of mine, M. Night Shayamalan Online, and though I'm working on a number of other projects, I do have a bit more time to devote to MoFo these days.
So, as a result, I'd like to open things up to suggestions. Yes, that's right; you all have your own programmer on call. Any ideas are welcome, though I'll have to throw out a few caveats:
I probably can't make an idea reality if it's too ambitious. I don't want one idea to eat up the majority of all this...unless, of course, it's an especially great idea. :)
I'm looking more for mid-range projects and improvements. Little tweaks are still fair game, but I'm hoping to add new areas and functionality to the site, as opposed to minorly altering what's already here.
Things that will have appeal to non-posting visitors will probably be given some preference. Most of my changes have been improving the experience for the existing member, and that'll always remain the focus, but I would like to do a bit more to lure people to the site initially. This one's not a hard rule by any means; just a general leaning.
If I shoot down or pick apart an idea, please don't take it personally. It's probably just me thinking out loud about the logistics and feasability of said idea. The idea might be good, but overly difficult, or have a bad work/reward type ratio thingamajig. So, please don't think I'm passing judgement on an idea if I don't do it, or explain why I can't, etc.
Now that that's out of the way...any takers? Come on, no idea's too stupid to say out loud, and if it is, well, we'll all have a good time making fun of it.
I kid, I kid.
The main complaint I still hear from the more casual users I know is that the review side of the main page needs to get more attention. They like to go to a page that has many of the latest reviews before each weekend to get their favorite MoFo's opinions on the latest stuff. Many don't want to be bothered searching threads for the info.
I was wondering the same thing only for the Movie tab thread. There are an awful lot of great mini-reviews and opinions tucked away in all those pages. Is there any way to have the search engine bring up the page the movie your searching for is on and not just the thread?
adidasss
07-11-06, 01:28 PM
I was wondering the same thing only for the Movie tab thread. There are an awful lot of great mini-reviews and opinions tucked away in all those pages. Is there any way to have the search engine bring up the page the movie your searching for is on and not just the thread?
yes actually, as Holden has tought me, you do have that option in the search thingamajiggy already...you just put " show results for posts" instead of threads.....very useful...;)
yes actually, as Holden has tought me, you do have that option in the search thingamajiggy already...you just put " show results for posts" instead of threads.....very useful...;)
:laugh: :laugh:
I never knew that! Silly me. :blush:
You just taught this old dog a new trick. Much thanks!
John McClane
07-11-06, 02:05 PM
Yoda, this is more of an update I guess you'd say then a item. But here goes. Remember that PHP chat room you installed? Well, it's not a stable release right now but, they have a beta of 1.03 which has some several new features that would be quite handy in making it more usable. For one, when someone IMs in the chat room the tab will flash bringing attention that way you don't have to keep checking back and forth from whatever else you're doing. And the number one feature everyone else wants is the ability to see who is in the chat room. Just go to the main site and you can look at how it's setup. Well, that's about it.
Holden Pike
07-11-06, 02:24 PM
Less talk, more rock
Volume discounts
0% APR
Free balloons for the kids
SamsoniteDelilah
07-11-06, 04:07 PM
Less talk, more rock
Volume discounts
0% APR
Free balloons for the kids
:laugh:
Ok, here's what I lie awake yearning for:
I want to be able to see more of the results on the rep stuff. The top 5, even for a day, has been dominated by Purandura for weeks now. Meanwhile, I got a lot of negative rep not long ago and I have no idea why, and can't even find out which posts were repped.
It's true that statistics tend to be truer when there are more responses, as any individual response loses it's power to sway the results. But it seems like the results we're getting on the rep thing right now are badly skewed by people being vindictive. Holden got 26 negative reps in a single day, the other day, and didn't post anything that was particularly remarkable. Just someone having a hissy. That's a misuse of anonymity.
Okay, sorry for the delay. Here are some of the actionable ideas so far:
The main complaint I still hear from the more casual users I know is that the review side of the main page needs to get more attention. They like to go to a page that has many of the latest reviews before each weekend to get their favorite MoFo's opinions on the latest stuff. Many don't want to be bothered searching threads for the info.
You're right about this. I've made a couple of attempts to "run" the reviews area off of the reviews on the boards here, but each time, either part-way or most of the way through developing the new area, it's become apparent to me that it just wasn't coming together right. Perhaps I'm being overly picky, but I haven't come up with a particularly striking, organized, efficient way to do this yet.
It has to be a priority, though, for reasons like the ones you've mentioned. The big trouble, really, is that while there are plenty of good reviews on the forums, most of them read more like posts than standalone reviews. Which is fine, but makes it somewhat troublesome to extract them and place them in the Reviews area as if they were more traditional reviews.
What do you guys think?
I want to be able to see more of the results on the rep stuff. The top 5, even for a day, has been dominated by Purandura for weeks now. Meanwhile, I got a lot of negative rep not long ago and I have no idea why, and can't even find out which posts were repped.
It's true that statistics tend to be truer when there are more responses, as any individual response loses it's power to sway the results. But it seems like the results we're getting on the rep thing right now are badly skewed by people being vindictive. Holden got 26 negative reps in a single day, the other day, and didn't post anything that was particularly remarkable. Just someone having a hissy. That's a misuse of anonymity.
You're right. I'll see if I can program in a limit to the number of times you can rep someone in either direction in a day (one of the options on the old system that I liked a great deal).
Some sort of breakdown of rep is coming, as well, as numerous members have mentioned it. The system is going to stay fully anonymous, I think, but I'm going to try a few features to let users know where their posts stand.
Sexy Celebrity
07-17-06, 03:09 PM
I wanna know why everytime I try to log out, it fails at first but then I click something and finally I'm logged out. This happens to me at every computer I'm at.
Oh, oh, oh, I do have a suggestion. Maybe you could change the design/look of Movie Forums again? Perhaps make it more colorful? Brighter? Flashier? It's kinda dark and drab now.
Okay, now, each person, when viewing their own posts, instead of the thumbs up/thumbs down icons, or the "Thanks!" message, will see their rating for that post (Either a green number for positive, a red one for negative, or the word "Even").
I'm still going to put something more comprehensive together, but I thought this would be helpful as well (and in the meantime).
I wanna know why everytime I try to log out, it fails at first but then I click something and finally I'm logged out. This happens to me at every computer I'm at.
Yeah, this has been a problem for awhile. It's baffled me to the point where I'm simply going to assume the next forum upgrade will fix it. Hopefully I'll upgrade sometime in the next few weeks; I'm waiting for vBulletin 3.6 to come out, at which time I'll have to categorize the numerous modifications I've made so I can reapply them afterwards.
Oh, oh, oh, I do have a suggestion. Maybe you could change the design/look of Movie Forums again? Perhaps make it more colorful? Brighter? Flashier? It's kinda dark and drab now.
I can't tell if this is sarcasm or not. If it isn't: I'm in love with the general layout, and probably always will be, and it's dark by design, as it suits the subject matter. That said, I'm open to suggestions on adding little flourishes here and there for color (there's quite a bit on the forum main page, for example...is that the kind of thing you're suggesting; more of that?).
Sexy Celebrity
07-17-06, 04:42 PM
No, I wasn't being sarcastic. I was just imagining Movie Forums being redone in a different way - maybe more white instead of black? I know that's kind of typical of online forums, but, it'd be different here.
and it's dark by design, as it suits the subject matter.
What do you mean by that Yoda? Are you saying all the subject matter is usually dark for the most part?
Sexy Celebrity
07-17-06, 05:10 PM
I'd like to see Movie Forums maybe bathed in blue or ...... GOLD.
*not being sarcastic
What do you mean by that Yoda? Are you saying all the subject matter is usually dark for the most part?
I was thinking mainly of movie theaters. A lot of movie-related websites use dark color schemes for this reason, I think. There are, of course, numerous exceptions, but I do think there's a correlation, and for good reason.
As for using white; again, I'm open to ideas, but I really can't think of anything offhand that wouldn't either look a bit odd, or involve a massive overhaul in the site's layout.
Sexy Celebrity
07-17-06, 05:49 PM
I think of movie theatres as being red.
Is there any way of allowing people to customise their own display, colour-wise??
(I'm kind of doubting there is - but y'never know)
I was thinking mainly of movie theaters. A lot of movie-related websites use dark color schemes for this reason, I think. There are, of course, numerous exceptions, but I do think there's a correlation, and for good reason.
Ahh ok. That makes sense. I honestly never had a problem with the black color here. Unique in it's own way. And yeah, when the light's go out, all movie theatres look the same even with their little trail of floor lights.
I'd like to see Movie Forums maybe bathed in blue or ...... GOLD.
*not being sarcastic
I can see maybe the color sky blue in the back.
Or even a background image of a movie screen with seats. (I know, I've been workin' too long at Cinemark :p )
:laugh:
Ok, here's what I lie awake yearning for:top 5, even for a day, has been dominated by Purandura for weeks now. Meanwhile, I got a lot of negative rep not long ago and I
I want to be able to see more of the results on the rep stuff. The have no idea why, and can't even find out which posts were repped.
It's true that statistics tend to be truer when there are more responses, as any individual response loses it's power to sway the results. But it seems like the results we're getting on the rep thing right now are badly skewed by people being vindictive. Holden got 26 negative reps in a single day, the other day, and didn't post anything that was particularly remarkable. Just someone having a hissy. That's a misuse of anonymity.
:yup: I feel totally the same way and just assumed improved rep feedback was in the works, cause I have no idea how many points I have, if i've gone up or down, or even what my best or worst post is. I'll be pretty content with a happy medium......as long as something is on the way ;)
Ðèstîñy
07-18-06, 03:25 AM
What are the chances of avatars that are 100 by 100 pixels, and/or pictures in our signatures? I doubt that you want the signature pictures, but would the larger avatars be possible?
What are the chances of avatars that are 100 by 100 pixels, and/or pictures in our signatures? I doubt that you want the signature pictures, but would the larger avatars be possible?
I am with you about the size of the avatar :yup: as for pictures in the signatures :nope: at other sites i have been, I have found them too Messy :yup:
Tacitus
07-18-06, 07:34 AM
I can't tell if this is sarcasm or not. If it isn't: I'm in love with the general layout, and probably always will be, and it's dark by design, as it suits the subject matter. That said, I'm open to suggestions on adding little flourishes here and there for color (there's quite a bit on the forum main page, for example...is that the kind of thing you're suggesting; more of that?).
Seeing as I always thought the present layout was supposed to resemble a movie reel (y'know, individual posts are the frames) I think it looks fine. ;)
Sexy Celebrity
07-18-06, 10:38 AM
Seeing as I always thought the present layout was supposed to resemble a movie reel (y'know, individual posts are the frames) I think it looks fine. ;)
Gosh... I never noticed that before. Really? Wow. Alright, then don't change it.
Cool observation there, Tacitus. :)
Regarding avatar size: not to be dismissive, but I'm mainly looking for suggestions that add some new function or attraction to the site, as I mentioned in the first post. Avatars are 90x90...I can't imagine making them 100x100 will really effect anyone's experience, except in making everyone scroll a bit more.
SamsoniteDelilah
07-19-06, 01:33 AM
Cool observation there, Tacitus. :)
Regarding avatar size: not to be dismissive, but I'm mainly looking for suggestions that add some new function or attraction to the site, as I mentioned in the first post. Avatars are 90x90...I can't imagine making them 100x100 will really effect anyone's experience, except in making everyone scroll a bit more.
You're right, of course.
What would effect my experience is an av size of >125x125. That would ROCK!!! :D Why? Because it's a matter of self-expression and a way of adding color without your having to change anything. And as for people scrolling farther, few of my posts (including sig) are shorter in length than my av, so when do we get to make the new big pictures? :kiss:
I too like the idea of bigger avies, although anything bigger than 100x100 would be too big, at least I think it would be. adding 10x10 might not sound like much but it wold allow those of us who create their own avatars a little more freedom, maybe a larger file size would also be cool if that is possible.
I also have seen on other boards the ability to turn off the language sensor for those who are against censorship. The default of course should always be to filter posts with somewhere in the users options to change it. I personally would always have my filter on, but it seems like a good option for those who hate the ***'s
A spell checker in the wysiwyg would be cool, but probably too hard to intergrate. And of course should be able to be turned off for those folk that like 2 b cool n stuff.;)
I like the color scheme and layout a lot. I am on a lot of forums and this is my fav' in that regard.
I know I probably do not say it a lot, but thanks Chris for a great board and just the idea of having a suggestion box and actually reading and using it speaks volumes of your chracter. Not kissing up just saying the truth, no kiss up rep please.:)
Ðèstîñy
07-19-06, 06:25 AM
It was more-so about convenience. With me, I normally hit right at 100 by 100. Then I have to work for forever, to make it the right size, which usually makes it look bad. I just assumed that others had the same problem.
It was more-so about convenience. With me, I normally hit right at 100 by 100. Then I have to work for forever, to make it the right size, which usually makes it look bad. I just assumed that others had the same problem.
When I am looking for a new avi i see a lot of pictures that are 100 by 100 so the increased size would be good :yup: As 7thboy said, not bigger than that :nope:
A larger choice of Smilies :yup: :yup: :yup: Unlike 7thboy, Chris, I am suckinghttp://bestsmileys.com/family/14.gif up, you are the best http://bestsmileys.com/cheering/7.gif now can i have more smilies http://bestsmileys.com/bowing/2.gif Oh and i will accept suckhttp://bestsmileys.com/family/14.gif up rep http://bestsmileys.com/signs16/19.gif
Tacitus
07-19-06, 07:08 AM
Steps to save Yoda coding bumache in the meantime, apologies to those who know how to do it already as it's a Granny/sucking eggs situation. ;)
Step 1. Download Irfanview (http://www.irfanview.com/), it's free and tiny.
Step 2. Crank 'er up and open your chosen avatar (which you've saved to your hard drive, natch) with the above program.
Step 3. From the 'Image' drop-down menu, select 'resize/resample' and make your Av 90x90 (or close enough, as long as none of the sides are over 90).
Step 4. 'Save as' then smile the smile of the (self)righteous.
Steps to save Yoda coding bumache in the meantime, apologies to those who know how to do it already as it's a Granny/sucking eggs situation. ;)
I can do it :yup: I am just lazy :yup:
Tacitus
07-19-06, 07:21 AM
I can do it :yup: I am just lazy :yup:
That ain't an excuse dearie! :D
I know you're one of those Mac-wearing type people so the closest alternative I could find to Irfanview is GraphicConverter (http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/download.htm).
I can't vouch for it as the weather's much too nice for Mac-wearing... ;)
That ain't an excuse dearie! :D
I know you're one of those Mac-wearing type people so the closest alternative I could find to Irfanview is GraphicConverter (http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/download.htm).
I can't vouch for it as the weather's much too nice for Mac-wearing... ;)
Oh Tatty you are an http://bestsmileys.com/angles/10.gif since i had the hard drive replaced I couldn't find my Graphic converter :bawling: Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou http://bestsmileys.com/kissing1/20.gif
Tacitus
07-19-06, 08:17 AM
A-ha! It works then. :D
I wouldn't mind 120 x 120 avatars actually since pics are not allowed in our sigs. Yoda's avatar is a nice size too. :licklips:
Oh and like the poster above said, a spell checker would be nice. :yup:
Ash_Lee
07-19-06, 11:02 AM
The only problem I have with avatars being 90x90 is that I have 6 different versions of Doctor House in my "Pictures/Avs and Sigs" folder on my hard drive (one for every forum, and 2 christmas versions).
I don't think it's actually that annoying, but it would be nice if there was a standard size, you know? It certainly seems that 100x100 seems to be the standard on most places I go to anyway.
Just my 2 cents.
Just to put my vote in...I'm fine with the avatars being the sizes they are now. Right now I think the page layout looks clean and neat. If the avatars were larger than Yoda's (90x90?) the page layout would start looking a little horsey. I like the clean and neat look.
ash_is_the_gal
07-19-06, 12:12 PM
i tend to agree with Annie on this... sometimes, when i have went to change my avatar, i've had a hard time being able to use the avatar of my choice due too it being to big, and i had to resize it. sometimes it ended up not looking right after i resized, but i just moved on and didn't use it. i think we would have the cluttered look going on if the avatars got any bigger, and i really tend to think Mofo is pretty and clean looking right now!
larger than Yoda's (90x90?) the page layout would start looking a little horsey. I like the clean and neat look.
His AVie is 118x100...;) , but thats cool RHIP.
His AVie is 118x100...;) , but thats cool RHIP.
Silence, working-class MoFo! I am above the law!
I have no energy for starting a revolution, I am silenced.
ash_is_the_gal
07-19-06, 03:36 PM
but now you've left the doors open for others to rebut!
(not that i care)
This is just a question, and didn't know where to place this so here goes. Above my post count I have the word 'even' there. What is that pertain to???
This is just a question, and didn't know where to place this so here goes. Above my post count I have the word 'even' there. What is that pertain to???
It means you haven't been given a thumbs up or a thumbs down in that particular post. Or perhaps you got one of each maybe......highly unlikely though.
ash_is_the_gal
07-19-06, 05:29 PM
i have a question as well. in the past when you consume "uncomfirmed private messages" you were able to click the link and clear them. now they just pile up. when you go to clear them, there is nothing to clear. does anyone else have this problem?
its just driving me crazy.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/ashisthegal/Misc/screenshotmofo-1.jpg
(sorry for the crappy screen shot, i am at work and did not want to maximize the screen. ahem!)
EDIT: edited for 7thy-son's sensitive eyes (cause im sweet like that)
John McClane
07-19-06, 05:50 PM
i have a question as well. in the past when you consume "uncomfirmed private messages" you were able to click the link and clear them. now they just pile up. when you go to clear them, there is nothing to clear. does anyone else have this problem?Yes, I have noticed this as well. I don't use them but, I can see how it would be annoying.
I suggest that you dont use such a huge screen capture picture.;)
ash_is_the_gal
07-19-06, 05:55 PM
if i were at home, i would have resized it probably!
sowwy.
(EDIT: edited for 7thy-son's sensitive eyes (cause im sweet like that)
Awwwwwwwwwwww Thanks darlink.:)
I notice in your M. Night Shyamalan Discussion forum you have the locations of the posters to the right between posts and join date. Any way to inject that into the posts on the regular part of the forum. Is that a problem?
I notice in your M. Night Shyamalan Discussion forum you have the locations of the posters to the right between posts and join date. Any way to inject that into the posts on the regular part of the forum. Is that a problem?
Yeah, quite easily. I removed it initially to reduce clutter, though. Anyone else like the idea of putting it back?
Yeah, quite easily. I removed it initially to reduce clutter, though. Anyone else like the idea of putting it back?
They are so thrilled they are speechless. :p
John McClane
07-24-06, 06:44 PM
Yeah, quite easily. I removed it initially to reduce clutter, though. Anyone else like the idea of putting it back?
I dunno about that. It would be weird. ;)
Sure, that sounds OK.
starrdarcy
08-17-06, 08:23 PM
Well it's been 2 years since we last held the MoFo Awards. This awards event could be held only every 2 years, instead of every year... just to make it last. I know the last one was a little shaky to lift off the ground, however, we coudl give it another shot.
MyRobotSuit
02-22-07, 11:09 AM
I'd like to see some use of RSS on the site. I have this feature on my phone and would enjoy reading comments from the shoutbox or headlines from the 'This Just in' section.
For those not in the know RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is basically web feeds published frequently such as blogs or content that can be read for RSS readers through a browser or on your phone.
What do you think?
Sexy Celebrity
02-22-07, 11:14 AM
I still wanna see the site in new colors. Today I'm imagining the background being red instead of black. For 1 day, I'd like to see it as that (knowing my luck, he'll do it on a day I don't visit).
1 day in a shiny, metallic blue would be nice too.
I'd like to see some use of RSS on the site. I have this feature on my phone and would enjoy reading comments from the shoutbox or headlines from the 'This Just in' section.
Not a bad idea. I've created dynamic podcast feeds and the like before, so I don't imagine an RSS feed for the Shoutbox or most recently updated threads would be terribly difficult. I'll see what I can do.
I still wanna see the site in new colors. Today I'm imagining the background being red instead of black. For 1 day, I'd like to see it as that (knowing my luck, he'll do it on a day I don't visit).
1 day in a shiny, metallic blue would be nice too.
:laugh: Tell you what: pick a color, and I'll set things up so that for an entire day, you -- and only you -- can see it. Deal? :D
Sexy Celebrity
02-22-07, 11:43 AM
:laugh: Tell you what: pick a color, and I'll set things up so that for an entire day, you -- and only you -- can see it. Deal? :D
My dream come true!
Today or tomorrow would be nice, but if you can't do it, I'll have to let you know when the next possible day will be. Next week is still up in the air. Weekends are always bad.
As for the color... I've changed my mind.... I want ORANGE!
Today's fine with me. Ditto for orange.
One question, though: which background are you talking about? I ask because the black bars on the far left and right of the page are partially made up of images, which would be tricky to replace (at least from the desk I'm at now). Do you care if certain images (and the ads, etc) are still black/dark gray?
Sexy Celebrity
02-22-07, 11:51 AM
The way I'm seeing things on my screen, the threads are like a film, each post a frame. There are these thick spaces on the left and right that are just all black, although maybe the words "MOVIEFORUMS.COM * YOU CAN ALMOST TASTE THE POPCORN *" are part of that?
If that's too tricky to change to orange, no need to. If that's the easy part, please make that orange. I don't care if certain things are still black/dark gray.
Thanks in advance.
John McClane
02-22-07, 01:40 PM
Not a bad idea. I've created dynamic podcast feeds and the like before, so I don't imagine an RSS feed for the Shoutbox or most recently updated threads would be terribly difficult. I'll see what I can do.I'd kill for that because I hate the fact that I can't see new shouts without visiting the site. Now you got two people that want it. That means you HAVE to do it. ;) Haha.
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