problems navigating swampbubbles site

As you've found out, Starling, this site is nothing like user-friendly Toledo Talk and you're not the first to scratch their head over this. I can't help much other than to say I believe the 'use Java' phrase is for the chat room only. Just posting like I'm doing now is pretty straight-forward. Are you trying to use the chat room?

Oddly enough I've never felt that TT's layout was all that user friendly. Not putting it down at all, just saying I personally have always preferred forums of this type, where as posts are responded to they move up to the top, and new posts to a topic update much easier here for me at least.

Only 3% of the users don't have Java turned on automatically. You should be able to just enter. Of course there needs to be more than one person in there to have a chat :)

Please feel free to post some of your observations on how the navigation could be improved. What is the site doing good? What can be improved? What cool features you would like to see? etc...

Please also post your operating system and Web browser too.

OK, on TT to bold, italic, or put in a url you pretty much just point and shoot. How do you do it here?

The navigation isn't linear, which is what you're used to.

I find that using the 'recent posts' button in the left column, under your account, helps considerably.

My main complaint with this site is the display. The screen is roughly divided into thirds, with the center third devoted to post content. Since the nature of the site is post content and not animation, x-rated pix or the like, the width of the center column (or third of the display) should reflect that function. I'd put the content of the right third on the left side, and allow for a wider display for the posts.

Ok, what does this mean? "Please also post your operating system and Web browser too." I know how to operate my computer to do what I need it to do, but beyond that, this sounds too techno-geek to me. Too much of this site is too techno-geek, too user un-friendly. I DO prefer the layout of TT - it was so simple - you could see instantly all new posts & comments to those posts; and also the date they were posted (yes, you can see the date on posts on this site - but I have to squint). I don't have the time or patience to frequent this site as it is now. I also don't care for the 'divided in 3' columns either - and having to scroll so far down, all the time.

My other complaint (and I apologise for complaining, I really don't have the right to do so) is the size of the font on writing a comment. It is HUGE. I'm not crazy that anybody walking behind me, or even sitting on the couch near me, can read every word I type. My desk is situated in a walk-through area- between the family room & kitchen. Not that anybody here even would care, I just hate people reading over my shoulder, but when the font is so large, it automatically catches people's eyes, attention. I feel like I am writing for a 1st grader with this font.

Yes, the java thing is only for the chat room - haven't tried it yet, but had no idea if I had to turn something on or not. I know nothing about creating sites like this, so I have no right to critize. But I'd pop into TT a few times a day, easy in/out. I'd hoped that this site would be similar, easy to use. Hasn't been the case so far, no big urges to pop in.

I noticed too, that the right side is 'recent posts'. Problem I have with it's design is that there's a link to every post, rather than every topic - meaning, that one topic may take up a huge amount of space, even though it's made up of many comments to the same topic. I guess I"d prefer to see the recent topics, in order of when they were posted, and a notation of how many comments were posted to it - and if anybody wanted to check it out, they could do it with one link. (like TT).

I have to admit the idea of a chat room (which I just recently discovered on here as a result of this thread) has potential. As an old AOL subscriber few years back I admit to wasting away decent portions of the day in various chatrooms. They can be somewhat habit-forming.

I know I've been somewhat critical of the looks and navigation of this site compared to TT, so it's fair to point out I really enjoy the "numbers" info..how many times a post has been read, the Hall of Fame stats, etc. That part has been enjoyable and I'm getting used to the things I find so different compared to TT. It's a new enterprise and deserves time and patience from contributors.

http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp
On the outside chance you don't have Java installed-go here. I had to install it on my computer, which I bought used. all is perfectly safe, you'll get updates now and then automatically.
8^D

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In World War 2 we fought the Nazis. Today we're afraid of cellphones, smokers, and cheeseburgers. It's about at the end, people.

I think the format of this sight is terrible. You have the page divided into 3 sections and one must jump all over the place to find comments etc. Follow TT format and you would have a winner.

i think this site is fine. the recent comments box helps you track who is saying what on the threads.

Follow TT format and you would have a winner.
*****
But this isn't Toledo Talk. This is Swamp Bubbles. So it shouldn't have to follow the format or look like the format or be like Toledo Talk at all.
Swamp Bubbles must be doing something right because every time I check it there are new posts and/or new topics so I'd say it already is a winner.

It would be nice if we could change the default font size though.

I like the fact that when you log in, it tells you under each thread how many new posts have been added to the thread since you last logged in. I really like that feature. I think this site is great, and I know for a fact that the webmaster puts a lot of spare time and energy into this and other websites and gets nothing in return.

Starling02, I don't have a problem with what you say. If I did, I would have deleted your post. I think the right column is too big. If it was an easy fix, I would have already of done it. I actually already tried to do it quickly a couple of weeks ago, but the behind the scene stuff is too complex to just change one thing and have it work. That column is relying on at least 3 different things, so they will all need to be weighed and considered. Plus every function that is created also has security implications, so I need to think about a lot before I do something. It is on my list of things to do, so take heart in that.

I do think it has a good foundation and it is only the beginning. I too like the read count and the hall of fame, the RSS feeds you can read and the ones this site pushes out (did you know every category term has a RSS feed?). The Chat has potential too. I have a lot of ideas; it is just finding the time to do it. The cool thing is the opensource CMS that this runs on has all kinds of cool stuff that can be "plugged" into it. So what you see is only the beginning. Feel free to mention what you like or dislike in this thread or the