Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)

hgm · Post by **hgm** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 10:43 pm

Some discontent seems to be developing with respect to the length of the phone benchmark thread. Extremely long discussions basically break some features of the forum, in particular the use of threaded view.

I don't want to cast any doubt on the importance of the subject; obviously if it was not important to some, there would not be so many postings in it. But I can also see the point of the less interested, that it is starting to interfere with proper operation of the forum.

Is it really necessary to have all that information and discussion in a single thread? An obvious solution would be to start a new benchmark thread, and let the old one float to oblivion in a natural way, or lock it when that does not happen. Would this be very objectionable to those interested in this discussion? We could always start the new thread with a link to the old one, so that those interested in the old discussion can instantly find it, no matter how much it floats down. Like this:

http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopi ... &start=650

Note that my aim is not to infringe on anyone's rights; I am just exploring how we could organize things better, so that the forum services improve for everyone.

Please post your ideas on this here (and in particular not elsewhere).

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 10:58 pm

For me personally - I always switch to flat view and only occasionally switch to to thread view. That seems to work for me.

Thread view does become a nuisance after a 100 or so replies, maybe even sooner. I'm fine with leaving it to moderators discretion as to when thread should be locked - with perhaps a link to the old thread as being the first post in the new thread.

Also perhaps, can we explore a way that would make a user's preference stick?

Adam Hair · Post by **Adam Hair** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 11:25 pm

hgm wrote:Some discontent seems to be developing with respect to the length of the phone benchmark thread. Extremely long discussions basically break some features of the forum, in particular the use of threaded view.

I don't want to cast any doubt on the importance of the subject; obviously if it was not important to some, there would not be so many postings in it. But I can also see the point of the less interested, that it is starting to interfere with proper operation of the forum.

Is it really necessary to have all that information and discussion in a single thread? An obvious solution would be to start a new benchmark thread, and let the old one float to oblivion in a natural way, or lock it when that does not happen. Would this be very objectionable to those interested in this discussion? We could always start the new thread with a link to the old one, so that those interested in the old discussion can instantly find it, no matter how much it floats down. Like this:

http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopi ... &start=650

Note that my aim is not to infringe on anyone's rights; I am just exploring how we could organize things better, so that the forum services improve for everyone.

Please post your ideas on this here (and in particular not elsewhere).

This seems to be a very reasonable compromise to me.

hgm · Post by **hgm** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 11:30 pm

You mean the preference for flat or threaded view? For me that always sticks. But you have to be logged on for that, and I always tick automatic logon. I always enter the forum at http://www.talkchess.com/forum , however. It might be different if you leave out the /forum.

I also always use flat view, so I was not aware of the problem until people started grumbling. But I know there are many here that feel very strongly in favor of threaded view, so much that this in fact is the major reason why we never update the forum software.

100 postings is not much, just 5 pages. The CuteChess GUI thread is also already nearly double that. It doesn't matter so much if it grows in a short time, and is gone quickly afterwards, though.

Frank Brenner · Post by **Frank Brenner** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 12:43 am

Maybe one could write down the complete smartphone thread into one single Huge posting and replace this hundreds of single postings.

I dont know if this could cause traffic problems if ppl click on this posting.
If this is the case, just remove it complete and leave only a Link to the flat text.

Dirt · Post by **Dirt** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 2:28 am

hgm wrote:Please post your ideas on this here (and in particular not elsewhere).

From what someone said, there are occasional summaries in the thread. The new thread could start with the latest one. As I haven't looked in that thread for many months I don't know for sure.

But, yeah, I campaigned on this issue. It would be nice to do something even though I lost.

Paloma · Post by **Paloma** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 3:19 am

I fully agree

fern · Post by **fern** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 4:54 am

Totally agree with you, Beside your reasons, this phone thing looks like we are in a consumer magazine or something.
Fern

IWB · Post by **IWB** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 9:32 am

That sounds very reasonable to me!

Ingo

Frank Quisinsky · Post by **Frank Quisinsky** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 11:22 am

Hi there,

it's very boring to open such a big thread. In most of cases I am not reading such bigger threads. But people like sensations ... have a look on thread x in TalkChess ... 50.000 readers! The ego is fine for such People and if I am reading here comments it is a confirmation.

Speaking for myself:
In tournament selection I open for each Rating List version or test-run a new thread, never I had the idea to added all in one. Easy, I don't like it and it is much more clearer. OK, normaly it can be enough to added the Rating list one time per months here or to write ... have a look on my webpage. But it's more easy to read the list here as on my boring website. So the users must not again and again jumping to my site for see allways the same.

Same for the still running test-runs.
To added a link here is better for people with interest to follow. I must not have for such a reason 100 hits per day more on my boring site.

The advantage from such a forum TalkChess is.

But if I read ... have a look on my site for results x or y or bigger threads here I am irritated.

God moves in mysterious ways.

Best
Frank

Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)

Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)

Re: Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)

Re: Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)

Re: Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)

Re: Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)

Re: Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)

Re: Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)

Re: Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)

Re: Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)

Re: Very long threads (such as phone benchmarks)