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Okay, so if we've got a reallistic alternative to this place, and it looks like it's going to be different, then I can get with that.
On the avatars question - seriously, avatars are useful. There are lots and lots of things that the majority of message boards have, that Barbelith doesn't. and the reason why those other boards have them is because they help to ensure that discussion is smooth, speedy, largely friendly. They make the acts of reading and participating in an ongoing discussion - and of being part of a working community - easier. That's why those other baords have them.
Barbelith? Doesn't have them because of snobbery. That's the sole reason.
g: A board with a functional administration structure and admissions system based on email registration is not the same design. It might look the same, but some of the buttons will do different things. Or just do things.
I mean, maybe a fresh look would equate to a fresh start, yeah. But looks aren't the whole of a culture, and what this seems to be (admittedly, I've only browsed a little, and only as a generic user) is a different board that's only superficially the same.
I know, but this design is tainted by the reality of what the board's become. I mean, I'd have some difficulty making myself eat a choclate bar that was shaped like a turd, because the bit of my brain that likes to eat chocolate is going to clash with the bit of my brain that doesn't want me to eat shit. So I'm not going to be all that tempted by a board that looks identical to a board that's become a pain in the arse to post to and be a member of through being so broken and neglected.
And linked to that, there's the problem that slavishly copying the design of a broken board means that you may not actually realise which bits were broken until you've ended up copying them across too.
There were loads of things that this current iteration of the board either ignored or lost. The lack of all those things, that's a good deal of the reason why the place has ended up as it is.
The ability to see the most recently updated thread from the main forum page - that helps to ensure that the community is a single entity. Here? The lack of that bit of functionality is precisely what led to the segregation that exists between Barbelith's various sub-folders.
Things like that. Those mistakes should not be repeated. They're elements of the visual design that eventually helped things to grind to this constantly spluttering almost-stop.
Moot point now, given that Breefield's board seems to be moving in a slightly different direction, although there are still some things on that proposed front screen knock-up that do repeat these same mistakes.
Best Barbeltih design, as far as functionality goes? Gold and white. Hands down. If any layout should be used as a point of reference or inspiration, it's that one. |
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thanks.