What would you change in the HEXUS forums?

[DR]

So - we often tweak and tinker things - we'd love to hear your feedback - what would you change on the HEXUS forums, or even the HEXUS site?

Over the years we've tried different things, the good things stick around the bad things go away.... and we thought we'd ask you the HEXUS readers what you'd like to see over the next 12 months.

We may not do them all but certainly all suggestions (please keep them sensible) will be considered.

Thanks all!

[kalniel]

I don't know if it's still the case, but a while back I got the impression reported posts were only flagged to moderators via email, rather than using the vBulletin mod CP. If so, using the mod CP to manage flagged posts instead makes it easier for a team of moderators to overlap on forums and makes multiple reports of the same post/thread etc. easy to handle. Likewise the IP viewer in the CP helps spot when people create multiple accounts to get around bans etc. - and you can expose the wonderful send to coventry option

I find the forums quite hard to use on small screen devices, but I wouldn't want to compromise the desktop experience to fix this since that vast majority of my use is desktop.

Site-wise, those ads are a real killer - to the point I avoid reading main site articles as much as possible - I don't want to avoid them, but it's just so much more pleasant to read an article on just about any other tech site. There's a wonderful manefesto called 'acceptable ads':
https://acceptableads.org/en/

which would be great if Hexus signed up to (like reddit have) - even if not joining the official list, following the same mandate would be great.

Edit: It's probably important to note a couple of things I wouldn't change too - I really like the fact that Hexus forums are usable with a minimum of script usage - there are some sites I've stopped reading altogether because they're unusable without allowing all manner of opaque scripts to run. If you do go down the route of using scripts, please make sure they are transparently named so I can whitelist them easily

I like the sections, layout, and importantly, tech focus and friendliness of the site - I know it's resource heavy to keep a certain atmosphere when it would be easy to chase the mass worldwide ranty chauvinistic white/straight/male gamer audience, but there are already many other forums for that. Having a UK-focused polite forum/website is really appreciated (so please keep making sure your articles and so on apply to UK audiences).

[DR]

I don't know if it's still the case, but a while back I got the impression reported posts were only flagged to moderators via email, rather than using the vBulletin mod CP. If so, using the mod CP to manage flagged posts instead makes it easier for a team of moderators to overlap on forums and makes multiple reports of the same post/thread etc. easy to handle. Likewise the IP viewer in the CP helps spot when people create multiple accounts to get around bans etc. - and you can expose the wonderful send to coventry option

I find the forums quite hard to use on small screen devices, but I wouldn't want to compromise the desktop experience to fix this since that vast majority of my use is desktop.

Site-wise, those ads are a real killer - to the point I avoid reading main site articles as much as possible - I don't want to avoid them, but it's just so much more pleasant to read an article on just about any other tech site. There's a wonderful manefesto called 'acceptable ads':
https://acceptableads.org/en/

which would be great if Hexus signed up to (like reddit have) - even if not joining the official list, following the same mandate would be great.

Edit: It's probably important to note a couple of things I wouldn't change too - I really like the fact that Hexus forums are usable with a minimum of script usage - there are some sites I've stopped reading altogether because they're unusable without allowing all manner of opaque scripts to run. If you do go down the route of using scripts, please make sure they are transparently named so I can whitelist them easily

I like the sections, layout, and importantly, tech focus and friendliness of the site - I know it's resource heavy to keep a certain atmosphere when it would be easy to chase the mass worldwide ranty chauvinistic white/straight/male gamer audience, but there are already many other forums for that. Having a UK-focused polite forum/website is really appreciated (so please keep making sure your articles and so on apply to UK audiences).

Are you talking about the Intelitxt style ads? We work really hard to make sure all adverts are focused and relevant.

[Macman]

Introduce more forum themes?

I know this isn't a big thing, just a thought?

[jimbouk]

Whilst I wouldn't go as far as locking of old threads, perhaps an extra confirmation step if you are posting to a thread that's older than 6 months/1 year. And maybe a post/time limiter on new joiners.

Basically I'm sure you've seen first thing in a morning when someone has posted on a dozen of more threads ranging from current to ancient with 1 liners. Save you lovely mods having to tidy-up or reduce a users post count so as not to reward such behaviour.

General layout/structure is good, seems to be the right amount of categories so they're mostly kept active.

Maybe the top Hexus logo should take you back to the Hexus main site rather than the forum home? Just a preference really and there's the home button below it.

[Output]

Introduce more forum themes?

I know this isn't a big thing, just a thought?

I have to admit, I would like a dark version of the forum theme (and probably for the main site too) - even if it was as a Stylish theme (userstyles.org).

[Macman]

I have to admit, I would like a dark version of the forum theme (and probably for the main site too) - even if it was as a Stylish theme (userstyles.org).

Ditto.

I'm abit of an awkward one when it comes to forums, if I don't like the layout of the forum I won't use it.

For me, I browse Reddit, Hexus and Amazon Forums alot and Hexus is probably my most favourite interms of it's UI. A dark forum would score some brownie points

[peterb]

I don't know if it's still the case, but a while back I got the impression reported posts were only flagged to moderators via email, rather than using the vBulletin mod CP. If so, using the mod CP to manage flagged posts instead makes it easier for a team of moderators to overlap on forums and makes multiple reports of the same post/thread etc. easy to handle.

The moderators of a forum get an email for reported posts in that forum. It means we are flagged pretty much as soon as the report is made, and (depending on what we are doing) can respond according to the perceived urgency of the report.

The plus side is that we don't need to log in to check reports, the downside is that two moderators may act on the report independently (if it is seen as urgent) although we do have procedures to co-ordinate a longer term solution if needed.
While not ideal, the system does work quite well.

A centralised system might work if an e mail alert was sent as well, although unless the subject and content was included (as now) it would require a log in to actually judge the importance.

[peterb]

Whilst I wouldn't go as far as locking of old threads, perhaps an extra confirmation step if you are posting to a thread that's older than 6 months/1 year. And maybe a post/time limiter on new joiners.

Basically I'm sure you've seen first thing in a morning when someone has posted on a dozen of more threads ranging from current to ancient with 1 liners. Save you lovely mods having to tidy-up or reduce a users post count so as not to reward such behaviour.

ah yes, the post count pimpers. The subject of much discussion by the moderation team.

Not arrived at a solution though as in some cases it involves other organisations.

[jimborae]

Are you talking about the Intelitxt style ads? We work really hard to make sure all adverts are focused and relevant.

Yes the intelitxt style adds are a major pita when you're trying to read some article that one of your staff has put a lot of effort into writing, & in the end you just give up because you cant stand all the random pop ups that happen even if you don't move your cursor over them.

..rant mode over.

[kalniel]

Are you talking about the Intelitxt style ads? We work really hard to make sure all adverts are focused and relevant.

Yes. Even though as I'm logged in most of the time I don't see as many of them they are still bad. However they are incredibly annoying if not logged in (for example if I've switched browsers). Ads also seem much more prevalent on small screen devices but that could also be due to not logging in (which is a bit more of a pain for me on such devices than a desktop).

I was also thinking that if you could sign up to the mandate then you'd be automatically whitelisted from some of the blockers that people use internet wide.

[The Hand]

Maybe have badges of various types on the left hand side to show your interests, such as Intel, AMD, PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Windows, Steam, PS4, Xbox, Nintendo etc.

[jimbouk]

Maybe have badges of various types on the left hand side to show your interests, such as Intel, AMD, PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Windows, Steam, PS4, Xbox, Nintendo etc.

Oh like that one. The user system is pretty good as people can talk about what they have without needing to repeat it, maybe something similar for interests (with badges, everyone loves badges )

[DR]

Yes. Even though as I'm logged in most of the time I don't see as many of them they are still bad. However they are incredibly annoying if not logged in (for example if I've switched browsers). Ads also seem much more prevalent on small screen devices but that could also be due to not logging in (which is a bit more of a pain for me on such devices than a desktop).

I was also thinking that if you could sign up to the mandate then you'd be automatically whitelisted from some of the blockers that people use internet wide.

Try now

[kalniel]

Try now

If not logged in, still terrible.

For example, I just browsed some system review I want to read, and this horrible, animated pop up obscures the text, and has absolutely nothing to do with 'saving' or computers or the article. I really do not want a WC that cleans me.. (actually I hardly understand what they're talking about - do they mean a toilet that squirts you, ala a bidet?)



But no pop up ads if logged in, which is good

[DR]

If not logged in, still terrible.

For example, I just browsed some system review I want to read, and this horrible, animated pop up obscures the text, and has absolutely nothing to do with 'saving' or computers or the article. I really do not want a WC that cleans me.. (actually I hardly understand what they're talking about - do they mean a toilet that squirts you, ala a bidet?)



But no pop up ads if logged in, which is good

The aim is when you are logged in. As an advantage to those who are logged in and active with the community.