+ Feedback and Suggestion

First I have to say, that this site feels quite incredible. To have such a thoughtful reply to my very first post (myco-remediation) was a VERY inspiring moment.

Second, there aren't many people I've met (and I've traveled to all 50 states and ~24 countries) that are actively working to get plastic out of their life (like you mentioned in your SD talk Paul). Most people have no idea why I even care, but I subscribe to the same philosophy. Stop feeding the beast (reduce demand for stuff that pollutes, poisons, maims, kills)  I call it voting with my wallet...

Wish I'd found you sooner, but you folks are my tribe!

My goal with this post is to try to make the initial engagement with new users (like me) a bit more rewarding and a little less confusing

To that end, it may be helpful:

Suggestion:
1. To have a default view that shows last reply first and also shows (on summary) when the thread was created. As well as buttons/icons for first/last msg (see image 1)

If this resonates, please let me know how I might be able to help.

Overall though, I just want to reiterate how joyful it can be to have found my most meaningful digital place...

Appreciatively!
JP

One of the features of PIE is to jump to the first reply since you last viewed the thread.

There are a lot of other features that make navigation easier with PIE

So lovely to hear of others appreciating Permies too.

Having pie creates a green line, and then when you click on a topic, it takes you to the first post that you haven't read in that topic. I find it extremely helpful.

I have a monthly pie subscription, so that I never run out of this feature and never have to think about renewing.

Pie also helps Permies to keep running, so is a nice way to help out a little.

Ahh, Pie, thanks for setting me straight, will check it out!

How do I know if someone replied to a thread I created or quoted and replied to something I said on another thread ? The only email notification I get is that someone replied to a post I also replied in or that I got an apple.

Pie feature allows a different colour icon if someone replies since you last read the thread.

You can also set a "watch" on a thread to get an email if someone replies, even if you haven't replied to the thread.  ( button is at Top of thread).  

There are also some email settings you can edit in your profile.

I'm addicted to the green line.  

J.P. Waters wrote:Stop feeding the beast (reduce demand for stuff that pollutes, poisons, maims, kills)  I call it voting with my wallet...

You took the words out of my mouth! I call it not 'feeding the monster', whatever the bad guys are trying to make us buy - ignore the trolls and click bait and do something better with my time and money (permies is one of them!).

Thanks for the suggestions and I'm glad you found permies! I know paul and the developers only have so much resources, but keep them coming!

r ransom wrote:Pie feature allows a different colour icon if someone replies since you last read the thread.

You can also set a "watch" on a thread to get an email if someone replies, even if you haven't replied to the thread.  ( button is at Top of thread).  

There are also some email settings you can edit in your profile.

I believe I use default settings on all of my browsers.

In desktop versions, the "watch" button appears at the top and bottom of the page. It offers the option to receive email notifications or not when subscribing (not sure why you would subscribe without getting notifications).

In mobile mode, the button only appears at the bottom of the page and automatically subscribes with emails sent.

I look at my email every other day.  I look at permies hourly.  No need for extra emails clogging my bloated in box.

PIE features make this lifestyle easy.

But, one slice lasts one month, and I tend to give away pie often, so one day I will run out and will be sad.

J.P. Waters wrote:Suggestion:
1. To have a default view that shows last reply first and also shows (on summary) when the thread was created. As well as buttons/icons for first/last msg (see image 1)

After about 25 years of participating in dozens if not hundreds of similar BBS/forums/social media, I've concluded discussions where content within a topic is presented in a chronologically linear format like Permies is vastly superior to all others. What feels like a true public forum with individuals freely exchanging ideas around mutual aid here, becomes something more like the floor of a stock exchange with jackals fighting over slabs of meat in a cesspool environment like reddit with disjointed conversations of snarky comments competing for attention. Putting new comments first seems like it would be highly disruptive of the friendly, constructive conversational flow threads here currently exhibit.

Another rarer aspect of Permies I greatly appreciate is how topics are open ended and often span years, even decades, with gaps in between contributions. This highlights for me that people here are addressing relevant topics concisely, such that new information or viewpoints can gracefully be added to the flow of discussion. Appreciation depends on a reader being willing to dedicate enough time to read through the whole thread, somewhat filtering out those transient characters who commonly drop in disruptively and move on without contributing to the process of accumulating knowledge.

r ransom wrote:I look at my email every other day.  I look at permies hourly.  No need for extra emails clogging my bloated in box.

But what advantage does a thread 'subscription' give you if you are looking at forum summaries so often already?

Coydon Wallham wrote:

r ransom wrote:I look at my email every other day.  I look at permies hourly.  No need for extra emails clogging my bloated in box.

But what advantage does a thread 'subscription' give you if you are looking at forum summaries so often already?

I don't watch (subscribe) to threads.  But others find it useful.

J.P. Waters wrote:First I have to say, that this site feels quite incredible. To have such a thoughtful reply to my very first post (myco-remediation) was a VERY inspiring moment.

Second, there aren't many people I've met (and I've traveled to all 50 states and ~24 countries) that are actively working to get plastic out of their life (like you mentioned in your SD talk Paul). Most people have no idea why I even care, but I subscribe to the same philosophy. Stop feeding the beast (reduce demand for stuff that pollutes, poisons, maims, kills)  I call it voting with my wallet...

Wish I'd found you sooner, but you folks are my tribe!

My goal with this post is to try to make the initial engagement with new users (like me) a bit more rewarding and a little less confusing

To that end, it may be helpful:

Suggestion:
1. To have a default view that shows last reply first and also shows (on summary) when the thread was created. As well as buttons/icons for first/last msg (see image 1)

If this resonates, please let me know how I might be able to help.

Overall though, I just want to reiterate how joyful it can be to have found my most meaningful digital place...

Appreciatively!
JP

JP, I feel the same way!  I borrowed Paul's books from the library and from there I found Permies.com.  Lots of info, insight and inspiration here.  I like your ideas you stated.  It would be nice to see the most recent posts first and the rest in reverse chrono order. Makes it less confusing and quicker to find the posts. I hope you find at least some of the answers you are seeking, but if you can't just post, SOMEone will know SOMEthing to help you in the right direction.  Looking forward to your future posts!!!  --Tess

I guess most recent first or chronologically earlier first, is like email inboxes - some people prefer one way and others another. Perhaps we could consider making it another pie feature? then people could select which they prefer and everyone (with pie) would be happy.
I find reading bottom to top to follow a thread more difficult than top to bottom. I guess if you've already seen it then having new posts at the top might be easier, but as said above 'the green line' and pie find my place so I forget that is one of the benefits of pie.

I have been on a lot of forums and find each had it own character.

All those forum have died a slow death or I now find I do not like their style.

This forum fits my cup of tea perfectly.

Making these suggestions PIE feature would work for me ...

Nancy Reading wrote:I guess most recent first or chronologically earlier first, is like email inboxes - some people prefer one way and others another. Perhaps we could consider making it another pie feature? then people could select which they prefer and everyone (with pie) would be happy.
I find reading bottom to top to follow a thread more difficult than top to bottom. I guess if you've already seen it then having new posts at the top might be easier, but as said above 'the green line' and pie find my place so I forget that is one of the benefits of pie.

Email inboxes are like the thread summary pages. I use various email interfaces and the default is newest first on the summary page, with threads grouped and in chronological order- just like the default has been here.

Having a thread in reverse chronological order would be discombobulating to read updates on- with multiple new posts you'd have to jump down to the middle of the conversation and read up or read the responses before the preceding comments.

I could see the option as a PIE feature, but I much prefer it exactly as it is, and absolutely LOVE my green line.

Appreciate everyone's tips and hearing the varied perspectives. It certainly helps me to think more deeply about an initial positive experience that continues to build momentum.

It sounds like everyone has a way they really enjoy. Sure seems like view customization best accomplished as pie feature(s) and people with a lot more experience than me can decide how best to ensure first time visitors have the most optimal experience possible.

That was my goal with the suggestion.

With more experience on the site (probably with the now infamous green line), I hope to have even more astute suggestions

Appreciate y'all!

J.P. Glad you're finding this site helpful!

J.P. Waters wrote:default view that shows last reply first and also shows

Not exactly what you were after, but if you hit Reply in desktop view you'll see the posts listed in last reply first order below the editor box.