- Thread starter David Baxter PhD
- Start date
gooblax
MVP
*Comments are for Desktop version only.
I'm biased because this was one of the first forums I ever decided to join, but I've actually always preferred how Psychlinks looks compared to many other forums.
I dislike right hand sidebar quick-links/widgets as I never use them and they just take up valuable horizontal page real estate. I also find it visually unsettling when there aren't solid vertical line dividers on either side of a post (sticking it in a giant different coloured <div> with the margin too wide does not count as a vertical line).
The Psychlinks forum home/menu page might be a little bit cluttered. Perhaps it could benefit from using the mouse-over text descriptors that are in the Biz Warriors forum. I've never used the "Subscribe to this forum" button on the Psychlinks forum home/menu page. I've also never used the "Go to last post" button on the right hand side (or anything in that Last Post column at all, come to think of it... though I'd imagine other people might be using that) but that's because I typically browse by Recent Posts or by sub-forum if I'm looking for something in particular.
forgetmenot
MVP
I find the forum modern and very easy to use. Love the quote of the day as well on top. It is clean looking not cluttered in appearance.
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
That is optional and can be disabled or enabled only for the main forum index page. vBulletin also has that option but I chose to turn it off on all pages.
The fact that you know what a <div> is tells me that you're no stranger to coding.
But I'm not sure what you mean by this comment... possibly it depends on the theme a forum is using?I can look into that. Not sure if it's possible with vBulletin.
I agree with Gooblax and Forgetmenot. That other forum just looks tacky and scary to me. This one feels like a place that is serene, trustworthy, and safe. That is not to say that some kind of nice revamp is not a good idea, I just personally really don't like the way the other one looks. If you do consider a revamp I'd go for staying with a 'serene' feel. Just my opinion though.
I do wonder if there might be a bit too much stuff on the screen though... Perhaps just a simplification of the primary layout, of some sort? Larger button or link fonts or tabs, and maybe fewer of them?
One thing I should mention, I used to do a little bit of stuff in the field of web writing and SEO, and I do know that duplicate text of any decent amount is a big SEO no-no. That's part of the reason I have never really been sure about copying full articles from elsewhere and putting them here, even with attribution and linking. Search engines still don't like it. A lede or a couple of paragraphs in a webpage page of otherwise unique content is fine, but a website having a large number of full copied articles is not the best. Google does change its algorithms and how it views things, but big amounts of duplicated content tended to be one of the consistent no-nos. Having said that, it is a few years since I have done stuff in that field and kept up with newer SEO news.
Hmm, I wonder if there is an element as people were saying, that forums are somewhat 'older digital media'. They are invaluable and sort content well, and there are still plenty of them going strong, but I wonder if quite a lot of younger people and the less net-savvy are a bit unaware of them or of how to find them or how to use them or what they offer. And meanwhile, maybe quite a few older folks who have been 'taught' the internet by their younger relatives, probably mostly just know Facebook, Instagram, and a few shopping sites....? I really have no idea though.
I do wonder if there might be a bit too much stuff on the screen though... Perhaps just a simplification of the primary layout, of some sort? Larger button or link fonts or tabs, and maybe fewer of them?
One thing I should mention, I used to do a little bit of stuff in the field of web writing and SEO, and I do know that duplicate text of any decent amount is a big SEO no-no. That's part of the reason I have never really been sure about copying full articles from elsewhere and putting them here, even with attribution and linking. Search engines still don't like it. A lede or a couple of paragraphs in a webpage page of otherwise unique content is fine, but a website having a large number of full copied articles is not the best. Google does change its algorithms and how it views things, but big amounts of duplicated content tended to be one of the consistent no-nos. Having said that, it is a few years since I have done stuff in that field and kept up with newer SEO news.
Hmm, I wonder if there is an element as people were saying, that forums are somewhat 'older digital media'. They are invaluable and sort content well, and there are still plenty of them going strong, but I wonder if quite a lot of younger people and the less net-savvy are a bit unaware of them or of how to find them or how to use them or what they offer. And meanwhile, maybe quite a few older folks who have been 'taught' the internet by their younger relatives, probably mostly just know Facebook, Instagram, and a few shopping sites....? I really have no idea though.
Looks like I think differently than the rest of you.
Boo,hope these aren't considered votes.
---------- Post Merged at 03:16 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 02:50 PM ----------
Is the other forum yours too Dr Baxter?
Just because this is a mental health forum doesn't mean it shouldn't be more modern like the other one.I also think the other one is more what ppl are used to anyway and might be more inclined to become a member.Mental illness is a serious issue but a forum doesn't need to look so serious,like I feel this one does.
I know nothing like the rest of you do about coding or SEO or whatever,but I do know what looks more appealing to me.
Boo,hope these aren't considered votes.
---------- Post Merged at 03:16 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 02:50 PM ----------
Is the other forum yours too Dr Baxter?
Just because this is a mental health forum doesn't mean it shouldn't be more modern like the other one.I also think the other one is more what ppl are used to anyway and might be more inclined to become a member.Mental illness is a serious issue but a forum doesn't need to look so serious,like I feel this one does.
I know nothing like the rest of you do about coding or SEO or whatever,but I do know what looks more appealing to me.
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
No just looking for suggestions.
No. I just work there.
That was my feeling too. Or my worry that first time visitors might see it that way. Just old and too serious and not fun. I'm not necessarily talking about making it bright red like the other one. Just a little brighter and more modern looking.
gooblax
MVP
As I was writing it I suspected I'd need illustrations to explain - will update with them later.
David Baxter said:
Out of curiousity, what features do you both find to be modern/fun/appealing? I ask because I'm having trouble seeing much of a visual difference aside from a few minor things that don't affect the appeal for me (and the ones I mentioned which negatively affect it). On a different forum, I also found some of the forum updates to be visually and functionally unappealing (to the point where I wondered why they considered it an "upgrade"), so I'm not sure what I'm missing regarding "modernisation".LIT said:
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
In a very general sense, lighter, brighter, fresher, more open... less dark?
Or maybe just different... like painting your kitchen or living room after 5 or 10 years just to get a fresh new look.
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
If you scroll to the bottom of this (or any) page, at the left in the bar with Contact us, etc., just above the footer, you will see a drop down box that allows you to view a few different themes other than the default.
I'm not crazy about all the colors but Midnight Blue and Blue & Gold have a brighter look and feel to them.
I'm going to try uploading a few more to see what they look like.
These won't change the basic design or controls, just the general look.
I'm not crazy about all the colors but Midnight Blue and Blue & Gold have a brighter look and feel to them.
I'm going to try uploading a few more to see what they look like.
These won't change the basic design or controls, just the general look.
How did I never notice that was down there?
I like 'Gray Gremlin'.It's so weird how much of a difference it makes to view different themes.
gooblax
MVP
Hopefully this explains what I mean - should be a very easy change in the theme CSS:David Baxter said:
I only know enough to make a mess...David Baxter said:
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
It hasn't been adapted for Psychlinks at all yet and the header is messed up but scroll down to the left hand side of the bar just above the footer. Click the drop-down styles bar for this page and select Metro VB. View this page.
How does something along those lines look to you? Same software. Just a different style,
How does something along those lines look to you? Same software. Just a different style,
At first it was like Bam! and I wanted to cover my eyes because it was such a drastic difference and so bright.But I like it!
---------- Post Merged at 10:14 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 10:09 AM ----------
Actually I really like it now that my eyes/brain have adjusted.
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Well it remains to be seen whether that particular style can be adapted for the Psychlinks version of vBulletin. It was really more of an example, but I'll see what I can do and I'll keep looking as I get time for something that has a similar kind of effect, "pizazz".
gooblax
MVP
To me it's looking like someone just discovered the colour pallet from a 90's Nickelodeon show, but I'll see if I can adjust.
To me it's looking like someone just discovered the colour pallet from a 90's Nickelodeon show, but I'll see if I can adjust.
Color / F46D25 / Nickelodeon Orange :: COLOURlovers
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
To me it's looking like someone just discovered the colour pallet from a 90's Nickelodeon show, but I'll see if I can adjust.
I just looked at it again. It does pretty much assault the senses, doesn't it?
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
I'm going to delete this one actually and add another, buit fir the benefit of those who didn't see it yet, here are two screen shots of the Bam! Nickelodeon style
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Thread split to New Metro Style Options.
Replying is not possible. This forum is only available as an archive.
Similar threads
