The Forge Archives

General Forge Forums => Site Discussion => Topic started by: ethan_greer on August 26, 2003, 06:38:05 PM

Title: Suggestion for post subject line
Post by: ethan_greer on August 26, 2003, 06:38:05 PM
I've noticed that individual post subjects (not thread subjects) are easy to miss or ignore and sometimes this is unfortunate.  Is there a way to make post subjects stand out a bit more?  Just a thought.
Title: He's talking about this thing up here. Hey, over here!
Post by: Mike Holmes on August 26, 2003, 07:43:42 PM
Good point. At first I wasn't even sure what you were talking about. But I agree that it's too small to be worthwhile. If I want a title to the thread, I just put it in the post and make it all colorful and large and stuff. I very rarely use the post title.

Mike
Title: Suggestion for post subject line
Post by: Ron Edwards on August 26, 2003, 07:45:22 PM
Hi Ethan,

My preference would be for no Post Subjects to exist at the Forge. Whole threads are supposed to be one-topic only; the very existence or temptation to rename a given post should tip off the poster that they should begin a new thread.

I suggest that everyone consider the original topic title to be maintained as the post title for every post in the thread. This is consistent with the reasoning that led Clinton and me to enforce Flat Viewing for the site.

Best,
Ron
Title: You mean this thing?
Post by: Lxndr on August 26, 2003, 07:45:30 PM
I agree, it'd be nice if it was more... visible, somehow.
Title: Suggestion for post subject line
Post by: ethan_greer on August 26, 2003, 09:50:23 PM
Ron, I see your point.  However, I look at individual post subjects as not a tool to subvert a thread, but rather as a useful tagline for an individual message within a thread.  But in any case it's not an important issue (I never use the subject myself except when starting a thread), just an observation.

Rock on...
Title: Suggestion for post subject line
Post by: M. J. Young on August 27, 2003, 12:19:47 AM
To clarify Ethan's point, sometimes the subject of a thread is fairly broad, and a post addressing a narrow aspect of that can be more useful if understood as such.

I've come to ignore the subject line, both in posting and in reading, because the software discourages noticing it; but I do see value in it, particularly in broader topic threads.

--M. J. Young
Title: Suggestion for post subject line
Post by: Ron Edwards on August 28, 2003, 08:22:37 PM
Hello,

Since Clinton's the main man when it comes to forum management and design, the decision's ultimately up to him.

So he and I have gone into "moderator consultation" about it. We'll emerge later. As you know, Forge policy sessions are verrrrrry slow ...

Best,
Ron