Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 18, 2011 at 9:36 PM
OK, feedback time!
We're doing a little experiment and I'd like to see what you think. We eliminated the icons at the bottom of the post (email, gallery, etc.) and replaced them with a drop-down menu. To access the menu, simply mouse over my name next to "posted by" in this post.
The idea is to clean up the look a little but more importantly, give us a way to add some links to new member features we're working on without adding visual clutter. The menu would be applied to all posts and comments, in both the forums and galleries.
Take a look and let us know what you think!
Posted by John Mumaw on February 18, 2011 at 10:07 PM
Frankly, I liked the icons and didn't find them to clutter things up at all.
The drop down menu works, but I don't think that it's nearly as intuitive to a newcomer (or potential customer) as are the handy (and not in the least unattractive) icons.
Posted by Phillip Noll on February 18, 2011 at 10:07 PM
I much prefer the icons. They are quick and easy and unambiguous. I would never have thought (without being told) to mouse over your name for a drop down menu.
I vote to keep the icons!!
EDIT: Instead of a drop down, why don't you put the links you are alluding to in the signature?
Posted by Richard Ditch on February 18, 2011 at 10:21 PM
I also much prefer the current icons to the non intuitive pulldown menu.
Posted by Stan Rose on February 18, 2011 at 11:08 PM
The icons work just fine, Jim
Posted by Harold Ankney on February 18, 2011 at 11:41 PM
Jim
I think some type of icon is the way to go on this. Mousing over your name isn't the most intuitive way as Richard stated.
Harold
Posted by Tim Marks on February 19, 2011 at 12:00 AM
Mousing over on an iPad is, shall we say, problematic. I just get a choice to open.
Posted by Brad Mangas on February 19, 2011 at 12:49 AM
I think I 'd like to see what else you're adding in the way of icons before I accept the drop-drown idea. I'm inclined to think that people won't be too savvy about there being a menu in a what is ordinarily recognized as a link…
I prefer the icons as is, and agree with Catherine that many people will not "get it" re a drop-down menu.
Sandy
Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 19, 2011 at 6:44 AM
Thanks to all for your feedback!
One of the new features being considered is an "About" link for each member. Like PhotoPortfolios, we would create a function on your Preferences screen where you can upload a short bio and photo of yourself. The "About" pages would look very much like the staff profiles.
Another feature being considered, one that doesn't sit well with me but has been requested, is an "ignore" feature. This feature would allow any member to "ignore" another so that their comments do not appear to the person who used the ignore option. It would populate a field on the Preferences screen where the "ignored" could be removed from the list so their comments appear again.
Part of the reasoning behind the drop-down menu is that I don't think we want an ignore icon in every comment (what kind of message would that send?). Of course, if we don't develop the ignore feature then a drop-down menu isn't really needed either.
Please feel free to comment!
Posted by Mia McPherson on February 19, 2011 at 6:57 AM
Jim,
I prefer the icons as they are obvious and the drop down isn't and an "about" icon would not add much clutter.
As for the ignore button, I don't think that is worth your effort and it would send a negative message to non-members who are viewing the posts. If we have problems with other members there are other recourses, ignore them ourselves or if they become a consistent issue we can email you.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 19, 2011 at 7:14 AM
As for the ignore button, I don't think that is worth your effort and it would send a negative message to non-members who are viewing the posts.
Agreed. The drop-down would keep it (for the most part) out of site.
Unfortunately, I do occassionally get dragged into personal disputes, which I have neither the time nor interest to get involved with. In fact, getting centered in the cross fire and having demands placed on my time to mediate is the worst part of my "NPN job." Then, I become the "bad guy" for not taking sides or taking some kind of action against one of the combatants.
Some day I'll write a book on the joys of running a large site!
Posted by Barbara Graham on February 19, 2011 at 8:09 AM
Jim, I own and administer a large site, and we had an ignore feature for a couple of years, set up by the previous owner/administrator for reasons that you're dealing with here. I removed that feature a couple of months ago on the basis of if you don't like it, don't read it (along with other philosophies like get a life and in some cases grow up), and we've had absolutely no objection to its being removed. I think at the beginning some people used it and then over time even those people basically forgot about it. I personally just don't like the implications of an ignore feature.
Posted by Paul Wegemann on February 19, 2011 at 9:31 AM
Here's another vote for keeping the icons, Jim. As for the ignore button, I'm with Mia and Barbara.
Posted by Keith Bauer on February 19, 2011 at 9:33 AM
Chiming in late on this thread... I much prefer the icons. The drop down menu works, but it feels hidden and as others have noted, not very intuitive. In the field of Human Computer Interaction, the current implementation of the drop down would not pass the test of usability.
Ignore feature - I don't care for that option. I'm sure you must get drug into disputes, but the message and implications of that feature certainly don't mesh with the culture that has been built on NPN since it's beginning. I think that culture is critically important to this site.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 19, 2011 at 9:42 AM
Feedback very much appreciated!
The ignore feature is hereby scrapped.
How about an "About This Member" link for the drop-down?
Posted by Keith Bauer on February 19, 2011 at 2:04 PM
How about an "About This Member" link for the drop-down?
Would that be the only thing in the drop down menu? If so, does it make sense to just have an icon along with the rest labeled "About this Member" ??
Posted by Adam Schallau on February 19, 2011 at 2:19 PM
I'd love to see a member profile page or pop-up when clicking on Jim's "About the Member" link. The page could be personalized with a short bio, a larger version of our avatar, as well as links to our website(s), Facebook, Twitter, portfolio, email, products & services offered by the member, etc.
Posted by Adam Schallau on February 19, 2011 at 2:26 PM
Jim,
A few more ideas. If each paid member had their own personal page linked to by the "About the Member" link, we could use them to also display a small number of images. I think it would also be great to link to recent posts by that member on their about page.
Posted by Luke Ormand on February 19, 2011 at 2:30 PM
Jim,
New idea! I have a blog and have looked at many others and noticed that people really like putting "badges" on their blogs which depict what groups they are associated with (like "fat birder" or "Nature Blog Network"). How about some HTML code for a badge that when clicked brings you to NPN? This way we can all brag we are part of the "Nature Photographers Network" with a sweet badge!
Posted by Paula Dittrick on February 19, 2011 at 2:32 PM
I like the icons and dislike the ignore option, all for reasons already stated by others.
Posted by Adam Schallau on February 19, 2011 at 3:07 PM
Posted by Carol Nichols on February 19, 2011 at 3:12 PM
I love the idea of "About this Member". Couldn't it be another icon??? Sorry, I know you were trying to get rid of icons, not adding to them. Thanks for asking our opinion before getting rid of them
Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 19, 2011 at 3:22 PM
Would that be the only thing in the drop down menu? If so, does it make sense to just have an icon along with the rest labeled "About this Member" ?
I was thinking all the current links covered by the icons would go into that menu and we would dump the icons.
Just trying to figure out a way to add more links without a very large collection of icons with each post. As per the suggestions here, we could also have fields for your social networking accounts on the Preferences page where the menu gets populated.
Posted by Luke Ormand on February 19, 2011 at 4:04 PM
Adam - thanks a lot! Didn't see that there....
Posted by Lon Overacker on February 19, 2011 at 8:13 PM
Jim,
Another positive vote for the icons as they are now. Also, an "ignore" feature, while I totally understand your reasoning's, really goes against the essence of what NPN is and has been since it's inception. A place where nature photographers can meet, share their work, get critiques in a friendly, respective and non-combative nature.
There are times, and I'm sure you have the stories, but for the most part, I can't think of anyone I would want to ignore on NPN anyway. Those instances of meanness and abuse are the exception, IMHO.
I do like the thought of an "About" link or button. Even will all the possible icons selected, looks like there is still room on that bottom row for a 2 or 3 more. The about page would also have lots of possibilities for additional links like Twit and FB as mentioned.
Just some thoughts. Thanks for all the work you've been putting in continuing to make NPN the best place on the web for nature photographers.
Lon
Posted by Anne K. Rusk on February 19, 2011 at 10:16 PM
Jim,
As a newer member, I agree that the icons are very intuitive and made it easy to get to know more about the photographers posting out here. I also like the "about" idea! Couldn't we incorporate some of the icons available into that "about" page? Like email, portfolio, www, etc? Since those things are really "about" that person? That could help with the visual clutter while still giving easy (intuitive) access to the same information. Also as a frequent iPad user, I dislike dropdowns very much.
Another vote to ignore the "ignore" idea.
Posted by Bret Edge on February 19, 2011 at 11:21 PM
Here's another vote for keeping the icons.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 20, 2011 at 5:53 AM
Also, an "ignore" feature, while I totally understand your reasoning's, really goes against the essence of what NPN is and has been since it's inception.
Lon, the "ignore feature" is something that was suggested to me on several occassions, not something I am in favor of or promoting myself. FWIW, I agree 100% that it would be out-of-character on NPN but like all other member suggestions, I'll put 'em out here to get some feedback.
Due to popular demand the icons stay! The NPN member icon will be removed (everyone is a NPN member so it's now pointless) and I will start off with adding two new icons - one for FaceBook and one for Twitter. There will be fields on your Preferences screen to add those.
Discussion
29 repliesWe're doing a little experiment and I'd like to see what you think. We eliminated the icons at the bottom of the post (email, gallery, etc.) and replaced them with a drop-down menu. To access the menu, simply mouse over my name next to "posted by" in this post.
The idea is to clean up the look a little but more importantly, give us a way to add some links to new member features we're working on without adding visual clutter. The menu would be applied to all posts and comments, in both the forums and galleries.
Take a look and let us know what you think!
The drop down menu works, but I don't think that it's nearly as intuitive to a newcomer (or potential customer) as are the handy (and not in the least unattractive) icons.
I vote to keep the icons!!
EDIT: Instead of a drop down, why don't you put the links you are alluding to in the signature?
I think some type of icon is the way to go on this. Mousing over your name isn't the most intuitive way as Richard stated.
Harold
Sandy
One of the new features being considered is an "About" link for each member. Like PhotoPortfolios, we would create a function on your Preferences screen where you can upload a short bio and photo of yourself. The "About" pages would look very much like the staff profiles.
Another feature being considered, one that doesn't sit well with me but has been requested, is an "ignore" feature. This feature would allow any member to "ignore" another so that their comments do not appear to the person who used the ignore option. It would populate a field on the Preferences screen where the "ignored" could be removed from the list so their comments appear again.
Part of the reasoning behind the drop-down menu is that I don't think we want an ignore icon in every comment (what kind of message would that send?). Of course, if we don't develop the ignore feature then a drop-down menu isn't really needed either.
Please feel free to comment!
I prefer the icons as they are obvious and the drop down isn't and an "about" icon would not add much clutter.
As for the ignore button, I don't think that is worth your effort and it would send a negative message to non-members who are viewing the posts. If we have problems with other members there are other recourses, ignore them ourselves or if they become a consistent issue we can email you.
Unfortunately, I do occassionally get dragged into personal disputes, which I have neither the time nor interest to get involved with. In fact, getting centered in the cross fire and having demands placed on my time to mediate is the worst part of my "NPN job." Then, I become the "bad guy" for not taking sides or taking some kind of action against one of the combatants.
Some day I'll write a book on the joys of running a large site!
Ignore feature - I don't care for that option. I'm sure you must get drug into disputes, but the message and implications of that feature certainly don't mesh with the culture that has been built on NPN since it's beginning. I think that culture is critically important to this site.
The ignore feature is hereby scrapped.
How about an "About This Member" link for the drop-down?
Would that be the only thing in the drop down menu? If so, does it make sense to just have an icon along with the rest labeled "About this Member" ??
A few more ideas. If each paid member had their own personal page linked to by the "About the Member" link, we could use them to also display a small number of images. I think it would also be great to link to recent posts by that member on their about page.
New idea! I have a blog and have looked at many others and noticed that people really like putting "badges" on their blogs which depict what groups they are associated with (like "fat birder" or "Nature Blog Network"). How about some HTML code for a badge that when clicked brings you to NPN? This way we can all brag we are part of the "Nature Photographers Network" with a sweet badge!
Here you go: NPN Banners & Links
Just trying to figure out a way to add more links without a very large collection of icons with each post. As per the suggestions here, we could also have fields for your social networking accounts on the Preferences page where the menu gets populated.
Another positive vote for the icons as they are now. Also, an "ignore" feature, while I totally understand your reasoning's, really goes against the essence of what NPN is and has been since it's inception. A place where nature photographers can meet, share their work, get critiques in a friendly, respective and non-combative nature.
There are times, and I'm sure you have the stories, but for the most part, I can't think of anyone I would want to ignore on NPN anyway. Those instances of meanness and abuse are the exception, IMHO.
I do like the thought of an "About" link or button. Even will all the possible icons selected, looks like there is still room on that bottom row for a 2 or 3 more. The about page would also have lots of possibilities for additional links like Twit and FB as mentioned.
Just some thoughts. Thanks for all the work you've been putting in continuing to make NPN the best place on the web for nature photographers.
Lon
As a newer member, I agree that the icons are very intuitive and made it easy to get to know more about the photographers posting out here. I also like the "about" idea! Couldn't we incorporate some of the icons available into that "about" page? Like email, portfolio, www, etc? Since those things are really "about" that person? That could help with the visual clutter while still giving easy (intuitive) access to the same information. Also as a frequent iPad user, I dislike dropdowns very much.
Another vote to ignore the "ignore" idea.
Due to popular demand the icons stay! The NPN member icon will be removed (everyone is a NPN member so it's now pointless) and I will start off with adding two new icons - one for FaceBook and one for Twitter. There will be fields on your Preferences screen to add those.