Communications (Forums) Tech Development

[CoraSpia]

Also, will this function correctly with antiquity theme? Some features (like the switch button) were left out of that.

[Reploid Productions]

Also, will this function correctly with antiquity theme? Some features (like the switch button) were left out of that.

I hate to say it, but possibly not. Antiquity is... well, antiquated. I don't think the boss ever really intended to keep it fully functional with future upgrades, but I can certainly ask about it.

[CoraSpia]

Also, will this function correctly with antiquity theme? Some features (like the switch button) were left out of that.

I hate to say it, but possibly not. Antiquity is... well, antiquated. I don't think the boss ever really intended to keep it fully functional with future upgrades, but I can certainly ask about it.

Please do. It is the only theme that works with screen readers.

[Kyrusia]

]Improved/uniform formatting code across forums and RMBs/Dispatches/etc instead of "forums use BBCode and gameside uses NSCode."

Okay, as long as that's a rounding upwards of capability rather than a rounding downwards.

Allow users to "like" posts the way they can "like" RMB posts.

I thought that this had been officially rejected in the past, not only as "spammy" but because it would turn ideological discussion threads even more into popularity contests -- rather than reasoned discussions --than is currently the case? Not a change that I would like.

Make using the forums more mobile-device friendly than they are at present.

I don't & wouldn't try using mobile devices for accessing NS, because I like to back-up the details of what I do here into offsite memory which would (within my limited technical ability, at least) be difficult on those as well as simply because I find their small screens & keyboards awkward, so this wouldn't affect me either way.)

I more or less just want to echo Bears on these three points, since such more or less encapsulate my thoughts.

I would also add that I'd hate to see a complete adoption of a "mobile-friendly" site layout to desktop as well. The distinctions currently made - with one layout inspired by the other, but with increased accessibility for mobile, unique to mobile's requirements - are preferred, and hopefully remain. Ah, I'm dumb. It's actually just a different theme being employed, making this concern moot. Disregard.

[Merni]

I hate to say it, but possibly not. Antiquity is... well, antiquated. I don't think the boss ever really intended to keep it fully functional with future upgrades, but I can certainly ask about it.

Please do. It is the only theme that works with screen readers.

Yes -- so much so that if you view the HTML source of the NS home page, there is a link (not visible when viewing normally since the link is a one-pixel image) that describes Antiquity as the "best theme for screen-readers" (line 24):

Code: Select all

<div id="accessiblitylink"><a href="//antiquity.nationstates.net/"><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" width="1" height="1" alt="Switch to best theme for screen-readers" title="Switch to best theme for screen-readers"></a></div>

[Lord Dominator]

An ability to get the raw on any given forum post would be nice, to enable quoting out of locked threads (niche use sort of thing admittedly)

[Bears Armed]

An ability to get the raw on any given forum post would be nice, to enable quoting out of locked threads (niche use sort of thing admittedly)

Seconded: It's definitely something that I would have found useful, a few times, already.

[Grenartia]

Warnings/ban trigger a notice to ensure the player is aware they've been warned/banned.

I suggested this a few days ago in the transparency thread in moderation, so I'm glad to hear this is definitely something that's being looked into.

[Reploid Productions]

Warnings/ban trigger a notice to ensure the player is aware they've been warned/banned.

I suggested this a few days ago in the transparency thread in moderation, so I'm glad to hear this is definitely something that's being looked into.

I mean, it honestly makes sense. The only reason it doesn't do that right now is the whole janky forum <> game integration issue. Should be much simpler to do once the forums are fully integrated into gameside so we don't have the janky crap in the way. ^^;

[Bears Armed]

Although until the long-hoped-for 'Master Account' system is introduced a player who's recently been forum-banned under one account's name still might honestly be unaware of that fact when posting with a different account and thus still might accidentally breach the ban & get both of the nations involved DEAT-ed...

[Grenartia]

I suggested this a few days ago in the transparency thread in moderation, so I'm glad to hear this is definitely something that's being looked into.

I mean, it honestly makes sense. The only reason it doesn't do that right now is the whole janky forum <> game integration issue. Should be much simpler to do once the forums are fully integrated into gameside so we don't have the janky crap in the way. ^^;

Cool. Out of curiosity, will NS++ continue being developed, or will its fancier features be integrated into the code more properly? Things like the puppet manager and the ability to highlight the OP of a thread (and customize the color of that highlight) are really cool features.

[The Blaatschapen]

Will there be an option for an API to read the forums?

If we have something home made, this could be an option. I'd love to have an API.

I could then read it out, and have for example, all new threads in Moderation requested through the API.

Or, see all new posts across the forums with an API. And then subsequently filter them on keywords.

And then pass that info along to ummm... communication channels.

[Cekoviu]

i'm not sure if this fits here perfectly but how bout allowing users to edit posts in locked threads ? when i was new here i was a little too Revealin with the personal information in a lot of posts and i dont want to make the mods manually go thru and redact all of them so it would be better for me to just edit them or maybe even write a Bot to do it for me. if you're worried about people inserting text in existing posts for non redaction reasons maybe put a time limit for which you can't edit posts after a thread is locked so that nobody cares anymore, like a week or a month

[Frisbeeteria]

how bout allowing users to edit posts in locked threads ?

Given that we hardly ever lock threads unless there is a problem, such an action would undermine the very act of locking them in the first place.

i dont want to make the mods manually go thru and redact all of them

We get maybe 3-4 such requests in a year - I think we can handle the workload. Not enough of a reason to reverse a perfectly useful tool.

[Grenartia]

how bout allowing users to edit posts in locked threads ?

Given that we hardly ever lock threads unless there is a problem, such an action would undermine the very act of locking them in the first place.

i dont want to make the mods manually go thru and redact all of them

We get maybe 3-4 such requests in a year - I think we can handle the workload. Not enough of a reason to reverse a perfectly useful tool.

To be fair, places like TET, the TDT, CDT and the remnants of the LWDT and RWDT are cases where someone would benefit from being able to remove info after locking.

[Cekoviu]

Given that we hardly ever lock threads unless there is a problem, such an action would undermine the very act of locking them in the first place.


We get maybe 3-4 such requests in a year - I think we can handle the workload. Not enough of a reason to reverse a perfectly useful tool.

To be fair, places like TET, the TDT, CDT and the remnants of the LWDT and RWDT are cases where someone would benefit from being able to remove info after locking.

yeah thats what im referring to mostly cuz i usually do (did) post in those Serial threads . maybe like an archive function separate from lock, so threads that got persistently threadjacked can be separated out from the serial threads that just got locked for hitting the page limit?

[Catarapania]

What will happen to the current forums?

[Rhim Flavezztowland]

Thanks for your new forum system wishlist, Reploid ! If I could add to the wishlist, here's what I'd add:

• A function for reactions that can be given to forum and RMB posts along with the "like" function you suggested. (I've seen some forums have a reactions function before, so I don't see such a function being out of the table for a new forum system.)
• The ability to embed YouTube videos, Spotify playlists, etc. into posts both forumside and gameside using a BBCode tag like [media]. (Same thing as with my suggestion for reactions - I've seen some forums have a [media] BBCode tag before.)

[Cekoviu]

Thanks for your new forum system wishlist, Reploid ! If I could add to the wishlist, here's what I'd add:

• A function for reactions that can be given to forum and RMB posts along with the "like" function you suggested. (I've seen some forums have a reactions function before, so I don't see such a function being out of the table for a new forum system.)
• The ability to embed YouTube videos, Spotify playlists, etc. into posts both forumside and gameside using a BBCode tag like [media]. (Same thing as with my suggestion for reactions - I've seen some forums have a [media] BBCode tag before.)

xenforo in particular supports reactions in a very user-friendly way - if that sort of thing is a priority that would be a good software to look into

[Hanovereich]

Maybe make a way for us to tag somebody in the forums? Most of the time we have to quote a message or say their names, both of which don't immediately get their attention. Something like "@ForumUser".

[Reploid Productions]

Will there be an option for an API to read the forums?

If we have something home made, this could be an option. I'd love to have an API.

I could then read it out, and have for example, all new threads in Moderation requested through the API.

Or, see all new posts across the forums with an API. And then subsequently filter them on keywords.

And then pass that info along to ummm... communication channels.

Added that to the wishlist, API shards for the forum would probably be handy, though the API is all Greek to me.

What will happen to the current forums?

Ideally, the current forums will be able to be imported wholesale into the new forum. In the worst case scenario, the current forum would simply be turned into a read-only archive. No more losing posts the way we did when Jolt went down!

Thanks for your new forum system wishlist, Reploid ! If I could add to the wishlist, here's what I'd add:

• A function for reactions that can be given to forum and RMB posts along with the "like" function you suggested. (I've seen some forums have a reactions function before, so I don't see such a function being out of the table for a new forum system.)

I'll add it to the list alongside Liking posts, though I'm not really sure it would serve us much of a point. This isn't Facebook, and I think for the most part we would rather encourage more nuanced conversation than hand folks a conversational shortcut of multiple reacts.

The ability to embed YouTube videos, Spotify playlists, etc. into posts both forumside and gameside using a BBCode tag like [media]. (Same thing as with my suggestion for reactions - I've seen some forums have a [media] BBCode tag before.)

Given we very specifically disabled embedding of audio/video media on the current forums, it's highly unlikely we'll enable it for the new one. Not everyone accessing the site has unlimited data, and embedding media takes away that control from those users. Additionally, embedded media opens up an assortment of new venues for abuse. Players linking to a Youtube video, or Spotify playlist, and so on remains a perfectly serviceable way to share media while preventing abuse.

Maybe make a way for us to tag somebody in the forums? Most of the time we have to quote a message or say their names, both of which don't immediately get their attention. Something like "@ForumUser".

That would tie in to the overhaul enabling forum notices to go to the Notices page, similar to how people can tag people in RMB posts.

[Cekoviu]

[*]The ability to embed YouTube videos, Spotify playlists, etc. into posts both forumside and gameside using a BBCode tag like [media]. (Same thing as with my suggestion for reactions - I've seen some forums have a [media] BBCode tag before.)[/list]

Given we very specifically disabled embedding of audio/video media on the current forums, it's highly unlikely we'll enable it for the new one. Not everyone accessing the site has unlimited data, and embedding media takes away that control from those users. Additionally, embedded media opens up an assortment of new venues for abuse. Players linking to a Youtube video, or Spotify playlist, and so on remains a perfectly serviceable way to share media while preventing abuse.

does embedded content actually take up a significant amount of data on a metered connection when it isn't played? i sort of figure it wouldn't take up that much space until u hit play and if u do then thats your own fault

[Bears Armed]

Added that to the wishlist, API shards for the forum would probably be handy, though the API is all Greek to me.

Don't you mean "all Geek"?

[Phydios]

Given we very specifically disabled embedding of audio/video media on the current forums, it's highly unlikely we'll enable it for the new one. Not everyone accessing the site has unlimited data, and embedding media takes away that control from those users. Additionally, embedded media opens up an assortment of new venues for abuse. Players linking to a Youtube video, or Spotify playlist, and so on remains a perfectly serviceable way to share media while preventing abuse.

does embedded content actually take up a significant amount of data on a metered connection when it isn't played? i sort of figure it wouldn't take up that much space until u hit play and if u do then thats your own fault

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/143 ... re-playing

You might be surprised at how common it is for websites to load videos before the user ever clicks play, even when autoplay isn't used.

[Sunset]

I - and maybe others - would love a dedicated 'Archive' function that would allow us to pull all of our own posts as a formatted text file.

As far as 'likes' and 'emojis' go... I would suggest something in the middle. Perhaps there could be a number of preset positive emoji - +1, Smiley, Wink, etc - that individual readers can 'tag' to a post but these are also individual to a post; A particular post can only receive up to ?5?-?10? positive emoji that are shown in the upper corner - one emoji per supporter. This could lessen the ability of people to 'bomb' a particular post with thousands of likes from alts or sock puppets while still allowing people to show their support. If they want to be negative... Well, they're going to have to hit that 'reply' button and say so.