Adding quick html buttons (4.00 / 2)

for pictures, embedded video, links,

much like the ones for italics, block quote, and bold.

---

by: Paul Goodman @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 18:56:11 PM CST

Ability to change your username (0.00 / 0)

That might take a bit of work, or it might be totally easy to do. But it would be quite nice. :)

Join the fight to give students a real voice on campus: Forstudentpower.org.

---

by: Liberaltarian @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 19:34:58 PM CST

"it would be quite nice" What for? (0.00 / 0)

For making jokes with your username? Because people can't decide which name they wanna use? Really, what for?

---

by: Gray @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 02:02:43 AM CST

[ Parent ]

comment threading (4.00 / 2)

such that it doesn't all bunch up into a tiny little 10-character-wide section of the page after it gets a few levels deep.

---

by: ccarollo @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 20:47:40 PM CST

using the existing code, one thing you can do (0.00 / 0)

is, if you click on the 'timestamp' link of a comment, it will then make that comment into the new comment on the leftmost margin, thereby expanding everything to the right of it.

---

by: Valatan @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 21:04:50 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Mobile access (0.00 / 0)

One thing I do like about the current format is that the download time on a smart-phone type device is very fast, even where reception is not the best (more so than say DailyKos or 538).  Please make sure that any enhancements either a)Are not so heavy (with graphics and the like)as to slow-down downloads or b) Have an alternate URL (like m.huffpost.com)as a stripped down version which would enable fast downloads to your smart-phone/PDA

---

by: Contrabass @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 23:46:28 PM CST

Very fast? (0.00 / 0)

I think the site is pretty slow to load, both on my computer and on my iPhone.  I think having a mobile version would be great.

---

by: rickd24 @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 23:22:44 PM CST

[ Parent ]

You already have a long list. (0.00 / 0)

How about firstly getting this basic stuff done before asking for further ideas? Remember, many fixes take longer than expected, and the fist solution often is not the most convincing one! And, I guess, most users simply want those problems fixed that already have been posted in one of the three (?) open threads you already started. Don't think many here want a total overhaul of the site. Beware of disimprovement! Don't change a winning system....

---

by: Gray @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 02:07:42 AM CST

Oh, and once again, DON'T hire a consultant! (4.00 / 1)

This project isn't big enough for a mere adviser being useful. You need someone who can do the code himself. Adding another layer of "management" will just result in screwups, longer timelines, and a waste of money.

---

by: Gray @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 02:27:55 AM CST

It's a small thing but..... (0.00 / 0)

On other sites when I click on the "discuss" or "readmore" buttons it enters the thread then automatically scrolls down to the end of the text presented on the front page si Can jst carry on reading where I left off on the FP.

On open left it just puts you in the thread and you have to scroll down yourself to find where you had left off. Small but annoying, expecially on internet phones.

It's quite a simple fix. Just involves adding #tags to the URL and article text.

Just thought you might like to know, it bugs the hell out of me for some reason.

Yours,

TGP

---

by: TheGreasyPole @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 08:31:59 AM CST

Issues don't die... they just go into Archives (0.00 / 0)

1.   Most articles in the front lines seem to have an incredibly limited time for response, I think a couple of weeks. This is particularly bad because such topics to which postings have been prematurely closed, are like a sore wound get closed with peroxide without healing.

2.   Such issues don't die. They need to stay in the front line, and allow continued comments, to where they result in some action. For example, The financial executive compensation issue, keeps coming up, and it's never been resolved, but articles and their comments have sunk into archival oblivion.

There should be something like "Pages" in wiki software where an issue can be continuously explored, and comments and articles get added to the package, to eventually become a dossier that can be used to spearhead some meaningful action.

3.  The search feature is hardly a search feature with any teeth. One should be able to search by topic, by tag, by author, and it should include not just diaries and comments, but main page articles, by date range, by authors, and some more that I can't think about now, but that I've submitted again and again over the months.  

A National Progressive Alliance, the viable solution.
http://www.openleft.com/diary/...

---

by: boldhawk @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 08:34:18 AM CST

How about a spell checker (0.00 / 0)

Even if you can't add one for the comments, some of the bloggers really need to use one before they post.  It's tough to take someone seriously when their spelling is so poor.

---

by: rickd24 @ Sat Nov 21, 2009 at 23:26:02 PM CST