Unseen Posts

[Josuah]

I've got a few suggestions for improving the forum navigation.

It used to be that emails notifying of new posts to subscribed threads would contain the content of the new post. This was removed for some reason? I liked this, because I would know if it was worth clicking on the link to visit the thread and reply.

The links in those emails also used to go directly to the new posts that I haven't seen yet. However it now appears to just go to either the first post, or some post that is not the first unseen one by me. I would like it to go to the first unseen post.

Off the home page, there is also the New Posts link. Clicking on those displays a list of threads containing new posts since the last visit. But clicking on the "down" arrow next to a thread takes you to the first post of the thread instead of the first unseen post. Again, I'd like it to go to the first unseen post.

[Sonnie]

This is something that brucek and I were just talking about. Well... the new posts and last unread post that is. I've been trying to figure out what is causing the problem.

Our thinking is to eliminate the post content in the email notification to encourage people to return to the site. Obviously we are driven by people actually being here. But this is something that we only planned on doing for a short period and then adding the content back... which I'll probably go ahead and do. That may solve the issue of the the link not going to the last unread post. I don't know that it would fix the new posts issue though.

One thing to remember is that there could be several more post that have been posted after the post in the email notification. Some members get the idea... "well, there nothing to that post so I'm not even gonna bother"... and they don't realize there has been 1 or 2 more posts made in that thread since they got that email notification ... or maybe even more if it's been a while since they've checked their email. Also you will not get another email notification until you go to that last post... or maybe until you login again, one of the two.... I'm thinkin' the latter. So all in all... it's not that great of a service if members don't understand they could be missing more posts and won't get anymore notifications until they visit.

I've actually missed some posts in a few forums before. I was subscribed and did exactly what you are talking about... I just deleted the email and didn't go to the forum. Actually didn't visit for a while. Next thing I know I decide to check the thread and there was a bunch of very informative posts and I was mad at myself for not seeing them ealier... had a few replies to make that I'd like to have made sooner.

I'll place it back in there if nothing else to hopefully fix the going to the last unread post problem... and I stick a note in there to warn about the potential to miss other posts... and that there may be other posts since this notification was sent.

[nova]

Personally I like the "content" of the new post in the E-mail, as I get E-mail at work and can kinda keep up with whats going on at the Shack throughout the day,..E-mail not a problem , lots of time spent surfin' the net at work
but thats just me

[Sonnie]

Just remember that you won't get anymore notifications until you visit the forum. When you actually get that notification, there may be several more post after that one.