View Full Version : What if ... [threaded vs linear]
Brandon Martus
10-06-2005, 13:19
What if the threaded discussion were to go away, and you could only view via the 'Linear Discussion' mode. Who would be mad? Who would be happy? Who wouldn't care?
I'm not saying it's definietly going to happen, I just want to know everybodies position.
Me? I like threaded, but most users in the linear view reply to the thread and not indivual posts within the thread, causing weird branches to spawn out of the middle (usually the bottom of the first linear page) and make threaded a game of searching the thread for little weird branches that pop out.
So, I wouldn't mind if threaded went away, just because it would make things a tad easier. I wish threaded would work, but I just don't know if it's possible to have multiple modes and make them all work independently.
Greg Ross
10-06-2005, 13:48
I usually use the linear mode, but I like having the option of the threaded view. (If only for the fact that it's easier to follow a branch discussion when it occurs.)
I don't know that "mad" would describe my reaction -- just frustrated (on occasion) from being hobbled. (That is until I forget that I was once able to bound, leap and hurtle as well as shuffle.)
Clark Gilbert
10-06-2005, 13:52
Me? I like threaded, but most users in the linear view reply to the thread and not indivual posts within the thread, causing weird branches to spawn out of the middle (usually the bottom of the first linear page) and make threaded a game of searching the thread for little weird branches that pop out.
I recently switched over to linear mode because of that exact "problem" with threaded. When people reply to a post, but just reply at the end of a thread it doesn't make sense.
Jeremiah Johnson
10-06-2005, 14:07
Me... I don't really know what you're talking about. Of course, I don't know much about this forum stuff... I just post. So.. could you maybe explain what it is you're talking about? Or how I could find what you're talking about?
Brandon Martus
10-06-2005, 14:11
Me... I don't really know what you're talking about. Of course, I don't know much about this forum stuff... I just post. So.. could you maybe explain what it is you're talking about? Or how I could find what you're talking about?
In the upper right corner of each thread theres 'Display Modes'. Choose between the three, theres Linear (default), Threaded, and Hybrid (a combo of Threaded & Linear).
I'm not a big fan of threaded.
Paul Copioli
10-06-2005, 17:06
Ohhhhhhh, now I know why there are reply buttons on each posters post and at the end of the thread. I use linear mode because I disliked threaded when CD used to be threaded. I didn't even know CD kept the threaded option.
Brandon Martus
10-06-2005, 18:15
Ohhhhhhh, now I know why there are reply buttons on each posters post and at the end of the thread. I use linear mode because I disliked threaded when CD used to be threaded. I didn't even know CD kept the threaded option.
Yep, vBulletin 3 brought back the Threaded View.
I was actually tempted to remove the big reply button at the bottom, but figured people would just randomly click a reply button on a post, and it would get worse.
Threaded mode is nice if everybody cooperates, but that isn't the case so I'm just seeing who would be upset if it were to leave. So far thats about 20% of the voters (only about 40 registered users use it, total).
Hmm, I use linear so it wouldn't be a problem for me. I was aware we had a threaded mode, but didn't know what it was...
Jay H 237
10-06-2005, 18:49
I use linear since that's the default and it's the one I've grown used to.
I have on occasion switched to hybrid or threaded but couldn't get used to it. I guess I don't like change. :p
Billfred
10-06-2005, 18:52
Err, I clicked the wrong button. Subtract one vote for "I use threaded, but I don't care if it went away." and add one to "I use linear, and would care if threaded went away."
As my changed vote would imply, I'm on linear (as threaded just doesn't work with me--too much clicking). But if folks like threaded, more power to 'em.
Jeremiah Johnson
10-06-2005, 19:45
O wow... I just tried threaded and heh... I cannot use it... I like to read them in order. And I just realized that there were those modes up there, along with the thread tools. I should really pay more attention. Thanks.
Ryan Foley
10-06-2005, 21:57
I usually use the linear mode, but I like having the option of the threaded view. (If only for the fact that it's easier to follow a branch discussion when it occurs.)
So how about threaded is removed, but hybrid and linear stay? That way we still have the ability to follow the branch discussions, but there is still the linear thread below it, and users can still go with linear. on it's own.
I was actually tempted to remove the big reply button at the bottom, but figured people would just randomly click a reply button on a post, and it would get worse.
I always though that the big reply button was to quote the person about something. Like I just did. I can't use threaded fourms unless they clearly mark NEW for each new post and even then I don't like looking at every page of a long thread to see if there are any new posts. Maybe have it linear with a threaded outline at the bottom (just links to posts or just the title or somthing) like:
Subject
>Re:Subject
>Re:Subject
>>Re:Re:Subject
>>Re:Re:Subject
>Re:Subject
at the bottom of every page
Kyle Love
10-06-2005, 23:22
Now that I know what the two are, I like linear...
I would use the threaded mode, but like you (Brandon), it tends to not follow the flow correctly.
I'd don't care if it goes.
I personally like the hybrid mode, because its much easier to see who replied to what reply, and you see everything in order too!
Tytus Gerrish
12-06-2005, 11:42
i think hubred is cool.
I always use linear mode because I'm used to it and wouldn't care much if threaded disappeared. But I can see that some people might prefer it. After all, it (theoretically) keeps more organization to the forum threads, but on the other hand, when hybridized with linear as it is, it does tend to become gobbledygook. Do as you will, Master of the Server.
As it is most places, people don't cooperate when using threaded and it gets sucky rather fast. I haven't used it in a while for that reason.
Wetzel
computer411
14-06-2005, 12:42
I found threaded to be completely confusing so I stuck with linear and I can find what i want very easially
Greg Ross
14-06-2005, 13:06
So how about threaded is removed, but hybrid and linear stay? That way we still have the ability to follow the branch discussions, but there is still the linear thread below it, and users can still go with linear. on it's own.
Yeah, I could go for that. When I originally answered the question, I guess I was thinking about hybrid mode. I just checked out pure threaded mode again, and remembered why I never use it. I do still like hybrid mode, even though I normally use linear mode.
Brandon Martus
14-06-2005, 13:12
So how about threaded is removed, but hybrid and linear stay? That way we still have the ability to follow the branch discussions, but there is still the linear thread below it, and users can still go with linear. on it's own.
Hybrid is just a limited threaded view; can't have one off without the other in vBulletin.
Anyway .. I guess threaded is going to stay, but I was just seeing how many people actually use it purposely. There aren't that many when I query the database. I will be switching back to linear, though; threaded has gotten too crazy.
What if the threaded discussion were to go away, and you could only view via the 'Linear Discussion' mode. Who would be mad? Who would be happy? Who wouldn't care?
I'm not saying it's definietly going to happen, I just want to know everybodies position.
Me? I like threaded, but most users in the linear view reply to the thread and not indivual posts within the thread, causing weird branches to spawn out of the middle (usually the bottom of the first linear page) and make threaded a game of searching the thread for little weird branches that pop out.
So, I wouldn't mind if threaded went away, just because it would make things a tad easier. I wish threaded would work, but I just don't know if it's possible to have multiple modes and make them all work independently.
I hate threaded mode. Slashdot's threaded mode is the bane of my existence.
Long live linear.
--Petey
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