ShoutBox - where should it be?

[Ronin Storm]

This appears to be on people's Most Wanted list. I think the forum had been launched for only a few hours before people asked for the shoutbox to be moved back to the top...

So, let's put this one to a community vote as it's trivial to change. I plan to do one vote now to decide what to do and then leave it a week and do another vote to see if people still like it where it is.

There are four options for shoutbox placement as follows:

1. Below Navigation Bar
2. Above Forums (old position)
3. Below Forums
4. Below "What's Going On?" (current position)

It is currently in the lowest position, "Below 'What's Going On?'". I'm not clear on the difference between the first and the second, but I believe that the rough effect we had at the old board is equivalent to "Above Forums".

My concern is that, if raised, it will push the "upcoming events" piece right to the bottom of the forum where it's not particularily visible. Of course, that's just where the shoutbox is now...

So, have your say...

 

[BiG D]

I personally think the shoutbox is just fine where it is right now. If anything needs to have attention brought to it, it's the upcoming events area as you mentioned. It's likely attached to the rest of the forum and user stats down there, though, isn't it? Wouldn't make much sense to move that whole thing up top.

My other concern is this: when the shoutbox is up top, I don't see a whole lot in the way of forums, which is what I'm generally here for:

As you can see, the only forum I can see at a glance (and just barely) is the welcome thread forum. If I've got the tab bar open (which is most of the time,) I won't even be able to see that one. I like to be able to visit the page, and tell at a quick glance which forums have new stuff for me to read. As it stands, the current layout doesn't help my much in that respect (I can't even see any of the games sections when I load the page...) but that's a topic for another thread.

Just something to consider

 

[Ronin Storm]

Basically, Big D, I agree with you. Surely the point of forums is, well, the forums. I've had five or six requests for the shoutbox to be moved up to the top, though, hence the poll.

One thought, though, which I've just realised is possible...

See that little minus-in-a-box icon in the top right of the shoutbox (and other blocks on the forum)? That'll collapse the shoutbox. Thus far, a page refresh has kept that collapsed for me, which is pretty neat. Still has a small impact on page position, but better than it could have been!

 

[pHatBambi]

Get it back up the top. The shoutbox has and will always be first port of call for me on the site. Check who's about, then go browse the forums.

That's my thinking anyway.

 

[Blammo!]

Don't do too much collapsing n stuff, people hardly use extra options anyway.

 

[Ronin Storm]

Collapsing of blocks is a per-user preference. It's not done globally, unless we make a template change (for which there is no plan).

 

[BiG D]

See that little minus-in-a-box icon in the top right of the shoutbox (and other blocks on the forum)? That'll collapse the shoutbox. Thus far, a page refresh has kept that collapsed for me, which is pretty neat.

I noticed that as well, but I'm afraid as soon as I have the shoutbox hidden, I'll forget about it entirely.

 

[T-Bone]

Yeh, I agree it needs to be moved back to the top.

 

[KillCrazy]

The shoutbox was great at the top of the page because it would be for most of us the first thing to glance at and see what gossip is happening right away. It's more of a "shout" box at the top of the forums, rather than a whisper box at the bottom.

 

[Ronin Storm]

It's more of a "shout" box at the top of the forums, rather than a whisper box at the bottom.

Teehee. Yeah, that's a fair point. I'd almost like to sticky things in the shoutbox to make it useful for announcements... still, that'd be twisting a random chat thing into something it was never meant to be.

 

[Ronin Storm]

I'm afraid as soon as I have the shoutbox hidden, I'll forget about it entirely.

Fair point. I'd like a third option that isn't just top or bottom... something like per-user choice on the location of the shoutbox. Hmm... that sets me off with an idea actually...

 

[T-Bone]

that sets me off with an idea actually...

Oh God!!!!

 

[Taffy]

I don't see the problem with the fact that you wouldn't be able to see forums when you first load the page. I mean, as soon as people notice that there is more to be seen once they scroll down, thats what they're gonna do. It's just a lot more convenient to have the shoutbox up top.

 

[BiG D]

I don't see the problem with the fact that you wouldn't be able to see forums when you first load the page.

The issue isn't that people won't know the forums are there, the issue is that I like to see where the new posts are when I load up the page. I find it a lot more convenient to have the forums up top.

 

[KillCrazy]

I always click on the New Posts link under the forum logo, I only refer to the forums on the front page when I want to start my own thread somewhere.

 

[Ronin Storm]

[mod]Poll closed.

I'll run another poll in a week to see if people actually like the change.[/mod]

 

[Ronin Storm]

Shoutbox moved to the "Above Forums" position. Briefly I tried the "Below Navigation" position, but it was the same as "Above Forums" in the THN Amber template.