Please turn this new system OFF...the colors and bars are driving me crazy...

[Hepburn]

...well, crazier.

What in the heck was wrong with the old system? It was simple and straight forward.

Please ~~ I really do not like this one bit. Is there some way we could all vote on whether we want to keep this or not?

Thanks...and I hate to bitch...but...:hi:

[npincus]

1. I'm with you.

[Hepburn]

5. I wish to heck we could have voted on this...anonymously would do for me.

I know the mods really try to make things good for us and work hard...and I do appreciate them. But...this is horrible.

[npincus]

8. if the user had the option to turn them off

(the way you can customize auction list views on eBay) that would be ideal.

[K Gardner]

21. Me too.. it's a discussion board, not a beauty contest.

[KittyWampus]

24. As am I. It is distracting to the extreme.

[npincus]

97. really... what was wrong with the 'Recs" column

as a means of determining the "must read" factor? If the thing's got to stay, at least put it over to the right side of the page.

[madaboutharry]

2. I agree Hepburn.

I pm'd Skinner and told him I think it sucks.

I also don't like it one bit. I actually think it is stupid.

[liberal N proud]

3. At first I was thinking the same way

But, I am willing to give it a try.

Remember Change is good as long as it is good change.

[Hepburn]

9. I have nerve damage on the left side of my face....and this new system...

is causing me to have problems. Maybe the suggestion on moving the bars to the right side might work...but I am actually getting nauseated looking at this page with all the streaks of color.

[coffeenap]

4. I'd like it if the rec column was on the right, not the left. nt

[Reader Rabbit]

86. Me, too.

My eyes can't focus on the text with the distraction of the rating.

[Shine]

6. I'm not into it, either. It's too distracting.

Sorry, Skinner, I know you had the best intentions.....

[Joe the Revelator]

7. I like it...it keeps 5 vocal idiots from being up to send a page to the greatest page. Now you can

fight back against stupidity.

That's change we can believe in.

[Mojorabbit]

70. No, some are now

using it to quell threads they don't agree with and starting their replies within the thread "skip". I think it is demeaning to have average and skip ratings not to mention the abusing of the system that is already happening with this system.

[chatnoir]

82. Wow, I didn't notice the 'Skip It' rating before your post

I def think there is the opportunity for abuse with that rating. Anything you don't agree with or want shut out? Just rate 'Skip it'.

And I thought 'Average' could be abused...

[nyc 4 Biden]

92. I don't like it either...

But I do like the fact that you can negatively rate a thread. Why not? It separates the wheat from the chaff. Mods check out the thread rating system on slickdeals.net. They use thumbs up and thumbs down, it's simple and works great.

* WARNING: Duers enter the above mentioned website at your own risk it is very addicting and you may find yourself buying something you don't need like a riding lawnmower just because it was mistakenly listed for $99.99 instead of $999.99.

[firedupdem]

10. I thought I would like it but now it's a little "too busy" for me! n/t

[LiberalHeart]

62. Scrolling down the page is no fun. Those colors blazing by are impossible to ignore. Hate it.

[cali]

11. I don't like it either.

Sometimes too many bells and whistles are... too many bells and whistles.

[rubberducky]

12. I thought maybe, it was justme, having problems with it.

Glad to know I`m not the only one!

[Hepburn]

15. I feel badly complaining... but I love the DU and I don't want some system...

...in place that makes me not want to visit here and participate. The first debates are coming up and I would hate to have to put up with all of the "Patriot Act" color bars.

Just too "bush" for me.

[Bucky]

13. Green, blue, and gray. Those are some crazy damn colors alright.

[KittyWampus]

26. they are more pronounced then the actual thread titles.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

14. HATE IT! I used ADblock but it looks like crap. OPTION TO HIDE NEEDED!

[ContinentalOp]

16. I like it. Being able to vote down disruptive threads is key.

The design does take up too much real estate at the moment though. There should just be a little color coded dot instead. There can be a small legend at the top that shows blue = Must Read, etc.

[elizm]

17. Ditto x 10! It's awful! nt

[Erin Elizabeth]

18. Eh, i like it

and it appeals to my OCD (now I have to rate every thread I open!).

[Awsi Dooger]

19. I think it's juvenile and unnecessary

Must Read?

It reminds me of my dad about a decade ago, laughing at a T-shirt that was supposedly a bargain at 20 bucks, because the sign said, "Suggested Retail Price: $50."

My dad called over the saleswoman and pointed at the sign, "Who suggested it?"

Plenty of the best threads plummet, and the simpleton cheerleading threads are guaranteed to be heralded. Last night I saw an excellent thread titled, "Electoral Analysis" that had a handful of replies and was falling into obscurity. Meanwhile, certain posters can write a thread saying, "I'm fired up! We're going to kick ass! Gobama!" and it's going to be all time smash hit. That's just not for me.

[gblady]

20. totally agree....

it is very distracting...
also, seems judgmental to me...
I can make up my mind about what threads to read...
nope...don't like it at all...

[gravity]

22. MUST READ

[mamalone]

23. Give it some time....

Changes like this take some time to get used to.... let yourself have a day or so to accustom your eyes to the new look, then see how you feel.


FWIW, I like it:)

[Arkansas Granny]

25. I like it. I don't have time to click on every thread, especially those that give little

or no information about the content in the subject line (as is often the case). This gives me a better idea of what might or might not be worth my time.

That being said, I'm all in favor of letting people opt out on an individual basis.

[jonnyblitz]

27. I totally hate it. nt

[lynne]

28. It's confusing and totally useless as most every thread has "Must Read" in front of it -

- I just don't see the point. In the past the "Must Read" threads were at the top because we were reading them and the "Skip It" threads went to the bottom because we weren't interested. This isn't a change or improvement as we were already accomplishing the same thing by ourselves!

I'm with you on the colors and bars - they are driving me Bat-Shit-Crazy!!! Please let us turn this option OFF! :crazy:

[A-Schwarzenegger]

29. forget it, just a hide option will solve everything...

[Hepburn]

31. Exactly....

...

:hi:

[A-Schwarzenegger]

34. I changed my mind, I'm sure a lot of work went into this ...

but it is an intense annoyance of bells and whistles everywhere.
By the way, I couldnt access what I think was a picture of an Edsel?

[Hepburn]

36. Yep...it was an Edsel!

I agree with you on the colors. And...it is just too busy.

[Sulawesi]

30. I rated this thread "skip it"...i like the recommendations

[Toucano]

32. You'll adapt. n/t

[Hepburn]

37. Tell that to the damaged nerves in the left side of my face, OK?

The colors and the bars and causing me problems.

[Teaser]

107. Ok, consider them told

what now?

[BlooInBloo]

33. I hope the DU gods ignore all "It's different! Turn it off!" threads for a week or two...

And come back then to see what the non-kneejerk feelings are.

[wildeyed]

35. I'm going to wait and see how I like it in a week or two.

I admit I was annoyed that the site changed when I logged in this evening. With all the stress from the election, it seemed just mean to change the site layout without warning. But who knows, maybe I will like it after I get more used to it.

[1corona4u]

38. Well, that would be a waste....I'm sure you have no idea of how long

this probably took to put together. I'd give it a day or two before you all blast it.

[slackmaster]

39. Flagged as DISRUPTIVE

:D

[shadowknows69]

40. I never thought this was a good idea either

[nsd]

41. I hate this new system too.

The bars are much too big and the colors too distracting. There should be a way for people who don't like it to turn it off.

[Raine]

42. I HATE it, it's awful and it's nothing but

a popularity contest, very juvenile. I don't need the majority telling me what's worth my reading, I can decide for myself. :think:

[musicblind]

56. Thank you! Very well said. It is a popularity contest and I don't like this new system at all.

[Bjorn Against]

57. If anything the old system was more of a popularity contest.

With this system a person can't just say "K&R if you think..." and rise to the top of the Greatest page. It actually prevents popularity contests, and gives us a system that allows us to rate the post the way it deserves to be rated.

[Mojorabbit]

71. It is being used as a weapon already

I saw a good post where people were bragging that they were rating it a skip and all because they did not like the fact that a topic was even being brought up. This could have been a good discussion.

[Bjorn Against]

96. It could still be a good discussion

It may not make the greatest page but if people discuss it it will still be kicked. You can discuss things even if they are not on the greatest page.

[sufrommich]

43. I agree,too busy. nt

[Bjorn Against]

44. I actually really like the new system a lot.

It keeps flame-bait from rising too highly on the Greatest page and discourages trolls. I am also willing to bet we will see a major increase in quality of the posts that do rise up, people can't simply say "rec this thread" and get a ton of votes. Give this system some time, I think you will see the benefits soon.

[Cosmic Charlie]

45. love the new system!!!

you can actually give an anti-rec

finally, troll threads can be put to a group vote

they cannot stack the deck with concern if we can all see how the majority really feel about a subject

[DainBramaged]

46. I am blind in one eye, these fading, bright, blinky things

are a HUGE problem and distraction for me, and it keeps me from properly focusing on what I want to read. Without depth perception, I keep wandering over to look at the shiny things, and Will soon just stop reading.


It's like video games for people with seizures.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

47. Fucking hideous, and stupid to boot

[Monk06]

48. Look on the bright side this thread is neither Must Read nor Recommended

[CreekDog]

67. because we have a bimodal response here

not too many folks in the middle about the new system.

i, for one, like it.

[PaDem]

49. Agree 100%

the old format was much easier on the eyes.

[Justice]

50. Agreed Too much real estate on left - put on right thanks.

[mwb970]

87. I tried narrowing the browser window so I could scroll right and lose the buttons.

Rats. They must have thought of that. No matter how much I narrow the window and scroll, the buttons stay put on the left.

Out, out, damned spot!

[PuppyBismark]

51. I like it, perhaps it could take up less room. Just show colors n/t.

[Frank Booth]

52. I agree. I thought the old system was a lot better.

[Nikki Stone1]

53. Oh God, ME TOO. Skinner, I'll get you for this!

I HATE THESE COLORS!!!

[WinkyDink]

54. It wasn't broke, but it got fixed. Heh.

[chicagoexpat]

55. JUST replace your tin foil hat w/ a new one -- the one ur using must have holes in it

[PresidentObama]

58. New system sucks.

[musicblind]

59. This is nothing but a popularity contest. It is stupid and a form of censorship.

I'm sorry. I love the stuff Skinner does and he has so many great ideas. However, on paper... this sounded like a great idea, but now that it is happening... not so much :(

[Bjorn Against]

61. It is not a popularity contest and nothing is being censored

The old system was more of a popularity contest when someone could just post "K&R this" and it would end up on top of the Greatest page. This system you actually have to write a decent post and get rated highly to have your post move to the top. It is a system based more on the quality of the recommendations than the quantity, in other words the opposite of a popularity contest.

And no one is being censored, being rated disruptive does not mean your post gets removed. One person on here asked to be rated disruptive to see what would happen and his post was still up after several dozen disruptive ratings. The bad posts are rated lowly, but they are not censored unless they violate DU rules.

[musicblind]

63. The thing is... the votes will NOT be given the way they are supposed to.

You know this. A long well written pro Hillary post would be given a "skip it" even if it made a lot of points. Therefore it would be less likely to be seen. It would not make it to the Greatest Page (and thus a form of censorship because the Greatest Page is a type of advertising for that thread.)

For example. There was a thread making a valid prediction (that may not be true). It said it worried that Obama would lose if he did not vote (one way or another) on the economic bailout. This is a legit and interesting topic. However, because people don't like ANYTHING that is considered as concern (I have yet to see a SINGLE concern post treated as though that concern might in anyway be valid... and if you have then please provide a link) it is now give an "skip it" not because it's concern is valid but because DUers don't like posts that aren't roses and sunshine.

In the primaries every single pro-Hillary post (no matter how informative or well written) would have been given a "skip it" rating and thus limiting the number of people who would read it and have access to that information inside. Since the label of the outside says "No Information In Here" when in actuality it just means "We Don't Like This Poster's Opinions"

[Bjorn Against]

94. It is clear that you have no clue what censorship is.

Just because not everyone will rate the threads you like highly does not mean those threads are being censored. Not all posts can make it to the top of the Greatest page, the ones that will rise are the ones that everyone finds valuable. The flamebait will not rise to the top, and I for one am happy about that. You can still read the posts that get low ratings, you can still even kick those threads to the top. Your calling this censorship proves you have no clue as to what censorship actually is.

[musicblind]

99. This proves you have no idea what censorship is either. I have studied media law in college.

This new system does not provide all threads an equal chance to make it to the greatest page. If it did... for example basing it off of what you CLAIMED it would be based on then that would be one thing. However, that is not what is happening at all. There are very well written threads about ideas that are not popular with the majority so therefore the information is quailed by the masses who only want to hear what they want to hear. A well written thread that says something you disagree with is not flamebait. That you consider it flamebait says something about you.

Here is the definition of censorship: Censorship is the SUPPRESSION of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered objectionable, harmful or sensitive.

This new system would be a way to suppress unpopular threads where as the old system was merely a way to recommend popular threads. In the old system, each group had an equal chance to get thier ideas to the greatest page. In the new system that is not the case.

There is also the very real possibility that threads will be rated lowly, making them MUCH less likely to be viewed by someone who doesn't know WHY they were rated lowly... based off of how popular the poster is and not at all based on the content of the thread.

[Bjorn Against]

100. All threads will be voted on by DU members, and the threads DU as a whole likes most will rise

If they are well written they will be voted up, if they are poorly written they will be voted down. Yes threads that people disagree with will probably be voted down as well, but people will still have the ability to read them. The fact that they don't rise as highly on the greatest page does not mean that they are being suppressed. Do you consider movie reviews to be a form of censorship because some films get lower ratings than others?

And please notice that I NEVER claimed that I considered a well written thread that I disagreed with to be flamebait. You made that up, which says something about you not about me. I never defined what flamebait was, I simply said people would vote it down if it was posted.

[musicblind]

105. "If they are well written they will be voted up if they are poorly written they will be voted down."

That is not what will happen. If that IS what happens then I support the system. But I have great doubts that will be the outcome.

Movie reviews are so numerous and vast in opinion (unlike DU) that the almost guarantee that movies are rated based on quality rather than political opinion or actor popularity. For example, controversial movies like Mysterious Skin receives high ratings just the same as popular movies like Dark Knight. However, if Mysterious Skin received low ratings because they didn't like them damn queers... it would be more equivalent to what the new DU system is like.

[Bjorn Against]

108. DU members will determine what is good by DU standards

I would hope our standards for what constitutes a good post here would be different than what Free Republic would consider a good post. This will be a reflection on how our community views the posts, and the threads that are universally thought to be valuable will be voted up.

Now I realize some good posts that are controversial will be voted down, I don't deny that at all. If you look at what is the top of the greatest page now though you will see that most of them are good posts that most DUers can probably find usefull and informative. Yes there will probably be some pro-Hillary threads that are voted down, but the anti-Hillary threads will get voted down as well. And I have no doubt that there will be pro-Hillary threads that make it to the top of the Greatest page in the future. Remember during the convention DU was in pretty much universal praise of Hillary's speech and her unifying behavior at the convention, positive threads about her rose to the top under the old system and I have no doubt that when she shows unifying behavior like that again (as I am sure she will) you will see pro-Hillary threads rise again.

[musicblind]

109. We will just have to wait and see

It is nice that you are optimistic. Maybe I should be more optimistic myself.

I just assume badly of human nature and fear that good information will be left out in the cold. Again, perhaps we should just wait and see what happens. Maybe you will be right and I am fretting for nothing.

[Abacus]

60. I think it rocks,

though I preferred the higher sensitivity it had for the first five minutes of its debut.

[Kitty Herder]

64. Do not want!

Make the annoying colors go away. Please?

[SeattleGirl]

65. It's all about CHANGE!!!

Give it a few more days before you make a final decision.

[PufPuf23]

66. Graphics Terrible / Idea OK

I find the color bars very irritating.

[curious one]

68. I liked the old one and can live with the new.

[graywarrior]

69. So much for embracing change.

[symbolman]

72. Hate to be a wet blanket

but the site doesn't belong to US.. it's the Admins site, and they've put a hell of a lot of work into this baby over the past 7/8 years.

I don't want to sound ungrateful...

I guess I'll get used to it, reminds me of what my Uncle G used to say, "A year from Now, you'll wonder why you wasted all that adrenalin.."

To Everything Change, change, change.. there is a Season, change, change, change.. and a time for every purpose, under the sun :)

[Raine]

73. At least give us the option of turning it OFF...

PLEASE! :yoiks:

[Kablooie]

74. It does make things hard to read. And the boxes are so bright and huge. They take up too much space.

[PatSeg]

75. I rather like it

But even if I didn't, I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Its rather amusing to see how much a minor change affects so many people.

[BigBearJohn]

76. It's making me dizzy.

[eshfemme]

77. Yes, something where we can tweak it in our preferences.

I mean, it's possible to tweak it to be less obtrusive, right? I come here for the posts... which I evaluate on their own. I don't come here for the graphical doo-dickeys that tell me if something is worthwhile to read.

[Codeine]

78. I assumed there would be a Hide option

and was honestly shocked when I searched the Preferences for it and couldn't find it.

And I really don't like the notion that minority opinions (on nuclear power or Chavez or PETA or whatever) will be branded with the scarlet letter D for Disruptive for no other reason than the self-appointed group of Topic Police will make it their mission to do so.

[phleshdef]

79. Keep it. If you can't handle it, then get some ADD meds.

This is the best way to discourage trolls and get people to not pay as much attention to them.

[madaboutharry]

83. "If you can't handle it, then get some ADD meds....."

That is rich. You sound like a troll yourself. At the very least, you're rude.

[phleshdef]

90. Not a troll, just rude.

[AZBlue]

80. I like it!

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

81. me too

not everything new is good

[chatnoir]

84. I'm with you. It's making me dizzy/nauseated.

[mwb970]

85. The buttons and colors are distracting. I don't like being told what to read anyway.

What was wrong with the original system again? Is there an option to turn off the buttons?

[Vinca]

88. Thank you for posting this thread. I thought I was the only one who hated it.

As previous posters have noted, it's terribly distracting. The rating system has taken center stage over the posting. Please, please, please, go back to the old system.

[bunnies]

89. Im wondering how all these "I cant stand the colors" people....

even function on the internet at all.

Not meant at you, Hep. Obviously you have a physical reason not to like it. But for everyone else distracted by green and blue, I dont get it.

[Dawgs]

No kidding.

You'd think they would at least give it a day or two.

[bunnies]

93. Agreed.

But then again, I like change. :hi:

[Dawgs]

91. No kidding.

You'd think they would at least give it a day or two.

[nyc 4 Biden]

95. RIP "Kick & Rec"

Now should we say "K & MR" ?

[-..__...]

98. Is this better for you?

[ericgtr]

101. I have to agree plus you don't get to immediately see the REC's

I think the idea behind the new layout is sound enough but it seems much more clunky IMO. Thanks for all you do here though guys. :)

[watercolors]

102. I like it, keep it.

Helps to read what is more important, and I can elimainate the " why was that posted crap?".

[Undercurrent]

103. I like the functionality of the new feature, but

the graphics, and layout needs work. I was enthusiastic at first, and still like the way it works, but the look needs tweaking.

[TheDonkey]

104. YAY now there are MORE colors :D

but I agree that users should have the ability to turn them off if they want. But would like to see all ratings on the page, not just the blue and greens

[PermanentRevolution]

106. Ooo... over on the right side now... much better!

[cboy4]

110. Not surprisingly the people I predicted who would love this,

love this.