Forum Software Update - October 8th, 2018
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boinkman posted:The thing I'm missing the most is being able to see everything new with one click and glance. Other than that I guess it's fine.
Ditto. Big time.
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For me, I think one of my biggest "gripes" about the new software is how much wasted screen space I have:
With everything so narrow, I have to scroll forever to get to the bottom. Things were spread out across the screen before; now there is an overabundance of information for each thread crammed into a shorter space making each thread title taller (how many likes, last updated, etc.).
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This forum software seems to be geared toward reading and interacting with smart phone. Yeah, I noticed white space on PC too.
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I’m all for upgraded technology, generally speaking, but so much more information was displayed per page in the old format. Places like BladeForums and (no grief, please), AR15.com still use something similar to what we used to have. If our new format is so great, why aren’t sites that generate a thousand times the traffic using it?! Below is an example of what I mean. There are THIRTEEN sub-forums visible compared to our site’s three.
Our old format was similar to this, PLUS it had the time/date of the last post next to each sub forum. I don’t understand how folks think the new format is more user friendly.
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As a phone only user, i like the new format better. However holding the opinion of the minority is not something new to me..
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Yayyy. I just got email notifiaction(s) that five of my posts have been approved and three have been rejected. I think they're from 2016, although one said 15 minutes ago, which is not possible.
Oh, and the new forum software is still TERRIBLE!
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It sucks to put it mildly.
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I doubt anything is going to change at this point but I agree, it sucks. Some have said the ease of posting pics is worth it alone but the pictures are degraded and blurry.
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The largest & most frequented gun & knife forums have a similar appearance - similar to what this forum used to have. Spyderco forum, BladeForums, AR15.com, etc. are all fairly similar and equally easy to use on a desktop or mobile device.
The forum “upgrade” was a giant step backward and I believe it was intentional. Why? I can only speculate, but the Instagram/FB basket is clearly where BM is putting its eggs. Was there even an announcement here of Jon taking over the reins from Les? How many other times, recently, has this forum been the last place to know of new product releases & news. It’s just a sign of the times, I suppose.
A forum for meaningful discussion and real relationships is not what the next generation of BM customers is interested in, generally speaking, of course.
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sre1 posted:The forum “upgrade” was a giant step backward and I believe it was intentional. Why? I can only speculate, but the Instagram/FB basket is clearly where BM is putting its eggs. Was there even an announcement here of Jon taking over the reins from Les? How many other times, recently, has this forum been the last place to know of new product releases & news. It’s just a sign of the times, I suppose.
A forum for meaningful discussion and real relationships is not what the next generation of BM customers is interested in, generally speaking, of course.
I fully agree. I would be interested if BM would/could share stats for last November posting numbers and this November's numbers. I would be particularly interested in length of post. I am willing to bet that we are getting fewer posts from a fewer number of members and that the posts have less substance to them.
Furthermore, I note that certain longterm posters are missing now. Perhaps unrelated; perhaps not.
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I am sure posts are down 📉with both PO & Mac taking a break.
Those two guys alone fill a lot of hot air balloons!😂
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Another thing I've noticed is that it seems (to me) like there has been an increase in new members posting. I'm curious to see if any will stick around or if they're just popping in for a moment. There has always been those who pop in for a post or two and disappear, but it seems like there's been an increase. I know if the current format of the forum was in existence when I became a member...well, I wouldn't've become a member.
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I noticed those guys were AWOL.
Both OK?
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The list of MIA is most definitely more then just the two members mentioned thus far. Personally, I don’t really think the improvements were worth the change in atmosphere/look/feel. It’s like they tore down the old neighborhood and put up condominiums. I am very sad to say, this is no longer my fav spot. I still peek in now, though less frequently, just to see if maybe things will change again (for the better).
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Agree with Keyman
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I think I miss two aspects from old post.
1. short index / list of recent post, instead of lengthy page. I just want to see what's recent and comment.
2. "Recent post" on right side has avatar of thread creator, not that of recent post. This is confusing to me and rather useless.
I like new one, so far in 3 points:1. We are able to post pictures, even from mobile device.
2. Easy to navigate top menu. It can show sub category as well.
3. Can make "like" rather than seeing so many "reply with quote" that floods the page. Although I would like to see who liked it.
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/|\ MFL,
your points 1 under pros & cons are big.
those abbreviated lists ( like excel spreadsheet) fitting move topics on one page made it so much easier to get around quickly & what I miss most.
PS on my iPhone the hosts logo comes up not Benchmade. I advised Benchmade of this within a week of new format but has not been addressed - yet.😟
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billhammer posted:more topics on one page made it so much easier to get around quickly & what I miss most.
^^^This is huge for me.
Every other single forum I visit is formatted better than this one. The ones that aren’t are on life-support. Sure, there are a few improvements with this new forum, but, I swear, it’s almost as if BM purposely tried to decrease Forum traffic. Why? I can only speculate. Maybe they want us all to embrace more contemporary social media (e.g. funnel us to their weak-ass Instagram & Twitter feeds), so we won’t actually communicate w/each other as much. Who knows?
And I’ll say go ahead and say it. Go over to Spyderco Forums, Blade Forums, USN, etc. and see what they look like. Hell, go to ANY decent forum. They’re more similar to what this one used to look like than the current version. There’s a reason for that and it’s not to decrease traffic.
It’s hard for me to hate on Benchmade, but this site...
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I don't know what "vision" BMKC has for the forum, but I see a few problems if it means to expand its forum's user base... or even maintain it.
1. Forum posts are not available to the public. Most of the forums I've joined were because of posts/threads which Google searches produced from related queries. I mentioned this when the new forum started, but it hasn't changed.
2. UI is much less efficient - a. 3 clicks from main page to access forum directory b. too much scrolling necessary to scan through active threads c. too much spaced-out info requiring the aforementioned scrolling and/or page turning... looks nice, but sort of like spacing out webster's dictionary into cartoon bubbles requiring 10,000 more pages and expecting people to prefer that format.
IMO, a forum's primary purpose is to share information and communication with users... e.g. customer feedback. This new format reads more like a comic book than an informational space. Either way, since threads are not viewable/accessible by the public through Google searches I only see the user base shrinking over time.
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^^^Well said, ScottK, particularly #2. I wasn’t even aware of #1, but when I google “Fixed Bedlam Fever,” for example, I get several results from the site (well, the old site, at least).
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sre1 posted:
^^^Well said, ScottK, particularly #2. I wasn’t even aware of #1, but when I google “Fixed Bedlam Fever,” for example, I get several results from the site (well, the old site, at least).
If you are logged out and click the "Fixed Bedlam Fever" link to the Benchmade forum from Google it will bring you to the log in page.
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The user base will shrink until the next forum knife, then you will see a ton of new folks.
It is what it is, I have adapted to the new format and am fine with it. There are a few pluses.
Honestly, social media platforms are where it is at, online. Forums have a place, and that place is relationships. The Benchmade facebook plages are filled with nasty troll like behavior (like most groups). Forums tend to police that better.
Because Benchmade chooses to use social media platforms to make announcements is not that they "have turned their back on the forum users" it is more like they are doing their job digitally. They have a job to do, and they have a product and a brand to promote. The fact is, us old geezers (I throw myself in that) like what we had 10 years ago, but the wheels of progress churn on. What we notice is this... The transition from computers to devices was not without compromises. It will always be easier, faster, and better to do on a computer than a device, however the ability to have the device with you at all times trumps better performance and the consumers seem to prefer the compromise. "Best" does not always win... Remember Betamax was better than VHS and we saw how that turned out.
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markg posted:
I have adapted to the new format and am fine with it...the wheels of progress churn on...Remember Betamax was better than VHS and we saw how that turned out.
Yep, now everyone watches hi-def porn on their phones. I have adapted, as well.
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No doubt the new forum software is awkward and a step in the wrong direction assuming the goal is increased participation. Something else that was a step in the wrong direction was making too many sub-forums. In the old days we had only two sections for discussion. "Knives & Rescue Tools" and "Chit Chat". At the request of do good forum members it started getting chopped up into a bunch of sub-sections that diluted the momentum of the forum. Just my opinion.
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Mrs carries original and I carry 1501 today.
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