··· Vote On the Black Dots! ···

[xenon200]

The Poll

I've created this poll, because I was (and am) a huge fan of the black dots. IMO, they really keep things organized and are really a great feature. I find that, without them, my eyes just wander thread indexes and I get lost. The purpose of this poll is to get across how important (or maybe unimportant, for that matter) the black dot feature is.

I'm under the impression that the black dot feature was removed due to excess server load. So please vote, ASSUMING that they could be brought back without the administration having to do any major server upgrades or anything. I know that one user suggested that the "Threads with Zero Replies" feature be removed in exchange for the black dots, which I, for one, agree with. I would assume that the "Threads with Zero Replies" feature actually uses up MORE server resources than the black dots would.

If you're really not sure whether or not you want it back, I suggest thinking to yourself - which is more important, the thread with no replies feature? Or the black dots feature?

What Are Black Dots?

A lot of you, I know, are completely clueless as to what the black dots even are. The black dot feature places little black dots on top of the envelope graphic beside a thread, to signify whether or not you have created and/or participated in that thread. As demonstrated here;



Some find it extremely useful to help "keep tabs", and others have obviously never used it before.

Thanks!
~x2

[thekingofpain]

To signify whether or not you have created and/or participated in that thread.

Unimportant---memory serves me better then the black dot, gotta goto the title after viewing the dot anyway, an extra step---

[xenon200]

I am the complete opposite... I'll often go to posts and see on of MY posts there and think to myself, "when did I post that?!", only to have it slowly trickle back into my memory, and notice that, like.. 5 people have asked me a question based on that post, and since I never followed up on it, I never got to answer the question in an even remotely timely fashion.

~x2

subscribe to the thread you'll be emailed notification of replys.

click on the view new posts on the forum front page.

[xenon200]

I know I'm nitpicking - but it's a convenient feature which should be used...

subscribe to the thread you'll be emailed notification of replys.

If I subscribe to every thread I participate in, that means that I'd probably get at least 20 emails everyday... And TIMO isn't enough of a priority to recieve 600+ emails a month simply for thread repleis. That's why I like the black dot feature. It's simple, and it's sophisticated.

click on the view new posts on the forum front page.

The View New Posts feature simply lists all the new posts on the forum, regardless as to whether or not you've participated in them anyway. I see these posts anyway, so that's neither here nor there.

If you're talking about the View Your Recent Posts feature, that then takes away from viewing posts which I have YET to particpiate in, which I would be able to see simultaneously, if the black dots feature was enabled.

~x2

[super gerbil]

I voted I don't care. they annoyed me but I just started ignoring them. I don't want to be in the way of people who want them

[Beemer]

Myself, I find doing a search and using my name brings up all the threads I have been active on. After I have taken care of all those threads, I start on the active thread list at the top of the page. Maybe get involved in a few new threads. After that, I head to the individual forums for a peek at the list of threads. I may get involved in a few more threads. All the time I keep a watch on the active thread list at the top of the page. Something moves, I go see what replies are happening.

I knew nothing about black dots but was wondering what they were. Periodically I would come across a thread with mention of these black dots but I chalked it up to eye strain of the person talking about it.

Cheers!

[xenon200]

I don't really understand objection to the black dots... If they're turned on, they're so small and discreet that those who don't want to use them, or could care less - can easily ignore them. Yet such a small and discreet feature is extremely useful to those who DO want them around.

~x2

[NeoStarO1]

And all this time when those dots where there is when I thought it looked like someone toook a shotgun to blast a hole through the envelope.

[xenon200]

lol... I've used vBulletin forums on other sites for years now, and didn't even know what the black dots were until about 2 years ago, and since then - I've become hooked. I love the feature.

~x2