Comments on Home page design and content changes

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with the new format I am less enthused to write

the other one seemed funner in a lot of ways. i seem to feel that the writers are taking a back seat to the readers now. I do not like it as my homepage any more it feels blah... it lacks luster. I would imagine this to be all in my imagination. yeah what is the stall with the spell checker? fonts with ligature are easier on the eyes. too much at once? alright i am through bitching. ummm on a positive note .... I am still writing and no doubt will aclaimate. feeling a little altitude sickness i would imagine.

the progressive approach in general. is a good sign.

posted by mysteria on June 1, 2004 at 10:53 PM | link to this | reply

Another vote for spell check :).

And some kahlua flavoured coffee and sex cake, if that's okay :).

posted by Moohahaha on June 1, 2004 at 8:50 PM | link to this | reply

Thanks

Thank you all for the suggestions. I will pass these along.

Regards,

Brian
Blogit Team
www.blogit.com: The online writing marketplace.

posted by BlogitStaff on June 1, 2004 at 8:00 PM | link to this | reply

Dear Blogit

Thanks for taking the fork in the road which lead towards diversity and away from sensational click-begging titles.

Despite what some folks sincerely feel, there is a sort of Gresham's Law about "adult" material: (And where did that euphemism come from?); sensationalism displaces craft.

posted by majroj on June 1, 2004 at 6:37 PM | link to this | reply

I'll

add my vote for a spell checker.

posted by jamryn on June 1, 2004 at 1:57 PM | link to this | reply

Thanks, I am pleased you are thinking about BLOGIT as a work-in-progress.

Please also consider NOT paying bloggers for clicking on their own blogs. Alternate: there may be a way of timing the duration one stays on a blog after clicking and a minimum of 30 seconds on a blog means that reading has occurred. If someone clicks on a blog for two seconds then clicks out, it is clear she or he has not been reading, only clicking .... I look forward to the day when CLICKING and BLOGGING will be distinct avocations.
Congrats to Brian and the Blogit team.

posted by ILLUMINATI8 on May 31, 2004 at 9:17 PM | link to this | reply

New changes

I like everything so far but could you add some more interesting icons that cover a wider range of "subjects"?

posted by SugarnSpice on May 30, 2004 at 3:25 PM | link to this | reply

I, too, would like a spellcheck, and I like the new look.

posted by whitworx on May 29, 2004 at 10:55 PM | link to this | reply

Any chance of a spellcheck function in the future?

posted by Bearden on May 29, 2004 at 2:46 PM | link to this | reply

Let us know which ones

Please let us know specifically which posts you're having trouble reading. This the only report we have had of this.

As you may know already, you can find the permanent link for all by clicking on the "link" below them. And then copy their URL from the browser address field. Thanks a lot!

posted by BlogitStaff on May 28, 2004 at 10:58 PM | link to this | reply

I'd like it if these headlines were still black.

Easier to sort out comments.

posted by Temple on May 28, 2004 at 9:14 PM | link to this | reply

Don't like the new page and why is it that I cannot read some posts, including my own that need to be edited, due to problems in the system or whatever.. ?

posted by Devious07 on May 28, 2004 at 8:08 PM | link to this | reply

Thank you for keeping the adult content separate

I, for one, am very tired of seeing all of the sexual and adult material on the site. If I wanted an adult chat room, I'd have signed up for one. I want a place to post my writings with legitimate writers who want the same. There are plenty of adult sites out there if that's what you're in to but I want a site to post my work and get real feedback. I am now wondering if this is that type of site or if I'm wasting my money. I'll give it a bit more time but if all I keep seeing is postings about sex, I'll find another place for serious writers.

posted by whimsystoryteller on May 28, 2004 at 7:01 PM | link to this | reply

And nevermind.

got it

posted by Temple on May 28, 2004 at 5:27 PM | link to this | reply

And once again.....

How do we make the old home page the default? This is the third time for this question.

posted by Temple on May 28, 2004 at 5:23 PM | link to this | reply

The color is great

It all looks really professional, and I commend you on the effort, but please give us back the homepage without having to click for it every time. I am slowly coming out of my fetal position as it is hard on the legs.

posted by Sherri_G on May 28, 2004 at 5:09 PM | link to this | reply

Response

Thanks for all the feedback on the new design. I've tried to respond to the many comments.

The Mature Audiences site will continue to remain separate from the General site. We will not be changing that in any way.

As for the Home Page, it cannot have everything on it. Not without becoming terribly long and cluttered. We think of the Home Page as the starting point. We hope you will, too.

And there are some advantages. You can now see 25 new posts on the New Posts page rather than the handful previously visible.

We are also making more of an effort to emphasize categories. Click on a category to see many more blogs. And new posts by category (sort the blogs by date to get that)! As time goes on, different categories will be highlighted.

If you prefer the old home page, please add it to your browser favorites. That way you can go directly to that page each time.

Thank you.

Brian

Blogit Team

www.blogit.com: The online writing marketplace.

posted by BlogitStaff on May 28, 2004 at 4:27 PM | link to this | reply

Well the one problem with moving 'mature content' to the MA area, is that MA is like a black hole. No one will know you've posted anything unless you are already on their favorites....and as we all know, sex sells....so people push the line as to what goes in the general category.

Plus, there *is* a difference between R rated material and X rated material, and for the MOST part, the racy stuff in general *IS* R rated. But R-rated isn't "professional". By having the Home page be G- rated, but still allow the "new posts" and "new comments" area to be R-rated, it satisfys both criteria.

posted by Tamara99 on May 28, 2004 at 2:41 PM | link to this | reply

Perfect!

The new design allows quality to take preferece over timing. I got tired of working hard on a post, only to see it disappear to the bottom of the New Posts list before anyone got a chance to read it. As it says next to the Blogit logo, this is The Online Writing Marketplace. Not the Online Distribution List and Silly Rants Over the Cost of Bologna Marketplace. (Hey, I'm guilty too.)

Everyone has a right to a voice, but the new homepage gives everyone equal opportunity to be heard.

posted by myrrhage_ on May 28, 2004 at 1:27 PM | link to this | reply

Brian. how does one make the Old Page the default page?

posted by Ariala on May 28, 2004 at 12:49 PM | link to this | reply

Thanks for moving the NEW POST and COMMENTS Link

right under the features.

posted by Ariala on May 28, 2004 at 12:21 PM | link to this | reply

I like the new look.

I can understand why you felt it necessary to keep the MA blogs off the home page. I like the hyperlinks to different categories in the blue box, currently News & Politics, Journal, and Religion & Spirituality. Maybe the hyperlinks could rotate periodically to give blogs in other categories more homepage exposure.

posted by Bearden on May 28, 2004 at 11:57 AM | link to this | reply

What's everyone complaining about?

I thought the old home page was too crowded and unwelcoming. This is a much cleaner look. I like it

posted by JadedMind on May 28, 2004 at 10:41 AM | link to this | reply

I'm glad the raunchy stuff is off our front page

but a more accurate title for the link "Old Home Page" might be "Uncensored Home Page". The old home page was the only way I had to let people know I'd just written something new. I hope you "old guys" all go back to the "Old Home Page" so I can still let my wares be seen now and again....I'm certainly going there.

I'm very happy, however, that the new customers and new people I've invited to come and read about my Shakespeare discoveries, (some of them young nubees) won't get hammered by blue language and curse words, right off the bat. I've been talking to my neighbor who gets very upset when people curse and talk dirty in front of her. Go figure.

posted by WindTapper on May 28, 2004 at 9:35 AM | link to this | reply

Another thought, as a side note...

Why not fill the marquee area of the new homepage with featured posts? You only put a few featured blogs at a time, when there's room for a few more. Just a thought...

Later...

ltlmac70

posted by superflymom119 on May 28, 2004 at 9:09 AM | link to this | reply

At first I wasn't sure about the changes...

But, after reading this explanation and a few of the comments, I get it. Some people don't understand that there are reasons for rules to be as they are, and refuse to put their MA content in the appropriate place. This can turn away potential members who misunderstand the Blogit community and the content here. I think the font choice is questionable, it does make the eyes ache after awhile; but, the idea behind the changes makes sense. If the rules don't get followed, and MA content is spread throughout the entire site, then the only solution is to take the content off of the home page. It's not the MA writers who have caused this, it's the MA content that isn't in it's proper place. For every person who complains about the new set-up, consider how many times you've posted something that belonged in MA, in another category...including vulgar language in your titles, etc. If you've made a habit of it, then you're partly responsible for the changes Blogit is making. Follow the rules people...sheesh!!

Write On! ltlmac70 wuz here...

posted by superflymom119 on May 28, 2004 at 8:40 AM | link to this | reply

Leave the new posts where they are now

Unlike many on Blogit, I prefer to see the New Posts category taken off the front page. I was getting tired of "new post churn," where a new post would spend maybe ten minutes on the front page and then would be gone forever; perfectly good writers would lose the opportunity to build up an audience that way.

posted by kidnykid on May 28, 2004 at 8:23 AM | link to this | reply

Well, I hope that our "mature" members can handle being the cause of

having to hide the front page. Ha ha!

posted by TARZANA on May 28, 2004 at 6:56 AM | link to this | reply

Aaaaaaaarrrrrggggggggghhhhh...

I have Blogit on my favorites. When I got online this morning, I seriously thought I had been taken to the wrong place. The blue band along the top is nice, but other than that, I think it's rather boring and stagnant.

By attempting to limit MA blogs being posted on the front page, you are seriously undermining a newcomers ability to make an informed decision about the scope of content here on Blogit.

One only has 30 seconds (or less) to catch a potential new members interest. Even I, who have been here a year now, didn't know what to do when I logged in this morning.

Not to mention, the big blue rectangle looked really cheesy on my screen. I use a 'hi-speed' dial up program which, in order to load pages faster, sacrifices picture quality. Many people use hi-speed dial up these days. The old page looked cleaner and was more easily navigable IMO.

Okay, now that I'm done ranting...I'm going to go post... If we can't change your mind, I'm sure I'll get used to it just as with anything in life. That don't mean I have to like it, though!

posted by koriani on May 28, 2004 at 6:04 AM | link to this | reply

If we can set it as our default, maybe you could say how.

I've looked everywhere. I seriously HATE the way it is now....the new contemporary look is good, and when we click to the old home page that is great....why do we have to be advertising ourselves be the most prominent look on the page? Why can't the new home page look like the way the "old home page" is set up now? As far as MA blogs, this is for adults, too, and it's not cool or fair to not allow people who write there to receive equal treatment. They pay their money like the rest of us.

posted by Temple on May 28, 2004 at 5:36 AM | link to this | reply

Brian, thanks for your kind email about my mom's health. AND, I want

New Posts back on the Front Page. It now looks too staid and stagnant, not enough vitality with New Posts and their "minutes since posting" missing. Dead looking, not alive, Muerto, blah......

How about just using the Writer's Name as a New Post. Example: benzinha, 3 minutes ago..........as opposed to my Raunchy Blog Title, whatever that might be. It censors the Home Page somewhat, but doesn't shoot it in the heart and make it look dead.

posted by benzinha on May 28, 2004 at 1:25 AM | link to this | reply

Looks nice....

but I think that new posts should be made an essential on the front page, and not just an option.

posted by chris2303 on May 28, 2004 at 1:13 AM | link to this | reply

Actually - just to clarify something...

Does this mean that 'new posts' will also show new MA posts when they are written?

posted by markd on May 28, 2004 at 12:50 AM | link to this | reply

Going to take some getting used to...

I must admit I preferred the cleaner look of the old site; but maybe I've just got to get used to it first.

Like most, I guess, I would rather see the 'new posts' feature still on the front page; I guess a lot of people might be going to start missing links now.

Just my twopenneth. Well done for keeping Blogit focused on moving forward though! I like a lot of the ideas you're putting forward for helping writers make more money etc.

posted by markd on May 28, 2004 at 12:39 AM | link to this | reply

Yes, that is a keyboard

Forgot to answer one question. 'morning, Damon.

Yes, that's a keyboard abstracted. Y'know, since this is a site for readers and writers: The online writing marketplace!

Regards,

Brian
Blogit Team
www.blogit.com: The online writing marketplace

posted by BlogitStaff on May 27, 2004 at 11:59 PM | link to this | reply

Thanks for the feedback

Thank you all for the feedback.

Please note that you can continue to reach the old home page (and make that your default) as well as reach new posts in other ways.

As there are more blogs on Blogit (now in the tens of thousands), each category has become more important. And you can view new posts by clicking on each category and sorting the blogs by date, by clicking on the New Posts link, and/or by simply continuing to use the Old Home Page.

Good night (for now)!

Brian Out!
Blogit Team
www.blogit.com: The online writing marketplace.

posted by BlogitStaff on May 27, 2004 at 11:56 PM | link to this | reply

I Like...

...it!

It looks much cleaner and more professional, somehow. particularly the top blue band. What's that meant to be in the blue box? A keyboard?

I'm not sure about New Blogs disappearing. Jemmie's right, but then I can see that we may have to make that sacrifice for the MA arguement, which I think can be damaging to the chances of new folk signing up.

More money, hmmm? There's a pleasant thought.

Good work, Team!

D

posted by DamonLeigh on May 27, 2004 at 11:40 PM | link to this | reply

While it may look good, I hate the fact that the new posts are not featured on the front page. When people first come to a website, they want to see what it's all about. The new design doesn't show that. It doesn't give examples of what is written here.

Also, I believe that when members of Blogit come to the site, they also would like to see the new posts. They can see the headlines and get a tase of what folks are writing.

PUT THE NEW POSTS BACK ON THE FRONT PAGE!!!

posted by Jemmie211 on May 27, 2004 at 11:36 PM | link to this | reply

No new posts eh?

I'm sure with the popularity of that feature, you'll figure out a way to make it once again easy for us to access. I love the new look!

posted by theelbster on May 27, 2004 at 11:09 PM | link to this | reply

not too bad...

but like everything, will probably take a little getting used to.

posted by littlemspickles on May 27, 2004 at 10:45 PM | link to this | reply

Yeah, I like the new look. I don't like that we can't see new posts on the front page. Oh well.