The Semiotics of the New Look

[dr_mabeuse]

Most of us are pretty sensitive to the way text looks on paper or a screen, and are aware (or should be) that look and layout send a sub-textual message. If your reading voice starts rushing when you read Italics or shouting when you read caps, then you know what I mean. If that kind of stuff doesn't bother you, then this post isn't for you.

We've got a host of new skins here to choose from, which means that I'm probably not seeing the same thing on my screen that you see on yours. If all you care about is content, that doesn't matter much, because the content is the same, but to me, since I'm sensitive to layout, that makes us seem more like strangers to one another.

I also notice now that each reply to a thread stands alone with empty space around it. That bothers me too. It makes me feel less connected. The fact that right now the font used for messages is identical to the font used for sig line stuff also makes it seem like our voices are lost in a babble of noise. The messages don't seem any more important than anything else.

When you go to send a PM, your reassuring Buddy list isn't there any longer to click on. If you've got a name that's tricky, like I do (I use an underline for a space: dr_mabeuse. People tend to forget that), people are going to have to look you up or copy&paste you.

No doubt we'll all get used to these changes in time, but I wonder if the new layout is going to change the tone of this place. I predict it will. I predict we'll lose some of the intimacy and friendliness we had on the old layout, and that's too bad.

Well, we'll see.

---dr.M.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I understand what you're saying, but I find myself adjusting very quickly now that I've found a skin that suits me.

As for the PM thing, you can click on a person's avatar to see their profile (there is a PM option there) or click on their name above their avatar to send them a PM. Not exactly the same as an always showing buddy list, but the buddy list is still in your control panel.

Hope the new layout doesn't deter you from posting.

~lucky

 

[English Lady]

I can see what you mean and I think manu hassome ironing out to do (the sigs can be seperated off a bit, my husband does it effectively on our message boards)

Also the buddy list is there, got to quick links in your user CP and click to open buddy list, it opens in a new window but works similarly to how the old one did

I think the layout will be improved and little bugs ironed out as we go. this is a big change and there will be weird little blips at first

 

[herecomestherain]

I understand what you're saying, but I find myself adjusting very quickly now that I've found a skin that suits me.

As for the PM thing, you can click on a person's avatar to see their profile (there is a PM option there) or click on their name above their avatar to send them a PM. Not exactly the same as an always showing buddy list, but the buddy list is still in your control panel.

Hope the new layout doesn't deter you from posting.

~lucky

Lucky, thanks for the info on clicking on an AV to get the extra info, that's a great help.

Doc, it's funny how layout does effect the intimacy of a message. I used to swap some fun PM's with a friend here and they always seemed so private and personal. We moved the chat to another location -- all bright white pages and tiny text size -- it felt like having a discussion on a busy brightly lit street. Sensitive creatures we are!

 

[NoJo]

No doubt we'll all get used to these changes in time, but I wonder if the new layout is going to change the tone of this place. I predict it will. I predict we'll lose some of the intimacy and friendliness we had on the old layout, and that's too bad.

Well, we'll see.

---dr.M.

You fucking cunt.

Hoping this finds you &c,

Sincerely, S. Josephs

 

[Guest]

What no buddy list????

Noooooo!

How will I know when he comes online?

Bugger.

The new smilies are good, though.

 

[Guest]

Aha! I found a way.

Go to User CP, then click on Quick Links, and select "Open Buddy List". It opens in a new window and shows who is online.

There seems to be quite a lot to this new look. It will take time, but hopefully we'll get used to it!

 

[NoJo]

The site now looks like all the other PHP powered BB's I use, including the one I run.

The IM icon is useful. Looks like there's a lot fewer MSN Messenger users than Yahoo and AOL. I'm setting my webcam up again. More fun than PM's.

 

[CharleyH]

So far Aria-Chlorophyll is suiting me just fine, except for one or two design things that I am picky about. But it appears to be similar to the way my older Apple skin was set up, with just enough change to make the experience exciting. Once the newness wears off, then maybe I will find something else that suits me better. I was simply a bit disoriented this morning, but quickly adapting.

There must be a way to change fonts in sig line. There must be!

 

[impressive]

Yeah, the Aria skins seem to offer the easiest transition (Chocolate - Fixed for me).

We seem to have expanded options (doc, pdf) for attachments. Cool.

 

[Guest]

This upgrade is amazing.

Lou became younger overnight. Wow.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

The new smilies are good, though.

New smilies? I haven't seen any new smilies... only different one I've seen is the big grin is now green instead of yellow. Everything else looks the same on the smilies.

 

[shereads]

I found a skin that has the Buddy List/PM option beneath each post, if that's important to you. It doesn't list "location," which I kind of miss. Sometimes that's the only way I can remember where I am.

Skin, shin, schmin. I can get used to a new look and functionality, but I can't get used to this frigging banana dance. It's like having someone in your peripheral vision leaping and waving, "Hey! Over here! Look! I'm a banana, yet I'm dancing!"

The only solution I've found is to drag the right edge of my window in until the smileys disappear - which makes it necessary to widen the window again to read posts and PMs. If some people aren't having this problem, I'd love to know how they've set their options. I tried bludgeoning the banana with my shoe and got scuff-marks on the monitor.

 

[cloudy]

I'm using the vbulletin 3 skin, Sher, and the banana's there, but he's not dancing.



I sorta miss the frog, though.

 

[shereads]

You fucking cunt.

Hoping this finds you &c,

Sincerely, S. Josephs

I was wrong. The Authors Hangout is like a real family!

 

[English Lady]

Sher...go to your edit options in your CP and change from "advanced editor" to "basic editor" under message editor interface -no smilies and therefore no banana

 

[CharleyH]

I found a skin that has the Buddy List/PM option beneath each post, if that's important to you. It doesn't list "location," which I kind of miss. Sometimes that's the only way I can remember where I am.

Skin, shin, schmin. I can get used to a new look and functionality, but I can't get used to this frigging banana dance. It's like having someone in your peripheral vision leaping and waving, "Hey! Over here! Look! I'm a banana, yet I'm dancing!"

The only solution I've found is to drag the right edge of my window in until the smileys disappear - which makes it necessary to widen the window again to read posts and PMs. If some people aren't having this problem, I'd love to know how they've set their options. I tried bludgeoning the banana with my shoe and got scuff-marks on the monitor.

ROFL

I don't see any smilies unless I post a reply, and the banana is looking a lot like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

I do like that I can preview my sig line before posting. However, I am still waiting for a straight-faced smilie, but the cool one is close enough.

 

[shereads]

I'm using the vbulletin 3 skin, Sher, and the banana's there, but he's not dancing.



I sorta miss the frog, though.

Tried it. The yellow bastard danced, regardless. I'm taking my case to a court of apeels.

The frog is still there, cloudy, he's one row up from the banana, on the far right. His tongue pops in and out 24/7.

 

[English Lady]

Charley..you must be using the basic editor and not the advanced one it's an option in edit options....(that was a silly sentance*L*)

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Well, I've figured out the deal with the smilies. It depends on which skin you are using as to what your smilies look like. DUH! (/me slaps myself on the forehead)

 

[NoJo]

Bumping, cause it's a cool thread title.

What is home? Obviously not just where your friends and family are. Not even "where all your stuff is." Home is the environment you don't notice until you leave.

 

[Guest]

Bumping, cause it's a cool thread title.

That makes you cool.

Your AV is soothing to me. P.

 

[NoJo]

That makes you cool.

Your AV is soothing to me. P.

And you are a divine comedy of art. A TV news item said that the gondoliers when on strike today over being banned from working during rush-hour. They picked the perfect day.

 

[sweetnpetite]

You too doc?

I'm telling you, when I set up my av and all of the words around it (location, title ect) *and* sigline stuff. I was very aware of how this 'package' would look to others at lit, and very picky about it looking a specific way. And I realized last night while I was finding a skin that would suite *me* that the way I set stuff up would no longer look the way I wanted it to, to others. For instance, I fussed forever with that long line in my signline so it would look right and finally was half-way happy. This is a real blow to my artistic side (most of me). I realize that to some it won't matter, but in my case, being expressive is why I'm here, and now i can't express myself the way I want and know that it will come accross the way it should.

I too agree with the idea that it changes the mood- it feels so tech here now, were as before it was comfy if simple. It's like the difference between decorationg with wood or stainless sleel. We now have stainless steel- maybe it's 'superior' but it's not better

ON the bright side, Manu is working on a skin that will look more like the old lit. I wait for the day. Once we have that skin, I'll wager that most on the AH (and a good majority of the other boards from the sound of the rumblings) will be on the same waive length again.

Most of us are pretty sensitive to the way text looks on paper or a screen, and are aware (or should be) that look and layout send a sub-textual message. If your reading voice starts rushing when you read Italics or shouting when you read caps, then you know what I mean. If that kind of stuff doesn't bother you, then this post isn't for you.

We've got a host of new skins here to choose from, which means that I'm probably not seeing the same thing on my screen that you see on yours. If all you care about is content, that doesn't matter much, because the content is the same, but to me, since I'm sensitive to layout, that makes us seem more like strangers to one another.

I also notice now that each reply to a thread stands alone with empty space around it. That bothers me too. It makes me feel less connected. The fact that right now the font used for messages is identical to the font used for sig line stuff also makes it seem like our voices are lost in a babble of noise. The messages don't seem any more important than anything else.

When you go to send a PM, your reassuring Buddy list isn't there any longer to click on. If you've got a name that's tricky, like I do (I use an underline for a space: dr_mabeuse. People tend to forget that), people are going to have to look you up or copy&paste you.

No doubt we'll all get used to these changes in time, but I wonder if the new layout is going to change the tone of this place. I predict it will. I predict we'll lose some of the intimacy and friendliness we had on the old layout, and that's too bad.

Well, we'll see.

---dr.M.

 

[Liar]

We've got a host of new skins here to choose from, which means that I'm probably not seeing the same thing on my screen that you see on yours. If all you care about is content, that doesn't matter much, because the content is the same, but to me, since I'm sensitive to layout, that makes us seem more like strangers to one another.

Interresting, I think you have a point. I feel a bit disconnected to the site at the moment. I do believe my brain will adapt to it all pretty soon though. The main thing that bugs me is the small base font size, and the extra speca between and frame around every post. The first makes it more formal and business like to look at and read, and the latter makes the separare posts feel disconnected from each other, the sense of an ongoing discussion is somewhat lost.

There are also a few things that I dig. But those are more functins than prsentation.