N Gauge Forum

Notices, Help With Problems and Your Forum Ideas... => Forum Ideas and Problems. => Topic started by: D1042 Western Princess on June 17, 2015, 06:27:55 AM

Title: Indication of new posts.
Post by: D1042 Western Princess on June 17, 2015, 06:27:55 AM
Just a question; to indicate a new post has been submitted you show a 'clear' lower quadrant semaphore signal.
To indicate no new post has been submitted you show a signal at danger.

My question is 'Why?' Should not the signal at danger indicate 'stop' (and read) while the signal at clear indicate no need to stop as there are no new posts?

It has always puzzled me since I joined why the indications are the opposite of what, to me, logic dictates.

Thanks for reading,
Greg.
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Sprintex on June 17, 2015, 06:40:00 AM
Seems perfectly logical to me:-

Stop - no point going any further, nothing new to read.
Proceed - into this section as there's new information.

:thumbsup:


Paul
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: D1042 Western Princess on June 17, 2015, 06:53:11 AM
Thanks for answering Paul; maybe it's because I am a Swindon man and we in GWR territory always did things better than the rest, er, sorry, I mean 'differently to the rest', of course!  :-[


:D
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Tank on June 17, 2015, 07:26:48 AM
The way I saw it was 'red' for no need to enter that board and read it, and 'green' that you can enter to read something newly posted. ;)
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: PostModN66 on June 17, 2015, 07:32:24 AM
Fascinating - I have never noticed these signals at all, never mind seeing significance in their aspect!

Guess I wouldn't make it as a train driver!   :worried:
Cheers  Jon  :)
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Tank on June 17, 2015, 07:35:31 AM
That amazes me! ;D  However, I do notice that members do see things differently on the forum, and some things do go unnoticed or are 'ignored' by their eye.  Perhaps I'm more aware as I put them there?!   ;D
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: D1042 Western Princess on June 17, 2015, 07:37:03 AM
Quote from: PostModN66 on June 17, 2015, 07:32:24 AM
Fascinating - I have never noticed these signals at all, never mind seeing significance in their aspect!

Guess I wouldn't make it as a train driver!   :worried:
Cheers  Jon  :)

To be honest Jon, reading signals correctly is, how can I put this, somewhat important for a train driver, guard and platform staff too, so I imagine you are correct.  ;)
A railway career would probably be short term in your case!

  :sorrysign:
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Agrippa on June 17, 2015, 08:07:10 AM
I just thought the signals were there as decoration because this is a railway
type forum , similar to the locos parked at the top of the page.
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Agrippa on June 17, 2015, 08:15:01 AM
PS in each section there are two columns on the left side with little
squares in them, the purpose of which l do not know....... ???
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: PostModN66 on June 17, 2015, 08:27:28 AM
I recently discovered a little box at the right hand side that takes you straight to the new post - previous to that I was having to scroll through each thread from post number 1 to get to the latest post!   :doh:

Cheers  Jon  :)
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Sprintex on June 17, 2015, 08:28:08 AM
Quote from: Agrippa on June 17, 2015, 08:15:01 AM
PS in each section there are two columns on the left side with little
squares in them, the purpose of which l do not know....... ???

First column:
1, 2 or 3 pages indicates popularity of the topic. If there's a little face as well it's a topic you have posted in. Other possible symbols here are an arrow for 'thread moved', a padlock for a locked thread, or a 'pin' to indicate an important topic that is pinned to the top of that section (a 'sticky' thread)

Second column:
This is just a symbol selected by the OP of the thread to give a general impression of the tone of the thread - 'pages' for an information topic, 'smiley face' for happy, 'grin' for joking, etc.


Paul
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: railsquid on June 17, 2015, 09:43:54 AM
I don't think I ever noticed the signals either. Not that I actually look at the main forum page much.

While we're on the subject, is there any way to get an overview of recently active topics (not posts)? The "show unread posts" links at the top of the page show unread topics (not posts), however once I've read one it disappears from the list and sometimes I want to look at it again but can't remember what it was called, which makes it hard to find.

There is the "Recent Posts" summary towards the bottom of the forum main page but this actually lists the most recent couple of dozen posts, and so posts made more than a couple of hours ago will drop off anyway.
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Bob Tidbury on June 17, 2015, 10:42:46 AM
Where are these signals I can't see them at all .
I often wonder what some of the other things are for but don't touch them in case I loose something ,I'm  a complete idiot on all things computer and IPad related.
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Newportnobby on June 17, 2015, 11:05:56 AM
Quote from: Bob Tidbury on June 17, 2015, 10:42:46 AM
Where are these signals I can't see them at all .

Bob - if you start on the 'Forum'  page you will see the semaphore signal in the left hand column, although it might be different for tablet users :hmmm:
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Bealman on June 17, 2015, 11:08:02 AM
Click on forum near home and help & FAQ and you should see the signals.

George
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Bob Tidbury on June 17, 2015, 11:43:03 AM
Thanks Guys Now I know I told you I am as thick as the proverbial .
Bob
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Bealman on June 17, 2015, 11:48:04 AM
Hey Bob... a couple of years ago, I asked about 'em too  :-[

But I reckon they are a really cool forum feature.   :thumbsup:

George
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: D1042 Western Princess on June 17, 2015, 12:27:38 PM
Quote from: PostModN66 on June 17, 2015, 08:27:28 AM
I recently discovered a little box at the right hand side that takes you straight to the new post - previous to that I was having to scroll through each thread from post number 1 to get to the latest post!   

Cheers  Jon  :)

Please forgive my ignorance, but what 'little box on the right hand side' are you on about? There seems to be far more symbols on this site than meet the eye, given the numbers here saying they are discovering things for the first time.
Perhaps I should rename this thread "And what does that bit do? :confused2:
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Tom U on June 17, 2015, 01:01:16 PM

Interesting topic for me.
Took me a while to realise what everyone was talking about. 
I always enter NGF via the "Show all unread posts", because I want to read everything about everything - even AustinBob's jokes  ;)
So I had not really noticed the signals, nor given a thought about what they may be trying to tell me, perhaps I thought I was banned from the red signal ones  :'(
Not wanting to be a SPAD!
:NGF:
Tom.
Title: Re: Indication of new posts.
Post by: Dorsetmike on June 17, 2015, 01:20:28 PM
If you use the "Show all unread topics"  option the unread topic titles  are listed by most recent, alongside the topic title is a small orange box with "NEW" in it, if you click on "NEW" you are taken to your first unread post, if however you click on the topic title you are taken to the first post in the topic