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Maybe I'm just old

Bl3u·9/17/2013, 9:17:49 PM·81 votes·4,837 views

I haven't used a reddit-style forum much, and honestly they kind of scare me away from contributing. Maybe its just because I'm so used to traditional style forums, but I have found it hard to adjust.

I find this type of forum cluttered, confusing, and unorganized. I especially don't like how comments are arranged in order of upvotes, as I'd like to follow a conversation sequentially. I understand it may be easier for casual browsers to just see the top comments and move on, but thats not the kind of experience I am comfortable with. It makes it seem like unless you were in the thread early that your thoughts will go unheard if you try to make a post (especially if that post is not a reply to one of the top comments). This also means that discussions/topics can be derailed so much more easily.

I am rather saddened that Riot has moved to this type of system, because its not a good fit for me (though I understand its probably better in the long run). Isn't there some way you guys could program the page so that you can switch between traditional and reddit style browsing? I mean, honestly it doesn't seem like it would be that hard. don't make comments cascade, and instead of arranging them in order of upvotes arrange them by what time they were posted.

I really hope you consider this request especially if you plan to phase out the old forums. Thanks for listening!

29 Comments

Kira Onime9/17/2013, 9:20:11 PM19 votes

Well there is an option to see posts by "best" or "recent".

Pretty sure that's what you might like.

Pendragon9/17/2013, 9:44:17 PM10 votes

I find this type of forum cluttered, confusing, and unorganized. I especially don't like how comments are arranged in order of upvotes, as I'd like to follow a conversation sequentially

I think this works really well when a thread is a single discussion, but in my personal experience on large message boards that's not what happens. A single discussion starts to splinter into a dozen different mini-discussions and trying to follow each one is really hard.

What we're shooting for is trying to make it so each of THOSE discussions is relatively linear. A reply to a comment will never appear higher in the hierarchy than the original comment, so some of that is preserved.

It makes it seem like unless you were in the thread early that your thoughts will go unheard if you try to make a post (especially if that post is not a reply to one of the top comments). This also means that discussions/topics can be derailed so much more easily.

I think that's a problem that's worth solving. The structure change is really about trying to improve the signal to noise ratio while generally preserving the flow of the conversation. I still want you to see how the conversation progresses linearly I just want it to be WAY more efficient to get the gist of the discussion.

If you want to add me on League of Legends and continue to follow the updates that we make to this platform I'd be very interested in seeing if we can make the right improvements to change your perspective.

RiotShoeface9/19/2013, 5:02:25 AM7 votes

It took me awhile to adjust too - but once I did, I couldn't possibly go back.

Give it some time and see what happens :)

Shadowhunterx279/18/2013, 4:32:15 PM5 votes

UGHHHHH not a fan of this setup.

RiotXelnath9/19/2013, 8:24:20 AM5 votes

It seems like first impression "Would you like to view this threaded or by time" would be an important thing to showcase.

Seylah9/18/2013, 12:10:41 PM4 votes

I have to agree, I'm one of those "older" users who grew used to traditional forums. I do go on the League subreddit, but I am not active for a number of reasons. Some of those reasons seem like they are carrying over to the forums if this style is what Riot settles with.

I do like that you can get updates on discussions you have participated in. I also like the profile feature, because it might help you catch up with a friend or check on a thread/user you found interesting. Comment threading is nice and cleaner than traditional forums.

There are some definite "cons" to this forum style as well. I'm posting in a thread that's 15 hours old but it's on the front page. While I know the sorting button is there because I'm familiar with Reddit, newcomers and people who aren't familiar with that style might get really confused.

Sorting threads by upvotes can be a problem. People will post "Hay guyz I played a game with dyrus and he said hi lolz here's my screenshot!" and it's on the front page. While some good discussion threads will get to the front page, many get left buried in downvotes. Or, people post just because they get imaginary internet points. It can be a little intimidating to people who aren't used to Reddit.

I agree with the sentiment that threads can be derailed even easier with this forum style. I've already seen "here, have an upvote!" which is usually the beginning of the end of a discussion.

Edit: One small thing #1. When you click on a link to an embedded image, it's not scaling right. Parts of larger images are cut off and there's no way to scroll.

Mirage Night10/11/2013, 3:13:41 PM2 votes

Frankly I cant tell what was the first set of responses. :(

Lunnunnunnunnun10/8/2014, 3:45:22 AM2 votes

Not old, this is terrible. Perhaps that's their point, to get people to stop reading forums

Wizz Kalista9/18/2013, 1:09:04 AM1 votes

You can arrange comments by recent instead of best which will allow a more chronological order.

kevnator9/18/2013, 4:21:38 PM1 votes

I feel that the more sequential forums format is the reason why the forum community isn't larger. I consider myself sorta a casual browser but I'm the most involved in the League community of ALL my friends. I don't use the forums prior to this because its hard to find anything that is worth reading and most of it is just unimportant to me. With this format it will helper newer people to get more interested as the better content will be right smack in front.

EDIT: Also, the way that the reddit format works is that posts that are upvoted fast get pushed up pretty close to the front page. Often times posts with only 10 or less upvotes are found on the second page and enough people read that far into the posts in order to give it the necessary upvotes to get the front page if the post belongs there. Either way, with the voting system from Reddit, posts DO get noticed because there are always some people lurking in the "new posts" section to give it that initial exposure that a post needs.

Teemo May Care12/13/2013, 6:09:34 PM1 votes

its like it was designed by a person with ADD.

Killer X 1210/6/2014, 6:18:10 PM1 votes

Yea its annoying as fuck