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Can I have pages instead of "show more"

Nebuul·7/15/2014, 9:36:26 PM·4 votes·582 views

I get the idea of "show more" -- it lets you keep adding more comments onto your list of comments. However, I inevitably want to find some comment way down in the line. Lets say I'm 6 pages, er, "show mores" down in the list, and I lose my place for whatever reason. Why can't I just click "page 6" instead of show more . . . show more . . . show more . . . show more . . . show more . . . show more . . . and there is the discussion I was reading?

The only thing worse than "show more" is "auto-load" pages where when you scroll to the bottom, it automatically loads the next pages of comment in a manner similar to "show more" -- then you cannot ever hope to find things by scanning the page because the page gets longer every time you move the cursor.

A better option than show more or just plain ol' pages would be the ability to set how many conversations you want to see on a page (show 25, 50, 100, 200), and then have pages after that. So each page could be 200 conversations long if I so chose.

3 Comments

Hyrum Graff7/15/2014, 10:03:54 PM1 votes

Here are my thoughts, and a suggestion:

#1) You can't have any kind of measuring device when you view a nested discussion with 'Best' sorting.

This is because the order changes based on upvotes and downvotes, so even if you did have some kind of page system, it wouldn't be of any use. The "Best" sorting is great for skimming a thread - not as great for participating in one.

#2) Pages don't work very well with a nested format.

This is because, in order to keep the nesting in the right format, people can add in comments in the middle of a page. Either the page is going to get really long, defeating the point of having a page, or you're going to have to adjust where your page cutoffs are - so you run into the same issue of, "that reply was on page 10, but now it could be anywhere between page 11 and page 20."

#3) An Idea

What if, scrolling down the side of the screen were a "comment yard line," visible when you're using the "recent" view only. Instead of marking pixels, it would mark number of replies to the OP, or something like that.

Also, what if each comment were given a number? You could keep track of what number comment you're at, and come back to it later.

For example, 2.3.1 would mean the 1st reply to the 3rd reply to the 2nd reply to the OP. Visual explanation below:

[OP]

  • First reply to OP [1]
  • Second reply to OP [2]
    • First reply [2.1]
    • Second reply [2.2]
    • Third reply [2.3]
      • First reply [2.3.1]
LastProtagonist7/16/2014, 4:09:33 AM1 votes

I'll bumpvote this.

Koraji yo7/16/2014, 6:48:13 AM1 votes

I don't like the idea of scrolls through a huge tab when I'm "binge' reading different threads or a large thread.