New Style, Not Sure...

So I see this link directing me here on Reddit. I load in, and realize that I'm just in a more stylized version of Reddit, without the ability to implement RES.

So here are my biggest pieces of feedback, Positive first as always (hard work can't go unnoticed, and you all would benefit from realizing that.)

Question about functionality though. If someone posts a new parent response, does it work like Vbull and instantly take it to the top of it's respective community? The reason why I ask is because I foresee Red posts dominating the top, and I see them either falling off too quickly, or otherwise never going away. How is this handled?

• Cohesive: It fits. It makes sense. It looks great. You guys really spent a lot of time and energy making it look awesome. I can't wait for the client to get it's updates.

• Paired down the forums, and creates for "natural positive discussion". Crap gets downvoted and doesn't just keep rising to the top. Crap that rises to the top creates more toxicity, and this should help resolve that issue.

• Improved beginner/unfamiliar usability: I think this is a big thing as well. A new user will come in here, and just see the threads that people are talking about, and be able to read them pretty easily. I think the Minus button might need to be a bit more prominent on the visual cues (and mouseover explanation) but it really makes beginner navigation through important topics easy.

• Red posts are easy to find, because they rise to the top! These are typically what I care about, because Red posts are usually thoroughly moderated, and have great information. It takes me to relevant stuff quicker, and shows me important topics.

Now unfortunately on to the negatives...

• Reddit is awful to navigate without RES: We need something like this. I need to be able to follow people, add friends, color things better, etc.

• Sometimes things are hard to follow because the color variation between posts is miniscule at best, and names and forum icons don't help to "break" the posts apart. I suggest adding some more color to things. White and white/grey aren't very distinguishable. Black and grey are. I'm not saying you should use these colors, but I think maybe the header of a new comment should be the new Teal color, and everything after it, white and a bit darker grey. It'll help break things up a bit more visually, and help you identify parent responses faster visually. Why? Because these are DISCUSSION drivers. Replies to a parent (children) are just like quotes. Discussing a topic already at hand. Parent posts are new thoughts on the same subject.

• Viewing constraints: The sub-community area creates a lot of wasted space. NOTHING is under it, and all that space can better be used to widen the viewing area for the topics. I would prefer for it to be a "pop-out" somewhere on the page, so it's not constantly eating up space. It's really unfortunate, especially on my 2560x1440 screen. It just trivializes the amount of space given to the actual subject you want to read because of how invasive the the sub-communities bar is, and how unforgiving it is with how much space it wants to waste beneath it.

Edit I wrote this before I clicked "community" in 'Create a Discussion'. That's an awesome little "sidebar" thing, but man. Make it be there all the time. Such a huge waste of space otherwise! Everyone should know the guidelines of the forum at all time, important updates, etc. Also move it up!

• Sorted By: What is "HOT?" What is "BEST?". I know what most recent is, but what are those two? Are they the best ever? hottest ever? hottest now? Use more familiar phrasing. Use things like "Most recent", "Most Talked About", "Highest Rated". These are things people can understand, and using "buzzwords" causes confusion and frustration, needlessly at that.

• Submit button: Yeah, can we just put that directly under the preview and not space make me scroll down past attachments? I'm not going to add attachments, and frankly, the bulk of your community won't be adding them either.