We’re working behind the scenes to bring you a new, improved We Hunted the Mammoth — at least as far as the design of the site goes. As I think I mentioned earlier, I’m not doing anything radical. The aim is to streamline and declutter the site and to make it easier to navigate and use.
Here’s what to expect:
- Less-cluttered sidebar
- Less-cluttered main bar
- Cleaner, clearer design overall
- Better navigation between pages of comments
- Buttons so you can blockquote, etc without HTML in comments. No more need to fear the blockquote monster!
Someone also suggested it would be better to do “nofollow” links for MRA sites rather than using donotlink, so I’ll be doing that.
I will now be able to use WordPress plugins, so I can add other features/options as well. I don’t want to add them willy nilly, but if they can add some useful functionality without cluttering stuff up I’m open to suggestions.
Any other features/plugins you want added? Upvotes and downvotes for comments perhaps? Polls in the sidebar?
Any stuff that gets in the way that you want moved or removed?
Any issue that you have with the design or functionality of the blog now that you think could be improved?
Let me know what you think, from your feelings about font size to possible WordPress plugins to look at.
Oh, and again: this redesign is costing me some $$, so if you’re a fan of the site and haven’t already donated, please consider donating through the PayPal button below. Thanks!
David, the chairs need to be at least 27% harder and the candles should probably be 42% more scented.
Are you thinking of changing the font? The letters are pleasing but the kerning gives me agita.
I love your site. Looking forward to the new look.
Comment upvotes and downvotes cause social issues on every board I’ve ever visited. Please do not implement.
Remove Reddit from the list of websites under “Share This”.
I’ve never been a big fan of upvotes and downvotes either.
I actually had a question about ads. Is the revenue going to be going to you or to WordPress? I have adblock plus, but if ads are going to help you and they’re not intrusive (no pop ups or autoplaying videos) I can turn it off for this site.
Seconding this.
Nooo! Now I’ll have nowhere to actually practice those damn HTML skills I learned in college!
But, in all seriousness, this is a good idea for those of us who aren’t HTML-savvy. Will the option still be open to type in the HTML ourselves, should we choose?
OH, I was actually wondering about this myself. I turned off ad block for the blog, but if it’s not going to go to you, I’m going to turn it back on again, because some of those ads have autoplay and are LOUD.
I wish I had something constructive to say, but I’m too distracted by the kittens.
Please don’t change it around TOO much: I’ve seen too many website redesigns that required JavaScript for basic functionality, or broke hopelessly in any browser more than 2-3 years old. I might slim down the header and sidebar slightly and leave it at that.
If it’s possible, I would like the option to view pages of comments in order, instead of the page of newest comments first. For very lively discussions, getting to the first page to read in order requires many clicks or editing the URL.
Autoplay music, sparkle glitter graphics, your top 10 commenters.
I like the idea of threaded comments, but not everyone finds threaded comments easy to read and prefer the forum style of making comments, so YMMV.
No “likes”, “upvotes/downvotes”, or similar please.
Would it be possible to implement Markdown for comments here? Less pain in the arse than using HTML code, IMHO.
Pandapool, PLZ NO AUTOPLAY MUSIC
I visit this site on my phone and at the library. Also, autoplay is the WORST.
Not a UI suggestion, but I there is something I have been meaning to ask for. Could you make a Who’s Who type page? Like, the glossary is very helpful, but sometimes you’ll mention somebody like Roosh V or Vox Day, and I’ll think “okay, which one is that again?” I’ve also wished I could point some friends to a place that gives a quick summary of the notable figures in the manosphere. Originally I was going to suggest calling it the “Hall of Infamy” or something like that, but then I realized it might be good to include some info on their “enemies” like Anita Sarkeesian, or bogeymen like Dworkin. Might also be useful to mention noteworthy feminists they don’t have in their crosshairs.
More baguettes.
http://38.media.tumblr.com/a06041aacd68344965a721aa9f362d28/tumblr_inline_nny0w5psCx1qjyt7z_500.gif
I would really love to be able to edit a comment after posting. I hate catching a typo or missing word just after I post.
What your update needs to be is updates more often. Like, bi-monthly where everything breaks and shit gets moved around too much. THAT’S the kind of update we need.
Two ferrets for every cat!
Thanks, this is all very useful. Like I said, I’m not going to do anything radical or add new browser-breaking crap.
As for ads, yeah, I get $$ from them, so please turn off adblock! That said, I also hate the autoplay ads. I will be able to get rid of them when the new site goes up and I switch from wordpress’ ads to other ad networks.
I’m not inclined to go with upvotes or downvote, but wanted to see if anyone was for them. Sometime I wish I could upvote someone, but I agree that this can cause problems.
I don’t want to go with threaded comments — unthreaded seems to work best for the kind of conversations we have here. But there is a plugin that will easily allow you to identify who you’re responding to, and link back to their latest comment, so I’ll try that.
As for comment navigation, I’d rather start with the newest page of comments, BUT I’m going to add something so you can get to the oldest comments with a single click. Paging back through them is annoying.
The buttons for blockquote, etc should eliminate most of the need for html. Alice, are there other things besides blockquotes, links, bold, italic that you want to do? (youtube and pics and tweets will continue to auto-embed by just pasting the url in on a line by itself)
I’m planning on adding quizzes, trying to figure out a plugin to use.
Does this seem like overkill, quiz-wise? (well, obviously the videos and the timers are but the rest?)
http://www.easyquizplayer.com/
Oh, and I’ll look into comment editing.
Also I will add sparkles to everything. Actual glitter will fall from your screen when you visit the site.
Sarah, I should definitely do a who’s who page.
The only problem with editing is that potentially trolls or people having obnoxious meltdowns could say something shitty and then edit it out and lie about it later. A lot of sites have a function where you can edit for just a few minutes after posting. Something like that could work.
I do like the idea of being able to edit temporarily to fix grammar and spelling errors. But, as WWTH said, it wouldn’t be good to have it so that trolls or people having meltdowns/temper fits can change what they said and lie about it.
Gotta agree with WWTH and Aerinea. Editing would be nice, but straight up editing is not possible with the kinds of trolls we get. I’d rather just do a quick doublepost and be done with it, or implement some kind of system where you have to be given permission to edit, or you can’t edit after a period of time.
Aw, I really like doing the HTML though. Makes me feel good about spending so much money on college.
I would also like to throw in my vote for a who’s who page. It’d be nice to get a refresher every now and again, because my memory’s kind of shitty from time to time. 😛
And that quiz plugin is very nice, mostly because you have to click on it to get it to start, which is good.
And thanks for the info about the ads! Adblock stays off.