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Improvement of this forum
Hello @Perry and others,
I was thinking about it for a while -> How to improve this forum.
Not that it isn’t already amazing, but do you think you could somehow try to add1. Likes - people could give a Like comments. Or a Dislike.
2. Some pop-up message when creating a new post - To remind general rules and something like - Please share your formula so others can give more adequate answers etc … I feel like 80% of the times when someone asks for help we ask back for the formula or more details.
If anyone else has another idea, could be maybe good to share it here?
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16 Replies
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Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, if anyone else has other ideas I’d love to hear them here.
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I like the ‘Like’ idea. On most forum’s there is an abundance of….people who feel the world needs to see their comment….so they restate the obvious/redundant. Here….if someone answers something correctly…we tend to let it be. But for the author…they might be thinking….well…only one person said that (and I am conditioned to look for validation). If you had the same comment…with 10 likes….the author will think….ah….good answer, that is supported by many others.
May I add…. so many first timers…ask the same age old questions….over and over. If you could have something that really highlights the ‘search’ feature….how many times will be not have to say….baking soda does not belong in deo!
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As a first timer that has used the search feature many times, I find it particularly ineffective.
It’s okay for searching for a single word, such as “process”, but if I’m searching for “Hot process” I will get anything and everything with either “Hot” or “Process” in it.
The way the results are displayed is also a little inconvenient, with it being sorted by time. It would be helpful if results were grouped to discussion heading rather than all listed out by date posted.
Overall I’d say I’m quite cold on the current search process.
I’m hot for a like function on replies, but I do not think a dislike function will benefit this site.
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RobboAU said:As a first timer that has used the search feature many times, I find it particularly ineffective.
I’m hot for a like function on replies, but I do not think a dislike function will benefit this site.
I agree with your comments on the search bar. I have learned to be VERY creative in the words I insert there. You cannot use broad terms….and every word counts. So, I use a word that is very unique to what I am looking for, and usually get what I want.
Correct….nothing but hurt feelings will result from a dislike button. If you dislike something….then have the balls to defend it with your comments.
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Yeah the search function isn’t good on this software. I actually use Google to search the forum. For example go to Google & search “chemistscorner.com/cosmeticsciencetalk preservative”
much better searching function
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For the search function, normally i’d just use “” (quotation marks) if i need to search for a phase.
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See @perry , I would already give a LIKE
Same to @Graillotion , hehe -
Great discussion!- I also believe that the search function can be improved, in addition to the search for terms itself, in terms of filtering. Maybe include a filter that makes it possible to sort the responses (newest, oldest, most relevant, least relevant… and so on).
- As much as some browsers have the automatic translation option, it might also be interesting to include translation buttons somewhere. Many sites use country flags or a checkbox to display posts in the chosen language (of course there are always some “wrongs” in the translations, but this would make it easier for many people who don’t have such a broad understanding of English).
- I also noticed that some users tend to confuse the concept of post in perfil and sending a DM. On another account I ended up getting what should have been DMs on the perfil and then I got a reply to them in the DM correctly, but they ended up switching between the two, probably without realizing it. If the DMs had a pop-up like in a chat format, maybe it could solve it (but that’s me rambling and giving a more specific suggestion, anything would work)
- And, maybe make the interface more intuitive? But that would be a bigger job, I imagine. Not that the current one isn’t good, if you grew up accessing forums you know how it works and it’s not difficult to adapt even if you don’t have experience, but I see some people lost by the layout (as simple as it is)
- Oh! And I’ve noticed many problems with users’ location. We often don’t know where a person is located, so it’s harder to give concrete answers, especially about legislation and ingredients. If there was an indicator next to the user’s avatar that appears during discussions (and not just on the profile) it would be very useful!
- And, just to finish, many do not read the pinned topics. Perhaps displaying a message when the member registers that they must first read these topics would be helpful. Furthermore, when posting a question, there could be a message informing the most recommended procedures, reinforcing the “how to use this forum” guide. For example, when we’re going to type the message, it says something like “your message here”, but it could be a little longer text and in list saying things you should do/remember before posting your question, like “don’t forget to share your formula.” “inform the final pH of the product, if applicable.” “informing your area of activity can help to obtain better answers” and so on.
Oof! I think I got carried away and said too much! I’m sorry friends I’m trying to help I swear! -
If we can mark or like comments and then there be a place where we can all those comments that we have liked or marked, that would be very helpful for people who regularly reviews the discussions he liked befor.
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- Oh! And I’ve noticed many problems with users’ location. We often don’t know where a person is located, so it’s harder to give concrete answers, especially about legislation and ingredients. If there was an indicator next to the user’s avatar that appears during discussions (and not just on the profile) it would be very useful!
Yes!!!!!!!! An optional flag (country) by the user name…would be wonderful…and sooooooooo helpful.
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I think the “Like” button is a horrible idea. This isn’t a social media site, it’s a site for factual information.
It is not uncommon for incorrect information to be posted on this site. What if a number of non-chemists all “Like” a comment because they don’t know what the correct factual information is and the post is repeating incorrect information that is commonly found on mommy-blog sites. I’ve seen many common mommie-blogger nonsense statements perpectuated here.
What would be useful is a Fact Check button where users who question a particular statement could request a Fact Check by a chemist accompanied by a Factually Correct button that the chemist could verify that the statement is Factually Correct. More work for Perry, but it better maintains the integrity of information posted on the site.
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When we click on other site link it should open in new window.Option to star post. -
MarkBroussard said:I think the “Like” button is a horrible idea. This isn’t a social media site, it’s a site for factual information.It is not uncommon for incorrect information to be posted on this site. What if a number of non-chemists all “Like” a comment because they don’t know what the correct factual information is and the post is repeating incorrect information that is commonly found on mommy-blog sites. I’ve seen many common mommie-blogger nonsense statements perpectuated here.
What would be useful is a Fact Check button where users who question a particular statement could request a Fact Check by a chemist accompanied by a Factually Correct button that the chemist could verify that the statement is Factually Correct. More work for Perry, but it better maintains the integrity of information posted on the site.
Great point, if I were to spin a questionable ingredient, I would create 100 likes and there I have an approval(ish) from professional chemist forum.
Factually correct button would also be potentially problematic. Whose fact will be correct, and in the next years time, is that fact will still be correct.
I would like thank you button for individuals who give reasonable answers and can be display next to their names, there’re so many I want to thank.
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Pattsi said:
if I were to spin a questionable ingredient, I would create 100 likes and there I have an approval(ish) from professional chemist forum.
Factually correct button would also be potentially problematic. Whose fact will be correct, and in the next years time, is that fact will still be correct.
I would like thank you button for individuals who give reasonable answers and can be display next to their names, there’re so many I want to thank.
Excellent points…all three of them.
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Agree on a “Thank you” button, rather than “Like”. If it’s my own thread/question that someone is responding to, I always try to reply to thank people for their time. But if it’s someone else’s thread (and often if it’s an old thread), and I got a lot out of someone’s reply, I always feel there is no way to show my appreciation without clogging up the thread.. so then I do nothing.
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About “Thank you”:I think it is a great idea! Perhaps the author of the post can “highlight” a comment among those received and write a response below. In addition to being a space to thank the author, everyone would be informed of which of the answers was most effective for the author. In cases where there are several contributions from different users, you can quote them in the chosen answer stating that they also helped with the problem in question.About “Like”:It’s interesting, but maybe it’s being looked at the wrong way. There could be “favorite” and “don’t contribute” buttons similar to the ones on Twitter, where you state your position on the answer in question. The amount of people in each of them doesn’t need to be visible, but it would make it easier (or harder) to find that answer (something like a “most relevant” filter)I also think it would be interesting to put a filter of answered and unanswered questions, so it can make it easier to find questions equal to the current doubt without the need to revive old topics or create new duplicates. Maybe if there was something like an “up” button this could also work for unanswered questions that other users (than the original author) also find valid and would like to see an answer to, but have fallen by the wayside.
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