This is what I don't like about DU4.

[question everything]

It is possible that a lot of changes were “under the hood” but the format is tiring.

Mostly, what could be accomplished with one click it is now 2 and 3.

Starting with “My Posts.”. Previously there was one button on the right and when it was yellow, I would hit it.

Same with My Subscription.

Now two clicks: One for “My Stuff” second for posts or subscriptions.

I don’t know why the Editorials and Other Stories was removed from the left column.

I have to select Navigate and then the button where it is. (Where is it?)

This is true for everything, really.

We had a lists on the left side. All I had to do is to click on the down arrow to open the, say, Family, Or Entertainment, Science or Health and others. One click. OK, two, including the down arrow. Now first click is, again, the Navigate and then try to find out where the group of interest is.

The Worst, so far, is Advanced Search. I use it a lot, before posting a story to see if it already on, to search for a DUer and others. Also, it is not clear which forums and groups are included in the “Main.”

I remember, many years ago, we were encouraged to post in the “Editorials and other Stories” and in Groups so not to clutter General Discussion. I suspect that GD will now be cluttered.

As I read this many may not be bothered. I often find interesting stories that I specifically search for appropriate group like birders or gardening. It may not bother many here, though..

[DearMusic]

1. The 25% waste of real estate on the left is non-plus

If there is an easy way to recover such waste, please share.

[question everything]

2. Why? The left column is still there. Right now it lists several "milestones" of a post from yesterday

that got many replies and Recs, Earlier there were recent posts from my subscription groups. I did not bother with them. I don’t read every single post in my subscription groups.

[LudwigPastorius]

91. It's not being wasted.

That space has advertising for those of us who are not Star Members.

[question everything]

93. Groan..

[murielm99]

3. This is what I don't like about DU4:

Everything!

[Raine]

11. Totally agree ☹️ nt

[murielm99]

18. I have been here since 2003, but

this is making me mad enough that I am thinking about quitting.

[Raine]

27. I've been here that long too

and think I'll be spending less and less time here. I HATE this new format so much! 😡

[riversedge]

30. I do not like this new DU either. I went back to the old one and some of my favorite

buttons are missing also.
But now I clicked on and I am back to the this new one again.

Many say change is good for the soul. dah!!!

[DZC]

102. Old One?

How did you go back to the old one?

[masmdu]

41. Same here!

[Justice]

16. 100%

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

21. I cant even find how to respond to original post, no reply button?

[wnylib]

53. It's there. I had trouble finding it it, too.

But it is there under the OP.

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

61. I looked everywhere, all i see is/share,/alert/trash/bookmark

I need a screenshot lol

[wnylib]

62. Bottom of the OP, right hand side. On my phone

It shows up as a blue button, to the right of the red "rec" button.

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

63. Ha! Have to turn my tablet upright to see blue button, thx

Bottom of page in landscape see that now too, well this is a pain

[ProfessorGAC]

70. Another Thought, SSS

Continuing our discussion from the other thread, I found that selecting the option in the browser for "Desktop Site" makes it look way more like it did before when using a tablet or phone.
I wasn't seeing the forum list, the # of posts, the note telling us what post the current one was replying to, etc.
I turned on that option in the browser, and voila!

[Blues Heron]

52. a major step backwards

more clicks for everything - AWKWARD. Things are just buried now. Very lame. they really laid an egg here.

[Iwasthere]

4. Why can't I post?

I would make a post on this instead of a reply to yours BUT I CANNOT POST! It just blinks then disappears when I try

[question everything]

6. Did you try "General Discussion" on the top of this page and then start one?

[Iwasthere]

19. Yes

The form shows up br ou felt then disappears.

[ItsjustMe]

34. .

That Happened to me once, but only once. I can post or reply to a thread, but just this one time while trying to start a thread. it just blinked and nothing happened. I had to try again to create the thread. The forum is very buggy.

[question everything]

75. Interesting. Supposedly a title is required but you managed without it...

[ItsjustMe]

76. .

I just used a period in the title.

[question everything]

78. Ah..

[Think. Again.]

77. I think the second....

...period, after the number, was enough to use in the title.

I do that sometimes when all I want to post as a reply is an emoji.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

100. had same problem... it was the browser. I had to go to my PC and use another browser

[Timewas]

5. Seems Like

They never heard of "If It ain't broke don't fix it".

[question everything]

7. And this is why I started with "under the hood.". Something may have needed repair

but turning everything around and upside down I just don’t understand the benefits.

[Timewas]

14. I agree

Change for the sake of change with no real improvement is a waste of time and money.....

[Princess Turandot]

8. The subscriptions appear at the top of the left column..

Clicking on the gray arrow below the Lounge will expand the list. (You can leave that open if you want .)

[question everything]

10. I know. This is the list. And when DU4 was presented some weeks ago, newer posts were displayed

I don’t care to read every single one of them. With the old system I would go to the group, view the list and decide what I want to read. Now I have several Milestones comments of a post from yesterday that generated many replies and Rec’s. I’d rather have the list of groups on the left side.

[DZC]

9. I Miss

I mis like the summaries of topics at the left and on the right popular recent videos.

[EarlG]

12. Editorials & Other Articles is here

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1016

Or go to Navigate > Issue Forums

Birders is here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1208

Or go to Navigate > Culture Forums

Gardening is here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1159

Or go to Navigate > Culture Forums

Here's the trick: go to each of those forums and click the orange Subscribe button at the top. Now links to those forums will appear in your forum listing at the left side of the screen, below the "Subscribed Forums" dropdown. You can build your own menu by subscribing to forums you like, which will give you one-click access to those forums.

Finally, search can be found by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the menu bar at the top of the page (except on mobile). The other way to reach it is Navigate > Help & Search

[SunSeeker]

23. How do you search on the mobile version?

[EarlG]

24. Tap

Navigate then Help & Search

[SunSeeker]

39. Thanks! How do you find out who rec'd a reply?

When I tap on the number, it either increases the number or takes one away.

[EarlG]

58. That info is currently unavailable

At the moment you can only see who recced OPs, not replies. The reply rec function is pretty limited at the moment, but it is still a work in progress.

[wnylib]

57. I wish that the forums in each category were alphabetically arranged.

It would be easier to find the ones I want.

[EarlG]

59. Click the "Forum name" header at the top of the table

It will sort the page alphabetically.

[wnylib]

60. Thanks, Earl. I think most of the problems that

people are experiencing will sort themselves out as we learn our way around the new format.

[wnylib]

68. Maybe my thanks were premature.

I do not see a sort option when I click on Culture Forums. I am on my phone. Is it different in the mobile version?

[EndlessWire]

13. Start a discussion.

I tried to do this, and the form box never loaded. So, how do you start a new discussion?

I wanted to switch my settings to the near old format, but since I did not pay to join, I am denied this. Discrimination!! I guess I'm not allowed to post anymore???

[EarlG]

25. We had a pretty major issue with the code on the post page earlier

It should be fixed now.

[Grumpy Old Woman]

15. Have to pay for Star Membership so I can use Skinner format?

Not going there.

[fierywoman]

37. (You can pay only a dollar ...)

[edisdead]

84. Have to say I agree that isn't very fantastic

In my opinion skinner mode should be the default just to keep some semblance of continuity. But this evening the site is in much better shape.

[Liberty Belle]

17. I hate the new forum, can't find anything, can't change to old version as not a star member;

I cna't become a star member because as a journalist I do not donate to any political causes to avoid appearance of bias.

Where are the videos I watch daily>

Ugh wish they would stop changing everything!!!!!!+

[Rhiannon12866]

42. There are now 2 forums for videos:

Cable News Clips
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1321

Liberal YouTubers
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1322

They are both listed under the Issues Forums category:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1311

[Donkees]

46. I hope they both don't turn into monopolies

[Cha]

20. I see your Points. I think I can

deal with all of it with practice.. But the Worst for me is something that's probably not needed by many people.

It didn't happen on DU3 though.. it's when I ZOOM to 200% So I can see the words better.. a lot of features Disappear. Like what number post you're Replying to and Who RECs an OP.

There may be more I don't know right now.

I'm trying out Skinner mode now.

ETA.. and i don't see "TOP" when I'm ZOOMING 200%.. Could be a trade off.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

22. Oh, dear.

This is not fun. The older format was infinitely better. I have no idea why on god's green earth they decided to do this.

I may well leave. Not sure.

[Pachamama]

29. Go to Account Settings dear PoindexterOglethorpe

Don’t leave - go to “Skinner mode”

I have no idea what DU4 is supposed to be - but this allows you to put back the what you love.

[calimary]

55. I went to Skinner mode and it makes things a lot easier.

Not a big change fan here. I’m a member of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” club.

But, whatever. One copes as best one can.

[Pachamama]

26. I choose Skinner mode

I just feel when you have a good thing - stick with it

[aeromanKC]

28. 4DU sucks!!

The old version was very easy to navigate and it was very visual. Old version was User Friendly. 4DU hard on the eyes and unusable.

Skinner version isn't exactly the older version, but something is better than nothing.

[thinkingagain]

67. I won't say it sucks but I agree with most of what you are saying

Totally agree with
“The old version was very easy to navigate and it was very visual. Old version was User Friendly. 4DU hard on the eyes” (my thoughts, but I couldn’t get the words down right this early in the morning so glad I saw yours)

I like that I could “Rec” your reply. And not just the original post.

I think I miss the home page to me it had everything I needed to start in a compact area.
I totally respect the time etc that was put into trying to make something better but to most people
Change is usually easier in small doses.
So small changes little at a time
But it’s possible the software codes you couldn’t do it that way.

I hope with time I can get used to it.

[diane in sf]

31. I've gone to the Skinner version. The type is eye burningly tiny. If I zoom in, most of the page disappears.

Can anything be done about this? Also the overall design is so type heavy and lacking in images it looks like 1994. Can anything be done about this. I appreciate that reprogramming may have been needed, but can we please bring back the previous interface format? In fact the type is tiny all over the site. Can anything be done about this? I’m using Safari on an iPad.

Quite a few of the users here are geezers and are not going to enjoy reading tiny type. It destroys my pleasure in browsing articles.

Please restore the previous interface!

[Liberty Belle]

33. I hate the tiny font - I have a headache trying to read this.

Everything takes two steps instead of one and is hard to find.

I don't think I'll be visiting much unless they make it readable for us older folks. I'm waiting on cataract surgery and am also in the stronger over the counter reading glasses I can find.

[Scottie Mom]

54. Same.

I hate all of it, particularly the glaring brightness.

The new make-over is hideous and unusable. I more than hate it.

[Liberty Belle]

32. I totally agree.

To watch videos I now have to click nagivate, then videos. Then after watching each video, I have to go back up to navigate and hit videos again - 2 steps, not just going to left column and clicking videos.

Most people will probably never know they are there,same with many other sections.

I guess they're trying to make it work better on mobile devices but why not just have this as the option for mobile users without messing it up for everybody else viewing on a desktop or laptop?

I fail to see what's better in the new format,and a lot of things are harder to find and more time consuming to use.

[Lancero]

35. My big wonder, why does a edit button show up on everyones topics and posts? It's grayed out sure, but...

Shouldn't that button only be showing for the topic/post creator?

[Kaleva]

40. It's lit green for your own posts

Which shows that it's an option. If it's not lit, editing is this not an option

[jg10003]

36. DU4 is the New Coke

[DearMusic]

38. We are all victims of the Luddite desire to cell phone us into complicity.

To fight the drones of complacence is to be the candle in the Wind ...

[Renew Deal]

43. You're not wrong

The old version needed a touch up, not a rebuild.

[Brainstormy]

44. WAY too much scrolling!

I'm not loving it,

[Liberal In Texas]

64. Yeah, it's like everything is squished into the middle and then double spaced. n/t

[druidity33]

45. I want to know...

what kind of Powers i get when clicking on the Powers button. That's some powerful servers to get the Powers through the intertubes! I'll reserve the right to complain later because i'm still getting used to the new version. So far i am a little frustrated at the small font problems. Everything looks very clean and spare and sharp. Usually i'm a cluttered and soft and messy kinda guy. I would have bolded and italicized the word Powers above, but those buttons aren't working yet...

I do love that we can now recommend posts.


On edit....
while creating this reply i noticed the text goes nearer the margin creating less empty space in the body of the message. But when posted there is a huge white area around the post. Why is the formatting different?

[Vinca]

47. It's always bothered me that sites that work perfectly fine for years and years are

suddenly changed to something that does about the same thing only is more clunky about doing it. I've always carped about the changes ebay made over the years that made the site less user friendly. We'll probably get used to this, but at first glance it doesn't make much sense.

[if..fish..had..wings]

48. Do not like

DU3 was not ideal but DU4 is awful, sorry, it's just awful in all ways

[Joinfortmill]

49. Wow, people

Some of these comments are just plain rude. That says more about the person commenting than any changes to the site. In a week most of us will be rolling along with the new format with no problems.

[niyad]

56. And sone of the comments about the posters who are having

issues, whether technical or aesthetic, border on obnoxious and insulting. A little forbearance is called for, as we acclimate to this new system.

[leftstreet]

72. +1

[Hermit-The-Prog]

79. Just noticed your sig is scrunched and truncated...

It was easy to read in DU3, now it's not, and the image is cut down to just the top 1/3.

[niyad]

83. I cannot see sig lines with DU4, but was told about my truncated,

scrunched one. weird.

[drray23]

81. yes i definitely concur

Most of the complaints have to do with people who cannot be bothered to look at the site and figure out the new layout and features. Frankly, I am surprised this is the attitude on a website catering to progressives.

[fishwax]

50. I generally am okay with the new format, but I agree with you about My Posts

I haven't had a chance to play around with DU4 much. I like the Navigate button. But I preferred the old system for the My Posts alerts.

[underpants]

51. What about the new car smell?

[neurodivergent]

65. It reminded me of something...

Another board...And then it came to me: DISCUSSIONIST!!!

Too boxy. Bold-face for the threads for the posts is fine but not so large that there is little on one page.

[LudwigPastorius]

94. "Too boxy"

[bif]

66. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

It really irks me when website make a ton of changes, just to change things up. And the changes don't offer any real improvements. DU is a good case in point. I really liked the old look and reverted to the Skinner mode.

[Happy Hoosier]

69. My only real feedback is...

That I'd like to be able to close the panel on the left-hand side.

Other than that, I think the new format is better.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

71. Agree .

[Mr.Bill]

73. I miss the home page. n/t

[jaxexpat]

74. This reminds me of Microsoft, changing stuff that didn't help....

while spreading confusion to any and all.

I love ya', ya' big lugs, but this was/is a big waste of resources.

[bif]

82. My sentiments exactly

Change for change's sake. No real improvement from I can see.

[cynical_idealist]

80. for me the issue is all the blank space in each post

so you have to page down after each 2-3 posts instead of seeing 5-10 on one screen.

lots of wasted screen real estate requiring much more contact with mouse and keyboard.

[ramblin_dave]

86. The new format is better for phones and small tablets

I assume these changes were made in large part to deal with small screens on phones and tablets. A lot of web sites have had to change things to accommodate these devices.

I use a PC and I found, after reading some feedback here, that there is a "Skinner mode" that is close to the old format. I will be using that.

[snot]

85. The cumulative impact of having to click more, scroll more, etc., ...

to access the amount of info I used to find more quickly and easily is wearing.

Also, I've tried both default and Skinner modes, and also tried changing font sizes, and it seems like no matter what I do, some fonts are either too big or too little (i.e., if the text here is big enough to read, the headings are gigantic; & vice versa), or something else happens that I don't like, like the left-hand column disappears and the posts extend all the way across the entire screen..

Also, the ads are gigantic and sometimes overlap the posts to the point that I can't see the beginnings of lines.

I'll try in a different browser and see if that helps...

I do not understand the trends apparently favored by software developers to fill my screen with empty space and make me click more to get to what I want.

[MerryBlooms]

87. My home page for DU is GD. What's yours?

So, I come to my page, I'm on Skinner option... if I want lbn, I go there. I go to Navigate, and click. I am not getting what is so difficult? I don't see all this blank space you and some keep mentioning. My screen looks exactly the same, as far as reading posts and comments. I don't have big gabs or blank spaces.

[snot]

88. Interesting.

If you don't mind, what browser and operating system are you using?

I have my bookmark set to the Greatest page; that's where I usually start.

[IsItJustMe]

89. Having a problem and don't know how to fix it. Believe it is a technical issue with the site.

One some pages, ads that show up on the left side of the computer screen are overlapping the text in the middle of the screen, thus chopping off the first two or three letters of every sentence. I am viewing from my laptop, but this definitely looks like a technical issue with the forum. Very disconcerting trying to read when the first couple of characters are gone. Anyone have any suggestions?

The ads seem to appear in a box form that either needs to be moved over to the left of the page more, or the ad boxes are to big for the screen, so that it interferes with the text.

[question everything]

92. Perhaps taking a screenshot and post on the Cummunity Help? (If you can find it..)

[IsItJustMe]

96. Than you for your reply.

I will give it a try. I know how to take a screen shot and save it to a JPEG format. Not sure how I would upload that to a DU post, but I can figure it out. Thx again.

[question everything]

97. Download it to your computer (if you are using a phone or an iPad ask there, too)

Once it is on your computer, move it to your desktop and then post it on PostImage

https://postimages.org/

From there you have a direct link to post here.

[IsItJustMe]

99. Thanks.

[IsItJustMe]

98. Than you for your reply.

I will give it a try. I know how to take a screen shot and save it to a JPEG format. Not sure how I would upload that to a DU post, but I can figure it out. Thx again.

[ClearSky24]

95. This new format is horrible.

Too much space, too much white. Tiring to the eyes. Depressing design with gray and black colors.

[onetexan]

101. Arg, new format was working fine on my laptop browser as of yesterday

Now all i'm getting are disjointed wierd formatting again. What happened?
DU is displaying fine on mobile.