# I'm disappointed that we're getting Discourse **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 11, 2020, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427 "2020-06-11T02:33:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/61 "2020-06-11T22:30:08Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > When I created an account on their demo site, it required a password of at least 10 characters. Is that a parameter that each site administrator can set? It may mean that many of us will have to choose a different password there. We all already will have to choose a different password there. That’s why TD is urging us all to make sure our email addresses are valid now. All usernames and email addresses will be copied over but there’s no way to copy over passwords (which is good for security) so before you can log in to the new site you have to set a new password. This will involve getting a custom link via your email address, which should be valid. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/62 "2020-06-11T22:31:24Z")
To clarify I meant that you cannot change things in software that are not designed to be changed. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/63 "2020-06-11T22:50:46Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > There are settings on software but not every feature can be changed or removed. I don’t think Word lets me get rid of the spell checker but I can change it to a language other than English. Of course you can turn off spell check: [Turn spell check on or off](https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Turn-spell-check-on-or-off-E2805461-77D4-4832-B006-061163C8D01A) I see there is some weird issue in Office 365, but the _intent_ is to make it possible to turn spell check off. There might be parts of it you can’t get rid off, but you can change a lot more than just the language. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/64 "2020-06-12T03:08:15Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > People really should be able to express themselves with their words, and not depend on graphic images of dubious meaning to let us know that they are joking, or stupid, or that they just left a steaming pile in a post. Why? ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/65 "2020-06-12T06:06:03Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > My prediction, based on other boards that have moved to Discourse, is that Discourse will kill this community. > > I’m sticking around, hoping I’m wrong, but I think this is the end of the SDMB. My prediction is that Discourse will not kill SDMB. SDMB may or may not thrive on Discourse, but the move will not play a major part in its survival. I welcome the change - I think it was long overdue. Makeovers are difficult with scarce resources. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/66 "2020-06-12T11:53:44Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Of course you can turn off spell check: > There might be parts of it you can’t get rid **off**. but you can change a lot more than just the language. ISWYDT. (My bold). ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/67 "2020-06-12T14:23:26Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > My prediction, based on other boards that have moved to Discourse, is that Discourse will kill this community. > > I’m sticking around, hoping I’m wrong, but I think this is the end of the SDMB. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > It’s almost 12 hours since the OP dropped the turd that kicked off this [del]thread[/del] topic. We’re still waiting for an explanation. _\_ Still waiting. Now a couple of days. I, for one, would like to know how Discourse is going to kill this community. **Melbourne** , you started this. If you know something, let’s hear it! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/68 "2020-06-12T14:54:23Z")
Most people don’t know it, but Discourse uses both mercury AND cyanide in its programming language. Users…well…don’t last long. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/69 "2020-06-12T15:06:38Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Still waiting. Now a couple of days. > > I, for one, would like to know how Discourse is going to kill this community. **Melbourne** , you started this. If you know something, let’s hear it! My concern is that it seems like members have been trickling away for some time. There’s a lot of reasons for that. Certainly board performance is one reason, but there are lots of other reasons which have nothing to do with performance. I’m concerned that the different format of Discourse will be another reason that people leave. I personally don’t like those kinds of forums. I prefer a more structured forum with defined categories, threads, and pages. Seeing as how the audience here tends more to the “I don’t like change” category, the change could be offputting and more people may trickle away. I’m also concerned that there isn’t more of an action plan about password/email issue where people with invalid emails may have trouble resetting their password on the new site. I suspect some people will not bother and never return. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/70 "2020-06-12T15:08:22Z")
Discourse ate my baby! Jenny your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/71 "2020-06-12T15:36:10Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Most people don’t know it, but Discourse uses both mercury AND cyanide in its programming language. Users…well…don’t last long. I heard in order to post on Discourse you have to drink dihydrogen monoxide. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/72 "2020-06-12T15:52:51Z")
Yes, **filmore** , folks have been trickling away for a long time. If we don’t do anything about that, then the board will die. And yes, the move to Discourse will probably cause some more people to leave. And it’ll probably also cause people to stay, or new people to join, who otherwise wouldn’t have. The hope is that that latter number will be greater than the former, and that we’ll thereby be able to save the board, or at least keep it alive longer. Is it a guarantee? No, nothing in life ever is. But we have reason to hope and believe that it will be better. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/73 "2020-06-12T16:11:43Z")
IIRC it was the rise of e.g. Facebook and Twitter which really helped to pull users away from message boards (here I’m talking about older people.) But I’ve recently torpedoed my presence on both of them thanks to being fed up with the utter lack of moderation or any sort of control. If I get tired of my feeds getting filled up with political crap, what good is being on there if I end up muting/blocking everyone? At least here there are clearly defined and enforced rules on where you can post what. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/74 "2020-06-12T16:12:19Z")
Why do I read this thread and see a tempest in a teapot? The admins have already said that they can pick and choose what functions to use so that the new site will be as much like this site as possible. Secondly, change is routine in all forms of social media. Look how Facebook has modified and changed over time, and it happens over and over, not just every 20 years. I could give many other examples. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/75 "2020-06-12T16:17:38Z")
I checked a couple of the linked sites, including the Demo site. People seem to be getting worked up without seeing what the actual site will look like. > [@Senegoid](#): > > Quoting a post is mildly painful. You have to start by highlighting some or all of the post you want to quote. As soon as you do that, a “Quote” button appears, which you have to click. (I’m working on a desktop mochine. Not sure how that plays on a mobile device.) > > But good news: Contrary to what **engineer\_comp\_geek** wrote above, the quote box does too include a link to the quoted post. (Is that absent in the new SDMB site that you’ve been playing with?) It appears as an up-arrow in the far upper right corner of the quote box. I saw that arrow. As far as quoting goes, I think it plays much better here to highlight the part you want to quote and it posts just that quote. Plus, the quote can be expanded inline to read the whole post it came from. Less jumping around in the thread. I think that will play well with our community, which likes to quote specific items. > [@](#): > > Using emojis can get hopeless when you have a palette of 25000 of them to choose from. Good luck finding _just the right one._ Can the admins create a custom palette of maybe a dozen or so selected emojis for us to work with? I definitely want the :smack: and :dubious: emoticons, which AFAIK were custom-drawn for SDMB by a user here. (Is that true?) [This page](https://www.discourse.org/features) says they could create a custom emoji set, so it’s possible. What the team will actually do, however, I don’t know. > [@Senegoid](#): > > We may all need to learn some different terminology in order to discourse intelligibly about Discourse. What we call a “Forum” they seem to call a “Category”. What we call the “Forum list” they call “Categories”. > > What we (and everyone else in the world AFAIK) call a “thread” they seem to call a “topic”. Yeah, that will take some adapting. > [@](#): > > It wasn’t immediately obvious how to navigate easily back and forth among the [del]Forum List[/del] Categories page and a [del]thread[/del] topic list and an individual [del]thread[/del] topic. But that isn’t likely to affect me, as I am in the habit of opening those all in separate tabs anyway. > [@Senegoid](#): > > At the very top of every thread in VB, there is a navigation menu that looks like this: > > that shows the full path through the levels of the board leading to the thread. This is very common on many web sites. I’m not seeing anything that looks equivalent on a [del]thread[/del] topic page there. So if I open a [del]thread[/del] topic through some link other than from the [del]thread[/del] topic list page, I have no idea where that [del]thread[/del] topic is to be found among all the [del]Forums[/del] Categories or [del]thread[/del] topic list pages. At the top of the page is a menu bar. It includes your current location, Login, search, and an expanded menu. On the Forum page (first page), there is a second list of links: One an field to localize to one Category, a second field to identify by tags, the groupings by Latest, Top, and finally Categories. This scrolls off the page as you scroll down, but it is there. If you open a topic, the topic name appears in the menu bar at the top, and stays there. So you always can see the [del]thread[/del] topic you are reading. Under that is a smaller color box icon and the name of the Category you are in. So, for example, [this topic](https://try.discourse.org/t/modernizing-the-antiquated-boxing-scoring-system/297) shows “Modernizing the antiquated boxing scoring system” as the topic title. Just below that is a blue box and the word “sports”. This is the category. If you click it, it links to a page listing just the topics in that category. Works the same way on the “Breadtopia” site. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/76 "2020-06-12T16:29:01Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I’m concerned that the different format of Discourse will be another reason that people leave. I personally don’t like those kinds of forums. I prefer a more structured forum with defined categories, threads, and pages. The Discourse demo is just a bunch of threads. It shows you the basic look and feel, but it doesn’t have forums like you’re used to. But that is just their demo. That’s not the way the SDMB will be set up there. The SDMB on Discourse will have forums, and it will have exactly the same forums that you are used to. So you will have categories and threads just like you do now. The layout and navigation is a bit different, but once you get used to it, it’s the same old SDMB underneath, the same threads, the same forums (except they are called Categories), it’s all the same stuff, just presented slightly differently. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/77 "2020-06-12T16:32:35Z")
I demand that you fix every single problem without making any changes whatsoever! And miniature ponies for everyone! ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/78 "2020-06-12T16:37:27Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > [This page](https://www.discourse.org/features) says they could create a custom emoji set, so it’s possible. What the team will actually do, however, I don’t know. I doubt we will do anything custom with emojis. If we keep the default that Discourse gives us, people will complain. If we strip it down to what we have now, different people will complain. If we change it to something else, no matter what we change it to, people will complain. In the extremely unlikely event that you could get people to agree on what the emojis should be, the developers still have FAR more important things to worry about. We’re trying to get a working message board, and people are nitpicking over insignificant things like emojis and scroll bars. We have many, many, many more important things to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/79 "2020-06-12T16:43:44Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > I doubt we will do anything custom with emojis. If we keep the default that Discourse gives us, people will complain. If we strip it down to what we have now, different people will complain. If we change it to something else, no matter what we change it to, people will complain. Emojis for some, miniature American flags for others! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427/80 "2020-06-12T16:47:41Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > If you open a topic, the topic name appears in the menu bar at the top, and stays there. So you always can see the [del]thread[/del] topic you are reading. Under that is a smaller color box icon and the name of the Category you are in. > > So, for example, [this topic](https://try.discourse.org/t/modernizing-the-antiquated-boxing-scoring-system/297) shows “Modernizing the antiquated boxing scoring system” as the topic title. Just below that is a blue box and the word “sports”. This is the category. If you click it, it links to a page listing just the topics in that category. Okay, I see that. Now I’ve just taken another look. I’ve been doing most of my playing around in the “Uncategorized” category, where that little color-coded box and category name do NOT appear. Now I gather that “Uncategorized” is, in fact, NOT just the name of another category where you put things that don’t fit elsewhere. Rather, I conclude that “Uncategorized” literally means that posts there are those that have not been assigned to any category. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-disappointed-that-were-getting-discourse/855427.md?page=5)