# Is the 'View First Unread' function basically useless, or is it me? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 24, 2017, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021 "2017-01-24T10:57:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/1 "2017-01-24T10:57:04Z")
The ‘View First Unread’ capability would be useful if it worked. It’s functionality seems iffy to me. Sometimes it is there, sometimes not. Often it brings me to a random point in a thread that I know was not my last jumping-off point. If there is a pattern to this behavior I don’t see it. mmm ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/2 "2017-01-24T12:44:16Z")
I never use it, for exactly that reason. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/3 "2017-01-24T13:26:42Z")
It brings you to the first post after the timestamp when you last had an activity on the board, as far as I can tell. For me, it mostly works well enough. I occasionally have to scroll up a few posts. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/5 "2017-01-24T21:32:45Z")
I’ve noticed on this and other boards it doesn’t always play well w/ the various ad-blocking software. When it does, it’s great; but don’t rely on it. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/6 "2017-01-25T02:14:39Z")
For me it is often random ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/7 "2017-01-25T02:31:03Z")
Useless. Not just you. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/8 "2017-01-25T08:21:36Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > It brings you to the first post after the timestamp when you last had an activity on the board, as far as I can tell. For me, it mostly works well enough. I occasionally have to scroll up a few posts. I’ve found that if you open the thread itself, instead of clicking on _View First Unread_, then clicking on _VFU_ at the top of the thread it takes you to the actual _FU_ not _FUALA_ . . . but not always :mad:. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/9 "2017-01-25T08:45:58Z")
It has never worked for me, which is a shame because its a useful feature on other boards. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/10 "2017-01-25T09:46:01Z")
Works for me most of the time. I use it always. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2017, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/11 "2017-01-25T10:24:26Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > It brings you to the first post after the timestamp when you last had an activity on the board, as far as I can tell. For me, it mostly works well enough. I occasionally have to scroll up a few posts. This. I’ve never had much of a problem with it. Just occasionally having tp scroll up a few posts. Otherwise it works fine. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2017, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/12 "2017-01-25T11:33:38Z")
It usually works for me, except when I didn’t bring myself up to date on the thread on a previous visit, or when the internet gods decide that I have visited the board in the recent past despite not having any recollection of having done so. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/13 "2017-01-25T11:58:03Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > It brings you to the first post after the timestamp when you last had an activity on the board, as far as I can tell. For me, it mostly works well enough. I occasionally have to scroll up a few posts. If what you are saying is that this is how it is designed to work then why is it labeled ‘View First Unread’? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/14 "2017-01-25T12:01:32Z")
I find it of mediocre value. The shorter time you have between visits the better it seems to work. Because it only knows about the time you last visited the site - and does not have any clue about per-thread viewing it can rapidly get skewed and become worthless. If you always try to catch up on all the threads you are interested in on each visit it works OK. If you dip into things, and then take a break for a while, it ceases to work usefully. Indeed, other boards keep per-thread data, and their jump to first unviewed works nicely. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/15 "2017-01-25T12:32:24Z")
Just another once useful feature now utter crap. That’s what happens when you are still using software from the last century, and refuse to upgrade, apparently! I remember when it worked consistently and correctly, like the search function once did! Show of hands, anyone actually believe the owners of this board care if it functions at all? (They clearly don’t! ) Care if it annoys and frustrates those who pay to play here? (They clearly don’t! ) How shameful and embarrassing that they are unable to manage and maintain such a basic function for their users. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/16 "2017-01-25T14:04:03Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > If what you are saying is that this is how it is designed to work then why is it labeled ‘View First Unread’? I’m not saying it’s designed to be anything. As an engineer, I’m just describing what I’ve observed using the software. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/17 "2017-01-25T14:22:43Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I’m not saying it’s designed to be anything. As an engineer, I’m just describing what I’ve observed using the software. OK. I was not being snarky, I really wanted to know. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/18 "2017-01-25T18:29:52Z")
I use it all the time and find it to be quite helpful. > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > If what you are saying is that this is how it is designed to work then why is it labeled ‘View First Unread’? Maybe “View first post since your last visited timestamp” would be a better name (for those who don’t know, the timestamp is in the upper-right corner). This means that if you view a thread and come back to it 10 minutes later after a new post has been made it will still take you to the earlier posts. Note this also means that if you view a thread when you first log in, then peruse other threads for 30 minutes before logging out, the timestamp gets set to when you logged out, not when you last visited the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-view-first-unread-function-basically-useless-or-is-it-me/778021/19 "2017-01-25T22:48:40Z")
Proof that I’m losing my mind: I just now opened this thread with the intention of clicking on View First Unread and sighed when I saw it was not available. Then I remember what thread I was in. mmm