# Wow, I hate this new format **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 6, 2017, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610 "2017-09-06T05:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/61 "2017-09-06T13:52:44Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > What are the white check marks in the tiny red boxes supposed to mean? They’re down arrows. If you click them, they take you to the most recent posts in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/62 "2017-09-06T13:54:22Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Or, just leave. Thats a viable option as well, if you think the site reads like garbage then just leave, find another message board that is more user friendly. > > Whatever you do, don’t complain, far better that you say nothing and just leave. What utter bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/63 "2017-09-06T13:54:51Z")
I’d like the option to go back to the previous format. Lots of wasted space and in several situations, such as my subscribed threads list, the font is painfully tiny for middle-aged eyes on a laptop. Enlarging the font there makes it absurdly large elsewhere. The Reply button really doesn’t need to be that large, either, does it really? Also, that upward arrow at lower right just gets in the way, really. How about giving users a CHOICE of format? Other vBulletin boards manage that trick. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/64 "2017-09-06T13:56:29Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > What are the white check marks in the tiny red boxes supposed to mean? I think those are just down arrows in a red box. They show for threads with new(ish) posts and if you click the little red button it takes you **to the first post in the thread after the last time you were on the Dope** as opposed to the linked title that takes you to the start of the thread. Similiar to the left arrow in the grey box after the user’s name for the last post column. This one takes you **to the last post in the thread** though. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/65 "2017-09-06T13:57:46Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > What utter bullshit. I believe **Buckety** ’s post was in sarcasm mode. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/66 "2017-09-06T13:58:10Z")
If I could figure out a way to change the font in the posts (seems too large and bold) I’d be content. I’m sure there IS a way, I just haven’t investigated it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/67 "2017-09-06T13:59:46Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I was able to block that by clicking on the “Block an ad on this page” option in the Adblock drop down menu and then clicking on the picture for the ancient Nexus 7. No such option on AdBlock Plus. Should be a workaround out there (the same ad popping up every few posts is a dumb idea). ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/68 "2017-09-06T14:00:20Z")
I for one would prefer a more legible typeface. Helvetica would be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/69 "2017-09-06T14:04:12Z")
Nevermind, can right click on one of the between-posts ads and disable it (for now, anyway) with AdBlock Plus. The tradeoff: the new format gets even uglier with big blue bars and excessive white space. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/70 "2017-09-06T14:04:13Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I believe **Buckety** ’s post was in sarcasm mode. If so, I apologize. I’ve been having a problem with detecting sarcasm in text lately. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/71 "2017-09-06T14:05:28Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > No such option on AdBlock Plus. Should be a workaround out there (the same ad popping up every few posts is a dumb idea). There is, at least on the desktop version. You can right-click on anything and the menu should have an option to block that. Click there and it’ll bring up settings to block what you like. This particular ad is hosted directly on the SDMB, so that’s why the blockers aren’t picking it up by default. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/72 "2017-09-06T14:11:49Z")
I was going to start a thread saying: Wow, I really hate all of the extra spacing! But there’s already two pages on how much the new format sucks. ---
**Author:** ![JcWoman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jcwoman/32/2889_2.png) [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/73 "2017-09-06T14:17:16Z")
I can mostly get used to the changes, however… I agree that the big, bright blue bars are blinding on a desktop screen. They also make it extremely obvious to anyone looking over my shoulder that I’m reading an internet forum. (Yes, I often read SDMB at work. It used to have a more discreet look!) The color of the bars needs to be toned wayyyyy, WAY down. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/74 "2017-09-06T14:20:44Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I was going to start a thread saying: > > Wow, I really hate all of the extra spacing! > > But there’s already two pages on how much the new format sucks. Would have been a page and a half with the old spacing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/75 "2017-09-06T14:21:12Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > I can mostly get used to the changes, however… > > I agree that the big, bright blue bars are blinding on a desktop screen. They also make it extremely obvious to anyone looking over my shoulder that I’m reading an internet forum. (Yes, I often read SDMB at work. It used to have a more discreet look!) The color of the bars needs to be toned wayyyyy, WAY down. One suggestion for when just reading, at the top of the thread is the Thread Tools pull down. Use the _ **Show Printable Version** _ until they fix this new format up. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/76 "2017-09-06T14:23:59Z")
(For various reasons, I endorse this Pitting.) > [@chappachula](#): > > huh? Spelling errors are caused by, well,…people who don’t know how to spell. > > _typing_ errors, on the other hand, are often caused by autocorrect > > And none of the changes I see here will improve any of those errors. You italicized “typing.” Smart editors, IIRC, will **un** -italicize emphasized words within italicized fragments. I guess we must wait for the next upgrade to hope for that. (I’ll probably start underlining more than before. I hope we needn’t relive the old complaint that only links should be underlined. And, I see .signatures now print by default. I’d better come up with something funnier.) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/77 "2017-09-06T14:27:35Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > (For various reasons, I endorse this Pitting.) > > You italicized “typing.” Smart editors, IIRC, will **un** -italicize emphasized words within italicized fragments. I guess we must wait for the next upgrade to hope for that. > > (I’ll probably start underlining more than before. I hope we needn’t relive the old complaint that only links should be underlined. And, I see .signatures now print by default. I’d better come up with something funnier.) It doesn’t show up in the quote, though, because everything is italicized. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/78 "2017-09-06T14:32:06Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It doesn’t show up in the quote, though, because everything is italicized. Right, he was saying a smarter editor would reverse the formatting, so a quote would be italicized, but anything italicized would be normal. But, of course, this board won’t do that. So it shouldn’t italicize it in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/79 "2017-09-06T14:44:11Z")
We could write every comment like this ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610/80 "2017-09-06T14:44:17Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I believe **Buckety** ’s post was in sarcasm mode. Oh, so they _did_ add some new features! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-hate-this-new-format/795610.md?page=5)