Luminous Landscape Forum
Site & Board Matters => About This Site => Topic started by: Dave (Isle of Skye) on May 29, 2015, 02:50:37 pm
-
My goodness but that scrolling UPDATES text thing is really, really annoying and you can't even scroll down the page to lose it off the top, as it follows you like a mithering clickbait advert, that is never going to go away and just carries on catching your attention out of the corner of your eye.
I like the new site and the updates are mostly really good and it is obvious that lots of effort is going into this, but scrolling text just above and to the corner of what you are reading, gets a big thumbs down from me :-[
Could it not be a static banner, that lets the user choose to scroll through the list if they want to, with the left right select buttons that are also already there?
Dave
-
My goodness but that scrolling UPDATES text thing is really, really annoying and you can't even scroll down the page to lose it off the top,
Totally agree. It's TERRIBLE
Possibly the most annoying thing I've seen on a web forum yet.
DITCH IT
-
I have a suggestion. Those who don't want to see certain ads or stuff like updates should subscribe (Oh god, I mean dog) to LuLa for a after which all this crap is turned off for them via a preference.
-
Many readers have asked for a way to see latest articles while visiting the forum. This method takes up little space and is using real estate that wasn't used before. We are trying a lot of new things. We introduced a new search feature today too. We will see how all of this does for a while.
Kevin Raber
-
Dave, if your browser has something like Adblock, I think blocking "http://forum.luminous-landscape.com/Themes/lula/js/jquery.totemticker.min.js" stops the panel messages and hides it as you scroll down.
-
..
-
This method takes up little space and is using real estate that wasn't used before.
This method forces itself on one's attention all-the-time. It's a nag scroll. Where's the off-switch?
-
Dave, if your browser has something like Adblock, I think blocking "http://forum.luminous-landscape.com/Themes/lula/js/jquery.totemticker.min.js" stops the panel messages and hides it as you scroll down.
Thanks John, that's cured it, just added your suggested javascript link above, to my Adblock Plus list and even though the UPDATE section is still there, it now stays only at the top of the screen, which I don't mind at all and think will be quite useful, but it's no longer continually scrolling and trying to pull my left eyeball out of its socket.. In fact it was actually beginning to make me feel a bit queasy, you know, like feeling seasick or something.
Thanks again ;)
Dave
-
Many readers have asked for a way to see latest articles while visiting the forum.
I like being informed, I don't find it any worse (less so) then the three ad buttons at the top that continue to change. Having a way to turn everything off would be fine with me. I doubt that will be taken seriously for the ads for good reason (got to pay for the forums).
-
I also vote for an Off switch for the annoying scrolling UPDATES thingy. Yecch!!!
-
It only bothers me when I check the forum on my iPhone. Then it's too close to the Luminous Landscape Forum button and I can hit it accidentally.
-
It didn't bother me in its first incarnation and now even less since it seemed they changed it such that it now scrolls off the top of the page when you move down the page.
-
Completely agree that it should be removed.
If you want more people to read the editorial content, improve the quality, don't try to force feed people. Sad fact is that while the forums here are good, because there are a bunch of interesting people that participate, the site content might as well not be there, at least as far as I am concerned.
-
I have a suggestion. Those who don't want to see certain ads or stuff like updates should subscribe (Oh god, I mean dog) to LuLa for a after which all this crap is turned off for them via a preference.
How?
Jeremy
-
How?
I assume Andrew was just joking, but he makes a fair point that a subscription model might serve the forum well. I'd be very happy to pay for access here, IF things were just left as they are whilst they work so well. Nearly every attempt at 'change' seems to mess things up now.
-
If everyone installed Adblock then the ads wouldn't be seen which might mean that the sponsers would withdraw their ads and the site would be short of income which it needs to survive?
-
I assume Andrew was just joking, but he makes a fair point that a subscription model might serve the forum well. I'd be very happy to pay for access here, IF things were just left as they are whilst they work so well. Nearly every attempt at 'change' seems to mess things up now.
The moment I'd have to pay (as type of subscription) before being allowed to contribute something beneficial to others, is the moment I'm out. I did the same when Rob Galbraith sold his forum shortly after I subscribed, and a paid subscription model was introduced. That forum quickly died.
Cheers,
Bart
-
If everyone installed Adblock then the ads wouldn't be seen which might mean that the sponsers would withdraw their ads and the site would be short of income which it needs to survive?
Hey, Stalker, I thought I'd asked you to add me to your ignore list. If you didn't see my posts, you wouldn't feel your odd urge to post merely for the sake of contradiction...
-
Thanks John, that's cured it, just added your suggested javascript link above, to my Adblock Plus list
Glad it helped, Dave. I've dug a bit more and found Adblock can block the whole "top-scroll-bar" panel. From Adblock Plus, go to Filter Preferences, Custom Filters, then click Add Filter. In this case ##div.top-scroll-bar blocks that grey bar. It seems much less distracting now, but this blocking method might be useful in other contexts.
John
-
Hey, Stalker, I thought I'd asked you to add me to your ignore list. If you didn't see my posts, you wouldn't feel your odd urge to post merely for the sake of contradiction...
John please take me off your paranoid list. The post has nothing to do with you. The subject is the use of Adblock and the possible implication to the site.
-
My goodness but that scrolling UPDATES text thing is really, really annoying and you can't even scroll down the page to lose it off the top, as it follows you like a mithering clickbait advert, that is never going to go away and just carries on catching your attention out of the corner of your eye.
I like the new site and the updates are mostly really good and it is obvious that lots of effort is going into this, but scrolling text just above and to the corner of what you are reading, gets a big thumbs down from me :-[
Could it not be a static banner, that lets the user choose to scroll through the list if they want to, with the left right select buttons that are also already there?
Dave
It would be useful if you stated which browser you are using. I use Firefox and don't see the problem and I have Adblock disabled.
-
John please take me off your paranoid list. The post has nothing to do with you. The subject is the use of Adblock and the possible implication to the site.
Sorry, Stalker, you can pretend all you want that blocking an annoying non-ad panel isn't the subject, but your odd behaviour has gone on long enough. Just put me on your ignore list, please, and we'll all be happier.
-
John please stop your nonsense. You use the ignore function and add me alongside....
Ignoring all posts from: "AlterEgo" "deeejjaaa" :(
-
John please stop your nonsense. You use the ignore function and add me alongside....
Ignoring all posts from: "AlterEgo" "deeejjaaa" :(
Again, Stalker, it's you who needs to put me on your ignore list. Have you done so yet?
-
It would be useful if you stated which browser you are using. I use Firefox and don't see the problem and I have Adblock disabled.
I have the latest version of Firefox running and everything is now OK and under control thanks to John's help. ;D
Dave
-
I have the latest version of Firefox running and everything is now OK and under control thanks to John's help. ;D
Dave
Are the adds still visible?
-
Completely agree that it should be removed.
If you want more people to read the editorial content, improve the quality, don't try to force feed people. Sad fact is that while the forums here are good, because there are a bunch of interesting people that participate, the site content might as well not be there, at least as far as I am concerned.
Rantatorials aside, the content on Lula is, IMO, generally pretty good. It would be useful to have an easy way to see what's new, but the scrolling banner is annoying and amateurish. Why not just add a menu selection "What's New" that displays links to articles, etc. that were added within the past 30 days?
-
Are the adds still visible?
I had already disabled everything that moved, scrolled or flickered months ago and I really don't mind the few adverts that remain after making it through the cull, as I accept that the site has got to earn its upkeep and I wholeheartedly agree with that, but if its on my screen and it doesn't stay completely still, then it goes straight into Ad Block. ;D
Dave
-
I had already disabled everything that moved, scrolled or flickered months ago. ;D
Which shows how effective such in-your-face advertizing is ..., not.
Cheers,
Bart
-
I assume Andrew was just joking, but he makes a fair point that a subscription model might serve the forum well.
I was half joking. The other half was to point out that we are guests in the forums and while it's useful to provide feedback, we're not paying the bills and further, the ad's that I see changing as rapidly as the updates are as or more annoying. So I think it's interesting that the new updates banner is getting all the attention and that perhaps a contribution to the cause might allow those individuals access to an off switch. Don't contribute, you have to view both sets up images/text updates. Contribution would be voluntary.
-
The other half was to point out that we are guests in the forums…
Indeed (both guest and commodity).
…the ad's that I see changing as rapidly as the updates are as or more annoying. So I think it's interesting that the new updates banner is getting all the attention…
The ads can be scrolled out-of-sight. The "updates banner" was continually in-sight but that has been changed and the "updates banner" can now also be scrolled out-of-sight.
-
The other half was to point out that we are guests in the forums and while it's useful to provide feedback, we're not paying the bills and further,
Don't underestimate your(and the rest of the active contributors) importance to Lula's business. Without the sort of high quality information in the forums from the likes of yourself, Schewe, Bart, Mark, Eric, Bernard, Ernst GW etc..... Lula just becomes another run of the mill photo forum, then it looses page views which in turn means it's harder to get good lucrative advertisers.
-
While Adblock is a great tool, the Noscript plugin for Firefox and Seamonkey is also useful. By default it blocks luminous-landscape.com, which leaves the Updates widget there, but it doesn't operate.
The pace of updates on LL has not seemed to me to warrant such an intrusion.
-
What a bunch of cry-babies! I know of no other photo website where the powers-that-be: Michael, Kevin, Chris, Jeff et al, are as responsive to the needs of their viewers while maintaining that delicate balance required for survival. Rather than whining, why don't you applaud their efforts and occasionally click on one of those really annoying ads that allow this site to exist.
-
why don't you applaud their efforts
We do when they're improvements. When they get it wrong we give feedback.
-
We do when they're improvements. When they get it wrong we give feedback.
"We do" is a bit of an overstatement, and feedback is all too frequently in the form of whining and slamming. "My goodness, but that scrolling UPDATE thing is really annoying" is not exactly helpful feedback.
-
"My goodness, but that scrolling UPDATE thing is really annoying" is not exactly helpful feedback.
It might not be constructive, but to become aware that something is annoying must surely be helpful.
Jeremy
-
feedback is all too frequently in the form of whining and slamming.
The answer to that is to make improvements that people like, then you get positive feedback.
No one has expressed a liking for this scrolling annoyance so far.
I don't understand why people need reminders of new content on the main page taking up screen space on the forums. There was already a link back to the home page on the forum's title bar, how hard is it to click that to see what's new ? easy, simple, unobtrusive and has been there for as long as I can remember (which is an example of how good and usable the original design was. It didn't need changing)
Now I get typographical horrors like this on the page
-
The notification now don't scroll. The Typo issue is an HTML thing and will get fixed as we work things out. The real estate is not taking up any more space than before. Once you get into an article you get past the top part. Based on the click throughs it seems many people are using it. There are plenty of other sites that are a lot more invasive. We are doing what is asked for by many. While some people seem real adverse to change many like it. And we will continually change. This updates things is something that you'll learn to live with. It doesn't change the content.
Kevin Raber
-
The notification now don't scroll. The Typo issue is an HTML thing and will get fixed as we work things out. The real estate is not taking up any more space than before. Once you get into an article you get past the top part. Based on the click throughs it seems many people are using it. There are plenty of other sites that are a lot more invasive. We are doing what is asked for by many. While some people seem real adverse to change many like it. And we will continually change. This updates things is something that you'll learn to live with. It doesn't change the content.
Kevin Raber
Someone needs to tell you that you guys are doing a splendid job.
-
Someone needs to tell you that you guys are doing a splendid job.
+1!!! My favorite site! Please keep updating and revising! Excellent articles, outstanding contributors, a fine forum for exchanging ideas, with a wonderful wealth of knowledge. Thanks!!
-
I was half joking. The other half was to point out that we are guests in the forums and while it's useful to provide feedback, we're not paying the bills and further
So who is then? Providing income for site, not literally paying the bills.
-
So who is then? Providing income for site, not literally paying the bills.
Well, actually, we are all paying the bills, by looking (however briefly) at the adverts on the top of the page. Which is fine by me, btw - everyone has to pay the rent somehow. The problem with the updates sections is that it looks like it's part of the content, which is a really irritating form of "advertising". And it moves!
-
Well, actually, we are all paying the bills, by looking (however briefly) at the adverts on the top of the page.
Indeed, my point. We are 'customers' [for lack of a better word], not guests.
Which is fine.
-
The notification now don't scroll.
Huh??? It certainly does scroll for me, at least on IE. I find it painful to try to read anything in the forum while there is something that moves once a second, non-stop. I don't mind static ads. The "UPDATES" thing would work perfectly well with the two arrows to scroll voluntarily. Alternatively, a "turn off animation" button would satisfy me.
That being said, I want to stress that almost all the other changes in the revamping of LuLa have been excellent and helpful, and the team's responsiveness to suggestions has been superb.
Eric M.
-
We are 'customers' [for lack of a better word], not guests.
Richard Serra, 1973: "You are the end product delivered en masse to the advertiser. (https://books.google.com/books?id=gI_jNL7PN2QC&lpg=PA104&ots=FHKejNRHOb&dq=tv%20you%20are%20the%20product&pg=PA104#v=onepage&q=tv%20you%20are%20the%20product&f=false)"
The better word is commodity.
-
"We do" is a bit of an overstatement, and feedback is all too frequently in the form of whining and slamming. "My goodness, but that scrolling UPDATE thing is really annoying" is not exactly helpful feedback.
Rip, I take it you missed out the rest of my original post on purpose, to try and make your "whining and Slamming" point seem more pertinent, but if you care to read the following paragraph taken from my original post, I thought I was actually trying to give helpful feedback:
Could it not be a static banner, that lets the user choose to scroll through the list if they want to, with the left right select buttons that are also already there?
..and if within 24 hours of my suggestion above being put forward, it was accepted and seen as a sufficiently good enough idea, that it was quickly implemented, then my feedback couldn't really have been much more helpful could it?
So, "whining and Slamming" - back at yer I think... :)
Dave
-
Huh??? It certainly does scroll for me, at least on IE.
Still scrolls on Chrome on a Mac.
Many readers have asked for a way to see latest articles while visiting the forum.
Say 'many readers', then do what you like. It's fine, but you're smart to also hear and heed the quick and forceful feedback flowing in here. $0.02. :)
-
Well, actually, we are all paying the bills, by looking (however briefly) at the adverts on the top of the page.
I'll leave it to Kevin or Michael to comment if they desire but I'll suggest that idea is painfully naive and provided without any knowledge of the LuLa operating mechanics!
-
Someone needs to tell you that you guys are doing a splendid job.
+2. Seems if some folks can't bitch and moan about Adobe, or subscriptions, they'll find something else to complain about.
-
Glad it helped, Dave. I've dug a bit more and found Adblock can block the whole "top-scroll-bar" panel. From Adblock Plus, go to Filter Preferences, Custom Filters, then click Add Filter. In this case ##div.top-scroll-bar blocks that grey bar. It seems much less distracting now, but this blocking method might be useful in other contexts.
John
Thanks for this, it works well. Anything that keeps moving when I'm trying to read is very annoying.
-
I'll leave it to Kevin or Michael to comment if they desire but I'll suggest that idea is painfully naive and provided without any knowledge of the LuLa operating mechanics!
Umm, do you really think that Lula isn't being paid for the advertising space on top of the page? That's part of how websites make money, together with associated shopping, etc, etc. As I said, I have no problem with that - nor should anyone else. But to believe otherwise is, with all due respect, "painfully naive".
-
Umm, do you really think that Lula isn't being paid for the advertising space on top of the page?
Some people don't know what they don't know and make assumptions which you've just illustrated. Now IF you have the LuLa books and have actual facts, I'll gladly retract the comment. Do you have that information or are you just speculating?
-
Some people don't know what they don't know and make assumptions which you've just illustrated. Now IF you have the LuLa books and have actual facts, I'll gladly retract the comment. Do you have that information or are you just speculating?
I assume (a) that LuLa is like most other websites (and yes, I've approved the business plans for some very big sites, and have small sites of my own) and (b) that very few people would just give away page space without getting something in return.
But happy for Kevin or Michael to tell me otherwise.
But I am confused as to why you feel that LuLa charging for ad space would be an issue? Seems entirely normal to me.
-
I assume (a) that LuLa is like most other websites (and yes, I've approved the business plans for some very big sites, and have small sites of my own) and (b) that very few people would just give away page space without getting something in return.
The key admitted text is you're assuming.
But happy for Kevin or Michael to tell me otherwise.
That may or may not happen, it doesn't change the lack of facts you have!
But I am confused as to why you feel that LuLa charging for ad space would be an issue? Seems entirely normal to me.
I never said was an issue, it isn't for me. I said I'm surprised that folks are complaining about the update banner moving about but not the ad's that do the same both larger in size and more frequently.
-
I never said was an issue, it isn't for me.
Well, it sounded like you had an issue with it. But fine, we can all just move on then.
-
The banner will be staying. It no longer scrolls. Actually that was not supposed to scroll and we were fixing it anyway. The ultimate purpose of the one line banner is to let readers know when we have NEW videos and NEW Workshops as well as articles or rantatorials as many times readers miss new things. One quick check of the banner will let you know what's new. If you don't like it then ignore it. This has been a features asked for by many.
This site exists through workshops, advertisers and our videos. Without these there is no Luminous-Landscape. We work real hard to provide an easy to navigate site with a ton of informative information as well as original content. You won't find a photo magazine or other site offering the wealth of information we do and then let's throw in the Forum. Michael, Chris and I do this because we are passionate about photograph and sharing knowledge. We have a ton of contributors that feel the same way. We are also fortunate to have great advertisers. We do not do google ad sense or anything like that. It doesn't do any good to any of us to talk about how to block ads etc.. If you want to do it go ahead. But without advertisers there will be no Luminous-Landscape.
As readers you get a lot of material without paying dime. Luminous-Landscape will continue to evolve and grow all with you our readers in mind. There will be some things some folks may not like and others will and that is just the way it goes. We have spent a lot of time and effort making this site something special for photographers.
Now, a change we recently made that so far no one has had issue with is the new search feature. Try it out. Go to the search box and type something and a list of drop down suggestions appears. If you find what you are looking for drag down and click it. Or hit the magnifying glass and go to the new search page. Type in something to search for and click the gear button and now you can search by author and or category. Also, the words in your search will appear in your results so you can see what is being searched. This was also something asked for and now provided.
We will continue to refine this. It took a lot of work to do this part and we hope it allows for our readers to do easier searches.
All of what we have been doing is to help you enjoy the site better. If you have suggestions you can always email us privately.
Thank you for being part of Luminous-Landscape I hope you continue to enjoy what we provide.
Kevin Raber
-
...It doesn't do any good to any of us to talk about how to block ads etc.. If you want to do it go ahead. But without advertisers there will be no Luminous-Landscape.
Kevin Raber
Kevin,
It was never about blocking adverts (for me at least), it was about blocking intrusive and unbearable moving content, that made the site (again for me) pretty much unreadable and then only as a last resort after asking if it could be changed to a static selectable banner.
This is the best photographic site on the planet and which I definitely do not want to see go down the tubes, so I am more than happy to look at and occasionally click through interesting adverts, as well as continue to add to the couple of dozen videos that I have already bought from Lula.
I would never try to undermine, or suggest anyone else should undermine, an important revenue stream for this site, I just wanted to be able to read the forums comfortably and without a really annoying rolling distraction, that kept dizzying away in the corner of the screen and pulling at my eyes.
But now all is well and the quiet equilibrium has sensibly been restored and I thank you for that.
Dave
-
Thanks Dave. Just give us a chance. A lot of things evolving as we go.
Kevin Raber.
-
It no longer scrolls.
Kevin Raber
Still scrolls, at least it does for me...
Do I need to clear cache or something?
-
Still scrolls, at least it does for me...
Do I need to clear cache or something?
Yes try that. My developers assure me it is locked and should not scroll. If that doesn't fix it private email me the details of your browser etc and I'll have our guys check it out.
Kevin Raber
-
... My developers assure me it is locked and should not scroll...
Perhaps there is a misunderstanding of the term "scroll"?
1. Scrolls as in: title updates scroll next to the word "UPDATES" in the upper left part of the page/screen, but the UPDATES ribbon is locked to the top of the page (so when one scrolls the page down, it disappears from the screen)
2. Scrolls as in: when ones scrolls the page down, the "UPDATES" ribbon follows and always stays at the top of the screen.
It still does #1 for me (and others).
But it does not do #2 (which I believe Kevin had in mind when he said it is "locked and should not scroll"
-
Yes try that. My developers assure me it is locked and should not scroll.
No difference on Safari on Mac emptying the cache then quitting and restarting the app.
2. Scrolls as in: when ones scrolls the page down, the "UPDATES" ribbon follows and always stays at the top of the screen.
It's never done that for me. I can scroll down the page and the UPDATES area moves up and out of sight.
-
The banner will be staying. It no longer scrolls. Actually that was not supposed to scroll and we were fixing it anyway. The ultimate purpose of the one line banner is to let readers know when we have NEW videos and NEW Workshops as well as articles or rantatorials as many times readers miss new things. One quick check of the banner will let you know what's new. If you don't like it then ignore it. This has been a features asked for by many.
Sorry, Kevin, but it does still scroll.
I have no objection to a static banner with left and right arrows to let me manually scroll. But I agree with Dave that anything that moves without my asking it to is a distraction making it difficult to read what I want to read.
The type of scrolling that I find disturbing is Slobodan's first type. The second type doesn't bother me.
-
Someone needs to tell you that you guys are doing a splendid job.
The fact that so many of have kept coming back for years tells them that. But you're right, hearing it is nice, too!
Thanks Michael and Kevin and all!
-
Let's term it another way. The update box should not move when you scroll down the page. The content in the update box will roll over.
Kevin
-
I have no objection to a static banner with left and right arrows to let me manually scroll. But I agree with Dave that anything that moves without my asking it to is a distraction making it difficult to read what I want to read.
Really? The space being used for the "scrolling" Updates is wasted space already...there needs to be a link somewhere to go to the LuLa Home page. It's a tiny, slim horizontal slice at the top of the page (the nasty follow along has been stopped). Is this really a deal breaker?
Jeeeesh, give me a break. Kev is trying to update the LuLa home page and forums to today's web standards...how many web sites have you visited that produce aggressive scrolling and popup ads? LuLa is pretty benign compared to most commercial web sites...
The moment they (Kev and the devs) removed the follow along scrolling (showing up always even after you scrolled down) my criticism of this new "feature" ended...
-
Really? The space being used for the "scrolling" Updates is wasted space already...there needs to be a link somewhere to go to the LuLa Home page.
There used to be one, until the latest change.
Ironically, since disabling the new block via Adblocker, I've now got no easy link at all back to the home page.
.how many web sites have you visited that produce aggressive scrolling and popup ads?
Very few these days. Most developers seem to have understood that they're very annoying to potetial customers and don't result in increased sales.
-
Sorry, Kevin, but it does still scroll.
I have no objection to a static banner with left and right arrows to let me manually scroll. But I agree with Dave that anything that moves without my asking it to is a distraction making it difficult to read what I want to read.
The type of scrolling that I find disturbing is Slobodan's first type. The second type doesn't bother me.
I guess this is what Kevin meant when he asked that you privately email him or is it your need to continually hammer him publicly?
-
From a simplistic perspective if the vast majority don't have a problem and a user has one then logically thinking the problem lies at the users end? I don't see this problem using Firefox or IE. If I did then I would be looking at what plugins I have installed in the browsers. Blocking all adds isn't a remedy imo.
-
It scrolls on Firefox. I don't care one way or the other. The color is unobtrusive.
-
Someone needs to tell you that you guys are doing a splendid job.
You guys are doing a splendid job.
-
Didn't even notice it until I saw this thread. Definitely not a bother to my eyes :)
-
You guys are doing a splendid job.
+1.
And since I can at least scroll it off my screen, I'll "eschew perfection" and learn to live with it. ;)
-
You guys are doing a splendid job.
Fully agree, both forum as well as other content is splendid and very worthwhile.
-
+1
Fully agree, both forum as well as other content is splendid and very worthwhile.