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Tell HN: The comment tree collapser [-] is too small for mobile users

72 points by GavinMcG 7y ago

Changing to an em or even an en-dash would be a significant improvement.

wmf 7y ago
They know and they don't care. I suggest finding an HN app that puts a usable interface on it.
- dangwu 7y ago
  Shameless plug: if you use an iPhone, try my app, Octal [1]. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1308885491 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1308885491
kleer001 7y ago
OH, that's what that is, thanks!
snowwindwaves 7y ago
There is a browser add on that lets you collapse right up to the top most parent comment which I miss when I'm on mobile and want to hide the whole thread and see what the next top level comment is.
YjSe2GMQ 7y ago
The upvote is too small too.
- nfriedly 7y ago
  Especially when there's a downvote button about a pixel away! I think every time I get more downvotes I end up burning them accidentally on comments I intended to up vote :(
  - Jtsummers 7y ago
    You can click `undown` if the downvote is accidental, it remains available for an hour or so after the button is clicked. (I can't remember the exact time, but it does expire at some point.)
    - nfriedly 7y ago
      Yea, I do that a lot. But I also suspect that sometimes I though I hit the upvote button, but HN registered it as a downvote anyways. Both of the buttons combined are smaller than the tip of my finger, and they both disappear as soon as one is tapped :(
      - Jtsummers 7y ago
        The text for an upvote is “unvote” and for downvotes is “undown”. So if you check that you’ll see which you did.
        nfriedly 7y ago
        Oh, awesome, I didn't realize that!
- dplgk 7y ago
  Give this man an up vote! Shit, I accidentally clicked down vote.
- deepaksurti 7y ago
  Agreed. At least the downvote v button can be next to comment tree collapser. So unintended up/down votes are avoided.
RenRav 7y ago
I suggest making it wider like [--]
symplee 7y ago
[--] to collapse as currently implemented (widened) [^^] to collapse all comments within top most parent. Thus making the next top level comment visible. ^ username 2 hours ago [--] [^^] --________--___________---____---____ Mobile could also add two spaces between clickable elements, because even that is sometimes too close. And three spaces between timestamp, [--] and [^^] button. Upvote/downvote buttons could also be bigger with more spacing between. Just some ideas, open to improvements.
sethammons 7y ago
While I don't have this problem, what I really would like is a way to collapse back to parent. Often, I'm knee deep in a thread and forget what started it. I have to scroll up, keeping a mental pin at the left margin to see when I get back to the parent.

72 points by GavinMcG 7y ago

Changing to an em or even an en-dash would be a significant improvement.

wmf 7y ago

They know and they don't care. I suggest finding an HN app that puts a usable interface on it.

dangwu 7y ago
Shameless plug: if you use an iPhone, try my app, Octal [1]. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1308885491 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1308885491

kleer001 7y ago

OH, that's what that is, thanks!

snowwindwaves 7y ago

There is a browser add on that lets you collapse right up to the top most parent comment which I miss when I'm on mobile and want to hide the whole thread and see what the next top level comment is.

YjSe2GMQ 7y ago

The upvote is too small too.

nfriedly 7y ago
Especially when there's a downvote button about a pixel away! I think every time I get more downvotes I end up burning them accidentally on comments I intended to up vote :(
- Jtsummers 7y ago
  You can click `undown` if the downvote is accidental, it remains available for an hour or so after the button is clicked. (I can't remember the exact time, but it does expire at some point.)
  - nfriedly 7y ago
    Yea, I do that a lot. But I also suspect that sometimes I though I hit the upvote button, but HN registered it as a downvote anyways. Both of the buttons combined are smaller than the tip of my finger, and they both disappear as soon as one is tapped :(
    - Jtsummers 7y ago
      The text for an upvote is “unvote” and for downvotes is “undown”. So if you check that you’ll see which you did.
      - nfriedly 7y ago
        Oh, awesome, I didn't realize that!
dplgk 7y ago
Give this man an up vote! Shit, I accidentally clicked down vote.
deepaksurti 7y ago
Agreed. At least the downvote v button can be next to comment tree collapser. So unintended up/down votes are avoided.

RenRav 7y ago

I suggest making it wider like [--]

symplee 7y ago

[--] to collapse as currently implemented (widened) [^^] to collapse all comments within top most parent. Thus making the next top level comment visible. ^ username 2 hours ago [--] [^^] --________--___________---____---____ Mobile could also add two spaces between clickable elements, because even that is sometimes too close. And three spaces between timestamp, [--] and [^^] button. Upvote/downvote buttons could also be bigger with more spacing between. Just some ideas, open to improvements.

sethammons 7y ago

While I don't have this problem, what I really would like is a way to collapse back to parent. Often, I'm knee deep in a thread and forget what started it. I have to scroll up, keeping a mental pin at the left margin to see when I get back to the parent.