3 ms·

How can I focus on a threaded conversation if I can't visually see the difference between the participants? Quickly looking at an avatar is easier than reading

by edent 3y ago

How can I focus on a threaded conversation if I can't visually see the difference between the participants? Quickly looking at an avatar is easier than reading an email address. Having even basic HTML formatting helps lay out a post - which makes it easier to concentrate on it. But that was something eschewed by most Usenet clients and posters. Similarly, inline images are great for illustrating a point. I don't have to lose focus by clicking on a link and going to another tab to see what's being discussed.

iso1631 3y ago
> How can I focus on a threaded conversation if I can't visually see the difference between the participants? Quickly looking at an avatar is easier than reading an email address. You post this on a threaded discussion forum without avatars, one you've frequented for a decade
- edent 3y ago
  Yes - and I find it rather tedious. Why do you think that every other major SN has avatar images? It's because most users find it a better experience. I also have my own CSS for HN which makes it much more pleasant (for me) and I I've started using https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30668137 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30668137
  - mr_mitm 3y ago
    You could have your Usenet client to the same thing. Generate some sort of image out of the email address.
  - johannes1234321 3y ago
    The nice thing about Usenet: It's an open stadard and clients could show avatars. For one simple generic blobs generated based on the sender's address, using some service like gravatar or X-Face header.
- lanstin 3y ago
  On hacker news I mostly never look at the usernames. It is all just hive mind. Unless someone is claiming to have won a famous math contest or something. Or if I am really mad at a post, I might look for additional context in their posting history.
msla 3y ago
Usenet had avatars: XFaces https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/XfacesSupport https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/XfacesSupport I remember them being used by some Usenet posters in the 1990s.
u801e 3y ago
> How can I focus on a threaded conversation if I can't visually see the difference between the participants? Quickly looking at an avatar is easier than reading an email address. The from column in the thread pane view in my client[1] makes it easy to see the difference between participants, and also gives an indexed view of the entire thread. You don't get that with Hacker News or Reddit. [1] https://i.imgur.com/i226q2c.png https://i.imgur.com/i226q2c.png

by edent 3y ago

iso1631 3y ago

> How can I focus on a threaded conversation if I can't visually see the difference between the participants? Quickly looking at an avatar is easier than reading an email address. You post this on a threaded discussion forum without avatars, one you've frequented for a decade

edent 3y ago
Yes - and I find it rather tedious. Why do you think that every other major SN has avatar images? It's because most users find it a better experience. I also have my own CSS for HN which makes it much more pleasant (for me) and I I've started using https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30668137 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30668137
- mr_mitm 3y ago
  You could have your Usenet client to the same thing. Generate some sort of image out of the email address.
- johannes1234321 3y ago
  The nice thing about Usenet: It's an open stadard and clients could show avatars. For one simple generic blobs generated based on the sender's address, using some service like gravatar or X-Face header.
lanstin 3y ago
On hacker news I mostly never look at the usernames. It is all just hive mind. Unless someone is claiming to have won a famous math contest or something. Or if I am really mad at a post, I might look for additional context in their posting history.

msla 3y ago

Usenet had avatars: XFaces https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/XfacesSupport https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/XfacesSupport I remember them being used by some Usenet posters in the 1990s.

u801e 3y ago

> How can I focus on a threaded conversation if I can't visually see the difference between the participants? Quickly looking at an avatar is easier than reading an email address. The from column in the thread pane view in my client[1] makes it easy to see the difference between participants, and also gives an indexed view of the entire thread. You don't get that with Hacker News or Reddit. [1] https://i.imgur.com/i226q2c.png https://i.imgur.com/i226q2c.png