@abernyte Damn! How did you know that was my password?😉 Toodles.

Something else has changed on the Forum in the last few days.

I usually keep open the Tabs for topics where I'm currently contributing or researching.
The Tab title used to give the start of the Topic Title.

But when I now refresh a Tab or open a new one, they all start with the word Forum...
which means I can't tell one topic from another.

@transparent I'll look into that... there was a major software update and SEO was one of the things that they updated. Slipped through as an auto-update.

To make our forums more engaging and fun, we’ve introduced a new way to react to posts! For those with sharp eyes, you might’ve noticed the thumbs-up icon has been updated. Now, instead of simply liking or disliking a post, we can express ourselves more clearly with a range of new reactions.

We’ve started with: Funny/Laughing, Hmmm (contemplative, not sure), Love this, Mind blown, OMG (Oh my God), Thank you, Like (our original, though I plan to change the icon soon – too Facebook-esque for my taste), Very Helpful and Dislike (with a fresh icon).

I’m considering adding more, so feel free to suggest any reactions or emotions you frequently have while browsing and reading posts, and we’ll look into adding them!

I'd like to see an icon for "That makes me sad" which is clearly different to "I dislike the post".

The "thank you" icon might be better as a present being given. Praying hands is more useful when the installers have just left!

Given the content on this forum, we might also like to have available

• cowboy
• "You need to leave" (due to the level of humour)
• Eh? or "I don't understand what you're talking about" 
• consult the manual!
• please add some punctuation / capital letters
• you're going off-topic
• I like this, please post more about it
• You're welcome.

I'm going out on a limb here because I'm unsure if this is possible...

Can there be a signpost icon?
... to which the reader adds a link to another post / topic ?

That would allow us to indicate that there's another relevant post, but without having to write a new post to say so.

@transparent nice ones. Sad face added.

I love the cowboy idea! It’s funny, the reaction icon pack includes almost every type of character, but not a cowboy. I’ve already put in a request for it to be added. I suspect it’ll be used a lot.

The signpost suggestion is also a solid idea, though it’s not currently part of the available features. I’ll put in a request for that as well.

@editor I heard of a building company who had a sign-written message on their van: ‘You’ve tried the Cowboys, now try the Indians’. 😯 Regards, Toodles.

I should qualify the Signpost idea:

It needs to open a new tab at the indicated URL.

I'm in two minds about whether it should be restricted to a URL with the same domain name.
I rather think it should, otherwise it could be misused to send the reader to a suspicious external site.

If a jump to an external site is what's required, then that should require a new post to explain what the link is for (as at present).

My intention is to increase the number of useful links within the forum.
At the moment, very few of us link to other topics.

Posted by: @transparent

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I should qualify the Signpost idea

I think this may be mixing up two purposes. The icons are primarily to give a reaction to a post. They are standalone statements that don't go anywhere. A signpost on the other hand is different, it has no particular reaction element, instead, it says/invites you to 'go here', either to get more info, see some evidence, whatever, in other words it is a link in the ordinary web meaning of a link. Maybe the thing to do is to actively encourage links in posts. For example, if I want to use something derived from 'we don't need no stinking badges' for my cowboy icon, then I should link to a clip from the film, like this (which reveals Gold Hat didn't actually say the immortal line at around 1:45).    

Posted by: @cathoderay

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Maybe the thing to do is to actively encourage links in posts.

That's difficult for members who don't keep lots of Forum tabs open.

At the moment I need to redirect attention like this.

Posted by: @cathoderay

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The icons are primarily to give a reaction to a post. They are standalone statements that don't go anywhere.

Yes, they are...
... and I freely admit that my suggestion was proposing to extend beyond their normal use.

A signpost offers the ability to tell a poster that there's another topic discussing his point, but without appearing to rebuke them for putting something in the 'wrong' topic.
From the viewpoint of a new Member, it would come across without any taint of hostility.

Posted by: @transparent

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That's difficult for members who don't keep lots of Forum tabs open.

I am not sure that is the case. When I add a link, I only need two tabs open, the tab where I will add the link, and the tab that has the page the link in the other tabs will point to. Typical steps:

1. Add a comment to a post and get to the point where I want to add the link.

2. Open the other tab which has the target for the link (if it isn't already open). I might open the tab by clicking on another link elsewhere to it, find it via google, or whatever. For the 'we don't need no stinking badges' link, I googled that phrase and found a suitable video. I then copied the page url  (address) for the video from the address bar. 

3. On the tab where I want the link, add the visible link text eg 'link here', select it, control + k to add a link, control + v to paste, enter and its done. 

I am sure an icon can be made to link/signpost to another page, it will just need some javascript for an on-click event, but, as I say, I think it mixes up purposes and might be confusing, given icons are about reactions, not further and better particulars.    

Posted by: @transparent

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A signpost offers the ability to tell a poster that there's another topic discussing his point, but without appearing to rebuke them for putting something in the 'wrong' topic.

From the viewpoint of a new Member, it would come across without any taint of hostility.

A text link doesn't have to be a rebuke. I could write for example 'You may be interested to see this page here for more on this topic' where 'here' is the link.

@editor - it seems the new deployed icons when hovered over just say 'ALL', rather than listing who has added the icon. Sometimes it is interesting to see who liked a post.  

I can definitely see the value in better linking. Way beyond my skills though. I'll raise this with the developers to see what can and can't be done.

Posted by: @cathoderay

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@editor - it seems the new deployed icons when hovered over just say 'ALL', rather than listing who has added the icon. Sometimes it is interesting to see who liked a post.  

Good point. I'll ask the devs.