What should SuperTopo improve in 2012?

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Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 5, 2011 - 01:31pm PT
I am starting to think about what should be focus of improvements in 2012 for SuperTopo.com and SuperTopo books. So I thought the best way to approach this would be to just ask you all. What do you think we should do to improve the SuperTopo site in 2012?

There are a lot of things we want to do... and never enough time. So your feedback through here and the SuperTopo feedback forms help us prioritize.

If you don't want to post your thoughts here, please email me using the "Let Us know" blue mail icon below or just email. Yes, I actually read all the emails but sometimes it takes a long time to respond... (anyone have tips for email overload)?
Prod

Trad climber
Dec 5, 2011 - 01:37pm PT
With a million plus posts a better search enging woulf be nice. It might also be nice to be able to search by thread topic, verses content, and original poster.

Or keep it all the same.

Prod.
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Dec 5, 2011 - 01:41pm PT
It seems as if the question is directed at the forum regarding the website as a whole, not just regarding the forum.
TKingsbury

Trad climber
MT
Dec 5, 2011 - 01:44pm PT
Adding "Views" to the forum, like you have for trip reports & articles, would be nice.
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
Dec 5, 2011 - 01:51pm PT
Adding "Views" to the forum, like you have for trip reports & articles, would be nice.

What do you mean by "Views"?
guido

Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
Dec 5, 2011 - 01:54pm PT
Search engine and ability to edit photo box AFTER you have posted.
TKingsbury

Trad climber
MT
Dec 5, 2011 - 01:54pm PT

Number of thread views. Shows that even though the post count is low, the view count may be high
Howard71

Trad climber
Belen, New Mexico
Dec 5, 2011 - 01:57pm PT
I agree that an improved search engine would be helpful. Ability to search within particular threads (I may have missed how to do this currently), limit the search to the titles of threads and individual posts, etc.

A separate classified section for buying & selling gear.

Within the Climbing Areas / Climbing Routes sections, it would be great if Supertopo Members had a section to provide links to other sites where other areas are covered well. If a region isn't covered by SuperTopo, then where is it covered well - contributions by members to help other members find information.
Ihateplastic

Trad climber
It ain't El Cap, Oregon
Dec 5, 2011 - 02:13pm PT
Posting vids... Yes!

Better search... Yes!

But... other than that this puppy works killer! Be wary of making too many changes or bowing to the whims of one group or another.
BooDawg

Social climber
Butterfly Town
Dec 5, 2011 - 02:14pm PT
Ability to search my own and other photos and get a link to or reference to the thread(s) where the picture is posted.
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
Dec 5, 2011 - 02:24pm PT
The ability to rotate a photo once uploaded. A way to go back "x" amount of posts, trip reports, or forum topics rather than just the beginning, end or the prior/next 30 topics, posts, or trip reports.
bergbryce

Mountain climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Dec 5, 2011 - 02:26pm PT
I know it's futile... but please separate out the climbing stuff from the non-climbing stuff.
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
Dec 5, 2011 - 02:27pm PT
I have said this before, but to have things bumped to the top of the list when they are viewed as well as when they are commented on. that could be a cluster as well, but I think it would reflect better why people log onto Supertopo.
Mtnmun

Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
Dec 5, 2011 - 02:32pm PT
Good idea Dingus, a grant page or fund raising for injured climber charity.

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Dec 5, 2011 - 02:37pm PT
Pages on the trip reports would make it easier to load.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Dec 5, 2011 - 02:56pm PT
ability to block users AND block threads. I don't check them anyways, so why not surface the threads that I want to stay with.

vid embeds would improve TR quality, well at least for those that still post in the taco as opposed to on their own blogs. NTTIAWWT





Wade Icey

Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:05pm PT
separate forum for































Locker.











and if he gets one...





















I want my own forum as well.
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:09pm PT
A catchy line could be: "Blue Buttplugs for a Blue Christmas". Locker's Christmas thread.
crunch

Social climber
CO
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:15pm PT
A better search engine, for sure. There is so much great content, but it's sometimes very hard to find.

the google advance search:

https://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=engine&hl=en&biw=1822&bih=923&site=webhp&prmd=imvnsrb&tbo=1

is a nice example of how to do a search, with phrases and words you can add, combine, or delete from the search.

One of the great things about Supertopo is the rip-roaring anarchy of it all. One of the curses is the impenetrable mass of fluff one has to wade through to find the good content, once it's gone from the front pages.

Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:15pm PT
Personally, I click on all TR's, as even the most boring is better than the funniest OT thread.

I like the grant idea.
nature

climber
back in Tuscon Aridzona....
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:23pm PT
I agree with Piton Ron - paging on the TR page would be nice.

a Gear for sale tab would be cool.

A SushiFest tab is essential.
Archie Richardson

Trad climber
Grand Junction, CO
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:27pm PT
Great site - I have few complaints.

The "Always Fresh" feature for the electronic guidebooks could be improved. It seems that the ebooks could be revised much more frequently as errors are discovered. And suppose you want more than the advertised three years of "Always Fresh" updates? Maybe a subscription service to the ebooks that keeps them fresh after the three year period. I have ebooks that are 7,8 years old and have no idea what version they are or how out of date they are. A list of the current version number posted on the site would help.

On the forum it would be nice to be able to preview and edit before posting. Currently I just post a draft then edit online which is clunky.

Keep up the good work!!
seth kovar

climber
Reno, NV
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:30pm PT
+1 for Dingus

and a return to forum list at the end of tr's
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:34pm PT
Would it be possible to have a TR button beside the Forum button and set the site up in such a way that you could push the Forum button to get to all the threads including the TR threads or push the TR button to get to the TR threads only? Then I think everyone would be pleased.

TKingsbury
Nice. To make it even easier to get to TR - could that button be put in the top line alongside the Forum button?
TKingsbury

Trad climber
MT
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:36pm PT
and a return to forum list at the end of tr's

It's there Seth, but a bit hidden...

rockmuelle

Trad climber
Austin, TX
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:37pm PT

I'd love to see a version of the forum and routes formatted for small form factor mobile devices (i.e., smartphones with 4" or smaller displays).

m.supertopo.com, similar to how most news sites do it.

-Chris
TKingsbury

Trad climber
MT
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:39pm PT
Would it be possible to have a TR button beside the Forum button and set the site up in such a way that you could push the Forum button to get to all the threads including the TR threads or push the TR button to get to the TR threads only? Then I think everyone would be pleased.

Like the Trip Report tab?



Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:42pm PT
The upper red line - the level above. Or: Also the level above.

Home - Climbing Areas - Climbing routes - Guidebooks - Free Topos - Photos - Forum - Trip Reports
Matt M

Trad climber
Alamo City
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:44pm PT
Far to many quality threads that are climbing related fall off the front page because of the choss threads that create thousands of inane posts. Just freaking add a tab for Climbing related and one for "Everything Else". Seriously, thats it.

It's plain sad to see a historic thread with TONS of posting gold full of history, insight etc etc disappear into the murk because of "Why Republicans are Wrong.." "WTC Missiles" etc etc.

Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:45pm PT
Also, I use an iPad. Can you make an app for that?
nature

climber
back in Tuscon Aridzona....
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:45pm PT
well if you develop an m.supertopo.com you might as well go big(er) and do t.supertopo.com.

brandon - how does the site look on your ipad?

it's a bitch to view this site on an iphone.
jfailing

Trad climber
Lone Pine
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:46pm PT
Ability to search my own and other photos and get a link to or reference to the thread(s) where the picture is posted.

This would be awesome. It's common to see a great picture in the photos section and want to know which thread it was posted in.

More young blood on the site would be nice... Broaden that age gap a little bit. I do wonder what the age demographics for the posters on the forum are...

Also - a mobile version of ST would be awesome. For either Android or iOS. There could be like a mobile real-time trip report feed or something. Sorta like what TC was doing recently with the facebook updates from the Dawn Wall project... That might bring in some younger folk...
enjoimx

Trad climber
Yosemite, ca
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:46pm PT
Dont change it too much.

The beauty of Supertopo is in its simplicity.
TKingsbury

Trad climber
MT
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:48pm PT
Marlow, you get a dropdown if you mouse over "Forum"

Hilt

Social climber
Utah
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:48pm PT
I wish we could block and not be seen by certain individuals. I think that will help protect certain folks who run into trouble here.

Oh... Plus an ST application for the phone. ST mobile on the go!


LongAgo

Trad climber
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:50pm PT

There's been a thread on supertopo about beta/history section of site including some reflections of FA party about style of ascent, quality, any cautions etc, as well as more usual information. Might be as simple as a few introductory words to potential posters of FA info encouraging reflections of this sort.

Tom Higgins
LongAgo

Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:52pm PT
Nature,
Honestly,the site is easier on an iPad. I've become accustomed to the touch screen thing. I can zoom in on pictures w/o clicking.

My only complaint with ST on the iPad is at the bottom of a page when you want to click back to forum, the forum button is super small and I end up clicking something else. On the upside, I get to learn about book deals, route beta, all sorts of cool stuff.

Change nothing.
rectorsquid

climber
Lake Tahoe
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:56pm PT
Also, I use an iPad. Can you make an app for that?

It's not too absurd to add some CSS and maybe some meta tags to make the site look good on tablets. Getting rid of the right column on most pages would help. Using a fixed width layout and setting the content width for the browser, as well as few more formatting changes, and the site might be very usable on a tablet. They are all the rage now so it would be in keeping with the times.

As-is, the site doesn't look bad on an iPad. It's just a bit too wide making the text a bit too small.

Dave
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Dec 5, 2011 - 03:56pm PT
I will not push my point further, but my experience is that even pushing a button to get to a dropdown menu to push a new button to get where you want to get is seen as a barriere when people want to get access to what they most often use or read.
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
Dec 5, 2011 - 04:34pm PT
+1 for Piton Ron's suggestion of pages on trip reports. Lots of stuff in some of the comment sections of the TR's that many people miss I am guessing.

Can we have a backgound picture of K2 shown at all times on the site.
nutjob

Gym climber
Berkeley, CA
Dec 5, 2011 - 04:45pm PT
+1 embedded video
+1 better search (Advanced search page: by author, commenter, date range, topic summary, or message body)
Ihateplastic

Trad climber
It ain't El Cap, Oregon
Dec 5, 2011 - 04:47pm PT
Ability to load more than one pic at a time.

Buy and sell tab is a cool idea.

I LOVE the idea of a KIVA-type contributions page where people could help fund worthwhile trips.

Personally, I do not worry too much about an "ignore" button... My brain seems to do that just fine.
Gene

climber
Dec 5, 2011 - 04:57pm PT
Picture search!!!!!
Captain...or Skully

climber
Where are you bound?
Dec 5, 2011 - 05:26pm PT
No polititards. EVER!
Let them freakin' call each other.
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Dec 5, 2011 - 06:08pm PT
We should be able to vote anonymous trolls off the island. Thin the herd a bit. Might help mitigate some of crunch's impenetrable fluff.
Russ Walling

Gym climber
Poofter's Froth, Wyoming
Dec 5, 2011 - 06:09pm PT
Realtime chat or a Skype room, so I can show Locker my nuts if the need arises.

Wack every poster with over 10,000 posts, for obvious reasons.

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Dec 5, 2011 - 06:11pm PT
Whack every poster with a Vince Schlomo mug shot!
Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 5, 2011 - 06:15pm PT
Thanks for all the feedback. Ill respond in more detail later (epic surf today at Ocean Beach sucked up a lot of the day). Ability to post videos is coming very very soon. Will write more shortly...
Minerals

Social climber
The Deli
Dec 5, 2011 - 09:08pm PT
A few comments and suggestions…

The route beta pages still have many errors and inaccuracies, and some of the info doesn’t even match what is published in the ST guidebooks. I have mentioned this before, both on this forum and by email, but no one seems to care. It would be nice if the information was accurate, especially if climbers are relying on it when climbing. No beta at all is better than incorrect beta.

Yes, as already mentioned, a better search engine(!!!), a view count for threads, and TRs and TR replies broken into pages would be good. In addition to the Comment on this Trip Report link below the last post on a TR page, you could include two more links next to it, such as Return to Recent Trip Reports and Return to Forum List. This would make navigation easier and quicker. The tiny blue links at the bottom of each page are too small and are not terribly user-friendly.

Another thing would be to have a fixed width for text in thread posts so that extra wide photos (that are hosted on other websites), extra long URL links, and excessive repetition of punctuation don’t make thread pages wider than normal. It’s difficult to read a thread when you have to scroll back and forth to read each line, or view the page in a smaller format to see all of the text. URL links and repetitive text should wrap/continue on the next line to retain normal width of thread pages; extra wide images/photos could extend beyond the right side of the page, beyond the text and page format. By keeping a standard page width, it wouldn’t be necessary to scroll to the right in order to click on the <<First, <Previous, Show All, Next>, and Last>> links. I’m not sure if this problem has been fixed recently but it has been an issue in the past. There is also an inconsistency in how these five links appear from page to page – sometimes they appear blue, sometimes they appear black. It’s different from thread to thread. To clean things up, it might be a good idea to delete the Next> and Last>> links from the last page of each thread because such a page doesn’t exist or is already displayed.

When uploading a photo to the site, the maximum dimension allowed is 1024. While it would be excessive for most photos and take up more storage space, it might be nice if the site accepted panorama photos in a wider format. It’s tough to really see the full effect of a panorama photo when it’s like a centimeter tall. Of course, one would have to scroll back and forth to view the image.

Near the bottom of the main forum list page (as well as some other pages), there are three separate sections with red titles. In the section titled Recent Route Beta, the route name is listed after the name of the formation, which is the opposite of the way it is listed on the main route beta page and the individual route beta pages. Trivial, I know…

The site looks good on an iPad, but I don’t use one to post (typing would be a pain). The drop-down menus for each red link at the top of each page don’t work on an iPad, but that’s no big deal. On a regular computer, sometimes the drop-down menus don’t work at all, depending on which page you are on (i.e. Climbing Areas page vs. Forum page). As far as returning to the main forum page from something other than a forum thread page, I agree that the tiny blue links at the bottom of each page could be more user-friendly. There’s always the red Forum link at the top of each page, but you have to scroll up to get to it if you are at the bottom of a page. Brandon, you might try using a stylus with your iPad if you haven’t already; I find that it’s much more precise than using a finger.

As far as the text size on an iPad, the text is bigger and it’s easier to read if you hold the iPad horizontal (instead of vertical), but that might be obvious. You can also zoom in to make the text bigger and eliminate the right column of ads, etc. Zooming in on photos does work quite well, but opening the full size/full res version of the image in a new window looks better.

And… what Skully said! :)

Thanks, Chris.
Mark K

Social climber
San Marcos, California
Dec 5, 2011 - 09:25pm PT
Far to many quality threads that are climbing related fall off the front page because of the choss threads that create thousands of inane posts. Just freaking add a tab for Climbing related and one for "Everything Else". Seriously, thats it.

+1

And a buy/sell page would be cool too.
Decko

Trad climber
Colorado
Dec 5, 2011 - 09:31pm PT
SuperTOPO is much more mature than other sites.......

It's hard to suggest how to keep it that way as when folks from other sites find it and are anxious to be a part of this community.......

The beauty is the simplicity........

PAUL SOUZA

Trad climber
Central Valley, CA
Dec 5, 2011 - 09:36pm PT
No multiple user names to limit trolling.

Smartphone browsing friendly for climbers on the go. Such as Tapatalk.
froodish

Social climber
Portland, Oregon
Dec 5, 2011 - 09:52pm PT
A more modern structure would be nice - at the very least, some classes/ids on the main content tables would make it much easier to use things like Greasemonkey to customize the experience.

A way to follow threads and be presented with the new posts in a thread you're following would be great.

As mentioned upstream, a layout that would limit the size of photos (via max-width resizing or even clipping via the overflow property) would increase the readability. Ditto on clipping/shortening long links or text entered without breaks.

Fix the auto-linkifying thing so that it handles https and other normal url characters like the twiddle (~) (url encoding is your friend).

I'd vote for stripping more than 3 breaks in a row in posts before storing things in the DB to eliminate the annoying (IMHO) occurrences of multiple screens of white space that show up in some posts.

Linkify the Last Post cell content (ie: "Dec 5, 2011 06:43pm") to the last post in a thread.

A more responsive design that would adapt to smaller screens on iPad/smart phones would be groovy but some small things would increase the usability on small screens tremendously:

* Let the contents of the Author columns wrap. Some of the usernames are very long and end up being the widest column on a small screen.

* Increase the hit area of some of the links, like the links in the Msgs column (set those to take up the entire area of the table cell)

The drop-down menus for each red link at the top of each page don’t work on an iPad

I'm guessing that's an easy fix - just add click handlers to the list items that contain the sub-items (iOS browsers don't do the hover -> click translation on non-anchor links)
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Dec 5, 2011 - 10:10pm PT
I've got an issue for SuperTopo guide books.
Please make them larger so you can make the print and drawings larger.
Reading a topo at night by headlamp is nearly impossible.
At least make the print/pictures larger for eBooks.
Provide purchase of individual topos at large scale for a low price. 3 for 1$ maybe?

SuperTopo forum:
Multiple picture uploads in one upload panel.
Better search filters.
Allow each user to filter out individual threads, or to mark individual threads as "preferred" and then list them first, per user. That would probably be a cookie thing.

Even though there's plenty of drivel, please don't censor topics, posts or users unless it's egregious. The current censorship policy, if there is one, is fine. I think the users do a good job of calling out offensive activities.

I don't think anything is really broken. Just some opportunities for improvement and optimizing user functionality.
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
Dec 5, 2011 - 10:28pm PT

If Nature gets a sushifest tab, why knott an OUCH! tab too!!!!
Jay Wood

Trad climber
Land of God-less fools
Dec 5, 2011 - 10:36pm PT
+1 for larger type in guide books. (hey, you're getting old just as fast as me!)

Mountain project has a happening buy/sell page. ST could be as good, with more West-Coastie activity. This would dovetail somewhat with the gear review emphasis.

Any way to block those 'does this dress make me look fat' type spam posts?

Chinchen

climber
Way out there....
Dec 5, 2011 - 11:55pm PT
Another vote for topic rooms. AGAIN.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Dec 6, 2011 - 12:08am PT
hey there say, chris... most likly i am the only one that has this trouble...
but:

when you changed so we could upload our own photos, instead through a photo-service, well:

at FIRST there was ONE window to work with, to click on:
click this:

//upload photo from your computer...
upload photo from your previous...//

well, that worked great, and really FAST FOR dial up, like me..

then, within (days???) there was SUDDENLY ANOTHER BOX, THAT we were lead to:

do you certify(something like that) that this is your own photo)...

//well, WITH those TWO BOXES, two windows, to handle, it takes me
"TIME UPON TIME" up to 4 min, to upload a picture, :(//

before YOU HAD THAT DONE, it was nearly instant! *with your first box, only being all i had to hit...



SO QUESTION TO YOU NOW IS:

CAN'T you PLEASE compbine the messages, all into one, and MAKE ONLY one
upload-box for us to upload the pics???



thanks so much, chris...
:)
nature

climber
Aridzona for now Denver.... here I come...
Dec 6, 2011 - 12:13am PT
a "Coffee Tips and Tricks" tab
ms55401

Trad climber
minneapolis, mn
Dec 6, 2011 - 12:14am PT
a strict quota limiting posts -- maybe 100 per month

no one here posts such scintillating content to warrant posting hundreds or even thousands of posts per month. And it seems that maybe two dozen posters are responsible for 50% of the traffic on this site -- probably more given the multiplicity of accounts

le_bruce

climber
Oakland, CA
Dec 6, 2011 - 12:40am PT
Keeping TR's from instantaneously abyssing:

 A simple button at the end of the TR that will bump it to the top of the list. Next to this bump button include a tally of how many times it's been bumped/liked/whatever word. Just an easy way to keep quality content floating rather than sinking, without having to be the 20th person to say "Sweet photos thanks." (Ideally this button would be there on climbing-related threads, but F no I wouldn't want it on the OT threads. Since the only partition that exists is the TR vs non-TR, place it only on TR's maybe?)

 Or, let us readers hit a button at the end of the TR to nominate that bad ass story for "TR of the Month." Display a running tally. Whichever TR has the highest number of votes at the end of the month gets pinned to the front page for a bit, or the author gets free schwag, or... This button also bumps TR's to the mf'n top.

 Or maybe put the same star-rating system on TR's that you currently use for photos. Same deal as above, bump to top each time it's rated.


OT/Bullshit mitigation:

 Simple button at top right of thread: "Off Topic". If a critical number of users hit that button, send that thread into a new tab/partition: "Off Topic".


User's posting history:

 When clicking on a user's name, there's a tab for "Forum Posts" which includes that user's history of posts. But that user's comments on TR's are not included in the history. Include those comments in the user's commenting history as well.


Photos:

 It seems that photos posted on the forum that are hosted on other sites always look better - they're bigger and they don't have that unnecessary/ugly frame eating up pixels. See user The Alpine's photo posts for what I'm talking about, and compare to any post of a photo hosted here. Any way to improve the way photos uploaded to ST look within the forum?


+1 Buy/Sell/Trade tab


Everything else is great. I'm in the camp that less tweaking is more - definitely not in favor of divvying up the forum into a dozen subjects.
Dingus McToast

climber
Santa Rosa, Wyoming
Dec 6, 2011 - 01:30am PT
Another vote for topic rooms. AGAIN.

Just one other room, the Getta Room. That's really all it takes to make regulars not post way off-topic threads in the main forum.
Minerals

Social climber
The Deli
Dec 6, 2011 - 01:55am PT
“It seems that photos linked to from other sites always look better - they're bigger and they don't have that unnecessary/ugly frame eating up pixels… Any way to improve the way photos uploaded to ST look within the forum?”

You can still post the large version of a photo that has been uploaded to ST, sans “ugly frame.” Instead of using the “photoid=#” tag, or the automatic photo link when posting, you can click on the photo that you have uploaded to view the full size, then right-click on the image. On a PC, choose “Properties” and then copy the URL of the image; on a Mac choose “Copy Image Address.” Then paste the copied image URL between image tags [ img ] URL [ /img ], but without any of the spaces that I added. This way you can have the full image size appear in your forum post.

I think the idea behind the photo format with a framed smaller image was to make thread pages load faster than if they were full of giant photos. Even though it takes longer to load, I prefer to see photos in their full size because it gives the photo the effect that the photographer originally intended. Another benefit of the framed small photo is that it hosts its own caption. You can always click on the framed small photo in a thread to see the full size version in a new window.
Jonnnyyyzzz

Trad climber
San Diego,CA
Dec 6, 2011 - 04:27am PT
I like Howard71's idea.
Within the Climbing Areas / Climbing Routes sections, it would be great if Super topo Members had a section to provide links to other sites where other areas are covered well. If a region isn't covered by Super Topo, then where is it covered well - contributions by members to help other members find information.
I'll 2nd that. It would be cool to add a (Taco Member Guides and topos) tab that would help members compile the vast forum based info and add beta for there local Climbing Areas / Climbing Routes not covered by Super Topos guides. I think MP has something like this but the Taco should do it better.
PS add a view counter
Archie Richardson

Trad climber
Grand Junction, CO
Dec 6, 2011 - 06:36am PT
Provide purchase of individual topos at large scale for a low price.

Great idea! A la carte downloadable topos at a reasonable price would really help the traveling climber who only spends a few days in an area.
Spider Savage

Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
Dec 6, 2011 - 11:14am PT
E-books
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Dec 6, 2011 - 12:56pm PT
Another vote for topic rooms. AGAIN.
-1 from me as well.

Was thinking about this while walking Oliver the Dog this morning. One of the good/bad features of this joynt is thread drift.
The first thread that came to mind was Ammon's "Taser bust". A climbing topic? BASE jumping? LEO? Climbing freedom? Police overreaction? Rangers as Good Guys/Gals? That thread drifted in all directions, most of them interesting.

I'm for the least number of controls, and some basic ways for each person to filter/select what's interesting to them by choice or content rather than some imposed classification. There've been a lot of good suggestions on how to do this. But Keep It Simple Stoopid.

Just give me an easy filter for "blue butt plug" that can detect both text and image content.
Dickbob

climber
Westminster Colorado
Dec 6, 2011 - 01:15pm PT
I like the bump button idea.
BeeHay

Trad climber
San Diego CA
Dec 6, 2011 - 01:22pm PT
Bring Tarbuster back!
Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 6, 2011 - 01:22pm PT
Thank you all for the awesome feedback. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to help me and RJ and the ST crew make the site better.

 Videos - on their way shortly
 Better search - Ill talk to RJ about this and see what his throught are. One thing some people miss is out Advanced Forum search here http://www.supertopo.com/forumsearchadv.php?ftr1=big+wall which we should maybe make more prominent on the site.
 searching in a thread - you can do this with Firefox pretty effectively by Command + F
 ability to block users - not sure that is easy to do. ill have to ask around
 tab for buying and selling gear - since I am a big eBay addict, i am surprised we don't have this. ill see what i can do
 adding views to threads like in TR's - seems easy enough. but would make the forum layout less clean and simple.
 photo editing after you have posted- might be beyond our software capability.
 taco expedition grant - i like the idea. especially because I like the idea of raising money as a community for a cause the ST community supports. That is why I am addicted to ebay auctions for Access Fund, ASCA, YCA… definitely hardest part of the idea seems to be choosing who gets the grant money. But i am all for fundraising by small groups that support small groups in need.
 separating climbing from non climbing - we get this suggestion a lot. and then even more suggestions to keep things the way they are. maybe one day we will experiment with this… but for now i think we will keep the forum how it is. please keep posting and bumbing the good climbing content and please resist responding the the ranting political threads! here are more of thoughts on the issue

ok, will respond to more suggestions a bit later in day… surf is looking GOOD again
the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Dec 6, 2011 - 02:34pm PT
A better search engine: could you just use Google's plug in search? It doesn't look great, but No sense re-inventing the wheel.


Ability to set individual-user filters (block x-user, y-topic, z-thread): I would like, but as mentioned tough to implement.


fixed width for text in thread posts so that extra wide photos don't mess it up: I would like to, especially for viewing on an iPhone.


A new suggestion (I think) from me: flag posts/threads. Like craigslist if enough people flag a thread it could be pushed to the second page of threads, deleted, etc. Like craigslist you shouldn't let people know exactly how many flags it takes. And multiple flags from the same IP address don't count. That way you could click flag a thread, Select 'OT' and it pushes it off the first page of threads. People could still find it, but it keeps OT threads with lot's of replies from pushing climbing content off the first page. Or maybe flag as 'spam' and it's automatically deleted. Let the community do the policing, not you!
Danholio

Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
Dec 6, 2011 - 02:35pm PT
Hi Chris,

Couple of other ideas for you:
1) Ability to vote on comments, route beta, etc. Comments with the most "thumbs up" bubble to the top (versus the first comment as it exists now)
2) Separating climbing vs non-climbing would be great but perhaps better yet would be the ability to categorize forum threads (e.g., Yose, Red Rocks, Lake Tahoe, gear talk, for sale, non-climbing, etc)

Thanks a bunch Chris.

Dan
Gene

climber
Dec 6, 2011 - 02:52pm PT
Regarding larger pages for topos....

If you have the ebook version, print your topo on letter, legal, or even ledger size paper. If you use ledger paper, cut it into convenient &/or logical pieces, laminate, and leave your reading glasses at home.

g

EDIT: You can also search for a keyword within a thread while using IE. Edit:Find:{keyword}:Enter
John Mac

Trad climber
Littleton, CO
Dec 6, 2011 - 04:13pm PT
Lots of great ideas...

I'd certainly support a grass roots "expedition" fund.
Andy Middleton

Trad climber
Cow Hampshire
Dec 6, 2011 - 04:51pm PT
Make it impossible for someone to post on a thread unless they have read all the previous posts on that thread.... a man can dream.
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Dec 6, 2011 - 04:57pm PT
Please, name another forum where the owner checks in and takes feedback like CMac does.

Strong work man.
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Dec 6, 2011 - 05:12pm PT
In the Forum: On the same line as Forum topic, Author, Last post and Msgs you could also have Views. It would be interesting to see the number of views since that is a popularity score.

There are times when people are not walking the talk as when one kind of threads is seen as unwanted OT at the same time as the number of views show that it is popular. Continually seeing the number of views could compensate for this gap between what is said to be popular and what is in reality (number of views) popular. If there is such a difference. At least that is my hypothesis.

I agree on the strong work. It is wise to collect feedback once in a while.
Rockin' Gal

Trad climber
Boulder
Dec 6, 2011 - 05:28pm PT
Ability to block users gets all of my votes.
Thanks for asking!
John Mac

Trad climber
Littleton, CO
Dec 6, 2011 - 07:26pm PT
Riley,
Just in case you aren't aware but we have an Iphone app now for mountain project with over 75K routes.

http://www.mountainproject.com/mobileApps.php

I see the two sites as being quite different. MP is a great place for route information, but Supertopo is unique in that where else can you communicate with the legends of the sport! I'm an admin for Mountain Project and spend a fair bit of time behind the scene, but I choose to converse with people on supertopo and the smaller campfire, bigwalls.net.

Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Dec 6, 2011 - 07:30pm PT
You should randomly, once a week, delete one political/religious/conspiracy theory thread. Pour encourager les autres, so to speak.
Captain...or Skully

climber
Where are you bound?
Dec 6, 2011 - 10:48pm PT
Homan.....There'd be some cryin' about that.

"My Posts! My precious posts!!"
jbaker

Trad climber
Redwood City, CA
Dec 6, 2011 - 11:07pm PT
It would be nice to be able to flag spam posts. ST, like most sites with user generated content, has been seeing an increase in spam posted by real people (not automated postings). On the site I work on, we allow people to flag spam posts. After a certain number of flags, if the user account is new, the post gets hidden until it is reviewed. If multiple posts are flagged, the account is blocked and all posts are hidden. If the account has been around, the post stays visible until it is reviewed. This gets most spam posts off the site quickly, while preventing people from hiding the legit content of someone they just don't like. Accounts can also be whitelisted.
goatboy smellz

climber
Nederland--Gulf Breeze
Dec 6, 2011 - 11:56pm PT
Brandon-

Please, name another forum where the owner checks in and takes feedback like CMac does.

TGR
Wide Fetish
Middendorf's big wall site
UK climbing
Mountain Project
Summitpost
14ers

Most of the forums I read tend to have owners who take care of the site.

I think some of you need to expand your horizons and realize ST is not the only game in town and as Riley already pointed out this model is very limited in global beta compared to MP or the next site we find ourselves on .

Sorry Chris, you should have stepped up and taken responsibility years ago and start chopping heads of the politicos who contribute zero climbing stoke.
BBA

climber
OF
Dec 7, 2011 - 01:11am PT
Better search to either allow three characters or to allow spaces within a string surrounded by quotes. As an example, if someone writes BBA is a dick, I can't find that out to defend myself or agree because I can't search for three characters or add a space in front or behind BBA to make it four.

thanks


Melissa

Gym climber
berkeley, ca
Dec 7, 2011 - 10:49am PT
Better search. There has to be free boilerplate code that lets you "advanced search" by field and do shorter strings.

Three forum tabs: Climbing, Politics, and Ourselves.
Hilt

Social climber
Utah
Dec 7, 2011 - 11:13am PT
I agree, we need to help people block others to prevent situations from getting out of control. Internet stalking is a real threat to many for all the wrong reasons.
Murzerker

Social climber
Land of Goats and Tacos
Dec 7, 2011 - 11:20am PT
Better search, and the ability to ignore/filter users. Other than that everything about this place rocks.

Edit: and the ability to subscribe to threads, (or favorite them).
labrat

Trad climber
Nevada City, CA
Dec 7, 2011 - 03:53pm PT
Calendar of upcoming climbing related events!
Erik
scuffy b

climber
dissected alluvial deposits, late Pleistocene
Dec 7, 2011 - 06:19pm PT
Did the search just change a bit?
In the past I have had to search for text within a post.
This morning it appeared I had an option to search for a thread title,
which I had previously been unable to do.
TKingsbury

Trad climber
MT
Dec 7, 2011 - 06:26pm PT
You're right scuffy!

Additionally if you search by authorname, it brings up every thread that user has started...

I wonder who has started the most threads?
Karl Baba

Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
Dec 8, 2011 - 01:54am PT
1. Put the search back how it was.

Yeah or change the defaults

Hate the new search, which looks within thread titles first, usually bringing up ancient threads instead of the current things I"m looking for.

Default should be "Within entire Forum" so we get fresher results

Thanks Buddy. Thanksless question!

peace

Karl
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Dec 8, 2011 - 03:14am PT
hey there say, scuffy b... and karl...

say, as to this:

Did the search just change a bit?
In the past I have had to search for text within a post.
This morning it appeared I had an option to search for a thread title,
which I had previously been unable to do


i DID just experience that, on the search tonight... *i needed to find the horse thread...

usually all i do, is type my name, and i get my recent threads... which usually is all i need...

or, someone elses name, and their recent thread...

now, i supposed the new way may be good--i may just need t get used to it, but:

it DID bring up all the old thread, according to title--that HAD my name i the title.. (I JUST wanted my name, as to being the poster)...

well, oops, NOW I HAD to REMEMBER what i had in the title or WHAT the major words were, so i COULD bring up my recent post on the horses...


was wondering if i couldn't remember, then, HOW would i ever do a search to find the thread, if my name-search only brought up those with name in the title...


a bit harder, but perhaps in the LONG RUN, it is better...
just that i need to get used to it, i reckon...

oh my... :)
i DID find the post though--i was just very surprised at how i had to get a 'battle plan' on how to do it, :))
scuffy b

climber
dissected alluvial deposits, late Pleistocene
Dec 8, 2011 - 07:52pm PT
now the search is working worse for me than formerly.
The phrase "drank wine and hit on my wife" used to get me to a post of
Prod's along with several other choices. Now I am told that phrase has
never appeared.
jaaan

Trad climber
Chamonix, France
Dec 11, 2011 - 12:23pm PT
I am starting to think about what should be focus of improvements in 2012 for SuperTopo.com...

Well unless a poster does what I just did, by quoting another poster, it's often impossible to tell who they are replying to and therefore difficult to follow a conversation. On the other side of the Atlantic, UKC solves this with a 'In reply to Chris McNamara' link back to another post. Would it be possible to incorporate this sort of feature? Or have I missed something?
Prod

Trad climber
Dec 11, 2011 - 01:30pm PT
Ban anyone who posts a cartoon pony/ unicorn/ weird uncomfortable images.

Prod.
Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Dec 11, 2011 - 02:47pm PT
Scuffy: enter the search words, hit "go". The new screen tells you it looked for the exact words you asked for, in that exact order. But it also allows alternatives, e.g. "search for post containing these words". Try that. (In other words, the default search is now exactly what you ask and nothing else - but there are alternatives.)

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=1096121&msg=1096877#msg1096877
rgold

Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
Dec 11, 2011 - 04:13pm PT
This reiterates other posts; I assume that isn't bad when looking for things folks would like to see.

1. I agree that the main forum should have columns for number of views and latest post as well as number of messages, with the option, as in the TR section to sort on any of those characteristics. In particular, sorting on number of views might bring up interesting threads that haven't garnered a lot of comments.

2. I can't say I see any great need for blocking specific posters, but I think the ability to hide entire threads would be very helpful.

Having a forum restricted to talk about climbing is actually rather boring; take a look at MP to get an idea what that is like. Part of the interest of Super Topo is that there are very interesting discussions going on that aren't strictly (or even tangentially) about climbing. But the trouble is that "interesting" is in the eye of the beholder.

I suspect that most people, given the opportunity to hide threads, will leave most of the climbing threads visible and then choose to hide some of the non-climbing threads; the net result will be an increase in participation in the climbing discussions, because they will be less likely to be lost, but no diminution of what each of us finds interesting in the non-climbing department, and no need for some kind of moderation imposed from above.
Chinchen

climber
Way out there....
Dec 14, 2011 - 12:51am PT
Has anyone asked for a POLL option yet? Those are fun....
R.B.

Trad climber
47N 122W
Dec 14, 2011 - 01:40am PT
If not already suggested, maybe a new column on the forum listing that gives the name of the last poster (it could even be truncated if column width is an issue.)
scuffy b

climber
dissected alluvial deposits, late Pleistocene
Dec 14, 2011 - 11:44am PT
Anders, as of today the search is much better.
However, for several days I could get no results from an exact phrase
which had worked well for me for quite a while.
Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 14, 2011 - 03:03pm PT
Two new SuperTopo Features (and most popular requests here): Video and Improved Search - see this thread
Tony Bird

climber
Northridge, CA
Dec 16, 2011 - 01:50am PT
a lot of us morph into backcountry skiers this time of year, and it seems we start inserting--hopefully not unwelcome--ski threads on ST.

ST has climbers, trad climbers, sport climbers, big wall climbers, gym climbers, ice climbers and social climbers on here. how about an identity slot for the "ski mountaineer"?
adatesman

climber
philadelphia, pa
Dec 16, 2011 - 09:09am PT
How about some sort of Best Of tab containing particularly worthwhile forum threads? Lots of great info here, but hard to find. Three that come to mind for me are http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1335975/Odd-pieces-of-gear-that-never-really-caught-on, http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=527817 (the Old Mystery Pro thread) and http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/286252/Bolts-from-the-wayback-machine.
Betelnut

Mountain climber
So. California
Dec 16, 2011 - 10:19am PT
Ban posts about missiles hitting the Pentagon.
Tony Bird

climber
Northridge, CA
Dec 16, 2011 - 10:32am PT
ban people who advocate control of free speech.

whoops--never mind.

:-D
lostinshanghai

Social climber
someplace
Dec 16, 2011 - 12:42pm PT
A link to “proper or correct use of equipment, correct placing of ‘BOLT’ rap/belay anchors, small tits [sp], excuse me tips for proper protection to keep the accidents down. Examples: When rapping using a 2” bong tied to one end of your main rap rope rather than a knot, plus the second rope clipped in so not to wonder off in the wind. Anchors on El Cap or main routes that have chains and not placing the carabiner over the chain but in one of the links itself. Jugs have a hole on top to add what [protection]? Look at or read safety literature that came with equipment rather than: Oh! This is the way I saw it or was taught.

Getting the community to say/add for comments good/bad or indifference to these ideas and more. Guys that know what they are doing no problem [Sport climbing] if they are happy with their system, it is just the new guys that take their first class, stop there then think they are ready for the big one.

So Tips/Trends/Safety issues would be good.
reddirt

climber
PNW
Dec 18, 2011 - 11:53pm PT
add some sort of a permanent button to Caltrans/Tioga Rd status
(not to be confused w/ a "when's 120 opening" thread/betting pool)
Sonic

Trad climber
Hilly, but no rocks Folsom, California
Dec 20, 2011 - 09:33am PT
Ability to upload photos from a smart phone
Griddable

climber
Northern California, living abroad
Dec 20, 2011 - 09:01pm PT
Perhaps an update to the new spiffier version of vbulletin; the interface at ST feels a little dated compared to other web forums out there. The new vbulletin supports a lot of features people have mentioned here. A migration may be some work, though.

A nice one is a greater visual distinction between unread threads, read threads, and threads with new post since the user commented in them. As of now, there just seems to be a slightly different link color for threads that have been clicked on.
slayton

Trad climber
Here and There
Dec 21, 2011 - 05:59am PT
Hi Chris,

First, I want to thank you for providing this forum and this database for those interested worldwide. The forum alone, despite it's drawbacks of political and otherwise threads, have been, and remain, a deep lesson into our sport. There are so many great historical thread on Supertopop. Again, I thank you.

I've read through most of this post, though I have missed the past several days, as such I apologize if my suggestion has already been made.

There are those on the forums who get up in arms when posts get buried. As it stands posts are done in a format where whatever post has been posted to is at the top of the line. My suggestion would be to allow posters the ability to flag individual posts that suit their interest, thereby having those individual posts rise to the surface.

I know nothing about the workings of your site or how practicable this might be. If possible it would keep from dividing and subdividing your site evermore.

Wishing you further success with your endeavors.

Happiest of Holidays!!

Sean
BrassNuts

Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
Dec 21, 2011 - 10:30am PT
Maybe this has already been suggested, but how about an auto slide show on the home page, perhaps similar to the one on Mountain Project? It's nice to just watch some nice images roll by when you have a few minutes to kill...
Stein

Sport climber
San Diego, CA
Dec 21, 2011 - 04:46pm PT
Supertopo has some fantastic discussions in the forums, lost within a sea of junk.

Anything that helps to push down the junk or highlight the better posts would be of great value.

For example, some sites (e.g., Amazon, Engadget) use a similar scheme where readers can vote "+1" for posts that they feel bring value. Posts and threads with higher scores somehow get highlighted.

Other sites have a button "Flag as inappropriate" or a "-1" button. Once enough people have flagged the post negatively, it is minimized or eliminated.

A fancier version associates over time a score to users based on the feedback received. New posts from that person start off with a bias.
hairyapeman

Trad climber
Fres-yes
Dec 21, 2011 - 05:51pm PT
The ability to rotate a photo once uploaded.

YES! OH GOD YES!
Big Mike

Trad climber
BC
Dec 21, 2011 - 10:25pm PT
A Vimeo embedded option within the youtube video button... shouldn't be too hard just a tiny modification in the code.

I would also like to be able to have a favorites list which i can add threads to from the main forum list.
AlexCobbs

Trad climber
Santa Fe, NM
Dec 21, 2011 - 11:24pm PT
I'd like to see a feature were you could favorite topics posted in the forum , any way to put a star to them to rate them would be cool too.
Gene

climber
Dec 21, 2011 - 11:28pm PT
More O/W threads on the front page.
Jim Clipper

Social climber
forests to tree farms
Dec 21, 2011 - 11:29pm PT
more please
bmacd

Mountain climber
100% Canadian
Feb 13, 2012 - 02:09pm PT
button on every post to flag as objectionable material
Stewart Johnson

climber
lake forest
Feb 13, 2012 - 09:59pm PT
why dont you throwdown for a big party Chris?
LuckyPink

climber
the last bivy
Feb 13, 2012 - 10:06pm PT
smart phone app
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