As I was using the old replies format, which looked like the illustration below — very efficient use of area and no glaring white-space — it changed, right before my eyes, to <big>THAT ONE ABOVE. Which currently displays only about 9 replies total. That’s it.</big>
Compare that with the previous layout:
<big>In any lively discussion worth mention, an individual kosak may easily receive considerably more than 9 replies to her/his comments. The new layout is so vertically space-wastey that an unknown number of replies apparently are put out of reach now.</big>
<big>Even if this REPLIES layout is a construction-in-progress format, eventually allowed to run to howevermany pages necessary for listing all replies within the past two days —as before— all the glaring white-space and need for considerable scrolling will continue to pose a considerable obstruction to free and open discussion.
It’s hard to tell for WHOSE use and purposes this new layout was designed, but from the viewpoint of efficiency and access, it’s not for kosaks receiving replies who may want to rec or reply to them in turn. </big>
We all know the basic principle of design for things meant to be useful: form must follow function:
“Whether it be the sweeping eagle in his flight, or the open apple-blossom, the toiling work-horse, the blithe swan, the branching oak, the winding stream at its base, the drifting clouds, over all the coursing sun, form ever follows function, and this is the law. Where function does not change, form does not change. The granite rocks, the ever-brooding hills, remain for ages; the lightning lives, comes into shape, and dies, in a twinkling.
“It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic, of all things physical and metaphysical, of all things human and all things superhuman, of all true manifestations of the head, of the heart, of the soul, that the life is recognizable in its expression, that form ever follows function. This is the law.”
The link next to the RECENT COMMENTS WITH REPLIES header does take the reader to the full COMMENTS function, which appears to run to an infinite number of pages. Replies can indeed be accessed here as well. But the inefficiency and visual obstructiveness of the design exists here almost identically, and can’t but discourage discussion simply by making it extremely time-consuming and hand-motion-heavy to do.
Since we see that the new format doesn’t involve a font size likely to benefit anyone with visual impairment, there’s no trade-off for good purposes evident at all.
I hope the tech crew will be allowed to reconsider, and find ways to restore efficiency to the REPLIES layout.
If a new style of aesthetics is the point, that’s fine. As long as it’s prioritized BELOW easy, utilitarian functionality.
All comments — ;-) — on this viewpoint are welcome. How well we’ll be able to respond to one another is uncertain at this time.
<big>Just a mention: earlier today, techstaff-member elfling posted: New user pages at Daily Kos, which appears to be about the changes to COMMENTS and REPLIES lists, altho’ the title isn’t clear about that. Anyone reading here who feels inclined to add feedback there, please do!!</big>