Link Menus November 19, 2007 7:39 PM Subscribe
A few small suggestions concerning the Links menu.
Not a huge deal, just a few ideas and inconsistencies.
1. It'd be nice if the MefiWiki could be linked on all the site link menus and not just on the MetaTalk link menu. There's lot's of additional information and context in there that might help new users looking around the blue or green or dare I say, Music, that may not visit MetaTalk or spot it there, and it would save clicks for the lazy bookmarkers among us (e.g., me)
2. I think it would be cool to remove the "Home" link. It just redirects the user to the index of whatever section of the site they are currently browsing, which can be done under the Sites Menu a few inches to the right. I feel like removing the connotation of home in addition to just visually reminding the user of the other sections (cough cough, Music) would be good. It's also redundant.
3. The FAQ link should be added to the link menu on all the sites, not just MetaTalk. It's hidden away down and to the right under the copyright stuff everywhere except MetaTalk, where it appears both there and in the link menu. I'd say take out "Home" on all of them, bump everything up one, and stick the FAQ on the bottom. Or even in place of Home at the very top on all the link menus, so maybe more folks will read it.
Just a couple thoughts, maybe a little break from the MeTa weirdness lately.
Not a huge deal, just a few ideas and inconsistencies.
1. It'd be nice if the MefiWiki could be linked on all the site link menus and not just on the MetaTalk link menu. There's lot's of additional information and context in there that might help new users looking around the blue or green or dare I say, Music, that may not visit MetaTalk or spot it there, and it would save clicks for the lazy bookmarkers among us (e.g., me)
2. I think it would be cool to remove the "Home" link. It just redirects the user to the index of whatever section of the site they are currently browsing, which can be done under the Sites Menu a few inches to the right. I feel like removing the connotation of home in addition to just visually reminding the user of the other sections (cough cough, Music) would be good. It's also redundant.
3. The FAQ link should be added to the link menu on all the sites, not just MetaTalk. It's hidden away down and to the right under the copyright stuff everywhere except MetaTalk, where it appears both there and in the link menu. I'd say take out "Home" on all of them, bump everything up one, and stick the FAQ on the bottom. Or even in place of Home at the very top on all the link menus, so maybe more folks will read it.
Just a couple thoughts, maybe a little break from the MeTa weirdness lately.
Aren't they the same headers if you're not logged in? I think having a FAQ on the front page of MeFi proper would be helpful for non-logged in users, who might not want or know to go to MeTa for that link; the wiki, not so much. Like carsonb said, that's kind of our stuff, and you need to know where it is before you get access to it all.
posted by yhbc at 8:04 PM on November 19, 2007
posted by yhbc at 8:04 PM on November 19, 2007
I meant, on the header of the front page of MeFi proper. MeFi is such a long front page, anyone who needs a FAQ probably won't scroll down all the way to the bottom to find it.
posted by yhbc at 8:06 PM on November 19, 2007
posted by yhbc at 8:06 PM on November 19, 2007
I'm rereading your ideas, lazaruslong, and I applaud your efforts to make my plea easier for those who would take the time to read the archives, wiki, FAQ, and guidelines. But they're all, save one (guidelines), available from any MetaFilter page. The header and footer links don't have to be mirrors of one another. Nothing is tucked away, and everything is available to those who would look for it ('cept the guidelines—the only link I could find for that on a cursory search was from the MetaFilter New Link page).
posted by carsonb at 8:11 PM on November 19, 2007
posted by carsonb at 8:11 PM on November 19, 2007
the only link I could find for [the guidelines] on a cursory search was from the MetaFilter New Link page.
It also appears once in the About page and twice in the the new user message. I might appear elsewhere, that's just the two other places I remember seeing it.
posted by RichardP at 8:57 PM on November 19, 2007
It also appears once in the About page and twice in the the new user message. I might appear elsewhere, that's just the two other places I remember seeing it.
posted by RichardP at 8:57 PM on November 19, 2007
Also, you should make the logo bigger.
posted by grouse at 11:50 PM on November 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by grouse at 11:50 PM on November 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Speaking of the logo, I dare say it'd be nice if its link targeted _self...
That it's untargeted (and thus opens a new window when your prefs are set as mine are) is one of those quirks of the site that I'm never going to get used to. Or at least, never stop wishing that it were different.
posted by mumkin at 10:33 AM on November 20, 2007
That it's untargeted (and thus opens a new window when your prefs are set as mine are) is one of those quirks of the site that I'm never going to get used to. Or at least, never stop wishing that it were different.
posted by mumkin at 10:33 AM on November 20, 2007
Maybe it could be animated as well? Perhaps a lens-flare?
posted by blue_beetle at 1:11 PM on November 20, 2007
posted by blue_beetle at 1:11 PM on November 20, 2007
Say, did that invisible shetland pony of mine just get reified? 'Cos the logos appear to be targeting _self now. Or have I just not mistakenly clicked on a logo recently? Either way, thanks (I think).
posted by mumkin at 2:44 AM on November 22, 2007
posted by mumkin at 2:44 AM on November 22, 2007
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Or, you know, less than an inch to the left. I'm not so much against your ideas as I am against the idea that MetaFilter (and its subsites) should be easy. Learn the quirks of the site; it's akin to learning the community vibe before you sign up and/or start contributing. And for taco's sake, read the damn archives, wiki, FAQ, and guidelines.
posted by carsonb at 7:58 PM on November 19, 2007