Web sites do it!

June 9, 2009 4:54 AM

Other sites have a little tick mark or a "new" tag for posts that you haven't seen. Can MetaFilter do this also? Yeah, I know that MeFi has the "xx new posts" thingie, sbut should/could it mark the new ones? (I have been reading MeFi and AskMe for some time. I have registered andposted a few times in AskMe. Heck, I've even had a MeFi post deleted by Jessamyn! But this is my MetaTalk first time.)
posted by Drasher to feature requests at 4:54 AM (24 comments total)

Do other sites have a spell check feature?
*Don't worry. I was just as excited as you when Jessamyn took my virginity!
posted by gman at 5:21 AM on June 9

OOPS! Sorry. Some sites allow editing after the fact too... duh. (And I am usually using FF so I should know better.)
posted by Drasher at 5:26 AM on June 9

If you use an RSS reader you can get this functionality.

There may be some primate lube that can get the job done, too. I have one script (Mefi Navigator?) that does what you're asking for comments.
posted by popechunk at 5:33 AM on June 9 [1 favorite]

(I have been reading MeFi and AskMe for some time. I have registered andposted a few times in AskMe. Heck, I've even had a MeFi post deleted by Jessamyn! But this is my MetaTalk first time.)

Woo! Yeah! High five! Go Drasher! Go Drasher! Go Drasher!

Today a MetaTalk post, tomorrow a song on music and then… A PROJECTS POST!

THE WORLD IS YOURS!!!
posted by Kattullus at 5:43 AM on June 9

Jesus Christ on a hoverboard when did I get so old jaded and bitter
posted by Kattullus at 5:45 AM on June 9 [2 favorites]

this would actually be a fairly good feature
posted by Kattullus at 5:46 AM on June 9 [1 favorite]

Christ, you kids and your damn requests. Why back in the day, we had to scroll up from wired connections at work just to track recent activity, you don't know how good you have it, just get off my lawn.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:57 AM on June 9 [1 favorite]

It's easy to spot new posts when you visit the site every 45 seconds or so. You should try it!
posted by Joe Beese at 6:38 AM on June 9 [1 favorite]

Plutor's MetaFilter Scroll Tag for Greasemonkey might be helpful.
posted by maudlin at 6:43 AM on June 9 [1 favorite]

gman writes "Do other sites have a spell check feature? "

Don't all input boxes have spell check? The amazing thing for me is all sites, even American ones are using a Canadian dictionary. Gives me the warm fuzzies every time I spell colour, neighbour or centre.
posted by Mitheral at 7:00 AM on June 9 [1 favorite]

All sites use Canadian spelling for me, too, but I think that's because I've installed the Canadian dictionary in Firefox. But hey, maybe it's happening anyway. Developers eat lots of doughnuts. There are a hell of a lot of Tim Hortons opening in the States. Connect the dots.
posted by maudlin at 7:09 AM on June 9

popechunk: "primate lube"

That's it, I quit.
posted by Plutor at 7:46 AM on June 9 [4 favorites]

Folks do seems to like that script maudlin linked to, so you may want to give it a shot if you're able.

One thing to keep in mind about the "x comments (y new)" thing is that when x = y, it is in fact a new post.

I realize I'm Captain Nerdlinger here for arguing that the solution is "do math", but it's pretty easy math.
posted by cortex at 8:06 AM on June 9

Kattullus
Woo! Yeah! High five! Go Drasher! Go Drasher! Go Drasher!
Today a MetaTalk post, tomorrow a song on music and then… A PROJECTS POST!
THE WORLD IS YOURS!!!

WOW! I'm impress... Wait! Just a sec, I hear the sarcasmometer going off...
[Won't Kattullus be surprised and pleased??!? I put in that Projects post this morning! :) ]

Brandon Blatcher
Christ, you kids and your damn requests. Why back in the day, we had to scroll up from wired connections at work just to track recent activity, you don't know how good you have it, just get off my lawn.

One moment of care my kind sir. You can get off my lawn! I have been using these computerific thingies since the late 1970's. Back in the day we had to use cassette tapes and wind up these things with a rubber band.
posted by Drasher at 9:38 AM on June 9

Do other sites have a spell check feature?

Doesn't every decent browser have built-in spellcheck?
posted by five fresh fish at 9:43 AM on June 9

Drasher: I hear the sarcasmometer going off...

This was honestly meant to be just a silly comment and then I looked at it after I had hit post and realized that I came off as a bitter, jaded old-timer. In my heart of hearts I'll always feel like a n00b on this site. I'm really very excited about all things MetaFilter and only get more excited as the years go by.

Goddamn, I freaking love this place!
posted by Kattullus at 10:20 AM on June 9

Doesn't every decent browser have built-in spellcheck?
posted by five fresh fish

Don't all input boxes have spell check?
posted by Mitheral

Drasher got it.
posted by gman at 10:33 AM on June 9

is this the point where somebody can just say "Lincoln Logs" or something?
posted by candyhammer at 11:48 AM on June 9

Kattullus
No offense taken whatsoever.
I really enjoy MeFi and AskMe.
posted by Drasher at 11:53 AM on June 9

Hell, I'm whistling at 110bps here, and it takes 3 seconds just for a line of text. Computers... BAH! Back in the day, we didn't even HAVE lawns. We told the kids to just stay away and they didn't listen to us even more! Why, back then, we... HEY! where the hell did my Ensure go?!
posted by not_on_display at 12:23 PM on June 9

It's easy to spot new posts when you visit the site every 45 seconds or so. You should try it!

Am I the only one that doesn't believe Joe Beese visits the site that infrequently? I would have had him down on the millisecond level.
posted by eyeballkid at 1:16 PM on June 9

Developers eat lots of doughnuts. There are a hell of a lot of Tim Hortons opening in the States. Connect the dots Timbits.
posted by Rock Steady at 1:55 PM on June 9

not_on_display:
he-he... "back in the day" I didn't have a printer... I hand wrote listings... for Z-80 assembler (an Exidy Sorcerer).
OK, OK, no more old-timer stuff...

[I didn't quite get the "Lincoln Logs" reference.]
posted by Drasher at 2:47 PM on June 9

To actually solve the "I don't know what threads I haven't read yet!" problem without changing the site: Get the feed for the front page in RSS. I read MeFi in Netvibes and it clearly bolds the threads I haven't seen yet.

Including AskMe, there are 124 threads I need to review between now and going to bed tonight. Oh no, I'm not obsessed. Not at all.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 4:22 PM on June 9