Update
April 21, 2010
Due to overwhelming requests that we return to our former chatty format, we are modifying our new posting style. Short responses will be posted in our original format, and we will only be using the “read more” format for very long letters. Thanks for your valuable feedback.
Dear Gentle Readers,
What’s That Bug? is pleased to announce our brand new feature, a mobile friendly version of the website for you mobile browsers with iphones, androids, blackberries, and such. Our webmaster stayed up all night and cooked up a mobile-friendly version of whatsthatbug.com! Visit us from your iPhone, Blackberry, Android, or WebOS phone. If you want to see the site in the non-mobile format, there is a link at the bottom of the page on the mobile version. Please send us some feedback! Enjoy.
We have also changed the way our posts are viewed. Now you will need to click “Continue Reading…” to find out the answers. Let us know what you think.
Negative Feedback
Complaint about the new layout of the website
April 11, 2010
Hi Bugman,
I love your website and I really appreciate all the effort you go through to answer questions. I feel bad about complaining, but I have to say that the new layout of your website, which forces readers to click on a link to read your responses to questions, is really annoying and unnecessary. It’s a pain because now I can’t just scroll down the website and glance through everything. I would be really thankful and relieved if you could have your webmaster switch back to the old format. I love your website though! Keep up the good work.
Brandon A.
Hello, Brandon.
I am the webmaster. I am trying this out for a week or so, and I appreciate the feedback. My goal was to encourage people to click to the full page so that they see the comments, the links to related articles, etc. My hope is that this will allow people to take more full advantage of the site. With that in mind, will you stick around and give me some more feedback in a week?
Thank you,
(the other) Daniel
More Negative Feedback
ID Answer Format
April 15, 2010
Hi Daniel,
I’ve not been on WTB for a few days so maybe I’ve missed a post about this. Suddenly I have to click on a link to see the explanation of bug queries. What’s with that? I like being able to just scroll down and read the whole thing like you’ve always had it. A lot of times I don’t read the whole question but almost always read what you have to say. If I have to click to read the rest it takes twice as long and hitting the back arrow doesn’t put me at the same place I was previously on the page.
Don’t want to complain cuz I love your site and have been a faithful reader since 2004. Wow!! what a long time! But it’s true. And you’ve posted several of my images and answered my questions. Just curious about the change in format.
I’ve loved your site for years, and visit daily- you do a fantastic job! Sadly, I must admit that the new way posts are viewed (by clicking “Read More”) leaves a lot to be desired. If possible, please change it back to the scrolldown format!
I don’t like the new format much, either, but I figure you guys can do what you want with your website, as long as it works. Trouble is, it doesn’t work. None of the photos are posting on my browser (IExplorer). Looking forward to perusing the site daily like I usually do, but it’ll have to wait until this all gets worked out.
Have a great day!
Thanks for the input melvisrules. As with any transition, there are bound to be a few bugs that need to get worked out, and our webmaster is trying to eradicate all the glitches in this new system.
Hi, folks. This is Daniel, the webmaster.
My hope with the excerpts rather than the entire post on the front page is that people will get more involved with the site and delve more deeply into it. When you click ‘Continue Reading…’ you will find, along with the rest of the post, links to related posts and the comments on the post. At that point, you can post comments of your own.
A secondary purpose of the new posting style is twofold – the front page will load much more quickly, and you can easily skim through the page to see which posts interest you.
It is entirely possible that I am off base, in which case I will switch back to full posts. But please give it a try for a week or so while I get more feedback and fine-tune things.
Daniel
I am not a fan of the new format either. I think I would like it better if it didn’t take you to a different page. I would rather the page just expand to reveal the info rather than transport you somewhere else.
I find that I am not a fan of the new layout. I know that this has been posted for awhile now, but I have just recently moved so I haven’t been able to check the site. I agree with crazyaboutbugs that it would probably be a bit better if the page would rather just expand with the posted information rather than taking you to a different page. I know that I am just one person, but it seems a few others share my opinion as well. I like the idea of helping with the loading (though I’ve never had any issues with that) and whether or not you all decide to change it back, I will still continue to visit the site as readily as possible.
How do I post a picture of a bug I am trying to identify?
You need to use the Ask What’s That Bug? form for submitting an identification request.