Threading of photo comments - DPChallenge Forums

02/21/2008 04:45:07 PM · #1

I'm sure everyone's tired of discussions about comments, and this'll likely get lost on the high seas of more controversial discussions, but I think threading the comments section of photos would be a neat idea. People can respond to others' comments, and it might make more sense when a photographer responds to a particular comment. There'd be a natural flow of commentary, some responses, with questions answered etc., some new comments.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/21/2008 04:47:48 PM · #2

oddly enough I had the same or similar thought today. I much prefer comments as a dialog, not a monologue and threading would encourage that, along with perhaps some indication to the original commenter of a response having been made to their comment.

I know some object to that idea as their comment/opinion isn't open for discussion, so I suppose this could or should be optional, too.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

02/21/2008 04:52:05 PM · #3

Just to help me get my brain around it.

As it is now. There is a picture. Below it are comments. If I, as the photographer, want to comment on a comment, I quote that person and reply. etc. Or, if I as the viewer, want to comment on a comment, I have to quote the comment I want to reply to and then reply to it.

What you are proposing. Is obviously different from this, or you wouldn't have proposed it. Where/How are you wanting it?

trevytrev

Canon EOS-5D

02/21/2008 04:53:41 PM · #4

I think it would be a nice feature. If someone leaves you a comment, question or remark, you(the photographer) could respond specifically to that post. They would be interlocked with each other and on the same line. It would make for a much better flow than what is present now and how photogs respond to comments left on their pics.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/21/2008 04:55:09 PM · #5

well, consider it another way. It is very rare to see a discussion occur around an image. Not a series of unrelated comments, but actual discussions. How could you promote that more ?

02/21/2008 05:00:33 PM · #6

Originally posted by karmat:

Oh, it's threaded with indentations, logical organization of the comments that are quoted one under the other, etc. I don't know how old you are, nor would I DARE ask ;-) but if you've been around and have seen the old WWWBoard discussion board software, that's what's in my mind. Though much better. :-)

02/21/2008 05:05:37 PM · #7

I'm old (but not as old as Alan), but relatively new to the 'net stuff, in the big picture. It's not like craigslist forums (or some of the yahoo groups), is it? Where you have a "subject" and a line coming down from it showing the responses, etc.?

02/21/2008 05:08:27 PM · #8

Originally posted by karmat:

Yeah, or YouTube (though I really hate to make any comparison to the YouTube commenting disaster). Just a better visual cue for comments, so it's clear when the photog is answering questions, or commenters can answer other commenters, and so forth.

hanneke

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/21/2008 05:12:48 PM · #9

Originally posted by Louis:

Originally posted by karmat:
I'm old (but not as old as Alan), but relatively new to the 'net stuff, in the big picture. It's not like craigslist forums (or some of the yahoo groups), is it? Where you have a "subject" and a line coming down from it showing the responses, etc.?

Yeah, or YouTube (though I really hate to make any comparison to the YouTube commenting disaster). Just a better visual cue for comments, so it's clear when the photog is answering questions, or commenters can answer other commenters, and so forth.

quote?

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

02/21/2008 05:17:49 PM · #10

Kind of like:


Louis comment

  |

  |

 Another comment

    |

    |

   A third comment



A new commment

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

02/21/2008 05:20:43 PM · #11

Isn't that pretty much how it looks when people use the "Quote Post" button? I don't see how it's different enough to warrant constructing a whole new interface.

As Gordon pointed out, I think the problem is more how to get people to write and respond to comments at all than the precise order in which they're listed on the page.

Message edited by author 2008-02-21 17:21:00.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

02/21/2008 05:20:46 PM · #12

Most of the images I've looked at don't need threading as all the comments are related to the image not to each other.

Sure, answering questions would fit with this but what's wrong with the quoting function? If it ain't broke don't fix it comes to mind.

hanneke

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/21/2008 05:21:47 PM · #13

so, when I comment on the 1st Louis comment, it will be in THAT thread, instead of at the bottom or top of the row?

howzit

02/21/2008 05:27:24 PM · #14

how about this idea (LOL - another suggestion)

When a user submits a photograph for a challenge or their own portfolio, there is an option (checkbox) that allows for comments or no comments. Maybe the user doesn't want comments at all - and would certainly be free from the likes of what we have heard. If they select yes to comments - then they will have to take the good with the bad, and report the ones that fall outside of the ToS.

For the record, I voted to keep things the way they are. But I felt a little left out of all the suggestion making (LOL)

Arcanist

Nikon D810

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

02/21/2008 05:27:29 PM · #15

The primary advantage of the suggested threading is to create a tree-like navigation of commentary that does not require the quoting of an individual comment, but rather keeps the conversation about that one comment tied together. As it is now, the quote and comment feature places that whole comment above the other discussions/comments and it may be difficult to track the conversations if multiple comments are being discussed.

Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Canon

02/21/2008 05:53:58 PM · #16

I've always found that tree thing hard to follow. Is it just something you get used to doing?

goldenhawkofky

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

02/21/2008 05:58:32 PM · #17

Originally posted by karmat:

I've always found that tree thing hard to follow. Is it just something you get used to doing?

Yeah me too and it can be aggravating if you have a sloooow connection

02/21/2008 05:59:46 PM · #18

Originally posted by goldenhawkofky:

Originally posted by karmat:
I've always found that tree thing hard to follow. Is it just something you get used to doing?

Yeah me too and it can be aggravating if you have a sloooow connection

Hehehe. i have the epitome of slow connection. :(

goc

Apple iPhone 4

02/21/2008 06:02:27 PM · #19

press "quote"
think
write
submit
have a nice day
:_)

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

02/21/2008 06:19:52 PM · #20

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Well I think what Louis and Gordon maybe getting at is the current way is not conducive to discussing a photograph. What you have is just a freefall of comments so if someone does try and open things up for discussion it gets lost in a sea of "nice job", "congrats" type of comments. A threaded structure may allow for more worthwhile discussions to take place. For example, the photographer could start one about his setup process or the motivation/story behind the photo, etc.

ETA: You could also make it so that each photo automatically has a general discussion thread, critique thread, etc or make those customizable in preferences.

Message edited by author 2008-02-21 18:27:10.

02/21/2008 06:26:46 PM · #21

Originally posted by yanko:

ETA: You could make it so that each photo automatically has a general discussion thread, critique thread, etc or make those options that you can turn on or off.

In the forums? THAT would be a lot of generated threads.

Message edited by author 2008-02-21 18:27:06.

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

02/21/2008 06:28:15 PM · #22

Originally posted by karmat:

Originally posted by yanko:

ETA: You could make it so that each photo automatically has a general discussion thread, critique thread, etc or make those options that you can turn on or off.

In the forums? THAT would be a lot of generated threads.

No on the photo pages. The thread headers and replies to them would be collapsible.

Message edited by author 2008-02-21 18:28:37.

Beetle

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/21/2008 06:36:17 PM · #23

I like that idea a lot. It would encourage discussions that are coherent and more likely to become more in-depth and therefore (hopefully) more useful.

Just because it "ain't broke" doesn't mean it couldn't be better.

yanko