AnswerBank Update Coming Monday (We Think!)

[AB Editor]

Good Afternoon,

We've got some good news - there's going to be a site update on Monday.

That's right, you now have an excuse to go to the pub this coming Monday - don't say we don't ever do anything nice for you!

Some things which might get upgraded/added while you're having a pint or three:

(if you've not got much time, just read 6 & 7! Quick!)

1. Improved Contact Us Page - Bigger text, bigger boxes, no requirement for a phone number (as it was causing some to head to spam) clearer and cleaner... we hope

2. Improved Registration Page - Believe it or not, some new users have trouble signing up or put the wrong information in the wrong place. We've improved the layout of the registration page to make everything clearer.

3. Improved Ads on Desktop and Mobile Sites - currently there's some spots on the site where we can't get the most for the space we've got. We're changing that. Better cash flow means better improvements down the line.

4. Housekeeping! - excitingly there's a few improvements to the tools I use to manage the site. This includes things like being able to move threads and categories around. We can finally move Crosswords to a top-level category! I can FINALLY move your stray questions into the right category!

5. Deactivate Account Button - Those who want to leave AB (for whatever reasons) will be able to revoke their account with the click of a button. It makes flounces more fun and flounce denounces even funnier.

6. Best Answers V 2.0 - You'll now be able to see threads where others have had their answer marked as best in the public profile.

7. Badges - To recognise the outstanding contributions of some members of this excellent website we've put together a "badge" system. Badges are earned through contributions to the site. They include things like the "newscaster" badge for posting a great number of threads in News and "debator" for contributing to a certain number of long threads. We'll reveal all the badges and how one would achieve them once the site is live.

Hope this all sounds palatable to you. We'll update you as we get closer to the launch.

Please let me know what you think.

All the best,

Ed

[jno]

working on it

http://www.bandstores...K-WHT-TS-33241201.jpg

[venator]

How about an ostracism thread, where anyone who gets say 50 votes is cast into the outer darkness?

[boxtops]

Nie one jno......

tilly deserves one for her current music thread

[venator]

How will our badges be displayed? can they be worn by our avatars? These and other questions will be answered in the fulness of time by Ab Editor pbuh !

[venator]

fullness?

[boxtops]

LOL, if you are really good, venator, you'll get the Acolyte badge plus some others, more on your arm than the average boy sprout.

[bibblebub]

Any chance of slipping in the addition of default text into the search box so that newbies might notice that a site search is available?

[daisya]

I hope the de-activate account button is put high up out of reach, don't want to press that inadvertently especially as I don't like writing grovelling letters (well unless it's for money heh heh).

[albaqwerty]

please please please please please please move the Report button.
I've nearly reported this thread 3 times :-D

[LochNessMonster]

Looking forward to the changes, Ed.

Well done !

Nessie

;-)

[jno]

hide it down the back of alba's sofa, she'll never find it there

[albaqwerty]

I found my mojo down there once.
Also found it on the back door-step too.

Safest bet, leave it on my door-step :-)

[butcherbilly1324]

Aye Ed it looks like most folk are looking forward to the new layout, Good luck...

[vivandorron]

daisya has made a good point about the 'de-activate' button being put high-up. Perhaps it should be similar to a 'delete' button where you are given a message "Are you sure you wish to leave AB..Yes..No"

Incidentally, will there be Badge for 'Badgering the Ed'.?

Ron.

[Baldric]

There will ron ron ron there will ron ron

[mrs_overall]

I personally think the t shirts are a bad idea.

"I'm an Answerbanker" sounds too much like a euphemism to me

[Psybbo]

At what time is the Ed sending us all to the pub?

[ChuckFickens]

I'd hope (imagine) that a deactivate button would take you to a page similar to the report page where you have to enter a reason before finally deactivating your account.

I'd be curious to know if a deactivation removes all a users posts or not.

[AB Editor]

Morning,

We might do a cafe-press type-thing when we've got this update out.

Ron, there isn't currently, but we plan to add badges as we go.

Something like "Head Badger - extensive services badgering the editorial team = 50+ posts in suggestsions/ed's blog"

Any other badge suggestions are welcome.

Just a reminder, it might be worth remembering to use the best answer function next time you start a thread, it's one of the main metrics for deciding who should get a badge.

Badges will be visible in the Public Profile and the "My Profile" sections.

You'll be able to see my badges here after the update: http://www.theanswerb...uk/members/ab-editor/

[gness]

Ahhhhh! I hope the deactivate button doesn't act instantly. I never do flounces because I'm too nosy but lord......can I press wrong buttons. Often involving fire alarms. :-(