Sidebar in threads

[Mapantz]

Is there an option for members to turn it off? 

I'm not too keen on it.. It feels cramped. Also, when you scroll down the thread, there is just a big empty space that makes it look weird.

[Paul]

It's something we're testing at the moment, for a few reasons. One is readability, as narrowing the text can help with that. Another is utilising the sidebar space, which will may become particularly useful in an upcoming release of the community.

Obviously, we'll be taking feedback on board as we test.

[MAF]

Have to say i am not too keen on it either. turning it off or enabling it to minimise to the side would be good if possible.

[Methuselah]

I find it darned annoying! 

[StingJet]

3 hours ago, MAF said:

Have to say i am not too keen on it either. turning it off or enabling it to minimise to the side would be good if possible.

Perhaps optioned here?   for enabling / disabling

Edited November 3, 2023 by StingJet

[Josh Rubio]

I’m definitely not keen on this. It makes the threads too narrow and it’s also distracting seeing various pieces of content appear on the side whilst scrolling. 
 

Would like an option to disable it please. 

[Dancerwithwings]

17 hours ago, Paul said:

It's something we're testing at the moment, for a few reasons. One is readability, as narrowing the text can help with that. Another is utilising the sidebar space, which will may become particularly useful in an upcoming release of the community.

Obviously, we'll be taking feedback on board as we test.

Is this a PC thing, my iPad doesn’t show any such thing regarding a sidebar

thats it, right to left in my snap shot on my iPad 

[Paul]

Yes, it's just on wider screens

[casparjack]

I am with the above comments about the side-bar, even on a large monitor it feels very cramped and the content is a distraction.

Each to their own though, so an option to disable/enable would be great.

[Scuba steve]

9 hours ago, Dancerwithwings said:

Is this a PC thing, my iPad doesn’t show any such thing regarding a sidebar

thats it, right to left in my snap shot on my iPad 

My iPad shows. Side bar ,sorry it does disappear when I rotate ,lol

Edited November 4, 2023 by Scuba steve

[Dancerwithwings]

4 minutes ago, Scuba steve said:

My iPad shows. Side bar ,sorry it does disappear when I rotate ,lol

Same, also if held vertical and you scroll down, it’s now at the bottom 

So I’ve discovered with an iPad , it’s now called a bottom bar

[Methuselah]

Well, I'm honoured that having a 'wider screen' means I lose a third of it for a big white patch. . . If I wanted to see whatever's supposed to in that patch, I'd be happy to press a button.

What's the point? 

[Arch Stanton]

 please lets have a disable option, my laptop screen is small enough as it is

[ANYWEATHER]

Glad I've seen this! Thought something was wrong with my Ipad! Must admit it ,I don't like it either, seems wasted space to the right hand side of me as I'm typing, please can we have an option to turn it off or revert back to the original? Thanks ☺

[markyo]

A totally pointless and distracting change, not sure who thought this one up but it does not enhance or work at all. Very poor.

[I remember Atlantic 252]

yucky but admins must like it,, no sign of it being removed or disable button

[Methuselah]

It's just a waste of space.

[Paul]

As I said above, we're testing it for a bit. It's been switched on for 48 hours, so not enough time to gauge how it's used, gather feedback etc. 

For what it's worth,  the sidebar is on as default on this forum software, with many communities using it without too many issues. So, although it's different to what we're used to using on here, it's tried and tested so to speak.

As it stands there's no option available to allow individual users to switch it on and off, it's a global setting.

 

[MAF]

13 hours ago, Paul said:

snip..... it's a global setting.

 

bit like climate change  

[markyo]

6 hours ago, MAF said:

bit like climate change  

To true, very unwanted. Not seen one positive review yet, says it all.

[Dorsetbred]

As noted, it is distracting, when images are there, and the thread I'm reading. Then when it runs out of steam a third of my screen is black, which on a small laptop is frustrating. Option to include or not would be really useful, however if as Paul says it may hold functionality for a future forum update then maybe in that scenario it has it's uses, but for now I feel "cramped". Although I have managed to turn it off as noted by reducing the browser window width down to about 80%, then the side panel disappears, so less annoying.

Edited November 6, 2023 by Dorsetbred

[I remember Atlantic 252]

top right by username, near messages symbol, customizer fluid width off, I find better