In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
There's been talk (here for instance) of frustrations among members by the tendency of certain conversations to die off quickly. Likely this is an unfortunate but natural consequence of having so many good converations. However, it's also likely that many conversations die prematurely due to inefficient use of the site among members, particularly new members.
Please note: To efficiently monitor which conversations are hot, and to breathe new life into otherwise petering-out conversations, please make liberal use of the "Recently Active" button. This button puts the most recently commented upon conversations to the front of the line. Your days of scrolling and scrolling in search of activity (and memorizing the number of comments for each conversation) are over!
Also, you'll soon notice there's a "Recently Active" subculture here at Ricochet, in which past conversations--on some rare occasions weeks, even months, old--rise again, but only among the routine users of that glorious button.
Join the fun.
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May '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
I like the "recently active" button under the "conversations I'm following" tab. Narrows down the topics even further when time is limited.
Dec '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
Thanks.
Dec '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
A reworked "Most Active" button might also help extend conversations.
For instance, it might be more useful if it listed conversations that garnered the most posts in past several days instead of in the past several months.
Sep '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
Thanks for this, I'm commenting from the recently active list for the first time, it's definitely useful!
May '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
Glad to hear it, Franco--thought that might be the case.
I myself was here a month before I noticed it, and then only because Rob pointed it out. (His exact words when thanked, memorable because they had that subtle Rob humor: "That's my job. My job is to point out the 'Recently Active' button.")
Rob, if you're out there, maybe a permanent reminder somewhere would be useful.
Edited on Feb 13, 2011 at 11:55amMay '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
Thanks! I had no idea that sorting option was available.
May '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
You're welcome.
Attention editors: Wow. If Aaron Miller, who's as devoted and active as any member, and who's been here from the start, was unaware of this button and its usefulness, the lack of awareness must be pretty widespread.
Really, addressing this issue in some manner (highlighting the button more dramatically? pointing it out here and there on the podcasts?) might pay real dividends in promoting deep, prolonged conversation here at Ricochet (imho and fwiw).
Edited on Feb 13, 2011 at 10:43amJun '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
Dang, first I heard of it, too. Thanks!
May '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
Well, that I missed it isn't really surprising. If you knew me in person, you'd realize I have an extraordinary talent for missing the obvious.
I suggest adding a beginner's guide to Member Tips (top-right on the Member Feed) and possibly even making Member Tips into a tab. The tabs seem more noticeable.
But I've been a member so long that I no longer know what a beginner's eyes would be drawn to.
May '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
One last point and then I'll shut up: It's important to create the expectation among members (and contributors, too, probably) that their new comments to old conversations have a reasonable chance of being noticed; otherwise they'll keep these late-occurring thoughts to themselves, which would be a shame. Promoting more habitual use of the RA button would accomplish this.
Sep '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
Excellent points. There is also a time thing happening too. I'm on the East coast and I tend to get up very early, like 5 AM, so I am usually greeted with a couple of new posts from Clare and I get the leftovers from the previous night. I don't think there is much can be done about that, but I guess I'm saying that some threads are dead by the time I get to them and any recent comment I make gets lost in the next days' deluge.
I would be content if people who start threads at least just attend to them every say, 24 hours. Hey, they started it, they asked the question(s) and then they are done? I don't get it.
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
These are really useful comments--thank you, everyone. I'll confess that the unawareness of the "recently active" button extends to me--I mean, I knew about it, of course, but hadn't realized Ricochet has a "recently active" subculture.
You guys own this place more than you realize.
Jul '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
I had no idea.
I need to get around more.
I can't help but think what else I'm missing.
Jan '11
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
RSS is more efficient for the user than continuously refreshing a webpage.
Also, there is no need for topic previews on the Following page. Since you're following that conversation, presumably, you already know what it's about. This will be a better use of screen space, allowing people to follow more conversations more closely in the event that they are to continue hitting F5/CMD-r.
Oct '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
where is this recently active button located?
Jan '11
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
Look at the "Sorted By:" bar at the top of either the Feed pages. If you still can't find it, I suggest using your browser's Find function.
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
Part of the problem is that it doesn't look like a button. This should help you find it:
Oct '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
thanks blue and full.
Edited on Feb 13, 2011 at 8:43pmSep '10
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
Claire Berlinski, Ed.: These are really useful comments--thank you, everyone. I'll confess that the unawareness of the "recently active" button extends to me--I mean, I knew about it, of course, but hadn't realized Ricochet has a "recently active" subculture.
You guys own this place more than you realize. · Feb 13 at 11:48am
Careful.
I saw an encoded message from LaJunta Berlinsca and the implicit encouragement that we "own" this place may begin a movement for full democracy on Ricochet where we establish a legislature, executive branch, lobbying groups and beverage service.
Re: In Praise of the "Recently Active" Button
I agree. It's not well publicized, but our RSS feed is here. This is only for the Main Feed, it does not capture the Member Feed.