Community Tools Status
Hey everyone,
We're getting a lot of email and comments asking what's going on. I'll try to explain:
We're still in the midst of upgrading our software. While we sort some of these issues out, we have temporarily disabled recommending, the dashboard and following functionality. These features will be back shortly.
Many of you have written in about having trouble logging in. YOU do not have to create a new account-- your old account is still here. If you can't log in, clear your cache and cookies, and try again. We're looking into permissions problems on log in. If you can't log in at all, let us know, and we'll reset it manually.
I'll be answering questions in the comments thread. If you get a specific error message or run into anything unexpected, let me know.
Personally, while there are some glitches, I'm thrilled with the new changes. And I'm trusting you .... this time!
October 13, 2008 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, that means a lot. We're working as hard as we can to clean things up and make this a community you love.
October 13, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Still no easy way back to the main TPM site from the Movable Type portion of the site. You get lost in Limbo once you click on Blog Now and try to edit a post.
The only you way don't get lost in that work-flow is if you post a new blog. There are at least two other functions that could take people there including editing a previous blog or sorting through comments.
Are we supposed to be able to edit or delete or own comments from the "Manage" comments section?
October 13, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Click the little page icon (it looks like a mini web page) - the last option on the right in the backend toolbar. That will flip you back to the front end of your blog. We're looking into ways to make this easier and more obvious.
October 13, 2008 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
1) I am logged in and out depending on what page I visit, without me doing anything, if that helps you with the permissions problem.
I just commented on Donal's thread, then I was logged out. I came here to your thread from the Recommend List link to comment and I was logged out. I went back to TPMCafe home page and I was logged in. Then I came here and I am logged in.
2) I remember seeing a "Follow Me" link somewhere when I first signed in on the new software. But since then, I haven't seen any.
You say you have disabled dashboards, are the "Follow Me" links supposed to be on people's dashboard pages, is that why I don't see them? Is the system supposed to be if we click on people's name we get their dashboard?
3) You forgot to put the "All Reader Blogs" link at the bottom of the menu list of "Recent Reader Blogs," though you have it on Election Central under "Recommended Blogs." I think that link is the way a lot of people get to the Reader Blog page. We could use one of those somewhere on the TPMCafe main page. You have that link on all user's pages now but if you are presuming that many using the site will go to their page first--I think that is mistaken--lurkers, for example, won't have a user page.
(BTW, don't know how many people are like me, but personally, I think I will use other user's pages more than my own. I surf a site like this like this: I'm reading a TPMCafe post, I see someone post a great comment, I click on their name and look for other things they are posting on, because it might be a good thread with other interesting commenters on it, then I move on to other interesting commenters' lists. From my experience, I think a lot of people do that. They don't necessarily want to "follow" that poster like a fan, it's just that they want a way to get to threads of their own taste. It's still a poor subsitute for what I, and I know others prefer, a global chronological list of every comment being posted on the site, with the first few words, to look for the interesting threads, but seems you've moved beyond that capability with your audience size and capability. Just saying because it gives the gist.)
October 13, 2008 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Artappraiser -- a lot of this stuff will be cleared up when we reenable the tools (which we are already in the process of doing). I'll also fix that all reader posts link.
The dashboard shows a list of actions from people you follow. You can also see lists of other peoples' actions in the comments/recommends tabs of their blog. I think these tools will make it much easier to find new and interesting content all over the site. A good way to see recent comments is to switch to the comments tab in your dashboard. It'll be back soon, I promise.
October 13, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
1) Correction
I see you still have a link to all reader blogs on the main right side menu on TPMCafe page.
2) Want to take a moment to praise you for this page:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/how_to_use_the_tpm_community_t.php
It shows an awareness of audience far far better than any other techie type people that I have seen handle (if you can call it that) software changes here in the last 3 years. You have renewed my hope that some people working in tech can "get it." :-)
October 13, 2008 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi Al:
Now when I try to post a comment, I get this message (even though my comment has posted):
Hitting Refresh doesn't refresh the page (I think it posts the comment again). In any case, I get off the page altogether, and when I return, the comment has posted.
October 13, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you don't see a sidebar on the page you're commenting on, you'll get this message. Soon all pages will have sidebars, and it won't be an issue.
October 13, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
My dash is back!
Gasket, I'm still trying to figure out how you are following people that that seem to still have no sidebar.
October 13, 2008 7:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sneaky that way.
October 14, 2008 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you still loading Contributor's posts?
Because when you click on Reed Hundt's name it has his last post as Feb. 12:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/rehundt/
Jim Sleeper's says
TPM Maintenance
Maintenance is currently being performed on Talking Points Memo. Full functionality will return shortly. We appreciate your patience.
Return to the home page.
and Theda Skocpol's says the same; earlier in the day I clicked on her name on a blog post and was taken to a user page for her that said she didn't have any blog posts.
Hoping that we will be able to find all older posts by contributors by clicking on their name.
October 13, 2008 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really really appreciate the direct links to the comments from the users' comments lists and the preview. Those two things are worth a lot of other pain in adjusting and any other changes.
Oh and just FYI on the login and out thing, I'm on dialup--and when I started writing this comment, I was logged out, but then all of a sudden, while I was writing it, it jumped to a "logged in" entry box! So there is some kind of lag going on, the logged-in status loads much later than other things on the page. (BTW, I don't expect websites these days to build themselves around dial-up speeds, will deal with whatever problems that causes, just thought mentioning it might be helpful for others.)
October 13, 2008 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm wondering if you rolled this out a little too soon.
I'm having similar problems that others are describing: no dashboard (okay you had to disable to get something working), can write a blog but cannot get back to main TPM pages like Reader Posts, or TPMEC. The log in/log out thing -- and I've got DSL.
One minute after I posted a blog, I'm in the Recommended Readers list with no comments and no rec's. That's got to be wrong!
Over the weekend, I tried to login to the beta site, but your email link only seemed to work from gmail and yahoo, when I have and use primarily hotmail/win live mail. Got so fed up with process, I just bailed (like McCain, LOL).
I know you're trying, but this doesn't feel "done" enough yet. Needs a few more hours in the oven.
Alas, patience is truly a virtue.
October 13, 2008 7:27 PM | Reply | Permalink