Do you read threads over 100 posts?

[sweetheart]

Based on the performance limitations of either my computer or the DU servers, i avoid at all costs threads over 100 posts. It takes forever for them to come up (not even in view all mode) but if on view all, geez, i make coffee between clicks.

It is relevant for GD, in that politics and discussion become secondary to technology for me at 100. Sadly, the larger threads are often those where more complex discussions and views are debated. Is there a way to improve the architecture that threads could grow 10 times larger, yet remain coherent?

Maybe every 24 hours, a thread should be re-indexed to come up without rendering the entire tree for every user? Heck, maybe its just my slow computer... but i'm sorry for the threads i miss.

[Dr Satan]

1. no

I dont read any over 50.

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Yes

but, I have high speed cable..they load FAST and really don't take any longer to load than a thread with 2 posts....it just takes time to actually "read" them.

[RebelOne]

3. Sometimes if it is a topic that interests me.

[Padraig18]

4. Seldom

As a dialup user, threads over 100 and HUGEASS pics in signature lines annoy the *$^)*^%#*) out of me! :P

[sweetheart]

8. use your profile to turn off images

in the siglines.. its either profile or preferences, but you can turn them to an underlined blue world "image" which downloads a tad faster... i discovered that recenly, but it does not stop the exponential degredation in my browser performance with big threads .. ;-)

[Padraig18]

9. Thanks!

I hadn't noticed that option. God, it SUCKS to live in a part of America that has neither DSL nor cable-internet access. :bounce:

[HFishbine]

5. NO

5 is my limit.

[UTUSN]

10. LOL, So YOU're the One Reading My Threads n/t

[CoffeePlease1947]

6. I glance them, but rarely post on them unless I was the one that started

the thread. I think trying to post on a thread of 100+ posts is like trying to scream over the top of a whistling train. You are posting something that nobody will ever read.

Mike

[laura888]

7. I read them if I posted early on...

...to see what kind of responses I might get

[DemBones DemBones]

11. It used to be customary to start a new Part II thread once a thread

got up to about 50 posts. (I'd vote for doing it at 35.) I wish it would become customary again. It was never a rule, just done by general agreement. Maybe it needs to be a rule?

[Touchdown]

12. Never!

It locks up my browser, and usually kills the connection.

Another thing I hate is when somebody put 200 of these..:puke: or these ... :bounce: on a single post. It locks up my browser too.

DU really should break these threads down into pages of 50 or so posts. I know other BBS sites have that.

[sweetheart]

14. i've been cursing microsoft

all i figure is that the buffer-cache allocated for a given browser window fills up and starts attempting to swap... the machine locks and i curse Mr. gates and pull the power plug... it happens pretty much every time i'm on DU... so that is why i mentioned it.

I agree that threads should be broken to manageable size, as indeed there are longer threads where they literally lose a whole subcommunity of DU readers/writers. That is why i mention it... i figure as the thread gets larger, the number of "DU members who read it" gets exponentially smaller... until it dies, not by its argument, but by our failure as software engineers to create a system that promotes more diverse and complex discussion... perhaps a longer thread should simply break in to links as it gets longer that there is appearant continuity using hypertext.

[RichM]

13. Usually not. In general, the longer they are, the more I avoid them.

Sometimes, I'll look at one if there's an especially interesting-sounding topic.

However, if a thread has 100+ responses, and I can tell by the subject line what is is (ie, Nader, Greens, Catholics, Dean vs Clark, Dean, or Clark) I don't even bother clicking.

[AnnabelLee]

15. Locking

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AnnabelLee
DU Moderator

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. Rarely unless I was already following it.