Time elapsed.

[RETIRED]

Do you want the elapsed time since last post put in as the Date or would you like it as hours or days elapsed?

[Wood Borer]

Maybe a combination. For short durations less than a day perhaps the number of minutes, hours but for longer periods the date.

But then again I don't always know what day it is!

[silentC]

Time and Date. If you put the time and date and I want to know how long ago it was (why??) then it's not that hard to work out. Personally have never seen the advantage of putting "x minutes/hours/days ago".

[Auzzie turner]

I would much rather have it as "46 minutes ago" rather than "7th sep 2006, 07:52 AM".

Much easier to work out, at a quick glance. Why not just have both. That would save problems all round.
Joash

[silentC]

Much easier to work out
Yeah but why? You haven't said. Why do you need to know it was 46 minutes ago? What difference does it make if it was 46 minutes ago or 46 hours ago? I don't get it. Maybe I'm missing something...

If someone can explain the benefit, maybe I'll get it. At the moment, it just looks to me like a feature for people who can't tell the time...

[Schtoo]

My monitor is about 1.5 metres away, and while my eyes are good, it's still easier to read '15 minutes ago' than it is to read '7th Sep 2006, 09:36 AM'.

I could move closer to the monitor, I could get a bigger monitor, I could enlarge the font size, I could do any number of things.

Doesn't change the fact that the old (as above) was only 12 characters, including two quickly recognised words, where the 'new' is 16 chracters, with 3 numbers, 2 abbreviations and one thing you hang off numbers to make em sound right.

The old is faster and easier to read for me, and I have been able to read and tell time since I was about 3 years old so it's not like I have trouble comprehending either way.

I'd like it the old way, but I'd like to be able to choose which way I see it even more.

Gotta let the twits see it their way and all. ;)

[Lignum]

Maybe a combination. For short durations less than a day perhaps the number of minutes, hours but for longer periods the date.




Perfect solution:)

[silentC]

I'd like it the old way
OK, so it's time and date then? That's how it was a couple of years ago ;)

Still haven't explained why you need to know how long ago the post was made... Why oh why oh why? Tell me, go on, I need to know. I might be missing some hitherto undiscovered time/labour/stress saving tip.

[Auzzie turner]

Same with me, the monitor is 1 metre away from me. I have no problem reading the screen, it is just easier to quickly glance at the time above each post, and see it straight away. I have no problem in working it out, it just takes that 3-4 seconds longer. Also, the time on the posts, is around 2 and a half ours different to mine. I have the right time.

BRING BACK THE OLD WAY.

OR put both ways in.

Just my insignificant opinion,

JOASH

[Grunt]

I like the old way. With the elapsed time 14 days and 20 days are both 2 weeks ago.

I dont need to really need to tell the difference between something that was posted 10 minutes ago as opposed to 12 minutes ago. As a matter of fact, I dont really care what anyone else posts anyway. You should all stop it.


:D

[silentC]

Do you READ any of these posts?

Why do you need to know how many minutes/hours/days ago the post was made? Why oh why oh why?


BRING BACK THE OLD WAY
Good, so you agree. The old way, which is the way it is now.

[silentC]

I like the old way
Hang on, do you mean the old way, or the old, old way? Or the old, old, old way? :confused:

[Auzzie turner]

The so many minutes ago way

[silentC]

I was talking to Grunt. :rolleyes:

Do you know why? Or do you just hate change? :p

[Groggy]

Do whatever, I'm sure I'll get used to it.


Why do you need to know how many minutes/hours/days ago the post was made? Why oh why oh why?It helps to stop some people (only some mind you :rolleyes: ) from responding to threads from 2001. Especially the "For Sales"

Edit: Oops, talking to grunt, disregard then.

[silentC]

Yep but those old ones always showed the date, even under the new/old system. (I was waiting for that one ;) )

[Grunt]

Do you READ any of these posts?

Not many these days. There are just too many posts to keep up with and it's become a tad sterile.

[Groggy]

Yep but those old ones always showed the date, even under the new/old system. (I was waiting for that one ;) )Darn, trolled me, well hArrummphhh!

[stomps off]

[silentC]

Not many these days. There are just too many posts to keep up with and it's become a tad sterile.
Not you, I was talking to the young fella. This is just getting silly now. Just do whatever, who cares? :p

:D

[Schtoo]

Still haven't explained why you need to know how long ago the post was made...

Why do you care?


I'd like to know how long ago something was posted if I just replied to it, and someone else has added something. If I posted 5 minutes ago, and it shows that there is something new posted one minute ago, it's not mine and might be worth retorting to. Unlikely, but it might be worthwhile.


If it says the date, then I'd actually have to read it and comprehend what it says (a rarity around these parts), whereas if it says elapsed time, then I can see quickly how long ago it was, requiring minimal reading and no comprehension.

Saves the effort of actually thinking... :rolleyes:

[silentC]

Why do you care?
I don't particularly but obviously some people do care enough to complain about the change, so I'm curious to know how it helps to know precisely how many minutes ago a post was made.

I suppose it depends on how you use the forums. When I look at New Posts, if the item interests me and it is in bold, then there have been new posts to it since I last looked and I follow the link. It seems immaterial to me whether it was made 5 minutes ago or 5 hours ago, I still either want to read it or I don't. The name of the last poster is there, so I know it wasn't me.

[Bleedin Thumb]

This thread is soooooo yesterday

or should I say 24 hours ago

[silentC]

For example:

It's bold so I know I haven't read it. It has your userid on it, so I know it wasn't me who posted it and I also know it was you, so I can decide whether or not I want to read it ;) If I want to know how long ago it was, I don't have to refresh the screen to find out because the time is there. If I click new items and then look at it 5 minutes later (because the phone rang), all the elapsed times are out by 5 minutes. With the date and time instead, I know you posted at 1:26, regardless.

[Grunt]

I think having the actual date/time removes a problem that sometime occurs with showing elapsed time.

When two people post at almost the same time, the posts can appear out of context or repeated. If elapsed time is used then both posts will say 1 week ago and you are but if you use the actual date/time you can see that it was a posted at the same time.

[bjn]

What Lignum said.:):eek::D

Brenton

[Gumby]

I'm going to start posting stuff tomorrow. And read stuff posted yesterday, today. Unless what I post tomorrow is not relevant any more, and then i'll post it yesterday.

:rolleyes:

[HappyHammer]

I like the way it was before the upgrade (SC:p ). As others have said it's simply quicker to determine how recently the last post was made because you're reading less information, let's change it back please, I don't want to have to work while I'm skiving off.:p :D

HH.

[HappyHammer]

It's changed when you view who's online as well so now I have to subtract the time of last activity from the current time to see how long it was since someone was active. This is more effort than simply reading the elapsed time before.:confused: :confused:

Love the multi quotes BTW :D :D

HH.

[silentC]

I have to subtract the time of last activity from the current time to see how long it was since someone was active
Why do you even care about that?

Nope, sorry, all of your arguments are silly and I'm so much righter than you it's beyond reckoning. :p

[Lignum]

Why do you even care about that?

Nope, sorry, all of your arguments are silly and I'm so much righter than you it's beyond reckoning. :p


Trouble is we arnt all as intellectually brilliant as you silent and we have to take a few secs to work it all out. The old way is easier for us simple folk:)

[Bob Willson]

Silent, just shutup and stop stirring.
You obviously don't give a f*** either way. :(

[silentC]

OK, I'll spell it out real slow for you simple folk, seeing as no-one has yet answered my question:

Why (you with me?) do you need to know (following?) how long ago the post was made (still there?). Why does anyone feel the need to work it out? Why do you care how long ago it was since userX posted? Why does it affect your life to know that the last post to thread y was 15 minutes ago (or 15 minutes from when you last refreshed your browser)?

I'm not saying there is no reason, I just want to know what it is. That's all. Please? I'm dying to know. Not being sarcastic. Really :)

[Waldo]

G'day,

I voted time elapsed because it affects my time in the house because I get less time in the shed. :D

Thank you Big brother. :)

[Grunt]

When I was a lad back in the days when this site used to show the time of the post rather than the elapsed time, I didn't care that something was posted 15 minutes ago, 2 weeks ago or 2 months ago. Then one foul day they changed the forums to show the elapsed time. I still didn't care when a post was made. Then they changed it back to the date/time of the post and I still don't care that Waldo's post was made 7 minutes ago, 2 weeks ago or 2 months ago.

I'm with Silent. Why does anyone care?

[Bob Willson]

There is no real reason, I just like it that way. Just like I (generally) prefer the colour blue to the colour red.

[silentC]

Yup, you're right, I don't really care either way. Just wondered why others do. Looks like no-one really knows. Funny things, humans :rolleyes:

:D

[Grunt]

Funny things, humans :rolleyes:


Some funnier than others.

[Cliff Rogers]

Struth, is it Friday already? :confused:

[silentC]

Sssh Cliff, they might cotton on.

[Waldo]

G'day,
Nah, not yet Cliff. But it's almost beer 'o clock. :cool:

[Cliff Rogers]

You children are like SO going to get in trouble.... :rolleyes:
This is supposed to be a serious thread posted by . :cool:

[jow104]

Its now 34 minutes from the last posting.

That statement is easier to comprehend!


By the way Ozwinner has not come up with one of his one liners?

Is he having tourble with this time thing?

[HappyHammer]

Why do you even care about that?

Nope, sorry, all of your arguments are silly and I'm so much righter than you it's beyond reckoning. :p
'cause I do so :p

I'm not saying there is no reason, I just want to know what it is. That's all. Please? I'm dying to know. Not being sarcastic. Really :)
Well we're not telling you:p

Yup, you're right, I don't really care either way. Just wondered why others do. Looks like no-one really knows. Funny things, humans :rolleyes::D
Doh !:D

Looks like there are no major objections apart from Silent stirring rather than objecting so is the vote carried ?

HH.

[silentC]

Its now 34 minutes from the last posting.
But who cares? Time is relative and I have little time for my relatives.

[Grunt]

But who cares? Time is relative and I have little time for my relatives.

My father in law left Melbourne yesterday after living with us for 10 days. That was relatively unpleasent.

Time is an elephant.

[ozwinner]

My father in law left Melbourne yesterday after living with us for 10 days. That was relatively unpleasent.

Time is an elephant.

:D so thats why you have been quiet on here, ya dad in law banned you.......:D :D :D :D

Al :p

[jow104]

My father in law left Melbourne yesterday after living with us for 10 days. That was relatively unpleasent.

Time is an elephant.

Lovely daughter tho Grunt.

[ozwinner]

Back to the time issue.....

I have enough good stuff happening in my life right now :rolleyes: that I really dont know what day it is, never mind what hour it is, I dont want to look at a time/hour/day thing and have to work out what/where/when?

Just give me the time elasped.........please.

Al :o

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Wot Al said. Not all of us have clocks & calendars regulating every aspect of our lives. Some of us are quite content to leave it at "day," "night," "cold season" and "hot season." If I need more precision I use "early in the...", "late in the..." or "middle of the..." :p

When I see "X Y ago" I know at a glance it's relatively recent. Half the time, when asked my age I gotta ask what year it is first and do the maths. :o

Needing to check actual date/time to know whether a post is current or archive fodder is a right PITA.

[silentC]

At last! Some sort of a rationale. Tenuous at best, but at least it has some logic to it. Well done, Skewy, it has taken, let's see, 12 hours? to get that answer. Damn, if I had elapsed time instead of a date, I could have worked that out so much more easily. :rolleyes:

But, does that mean if a post you haven't read is older than, what? 2 days? A week? 5 minutes? it's archive fodder? What if it is really, really interesting? How will you know unless you read it? And then, it wont matter how old it is, it is either good stuff or archive fodder, by which time you've already read it and it's too late.

Jeez, I dunno, I just can't make any sense out of all this. Think I need another glass...

[HappyHammer]

So why do we still have date and time ? :confused:

HH.

[silentC]

Because all right-minded people know it's the right way to go ;)

[HappyHammer]

Because all right-minded people know it's the right way to go ;)

Is that right-minded in the de bono sense?:rolleyes:

HH.

[silentC]

Right-minded, not right-brained :p

[HappyHammer]

:D Touche

HH.

[baxter]

But, does that mean if a post you haven't read is older than, what? 2 days? A week? 5 minutes? it's archive fodder? What if it is really, really interesting? How will you know unless you read it? And then, it wont matter how old it is, it is either good stuff or archive fodder, by which time you've already read it and it's too late. ...

If you haven't read a news item until you get your fish and chips wraped in an old newspaper, then it is still news when you read it - days, weeks or months later. Information is never archive fodder.

On the other hand, how many have noticed that if you come onto the forum as a guest the posting time is shown as GMT +11 however if you log in then in my case (Eastern Standard Time) it is GMT +10. Therefore, as a guest HappyHammer's last posting was at 1.49pm and not 12.49pm. Does this mean that our UK friends (GMT) think that we sit up until 4.00am so that they can read our post at 6.00pm the previous day if they log on but only 3.00am if they are a guest.

Elapsed time makes sense:cool:. We all can see at a glance how long ago the post was actually submitted without wasting our time clock watching:mad: .

To those forumites in the UK, I think it is now 5.20am your time:confused: . Have a nice day:D

[silentC]

Now hang on a minute, in your opening paragraph, you say that "it is still news when you read it - days, weeks or months later", which implies that you don't think it is important how old a topic is. Then you go on to suggest in your second last paragraph that it is important to know how long ago the post was made. You can't have it both ways, so which is it? C'mon, you elapsed time people don't have a lot of logic to your arguments ;)

I, on the other hand, have a lot of arguments to my logic. :p

[Lignum]

take no notice of the sh!tstiring rantings and ravings of Silent and just hurry up and go back to elapsed time;)

[craigb]

I'm with you Darren. That's why I voted for the timestamp. :)

I like the precision of it.

Trouble is, we timestamp people are heavily outnumbered it would appear. :(

[Sturdee]

Trouble is, we timestamp people are heavily outnumbered it would appear. :(

Yes, we are outnumbered by those misguided people suffering from Con the Fruiterer syndrome.

Doesn't matter it was a couple of minutes ago or a couple of hours ago or a couple of days ago.:p Never precise, never correct.:p


Peter.

[silentC]

Similar reason why John Howard is still Prime Minister I suppose :rolleyes:

:D

[Ivan in Oz]

Maybe a combination. For short durations less than a day perhaps the number of minutes, hours but for longer periods the date.

But then again I don't always know what day it is!

WB,
I agree with you.


It is the Weekend tomorrow......Isn't it:confused: :rolleyes:

:p

[baxter]

take no notice of the sh!tstiring rantings and ravings of Silent and just hurry up and go back to elapsed time;)

Don't dispair Lignum, haven't you noticed that this poll is open until 21st Sep 2006 at 06.46AM, but I'm not sure whether that is GMT +10 or GMT +11:confused: .

[HappyHammer]

Similar reason why John Howard is still Prime Minister I suppose :rolleyes:

:D

Because he keeps getting voted in....:rolleyes: :D

HH.

[Cliff Rogers]

Similar reason why John Howard is still Prime Minister I suppose :rolleyes:

:D
& we still have PB..... there is just no accounting for taste. :D

[HappyHammer]

,

Does this need to run to next Monday before it is changed?

HH.

[silentC]

Absolutely! There might be a late rush of reason :p

[Stuart]

*cough* here???? :eek:

[bitingmidge]

Similar reason why John Howard is still Prime Minister I suppose :rolleyes:

Because the blue line wins in those elections too?
;)

P

[Grunt]

Because the blue line wins in those elections too?
;)

P

And here I thought it was because he was willing to do or say anything to stay in power.

[Cliff Rogers]

And here I thought it was because he was willing to do or say anything to stay in power.

Nuh, 's'cos there is nobody else willing to do or say anything fullstop. :D

[ubeaut]

Someone must think this poll is going to change things.

What gave you the idea this was a democracy. Nowhere does it say that. This is more your benevolent dictatorship, and the dictator likes the times as they are. So nah http://www.ubeaut.biz/smarty.gif

The times will stay as they are, mostly because there are many times when we need to get correct times and dates to keep the admin side straight, especially now with so many posts being made. I am spending around 3 - 4 hrs a day working in the background on the forums keeping them straight whilst the combined time the mods spend here keeping it nice for everyone is way much more than that.

For the information of all. The full blown time & date stamp has been used for most of the 7.5 years the forums have been on the net The elapsed time was only in use for about 10 mth off and on over a period of around 18 mth as a trial and although it may have seemed easier to figure out, in truth it was a bloody nuisance for admin purposes.

These things usually only get noticed when there is an update or something drastic happens like the major meltdown of a couple of weeks ago.

Cheers - Neil :)
Benevolent Dictator......... and the mug who has to try and figure out the dates and times when stuff happens, like when idiots shoot of their big mouths and we have to fend off law suits, etc. etc. etc.

[Grunt]

All hail the Dictator.

[silentC]

There might be a late rush of reason
You read it here, folks ;)

[craigb]

Yay Neil!
:D

[bitingmidge]

The times will stay as they are,
Is it possible to get the time in a format that we Queenslanders can understand then?

Something like:-

"the big hand is on.......and the little hand......."

Cheers,

P
:D

[DanP]

Why bother to ask if you're not going to change it then?

[RETIRED]

Because we considered it but the long term ramifications out weigh any thing else.

[Groggy]

Finally I am part of a minority group that gets preferential treatment!

[ozwinner]

Have both!!

Al :)

[ubeaut]

I didn't ask 'twas one of the minions!

Didn't even have a look at this thread till this-morning. Had I seen it earlier I would have said my piece then.

In this instance I really don't care if others like it or not. It saves lots of work behind the scenes and gives exact times and dates instead of the wishy-washy elapsed date.

This pole started 2 weeks ago. NO this pole started 7th Sep 2006, 06:44 AM when push comes to shove I'll take the correct time and date over the "well it was about 2 weeks ago" one any day. I'm pretty sure the police and most others to whom time is important would also.

69 votes from 11,511 members (an active user group of 3,541) doesn't really make it of world shaking importance.

Cheers - Neil :)
____________________________________________________________________
Never off a benevolent dictator or he could turn and become a belligerent one.

[Daddles]

Oooo, the boss is turning cranky. Should we minions twist his tail a tad? Hmm. Maybe we could get stirred up as well. No point picking on Al, he's not even a challenge.

Richard
doncha hate it when the powers that be have a good reason for doing something? Takes all the fun out of complaining :D Thanks for explaining Neil and yes, this reprobate understands and accepts.