I frequently follow discussion on Hubski that I didn't take part in. To do so I either need to save the search or browse down the list to find the post I am interested in.
Saving searches to follow a discussion is frustrating. Until you go to the save you don't know if there is any new content to view. Going through the list to find the posts I want to follow is worse, but probably the option I use more often. Both methods feed my personal neurosis that I generally try to avoid engaging in, obsessive internet digging and clicking, trying not to miss something.
Being able to follow a post or even a specific thread could be a great solution to following the conversation and content that interests each of us as individuals. After you follow a post or thread new information would pop up like a reply in your inbox, or to avoid a ton of traffic you could just get a message that said "-user name- has posted to -post name-" I mentioned it to mk and he seemed interested in looking into it as a feature and I am wondering if anyone would find value in this kind of functionality?
I am a bit reticent to send out emails to a list of people for every comment on a post. However, as you mention, I could drop a small comment in your notifications like: cgod commented on: Anderson Cooper appointed as Web Czar. However, I would like to avoid adding even more complexity. So, I think it would be best as an added effect of the 'save' function. That is, you get updates for new content on stories that you save. I could include a toggle for these notifications in controls. How does that sound?
One thought: When I'm most interested in a post and it's comments, I usually keep a mental tab running of the number of comments in that post, since that information is easily found on the post itself. I know if there are new comments simply because the number went from say 5 to 8, or whatever. I'm just thinking out loud here, but I'm curious from a coding stand point if that information could somehow be coupled with login times, or browser history, and then maybe there is a little number beside the saved tab that shows the number of new comments since your last view?
Just the saved ones (for now). I was imagining there could be a pictograph, maybe a lock, with a number beside it. That number would be the number of new comments since last view.
How about a mime with that number of tears on his cheek? I kid, I kid. ;) It's not a bad idea. It keeps the clutter down some.I was imagining there could be a pictograph, maybe a lock, with a number beside it. That number would be the number of new comments since last view.
really, who needs a number? there could just be a plus sign beside where the word 'saved' already is. or it could be an image of a puppy.
I like your suggestion, and a bit tengential to that discussion I would like to ask what the "mail" function is for? Sending personal messages to hubski members? Well maybe it's useful for some but I'm not sure it's widely used among people who don't know each other, except as a discussion of a link. Not sure how it could better appear though.