Some thoughts on the flashing My Stuff button

[hlthe2b]

This discussion thread was locked by EarlG (a host of the DU4 Bug Reports forum).

If there were a way to JUST have it flash when a response to a thread I've posted OR new DU mail came through AND NOT for new posts to any of a large number of subscribed forums, I would find that a lot less distracting. As it is the "My Stuff" tab flashes nearly continually and is constantly diverting my attention causing me to lose where I was at. Maybe just have a solidly lit yellow tab within MY Stuff for the subscribed forums with new posts that one can elect to go to at any time?

Oh, and I note today seeing the right-hand column now includes a Forum Spotlight feed, new DUers, LBN posts in a feed, and maybe something else (it is early in Colorado...LOL) I like that a lot.

[EarlG]

1. Good to know

The glowing button is definitely one of the things I was curious about. For me personally, my number of subscribed forums is just enough that the glow is useful but not annoying. However, I knew that that would not necessarily be everyone’s experience (this why we test!)

I would like to get some more feedback on this particular issue, but FWIW I think the best option currently is to explore ways for people to manage their glow preferences in Account Settings.

[hlthe2b]

2. It has occurred to me that this may be an issue for those with seizure disorders...

If there is a way to reach out at some point to ask that question...?

[EarlG]

3. Good question

The Epilepsy Foundation says:

Generally, flashing lights most likely to trigger seizures are between the frequency of 5 to 30 flashes per second (Hertz).

The likelihood of such conditions combining to trigger a seizure is small.

The My Stuff button only glows once every few seconds, so I don’t think it would be a problem in that area.

[hlthe2b]

4. Good to know and I'm glad you checked.

[mopinko]

5. yeah, i'm finding it annoying.

i dont know about most ppl, but the 1st thing i see when i open a page here is the my post button. i live for it. i dont need blinking. am i weird?
i think an option to turn the blink off, and to chose which stuff to light it would be best.

[underpants]

6. So if it's yellow that means someone responded to me?

[mopinko]

7. it flashes for anything in 'my stuff'

subscriptions, mail, whatev. i'd rather it wasnt any more distracting than being a stand out color.
maybe some ppl want it to flash, but seems unnecessary.

[underpants]

9. Yeah we're all like moths to the yellow "My Posts" button anyway

Look what I made. 😆

[EarlG]

13. Bwahaha

Don't tutch the My Stuff butt.

[underpants]

15. ☝️

[EarlG]

8. If the My Stuff button is glowing it means one of three things

1) Someone started a new thread in a forum to which you are subscribed, OR a person you are subscribed to started a new thread (in either case, the "Subscriptions" button in the My Stuff menu will be glowing).

2) Someone replied to one of your posts (in this case, the "Posts" button in the My Stuff menu will be glowing).

3) Someone sent you a DU Mail message (in this case the "Inbox" button in the My Stuff menu will be glowing).

If you click the My Stuff button to open the menu and then click again to close it, the glow will stop until the next time you receive a notification. If you do this without visiting the page which is notifying you (either Subscriptions, Posts, or Inbox), then the next time you open the My Stuff menu, those buttons will be solid yellow.

[underpants]

10. Got it.

My Powers button doesn’t seem to do anything. Did you steal my Powers???

Don’t respond to this. I’ll go see what the Powers button does.

[EarlG]

12. You'll only have powers if

a) you're clicking the Powers button on one of your own posts (you'll see the option to self-delete), or b) you're a Forum Host or MIRT member, in which case additional options will appear in the Powers section, relevant to those roles.

If you click it on a post where you don't have powers, nothing will appear.

[underpants]

14. Not seeing a Self Delete option

iPhone 12 mini
Safari I guess
Aries

[EarlG]

16. Yep, this is a bug

See here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1319102#post5

Screenshots of errors are helpful, thanks

[underpants]

11. Just testing the Powers button.

[Hekate]

17. Thanks, I was just about to make the same observation, when suddenly it stopped flashing

I hope that’s permanent

Having the color change is good — it’s the flashing that’s so distracting

[Cha]

18. TY for this discussion.. I found

out a few things.
I always have a challenging time when I start something new in the tech world.. when I got my first iphone in 2021 comes to mind!
I wondered if the Flashing My Stuff was only for Posts and now I see that it is not only for that.. so good to know!

[greatauntoftriplets]

19. I find the flashing button distracting.

And I've never had a seizure in my life. It creates a sense of urgency that the DU3 yellow button did not. Personally, I don't need to see new OPs in forums/groups that I subscribe to.