Statements by the Scratch Team regarding this issue

• "We have also removed the “Discuss” button from the navigation menu. We made this decision based on usage (how often it was clicked) and to give emphasis to the other menu options like “Create” and “Explore.” You can still access the Discussion Forums by clicking the link in the footer at the bottom of every page or by going to https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/discuss/. These changes were made to help highlight project creation and get new users started on becoming full fledged Scratchers!"
  
  
• "Can you make the search bar smaller to make room for discuss?
  This decision was also made in part because the navigation menu is translated to many other languages, and in some of those languages there was just too much text to fit in the space.
  
  The search bar is flexible in size based on the language you are in. While it may appear extra large in English, this is not always the case. For example, change your language to Deutsch and see what happens. And this is with one item removed from the nav bar - imagine what it was like when there were five items in the nav bar before."
  

Many Scratcher's have found this decision to be controversial because of these issues:

1.) The inconvenience of scrolling to reach the forums.

2.) The difficulty for New Scratcher's to find the forums.

I believe that I have come up with a solution that is compromise between both sides.



I would suggest putting the “Forums” tab or “Discuss Tabs” on the right hand side of the messages header. Currently no link/text occupies this space. This is a compromise because

1.) While it make's the general forum page easier to access for users while browsing messages, it does not hinder the promotion of project creation, especially after one has viewed someone else's project.

2.) It make's it much easier for New Scratchers to find the forums. The messages tab is the same place where they go if they need to accept a Scratcher Invitation, so it is logical that they should need to access to the same tab in order to find the forums.

3.) It would not change the size of the search bar in any way.

4.) The Scratch Team made this change to “get new users started on becoming full fledged Scratchers!” Adding this compromise would not hinder this mission in any way.

this is a nice suggestion, but I will stay with #bring_it_back

yzyzyz wrote:

this is a nice suggestion, but I will stay with #bring_it_back

Am I allowed to list you as a supporter?

While I'd prefer for the forums to be where they were, if this is the most likely way for them to come back I'd be willing to support it. It's visible enough, certainly more visible than in a small footer at the bottom of the page. Support+1, even if that doesn't really help.

Semi-support, but I prefer it being where it was instead. Maybe optionally include this on the messages tab, but idk

makethebrainhappy wrote:

yzyzyz wrote:

this is a nice suggestion, but I will stay with #bring_it_back

Am I allowed to list you as a supporter?

yes. this is a good way to bring the forums back.

cs156175 wrote:

While I'd prefer for the forums to be where they were, if this is the most likely way for them to come back I'd be willing to support it. It's visible enough, certainly more visible than in a small footer at the bottom of the page. Support+1, even if that doesn't really help.

I believe that both can be supported. I just kind of felt that we needed an alternative solution as well.

makethebrainhappy wrote:

cs156175 wrote:

While I'd prefer for the forums to be where they were, if this is the most likely way for them to come back I'd be willing to support it. It's visible enough, certainly more visible than in a small footer at the bottom of the page. Support+1, even if that doesn't really help.

I believe that both can be supported. I just kind of felt that we needed an alternative solution as well.

yeah. i think both the discuss and tips should be on the page.

I support this. Having a button called forums in your messages is a great way to help new Scratchers find the forums for the first time. It's also easier to get to then scrolling to the bottom of the page. To be honest, I wish that the ST does this along with adding back the discuss header button to help Scratchers learn that there are forums faster.

No support. Having it on the messages page makes zero sense to me and it seems to just be pushed there because it's not anywhere else except the footer. I believe that is poor website design by putting a link in a random spot just because nothing else is there. Websites need to be fluid and accessible.

im gonna support this. i like the idea but i would rather it be on the header where it used to be. but i still like this idea

Support. Like what others have said, I'd prefer it the other way, but if this is the compromise that must be met, I'll take it.

Just add another support, this may actually make it more obvious to find, considering it actually says ‘Forums’ and the messages is a place which is so often visited to reply to comments and such

makethebrainhappy wrote:

Statements by the Scratch Team regarding this issue

• "We have also removed the “Discuss” button from the navigation menu. We made this decision based on usage (how often it was clicked) and to give emphasis to the other menu options like “Create” and “Explore.” You can still access the Discussion Forums by clicking the link in the footer at the bottom of every page or by going to https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/discuss/. These changes were made to help highlight project creation and get new users started on becoming full fledged Scratchers!"
  
  
• "Can you make the search bar smaller to make room for discuss?
  This decision was also made in part because the navigation menu is translated to many other languages, and in some of those languages there was just too much text to fit in the space.
  
  The search bar is flexible in size based on the language you are in. While it may appear extra large in English, this is not always the case. For example, change your language to Deutsch and see what happens. And this is with one item removed from the nav bar - imagine what it was like when there were five items in the nav bar before."
  

Many Scratcher's have found this decision to be controversial because of these issues:

1.) The inconvenience of scrolling to reach the forums.

2.) The difficulty for New Scratcher's to find the forums.

I believe that I have come up with a solution that is compromise between both sides.



I would suggest putting the “Forums” tab or “Discuss Tabs” on the right hand side of the messages header. Currently no link/text occupies this space. This is a compromise because

1.) While it make's the general forum page easier to access for users while browsing messages, it does not hinder the promotion of project creation, especially after one has viewed someone else's project.

2.) It make's it much easier for New Scratchers to find the forums. The messages tab is the same place where they go if they need to accept a Scratcher Invitation, so it is logical that they should need to access to the same tab in order to find the forums.

3.) It would not change the size of the search bar in any way.

4.) The Scratch Team made this change to “get new users started on becoming full fledged Scratchers!” Adding this compromise would not hinder this mission in any way.

I really like this idea and everything about it! I am going to support you on this all the way!

turkey3 wrote:

No support. Having it on the messages page makes zero sense to me and it seems to just be pushed there because it's not anywhere else except the footer. I believe that is poor website design by putting a link in a random spot just because nothing else is there. Websites need to be fluid and accessible.

To be honest, it doesn't make lots of sense to me either. Putting it on the navigation header just makes more sense.

Support :D
Although I would prefer it would be at the top, I can see that that solution has a few problems, and so this is a good idea because it doesn't create any problems.

Support, I WANT MY DISCUSS TAB BACK!

Definitely an improvement over not linking to the suggestions page at all. You have my support!

SUPPORT!