AnswerBank Update Coming Monday (We Think!)

[AB Editor]

Good Afternoon,

We've got some good news - there's going to be a site update on Monday.

That's right, you now have an excuse to go to the pub this coming Monday - don't say we don't ever do anything nice for you!

Some things which might get upgraded/added while you're having a pint or three:

(if you've not got much time, just read 6 & 7! Quick!)

1. Improved Contact Us Page - Bigger text, bigger boxes, no requirement for a phone number (as it was causing some to head to spam) clearer and cleaner... we hope

2. Improved Registration Page - Believe it or not, some new users have trouble signing up or put the wrong information in the wrong place. We've improved the layout of the registration page to make everything clearer.

3. Improved Ads on Desktop and Mobile Sites - currently there's some spots on the site where we can't get the most for the space we've got. We're changing that. Better cash flow means better improvements down the line.

4. Housekeeping! - excitingly there's a few improvements to the tools I use to manage the site. This includes things like being able to move threads and categories around. We can finally move Crosswords to a top-level category! I can FINALLY move your stray questions into the right category!

5. Deactivate Account Button - Those who want to leave AB (for whatever reasons) will be able to revoke their account with the click of a button. It makes flounces more fun and flounce denounces even funnier.

6. Best Answers V 2.0 - You'll now be able to see threads where others have had their answer marked as best in the public profile.

7. Badges - To recognise the outstanding contributions of some members of this excellent website we've put together a "badge" system. Badges are earned through contributions to the site. They include things like the "newscaster" badge for posting a great number of threads in News and "debator" for contributing to a certain number of long threads. We'll reveal all the badges and how one would achieve them once the site is live.

Hope this all sounds palatable to you. We'll update you as we get closer to the launch.

Please let me know what you think.

All the best,

Ed

[AB Editor]

"Surely, if anyone wishes to exclude themselves from AB then all they have to do is to refrain from posting into its columns."

That's not enough for some people. The page makes it quite clear exactly what gets kept and what goes.

It removes all subscriptions, including the newsletter - so that might be a reason to do it. Save you unsubscribing from each when you want to leave.

"Could you look into the option of not allowing people to select their own answers as best answer?"

Yes. We're planning that for the following upgrade. For the moment we could add a derogatory badge for such swines?

[Baldric]

^^^ good choice ^^^

[AB Editor]

Bibble, you shirtently wouldn't.

[humbersloop]

terrier shaped, blazoned "nil desperandum pillockii" perhaps baldric?

[Baldric]

and kinda lightish in colour I think!

[sandyRoe]

Could the new revamped AB have an app fitted that stopped people 'in their cups' coming in and making fools of themselves? I'm thinking of a sort of a breathalyser

[dustypuss]

Will there be a badge for pudding of the month.

[humbersloop]

spookily sandy, that would also be the st monica filter...

[sandyRoe]

had to scroll back for St Monica
BUt crossword answers are the bread and butter of AB. How would we xword fans while away the time if we hadn't clues to solve?

[humbersloop]

patron saint of both patience (see baldric's link ^^) and alcoholics sandy.

[DTCwordfan]

hi sloopy nice to see you back on....

[sandyRoe]

I suppose if we hadn't clues to solve we could always have a drink.
That's an incongruous combination St Monica looks after. I don't believe I've ever met a patient alcoholic.

[Arksided]

Will there be a badge for pudding of the month
are you wanting that one Dusty? I'd put money on you as the frontrunner ;-)

[humbersloop]

I know. She's got rare old form

http://www.drstandley...saints_stmonica.shtml

[Psybbo]

How about St. Jude, patron saint of lost cause?

[sandyRoe]

St Monica could well have asked St Jude to intercede on her behalf. She seems to have had a tough old life

[humbersloop]

^ for the most hopeless crossword question badge sibs?

[jno]

something like this, sandyRoe?

[jno]

(that's a video, btw, click on it to make it work)

[sandyRoe]

The very thing, JNO. If it could be adopted to stop drunken e-mailers it could make its inventor a fortune and save a few red faces.