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Changes to Design on Thursday, Dec 13

1. Font size on threads has been bumped from 13 to 14 and darkened.

2. Fixed a graphical issue on the boards that caused a small dark grey box to appear by the username.

3. On desktop, the "post" and "reply" buttons will now allow you to start typing.

4. Fixed fonts on "Discussions You Might Like", and added buttons so that users can start a thread from there.

5. Text on category pages has been darkened.

6. Fixed the padding on the profile pages to match Chowhound homepage.

7. Fixed the look of pagination on the mobile and desktop profile pages.

In terms of tomorrow's changes, CHOW policy is NOT to release on Fridays, so you won't be seeing changes coming tomorrow. You can rest assured that we will be here next week and more changes will be on their way then.

Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. We are most definitely listening.



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  1. 1. Thanks, but I personally was OK with 12 or 13.
    2. Never saw it.
    3. Thanks!
    4. Good idea!
    5. Thank you!
    6. YAY!
    7. Not sure what you mean here.

    Thanks Meredith. It is much appreciated knowing that the CH Team is actually listening to the users' concerns.

    1. I apologize if this has already been mentioned but I couldn't find it on any of the threads.

      When I am on my iphone, I can only look at the first page of discussions. The page numbers nor any type of arrow appear so I can see older threads. I get just the first 25.

      It's fine on my PC, it just seems to be something within the phone view.


      1 Reply
      1. re: thedryer

        Same here on an iPhone. No way to more threads without having to go to catagories/chowhound

      2. Thank you, larger and darker font appreciated... not all the way there, but usable at least.

        1. I would still like an 'unsubscribe' button. DaveMP's thread on the new design now has 649 replies. I don't wish to read anymore. I suppose it will get locked soon, but you get my idea.

          13 Replies
            1. re: magic

              Many people agree with you.


              I've already read 600+ posts on why people don't like like the redesign.

              I don't care anymore, and I don't want it to keep popping up in my posts anymore.


              Mr Taster

              1. re: Mr Taster

                Notifications, and being able to subscribe on a discussion level, is most definitely on the roadmap for early next year, Mr Taster. We definitely agree with you that it is important functionality, and we will work to bring that to you.


                1. re: mudaba

                  Wonderful news!!

                  Thank you for this. This will bring a great deal of happiness to (or at least minimize the frustrations of) a lot of Chowhounds.

                  Mr Taster

                  1. re: mudaba

                    YESSSS! Could we possibly be getting an "ignore" button, too?

                    1. re: mudaba

                      WOW, REALLY???? YAY!!! THANKS CH!!!

                      1. re: mudaba

                        We are already able to 'subscribe' to a discussion. I wish to be able to 'unsubscribe'.

                            1. re: Mr Taster

                              Mr. Taster, you posted a link to this very thread (accidentally, I assume).

                              Like John E. above I still do not see any indication from mods that there is an UNSUBSCRIBE feature coming. Which is frustrating.

                              What is going on here, I begin to wonder....

                            2. re: John E.

                              What Meredith said is that "being able to subscribe on a discussion level" is on the roadmap. Currently you can subscribe to e-mail notifications for all threads you've participated in or none of them. There is currently no way to subscribe on the specific discussions you want to. That is on the road map.

                              In other words, the very thing you are requesting, "unsubscribe" is on the road map for early next year.

                              1. re: meshane

                                I'll be looking for that early next year.

                                This is YEARS overdue.

                          1. re: Mr Taster

                            Since we're repeating chronic requests - I think there needs to be an option to unsubscribe but also one in which you will be notified if there is a reply to one of your own posts within a given thread, whether or not you've unsubscribed. I have no wish to continue with some of those Magna Cartas either, but if someone posts with a question or reply specifically regarding my own post on that thread, it would be nice to know.

                            I concur that replacing "report" with "flag" is unnecessary, not to mention potentially confusing.

                            Still can't stay on the site for more than 5 minutes because of the headache and eyestrain from all the blank white background. Either make it gray, which you like to use where it's NOT appropriate, or beige like the banner at the top of the page.

                      2. I am very appreciative of the ongoing changes.

                        That said... "Categories" is non-standard and confusing.

                        I don't think of cities as categorical. United States, Canada, International and Topical could be considered categories I guess, individual boards are not.

                        One tenet of User-centered design is to stick to common word usage instead of using language users might find confusing.

                        9 Replies
                        1. re: MplsM ary

                          I agree completely with this. I don't see why boards were renamed "categories" when they are not, in fact, categories.

                          1. re: goodhealthgourmet

                            I ranted about that a couple of days ago. If they can explain to me why they think "categories" is better, then I'll shut up about it.

                            1. re: goodhealthgourmet

                              "category": "a class of things" (Oxford American Dictionary)

                              Any scheme for classifying things puts them into categories. This objection is wrong (they are, in fact, "categories") and is nit-picking in any case.

                              1. re: GH1618

                                not sure why you singled me out as i'm not the only one who is puzzled by the change and i wasn't even the first to bring it up. and yes, the definition you posted does define a category, but the boards are really sub-categories within broader classes. i just don't see why, when discussion boards that were formerly called "boards" had to be renamed "categories" - if it ain't broke...

                                1. re: GH1618

                                  But "category" is not standard when it comes to discussion boards.

                              2. re: MplsM ary


                                Hear, hear! That goes for "flag" (which could be to mark for your own future attention) and "report" (which is quite clear) as well

                                1. re: Ruth Lafler

                                  Interesting. I didn't even realize until now that "flag" replaced "report". That is rather counter-intuitive.

                                  Mr Taster

                                  1. re: Ruth Lafler

                                    Flagging is an action on many discussion boards, so I don't find that change weird.

                                    1. re: MplsM ary

                                      This is the only discussion board I actively use.

                                      Mr Taster