Feature Request: Collapsible Comments

#1

Post by tylerdinner » Wed, Nov 09, 2022, 1:58 PM UTC

It seems very counter-productive to good conversation to have to scroll so much to get past the top comment thread. It almost feels like information manipulation in how much this feature belittles all comments that are not the single most popular.

Often it's pages of scrolling just to get the the 2nd most popular reply.

This feels antithetical to what the engineering community* preaches about decentralization and improving communication.

Edit: added the word 'community'

Re: Feature Request: Collapsible Comments

#2

Post by forgotmypw17 » Wed, Nov 09, 2022, 2:11 PM UTC

Collapsible comments are available with JavaScript enabled, and the setting is remembered for two weeks, if I remember correctly.

This is little consolation to someone who doesn't have JS available, but if you are able to selectively enable JS just for HN, I have found it to be more helpful than not.

Re: Feature Request: Collapsible Comments

#3

Post by ss108 » Wed, Nov 09, 2022, 2:13 PM UTC

You can collapse the comment thread by clicking the minus in brackets next to the comment time.

Re: Feature Request: Collapsible Comments

#4

Post by jstx1 » Wed, Nov 09, 2022, 2:32 PM UTC

There's a "[-]" next to each comment which does this.

Re: Feature Request: Collapsible Comments

#5

Post by tylerdinner » Wed, Nov 09, 2022, 2:55 PM UTC

ss108 wrote: post #3

You can collapse the comment thread by clicking the minus in brackets next to the comment time.

Wow I can't believe I've missed that the whole time!

Re: Feature Request: Collapsible Comments

#6

Post by ss108 » Wed, Nov 09, 2022, 3:19 PM UTC

tylerdinner wrote: post #5

ss108 wrote: post #3

You can collapse the comment thread by clicking the minus in brackets next to the comment time.

Wow I can't believe I've missed that the whole time!

I also only realized this after reading the other guy's comment; I came to the thread to support this feature request lol

This site could use a lot of UX improvements. It's nice that it's not bloated, but it's not striking the right balance, IMO.

Re: Feature Request: Collapsible Comments

#7

Post by JLCarveth » Wed, Nov 09, 2022, 4:36 PM UTC

ss108 wrote: post #6

tylerdinner wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow I can't believe I've missed that the whole time!

I also only realized this after reading the other guy's comment; I came to the thread to support this feature request lol This site could use a lot of UX improvements. It's nice that it's not bloated, but it's not striking the right balance, IMO.

The API is public, you could always design a client ;)