Start composing discussion without selecting tags first

wizgriz

One thing that always bothered me about esotalk, especially since it requires mouse clicks to select tags, was that when I wanted to start a discussion I wanted to start typing right away. The tag selection always got in the way and distracted me by making me think of where a discussion I haven't even written yet belongs.

As much as I like the current popup I would like to see tag selection integrated into the composer box itself, so you can pick the tags at your own pace, while you write. Alternatively as a quicker solution, the tag selection could be presented to the user AFTER you hit "Post Discussion".

If you're worried about people not picking any tags with the former suggestion, then both suggestions could be combined: The tag selection box is showed after you hit "Post Discussion" but only if you haven't selected any tags while writing the discussion.

Toby

Back on topic:

wizgriz I'd prefer to keep tag selection in a modal dialog. I think it's better to present a full list of tags, front and centre, to make users focus on their tag choice.

That said, I see how it could be annoying if you're forced to pick tags before you can start writing. How about if we open the composer straight away, and have a little "choose tags" button to the left of the title that opens the modal? And as you suggested, if the user hits "Post Discussion" without selecting any tags, we show the modal anyway.

Fastidious

The problem I find with tags selection is that is a text field. It has led me to believe, in many occasions, that I can type the tag I want to use, which is not, as we all know, the case. Maybe changing it to a multiple selection list, or similar? Have you thought of that, @Toby?

Dominion

Fastidious The problem I find with tags selection is that is a text field.

@Toby and I were chatting about that very thing the other day (though I can't for the life of me remember where). I also found the text field confusing (because I keep wanting to type the thread title in there), but he said a couple things that brought me around to the idea.

First, the text field can be used to type and autocomplete existing tags. (For example, type "G" and hit enter to add the "General" tag to the field.) Second, user-entered tags are being considered as a possible future embellishment.

wizgriz

Fastidious Simply typing in a tag shouldn't select it because you could have two tags that start with the same characters and you want to select the latter. As @Dominion points out you can hit enter to complete a tag (and arrow keys to navigate the list), and I think tab will be added as an alias for enter. But anyway that's not what this topic is about.

Fastidious

Dominion First, the text field can be used to type and autocomplete existing tags. (For example, type "G" and hit enter to add the "General" tag to the field.) Second, user-entered tags are being considered as a possible future embellishment.

Interesting. I did not know I could start typing the tag's name to have it autocomplete. The randomly user entered tags is something that goes "wild" fast. I would hate it, but if the ability could be an administrative setting it would not be that much of a problem.

wizgriz

Example of selecting tags within the composer box

Focusing on the box would bring up a dialog similar to when you type "@" in a reply box with the tags list.

I also just realized you can set mandatory tags now so ignore my third paragraph in the op.

Dominion

Fastidious The randomly user entered tags is something that goes "wild" fast. I would hate it, but if the ability could be an administrative setting it would not be that much of a problem.

I agree, and would probably hate it too. But I'm pretty sure we'd have a way to disable the feature if need be.

Franz

The ability to create tags should probably depend on some metrics like these:

When did the user register?
How many posts?
maybe even: How many likes?

Fastidious

Franz In other words, it should depend on the user's reputation.

wizgriz

It appears I went too broad with the title. I was going to change it to "Start composing discussion without selecting tags first" but can't. User tags belong in their own discussion. 😦

christicehurst

I'm not a fan of letting users create tags. There would be dozens of tags to shuffle through for users to find the right topic. Aren't tags supposed to be the replacement for category boards?

Cheun

christicehurst exactly. There was a forum software I used but can't for the life of me remember it's name that allowed every user the ability to create a tag and had little to no documentation.

Next thing you know the whole site was flooded with tags for the same thing but worded differently

wizgriz

Toby Perfect!