Questions and comments about the new look to the forum.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

On both my laptop and main computer I can't see any of the threads/posts unless I scroll down.
I appreciate the need for raising funds from the advertisers, but I do think that they are getting a little too much prominence, a new visitor to the site first sees a screen full of suppliers rather than educated and erudite posts!
Having the spaces around the boxes is good, but they could be reduced a fraction, without much harm or loss of readability.
I think we have to remember this is a forum not a sales page

I agree that prominence should be given to the actual subject matter of the forum and not advertising.

I checked on my laptop, and I can see the top four new threads on the forum home page, as opposed to the six that I can view on my desktop monitor.

Of course this will all depend on your screen resolution setting, as well.

I would think that somewhere out there one could find the data for the "average" sized monitor in use, and the "average" screen resolution setting. Then a balance could be arrived at where the ad space does not seem to dominate the screen for the average user.

[Riverkilt]

Another thought - from "I know I'm in the minority" rural dial up user. ALL the ads have to load up before I can read any forum posts...a slow tedious process. Its teaching me patience but also sending me the message that the ads are more important than the forum posts...(my opinion). I'm sure that's a software decision.

In contrast, on the new Scottish Tartans Authority website the ads don't come up but I get a message saying "IF" I want to see the ads to click here.

Now, of course I paid mucho dinero for an STA membership. Yet when I go back and add up how much money I've spent with advertisers here - USA Kilts, Freedom Kilts, STM, Celtic Croft, et. al. its far more than the STA membership was.

Not saying the ads should be covered up. Just wondering if the software could be changed so the posts come up sooner than after all ads have been loaded....?