As you can see CTH 2.0 is launching a new comment platform to improve the features and user engagement we have all come to appreciate. Here is some background information about this comment process that will likely answer questions. Please book-mark this post and share it for those who do not read the site updates and just go into the comments.
Because we are free from the constraints of WP/Automattic we are able to explore features that many Treepers have asked for. We have selected comment software from WPDiscuz (not affiliated with Disqus in any form) specifically because we can control the platforms internal content according to our privacy demands.
No outside system is gathering any user data or content on the commenting platform, everything within CTH 2.0 is being built on a very stable and private proprietary foundation.
The ability to add videos, graphics, pictures, tweets, scribd embeds and other functions is now present in the comment section. This is called “Oembeds”, and it is live right now. However, we will not be activating a feature that allows you to upload images or videos directly from your computer. If the image/video has a url, it should be visible.
There are other features we will likely add to the comments section, but we must go painstakingly slow, and here’s why….
At each step in the process of adding features we have to pause and measure the impact on server capacity to support the addition. Each feature creates a small amount of data that communicates with the servers in real time (ie. the bandwidth). Think of it like a pipe, and each feature adds data into the pipeline… the pipe has a capacity… we add, then evaluate, ensure pipe capability/stability, then move on. The issue is scale.
CTH 2.0 is a massive community of simultaneous users. Each user engagement requires a live-time upload of data from server to you. The page load time is directly related to the bandwidth capacity… if there are a lot of simultaneous users the level of data transfer can overwhelm the pipe…. it can clog and freeze.
Additionally, each new feature creates a draw from the server capacity at the end of the pipeline. For lack of a better explanation this is the CDN rate. CDN = Content Delivery Network. CTH 2.0 is a massive load of data that updates for each user as they land on the homepage and visit the articles. Again, it is a matter of scale. As we said before CTH is a community, essentially a social media platform, working inside a website.
Our community engagement, the size of our commenting community, exceeds almost all other types of websites except for social media sites. Those sites are specifically designed for community engagement… CTH 2.0 is leading the charge back to the era before Big Tech took control of content delivered to you.
The content in the community (the comment section) is derived from your choices, your freedom. It is your discussion and we are stewards protecting your conversation.
With 5,000 simultaneous users on-site at any given moment, the bandwidth demand is large. With 100,000+ unique daily users and 500,000 page views per day, the data load (CDN rate) on the servers is large. We are chewing up about 5 terabytes of server space per day even with two cache services hosting the older content. We always knew our data load was heavy, we just didn’t know how heavy. This is why almost all other suggested solutions for our CTH 2.0 launch would not work. It is a scale issue.
All of these are essentially good problems. The rebel alliance is strong and the assembly is large. We just need to consider that each small 4gb feature addition for a single user has a magnitude of impact based on the scale of our assembly.
Think about walking into a bar with 100,000 friends and everyone orders one drink at the same time. The bartenders (servers) are going to get overwhelmed pretty quick, and the beer kegs will run dry fast. Then think about everyone ordering two drinks. That’s the type of scale issue we are navigating while keeping the bar open.
With all that in mind we initiated the new comment system with Oembed functions activated. Now we watch a little while and make sure the pipes (bandwidth) and servers (CDN rate) can handle the data load.
Then we add the “likes feature”, and we watch again… we keep repeating this process with every feature until we have safely checked-off our priority list. There are a lot of features we want to provide while at the same time the server host is trying to figure out what the level of our site demand actually is. Again, good problems, but this is unknown territory.
So the proprietary comment platform we have selected is stable, private and secure. It also allows us to add features that you have requested. We just need to measure the impact of each addition as we move along.
Also, CTH is modeled on an eleven year-old platform theme. It is reliable, but it is also clunky, heavy and not as streamline as modern tech can provide. As described, CTH is a heavy data-tank on a highway with the ability to collapse the road. We need to modernize and get faster while retaining the depth and purposeful mission priority.
We need to change our theme platform to be responsive to the type of device you are using making it easier to navigate the site from phones and iPad type devices. The engineers are working on a proposal, and a test site is experimenting. The good news is our site content is not complex and the modernization should not be too difficult. In essence, CTH presents itself differently, more user friendly, depending on the type of device you are using.
Additionally, one of our priorities right now is establishing an email notification system where you can subscribe to automatic notifications of new posts etc. As with almost all systems of this type (there are many) it involves the use of a third party email transmission process. Y’all are aware that privacy is a CTH priority, so we are being very careful about vetting the service and setting up this notification system to protect CTH users.
CTH does not compile user information, does not engage in the manufacture of processes that assemble lists of users or any user data. We are working to ensure we do not end up creating an external list of subscribers that would be vulnerable to exploitation. Your privacy in all matters related to CTH engagement is my priority. This new commenting platform can also deliver that type of email notification service, we are evaluating.
Thanks again for bearing with us as we work through some technical issues, search for optimal solutions, and fiercely retain the original values and mission priority of the Treehouse. The Truth Has No Agenda
Myself and the incredibly hardworking site admins consider ourselves stewards to this community. YOU are what matters. Your ability to analyze, discuss, crowdsource and provide your comments on the subject matter is what makes CTH home. We will NEVER remove a commenting function from our website.
In fact, it is the crowd-sourcing work we have done as a community that has been the most thrilling and brilliant part of our work together. I will never lose that focus. The key to Treehouse 2.0 is recognizing we have built something within a big tech ecosphere that wants to see us removed. By being proactive we have avoided some serious challenges and that makes us better stewards for our conversation.
Remember, YOU are the important part.
Without you CTH doesn’t really have a purpose. Individually we could stand outside shouting at trees with no impact; but together, sitting on the figurative cyber-porch, the conversation is rich with unique skill-sets, subject matter experts and life-long experiences that make discussion so much more valuable. Myself and the CTH admin team cherish the value you represent.
Please share your feedback and suggestions on the comment platform. Does it work for you? What do you like or not like about it. We will modify, when possible, based on feedback.
Love to all,
~ Sundance
Test
Does anyone know how to edit a post?
Is there a symbol or something that I’m missing?
To the right of your comment, there’s a little wheel shaped thingie that will appear when you hover over the area. Click on it, and you’ll see the EDIT function.
Thanks to everyone for all you do!
Yes, go back and tap your post a little ⚙️ should pop up on the right side. Tap that. There is a time limit that you’re able to edit, but not sure how long.
Hi, Sunny,
Just in case you haven’t read it yet, Steph Gray pointed out that there’s a small icon that looks like a gear, I believe in the lower right of your posted comment.
Clicking that “gear” icon should allow you to edit your comment.
However, you apparently only have about 15 minutes after posting your comment to edit it and then your ability to edit is removed.
Also, you won’t be able to edit your comment after someone has replied to your comment.
You might try it and see if I’m accurate in what I’ve explained. I might be off a little.
Most people think that about me. At least those who know me.
I just edited my comment by adding some spaces between lines.
It works! And by double clicking return you can put a proper space between your sentences or paragraphs as you desire.
However, they probably should fix the word wrap feature so words are NOT split up and partials going onto the next line. That funkifies my brain, which already has too much funk!
New device test.
A Money Making Idea for the CTH:
Don’t throw rocks – this could work. Sundance said the CTH platform is a Facebook-like family. Facebook sells our info. If the CTH could sell our eyes (only), it could earn cash.
How to do that without destroying our privacy? Answer: We treepers run our product searches through a CTH window into the web-world. The web sees the CTH only, not us. Anytime I search for red convertibles, the CTH takes notice and posts auto ads alongside CTH content when I am on the CTH site. (If you copyright that ideal, don’t forget to pat ol’ Dan on the head.)
Ads, no thanks. I donate to help keep the site private, it’s that important to me. I would just go back to lurking.
Ditto what Illini said. No to ads.
Test4
Test
Just some feedback: 1) wish the last word in the line was not split onto the next line; 2) would be nice to add the new comment box at the end of the page like it was in WP (would encourage reading thru previous comments first before adding anything new). Other than these two points, think the new system is great — thanks Sundance and crew for all your hard work!
I see that the comments are in reverse order from WP so having the box at the top makes sense. Slow to catch on….hard to teach old dogs new tricks!
This is a test to try to EDIT a post.
OH. WOW.
It. WORKED!!!
Check
Edit
The comments don’t wrap. Words at the end of lines are broken up with one letter on the original line and the rest on the next line. NOT broken according to syllables. Very hard to read. Please fix this. Thanks.
Hello!
test
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Tonight, the font and color for comments is so much better!!! So much easier on my eyes. Very much appreciated!
How did this system know my avi? I’ve never used this avi in the Treehouse.
DGM I believe your avatar is attached to your email. If you are using the same
email address for the other blogs that would explain it.
Happy to have a tiny perch and grateful to Sundance and management for all their hard work. I like the crisp new look and will be happy with whatever decisions regarding additional changes and features are made.
Looking forward to 2021 and the new adventures ahead. I have zero doubt that our amazing lion, President Trump, will be inaugurated in January.
Welcome Texas Treeper! 😀
This is amazing. Thank you for the comment box. It looks like the move is a huge success. I’ve been a lurker for years, I don’t say much, but I do appreciate the articles and the comments.
Welcome to commenting at the Treehouse Verde! 😀
It’s getting better every day. But why are words being broken up at the end of sentences in comments??
How can we change our avatar?
To use my old avatar on this new site, this is what I did.
I visited a WordPress blog and signed in with my WP credentials (IE Stella’s Place)
Thank you Stella!
or, if you have deleted your WP account, or never had one, visit https en.gravatar.com and view your profile (or create a new one) You may have to have a WordPress account to use Gravatar.
You can use en.gravatar.com to create different avatars for different email address. You can edit your profile here also.
I clicked on my avatar and selected view profile
From my avatar account page, I added theconservativetreehouse.com (The Last Refuge as page title) and saved to my profile.
Make sure you are signing in to this website with the same email account listed on your Avatar profile, or add the email associated with your account here to your Gravatar account.
Hope this works for ya’ll
I saw someone request the font to be blacker / more distinct. The next day it was done!
This is a test. I’ve been ‘playing with’ this Avatar thingie for hours.
IF this works, I will post instructions for all of those (like me) who have been struggling.
Hot diggity dog!
Here are the instructions — and yes — you need to create a WordPress account:
How to Setup Your Universal AvatarThese steps take about 5 minutes and will save you tons of time in the long run.
LF how did you get upper case in your username?
CCV — The avatar is ‘connected’ to your email address, and not your User Name.
When signing up for WP, your email address defaults to all lower-case — and that does not impact your User Name here on CTH.
For example: Email as accepted/created on WP = [email protected], even though this fictional email is actually [email protected].
Screen Name at CTH is John Doe, even though WP made the “J” & “D” lower case.
I hope that made sense!
In general on the Internet, email addresses are not case-sensitive. Many systems change them to all caps or no caps and their utility is unaffected.
Thank LF. Makes sense now.
Yippee! And, there you are!
Out with the old and slimy, in with the new!!!!
Lines are breaking mid-word. Using my browser’s tools I changed CSS class wpd-comment-text from “word-break: break-all” to “word-break: break-word” and lines no longer break mid-word. Of course it only has effect until a page reload.
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Test with gravatar.
I am trying to see if replies to my comments generate an email. Not the best — I prefer the Icon bell in the upper right corner with a dropdown list, but the feedback is good.
It is like asking your buddies — “here’s what I think — do you agree? Do you think I’m crazy? Do you have anything to add?
In this world of gaslighters, censors, cancel culture, and bullying, it is good to cultivate a circle of friends who are honest truth seekers, who will give you feedback.
“Submit yourselves to one another” “Confess your sins to one another” “Don’t give up meeting together” “When you come together, teach each other, encourage one another, sing songs to one another” “If you see your brother stumbling, restore him gently, without passing judgement” “remember the beam in your own eye when you see a speck in your brothers eye”
Follower for 10+ years, the facts, data sourced and accuracy validates my intuitions. My #1 webpage for resource verification and to expose the dissemination of misinformation.
thank you so much sundance. especially if it isn’t soon choked off, the internet and such entrepreneur investigator activists as yourself (more than a bit of a nonpareil) will bring truth that has been denied and suppressed for decades, indeed lifetimes.
again, much gratitude for your genius and endurance. and an edit function.
The time has come for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
Thank you, thank you very much
That it does …
Is there a way to logon without making a comment first?
OK.
Thanks for all of the updates especially the black font color on the responses.
The site is a little wonky today.
I can only post my messages in a little 1 in.² and after I post them I’m not able to edit them.
Prior to this everything was working great.
With your mouse, hover on your username. To the right a link symbol ought to appear and below it a gear-like one. The latter is for editing. However, there is a 15 minute time limit. Afterwards, no editing for the particular comment.
Excellent progress on CTH2.0! It’s a joy seeing it come together.
Hello Treehouse Team!
Great job getting the new website up and running so quickly!
It would be nice if after hitting a posted link if the spot/location returned to after clicking the ‘back’ arrow was the same as where one previously was.
My apologies if this has already been pointed out.
Thanks for ALL that you do!!
love – love – love the site updates. thank you many times over. question – may we know who ‘liked’ the post? hover over number doesn’t show – neither do i get an email.
not complaining – just asking
again – thank you
Hope we can go back to the font we had before the switch-over to the new server and getting back the ‘like button’. Also being able to easily get a custom avatar would be nice.
My mistake. I see the like button and the edit feature. And now I see the reply option.
You all are amazing and doing a great job! I am grateful for all of you for my daily doses of sanity!
Thank you all!???
The “Questions thread” at top is great, but I suggest adding a separate page (tab?–not sure what it would be called) that provides how-to instructions for using the site. You could include how to post links, pics, and videos; how to edit and delete posts; how to create an avatar; how to make donations; etc. I guess this would be closer to a FAQ page, maybe, but with all the questions/answers in one spot at top–easy to find.
I recommend this for two reasons: 1) the info on the Questions thread is probably now outdated because of the move, and 2) having it all in one place keeps people from having to scroll through 700+ questions/responses (currently) to find out what they need to know.
Ya’ll got a great looking site so far–much better than the old version, so even though this was a pain in the patootie, I think it was for the best.
Can barely get the page to load this morning (circling, circling, circling) and the format seems messed up when it does load. Not having this issue with any other website. I’m sure you know if there is an issue, but FYI just in case.
And now it loaded just fine! LOL
Test
test
THANK YOU for darker type!!! My eyes thank you?
THANK YOU for the darker type! My eyes thank you?
I’ve noticed on the post, Supreme Court Requests Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia Respond to Election Lawsuit By 3pm Thursdaythat the comments line formats are breaking the last word on a line.
Thanks
Thank you for making the print darker.
Testing avatar
Avatar looking good! And appropriate.
I forgot to look the last time I posted a comment, so am on this thread to do the same – to test avatar.
Test.
Don’t see bold, italic, underline, etc options in other threads.
See it here though.
Wondering if I need to post something before those options appear in other threads.
test
test 2
test 3
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/12/08/cth-2-0-updates-new-comment-platform-initiated/comment-page-13/#comments
The user edit option of a user post is appreciated.
Linking a site for reference is still good.
Some of Sundances posts look very visible,
but sometimes the multiple comments by other users are not visible. (lag time ?)
Wondering if there is a log-on. thank you for the smooth transition, I initially didn’t realize it had even changed over to the new system until I noticed an ‘older post’ at the bottom, that’s new, along with it’s companion ‘newer post’ which will probably help reduce a ‘clogging-up’ issue as one goes deeper into the proverbial weeds. here’s to the potential ‘Freedom First’ party with 80+ million of us saying to the uni-party ‘you are all irrelevent FUBAR’!
I’ve been wondering the same: Is it possible to logon without making a comment.
Posted this any number of times with no response. I realize it has been somewhat
hectic but enough time has passed for someone to reply.
Here’s your reply 🙂 Hope you get it
Look forward to getting the daily email updates on each article! We love you!
Patience, Planning, Persisence, Perseverance, Passion and Purpose!
We are with you Sundance!
Keep moving, America needs you more than ever! … #successisjustaroundthecorner
Can you please insert a button at top of comments to restore to reverse chronological order?
This post seems to be stuck on “Most reached comment” for me. I’ve cleared cache and cookies yet I still keep seeing Sonia’s comment at top, and it’s from a couple hours ago
I don’t see any way to revert the comments display to list latest comments at the top
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/12/09/december-9th-2020-presidential-politics-trump-administration-day-1420/comment-page-6/#comment-7329332
… ok, and this is another problem – inserting a comment link seems to revert to the article link
next, I’ll use the little link symbol at bottom of comment box to see if I can get it to render as a link:
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/12/09/december-9th-2020-presidential-politics-trump-administration-day-1420/comment-page-6/#comment-7329332
ok, looks like that worked, I just have to remember to do it every time
so I’ve still got the open question about chronological order of comments
thx
oops, no, the convert-to-link didn’t work
it looked like it worked while in the comment box (changed to purple, like a visited link)
but now we again see the big box with the Dec 9 Presidential Politics verbiage instead of Sonia’s comment link that I entered
so 2 issues – chronological order and inserting comment links
thx
final try, I’ll used the quotes symbol at bottom of comment box and see if that’ll protect Sonia’s comment link that I’ve been entering all along:
and final try, I’ll put in my own quotes as text to see if it’ll trick the software from interpreting it as the article link it seems to want to impose
“https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/12/09/december-9th-2020-presidential-politics-trump-administration-day-1420/comment-page-6/#comment-7329332”
ok, that worked, at least to the extent that someone can highlight and copy/paste it out to their address bar, they’ve just got to make sure to delete the quotes
… and to clarify, I’m talking about inserting USER comment links, to point back to a Treeper comment
Ok, and here’s a final clue
The page just clicked to a new page 7 of comments with 1 comment time-stamped 6:28pm
Sonia’s comment was always showing at top of page 6 with a time-stamp 3:58pm, even tho there were many comments below hers with later times
So it looks like the order of comment pages are progressing chronologically, but the list of comments on a page is not
I’ve tried this on Edge browser, Pale Moon (Firefox variant), and IE11, which I like to browse with security set high to disable javascript and keep videos from auto-playing. If I want to see one of the videos I’ll copy over to Pale Moon, I keep both browsers open routinely
damn, this was intended to be last in the string of comments, the ones below were me troubleshooting
so it looks like new default behavior is a reply is inserted right below the comment being responded to
old behavior was if you clicked on the first of a series of indented replies, your new reply would insert at bottom of all those
new behavior looks to be reverse chronological
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/12/08/cth-2-0-updates-new-comment-platform-initiated/#more-205868
Hi! How did you get your avatar to show up? Does that have to be done directly within the email account that is used for commenting?
dunno, it just showed up without me doing anything new
I did NOT delete my wordpress account, and Gravatar is owned by wordpress, so my avatar is still registered and shows up here when I enter my email and username – in fact, all of that carries over and is auto-filled now that I’ve commented once and it saved a cookie for me
life’s been easy for me in the transition, sympathy to all y’all
go to page 14 in this thread and search for “Julie”
there are instructions
oops, I see Julie’s instructions about 4 comments downthread from here, and others chime in too
ok, NEVERMIND, and disregard much of below comments
I misunderstood how the comments display is working. Since you enter you comment at the top, I was expecting reverse chronological display, with newer comments at the top
But after you hit ENTER, you comment drops to the bottom of the page, where you can see that comments are in chronological order like the old behavior – newest comments at bottom
There are the 2 buttons for most reacted comment and hottest comment thread, and those will be useful
To revert to chronological order, there’s no button so I guess you – what? – just reload the page?
Apologies for my long-winded comments resulting from my misunderstanding