Help improve the FIO community

Hey guys,

I would like this thread to serve as a suggestion/input/comments/feedback thread for futures io members on how to improve our community.

Please, do not use this thread to report problems. You can use the existing site issues & changelog thread for that:

futures io site changelog and issues/problem reporting This is something I should have done months ago. The purpose of this thread is just to track the changes that I make to the site over time. Some may find it interesting, but its mainly for me. So, unfortunately most the heavy lifting has been done …

My next post will contain a few projects that are actively in the works right now. Some of you know, but others do not, that my full-time job is working on this community as well as my own personal trading.

I do my best to continue to improve the community. Some projects are long overdue, others are brand new ideas that can be executed quickly and get pushed to the front of the line.

Any suggestions or input/comments/feedback you leave in this thread will be thoroughly considered and will be acted upon if possible and if we agree it will serve the community as a whole.

Mike

Existing major projects in the works right now:

- Complete revamp of webinars section, significant improvements
- Complete revamp of Vendor Reviews, significant improvements
- Community market sentiment tracker, tracking real trades by members
- Site Sponsor portal so sponsors can administer their own banner/offer changes, saving me a great deal of time

Many other projects are known but not currently actively being developed.

Feel free to list anything you want about what you want to see with the new webinars section, or what you want to see with the new Reviews section.

The new Market Sentiment Tracker is exciting, but I've not revealed any details yet. Feel free to leave suggestions using your imagination.

Let me also just officially say that a prior project of converting our backend framework from vB to IPB is now dead. We decided instead to just fully commit to vB, and make our own core changes to improve the product (such as being the only vB3 site in the world that has copy/paste or drag-n-drop images and screenshots in posts).

I look forward to hearing from you!

Mike

Another active project:

- Allow Elite Members to change their username

This is currently in the works. You might have seen the option in UserCP. I need to finish it, but ran into major technical issues that I need to overcome. I will!

Mike

- New threads (initial creation) needs the drag-n-drop/paste image feature added to it

@tturner86 is looking at replacing GoToWebinar, he will evaluate client-side feature set, I will evaluate backend API/framework for our requirements

Ability to change # of posts when viewing a thread.

Member "trophies" or icon/symbol to indicate when they participated in a fundraiser, or when they won a challenge.

Automatically select your journal thread based on the newest thread you create in journal section(s). Many members leave the profile field blank because they don't know it's there. Determining it automatically will help others find the journals easier of other members.

Mike

dark mode

forrestang 

dark mode

I would like to see this feature too

The ability to have a date picker in journals.

Sent using the futures.io mobile app

Having a weekly or daily summary email instead of per post.

Sent using the futures.io mobile app

Ability to block/ignore threads such as politics or other conspiracy related stuff

Sent using the futures.io mobile app

Tool to automate deletion of accounts when requested and is applicable

Pa Dax 

Having a weekly or daily summary email instead of per post. Sent using the futures.io mobile app

This is available today. Goto UserCP -> List subscriptions, then select the appropriate threads (or all) and change the type.

Click here:

https://futures.io/subscription.php?do=viewsubscription

Then choose:



Mike

Enhance "Follow" thread button (at top of thread) so it respects default value of Subscription type for member (instant, daily, weekly). Currently it is forced to Instant only. They can be modified by user after the fact, but it should default to whatever the member has as his default. It isn't an easy enhancement which is why it wasn't done the first time...

Mike

Pa Dax 

The ability to have a date picker in journals. Sent using the futures.io mobile app

Can you expand on this? Do you mean to jump to a date within the thread (instead of page numbers)?

Mike

Speaking of the FOLLOW feature...

There are some forums that offer the ability to FOLLOW USERS, and you are notified immediately when that person posts.

Since it has not been mentioned, I'd like to suggest NOT to add such a feature. This is jut my opinion of course.

forrestang 

Speaking of the FOLLOW feature... There are some forums that offer the ability to FOLLOW USERS, and you are notified immediately when that person posts. Since it has not been mentioned, I'd like to suggest NOT to add such a feature. This is jut my opinion of course.

I am already working on a follow user feature.

I am also working on a keyword notification feature.

Why do you say to avoid this feature?

Mike

Big Mike 

I am already working on a follow user feature. I am also working on a keyword notification feature. Why do you say to avoid this feature? Mike

Well, others may feel differently, but whenever I post on a forum, and people start following me, I usually stop posting there. Feels like you're under a microscope.

IMO, as long as one can turn such a feature on/off(the person BEING followed), it would be fine. Some people may want to be followed. And at some point, depending on what I'm into, I might want to be followed.

But typically, I like to be able to post w/o thinking about weather or not a bunch of people will get notifications about a post I make.

So just to clarify... imo the key point is having the ability to toggle it on/off.

forrestang 

Well, others may feel differently, but whenever I post on a forum, and people start following me, I usually stop posting there. Feels like you're under a microscope. IMO, as long as one can turn such a feature on/off(the person BEING followed), it would be fine. Some people may want to be followed. And at some point, depending on what I'm into, I might want to be followed. But typically, I like to be able to post w/o thinking about weather or not a bunch of people will get notifications about a post I make. So just to clarify... imo the key point is having the ability to toggle it on/off.

I wonder if others feel the same. If so, I could add a feature so that when a member wants to follow someone, that 'someone' must approve it and they can also see a list of who is following them.

Mike

Private chat?

I also have already created the framework for a brand new chatbox, that is much improved. It auto-reconnects if your internet connection breaks for a moment, so no need to manually refresh our page. It is about 100x faster than current chat.

I am trying to work out the best way to incorporate screenshot images into the chat, so people can share easily.

User mentions will work correctly in the chat, and when you are mentioned it will <ding> if you want it to, even if you don't have the chatbox loaded on any other page.

I like @Rrrracer's idea of a private chat, so I'll put that on the list.

Mike

Big Mike 

I wonder if others feel the same. If so, I could add a feature so that when a member wants to follow someone, that 'someone' must approve it and they can also see a list of who is following them. Mike

I disagree. It's a public forum and if someone chooses to follow you that's their decision not yours.

Dark theme for futures.io would be great.

Blocking entire threads would be fantastic.

Not really a "feature" improvement but we could really use a thread similar to "Ninjatrader indicators" for Tradingview indicators, TV is gaining lot of user base in recent years and it would be good idea to attract more traders if we can facilitate them similar to how we are doing for Ninja and SC.

Just a suggestion.

Big Mike 

Can you expand on this? Do you mean to jump to a date within the thread (instead of page numbers)? Mike

I think at least the jump to a date function would be good to have. It's helpful when you want to jump back to a date of a specific market event or something that you can quickly jump back to the journal post that belongs to that date. I frequently want to look back at journal entries from a specific date and spend a lot of time searching for them.

The other function could have potential as well. That is, if in journal posts, you could link a post to a date and instrument, you could search across all journals for a journal entry on a specific date. That would allow elite users to quickly spot and find all journals for last Friday's session for example so that they could go through each of them and see the different styles and methods people use to find a journal and style that meets their personality. It makes the journals more 'findable'

I know this is being revamped at the moment anyway, but I would love to have filters in the webinar section to filter by speaker and type so that I can quickly get to the all the webinars from a specific speaker.

forrestang 

Well, others may feel differently, but whenever I post on a forum, and people start following me, I usually stop posting there. Feels like you're under a microscope. IMO, as long as one can turn such a feature on/off(the person BEING followed), it would be fine. Some people may want to be followed. And at some point, depending on what I'm into, I might want to be followed. But typically, I like to be able to post w/o thinking about weather or not a bunch of people will get notifications about a post I make. So just to clarify... imo the key point is having the ability to toggle it on/off.

Big Mike 

I wonder if others feel the same. If so, I could add a feature so that when a member wants to follow someone, that 'someone' must approve it and they can also see a list of who is following them. Mike

Grantx 

I disagree. It's a public forum and if someone chooses to follow you that's their decision not yours.

There are a number of people I "follow" now -- if I see they have a post, I click on it to see what they say ( @forrestang is one -- no intent to make you uncomfortable, I just like your posts -- as are @Grantx and @Big Mike for that matter, and a slew of others.)

I'm going to continue to "follow," informally and manually as I do now, and if the site makes it easier I will take advantage of lt.

But, so no one is uncomfortable, I think it makes sense to just have s simple opt-out choice in members' User Control Panel. That way it's still in the person's control if they don't want it applied to them, but there's not a cumbersome permission process put in the way of others who want to use the functionality. The default would be Yes, but you could say No if you wanted, and your opt-out then automatically applies to all follow requests.

If someone has opted out, then when another user wants to follow them, they could simply get a message that "Member xxx has opted out of automatic following," and I think everyone's concerns are met, and the process does not become cumbersome.

Bob.

Please describe how to share custom indicator code in TradingView.

LastDino 

Not really a "feature" improvement but we could really use a thread similar to "Ninjatrader indicators" for Tradingview indicators, TV is gaining lot of user base in recent years and it would be good idea to attract more traders if we can facilitate them similar to how we are doing for Ninja and SC. Just a suggestion.

Sent using the futures.io mobile app

Thank you, that is included in new version. Tell me what else, to make sure I've planned it.

Pa Dax 

I know this is being revamped at the moment anyway, but I would love to have filters in the webinar section to filter by speaker and type so that I can quickly get to the all the webinars from a specific speaker.

Sent using the futures.io mobile app

Big Mike 

Please describe how to share custom indicator code in TradingView. Sent using the futures.io mobile app

We can share custom script on TV in multiple ways

Inbuilt TV system allows you to share scripts by publishing them, there are multiple categories in that which can be;
1. Public (Anyone can publish and add, also source code is open)
2. Private (Anyone can publish and add but source code is private)
3. Invite only (Which is for paid subscribers only who are into business of selling indicators)
All above is allowed as long as it adheres to TV house rules.

As far as outside TV goes, we can simply share codes on FIO, as long as there is question or doubt of something and there is someone willing to help on it, I see no conflict with TV policy if we do it on FIO itself. In fact there are number of unofficial chats/grps on various forums and apps that do something similar.

Application of it can be done directly by copy pasting codes in TV scripting window. I see no problem having this in our elite corner as there are many excellent coders here and may be able to develop it into very active section, which may help many.

Please excuse if I'm missing something, this is just a suggestion on my end and I'm not that well versed in complications it may have with forum policy

Pa Dax 

I think at least the jump to a date function would be good to have. It's helpful when you want to jump back to a date of a specific market event or something that you can quickly jump back to the journal post that belongs to that date. I frequently want to look back at journal entries from a specific date and spend a lot of time searching for them. The other function could have potential as well. That is, if in journal posts, you could link a post to a date and instrument, you could search across all journals for a journal entry on a specific date. That would allow elite users to quickly spot and find all journals for last Friday's session for example so that they could go through each of them and see the different styles and methods people use to find a journal and style that meets their personality. It makes the journals more 'findable'

I like this idea to improve finding posts in a thread. So I will take a look at what it would take to implement when I can. I think it would be too much to incorporate into the page number navigation strip, so it would likely have to be relegated to the Thread Tools dropdown.

Mike

LastDino 

We can share custom script on TV in multiple ways Inbuilt TV system allows you to share scripts by publishing them, there are multiple categories in that which can be; 1. Public (Anyone can publish and add, also source code is open) 2. Private (Anyone can publish and add but source code is private) 3. Invite only (Which is for paid subscribers only who are into business of selling indicators) All above is allowed as long as it adheres to TV house rules. As far as outside TV goes, we can simply share codes on FIO, as long as there is question or doubt of something and there is someone willing to help on it, I see no conflict with TV policy if we do it on FIO itself. In fact there are number of unofficial chats/grps on various forums and apps that do something similar. Application of it can be done directly by copy pasting codes in TV scripting window. I see no problem having this in our elite corner as there are many excellent coders here and may be able to develop it into very active section, which may help many. Please excuse if I'm missing something, this is just a suggestion on my end and I'm not that well versed in complications it may have with forum policy

Sorry if I am being redundant. What I am specifically wanting to know is -- is it a URL to share? Is it text code? Is it a file attachment (and if so, what extension)? I need this to be able to set it up.

Would you just share a simple TradingView indicator in your reply so I can understand it better?

Mike

Big Mike 

Sorry if I am being redundant. What I am specifically wanting to know is -- is it a URL to share? Is it text code? Is it a file attachment (and if so, what extension)? I need this to be able to set it up. Would you just share a simple TradingView indicator in your reply so I can understand it better? Mike

If I may,

There can't really be a complete comparison to TV's system as their indicators are integrated into the platform.

I'm not sure if this is what the OP had in mind, but what I could envision your site having one or more threads dedicated to indicators. A member can attach an indicator to a post, along with descriptions/images/videos/etc.

Additionally, I believe the OP would also like to see an indicator search feature tied into the dedicated indicator threads.

Like TV's, it could be searched through a dropdown list, (or a listbox.) And also via 'type-in-the-partial-name-of-indicator' textbox search. It would be nice if the results are updated real-time as the name is typed in, incase the full/correct name is not known.

As I probably won't use such a feature much; OP should feel free to correct me as desired.

If this doesn't help, I or the OP can try posting a TV link to where you yourself can see it in action; and/or screenshots.

There is already an indicator search feature for about 8 years or more. But it's Elite only, maybe that's why you haven't seen it. For others, it's in the search box, click Attachments before typing anything. There are many options on how to sort out filter from there.

If I misunderstood let me know.

userque 

If I may, There can't really be a complete comparison to TV's system as their indicators are integrated into the platform. I'm not sure if this is what the OP had in mind, but what I could envision your site having one or more threads dedicated to indicators. A member can attach an indicator to a post, along with descriptions/images/videos/etc. Additionally, I believe the OP would also like to see an indicator search feature tied into the dedicated indicator threads. Like TV's, it could be searched through a dropdown list, (or a listbox.) And also via 'type-in-the-partial-name-of-indicator' textbox search. It would be nice if the results are updated real-time as the name is typed in, incase the full/correct name is not known. As I probably won't use such a feature much; OP should feel free to correct me as desired. If this doesn't help, I or the OP can try posting a TV link to where you yourself can see it in action; and/or screenshots.

Sent using the futures.io mobile app

Big Mike 

There is already an indicator search feature for about 8 years or more. But it's Elite only, maybe that's why you haven't seen it. For others, it's in the search box, click Attachments before typing anything. There are many options on how to sort out filter from there. If I misunderstood let me know. Sent using the futures.io mobile app

No, you got it. As I re-read OP's post, I think I was the one who misunderstood.

Hope you guys get an understanding.

Big Mike 

Sorry if I am being redundant. What I am specifically wanting to know is -- is it a URL to share? Is it text code? Is it a file attachment (and if so, what extension)? I need this to be able to set it up. Would you just share a simple TradingView indicator in your reply so I can understand it better? Mike

You can share it with link as well as simply copy pasting code in the pine script editor. For a link you will have to use one of the 3 ways mentioned above, for all our purposes we can use the simple copy pasting format (We do same in other TV coding chats/forums). If code is too big you can also use text file or pastebin to save and share, but I doubt we will have codes running into thousands of lines being shared freely, so that shouldn't be an issue.

Copy paste sharing example, people just have to copy this in TV pine scripting editor and run/save the script. For additional safety from vendors running amok we can make a rule of "posting only open source script links". (First method)

 

Code

// This source code is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public License 2.0 at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/ // //@version=4 study("My Script") len=input(14) para=input(close) rsi=rsi(para,len) plot(rsi, color=color.yellow, title="RSI")

And unlike locally installed platforms, this doesn't have any extensions, since nothing is saved on your local machine for it to read. Everything is cloud based.

Edit: Just to add example of link sharing as well, here is open source indicator of mine published sometime back
https://www.tradingview.com/script/XspBXSal-Ultimate-Pivot-Points/

A simple click on it can lead directly to the indicator published, from where you can add it to your favorites or copy paste from for your use.

Possibly an option to disable the social media widgets? I looked and didn't see such an option.
2021-01-21_150641

forrestang 

Possibly an option to disable the social media widgets? I looked and didn't see such an option.

This would be pretty cool; I use a 1920x1600 monitor arranged vertically for websites, Spotify, Skype, etc. and the social media widgets break the page formatting. Not a big deal, strictly selfishness on my part

Capture

Greater flexibility on newsletters, ability to select/de-select webinars for example from other types of newsletters. This is a major code change but it is on my list.

Mike

Download section needs to be re-grouped and re-organized. Many sections are no longer applicable or necessary.

Mike

PDF export of threads for Elite Members

Mike

Big Mike 

PDF export of threads for Elite Members Mike

Ooh that would be big. Awesome.

Add the drag/drop & paste option to New Threads, Edit Posts, and to Direct Messages

Big Mike 

This is available today. Goto UserCP -> List subscriptions, then select the appropriate threads (or all) and change the type. Click here: https://futures.io/subscription.php?do=viewsubscription Then choose: Mike

an account setting for notifications type for new subscriptions would be nice -
edit: ups - already there ... sorry




and an upvote for the pdf export feature!! This would be really awsome

askerix 

an account setting for notifications type for new subscriptions would be nice

UserCP -> Edit options -> Default Thread Subscription Mode

https://futures.io/profile.php?do=editoptions



This is for replying to threads or starting new threads.

Currently, when you click "Follow" at top of thread you are reading, it is making an instant notification subscription and not respecting your default value. I need to work on that change, which is a bit of major change but I will do it.

Mike

Big Mike 

Currently, when you click "Follow" at top of thread you are reading, it is making an instant notification subscription and not respecting your default value.

Thank you for clarification, this it what confused me. Now as I know, it's fine for me.
cheers

Responsive Web Design

Redo the mobile version of the website so it will automatically respond to different device types, screen size/resolutions, and screen orientation.

ondafringe 

Responsive Web Design Redo the mobile version of the website so it will automatically respond to different device types, screen size/resolutions, and screen orientation.

Yes, this was the main reason behind the initial push to move to IPB 4 in the new framework. Hundreds of man hours, thousands of dollars spent on that. But I am halting that for now and yes, I currently have about 10 tabs open dedicated to trying to get a responsive design -- something that is near impossible with vb3, but I will do it.

Mike

Deleted messages should contain post content in the automatic notice message the original poster receives

Sent using the futures.io mobile app

Big Mike 

Deleted messages should contain post content in the automatic notice message the original poster receives Sent using the futures.io mobile app

This is now done. If a post gets deleted, the OP will receive the original post text back to them in the automatic notification they receive about the deletion.

Mike

Rewrite the Direct Message pop-up window code entirely. Currently tries to popup an entire new window old-school, which is usually blocked by most browsers, when user receives a new DM.

Rewrite to be inline div or otherwise modern browser friendly.

Mike

Big Mike 

Enhance "Follow" thread button (at top of thread) so it respects default value of Subscription type for member (instant, daily, weekly). Currently it is forced to Instant only. They can be modified by user after the fact, but it should default to whatever the member has as his default. It isn't an easy enhancement which is why it wasn't done the first time... Mike

This is now done.

Mike

Add universal emoji support, alongside existing smilie support.

Mike

Big Mike 

Automatically select your journal thread based on the newest thread you create in journal section(s). Many members leave the profile field blank because they don't know it's there. Determining it automatically will help others find the journals easier of other members. Mike

This is now done.

When you have a journal (thread) in either the "Trading Journals" or "Elite Trading Journals" section of the site, we will automatically set your user profile field to your journal URL, based on the newest thread you've created in one of those two areas.

If you have a journal that is not in one of those two areas, this won't catch it.

Mike

Auto embed Screencast images (instead of them appearing as links) without the need for bbcode.

Auto embed images (instead of them appearing as links) without the need for bbcode.

This is to-do.

Mike

Would it be too much trouble, or undesirable to allow attachments in the first post of the OP's thread beyond 24 hours?

There may be a reason for not having this functionality, so just checking in the case that it is not problematic.

forrestang 

Would it be too much trouble, or undesirable to allow attachments in the first post of the OP's thread beyond 24 hours? There may be a reason for not having this functionality, so just checking in the case that it is not problematic.

You should be able to do this right now.

Mike

Big Mike 

You should be able to do this right now. Mike

So I can edit the text, but when I click the 'manage attachments' button, I get this message.
2021-02-01_135442

forrestang 

So I can edit the text, but when I click the 'manage attachments' button, I get this message. 2021-02-01_135442

OK, I will note that and put on the list to change.

Mike

Accept cryptocurrency for payment of Elite. Crypto futures are super hot right now, we should be encouraging and accepting.

Mike

Show the current og-image that the system selected, at the top in thread summary, and allow either the thread starter or admins to modify it.

Mike

Current trends --> word cloud that incorporates popular searches and recent posts.

I like this visual that I found on another site (lunarCRUSH). Example:

https://lunarcrush.com/widgets/wordcloud?symbol=ETH&interval=1%20Week&animation=true&theme=dark




Mike

Interstitial (I had to look it up, thank you) for better user control over link destinations in promotional emails.

I'm not happy with how we are display vendors (non sponsors):



I want to clearly identify that they are a vendor (dollar sign icon, green user title). I also want their business name listed.

But I am not happy with the visual appearance of what we have so far.

I am looking for suggestions please so I can try to improve things.

Mike

Rrrracer 

Interstitial (I had to look it up, thank you) for better user control over link destinations in promotional emails.

Agree. This is also needed for the links in Site Sponsor profiles, for Elite Offers, so there is an interstitial with options. Right now it just executes the offer.

Mike

Big Mike 

I want to clearly identify that they are a vendor (dollar sign icon, green user title). I also want their business name listed. But I am not happy with the visual appearance of what we have so far.

What is it exactly that you are unhappy about?

Why?

@Big Mike,

I dont know if this is possible, but I would like to see where the last 'x' Likes came from on my posts. Sometimes I dont post anything for several weeks and come back in and have 10 new likes. I would like to know where they came from. Something recent, something old I never know. The value add (for me) is if I posted something 6 months ago and it has received several likes, perhaps I can do a follow up or expand further on the topic. Sometimes old posts become relevant. This could potentially save new threads being created. I would imagine this could be useful for the Admins to see when a post is responded to in the form of a like.

Robert

Mike, reposting here from Slack, as you requested, to enable tracking.

A suggestion for a change when closing a thread:

It would he helpful to have a reason field, similar to when we delete a post, which is also printed on the DM sent to the thread starter, so they will know why their thread was closed.

I always leave a post in the thread explaining why it is being closed, but I often get a puzzled (or outraged ) DM from the starter asking why I closed the thread, because they had read the DM notice without having first gone to the thread -- which is natural. This would eliminate this situation.

Bob.

Enhance the Download section so that when someone updates their indicator, it automatically notifies people that downloaded it -- instead of requiring my notification and then manual intervention.

Mike

Big Mike 

Enhance the Download section so that when someone updates their indicator, it automatically notifies people that downloaded it -- instead of requiring my notification and then manual intervention. Mike

Would it be possible to have it be an option instead of an automatic thing?

I only suggest this, as I've added stupid little changes, I wouldn't want to alert anyone for, or at times when I upload the indicator... just to create a space for it to get a link, so I can update the description in the indicator code, THEN reupload the indicator.

Also, not saying this is a must, just a suggestion. If its too much trouble, then ignore the idea.

forrestang 

Would it be possible to have it be an option instead of an automatic thing? I only suggest this, as I've added stupid little changes, I wouldn't want to alert anyone for, or at times when I upload the indicator... just to create a space for it to get a link, so I can update the description in the indicator code, THEN reupload the indicator. Also, not saying this is a must, just a suggestion. If its too much trouble, then ignore the idea.

For sure. This is not a priority so a long way off. But I will keep track of it here in this thread.

Make FIO a Progressive Web App (PWA). Research this further since Mozilla for some reason is now against it??

@Big Mike

It would be really cool to have a world map of where everyone in the FIO community is located.

Robert

Done for about two years lol.

Just need to wrap it in something useful...

Silver Dragon 

@Big Mike It would be really cool to have a world map of where everyone in the FIO community is located. Robert

Sent using the futures.io mobile app

Mike, I have a peeve about how the forum software handles quoted material, whether quoted posts or material manually included by a user within QUOTE tags, using the QUOTE tags icon in the editor or typing them in.

When I quote another person's post, as I usually do to provide context when I'm replying, the software does not carry over anything that they had within QUOTE tags within their post, for example when they're citing someone else's post, or when they wrapped QUOTE tags manually around something.

So, for instance, this quoted text will not carry forward to another post that is quoting this one:

Quoting 

This is quoted text.

I have started, sometimes, to avoid the QUOTE tags and set off something I'm quoting with regular quote marks ( " " ) instead, so I know that if someone quotes my post, the things I quoted will come forward. Like this:

"This is more quoted text."

But the problem is that my use of "" does not set the text off as well as the QUOTE tag would. However, at least it isn't lost when my post is quoted.

I don't usually use "" when I'm quoting another user's post, because that would get too far from normal forum practice and would be less clear. I do sometimes use "" when I'm just trying to quote something else (maybe from another website), and I try to include a link or something else to make it clear what I'm doing.

But it possible, I would like to see the material in QUOTE tags, whether quoting another post or just something I have use QUOTEs to set off, to carry forward if quoted, formatted as quoted material that looks the same as it did in the original post.

I realize that things could get hairy, with many levels of QUOTE'd passages if one post is quoted in a post, and then THAT post is quoted again by someone else, etc. I also realize that the BB software may not be amenable to this change without too much effor to be worth it, and it really is not a big deal.

But if it's a small change and if it seems worthwhile, I think it would improve things some with quoted text.

Bob.

I would really like to see something better than a "thanks" button...and a purpose behind it. I have read some posts that are simply golden nuggets of learning...a couple just this morning. I would like a button that not only says "damn this is awesome" but also a link that would make these above average comments with serious educational info searchable. If it's possible, once they have been tagged as awesome, (or whatever) they become part of the "awesome comment" list/thread...etc.

If this is not in any way do able maybe comment on that too and I will start a thread of "awesome comments" that we can manually copy and paste to.

Thanks,
Craig

bobwest 

But if it's a small change and if it seems worthwhile, I think it would improve things some with quoted text. Bob.

I am not sure how easy it would be to make this change. I would have to dig into that area. I'll leave it on my list to check.

Mike

Blue Eagle 

I would really like to see something better than a "thanks" button...and a purpose behind it. I have read some posts that are simply golden nuggets of learning...a couple just this morning. I would like a button that not only says "damn this is awesome" but also a link that would make these above average comments with serious educational info searchable. If it's possible, once they have been tagged as awesome, (or whatever) they become part of the "awesome comment" list/thread...etc. If this is not in any way do able maybe comment on that too and I will start a thread of "awesome comments" that we can manually copy and paste to. Thanks, Craig

Me too. I have a lot of thoughts about that entire aspect of the site. I do not want to just make a singular change, I want to enhance the entire category of post ranking and helpfulness.

I've mentioned this before. I am working out a vision in my mind and I certainly am accepting feedback. But I want to make changes that will:

- Incentivize/encourage members to help other members
- Particular encouragement to answer "unanswered question" threads
- Replace 'Thanks' with standard Like button
- Something like a Heart button should be backed up with something of value, like to give a Heart "costs" something
- Posts with hearts are highlighted in some way
- Highest "heart" posts in a thread should be elevated in some way

More... but my coffee is getting cold!

Mike

Big Mike 

Done for about two years lol. Just need to wrap it in something useful... Sent using the futures.io mobile app

Regarding the Map feature, I wanted to expand briefly.

I actually wrote a lot of this code a couple years back. Here is what is mostly implemented already:

- GeoIP location based on IP address (industry standard practice)
- This locates you within your zipcode, more or less
- Provide anonymous opt-out feature, so your name is hidden

What I haven't done, but need to:

- HTML output to plot users
- Show members near me

Much more can be done with this feature as well. But I certainly want to encourage members to seek each other out, there are more things in common when they live near each other. It also can encourage a real-world meetup, which is absolutely fine by me.

Mike

Big Mike 

Me too. I have a lot of thoughts about that entire aspect of the site. I do not want to just make a singular change, I want to enhance the entire category of post ranking and helpfulness. I've mentioned this before. I am working out a vision in my mind and I certainly am accepting feedback. But I want to make changes that will: - Incentivize/encourage members to help other members - Particular encouragement to answer "unanswered question" threads - Replace 'Thanks' with standard Like button - Something like a Heart button should be backed up with something of value, like to give a Heart "costs" something - Posts with hearts are highlighted in some way - Highest "heart" posts in a thread should be elevated in some way More... but my coffee is getting cold! Mike

Sounds good... in the meantime I think I will start that thread at some point soon. So when a real nugget comes up we can copy and paste it if nothing else.

Craig

Blue Eagle 

Sounds good... in the meantime I think I will start that thread at some point soon. So when a real nugget comes up we can copy and paste it if nothing else. Craig

Check with @Rrrracer I think he had one going.

Big Mike 

Me too. I have a lot of thoughts about that entire aspect of the site. I do not want to just make a singular change, I want to enhance the entire category of post ranking and helpfulness. I've mentioned this before. I am working out a vision in my mind and I certainly am accepting feedback. But I want to make changes that will: - Incentivize/encourage members to help other members - Particular encouragement to answer "unanswered question" threads - Replace 'Thanks' with standard Like button - Something like a Heart button should be backed up with something of value, like to give a Heart "costs" something - Posts with hearts are highlighted in some way - Highest "heart" posts in a thread should be elevated in some way More... but my coffee is getting cold! Mike

@Big Mike, I really dig @Blue Eagle's idea here, because there are some members who go above and beyond with sharing their experience and actually change the course and trajectory of your trading career by sharing their knowledge. This in my opinion is critically important in a space where many of us feel pretty isolated and alone. We can't just learn a few things and go get hired at a hedge fund as a promising trader to go learn under some wise noble-minded sage that wants us to succeed, we're essentially free-agents grinding on our own so this community is very important. When someone shares real wisdom it should be simple to find and they should be acknowledged for it.

One thought I have to throw out there is maybe we could have a system where users, through making meaningful posts and accumulating the traditional "thanks" or "likes" that we have today, over time would earn a certain amount of "hearts" or whatever you want to call them, for some number of accumulated "thanks". Then you could allocate those "hearts" or whatever towards the posts that really make a difference to you. So by putting in effort to share journal entries, thoughts, experiences that others liked, over time you would earn the "hearts" (again arbitrary name) to give away to those really making a superb impact.

For example, I think of all the times @Pa Dax or @wldman told me exactly what I needed to hear at the right time because they've been there before. Or @Devil Man gave me perspective that I wasn't seeing. So many examples.

I do worry about this turning into some kind of currency or 'gaming' just to post to get thanks in order to get hearts, or missing the original intent, but our community is pretty tight so maybe that isn't too big of a concern.

Just some thoughts, many thanks to @Blue Eagle to bringing this up!

Big Mike 

Me too. I have a lot of thoughts about that entire aspect of the site. I do not want to just make a singular change, I want to enhance the entire category of post ranking and helpfulness. ... - Something like a Heart button should be backed up with something of value, like to give a Heart "costs" something

Interesting thoughts, but I'm not sure I understand this part. Wouldn't it discourage giving them?

Bob.

Big Mike 

... - Something like a Heart button should be backed up with something of value, like to give a Heart "costs" something ...

bobwest 

Interesting thoughts, but I'm not sure I understand this part. Wouldn't it discourage giving them? Bob.

One 'cost' metric could be to limit the frequency of each members ability to give a heart.

snax 

@Big Mike, I really dig @Blue Eagle's idea here, because there are some members who go above and beyond with sharing their experience and actually change the course and trajectory of your trading career by sharing their knowledge. This in my opinion is critically important in a space where many of us feel pretty isolated and alone. We can't just learn a few things and go get hired at a hedge fund as a promising trader to go learn under some wise noble-minded sage that wants us to succeed, we're essentially free-agents grinding on our own so this community is very important. When someone shares real wisdom it should be simple to find and they should be acknowledged for it. One thought I have to throw out there is maybe we could have a system where users, through making meaningful posts and accumulating the traditional "thanks" or "likes" that we have today, over time would earn a certain amount of "hearts" or whatever you want to call them, for some number of accumulated "thanks". Then you could allocate those "hearts" or whatever towards the posts that really make a difference to you. So by putting in effort to share journal entries, thoughts, experiences that others liked, over time you would earn the "hearts" (again arbitrary name) to give away to those really making a superb impact.

I really think that if we simply had another button...that noted the post as a "nugget of wisdom" that the rest would take care of itself. The post that finally pushed me to try to get something done was on @Rrrracer 's thread #1128...I tried to figure out how to link it here but I don't know how and it wouldn't copy and paste with the picture included. 14 people took a second to Thank that post but I know that if there was a "nugget"..or "heart" button most would have opted for that as it was simply a very helpful post for struggling traders.

Over the years I have seen posts from many that have 10-20 "Thanks" because they really say something. But that button alone wouldn't capture this well as frequent posters get many thanks for almost every post just because they are frequent posters and are followed by many. And I personally wouldn't want people "trying" to post awesome stuff...it happens organically when we have those moments of awareness and want to share them.

I think we know a nugget when we see it and would love to be able to reference them somehow. Anyway, another 2 cents from me... Also, I'm waiting to hear if @Rrrracer has started any kind of a thread like this as Grantx said.

Craig

Hey Everybody. I've been following along so I wanted to respond where I am tagged and throw in my two cents.

This might not be the most succinct post...like most of my posts...because I'm typing from notes I made first thing this morning.

I've said it before, that everyone comes here to the forum for a reason. Usually "in search" of something: an answer, edge, validation, community, the secret settings, customers. Trading is a solitary game. We hunt "good do's" and while we discuss our process and our thoughts, we are on our own. Nobody knows, or experiences the ups and downs with us...those are specific to our individual actions and how we respond to results. It is consistent with human nature to want to "pack up" and hunt in a group, but that is hard. We all bring different attributes, experience and unfortunately, cognitive bias to our business approach. Sorting that out and building on our victories is often, not so easy.

So, I came here looking for help with a specific piece of code work for Ninja Trader. I was working on development of a Black/Gray box system similar in approach to what Ken Griffin did at Citadel with live traders. (granted on a MUCH smaller scale) While I still have most of those documents, and I still believe the idea is sound...I moved away from that thing that brought me here. I stayed active for two reasons: Some of the content was very interesting. Some people could really benefit from steady hand advice away from pitfalls or mistakes that I had already made...sometimes numerous times.

Journaling then, had a dual purpose. I could log my own actions, ideas and responses as an intellectual and experiential warehouse for reflection and self improvement AND that journal might help someone else on their journey. I have talked with other guys that are very noticeably missing from the recent dialogue. What I'm trying to describe might not be universal, but it is not isolated or unique. Obviously none of us can read all the threads or posts, though I bet Mike tries. I was able to read my thread(s), Gary's Spoonalysis thread, and Big Mike. When I am active here I am spending a few hours each day on the site. I can not do that and prepare/trade efficiently.

Sometimes it is discouraging to be directly and spuriously challenged. But, I can take it...and I can ignore it or dispatch nonsense pretty quickly. Sometimes crazy shit gets momentum here. It is easy to be frustrated when that happens. Unheeded, yet sound, authentic, valid perspective over time can easily raise the question, "Why waste my time?" Not taking that personally is essential, I mean you can lead the horse to water...right?" But when it ain't your horse and you have more demands than time to divide, you have to make a choice. This is how I order my priorities: Husband, Father, Effing make bank. Outside of those everything else is leisure. We spend our leisure time pursuing some type of gratification. Here we finally arrive at the topic of the thread.

If the point of participation is anything but the give and take of learn and share, that point is serving some insecurity. I learn every time I read...reading is learning, period. Typing is sharing. The nature of sharing can vary. You could be sharing what you know or what you don't know. When your posts are meant to share value, my bet is that recognition and even gratitude are not the authentic primary motivators. Years ago I did make a gratitude thread...the purpose of which was to publicly and in an explicit and descriptive way share gratitude for value received. I be $100 to Mike's charity organization that the thread has not seen a new post in years. O/U 2015, unless it was me trying to bump the idea.

The second personal reason for starting that thread was to consolidate a reference for the really kick ass contributors...so I could mine for value that might help me.

My thought is that gratitude should always be given for value where value is received BUT never "sought" as gratification. Authentic people do not seek gratitude they seek contribution. Little contributions to the benefit of others collects victories, yes...but it expands benefit. In our business, that helps people move away from pain and towards the opposite of pain.

Well, breakfast sausage aint gonna cook itself...so i can carry the soap box into the kitchen now.

Of course I'd love to offer more color, clarification or defend these points if anyone cares. Tag me. I'll be happy to chat it up.

-Dan

This be it. Had to dust it off, it hasn't come off the shelf in a long time. Feel free to add, maybe we can get one of the Mods to change the title so it reflects community involvement? My purpose was to be succinct, just publish the info without a lot of chatter so that it was easy to sort thru. I was also trying to break it down by original thread, but we only get so much time to edit before the post is locked.

HTH!

Rrrracer's archive of valuable insights and interesting tidbits I've been somewhat systematically searching for the golden nuggets of information and wisdom that FIO has to offer in order to consolidate them into one place that will make it easy to locate and reference. There's probably more out there than …

@Rrrracer

Yeah man. I was just searching for my old gratitude thread. I'll be driving through Indy Thursday night. Probably staying there, somewhere near Waffle House if I'm lucky. Want to get breakfast on Friday morning?

-Dan

So here is that gratitude thread. 4 total posts.

Now, to be fair...dozens of people have reached out personally. The point is not exposing "ingratitude", rather to say that if we knew that our contribution actually made a difference we would divide time to continue because it might matter.

Gratitude Been way to long in coming to fruition but today events have transpired that demand a thread on gratitude. I made money before I came to futures.io (formerly BMT). If futures.io (formerly BMT) or my tenure here ever ends, I will continue to make money. Sometimes …

-Dan

wldman 

Yeah man. I was just searching for my old gratitude thread. I'll be driving through Indy Thursday night. Probably staying there, somewhere near Waffle House if I'm lucky. Want to get breakfast on Friday morning?

Find it and post the link

IIRC I missed you last time you came thru this neck of the woods... yeah, absolutely man! I've got a big job in the shop this week, but will bust some arse and see if I can shake loose on Friday. I'll hit you up on Skype.

Rrrracer 

Find it and post the link IIRC I missed you last time you came thru this neck of the woods... yeah, absolutely man! I've got a big job in the shop this week, but will bust some arse and see if I can shake loose on Friday. I'll hit you up on Skype.

Message there waiting for you.

Did Mike ask me to coordinate with you on some kind of an interview or video session? Could have been someone else.

-Dan

Blue Eagle 

I really think that if we simply had another button...that noted the post as a "nugget of wisdom" that the rest would take care of itself. The post that finally pushed me to try to get something done was on @Rrrracer 's thread #1128...I tried to figure out how to link it here but I don't know how and it wouldn't copy and paste with the picture included.

Here is that post @Blue Eagle is referring to, BTW if you go to the upper right-hand corner of the post there is a "permalink" link you can click that gives the exact URL!

Rrrracer's complete noob starting from scratch journal OK... apologies for that last, somewhat cryptic post. In a nutshell we had a situation arise here and for a moment thought that we might have to move off the property. Fortunately things have settled down and life has pretty much returned to normal. …

if we could share pictures in the chat that would be awesome, maybe make it that you need x amount of posts and been here for x amount of time so we dont get spammed by people. Or make it so we can post the image and have it link to something.

-P

Mike, how about the ability to have a popup when tagging someone that matches the input after the '@' sign? For instance, I now know when I tag @Massive l, it has to be a capital M and a lowercase l, but sometimes it's difficult to remember if someone is all lowercase, has a space in their name, etc.

Maybe a different implementation than what I'm proposing, not sure that my description is great but hopefully the idea is clear.

MiniP 

if we could share pictures in the chat that would be awesome, maybe make it that you need x amount of posts and been here for x amount of time so we dont get spammed by people. Or make it so we can post the image and have it link to something. -P

That is covered already as a must-have in our new chatbox. There are some things behind the scenes I cannot discuss yet that have delayed this. But rest assured it will be there as soon as possible.

Rrrracer 

Mike, how about the ability to have a popup when tagging someone that matches the input after the '@' sign? For instance, I now know when I tag @Massive l, it has to be a capital M and a lowercase l, but sometimes it's difficult to remember if someone is all lowercase, has a space in their name, etc. Maybe a different implementation than what I'm proposing, not sure that my description is great but hopefully the idea is clear.

Yes I understand. BTW, capitalization isn't important. But yes, knowing it has a space then L vs I for example is important.

Right now, it's quite difficult to make it appear in real-time in the editor for many reasons, but yes I want that too. One day.

Mike

A suggestion for the New Posts screen: add a checkbox on each line to mark a post as already read, so it will not show up on the unread list the next time the page is refreshed.

Right now, it is possible to mark all as read, which clears the list, or to actually read (or at least open) individual posts to mark them as read, but you can't selectively decide which ones you simply don't want to appear on the list. This change would make it easier to cull out what you are not interested in, and leave the rest for viewing.

Bob.

bobwest 

A suggestion for the New Posts screen: add a checkbox on each line to mark a post as already read, so it will not show up on the unread list the next time the page is refreshed. Right now, it is possible to mark all as read, which clears the list, or to actually read (or at least open) individual posts to mark them as read, but you can't selectively decide which ones you simply don't want to appear on the list. This change would make it easier to cull out what you are not interested in, and leave the rest for viewing. Bob.

Nice, I will look into it.

Mike

@Big Mike

Is it possible to make the Edit The Chat Box bigger? Its a pain to edit when there is a long comment.

Robert