Categories - should be an ordered list

I seem to remember when this site first went live the Categories screen was a list.

Then a couple of days ago you unleashed the extra features of some in-built crazy block-view option in the software. It doesn't work. Less is more. Or at least more simplicity and order is more.

Please do change the Categories screen to an ordered list, which basically means the actual forum headings under each other rather than arranged into sectioned blocks.

You can have the extra 'sidebar' info on who's posting to the right, but keep the forum headings all as a vertical list on the left, within sections. We need some clarity.

Here (a confused block, where to go? - my brain is exploding!!) :

DPR (looks ok though has always been too narrow) :

DPRenewed at myBB (looks ok) :

DPR Clone (looks ok)

So mainly, organise forums as a vertical list (with other stats stuff you want to include over on the right). Keep it compact though, to reduce the need for too much scrolling up and down. Less is more, loose the complex block.

Alan did both this and DPRenewed at MyBB. I thought that the new arrangement was better. One problem is that until we've done new style sheets the layout is less dense than we'd like, and this three level layout was an attempt to fix that. Still, it will settle down one way or the other - thanks for the feedback.

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Alan did both this and DPRenewed at MyBB. I thought that the new arrangement was better. One problem is that until we've done new style sheets the layout is less dense than we'd like, and this three level layout was an attempt to fix that. Still, it will settle down one way or the other - thanks for the feedback.
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Actually the blocks order to a list on a mobile phone... which is better...

Though as I raised elsewhere about too much 'white space' and large margins, again I think there too much padding between lines - not that it should go to other extreme and be too dense. Anyway my vote is for the clearer ordered lists (that also exist everywhere else) rather than blocks.

• many thanks for your reply.

Agreed. Well, I'm not avoiding this site of course, but such kind of page design is real nightmare. Even list with two or three columns would be preferred - this way it could be fully visible and easily navigable.

I like 'mother site' Forums popup menu layout (attached) - allows me easily switch between few favourite forums and stay mostly in single, most preferred one.

(about categories view)

Yes and no.
There is such little thing as the first impression - and if this happens to be negative, then some potential users look for alternatives at next click.
Of course getting site running smoothly is first priority, but look and feel are very important factors too.

But as always, different standpoints and views are welcomed. I can't know beforehand, does my personal opinion belong to majority or minority - but I hope that all ideas, suggestions, opinions etc will be taken into account here somehow.