How many people are viewing each thread

[The Don]

Hey, just a small suggestion. You know how on forums it says like (5 viewing) next to it, I think we should get it so it says that next to threads, so like it tells you which threads are getting viewed. It would be a useful feature to see when someone is going to reply to your thread or to go into threads that are quite popular.

[rnix]

I would love to see this feature, always though about it but never managed to make a thread about it :P
+rep

[Samantha]

yeah I agree, because if it says 5 viewing then you have to actually click the threads to see whose viewing it (if anyone.)

[Mr-Trainor]

I don't think this is a bad idea, although personally I doubt I'd ever use it. As long as it doesn't take up too much space though.

[nvrspk4]

I believe this was either implemented or discussed but was removed or rejected because of the immense number of queries that would be involved. Checking every user to see if they were viewing that thread for every online user who is viewing a thread increases the number of queries needed exponentially and puts a huge load on the server.

Perhaps they've found a better way to do it, but it was like that on 3.x

[Eoin247]

Sounds like a good idea. As Luke said, as long as it doesn't take up too much room i'd like to see this implemented.

[GommeInc]

I didn't know it was removed deliberately for the sake of the server :P I used to see them all the time, albeit on IPB forums :/

Ask yourselves, is it a necessary feature? I can't see it being of use, not everyone will reply to a thread they are viewing afterall. If it's doable and won't be too much hassle, then add it. But if it will crash the server (somehow), then it maybe worth keeping as the forum is at the moment. We've lived so far without it :P

[HotelUser]

Bare in mind at minimal if you have 25 threads per page then it's going to run 25 additional queries on every forum index load for every user.

I will investigate how much more overhead this will put on the server. Although I think Nvrspk's probably right in that it wasn't done in the past because it ended up being too much :P

[beth]

i don't really understand the necessity. unless for stalkage purposes.

[e5]

Yeah, I like the idea, as although i'd use it rarely... The time(s) i'd want to, it would come in handy!

[The Don]

It's would be just a nice feature to have, say you see a thread with like (11 viewing) then you'd clikc that because there is probably something happening in that thread or it's just a really good discussion going on.

[e5]

As nvrspk4 said, it may not be possibly or has been rejected in the past.

[Stephen]

Tbh it does sound alot to do when you think about it.. It's alright with forums and stuff but then you've got every thread on every 1st page of every forum

[-Danube-]

It does seem like a great idea because you can see which threads you could be posting in and get a discussion going as people are viewing that thread as you are posting.

Although as others have said, it could have immense strain on the server if it was to check all the threads.

The only thing i would maybe suggest if it's really too slow to do it for every thread, maybe just do it for the top 5 active threads in that forum or something?

[Mathew]

I don't see the point in this at all. The only threads I read are ones that show up on "New Posts", which would suggest there's recently been a reply; in which case there's probably a couple of other people viewing it as I can see in the:

Thread Information
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (1 members and 0 guest)

Why would you be interested in how many people are viewing each thread? Even for "stalking" purposes.. :P

[Inseriousity.]

I think it'd be rather pointless tbh. At the bottom of the forum it tells you who's viewing it. If it's a member you can just click on their name and their profile will tell you what thread they're on! If it's a guest, you can just go to Who's Online and have a look if it's bothering you that much! :P

[The Don]

I don't see the point in this at all. The only threads I read are ones that show up on "New Posts", which would suggest there's recently been a reply; in which case there's probably a couple of other people viewing it as I can see in the:


Why would you be interested in how many people are viewing each thread? Even for "stalking" purposes.. :P

Some people don't use new posts such as myself because I don't want to see a load of habbo stuff pop up.

Inseriousity, it's not to find out which user is view what thread, it's just so that you can see which threads are more active and go into that thread because there is likely going to be a disucssion in it.

[GommeInc]

Inseriousity, it's not to find out which user is view what thread, it's just so that you can see which threads are more active and go into that thread because there is likely going to be a disucssion in it.
Wouldn't posts be a sign of activeness? Who is viewing what thread doesn't tell you much, they could all be viewing a dull thread with a good title. You should probably focus on thread subjects that interest you, than which thread is being viewed a lot as these threads could be on dull things.

[Alex3213]

Wouldn't posts be a sign of activeness? Who is viewing what thread doesn't tell you much, they could all be viewing a dull thread with a good title. You should probably focus on thread subjects that interest you, than which thread is being viewed a lot as these threads could be on dull things.

That's what I thought really. Normally the factors are your interest, the amount of posts and how far it is near the top normally helps when there's a discussion going on. :p

[Nicola]

I think this would be quite a nice little feature to have but looking at what nvr and David said, if it's too much for the server it won't be happening. It's nothing too major anyway.