...as it was in Classic TER. In (Old) New TER, when you go to the discussion boards, you're automatically in Flat mode. The threads don't make sense in Flat mode. You can't tell who is responding to which post unless you click Tree. As a result, many times someone winds up replying to the wrong post.
I could not agree with BP more. PLEASE at least make tree the default mode or even better dump flat mode altogether. I know admin doesn't like train wreck threads, and many of these squabbles start from misunderstanding between people who weren't even talking to each other.
because there are days that it takes forever to open and close each post.
Flat mode opens them all at once. If there is a lot of back and forth, then granted, it's hard to follow the conversation; but if it is mostly a lot of one-off comments, then flat is fine
I hate clicking open each reply since I'm a fast reader (and it's not like most threads on here need time to digest), but I also realize that following the line of conversation requires tree mode. They need a hybrid mode IMO.
...where all the replies are to the OP. It's also good when the thread resembles an upside-down pyramid; i.e., all posts are replies to the previous post. Those are the only times I'll use Flat mode. But you still have to see the thread in Tree mode to be able to tell that it will make sense in Flat mode.
For TER to drop tree mode! Of course I replied with the opposite request on all those threads!
I have never had to click tree mode to make it default. I'd have to click on flat mode to change it to flat if I want (which of course I don't). I switched from classic years ago, so I am talking about the current version of TER.
The only time flat is default is on the photo only board (which makes sense) and if I try to access a message through "my message boards," but when I click on any discussion board I am always in tree mode.
I have seen your complaint before and I wonder why would some people have default tree mode and some have default flat mode? Seems very weird. I have suggested doing away with flat mode in the past. It is useless except for the photo board.
...and the number of discussion participants TER has.
I am a member of another board where flat is the only option. It works because it's a much smaller group. We address one another by name and/or quote the post we are responding to.
I wish there was a way to make it work here because I like mrfisher hate how long it takes for things to open and close. I switch to flat when the thread doesn't have side comments or when on the ad board where I don't care what the side comments are I just want to see the provider's ad and any replies by her with pics and updates.