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  • Subject: Timestamps should show relative time instead
Subject: Timestamps should show relative time instead

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I WAS SOCK

I definitely like this idea. I don't think the date would need to be in there as well though... that would just look cluttered.

Unless maybe the thread had *45 min. ago* and then the actual post had the date and time after you clicked on it?

  • 10.22.2011 4:32 AM PDT
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The only problem I can foresee with this idea is accuracy. If you will notice, other internet based statistic boards do the same thing. Take Xbox Live, for example. It became a mess tracking down every individual customer's online activity to the nearest minute, so the coders then rounded to days, for the most part.

If this system is to be implemented, it must be certain that it will not do this, as there may be moderation troubles, post issues, or other unforeseeable faults.

However, I personally love anything that would make the time of the posts easier to comprehend, as I am a resident of New England, and am accustomed to eastern standard time.

  • 10.22.2011 5:12 AM PDT

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Posted by: dazarobbo
I noticed that you added relative timestamps to bnetmobile recently, and I gotta say it's a useful addition. There are times when I check a busy forum just so I can tell what time it is currently in PDT, so that I can tell how old a post is in a quieter forum (or private group).

Btw, I <3 bnetmobile. It saves me so much time and frustration.

  • 10.22.2011 5:18 AM PDT
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Posted by: bobcast
I hate you unless I'm drunk.

Well we sort of have a feature for this already, for anything not a hot topic. The 'green webmaster' appears on threads that have a last post of 30 mins or less. (I think its about 30)

  • 10.22.2011 5:24 AM PDT

What a hipster.

I like the idea. Whenever I look at the current timestamps I always forget that only the date actually applies to me. Like what Duardo said, keep option 2. It's nice to see the day set in stone when users look back over the years.


Posted by: Achronos
I think it would be much more useful if timestamps were displayed in the browser's local time using a little javascript slight of hand.

Of course, sometimes things like that get cut from feature work.
In theory it sounds good, but it would look like a mess.

Sure, It would be helpful, but in this case adding one features means removing another. I always used timestamps to follow the sequence of a thread after it's been disrupted for particular reason or to see the time gap between posts. I don't know how others feel, but with timestamps reading...
Poster 1: 10.22.2011 6:20 AM
Poster 2: 10.22.2011 5:40 AM
Poster 3: 10.22.2011 7:20 PM
It would just look messy.

  • 10.22.2011 5:49 AM PDT

What's up with all the -blam!-ing negativity?
Stop it.

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Keer-Meet
God of Destruction

Yeah, Bungie's about 6 or 7 hours behind me.

I'd find that quite usefull.

  • 10.22.2011 6:20 AM PDT

I think looking through old threads might cause some problems.

  • 10.22.2011 6:20 AM PDT

Posted by: Zoidberg25
I noticed that you added relative timestamps to bnetmobile recently, and I gotta say it's a useful addition.
Thanks. Unfortunately the version of PHP installed does not have a particular class available for managing periods of time, so I'm currently forced to some hacky math which isn't entirely accurate, but is pretty close.

Posted by: Commander GXI know what Achronos is referring to, and that is not it.

The site would probably do something like embedding each date as the epoch; the current time according to bungie.net and adding its offset to GMT (which I think is -7 hours, but may differ based on daylight savings), so you'll end up with something like 1319290071 (which is the current epoch at this time). Javascript (your browser) can then take that number and convert it into a date which displays the date according to your system. Example.

  • 10.22.2011 6:30 AM PDT

What a hipster.

Posted by: dazarobbo
Posted by: Commander GXI know what Achronos is referring to, and that is not it.

The site would probably do something like embedding each date as the epoch; the current time according to bungie.net and adding its offset to GMT (which I think is -7 hours, but may differ based on daylight savings), so you'll end up with something like 1319290071 (which is the current epoch at this time). Javascript (your browser) can then take that number and convert it into a date which displays the date according to your system. Example.
Wow, I was way off. In that case is actually sounds like a pretty good idea.

[Edited on 10.22.2011 7:54 AM PDT]

  • 10.22.2011 6:49 AM PDT

Best of random chance

I support this, however, I thought it said tramp stamp.

  • 10.22.2011 7:02 AM PDT
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I think we should get rid of all times and dates on this website.

  • 10.22.2011 7:39 AM PDT

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- "Cross of Iron"

I never even knew it ran off the persons time zone, i wouldn't mind having this system.

  • 10.22.2011 8:08 AM PDT

How about we keep the date and input relative time?

  • 10.22.2011 8:15 AM PDT

What's up with all the -blam!-ing negativity?
Stop it.

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Oh yeah.
Thanks for picking my thread.
I feel special.
=D


please don't take that away from me

  • 10.22.2011 8:16 AM PDT
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I often find myself looking at threads in private groups and then having to go to an active forum to see what time it is currently, this would help a lot.

  • 10.22.2011 8:23 AM PDT

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Did you knew that JESUSdied for you?

Bungie tends to have international fans with different tme zomes like me. I approve this idea.

  • 10.22.2011 8:24 AM PDT

Key

I don't get what the current system is doing that's "wrong". Everyone knows Bungie is on Pacific time and through various events and the timestamps in general, I'm assuming MOST people know the distance between THEIR timezone and Bungie's. I even do it subconsciously at times.

Even poor Qbix who's 9 hours away (pretty sure he's 6 hours east of me... could be wrong though) probably does it subconsciously when looking at timestamps and such.

I would vote for a system that allows you to change to your timezone and alter the timestamps to your time but the "45 minutes away thing" seems to just be a simplization of the current system.

  • 10.22.2011 8:30 AM PDT

Eh, its alright. I'm not fussed really but it would be a nice handy feature.

  • 10.22.2011 8:41 AM PDT

Non facete nobis calcitrare vestrvm perinaevm.

Posted by: Achronos
You imply a level of control over Halo: Reach matchmaking that we no longer have. Or, in your vernacular, it isn't our shiznit anymore.


Active 9/1/11, Heroic 12/25/12


Posted by: dazarobbo
Posted by: Commander GXI know what Achronos is referring to, and that is not it.

The site would probably do something like embedding each date as the epoch; the current time according to bungie.net and adding its offset to GMT (which I think is -7 hours, but may differ based on daylight savings), so you'll end up with something like 1319290071 (which is the current epoch at this time). Javascript (your browser) can then take that number and convert it into a date which displays the date according to your system. Example.
I think it's a great idea, no need to do timezone differences and you can easily see when the post was edited relative to the current time.

  • 10.22.2011 9:24 AM PDT

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Great idea, it would help on looking up things in the threads.

  • 10.22.2011 9:30 AM PDT

Posted by: CrazzySnipe55
I don't get what the current system is doing that's "wrong". Everyone knows Bungie is on Pacific time and through various events and the timestamps in general, I'm assuming MOST people know the distance between THEIR timezone and Bungie's. I even do it subconsciously at times.

Even poor Qbix who's 9 hours away (pretty sure he's 6 hours east of me... could be wrong though) probably does it subconsciously when looking at timestamps and such.

I would vote for a system that allows you to change to your timezone and alter the timestamps to your time but the "45 minutes away thing" seems to just be a simplization of the current system.
It's not wrong per se, but misleading for those who aren't located in the same time zone that bungie.net is set to. It would be far more effective and efficient for the site/browser to do some automatic conversion rather than a user having to try to figure it out for themselves and the obvious problems associated with that.

For the main part though, it's the meaninglessness of the dates which is a problem and has always been a problem. People can say that it's typically not when they only have to alter a date by maybe a few hours at most, but when you're dealing with offsets greater than that, it is. And it's compounded when it involves moving to the next/previous date, month, year, in or out of daylight saving, etc... In the end it's just not worth trying to jump through the mental hoops for something to insignificant (which is why as I say, they become meaningless).

  • 10.22.2011 9:58 AM PDT

Posted by: FALSE R3ALITYx
Bricypoo's custom user title = Ultra Lame Thread Maker


Posted by: True Underdog
Only after we ban Bricypoo.

I understand what you mean, for me it is only a 3 hour time difference. But for people in other countries it is a lot more and confusing for them when they look at the stamps.

Either way it doesn't effect me that much, but I do think they should always show the dates.

Posted by: dazarobbo
It's not wrong per se, but misleading for those who aren't located in the same time zone that bungie.net is set to. It would be far more effective and efficient for the site/browser to do some automatic conversion rather than a user having to try to figure it out for themselves and the obvious problems associated with that.

For the main part though, it's the meaninglessness of the dates which is a problem and has always been a problem. People can say that it's typically not when they only have to alter a date by maybe a few hours at most, but when you're dealing with offsets greater than that, it is. And it's compounded when it involves moving to the next/previous date, month, year, in or out of daylight saving, etc... In the end it's just not worth trying to jump through the mental hoops for something to insignificant (which is why as I say, they become meaningless).

  • 10.22.2011 10:06 AM PDT

Key


Posted by: dazarobbo
Posted by: CrazzySnipe55
Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, I'd still much rather be in favor of something that allowed you to set for whatever timezone you're in and present the timestamp accordingly. Maybe even allowing you to toggle 24hour time or 12hour time (depending on where you live.... America, or everywhere else).

  • 10.22.2011 10:12 AM PDT

I don't have an issue with the one right now, but I do like your idea.

  • 10.22.2011 10:19 AM PDT


Posted by: Duardo
I really like this idea, although I would keep the date in there.

  • 10.22.2011 10:53 AM PDT