Board Thread:Consensus Track/@comment-3076045-20131030000429/@comment-5558140-20131111074408

TombRaiser wrote: Okay, so I have read each an every comment on here to gather up the reasons for and against the Message Walls. Because this is a consensus it doesn't necessarily mean it will pass just because there are more support votes over oppose. Reaching a consensus means that an 'agreement' has been reached by all concerned. As it stands right now, there are 21 support, 16 oppose, and 11 neutral. From what I gather those that are in support seem to be more focused on the convenience that the message wall will offer, and those that are in opposition are focused more on the functionality and customization that is lacking with message wall.

From the Support:

Focuses more on the convenience (user friendly)
 * Convenient easy to use
 * No longer have to sign comments, messages are automatically signed
 * No need to archive long message (pagination)
 * Old talk pages messages archive upon the switch

From the Oppose:

Focuses more on the functionality (customization)


 * Message walls take up more space (cumbersome, blocky)
 * Longer loading time of the content on the walls
 * Easy to be abused as a forum or place for chatting
 * Disallows personal customization

Questions

my idea and i beleive i talked to kroqgar on this, was to simply replace the user page and talk page templates with a more detailed and thourough explanation on how the talk page actually works. although it relies on the user being able to read, we can add pictures just in case... as for the second, i doubt any pattroller wants to add every user page to their list in order to stop it from becomming a forum, my solution is to not use the message walls. the third, i think its a balance between the two that will work the best. IMO the talk page is not without its convenience, the four tilde sign method has its own button so no one even has to look for them on their keyboard. once one gets used to it, and it really doesn't take that long, its just as convenient, if not more so, then message walls.
 * 1) If we stick with talk pages, how can we make it more user-friendly, and not so intimidating to our new users?
 * 2) If we switch to message walls, how can we avoid it turning into another type of chat/forum?
 * 3) When it comes down to it, what do you think is more important; convenience or functionality?