Housekeeping Note

July 12, 2006

Just to let readers know, we felt compelled today to change how the “read more” option works in the longer posts. I know the old way was well-liked and user-friendly, and I really didn’t want to change it, but odd as it may seem, I had a financial motivation to bring the feature more in line with the way other blogs use the same function (it stems from the way BlogAds offers site traffic data to advertisers).

For what it’s worth, clicking “read more” will take you directly to where the post left off, not the beginning of the page, which should make the transition easier.

I’m happy to answer any questions about this and I apologize for the inconvenience.

And now, back to the news….

So if I read you right, you changed your site for the money, not because you believe it’s in the best interesest of your reading constituency.

  • So if I read you right, you changed your site for the money, not because you believe it’s in the best interesest of your reading constituency.

    Oy, I believe it’s in the best interest of the site’s readers if I can keep the site online.

    The cost of keeping my site online and working well is, at times, expensive. I’ve never done a fundraising drive, and I never ask for donations from readers, so I rely on advertising. And because I need those ads, I need to change the “read more” function to bring my site in line with other similar sites that do the exact same thing.

    In terms of readers’ inconvenience, instead of having to wait one second to read the rest of the post, readers will now have to wait maybe two seconds. Overall, this seems, I hope, like a fairly modest inconvenience.

  • “instead of having to wait one second to read the rest of the post, readers will now have to wait maybe two seconds”.

    A small price to pay, if it pays the bills.

    Keep up the great work CB.

  • For what it’s worth, CB, it IS in my best interest. I clicked the “read more” tag on the Halliburton story just a minute ago—and it took all of two seconds to make the transition from “last line of first part” to “first line of last part.” Just like turning a page of a book, or shifting from the bottom of column 1 to the top of column 2.

    I “LIKE” it….

  • Well, I don’t like it, but a financial incentive is a financial incentive. As Kali said, keep up the great work– and I suppose I can get used to this 🙂

  • I pay Salon around $30+ a year, but I read more of/link to/quote from CB infinitely more. If he charged for a premium service, I’d buy it in a sec. If everyone would just use the Amazon donor link from time to time (it’s on the left side, see it?), then he wouldn’t have to make technical changes to the system you’ve already come to know and love. Let’s face it, I’m not nearly the debater that the CB is so I need him out there representing folks like me. If you don’t support the bagger, then the Rethugs have already won. ; ) hehe….
    Anyhoo…c’mon folks, donate – right now!

  • I really like the way the old site is designed and thought the way the “read more” feature worked was super cool. It’s also really convenient; I would load CB into the browser on my laptop before I get on the bus in the morning. The “read more” feature meant that the end of every post was already loaded, so I could still read everything despite not having internet access on the bus. The new system eliminates that convenience.

    This simply means that I’ll be reading a little less carpetbagger than usual. Regardless, I support the move. If I have to choose between half-posts from CB or no CB, I pick the former.

    Also, I’m glad you’ve figured out, at the very least, how to take people to the “read more” page properly. Firedoglake takes you to the very top of the page when you click read more, and then you have to scroll through all the stuff you already read. It’s not that hard to use the “#more” tag, like CB and almost all other blogs do.

  • Look on the bright side. There are at least two advantages in the new setup: (1) The main CBR page loads slightly faster, since it doesn’t contain all those hidden story continuations. (2) When you click on “Read more”, you see all the comments and the comment form, rather than having to click again to get them and join in the conversation.

  • Okay, I hate it too. But that’s the price of freedom, right?

    (Couldn’t help the sarcasm. Keep up the good work Steve, we’ll put up with this.)

  • We’re creatures of habit. Unlike the GOP, however, we are capable of adaptation. Why, in as little as three or four more years you’ll hardly remember the way it used to be around here.

  • It’s going to take some getting used to for me, but I understand the reasoning. Keep up the good work.

  • You gotta love DSL. There’s no noticeable difference on my end.

    Tip of the hat – do people say that anymore – to Ms. Carpetbagger for her work on this site.

  • No worries, CB. Glad it helps keep the site going. Hardly seems to make a difference, from what I can see.

  • Boo.
    (And no, I don’t mean that in the scary way.)

    Oh hey, I don’t know about anyone else, but another way that your site loses-out is the only posting in the morning and early afternoon thing. For most blogs, I visit all day and night to keep checking for new posts. But on this one, I just save it up for lunch-time reading and then read anything else I missed for the prior day. So I only come here once a day, compared with multiple visits to Atrios and Talking Points. Not that I should tell you this, as I like your system better. But this is my favorite blog, so I guess I should offer advice. And now you can repay me by giving me the blogroll status that you know I deserve. It really is the least you can do.

  • When I first clicked the “Read More” link, I was appalled. You changed my favorite part! )barring the content, that is…)

    When I read your explaining post, I no longer cared.

    Sure, it’s different, and I don’t like it as much. But you know what? It really is a small price to pay, in the final analysis. It won’t affect my viewing habits one bit.

    Now, the NY Times site going behind a paid firewall — that affected my viewing habits a lot. I just don’t read them anymore.

  • I’m not going to suggest that CB reveal his finances to us but from my knowledge of bloggers in general, CB probably puts in a lot more financially than he gets out of it – that is even with the advertising he is operating this blog at a personal financial loss, for which we should all be grateful, I think. I am. Thank you, CB.

    That said, I don’t like the change. I will miss the old system dearly. 🙁

    Oh, and Dr. Biobrain offers some good advice. Quite often I will only be able to visit when I get home from work, and since I live on the west coast by this time all the posts for the day have been made. There are tools out there that some other bloggers take advantage of (and I assumed you did as well, CB) that allow you to schedule when your posts will appear. I sincerely doubt your readers will mind this.

    And if I may make a really big suggestion – open up a community forum, so that all of us in the comments section can contribute more. Allow us to create our own topics for discussion, and take advantage of the natural “bumping” feature that moves recently-commented topics to the top – something that helps keep good discussions alive far beyond the day the initial post was made. The best part of this is a forum would generate a huge amount of page loads just from us regular commenters. I know I will be hitting F5 all day long waiting for someone to reply to my favorite threads 😀

  • I’m torn. I want CB to make more cash for his hard work and great writing.

    But I loved this feature.

    No, I more than love it, I need it. Personally will not read “Below the fold” writing on other blogs (unless it is a really important post) because I hate the load time, and the jarring way I am thrown out of the text. As an example I didn’t read the Steve’s comments below the fold when he was posting on Washington Monthly a few months ago.

    Truth be told, I’m guessing I personally will not read 75% of CB posts to completion now that this feature is gone. Sorry if that sounds harsh… But though you should hear what the trade off really is.

    I’m going to miss it.

    Dial Up Victim

  • c.b. runs a nice saloon, er, solon here. if he wants to change it a little, let him knock himself out. i don’t notice a strain, and i’m a lowly dialer-up.

    besides, all you hound-dog commenters will get a wider readership. so be happy, and tighten up.

    your pal,
    blake

  • Whatever helps pay the bills! If, however, we see pictures published of you stepping out of an armoured SUV with your retinue to attend a conference, we’ll know you’ve gone too far.

    LOL,
    Craig

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