Talk:Main Page

This page is for discussions about the Main Page. See the Conference Table for discussion of the Infosphere, and proposals for new ideas. For information about upcoming changes to the Infosphere, see Current events.

New look?
It seems that both the wikis that I look to for inspiration  have changed the way their main pages are presented. Should we retain the old style, or alter our a bit? We don't need to copy them exactly, obviously (they're both different, anyway), but perhaps we could make a few changes? Suggestions welcome. Buddy 20:35, 23 March 2006 (PST)

Help Me!
The skin was fine before. Change it back! The colors are so bright and dark, my eyes hurt! BenderZombie 22:05, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
 * This has been up for debate for a while. The skin was considered "obnoxious" before.  The light blue did not work that well with white text.  The contrast between white and dark blue is a lot more obvious.  Your eyes do not hurt -- they can tell the difference between words and background colour. --Svip 22:11, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Well, now I have changed the boxes' colouring, if that was the issue in question, otherwise, I disagree. --Svip 22:24, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
 * the affliates box is still white, and the legend on the recent changes is weird being black. it was better before. --I&#39;m Scruffy... the Janitor. 22:39, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
 * The affiliates box looks fine. I cannot see what you see, try a cache-refresh.  The legends on the RC is something I just forgot.  Otherwise, I disagree. --Svip 22:50, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Wait, the legends are white. What are you on about?  Please, when making critical comments on my design, please have your own data up to date, so it is actual comparable. --Svip 22:51, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
 * already done a cache refresh. here's the affliates box and the legend: . white and black! --I&#39;m Scruffy... the Janitor. 23:35, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
 * That is because you are still using Monobook, change it to Vector in your preferences. --Svip 23:37, 15 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Yes, I had the same issue. I was like "What? It's not different at all!" but then I changed it from monobook. As for critiques, I personally think that the "tabs" at the top shouldn't be so tall. Maybe shrink them? And now that I see it in action, perhaps a gradiented line would work well there. And the affiliates area bores me. Perhaps if we rotated them all 90 degrees...? And maybe a faded effect like some sites have, where it turns to its normal colours when moused-over? I have an idea for what the muted version would look like. --Buddy 00:53, 16 August 2009 (UTC) [update]: Well, I created the images. I think they look rather nice. I went through a few different versions before settling on a method for the muted version. But I think that it will help our visual presentation maintain a consistency that will look nice, and the creators' images will look normal when moused over. I assume you're familiar with the "sliding door" mouseover effect? (If not, it's in use on my www.overt-ops.com menu on the left -- it allows mouseovers without any lag for loading times.) Let me know where you want the images (or take them yourself, they're here). Hope those work. The benefit of them being sideways is that they'll fill the space more effectively, and I think it'll look nice. I could also create muted versions for the MediaWiki and FMF buttons on the bottom if you're interested... --Buddy 02:29, 16 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Sideways?! That sounds crazy!  Wouldn't that just take up more space on the side?  Remember, each item is a list item right now.  I like the idea of muted colours (even for the FMF and MediaWiki icons) (and I know how you do it, trust me, I've have done it before myself (however, I'd recommend putting them all together in a single BIG image, which reduces loading time a lot)), but I am not a big fan of the 90 degree turning. --Svip 13:39, 16 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Moved discussion to Table:Affiliates icons. --Svip 13:42, 16 August 2009 (UTC)
 * For those not updating to vector, and I know anyone not checking discussions won't, I'll spend some time today doing a few spot repairs on the monobook css. Mostly the horrid affiliates box. I'll switch over later when the old css is okay again. - Quolnok 03:10, 16 August 2009 (UTC)

Oh okay, this is good. different, but good. --I&#39;m Scruffy... the Janitor. 02:47, 16 August 2009 (UTC)

News Template
There was no reason to create a template for something that was almost never updated. However, now that the new season is nigh, converting to template makes perfect sense. We could even post info about upcoming airings like other show-centric wikis do. Example:
 * Such a change will potentially call for a redesign. In reguards to the list of airings, presumably international, would the comics also be listed there? I suspect DVD releases for all countries will go into the news section. - Quolnok 21:14, 24 March 2007 (PDT)
 * Well, I based our front page design on that of the Homestar Runner wiki, and they've upgraded their appearance three or four times since then. You have no idea how frustrating it is not having internet at home. It makes it impossible to spend time working on this place. But if the entire community wants to create a new main page (at Main Page Proposal, for example]]), then we can perfect a new design and then have a fancy new main page. Any design elements that require images, that'd be fine to upload them while it's in proposal form, and then I'll upload them properly after a design is finalized. --Buddy 12:53, 27 March 2007 (PDT)
 * Alternatively, you could do like I, and have it at your userpage /Main Page, e.g. User:Svip/Main Page. --Svip 13:12, 27 March 2007 (PDT)
 * That works for a single user, but a better one would be one that has input by all active users. By "better one" I mean, method, not page. We all know democracy sucks. But hey. ;) --Buddy 13:14, 27 March 2007 (PDT)
 * I think I'll have a go at that on the weekend when there isn't a buch of things I'm suposed to do, although I may get bored and start on that first. - Quolnok 00:09, 28 March 2007 (PDT)
 * Well can't say much but good luck - Humorbot 0.4 08:56, 28 March 2007 (PDT)

...Cancelled before its time
Looks like we may need to remove that quote before too long. Perhaps another quote would do? Or no quote at all? They've said the crew will acknowledge the absence, so maybe there will be a good quote from the first new episode that we can shove in there. Thoughts? --Buddy 14:53, 19 August 2007 (PDT)
 * There's also the posible redesign to deal with. As a quote, I have no ideas for a replacement, that one is now outdated though. There's that conversation about the Box company in the trailer for the first movie, a little long though. - Quolnok 01:08, 20 August 2007 (PDT)
 * There could always just have random quotes from the show which are changed every so often, or from the trailer we could just have when Bender says "Bender's back baby" (or something on those lines) -  Humorbot 0.4  [[Image:Planet_Express_Logo.png|20px]] 08:01, 20 August 2007 (PDT)
 * Or just "I'm back, baby" from Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch (still by Bender), alternatively, we can use some sort of javascript thingie to have it randomly pick a quote. And then we could select some "quality" quotes to add there. --SvipTalk 09:32, 20 August 2007 (PDT)

You changed it, just nice just nice. But can't the font be a little bigger? I mean, it is shorter now, so more room for it. Say like 125% in size? I would edit and test it myself, but you know, I cannot edit this page. --SvipTalk 15:25, 24 November 2007 (PST)
 * I was also thinking it needed to be bigger. I'll fiddle with it. --Buddy 15:39, 24 November 2007 (PST)

Strange additions to my messages
Hi, I'm novice here. Your forum is full of usefull information. But I can't undestand, what is wrong with my messages - when previewing it I see some URLs that leeds to adult pages. Yes, sites seem to be very intersing, but I'll better use google to find such a sites. Could you please advice me how to recover the problem. Maybe it's a virus? Or maybe it's a feature of your forums? Please, do not delete my message. Maybe you advice me something and it will help others if they have the same trouble. [..spam removed..] - 81.95.151.131
 * While I suspect you to be an exciting new variety of spambot, I'll play along. Hunt down free products on the internet such as "AVG Anti-spyware" "Ad-aware" "Spybot" "Spywareblaster" and "spywareguard" any of those sites who actually have forums, bring this up with them (we're not a forum, some of them do have one) they will most likely help with any problems. Feel free to return when you are no longer "infected". - Quolnok 17:40, 20 August 2007 (PDT)

Bender's Big Score trailer
The YouTube link in the main page has been down for a while. The trailer can be currently seen at http://www.futurama-madhouse.com.ar/videoclips/bbstrailer.shtml -- Leandrotlz 16:42, 21 October 2007 (PDT)
 * Fixed. --SvipTalk 17:10, 21 October 2007 (PDT)

New Main Page
Just asking are we going to change the main page to the Main Page Proposal because I think its better than the current one -  Humorbot 0.4   06:12, 25 November 2007 (PST)
 * Ah yes, why isn't this happening?! However, I don't think the airings fits so great on it.  Instead make an article called "Schedule" an do it there instead, just link to it.  That is what they do at the Robot Chicken Wiki.--SvipTalk 06:54, 25 November 2007 (PST)
 * Yeah, I like it. Polish it up till everyone else (i.e., Quolnok, Svip, and ... well... them.) likes it equally, and we'll splice in some reaction shots and shove it on the net. I've been thinking our main page is a little homely. Slap some fishnet stockings on 'er and stand 'er on the streetcorner. And now I have no idea what I'm talking about. --Buddy 10:46, 25 November 2007 (PST)
 * Yep, it still needs some work. I don't think the airings really works that well for us (impractical), especially if the data needs manual updates regularly to say what episodes are on. Taking it back off the main page and linking it below "news" might work or simply make it have time slots and links to the various broadcaster's schedules for episode detail may work. - Quolnok 18:05, 25 November 2007 (PST)
 * Ooh, and possibly some character images in the coloured boxes sorta like they have at hrwiki.org - Quolnok 18:08, 25 November 2007 (PST)
 * I've always loved how they did that and I've always wanted to blatantly rip it off. :D --Buddy 09:29, 29 November 2007 (PST)
 * Oh that is super easy. I did it right here when I proposed a new CSS layout for this wiki.  But so far nothing has happened.  I also proposed a new logo for the wiki. --SvipTalk 09:56, 29 November 2007 (PST)
 * Out of interest why haven't we voted to have Svip's CSS proposal its been long enough -  Humorbot 0.4  [[Image:Planet_Express_Logo.png|20px]] 11:40, 29 November 2007 (PST)
 * Probably just because nobody's put up a vote. If you think it's ready for a vote, go ahead. And anyone who doesn't like it can make suggestions to make it better. --Buddy 11:42, 29 November 2007 (PST)
 * But you know, Buddy, it requires me to become a SysOp so I can edit the CSS on a daily basis. And I wonder why you haven't granted me that power yet!  You did give me direct access to your database!  I could have stolen all your database stored pr0n!  But did I?  No!  Because I believe trust is the most important of things.  Lenin may be right when he said, "trust is good, but control is better."  Ah, Lenin... *hums the Soviet National Anthem* --SvipTalk 12:07, 29 November 2007 (PST)
 * You're lucky I like socialism! Done and done. (P.S., I keep my porn on my new 500GB external hard drive!) --Buddy 13:41, 2 December 2007 (PST)
 * Just attempted a design without the airings, after balencing the columns it basicly looks identical to the current main page but with the new index at the bottom and a "Current Broadcasts" link next to "Archived News". - Quolnok 04:09, 29 November 2007 (PST)

Parellel Site
Are you aware that there is another futurama wiki? (This one is better though ^.^)

-Ender Wiggin
 * We are well aware of it. And we have a special discussion about it here. --SvipTalk 12:18, 21 January 2008 (PST)
 * Ok, just making sure. I saw that wiki first and didn't realize this one existed!  But seriously, this is much better.
 * Why thank you, we try to do our best. Also, it is spelt "parallel". :P --SvipTalk 13:27, 21 January 2008 (PST)

current differences between this and the proposed main page
What do people think? There's 6 alternating tag lines based on which no-ones commented on and I've just shoved in Fry, Bender and Hypnotoad in the coloured boxes. - Quolnok 06:37, 4 February 2008 (PST)
 * Hm. Looks nice.  Hm Hm.  My only problem is that the content on the right box is less than the content of the left box, it makes it look uneven. --SvipTalk 07:03, 4 February 2008 (PST)
 * Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was even last time I changed it around. That's the problem with variable length content. The current featured article is certainly longer than average. - Quolnok 15:51, 4 February 2008 (PST)
 * See, with this many new articles, it balances. Now all we have to do is avoid any major fluctuations. I'm going to transfer these changes across, it can go back the other way if too many people object. - Quolnok 20:46, 6 February 2008 (PST)
 * Oh, and the current quote list is:
 * "As seen on TV"
 * "It just won't stay dead!"
 * "Deciphered from crop circles"
 * "You can't prove it won't happen"
 * "As foretold by Nostradamus"
 * "A stern warning of things to come"
 * -Quolnok 20:50, 6 February 2008 (PST)

Revised Quotes
Remember, stuff like this is open to suggestions, folks. - Quolnok 07:56, 31 August 2008 (BST)
 * I LIKE THEM ALL! (And to think, it took me this long to realize why the quote kept changing. I kept thinking, "Oh, that one's nice." and the it would change! And it was nice, too! I can't believe I missed that. Oh well. I guess that's what being an absentee parent gets you.) --Buddy 00:16, 1 September 2008 (BST)

Congratulations on the big one-zero-zero-one
The main page says we're at a thousand-and-one articles. Congrats and keep up the good work. We're still the biggest and best Futurama Wiki on the planet. In the Solar System. In the Milky Way. In the Local Cluster! In the Universe!!! Often imitated, never duplicated! --Buddy 19:43, 15 August 2008 (CEST)

Countdowns...
...need to go on the main page soon or not at all. If I see nothing happen in regards to this I'll put it on as is on Friday. Comments? - Quolnok 02:20, 26 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Might as well. Chris of the Futurama 02:24, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

link
there should be a link to it's page (The Infosphere (website)) in the title, i can't edit the page.--My leg feels funny! 04:56, 22 March 2009 (UTC)

Main page for an active show
Futurama is - no matter how you wish to look at it - an active show. It's alive! [cue thunderstorm]

However, with such a feature (as nice as it may be), the main page need to reflect this. Go about your business with other wikis of TV shows (specifically those of active shows).

After some reasoning I am thinking of the following new structure (of the two columns):

I assume people are more interested in current episodes and Futurama news than what we are currently prioritising. In addition, I feel featured articles should a lot higher up. It can seemingly go amiss among the other content.

Comments?

--Svip 22:02, 3 November 2009 (UTC)
 * No "What's here?"? Fair enough, actually. I can guess what "Did you know (?)" would be, but what is "Other"?  Feel like doing a mock-up? - Quolnok 11:20, 4 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Eh, sorry, I meant 'other' including 'What's here', etc. It was room for small other things, if you catch my drift. --Svip 13:26, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

Main Page
Somebody PLEASE don't fix the main page. I don't know who to go to about this so I'm saying it here: I'm pretty sure the Professor invent a one way f*** machine.

Upcomin Episode pic
Could we not use the screenshot from Bender's Big Score to represent Holiday Val-U-Pak? For one thing, the picture isn't actually from Holiday Val-U-Pak, and for another thing, if the show continues to have long gaps between seasons, we may not be able to find screenshots from older episodes that can represent these new ones. I think we should just use the "AwaitingScreenie" file from now on. - User:Unit 3.0 18:45, 8 September 2010 (UTC)
 * I'd say it is appropriate, given a similar image was used as a place-keeper during production. - Quolnok 00:52, 9 September 2010 (CEST)

serious rendering issues
Is anyone else having rendering problems with certain pages? For instance, Turanga Leela is fine, while Robot Devil is laid out and formatted completely wrong, and practically unusable (oddly, Robot devil, i.e. the same page viewed through a redirect, is fine). I've tried clearing cache, and I've tried multiple browsers, but they're all the same. On the "bad" pages, the main site logo is missing, the font reverts to the browser default, and everything other than the main article content (e.g. left and top bars) is shoved down to the end of the article.

I checked the page source, and there are significant differences in the html header section. The "good" page has 3 linked stylesheets and a short additional style definition, and that's it. The "bad" page has 7 linked stylesheets, none of which are the same as the good page. These appear to be the problem, since adding the stylesheets from the good page (to a local copy I made) fixes the rendering... No idea why it's occurring on the site, though. --192.91.171.42 22:12, 2 December 2010 (CET)
 * Svip did an upgrade or something a few months back, I think these badly cached pages are still lingering from then. Sticking "?cache=purge" (or occasionally "&cache=purge")on the end of the page's address fixes it for that one page, to an extent. Me thinks a system-wide purge may be needed to handle these stray pages. - Quolnok 22:26, 2 December 2010 (CET)