How Much Better Is This Site than Whirlpool?

Quantumcat on 20/10/2017 - 13:44

There's no indication on Whirlpool threads when there is new content (unless you remember how far down the list it was when you looked last), and clicking on a thread doesn't take you to the new content, I have to start on the last page and go backwards until I see a comment I recognise.

I was just thinking a few minutes ago how being able to reply to comments partway down a thread (instead of at the end with a quote) makes it easier to see the context of a discussion, but, makes it slightly unwieldy to find the new content (since it isn't just all at the end). I wished there was a button to take me to the next new comment instead of scrolling down looking out for those little orange indicators —- then I realised there actually WAS such a button! Amazing!!!

I also never worked out how to quote people on Whirlpool, but, on OZB, the UI is so easy to understand I never had such a problem. I could start using it immediately without having to work anything out.

TL;DR OZB rules

Poll Options

  • 107
    OzB > Whirlpool
  • 8
    Whirlpool > OzB
  • 15
    Whirlpool == OzB
Site Discussion

Related Stores

whirlpool.net.au
whirlpool.net.au

closed Comments

  • onetwothreefour on 20/10/2017 - 14:02
    +15

    I only ever go on wp when it appears in Google search results.

    • JimmyF on 20/10/2017 - 14:38

      and how often does a WP result show up compared to a OZB thread in your search results ;)

      • onetwothreefour on 20/10/2017 - 15:26
        +6

        It depends what I'm searching for.

        I find wp better for home renovation threads which is what I have been searching for a lot this past year or so.

        If I'm trying to get out of a parking/speeding fine or if I crash my car and I don't have insurance then ozb is number 1!!

        • JimmyF on 20/10/2017 - 17:49
          +4

          I don't think I've EVER seen a OZB thread appear for ANY search result, regardless of topic.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/10/2017 - 08:34
        +1

        Unless I search for ozbargain, never

  • Halo375 on 20/10/2017 - 14:12
    +2

    How long is a piece of string?

    • EightImmortals on 20/10/2017 - 15:05
      +2

      About 6.25 cm.

      • philart on 20/10/2017 - 16:14
        +6

        Twice as long as half of it ;)

    • airal3rt on 20/10/2017 - 19:08
      +3

      42

    • try2bhelpful on 21/10/2017 - 04:12

      Because a motorcycle doesn’t have doors.

  • mskeggs on 20/10/2017 - 14:20
    -1

    16%

    • khued on 20/10/2017 - 15:24
      +1

      how did you quantify that amount? visit wp [start lap], see stuff [stop lap], visit ob [start lap], see stuff [stop lap]. wp loads up in 0.862s, ob 1s; therefore wp 16% better than ob?

      • mskeggs on 20/10/2017 - 15:42
        +5

        I was actually rounding it to a whole number.
        I calculate it to be 15.864744% better, but the comparison is really only statistically significant to four decimals.

  • CyberMurning on 20/10/2017 - 14:25
    +4

    whirlpool has lots of seriously rich and knowable people/members.

    • mangew on 20/10/2017 - 14:40
      +10

      ……and people who think they are

      • PVA on 20/10/2017 - 22:30

        Very true.

      • malouphix on 21/10/2017 - 00:04
        +2

        Lots of arrogant people on WP.

        • LFO on 21/10/2017 - 13:59
          +1

          Some are real jewels.
          The rest are arrogant, dogmatic, limited, dismissive and ill informed.

          One of most obvious feature of OzBargain forums is how courteous and polite most post are (or how quickly uncivil ones are removed).

          Regarding formatting WP wins with a more chronological approach: read the last to get the newest.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 20/10/2017 - 14:28
    +2

    Did you also ask this question on Whirlpool?

    • JimmyF on 20/10/2017 - 14:37
      +1

      skewed results asking here… skewed results asking over there ;)

  • JimmyF on 20/10/2017 - 14:37
    +4

    There's no indication on Whirlpool threads when there is new content (unless you remember how far down the list it was when you looked last), and clicking on a thread doesn't take you to the new content, I have to start on the last page and go backwards until I see a comment I recognise.

    You're doing it wrong. You need to use the watch thread feature, as it does all these things you say you can't do!

    Oh a thread, up the top, click the watch button. Then go here

    https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/?action=watched

    I also never worked out how to quote people on Whirlpool

    Yes highlighting the text and then clicking, "Quote this section" button is hard ;)

    but, on OZB, the UI is so easy to understand I never had such a problem. I could start using it immediately without having to work anything out.

    This isn't true, most people don't know how to 'quote' someone on OZB!

    • Quantumcat on 20/10/2017 - 15:36

      There was nothing in the UI that told me to highlight text - I've never seen a website before that had any special function when highlighting so it's not the sort of thing I'd guess to do. Thanks for telling me how though (I knew it couldn't be too difficult - everybody else managed to do it).

      Seems silly to have to especially watch a thread, if I'm logged in and there's cookies etc it shouldn't be too hard to code in to jump to the last read comment. Well now I know how to do it, I can use WP a little more efficiently, so thank you :)

      • JimmyF on 20/10/2017 - 17:54
        +4

        There was nothing in the UI that told me to highlight text

        And there is for OZB?

        The UI is pretty straightforward, as soon as you select a slab of text to reply to. BOOM its there. Not like OZB, that requires copying and pasting and markup.

        Seems silly to have to especially watch a thread, if I'm logged in and there's cookies etc it shouldn't be too hard to code in to jump to the last read comment.

        ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It is what it is… The watched threads are very good. As threads that become active from MONTHS ago, appear in there. So always nice on the rare occasion when an OP replies with the outcome, you as a watcher get to see that vs the cookies method that requires you to actively go into that thread.

        But hey, happy to help out. Don't stress, it took me a while to work it out too. As like you, I knew there was a way!

        • Moderatorneil on 22/10/2017 - 22:27

          BOOM its there. Not like OZB, that requires copying and pasting and markup.

          Looks interesting. Will discuss this feature.

    • tio on 20/10/2017 - 20:37
      +2

      This isn't true, most people don't know how to 'quote' someone on OZB!

      Ditto. I just copy and paste. I don't even know how to properly reference a username. @<name> doesn't seem to
      work. If only there's an actual guide, the limited formating help is just that, limited.

      Edit: guess what I found.

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/128793
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/132148
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/240029
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/help:formatting

      Now just to find out if those topics are stickied some where, as I found them through an inconspicuous thread in "Site discussion" forum

      • peterpeterpumpkin on 21/10/2017 - 10:36

        The "Formatting Help" footer only pops up after you tap within the text box. This works fine for large desktop screens but many mobile-only users may have never seen this footer since it gets covered by the virtual popup keyboard.

        I wondered if OzBargain has avoided a WYSIWYG interface on desktop (e.g. like Stackoverflow) to reduce bloat or because it knows

        that
        we
        * are
        immature

        so

        we can't have
        nice things

      • Moderatorneil on 22/10/2017 - 22:24

        Now just to find out if those topics are stickied some where

        Help Page located at the bottom of each page.

        @<name> doesn't seem to work.

        That's not a feature but has been discussed.

  • Yttrium on 20/10/2017 - 15:01

    Probably about 15% better.

    • mskeggs on 20/10/2017 - 15:43
      +5

      Nice estimate! I get 15.864744%

  • [Deactivated] on 20/10/2017 - 16:00
    +1

    I'm just here for the sweet sweet DEALZ

    • montorola on 20/10/2017 - 16:23

      Oh put a sock in it will ya? :P

  • bluesky on 20/10/2017 - 17:29

    I wished there was a button to take me to the next new comment instead of scrolling down looking out for those little orange indicators —- then I realised there actually WAS such a button! Amazing!!!

    Please tell me about it … I only know how to search for the string "new" on the page and go to it that way. Is there a specific key/button for this? Thanks.

    • Quantumcat on 20/10/2017 - 22:18
      +1

      Yes - if on desktop there's a footer with a drop down box that says New and left / right buttons so you can cycle through the new posts. I only noticed it recently due to usually using mobile.

      • bluesky on 21/10/2017 - 05:03

        Thank you, I see it now that you point it out. I can be so blind! :-)

  • AlienC on 20/10/2017 - 21:51
    +1

    Ozbargain - 2006
    Whirlpool - 1998
    Your mates word of mouth or some random on the street - 1788?

    Yeah we don't have much variety haha lol.

  • try2bhelpful on 21/10/2017 - 04:21
    +3

    It is a bit horses for courses. If I want to find out about particular technologies then whirlpool is worth a look. If I’m looking for a deal to buy something then ozb is better.

  • altomic on 21/10/2017 - 10:33
    +3

    whirlpool is good, but it gets pretty dull very quickly (unless you like that sort of thing. just the same electrical stuff

  • spersephone on 21/10/2017 - 12:19

    On the left hand side of Whirlpool you can go to the FAQs section and it explains how to do things. With Whirlpool, just highlight the section of text and then press the “quote” button that pops up.

    On OzBargain, if there are lots of new responses, I get lost. On Whirlpool, I can keep up at the end of the discussion, and can even find my own posts really quickly within that discussion.

    I check Whirlpool every day, OzBargain only in response to emails - however, Whirlpool doesn’t send any notifications.

    • scotty on 23/10/2017 - 09:23

      I guess it's the main difference between threaded comments and linear comments. On OzBargain when you reply someone, your comments often come directly under the comment you are replying to, which makes quoting not as useful (and relatively more difficult to implement). Comments are grouped in context so quoting is not usually necessary (not to mention it also creates duplicate content).

      However the down side is that new comments can be difficult to find, as it can be everywhere on a live thread.

  • the Unforgiven on 31/12/2017 - 10:08
    +1

    I have been on WP for about a decade, on & off, as I seem to get throw in the sin-bin every now & then. The latest is because a mod doesn't like me (let's call him Thor). I can write down the exact same thing as another person, but mine will get deleted & the other person's post is OK. I complain about it & I get that post deleted as well, then he decides I am making sense & am contributing to the thread, so he deletes more of my post so I am then banned from that thread due to too many deletions. the latest thread is "why isn't whirlPool more popular", it is because they keep deleting peoples posts, I wrote that down & got that post deleted by Thor. they say take it to TWAM, but all it is all their mods gang up on you in private & if you make sense, they then sin-bin or ban you. I am fed up with WP & their Nazi mods, they can stick it where the sun don't shine

    • Quantumcat on 31/12/2017 - 10:24
      +1

      In contrast Ozbargain mods seem to be totally fair. I wonder why? Maybe because they always have to put a reason for post deletion e.g. "Personal attack" etc.

      • the Unforgiven on 31/12/2017 - 17:47
        +1

        they give a reason in WP as well, but once your post is deleted, the mods can say it is trolling or whatever & the other readers have to take the mods word for it.

        in the post above, it would have got deleted as "personal attack" or "trolling" or inappropriate" & if I complain about it, that post would have got deleted too until I get more than 5 posts deleted in a 24 hour period & I am banned from that thread.

        once my posts are deleted, no-one else can see the posts so they can't say if it was trolling or whatever really, they just have to take the mods word; but what do you do if a mod doesn't like you, he bans you, which is what happened to me. I wrote to the mod in TWAM, Thor, that he remembers me from the past that is why he deleted my posts & threw me from the thread. he retaliated by banning me, no word no email just a str8 out ban. Thor then goes around & tells every other mod to give this poster a hard time; it is just like the Victorian Police :) not funny actually, as they hate me as well. I tried & stop a person from driving up & down road designated as a school bus route shooting at what he likes & I get arrested for it

    • stemcell on 31/12/2017 - 10:29
      -1

      You get that here too with the Oz bargain massive, if you go against the grain you get down voted / stalked or if you have the right ozbargain fwend a ban.

      • Quantumcat on 31/12/2017 - 15:58
        +1

        To get severely down voted a lot of people would have to disagree with you (so then it is more of a diplomatic thing), whereas Unforgiven said it was individual mods going around targeting people.

        • the Unforgiven on 31/12/2017 - 18:01
          +1

          this is my 3rd post hear & I haven't been binned, I like this place :)

          it is Thor the mod this time, but there have been other mods in the past; once one mod spreads your name, it is mud

          but reps can get away with threatening posters, if they don't like what you have to say about the company or product, but if posters write anything in defense, that is classed as "inappropriate" or "trolling" & warned before getting banned from that thread or binned where the mod can leave you there until you decide to kiss ass (as you can tell, I am not an ass kisser; I used to be a shop steward & I used to give it to the bosses for withholding workers rights)

          I could not even post the threatening email from a rep to me, but it is OK & backed by the mods; I thought money was being passed, but have no proof. that rep has used WP to make millions, now he has gone & left all the people he used to "help" (only if he liked you by kissing his ass) in the lurch; I wonder if I am allowed back to that thread, I used to help them, but was put down at every opportunity by the rep & the mods & people loyal to them; I could not post anything without having my posts deleted to the point I was banned from that thread due to too many deletions. that is no way to run a forum, this is the 21st or is it the 22nd century & with technology, not the dark ages where witches are burned at the stake

  • Moderatorscotty on 02/01/2018 - 11:26

    I'll have to wrap this thread up before it turns too much into a Whirlpool-bashing post, especially regarding to Whirlpool's moderation.

    First of all, I have no problem with Whirlpool's direction of moderation. I have ~1100 posts on WP & only had one comment unpublished as far as I can remember. Whirlpool has been around for much longer than OzBargain, and in some sense OzBargain's moderation tools were heavily influenced by Whirlpool — Talk with a Moderator forum, leaving stub of unpublished posts etc.

    Both Whirlpool and OzBargain have their own set of rules. OzBargain is a bit relaxed in some aspect (many sarcastic comments / jokes remain published, although they might appear to be offending to some), but strict in others (sockpuppeting / ghost accounts get banned very pretty quickly, some even automated). After all the moderation team at each site dictate what their goals are, put together a list of the rules so they can achieve the goals, and then carry out those rules in the form of moderation. I do want to remind the members here that posting irresponsible comments (trolling, personal attacks, etc) will still get yourself banned on OzBargain. In 2017 2,849 accounts were banned (temporarily or permanently), and amongst them 413 accounts were banned multiple times.

    One key difference between OzBargain and Whirlpool is that we have fewer moderators that are all currently paid staffs (5 full timers & 1 part timers), whereas Whirlpool has a much bigger moderation team consist of mostly volunteers due to WP's non-commercial nature. I found a smaller dedicated team produces more consistent moderation. However, (1) obviously they cost a lot more than volunteers and (2) we are still human and we still make mistakes.

    As of how OzB compares with WP, these are just two different sites with overlapping communities. There are many who look for NBN help in one, and Eneloop deals in another. We should be glad that we have many diversified independent community sites in Australia, rather than folding everything under big international sites such as Facebook & Reddit.

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