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==Usability and discoverability==

I would expect the main page of the encyclopedia to prominently feature both a table of contents and a search feature. This page has a lot of trivia, which is a nice secondary function, but no longer seems to serve its primary functions very well. It does have a search feature, but it's a small icon up at the top in a bar of icons, rather than being front and center and already open with a box to type in words (in the style of a search engine, like ).
== Christmas 2015 ==

How dare Misplaced Pages put such ] on the front page! Have you no shame? Witchcraft is not needed in such a joyous occasion! I say we boycott this website! ] 00:17, 25 December 2015 (UTC)
*]. Well, I'm spending this ] with my son ], so I don't have the time to get angry right now.&nbsp;—&nbsp;] (]) 00:57, 25 December 2015 (UTC)
*Oh, good, another snarky administrator.--<span style="background:#C2C2C2">]]] </span> 03:30, 25 December 2015 (UTC)
**] in action, eh ]?&nbsp;—&nbsp;] (]) 00:19, 28 December 2015 (UTC)
***I just like the fact people still think I'm an admin. ] 00:36, 28 December 2015 (UTC)
****I read that comment as directed at me, but it's even funnier your way.&nbsp;—&nbsp;] (]) 02:19, 28 December 2015 (UTC)
*I didn't read the original story, but you're worrying about a old TV sitcom whose real message is about how one should treat their fellow man rather than being a recruiting tool for witchcraft? Someone needs to take their meds and get a grip on reality! What about the classic Twilight Zone episode with Art Carney as an alcoholic department store Santa, wishing only that people treat each other nicer and wishing for good things for the poor? If there's not magic in that, I don't know where it is. Sometimes things happen that seem like magic, like realizing that one is taking things too seriously. Love God, Love Your Neighbor As Yourself; the rest is just details of implementation. And your freedom to swing your fist stops at your neighbor's nose. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ] (]) 20:53, 27 December 2015 (UTC)

== Main Search Page Enhancement Needed ==
Misplaced Pages is an amazing resource. However it is deeply flawed in that searching for information is highly restrictive in that you need to KNOW what you're searching for, type the word in, and click search.
For people that want to learn as much as possible in the most intuitive format the main page needs to be enhanced to include a globe and a slider bar (or bars). The user will be able to navigate the globe to any position and then use the slider bar to navigate through time which will allow Misplaced Pages articles to appear and disappear according to the time frames that they are relevant for. Further filtering can be provided such as just to include music history, wars, etc. Now that Misplaced Pages has grown to this level this enhancement will give it a much needed boost.] (]) 20:53, 28 December 2015 (UTC)
:The ] has something like that. ] might use it, but then again history can also be categorized by time and other ways besides geography. But not on the Main Page, unless you mean portals in general (and most people don't use the portals). If you click random page a few times, you'll find things like songs, athletes and scientists that are better known for content or achievements than for coming from a specific place. ] (]) 01:13, 29 December 2015 (UTC)

== recent deaths: Lemmy ==
{{archive top|1=Lemmy now main paging. ] (]) 09:40, 29 December 2015 (UTC)}}
This should be on the main page.
As far as the world of rock is concerned, this guy was a god.
Compared to ] who? This is far more notable and main page worthy. ] (]) 09:04, 29 December 2015 (UTC)

:The discussion is ]. ''']''' <sup>]</sup> 09:10, 29 December 2015 (UTC)


It's a bit weird we visibly link to ], but the only link to ] (which is important enough it's linked to from every page on the site) is hidden behind the pancake menu icon in the upper left. We do have templates like ] that could be used directly on this page as a better gateway to actual articles, for those that are curious but don't have any particular query in mind or are looking for inspiration. ] (]) 20:26, 13 January 2025 (UTC)
Thank you! First time I've looked at how the main page works. ] (]) 09:21, 29 December 2015 (UTC)
{{archive bottom}}


:Agree about the trivia, but remember opinions here come from the trivia writers. Last time I looked at portal usage statistics, it looks like a few people click to see what they are, and most of them don't click anything further. ] (]) 03:55, 14 January 2025 (UTC)
== ] ==


:This appears to be an objection to the ], not the contents of ] itself. The default skins on desktop and mobile both have a large search box or icon right at the top of every page. The desktop skin also has a link to ] in the menu shown on every single page. If you don't like the way that requires opening the menu before that link is visible, I suggest you bring it up on an appropriate talk page for the skin (perhaps ]) or at the ]. ] ] 14:09, 14 January 2025 (UTC)
I'd like to get some feedback on "]" in the TFA section at ] (there or here). It's today's TFA. - Dank (]) 14:36, 29 December 2015 (UTC)
::Yes, I'm objecting to the fact that the primary functions of the main page are hidden in a menu and in an icon rather than being directly on - if not the most prominent things on - the page.
:Okay, it's been removed now ... FWIW, I agreed when Jenks changed the TFA to say "decommissioned". If anyone disagrees, let me know. - Dank (]) 03:40, 30 December 2015 (UTC)
::Wouldn't changing the skin change ''all'' pages? That seems like the wrong answer, since it wouldn't make sense to put the Contents listing on every page, nor would it make sense to have an open search bar on every page. Unlike the main page, I would expect the primary means of navigation to be clicking on links to related articles, as opposed to browsing through topics. (Search is sort of intermediate on those pages, so an icon seems like a good compromise.) -- ] (]) 21:52, 14 January 2025 (UTC)
::I see no reason why we can't have in the top box "Welcome to Misplaced Pages" a visually predominant search bar. Doesn't touch the skin. ] (]) 22:31, 14 January 2025 (UTC)
:::I have whipped up a search box at ]. How does that look? -- ] (]) 01:58, 15 January 2025 (UTC)

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Usability and discoverability

I would expect the main page of the encyclopedia to prominently feature both a table of contents and a search feature. This page has a lot of trivia, which is a nice secondary function, but no longer seems to serve its primary functions very well. It does have a search feature, but it's a small icon up at the top in a bar of icons, rather than being front and center and already open with a box to type in words (in the style of a search engine, like ).

It's a bit weird we visibly link to Misplaced Pages:Contents/Portals, but the only link to Misplaced Pages:Contents (which is important enough it's linked to from every page on the site) is hidden behind the pancake menu icon in the upper left. We do have templates like Misplaced Pages:Contents/TOC navbar that could be used directly on this page as a better gateway to actual articles, for those that are curious but don't have any particular query in mind or are looking for inspiration. Beland (talk) 20:26, 13 January 2025 (UTC)

Agree about the trivia, but remember opinions here come from the trivia writers. Last time I looked at portal usage statistics, it looks like a few people click to see what they are, and most of them don't click anything further. Art LaPella (talk) 03:55, 14 January 2025 (UTC)
This appears to be an objection to the WP:SKIN, not the contents of Main Page itself. The default skins on desktop and mobile both have a large search box or icon right at the top of every page. The desktop skin also has a link to Misplaced Pages:Contents in the menu shown on every single page. If you don't like the way that requires opening the menu before that link is visible, I suggest you bring it up on an appropriate talk page for the skin (perhaps Misplaced Pages talk:Vector 2022) or at the village pump. Modest Genius 14:09, 14 January 2025 (UTC)
Yes, I'm objecting to the fact that the primary functions of the main page are hidden in a menu and in an icon rather than being directly on - if not the most prominent things on - the page.
Wouldn't changing the skin change all pages? That seems like the wrong answer, since it wouldn't make sense to put the Contents listing on every page, nor would it make sense to have an open search bar on every page. Unlike the main page, I would expect the primary means of navigation to be clicking on links to related articles, as opposed to browsing through topics. (Search is sort of intermediate on those pages, so an icon seems like a good compromise.) -- Beland (talk) 21:52, 14 January 2025 (UTC)
I see no reason why we can't have in the top box "Welcome to Misplaced Pages" a visually predominant search bar. Doesn't touch the skin. Masem (t) 22:31, 14 January 2025 (UTC)
I have whipped up a search box at Misplaced Pages:Main Page/sandbox. How does that look? -- Beland (talk) 01:58, 15 January 2025 (UTC)
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