Default to a light mode

[droprenstein]

This is a suggestion for the website. When a potential new user comes to the site, it looks very dark and dreary, one could even call it unsettling. If nothing else, it's quite boring. That's not a very good first impression, is it? The potential new user would likely immediately click out. I suggest that there be a light mode that is defaulted to when a guest comes to the site, with this dark mode still an option for long time users that prefer it.

[quantum]

Dark mode is one of the reasons why Pianostreet remains one of my preferred music communities on the net.  Dark mode is awesome.  IMO dark mode results in less eye strain, and establishes a sense of mental focus. 

A suggestion for the site, would it be possible to have the text reply box in dark mode as well?

[ranjit]

Dark mode is one of the reasons why Pianostreet remains one of my preferred music communities on the net.  Dark mode is awesome.  IMO dark mode results in less eye strain, and establishes a sense of mental focus. 

Seconded! I love the dark theme on the site.

[anacrusis]

This is a suggestion for the website. When a potential new user comes to the site, it looks very dark and dreary, one could even call it unsettling. If nothing else, it's quite boring. That's not a very good first impression, is it? The potential new user would likely immediately click out. I suggest that there be a light mode that is defaulted to when a guest comes to the site, with this dark mode still an option for long time users that prefer it.

Do you mean for the forum itself or the rest of the site?

[droprenstein]

Do you mean for the forum itself or the rest of the site?

Both.

Dark mode is one of the reasons why Pianostreet remains one of my preferred music communities on the net.  Dark mode is awesome.  IMO dark mode results in less eye strain, and establishes a sense of mental focus. 

A suggestion for the site, would it be possible to have the text reply box in dark mode as well?

I agree with you. My proposal keeps open the possibility of dark mode, just defaulting to light mode initially.

[quantum]

I agree with you. My proposal keeps open the possibility of dark mode, just defaulting to light mode initially.

I think the default dark mode makes Pianostreet stand out.  Many other music forums (at least the ones I would be interested in), tend to use a default light mode.  From the perspective of a potential new user, that might be what piques their interest to join. 

[droprenstein]

I think the default dark mode makes Pianostreet stand out.  Many other music forums (at least the ones I would be interested in), tend to use a default light mode.  From the perspective of a potential new user, that might be what piques their interest to join.

Many people find dark mode, especially when put over such a relatively colorless thing, oppressive and unsettling. I have reason to believe that they outnumber people who prefer it.

[quantum]

I prefer to not attach an emotional metric to colour in web page design, and rather choose colour based on objective and pragmatic reasoning.  Colour evoking emotion in art, yes definitely it has a function there.  However, as much of the activity on Pianostreet is reading text, I think the current colour scheme serves that purpose very well.  IMO Pianostreet is much easier to read for extended periods of time than other music forums I have visited. 

It has been my observation that many people that work with screens in a professional or critical capacity understand and appreciate the value of dark mode.  Various software packages take advantage of dark mode, software that spans fields such as: music production, video editing, photography, and coding. 

[lettersquash]

This is a suggestion for the website. When a potential new user comes to the site, it looks very dark and dreary, one could even call it unsettling. If nothing else, it's quite boring. That's not a very good first impression, is it? The potential new user would likely immediately click out. I suggest that there be a light mode that is defaulted to when a guest comes to the site, with this dark mode still an option for long time users that prefer it.

I don't mind what's default, but is there actually any other mode than this dark mode? I asked about this when I joined, because the dark mode gives me eye strain.

Who actually makes decisions like this? Is there a mod on here? I even saw a thread suggesting there used to be alternative schemes, but now there seems to just be the one.

[droprenstein]

I prefer to not attach an emotional metric to colour in web page design, and rather choose colour based on objective and pragmatic reasoning.  Colour evoking emotion in art, yes definitely it has a function there.  However, as much of the activity on Pianostreet is reading text, I think the current colour scheme serves that purpose very well.  IMO Pianostreet is much easier to read for extended periods of time than other music forums I have visited. 

It has been my observation that many people that work with screens in a professional or critical capacity understand and appreciate the value of dark mode.  Various software packages take advantage of dark mode, software that spans fields such as: music production, video editing, photography, and coding.

It's definitely important to value visual appeal in web page design. All benefits are rendered utterly useless and irrelevant if a potential user is scared away by poor design choices that lead to bad first impressions. The nature of Pianostreet means that it's hard to put a lot of stuff on the site to distract people. Software packages are different. People irreversibly buy and download them for very specific reasons, while when it comes to sites, you can just click, click out, and no harm is done. Pianostreet has some potential; there are millions of pianists out there with internet access, but only a couple hundred have joined this site. That's a very big deficit of users that should be here. I think this is due to two things: lack of reason to return, and bad first impressions. I'm suggesting this as something to throw at the wall to see if it sticks.

[lettersquash]

It's definitely important to value visual appeal in web page design. All benefits are rendered utterly useless and irrelevant if a potential user is scared away by poor design choices that lead to bad first impressions. The nature of Pianostreet means that it's hard to put a lot of stuff on the site to distract people. Software packages are different. People irreversibly buy and download them for very specific reasons, while when it comes to sites, you can just click, click out, and no harm is done. Pianostreet has some potential; there are millions of pianists out there with internet access, but only a couple hundred have joined this site. That's a very big deficit of users that should be here. I think this is due to two things: lack of reason to return, and bad first impressions. I'm suggesting this as something to throw at the wall to see if it sticks.

+1
There's another reason people are likely to find their piano-related community elsewhere, the far too common response to helpful feedback and suggestions in the interests of that community with dismissal or silence.

The administration of the forum seems to be entirely opaque. The nearest I've come to finding anyone responsible for that role is the PS contact snail mail in Stockholm, a phone number and an email address (from the main menu > About > Contact). A paragraph of the user agreement says:

Note that it is impossible for the staff or the owners of this forum to confirm the validity of posts. Please remember that we do not actively monitor the posted messages, and as such, are not responsible for the content contained within. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information presented. The posted messages express the views of the author, and not necessarily the views of this forum, its staff, its subsidiaries, or this forum's owner. Anyone who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to notify an administrator or moderator of this forum immediately.

...which, unless I've missed it, means emailing "Op 111 Productions", using customerservice@pianostreet.com (or you could phone or write them a letter). They're not here. They don't actively monitor the forum.

Personally, I get the impression that as long as the revenue keeps rolling in from the score downloads, advertising or whatever else, nobody cares that much if PS forum looks like it's from the 1990s.

The main website got a makeover a year ago.

1 February 2022:
We celebrate 20 years online with an updated webdesign of pianostreet.com.

You can even switch it to light mode!

[lelle]

I don't mind what's default, but is there actually any other mode than this dark mode? I asked about this when I joined, because the dark mode gives me eye strain.

Who actually makes decisions like this? Is there a mod on here? I even saw a thread suggesting there used to be alternative schemes, but now there seems to just be the one.

I have seen the forum get moderated and feedback taken into account many times so it's definitely monitored.

Things like this sometimes have to do with the software that runs the forum. Like, if the creators of the forum software created a new version, sometimes old themes are not compatible with the new software version and what not. Or it could be possible to get back, but take some work and testing to make sure you don't screw things up when you add a new color scheme etc.

Have you tried emailing their customer service email?

Pianostreet has some potential; there are millions of pianists out there with internet access, but only a couple hundred have joined this site. That's a very big deficit of users that should be here. I think this is due to two things: lack of reason to return, and bad first impressions.

Hell yeah, I want more people on here too! What do you think could give people more reasons to return? What could they add that's currently missing?

[anacrusis]

Maybe we should do a poll and see if people prefer light or dark mode?

[droprenstein]

Maybe we should do a poll and see if people prefer light or dark mode?

Not sure that would help. The people on pianostreet are inherently going to be biased toward dark mode, considering that they're here. The people who prefer light mode would be turned away.

Hell yeah, I want more people on here too! What do you think could give people more reasons to return? What could they add that's currently missing?

I'm not sure. I think that the lack of reason to return is the harder of the two to fix.

Personally, I get the impression that as long as the revenue keeps rolling in from the score downloads, advertising or whatever else, nobody cares that much if PS forum looks like it's from the 1990s.

The PS forum could work as a secondary source of income to feed score downloads. So it likely has some monetary value.

[ammyvl1]

When I was a new user (well my account is new, but I've been browsing here for many years, I've only just decided to make an account), I liked the dark theme, but also I'm quite the nerd so I just like dark theme in all my stuff. In general, the theme of the site won't scare people off if the content is good. I found brilliant advice on here in regards to a particular piece by Chopin (I think it was one of the waltzes but I can't recall), and I've been coming back since. The theme was not a big factor in whether I stayed.

Also for those of you who want to change the colour of stuff on the site, try a browser extension like Stylus. Kinda hacky though.

[transitional]

I disagree. The dark mode is part of what makes this an amazing site and a place I want to come back to. Much less of a strain on eyes as well!

[intellargo]

Black background with white fonts is very bad for the eyes, the contrast is even worse than writing on a blackboard with a chalk. Each time I visit here I couldn't stay long because of this, so I move to another piano related forum with much more eye-friendly color scheme. This is my first post here.   

[transitional]

Yeah, I do agree that it should be a choice - but white on black seems like a safe haven of a website with almost everything defaulted to black on white.

[intellargo]

It's not about dark vs. light, but the contrast. It doesn't have be black vs white, two ends of the color spectrum, the worst for the eyes. Any website design professional should understand or have learned what color schemes are eye-friendly. The following site https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/forum_summary.html is a relief after leaving this site.
(Oh, so every single time I post or modify a post, I have to do the verification by typing the letters in the box? This forum is really discouraging to new posters.)

[transitional]

Huh, I haven't thought of that before. It works well for me, but it should really be something to consider when trying to make this site more user-friendly - the gray on white is fine, but other color options is a very reasonable thing to consider. And the verification is just for new users, you do not have to do it every time.

[ravelfan07]

No.
No light mode please

[liszt-and-the-galops]

It doesn't have be black vs white, two ends of the color spectrum, the worst for the eyes.

Oh, are blue-on-orange and cyan-on-red not the worst anymore? There are far worse things than white-on-black, you know. (I find yellow-on-white the worst of all, if you're curious.)
I think it's fine as it is, and don't see the need to change it.

[lettersquash]

I'm sorry, but what is the problem with providing OPTIONS? If you want the default to be as it is now, fine. There are clearly people who find it difficult to read as it is, so is it really necessary to keep on reiterating that you like it like that and they can basically go somewhere else? I suspect the answer might be that whoever would have to implement the choice doesn't know how to do it, or just can't be bothered, which makes me even less inclined to hang around here. Hell, there are options to have the freaking date in your favourite format!

[liszt-and-the-galops]

I'm sorry, but what is the problem with providing OPTIONS? If you want the default to be as it is now, fine. There are clearly people who find it difficult to read as it is, so is it really necessary to keep on reiterating that you like it like that and they can basically go somewhere else? I suspect the answer might be that whoever would have to implement the choice doesn't know how to do it, or just can't be bothered, which makes me even less inclined to hang around here. Hell, there are options to have the freaking date in your favourite format!

The issue was already settled...
No need to necro a thread...
Also, awfully rude to say that the creator of this forum is too dumb or apathetic to finalize a decision that
1. you claim is absurdly obvious (if that's the case, why was there any pushback?)
2. was already finalized and followed through on.

[lelle]

I'm sorry, but what is the problem with providing OPTIONS? If you want the default to be as it is now, fine. There are clearly people who find it difficult to read as it is, so is it really necessary to keep on reiterating that you like it like that and they can basically go somewhere else? I suspect the answer might be that whoever would have to implement the choice doesn't know how to do it, or just can't be bothered, which makes me even less inclined to hang around here. Hell, there are options to have the freaking date in your favourite format!

Option 3: it's a lot of work to implement and takes time. Time is not always available when you have many things to work on and need to prioritize. Would be my guess as someone who works with web dev stuff.