Specific streams for groups. More usable «group access».
Yeah, I know: groups have their own pages, and there, you can see the the stream of that group in their node. Yeah, I know that. But this have a few cons:
- Even if you follow the group, you can't answer directly in their stream (for example, !listening) to one specific notice you just saw scrolling in it, because you aren't registered in the same node (you're an user of http://quitter.se, for example).
- You can directly reply to that notices in your «Home» stream or, if the admin installed Qvitter in your node, in the «Notifications» stream. The problem here is that there, the group notices are mixed up with the notices of individual users, not attached to one group.
Of course, this could be solved subscribing to a search. But, maybe, this isn't pretty much elegant. Plus, the alternative I propose has (I believe) another important pro.
What am I proposing?
- To have, under the user specific streams, an additional stream, My groups (or something similar). That stream will be a filter of notices from groups you're subscribed. When you want to see anything about the groups you're subscribed, you will only need to go to that stream and it will be a bit easy to find what you're searching, as well as reply, fav or repeat notices (even when them aren't in your same node).
- To have, under general streams, an additional stream Public groups (or similar). This won't be a directory (like the actual Groups link under PUBLIC, with limited search capabilities), but just like public stream, but just with all groups notices being published. This will also help and increase their "discoveryness/discoverability" (?). Right now is hard to be aware that a group exists if you doesn't search specifically for it, and still, because maybe the groups name isn't pretty discoverable xD
About the first point, I believe that the «group list we are in» that we already have, under GROUPS should be this way. Right now we have only a list of links that redirect to the page of the group, in their native node. This fact makes that list virtually useless if you have many membership in some external groups. You only can hit the links, enter, read their messages, remember what was the alias of the node... and no much more. You can't reply, repeat, favorite...
What do you think about this? Is a feasible question? Seems logical/practical for the ordinary user?