This is another experimental feature. The code turns itself off after a week unless we decide we like it.

There are a lot of competing formats that could be used, all with strengths and weaknesses. The benefit of doing this is that it makes it clearer and improves intuition for how the algorithm is working if you can see the numbers going into it. On a phpBB or Chan site this number would be driving everything. People on that style of site don't mind a post going to the top because it is actively discussed. But on a phpBB-style site, people can also see that number. So also showing that number fills in that gap.

The thing to look out for, the cost, is to avoid making these posts look too busy. So that's where finding the right format matters.

There are three dimensions of control we have for the format.

1. Where it goes
2. The wording
3. Where it is applied

I do have pictures that should make it clear what I'm talking about. Basically, there are two places on the bottom line that are candidates. One earlier and one later.

On the wording, obviously, fewer words are better. The subtle trade off is clarity, especially when considering the last option.

The third option is what posts it gets applied to. I have a lot of flexibility there. Every post has a bump time. When it's new and hasn't been commented on, it's the same as the post time. There may be less interest in seeing that time if there are no comments or no new comments (since the user last visited the thread). And especially when there are no comments at all, the wording we pick might make no sense at all.

Currently, I have it set to the left position, minimal text, on posts that have new comments. Because you can only see one active version at a time, I'll have picutres of the other options.

There are really infinite permutations possible, and some I tried but didn't have the patience to capture. You see what I mean when I say it can be visually jarring. The only reason to complain about the current version is that it is technically incorrect. If it says 8 new comments 1 hour ago, well, 7 out of 8 of those comments likely aren't. But who cares? People will get it.

Then the other question is whether to put it on every post. Many people won't care. But if it were phpBB, this would all be in a table, and every post would get it. It just looks kind of dumb if it says "no comments 1 hour ago", or worse, because with zero comments, it just says "comment," it will be "comment 1 hour ago".

BTW, I want to make optional phpBB inspired front pages and post pages. That is in my todo. But it's probably lower priority than getting parties working properly. I'm thinking there would be a select box for which you want to look at. The two would operate independently. Then the comments when looking at it with phpBB style would not be tree based. They would be quote based. One possible problem with the idea is if you reply directly to the bottom in the phpBB style version it's ambiguous if you are responding to the post or the comment directly above. And then in tree view it's going to be confusing. Maybe a dialog after submit or a radio can ask if you are replying to OP or the conversation.