South Carolina’s biggest, baddest blog got a bold new facelift over the weekend … but are the haters still gonna hate? And will its technologically illiterate founding editor Will Folks (a.k.a. Sic Willie) figure out how to use it?
Guess we’ll find out soon …
Our goal with FITS’ second major redesign was to come up with a cleaner, less cluttered look – one which easily scaled to accomodate readers’ mobile devices (which we’re told represents a growing segment of our traffic). Additionally, given the frequency with which we update stories, readers often complained that they couldn’t find a big scoop on our site even though the story had been published less than 24 hours earlier. This new format will enable us to continually update featured content while keeping articles on the site’s home page a bit longer.
Other changes? A new “tiled” photo gallery for pictures and an enhanced comments section which we’re hoping will further spice up our already quite lively comment boards.
So … did Palmetto new media maven Nancy Mace (whose company designed the site) and her team of programmers/ artists get it right? The early reviews over on our Twitter page are overwhelmingly positive.
“The new FITSNews.com looks fantastic,” SCGOP firebrand Todd Kincannon tweeted.
Meanwhile at the other end of the political spectrum, liberal blogger Amy Lazenby tweeted “the new FITSNews is up … and I have to admit that I like it.”
“Great job!” Tea Party activist Daniel Encarnacion tweeted.
Not everybody is happy with the new design, though.
“This is economy mode,” one of our longtime readers lamented. “Look(s) cheap as shit.”
Awwwww … hopefully it will grow on you (that’s what she said).
Anyway, what do you think of the new FITS? Vote in our poll and post your thoughts in our (updated) comments section below … oh, and be sure to contact us and let us know about any bugs you encounter.
78 comments
It’s simple and easy to read.
It’s simple and easy to read.
I like the overall look, it seems cleaner and simpler, but we’ll see how comment voting will play out. Generally it is best to vote based on contribution to the discussion, but 99.9999999% of the times it boils down to voting based on how much one likes the commenter or how much they agree with the commenter.
Kudos for the upgrade though. Shouldn’t take long to get used to.
Edit: Ooh, we can edit too! Yay!
I like the overall look, it seems cleaner and simpler, but we’ll see how comment voting will play out. Generally it is best to vote based on contribution to the discussion, but 99.9999999% of the times it boils down to voting based on how much one likes the commenter or how much they agree with the commenter.
Kudos for the upgrade though. Shouldn’t take long to get used to.
Edit: Ooh, we can edit too! Yay!
Looks pretty good to me. Would be nice, however, if there were some background information regarding staff and support personnel. I know you can’t be doing this all by yourself. Maybe even a picture or two of the crisis room.
No kidding. It would at least silence the jokes about Willie talking about himself as “we.”
Looks pretty good to me. Would be nice, however, if there were some background information regarding staff and support personnel. I know you can’t be doing this all by yourself. Maybe even a picture or two of the crisis room.
No kidding. It would at least silence the jokes about Willie talking about himself as “we.”
I like the design and basic functionality. I’m not a huge fan of Disqus as a commenting platform, but it is ubiquitous these days, and it’s good to be able to log in from FB, Twitter, etc. and have a way to edit our comments. I damned sure need to do that, very often. Of course, it leaves open the possibility of our changing what we originally said, and thus muddying the waters of conversations. But we should have the right to control, at all times, what we are stating online. Let the others in the conversation deal with it in their own way.
There is a way to archive an original post before they edit.
I kinda like looking at a commentators comment history on their accounts, really says a lot about the individual we may not have known about, like how they really think.I tried loading the new site on my Android Samsung Galaxy II…and it looked real bad.
I like the design and basic functionality. I’m not a huge fan of Disqus as a commenting platform, but it is ubiquitous these days, and it’s good to be able to log in from FB, Twitter, etc. and have a way to edit our comments. I damned sure need to do that, very often. Of course, it leaves open the possibility of our changing what we originally said, and thus muddying the waters of conversations. But we should have the right to control, at all times, what we are stating online. Let the others in the conversation deal with it in their own way.
There is a way to archive an original post before they edit.
I kinda like looking at a commentators comment history on their accounts, really says a lot about the individual we may not have known about, like how they really think.I tried loading the new site on my Android Samsung Galaxy II…and it looked real bad.
I managed to post so it ain’t so damn complicated
Would recommend story on “OK you want to post on FitsNews” and provide a few short straight forward steps including what the hell is Disqus
My Avatar/Gravatar doesn’t show up every time my “post as jimlewisowb” does
Don’t receive emails when others post on story that I have already commented
Can’t manage previous subscriptions or haven’t found the link to do such
Other than that,
Goddamn, that is a lot of Fucking Indians
Heh! I love that story. Them was my people. Fighting my people, of course. And ain’t that America?
Good comments, OWB.
Fly United!
I managed to post so it ain’t so damn complicated
Would recommend story on “OK you want to post on FitsNews” and provide a few short straight forward steps including what the hell is Disqus
My Avatar/Gravatar doesn’t show up every time my “post as jimlewisowb” does
Don’t receive emails when others post on story that I have already commented
Can’t manage previous subscriptions or haven’t found the link to do such
Other than that,
Goddamn, that is a lot of Fucking Indians
Heh! I love that story. Them was my people. Fighting my people, of course. And ain’t that America?
Good comments, OWB.
Fly United!
Slight net positive. The front page is too extrapolated. Consider using tabs rather than section headings for people browsing news. Other than that, I’m enjoying it thus far.
Please define what you mean by “extrapolated” in this context.
he doesn’t know what it means.
Wrong word choice made before coffee was consumed. I meant to say too lengthy to the point where finding other topics require scrolling. Apologies.
Slight net positive. The front page is too extrapolated. Consider using tabs rather than section headings for people browsing news. Other than that, I’m enjoying it thus far.
Please define what you mean by “extrapolated” in this context.
he doesn’t know what it means.
Wrong word choice made before coffee was consumed. I meant to say too lengthy to the point where finding other topics require scrolling. Apologies.
my first thought is its very clean and fresh, my immediate critique is that id really like to have some more headlines on the front page. maybe be able to scroll down more and see some of the older stories.
my first thought is its very clean and fresh, my immediate critique is that id really like to have some more headlines on the front page. maybe be able to scroll down more and see some of the older stories.
Them’s some nice stems.
Them’s some nice stems.
Testing whether or not links within comments work the same here as with other itterations of Disqus. Here’s the link to the South Carolina The People group page/forum on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/SCTHEPEOPLE Y’all are all invited. We talk about Sic a good bit on there.
YEP! Indubitably it do!
Testing whether or not links within comments work the same here as with other itterations of Disqus. Here’s the link to the South Carolina The People group page/forum on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/SCTHEPEOPLE Y’all are all invited. We talk about Sic a good bit on there.
YEP! Indubitably it do!
Attention Information War Fare Cadets……..
Well, Cadets if you take a close look and look down your snoggin at this website you will notice that not much has really changed.
What information war fare meat is not being shown..!? ….and too boot…..just look at the ad banners (talk about where’s the beef). What type of ammunition is being left out to supplement our arsenal..!? The jump to Discus was expected…just follow the syrup.
Think about this cadets……Smirks and Boz and everyone else comes to this site and this “new” upgrade is yet just another “dud”. What new capabilities does SMIRKS and Boz really have…nada..!! Can SMIRKS and Boz use this site better than the STATE or the Post and Courier or SKIRT Magazine…!? Cadets, if you were a business owner in the state of South Carolina, WOULD YOU advertise on this site..!? Cadets, can you think of any reason other than OUR CLASS, why you would advertise here..??
How can you use this site in a court of LAW…!?
How can you use this site to leverage a raise….!?
How can you use this site to drive your city counsel NUTS..!?
How can you use this site to keep a daily account of your favorite SC Capital scoundrel and tie it to Google Earth and Latitude…!?
How transparent is Sic Willie on this site to be used as a character witness in ANY of your court proceedings…!?
How different is Sic to any EDITOR in this entire state that is driving their newspapers in the toilet..!?
How is this site any better than Steve Spurrier’s clipboard to Candace Bessinger…!?!
Cadets, just look at the poll question…would Samuel L Jackson ask such a weak question? Would a jury member…??
Does Sic Willie want to rela-gate himself to just “bein’ a playa’…”……OR…does SIc Willie want to be the one site that EVERY journalism student beats their professor with every day they make it to class with a hangover too boot…!! Think Cadets, has any professor BANNED Fitsnews in their journalism classes yet for insta-gating cyber action…!?
Matter of fact Cadets…..does Sic Willie make it easy for student to use this site to ORGANIZE…!?!
Cadets….really think and review…….has any students in any class or workers at any business used this sites information to ASK their teachers or bosses questions that could only be found on this website and posted them to YOUTUBE to see just how long it would take BOBBY Harrell to respond with a …SOLUTION ….instead of a…tax..!?
This site …..”Stinks”……!!!
>This site …..”Stinks”……!!!
Then why are you here?
I think it’s BigT.
Attention Information War Fare Cadets……..
Well, Cadets if you take a close look and look down your snoggin at this website you will notice that not much has really changed.
What information war fare meat is not being shown..!? ….and too boot…..just look at the ad banners (talk about where’s the beef). What type of ammunition is being left out to supplement our arsenal..!? The jump to Discus was expected…just follow the syrup.
Think about this cadets……Smirks and Boz and everyone else comes to this site and this “new” upgrade is yet just another “dud”. What new capabilities does SMIRKS and Boz really have…nada..!! Can SMIRKS and Boz use this site better than the STATE or the Post and Courier or SKIRT Magazine…!? Cadets, if you were a business owner in the state of South Carolina, WOULD YOU advertise on this site..!? Cadets, can you think of any reason other than OUR CLASS, why you would advertise here..??
How can you use this site in a court of LAW…!?
How can you use this site to leverage a raise….!?
How can you use this site to drive your city counsel NUTS..!?
How can you use this site to keep a daily account of your favorite SC Capital scoundrel and tie it to Google Earth and Latitude…!?
How transparent is Sic Willie on this site to be used as a character witness in ANY of your court proceedings…!?
How different is Sic to any EDITOR in this entire state that is driving their newspapers in the toilet..!?
How is this site any better than Steve Spurrier’s clipboard to Candace Bessinger…!?!
Cadets, just look at the poll question…would Samuel L Jackson ask such a weak question? Would a jury member…??
Does Sic Willie want to rela-gate himself to just “bein’ a playa’…”……OR…does SIc Willie want to be the one site that EVERY journalism student beats their professor with every day they make it to class with a hangover too boot…!! Think Cadets, has any professor BANNED Fitsnews in their journalism classes yet for insta-gating cyber action…!?
Matter of fact Cadets…..does Sic Willie make it easy for student to use this site to ORGANIZE…!?!
Cadets….really think and review…….has any students in any class or workers at any business used this sites information to ASK their teachers or bosses questions that could only be found on this website and posted them to YOUTUBE to see just how long it would take BOBBY Harrell to respond with a …SOLUTION ….instead of a…tax..!?
This site …..”Stinks”……!!!
>This site …..”Stinks”……!!!
Then why are you here?
I think it’s BigT.
They used one of your stories on Hardball last week and your site looked pretty good,even the picture of the masked Will.
They used one of your stories on Hardball last week and your site looked pretty good,even the picture of the masked Will.
Dear Sic Willie……..(yes YOU…)
My dear friend, operation “Tora, Tora…Tora” is now underway…!!
Would you be so kind as to read this article and really think hard….
http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2013-02/augmented-reality-app-changes-newspaper-articles-kid-speak
How have the Japanese just sent kamikazees onto your website ….flightdeck?
You mean to tell us all here that you do not understand how to augment what Bobby Harrell says to actually be able to watch Bobby Harrell torpedo himself..!? Mr. Willie (George S. Patton’s dog), how long is it going to take you to sit back and look at this website and see where buried dog biscuits can be used by your comment section to dig holes all over any politician’s lawn..?? A football field lawn has advertisements doesn’t it..?? Well,,,,,,so does Robert Ford’s or Colbert-Busch’s….!!
Wil Folks….SIR….you need a moment of clarity..! Mr. Folks, do you think that Bobby Harrell would be so stupid that he would walk into Libya and say “We Came, We Saw…..and He DIED…”? Heck …NO..!! SO….do you think he really cares about your website in the least after seeing these “upgrades”…!?!
Well, Mr. Folks, if Bobby doesn’t care then WHY should any company that ADVERTISES…???
Is this site any better than “Super Storm NEMO” on the weather channel….??
Wil….stop pretending that our still a spokesman for Mark Sanford. Your better than that…..let Brian Hicks do that…!!
Wil, when is the last time that ANYONE has called into the TARA show on WTMA with any news form your site…!?!
Wil…..stop being a media re-run and start being a media “moonshiner”…!! Matter of fact WIl, do you think that Burt Reynolds would use any information on this site for his (or Her) “Cannonball Run”..??
Wil……wake UP….!! (…and that’s an order)
Dear Sic Willie……..(yes YOU…)
My dear friend, operation “Tora, Tora…Tora” is now underway…!!
Would you be so kind as to read this article and really think hard….
http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2013-02/augmented-reality-app-changes-newspaper-articles-kid-speak
How have the Japanese just sent kamikazees onto your website ….flightdeck?
You mean to tell us all here that you do not understand how to augment what Bobby Harrell says to actually be able to watch Bobby Harrell torpedo himself..!? Mr. Willie (George S. Patton’s dog), how long is it going to take you to sit back and look at this website and see where buried dog biscuits can be used by your comment section to dig holes all over any politician’s lawn..?? A football field lawn has advertisements doesn’t it..?? Well,,,,,,so does Robert Ford’s or Colbert-Busch’s….!!
Wil Folks….SIR….you need a moment of clarity..! Mr. Folks, do you think that Bobby Harrell would be so stupid that he would walk into Libya and say “We Came, We Saw…..and He DIED…”? Heck …NO..!! SO….do you think he really cares about your website in the least after seeing these “upgrades”…!?!
Well, Mr. Folks, if Bobby doesn’t care then WHY should any company that ADVERTISES…???
Is this site any better than “Super Storm NEMO” on the weather channel….??
Wil….stop pretending that our still a spokesman for Mark Sanford. Your better than that…..let Brian Hicks do that…!!
Wil, when is the last time that ANYONE has called into the TARA show on WTMA with any news form your site…!?!
Wil…..stop being a media re-run and start being a media “moonshiner”…!! Matter of fact WIl, do you think that Burt Reynolds would use any information on this site for his (or Her) “Cannonball Run”..??
Wil……wake UP….!! (…and that’s an order)
Dear Chip Limehouse………
STOP laughing….!! You can wipe that smile off of your face. Sir, do you want to win an election…!?! Obviously NOT…!! Where have you been on this website..!? Have you checked it yet …today..!?
Chipper (if I may)……we want to know if YOU par-took in any Bar-B- Que this weekend..!? Chip, we all know that YOU care about women, your devotion to SKIRT Magazine at the Sea Biscuit while indulging in banana waffles really lets the women on the Isle of Palms see the softer side of your information prowess…!! BUT…CHIP…..your lack of sympathy and support for Candace Bessinger really shows concern for women voters..!! The least you could do would be to have a campaign ad produced showing you at least holding a Bessinger’s Bar-B-Que cup with the Ten Commandments on it…!!!
Chip, where are you on the slavery of our women voters in the First District to FOREIGN OIL at the pump they fill their cars with..!?! These same women that bear children that go off to fight men who are trying to PROTECT their local OIL from foreign corporate POACHERS..!!!? Chip, does it not make you sick to use an APPLE Computer knowing that child labor and slave labor has been used to produce them…!?! I know I do…! I did NOT know before I purchased one…!! SHAME on US….!!!
Chip, I like your South Carolina ways. I just don’t want you to go down in history as a politician that supported child labor in ANY country or slavery to Foreign OIL in our own STATE..!!
Chip…your a winner…..but can anyone see you swinging at anything..!? Don’t be like that boy in the movie “Trouble with the Curve” by Clint Eastwood.
Dear Chip Limehouse………
STOP laughing….!! You can wipe that smile off of your face. Sir, do you want to win an election…!?! Obviously NOT…!! Where have you been on this website..!? Have you checked it yet …today..!?
Chipper (if I may)……we want to know if YOU par-took in any Bar-B- Que this weekend..!? Chip, we all know that YOU care about women, your devotion to SKIRT Magazine at the Sea Biscuit while indulging in banana waffles really lets the women on the Isle of Palms see the softer side of your information prowess…!! BUT…CHIP…..your lack of sympathy and support for Candace Bessinger really shows concern for women voters..!! The least you could do would be to have a campaign ad produced showing you at least holding a Bessinger’s Bar-B-Que cup with the Ten Commandments on it…!!!
Chip, where are you on the slavery of our women voters in the First District to FOREIGN OIL at the pump they fill their cars with..!?! These same women that bear children that go off to fight men who are trying to PROTECT their local OIL from foreign corporate POACHERS..!!!? Chip, does it not make you sick to use an APPLE Computer knowing that child labor and slave labor has been used to produce them…!?! I know I do…! I did NOT know before I purchased one…!! SHAME on US….!!!
Chip, I like your South Carolina ways. I just don’t want you to go down in history as a politician that supported child labor in ANY country or slavery to Foreign OIL in our own STATE..!!
Chip…your a winner…..but can anyone see you swinging at anything..!? Don’t be like that boy in the movie “Trouble with the Curve” by Clint Eastwood.
It appears all of the comments have been deleted from prior segments or am I missing something?
Not deleted, they’re just being synced with Disqus. We’re working through it now, but FITS has a LOT of comments to process from the last 6 years.
Can we edit our comments from the past when they are all syched up and on the site? I sure do have some that I’d love to punch up a little – and a few others I’d like to punch down.
I predict that once the comments are all on here, many of the most memorable FITS posts will be revisited, linked to from many other posts’ comment threads, etc. – and it will make it a much more interactive and useful site, generally. It’ll take a while for people to get the hang of it, but I think traffic will pick up again – and exceed what we’ve seen before.
It appears all of the comments have been deleted from prior segments or am I missing something?
Not deleted, they’re just being synced with Disqus. We’re working through it now, but FITS has a LOT of comments to process from the last 6 years.
Can we edit our comments from the past when they are all syched up and on the site? I sure do have some that I’d love to punch up a little – and a few others I’d like to punch down.
I predict that once the comments are all on here, many of the most memorable FITS posts will be revisited, linked to from many other posts’ comment threads, etc. – and it will make it a much more interactive and useful site, generally. It’ll take a while for people to get the hang of it, but I think traffic will pick up again – and exceed what we’ve seen before.
It’s a nice looking upgrade to the site. Congrats on getting it done.
It’s a nice looking upgrade to the site. Congrats on getting it done.
love it.
love it.
Copied Brent Bozell’s Cyber News Service.
Just because that bsite has class, not sure if just copying format, not conetent, will help recue your image.
Copied Brent Bozell’s Cyber News Service.
Just because that bsite has class, not sure if just copying format, not conetent, will help recue your image.
wait wait, stop the presses, we can flag comments as inappropriate now? what is this nonsense, everything here is inappropriate by default
wait wait, stop the presses, we can flag comments as inappropriate now? what is this nonsense, everything here is inappropriate by default
I worry that Disqus might start with the censorship found on sites like The State and others, but I see some stuff on here that is just like the old board. I am highly thankful that Fits doesn’t require a Fecebook account, Twitter, or other invasive shit to post.
I worry that Disqus might start with the censorship found on sites like The State and others, but I see some stuff on here that is just like the old board. I am highly thankful that Fits doesn’t require a Fecebook account, Twitter, or other invasive shit to post.
I sort of dig it, but it looks a little hacky without the past comments.
I sort of dig it, but it looks a little hacky without the past comments.
You still have CONTENT and professional issues…
You still have CONTENT and professional issues…
In other news, Mr. Sun-Shine does not like this “gossip blog” — here’s news for him:
“I can’t even discuss it. I can’t even think about discussing it. I can’t even talk about thinking about discussing it.” (Monk)
In other news, Mr. Sun-Shine does not like this “gossip blog” — here’s news for him:
“I can’t even discuss it. I can’t even think about discussing it. I can’t even talk about thinking about discussing it.” (Monk)
Disqus is a good choice
Disqus is a good choice
So no more links to The Superficial? My productivity should go up a little.
So no more links to The Superficial? My productivity should go up a little.
You can only re-package the candy bar so many times. … Good luck with it.
You can only re-package the candy bar so many times. … Good luck with it.
A million hits a month and only 821 votes. And I voted twice!
A million hits a month and only 821 votes. And I voted twice!