#i have seen one (1) post on my dashboard and I'm going to flip my shit

[altruistic-meme]

if i see any more of that bullshit discourse dragged here from twitter it's blocking on sight for everyone involved

[stevetown]

On The New Tumblr Desktop Dash

I've been using the new Tumblr desktop dashboard for a few days now and I have some Thoughts that I thought would be useful to put out in to the wild. Most of the reaction I've seen has been...abnormally harsh about this UI update, so I think it would be interesting to actually go through the changes and point out what I like, what I don't, what I think could use some improvement, and maybe break down a little about why those Twitter comparisons are way off the mark.

More below the fold, but the tldr for me is - I think it's great! At the end of the day, I feel like I use the desktop version of Tumblr more and more since the change. Whereas before I used to just pick up my phone and refresh the app, now I get a hit of dopamine flipping over to the Tumblr tab when I need a work break.

The change is clean and logical, and as someone who came to Tumblr a year ago and still never quite grokked what all the icons at the top meant, having them spelled out is much nicer than guessing what they mean, even for someone who has become more familiar with the site. And to be clear, from what I can tell that's the goal of this change - to make it easier for newer people to use Tumblr and find their way around. Despite all the hate this change is getting, that is an unabashedly good thing.

The Left Nav

It's really, really clean. The old dash had a lot of unused space on the left, it makes sense to carve some of that out to have a menu that actually lays out what each icon means. The font size and style is comfortable without overcrowding. It just feels more...confident? Like these are the features Tumblr has. Use them! It's also just a more familiar web browser experience for anyone who has been using web apps since the dawn of email.

The badges also fit much nicer with the left nav. They don't float above an unclear icon, they're right next to what it says on the tin. You got 20 new posts to read, buddy. 5 new notifications. 1 anon ask. It's just better on my eyes.

I do understand the gut reaction that things are "too" cluttered. One of the first things I did was snooze Tumblr live and that helped me out a lot. Just removing all of the noise of live tags and loading-in thumbnails of people I'm not interested in watching went very far. It brought the post content further up on the screen.

A little before and after snoozing Live:

Explore

I didn't even know what Explore was used for before. It was a compass icon. I think I thought it was some kind of search? I can't remember if I ever clicked on it before. Explore is much more interesting to me. It makes me curious. For a site that struggles with getting new users to find new content, it's a beacon that says "Find some cool new stuff!"

My problem with Explore is that clicking on it...doesn't get me much. The landing page just takes me to a feed from @todayontumblr that almost never has any content that I'm interested in. The "For You" tab on my regular dash is where I go mining for new blogs, along with "Your Tags." If Staff finds this change leads to more Explore click-throughs, I'd love if the tab itself get some love and made it a hub for finding new content easier. Maybe mixing up a feed of any tags you're following, trending posts, and other algorithmically sorted goodies that I'll want to take off the shelf and put in my chronological dash. I want it to be a place with the goal of encouraging me to follow new blogs.

Live

The transition to the Live page doesn't feel good to me. You're taken to a totally different kind of page, and the UI jumps all the way to the left. It feels like you're going to a separate site. At least when you snooze Live it also removes the menu item. That's really nice! But I'll save Live thoughts for another day.

Activity/Messages/Inbox

I never knew how much I suspected these things were a bit redundant, but I'm glad now that they're separated and labeled correctly. I don't have to remember what the face icon/mail/lightning bolt all mean or why they're different. Things are much cleaner in that regard.

I don't really care for the popups when you click on them. Those do feel cluttered to me, like I'm going to lose sight of my dash, or the notifications. I don't have much UX advice here, other than to say I think I prefer how the Inbox is handled, where you're just taken to a full page view of the page. However maybe another solution would be how the Account and Settings icons are conducted...

Account/Settings

This is the section that sold me on the new dash. On the old dash, I found navigating the Account and Settings options...ephemeral. I was afraid I was going to lose my place if I didn't find the menu I needed. Here, having them slide out as a drawer, keeps me in place and lets me orient myself easier. It's made exploring settings overall frictionless. I've changed dash palettes like ten different times just because I could and it was easy to find. Maybe something similar for inbox/messages/activity would make the UI feel more consistent and less overcluttered-feeling?

I do notice that the Account dropdown adds a new scrollbar which makes things like the t logo and badges jump to the left. That can be a bit disorienting.

TumblrMart/Get a Domain

The Get a Domain menu item is fine, but TumblrMart feels like it needs some love. On a new refresh, clicking the icon loads for a total six seconds before the mart pops up. By this point, if I wasn't intentionally testing, I would have just moved on. Again, I also just don't like pop-ups like this. Feels loosey. Much prefer the full-spread domain page you get.

Create

This is maybe my least favorite change. Every time I switch to my Tumblr tab, I see it in the bottom left and think it's the "Where were we?" button. When I do want to create a post, it feels like I have to travel far to get to the button, and then I have to travel again when the dots come up to select what type of post I'm making.

I wonder if just tucking it at the bottom of the menu under "Get a domain" would be better? Or at the top of the menu? Not sure. I feel in my jellies there's a better spot for this one.

On Twitter

If I can address the most frequent criticism I see on this site, which is that @staff are trying hard to "ruin" Tumblr by "turning it into Twitter," I understand that gut reaction.

But I'd encourage folks to think about that for a minute. UIs change, and a left-aligned nav is extremely common for a reason. Since the dawn of email, menu navigation has been relegated to a left sidebar. Twitter is not "burning to the ground" because their nav bar was on the left. Having a left sidebar means literally nothing in the grand scheme of what makes a website what it is.

What, truly, has this nav update changed? It does not change the functionality of the site at its core at all. It doesn't change what you can post, how you can post, what content you find, reblogs, or tags. For a site that struggles with new users "getting" the site and finding their way around, this nav change makes it much easier to settle in with something a bit more ubiquitous to the modern browser-viewing experience.

Thus leading me to believe the only reason people hate on this change so vehemently is they don't want to see new users or any effort at all to attract them at all, and I think that's exclusionary crap. Knock it off.

Change is Scary!

That said, the change is scary! Having your muscle memory interrupted isn't fun and can take a while to get used to. Every change has a growing period. I get that. For me, I got over that period fairly fast, but I recognize this process is different for everyone, especially those who have been around here for a lot longer than I have.

The change is also open for valid criticism. There are usability and likely accessibility concerns for sure. Staff needs time to iterate, and they need to know what problems are actually worth fixing and addressing. "I hate it turn it back" doesn't help anyone - it doesn't help Staff, and it doesn't help new users who are trying find a new place on the internet to call home after *shakes fist at the rest of the internet.*

I really like this change as a starting point, and I can't wait to see it iterated on further.

And on a small end note, if you also have thoughts and opinions that you want to tell Staff, please, please, please remember there are other human beings on the other end of line.

[wangxianficrecs]

Hey!! First of all thank you SO MUCH for this blog- literally been keeping me going during quarantine lmao your efforts are really appreciated ❤️ second of all, do you happen to know of a fic where wangxian are boyfriends in modern day and wwx decides to do a ‘call your boyfriend your husband’ tiktok challenge??? I read it a a few weeks ago I think but I can’t find it for the life of me!!

Why, thank you, Nonny #1!  And... no, that one doesn’t ring a bell.  Anyone know?  How about any of the following ones?

FOUND!  by @shamelesswngxian (what a hero)

You became my husband when I first laid my eyes on you by lanweiyingzhan

Summary:  Wei Wuxian quickly set his camera up on the dashboard, carefully hiding it behind the tissue box. Soon Lan Wangji returns with Wei Wuxian's drink. Handing it to Wei Wuxian, he put his seat belt on.

Let's start.

Wei Wuxian had already set a fake call countdown. All he had to do was see Lan Wangji’s flustered face. His phone rings after 10 seconds. Keeping his drink in the holder, Wei Wuxian says "Oh I'm getting a call!"

That was very stupid Wuxian, of course, you are getting a call. Stop making it so obvious! ------------------ Modern AU where Wei Wuxian tries the "Call your boyfriend Husband" Tik Tok Challenge on Lan Wangji.

*~*

Nonny #2:  Can we ask you to find fics? If so, I’m looking for a demon slayer!au where wwx took nezuko’s role, jc and jyl were trying to save him. Thanks!

No, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this one.  Help me out, fam.

FOUND? Attempt the Impossible, Move Onwards by BlueAthena (G, 38k, JC & WWX & JYL, JC & LWJ, KNY au, angst, blood & violence, sibling love, JC centric, protective JC, demon WWX, demon slayer JC, minor character deaths)

FOUND? Turn Your Face Towards The Sun: series by  VANGOHS (G, 3k, JC & WWX & JYL, wangxian, KNY au, protective siblings, pre-relationship, WIP)  

*~*

#3 is @spacevikingdeathstar:  Can I ask if you've seen a fic?

Its set during the war and WWX is having major anger management issues. Enter LWJ who - for some reason I can't remember - kisses him and WWX realizes sex is a great relaxant. They continue getting it on throughout the war and after - without ever actually taking about *feelings*. The war ends, the rescue of the Wen remnants happens, LWJ finds out about the lost core? And I very specifically remember a line from WWX "Did you just f*ck a golden core into me?!" (or something like that) because LWJ had been releasing his energy into WWX during "duel cultivation" automatically and it went to seed or something, giving him a little baby core he could cultivate and build upon.

I thought it was one of your recs but I can't find it. It was probably another work by one of your rec'd authors or a bookmark by them (if I like someone's work, I check out what THEY like as well, so....)

Help me, Wangxianficrecs, you're my only hope.

I KNOW I’ve read this one, and it’s on the tip of my tongue, but I just can’t....  I hate to let you down, Princess!

FOUND!  Nonny says it’s this (which I HAVEN’T read, it’s just on my list):

Overcome by thunderwear

E, 8k, wangxian

Summary:  “I don’t know if this technically counts as dual cultivation since I don’t have a core,” Wei Ying said as he lay sticky and sweaty, plastered to Lan Wangji’s side. “But it has to be in some way, right? That's why it helps so much.”This sent Lan Wangji’s heart into a series of complicated and unexpected flips.

Every time Wei Ying couldn't think past the resentful energy swirling though him, Lan Wangji helped him through it.

*~*

Nonny #4:  I have been desperately looking for a fic I have read and I am about to go crazy because it seems like it did not exist lol I was hoping maybe you could help me. In this fic Sizhui is growing up so its post-canon before 13/16 years and he is counting days, literally fic counts days while he grows up and Wangji is doing his punishment seclusion for 3 years. I remember things like little Yuan spending allowed days with wangji but never long periods of times etc. Please help me! Love your blog <3 

Thanks, hon!  And sadly, I cannot help you with this one.  Perhaps someone else?

FOUND! @briapia95 says, “ Maybe nonny 4 is talking about the survival series ? Part 3, 4 and 5 deal with LWJ seclusion days while raising A-yuan and LWJ counts days. But it also is a Jiang Yanli lives AU so I don’t know if those are the ones they’re referring to.”

Survival by Jinko

E, 40k, wangxian, 16 works series in progress

Summary:  Jiang YanLi didn't die on the battlefield.

Wei WuXian still did.

Jiang YanLi reminds Lan WangJi that he has a son and a nephew he can't abandon as he mourns.

*~*

#5 is @fqacoddly:   Hi! Maybe a long shot but I was wondering if you'd know of a WWX-JC reconciliation fic... There's a scene where WWX and JC are discussing the flight from Koi Tower, and JC explained that nobody approached because they were all scared of LWJ, which stuck in my memory because I always found it hilarious that they all just paused on the stairs to let them speak, though I do love the scene. I think there was wedding planning as well. Appreciate your time for reading this anyway, and all the recs!

Aw, my pleasure, sweetie.  But I don’t know this one (I don’t think).  Readers?

NOT FOUND!

*~*

Nonny #6:  Hi! I’m looking for a fic I read a while ago but forgot the name! The fic is pretty much a collection of scenes where the author rewrote the dubcon scenes. It’s definitely Mature rated but I’m can’t remember the exact rating. This would be most helpful if you or anyone in the notes knew which fic I’m talking about. 

I don’t know this one, but I’m sure someone else does?

FOUND! by @handbasketofdreams AND @scifikimmi

when it feels like this by wangwxian

E, 23k, wangxian

Summary:  "Lan Zhan..." he whispered quietly, and Lan WangJi's grip on his wrist seemed to falter. He took the chance to get free from his hold and twist the water out of the cloth. "What do you want me to do, Lan Zhan?"

Lan WangJi's gaze drifted down Wei WuXian's body slowly, "Bathe."

Wei WuXian, "Do you really want me to bathe with you?"

Lan WangJi, "Mn."

Wei WuXian couldn't speak for a while, playing with the piece of cloth in his hands. He wanted to go in, too, more than he could ever think he would. But he didn't trust his body to stay calm in this kind of situation with Lan WangJi. He shook his head 'no' again. "When you're sober, if you want to bathe with me again, we will. But not tonight."

-

Five novel spin-off chapters that exclude the "dub" from the "dubcon", for the fellow CQLers who feel a bit uncomfortable reading dubcon content.

*~*

Nonny #7:  hiiii, i'm trying to find a fic where the sects decided to summon wwx using mxy's body but the big reveal is wwx never died and he's immortal. so they use him to fight in this big war and wwx is really powerful and violent. also he's immortal because he's been waiting for the reincarnation of lwj. can you help? it was ao3 

grrr, I’m subscribed to this WIP, I know, and LOVED the first bit, but I can’t find it.

FOUND!  It’s finished and I had bookmarked it and everything, derp.  Thank you @oneringtorulethem!

Old Foreshadows by protos_metazu_ison

M, 15k, wangxian [my bookmark here]

Summary:  The young man leaned forward, elbow on a propped up knee. “You are all respectable cultivators,” he said in a lilting tone even as the veritable army below pointed their swords at him. “Was this really the best way you could think of to get my attention?”

With the threat of the Wen sect looming, the other major sects decide to summon the aid of a man they’d killed centuries ago: the Yiling Patriarch, Wei Wuxian.

*~*

Nonny #8:  hello I'm trying to find a fic where lwj is an immortal and wwx is reincarnated hundreds of years later as an artist and he takes pictures of lwj, it was a very soft read and I could use some some of that right now can you maybe help me? thank you 

FOUND!  I know this one!  Someone recced it to me recently:

the recluse at the end of the moonlit path by b_ofdale

T, 29k, wangxian [my bookmark here]

Summary:  Wei Wuxian died twice.

Hundreds of years later, Wei Ying, a young artist in search of escape and inspiration comes to Gusu. There, he meets a mysterious recluse—a mysterious recluse who, unbeknownst to Wei Ying, has been waiting for him for a long, long time.

*~*

Nonny #9:   Hi, so I've been searching for a specific fanfic for weeks now and I just can't find it. I think it's supposed to be post canon. The premise is that lwj was cursed and after he was cured, he wasn't in love with wwx anymore? Kinda second chance-ish. I hope somebody knows the name bc it's driving me slowly insane. I appreciate your help, thanks!

Oh, that sounds vaguely familiar.  Hmmm...

FOUND! By @mondengel

tonight i can write the saddest lines by sarahyyy

G, 4k, wangxian [my post here]

Summary:  They tell him that he’s been cursed.

They tell him that they will look through the scrolls in the library to find a way to undo it.

Some of the elders offer that it might not be a bad thing that he’s forgotten, if all he has forgotten is Wei Wuxian.

Nobody tells him who Wei Wuxian is.

Lan Wangji thinks he can guess.