The description of the Topic Starter (OP) Hidden

[Agbe]

Topic starter is written on the (OP) but it is hidden, and those who are using mobile phone to login to the site (forum) might  not see the description but those who are using laptop or desktop will see it.

How to see it.

Place your cursor or mouse on the (OP) preceded by the topic starter (the author of the topic) and the hidden description (write up) will appear. See the example.


As it was said by Welsh, most users might not know the meaning or the reason adding the feature to their name.

I'd much rather thread starter, original topic starter or thread creator underneath their name or something, because I can guarantee it, not everyone will know what "OP" stands for. Anyone that has been using forum software for a long time, probably will, and sure they could ask if in doubt, but that increases the chances of them asking in that thread, and therefore going off topic or opening a new thread which will likely happen a few dozen times every year.

I wanted to make a comment here but I came to realize that most newbies are not visiting Meta. That is why I bring it here for everyone to see.

See More on:
OP, what is it?

Terminology

[Z-tight]

A small inclusion, it can be used two ways:
1)Original poster
2)Original post
I.e: 1)Agbe is the OP (orginal poster) of this thread
      2)Agbe, your OP (original post) seems good.

[decodx]

As it was said by Welsh, most users might not know the meaning or the reason adding the feature to their name.

Most users? I'm not so sure. Most newbies perhaps? Besides, that's not what Welsh said. He said: "not everyone will know what "OP" stands for".

Most newbies to this forum probably don't even know what rank, merit, activity, trust, DT... mean. That doesn't stop anyone from learning if they want to.

[jackg]

As it was said by Welsh, most users might not know the meaning or the reason adding the feature to their name.

Most users? I'm not so sure. Most newbies perhaps? Besides, that's not what Welsh said. He said: "not everyone will know what "OP" stands for".

On the first topic I read after the update I thought the topic starter had changed their username to include (op) - although then I clicked another thread and saw it was a thing to identify the topic starter...

I don't know if that text is entirely necessary or whether it'll fit there well on mobile, perhaps near the time edit section or something (as edits are more verbose on mobile with the text below that you'd be able to hover over with the mouse normally to see).

Also, it might just not matter to know what OP stands for until you've been around here enough to work it out (I did that with the ranking system I think when I first joined).

[Rruchi man]

On the first topic I read after the update I thought the topic starter had changed their username to include (op)

On the first topic I read after the update, I noticed the "OP" on the comment section first and thought it meant "off topic", that is like an indication that that comment was Off topic, and was eligible for deleting by the moderator, not until I saw that it was also put beside the username that started the topic and that the individual behind the username had also replied to someone's comment on the thread and that was why I saw OP first in the comment section. I use the abbreviation as well formerly, so I knew the meaning immediately.

or whether it'll fit there well on mobile...

It fits just fine on my mobile.

[Poker Player]

I didn't know what the OP abbreviation meant until I came to this forum. The first time I encountered the term I had to google it. 
I assume that the term is known to members who have more experience with internet forums and message boards.

I don't know what the problem is with this. Anyone who doesn't know what OP means, which is widely known on the internet, should look it up like you did.

As it was said by Welsh, most users might not know the meaning or the reason adding the feature to their name.

I'd much rather thread starter, original topic starter or thread creator underneath their name or something, because I can guarantee it, not everyone will know what "OP" stands for. Anyone that has been using forum software for a long time, probably will, and sure they could ask if in doubt, but that increases the chances of them asking in that thread, and therefore going off topic or opening a new thread which will likely happen a few dozen times every year.

If you ask in the thread, it still gets a pass. But if someone opens a thread to ask that question, which means they haven't spent 5 seconds to google it, I'm going to put them on my ignore list.

[cryptoaddictchie]

Topic starter is written on the (OP) but it is hidden, and those who are using mobile phone to login to the site (forum) might  not see the description but those who are using laptop or desktop will see it.

I think its working cause I am using mobilw phone thru my browser and I can see the (OP) besides your name. Unless that you edited your name which is impossible right? OP denotes "original post/poster so some might be confuse with it especially the newbie but we can always remind them of that.

I juat noticed this thing appearing on OP's name. So it indeed implemented already by theymos.

[DdmrDdmr]

Just to add a minor anecdote to this topic, there are certain circumstances where (OP) won’t be shown in a thread in this recent implementation on Bitcointalk. Let’s see if anyone can depict under which circumstances this does not happen, and infer a probable reason as to why it was implemented in this manner. For now, I don’t think there’s any need for clues, but knowing where to look, it’s pretty much in plain sight.

[Darker45]

To be honest, I don't think it is that hard for everybody to know that the first user on any thread is the original poster. It's like saying the sun is hot. I mean, of course. It is common sense to conclude that the one who opened the discussion is the topic starter. Unless there are threads in which the original post is the 2nd or 3rd or 4th post.

And I guess it is not that hard for a newbie to eventually know what OP means. Sooner or later he/she will find out that OP means either the original post or original poster.

[un_rank]

Just to add a minor anecdote to this topic, there are certain circumstances where (OP) won’t be shown in a thread in this recent implementation on Bitcointalk.

Could it be in cases where The OP's account is deleted and the content is edited by an admin or mod? In an example^[1], the OP shows as anonymous and the (OP) sign does not show up besides their post or any subsequest one.
In another case here^[2], even though the account name is not changed, (OP) is not attached to the profile on threads they created.

[1] https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=237.msg1985#msg1985
[2] https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=67541.0

- Jay -

[Z-tight]

I think its working cause I am using mobilw phone thru my browser and I can see the (OP) besides your name. Unless that you edited your name which is impossible right?

That is not what Agbe is trying to say, the "OP" is displayed in both mobile phones and pc's, but on pc's if you hover your mouse on the "OP" that is displayed, it displays the meaning of "OP", but the same cannot apply to members using the forum from their mobile phones, but that is not a problem, anybody can find the meaning of "OP" in a sec, the way they can find the meaning of things like: asap, brb, etc, lol, jsyk.

[lovesmayfamilis]

On the first topic I read after the update I thought the topic starter had changed their username to include (op) - although then I clicked another thread and saw it was a thing to identify the topic starter...

I also thought about it. And I noticed this on a newbie account. For a second, I was embarrassed at how this happened, thinking how difficult it is to change the nickname for legendary accounts that would like to do this. 
But now it has become convenient to keep track of the author of the topic, especially how often he appears in the topic he created.

[Husna QA]

Just to add a minor anecdote to this topic, there are certain circumstances where (OP) won’t be shown in a thread in this recent implementation on Bitcointalk.

Could it be in cases where The OP's account is deleted and the content is edited by an admin or mod? In an example^[1], the OP shows as anonymous and the (OP) sign does not show up besides their post or any subsequest one.
In another case here^[2], even though the account name is not changed, (OP) is not attached to the profile on threads they created.

[1] https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=237.msg1985#msg1985
[2] https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=67541.0

- Jay -

That's because the OP's status is "Guest" (https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Guest).
My assumption, in the early days of this forum, even members without logging in could post on the forum, as shown in the link.

Users who create threads by logging into the forum are still listed as OP after their account name, even though the post was edited by forum staff. Here are some examples:
- https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=764664.msg8617640#msg8617640
- https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=751577.msg8480600#msg8480600

[Cookdata]

I have seen several forums with this feature, if you are used to Reddit, then you will know the purpose of this, I never knew this could be implemented on the forum SMF. It keeps conversation clean and makes you easily follow up on interesting conversations between the original poster/post and other users.
If this is possible, then I think there is a need to implement other simple proposals and suggestions the forum members have posted on the Meta board, not really the ones that will cost the forum security, the simple ones are okay.

...........
Why do I think this topic belongs to Meta Board @Agbe

[examplens]

I wanted to make a comment here but I came to realize that most newbies are not visiting Meta. That is why I bring it here for everyone to see.

maybe it would be good if you write about this in that thread, also mentioning PowerGlove creator of this (OP) patch. maybe that will invite him to make a small upgrade and facilitate this possibility on mobile devices.

btw. I'm a little surprised how many people only use a mobile device for all their "computer" needs.

[BITCOIN4X]

Topic starter is written on the (OP) but it is hidden, and those who are using mobile phone to login to the site (forum) might  not see the description but those who are using laptop or desktop will see it.

I just realized that the phone display doesn't provide any information about the OP's description next to the thread creator name. But I wouldn't be surprised because using a mobile phone to access bitcointalk has some limitations as in this case. You also won't see where you will be directed to when there's a hidden link in the text sent to your PM by someone while you use phone, so it's the same case.

Why do I think this topic belongs to Meta Board @Agbe

He had said it.

I wanted to make a comment  here  (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5412983.0) but I came to realize that most newbies are not visiting Meta. That is why I bring it here for everyone to see.

[lalabotax]

I didn't know what the OP abbreviation meant until I came to this forum. The first time I encountered the term I had to google it. 
I assume that the term is known to members who have more experience with internet forums and message boards.

Previously, I also never know what OP is. But since I joined this forum, I often saw people state OP. I am not really sure what OP means, but I assume it is the Original Poster since it is related to thread stater. Sure, the people who already became members of this forum for months or years, must know what OP is. It is something very familiar in this forum, not a new thing. We even see it everyday.  

[KingsDen]

When Power raised this topic and followed it up by writing a script to enable the fast implementation of the idea, I contributed in the two threads. Welsh didn't disagree with the idea, he only opined that users (especially) new comers might see it as a point to frequently start new threads just to ask the meaning of Op. I just realised he was right, just few days of implementing the idea, I have seen upto 3 topics pointing to it and not even by the newbies but established members.

I do not see any problem with the "OP" implementation, whether on mobile or laptop. Even if you are too tired to check out the meaning of "OP" in the net, with a keen observation, you should be able to know what "OP" stands for, because throughout the discussion in any thread, only one user will have the "OP" inscription.

[PX-Z]

As it was said by Welsh, most users might not know the meaning or the reason adding the feature to their name.

Most users? I'm not so sure. Most newbies perhaps? Besides, that's not what Welsh said. He said: "not everyone will know what "OP" stands for".

Yeah, i find it difficult too on other forums when im just new. They call "OP" as "TS" or "Thread Starter" or "Topic Starter", some used "OP" too. But soon as i? Regularly visiting and participate the discussions you will eventually know what that is. So newbies are the ones who probably don't know yet about this, unless they were used to visit and a member on other forums.

[worle1bm]

I think its working cause I am using mobilw phone thru my browser and I can see the (OP) besides your name. Unless that you edited your name which is impossible right?

That is not what Agbe is trying to say, the "OP" is displayed in both mobile phones and pc's, but on pc's if you hover your mouse on the "OP" that is displayed, it displays the meaning of "OP", but the same cannot apply to members using the forum from their mobile phones, but that is not a problem, anybody can find the meaning of "OP" in a sec, the way they can find the meaning of things like: asap, brb, etc, lol, jsyk.

Yeah as lot of time I access the forum from my Mobile phone I see the OP mentioned along with the thread creator but we can know the detail of it when we hover over it on laptop/pc as this feature is accessible there only.But this term is known to many so for me it's not a problem.

But as we see the term OP is used in different contexts and in the forum scope it is referred to as original poster to highlight the thread creator or reply to him and those who are unaware about it can help from the hover feature new addition.There are still who confuse the meaning of this term and check what it means in forum now.