Also, if I use Internet Explorer, I can not access the forums at all (which I also used to be able to do). Now all I get is the banner across the top of the page down to Equisearch Community BUT none of the tabs...... ??????????????
This site just gets more & more frustrating all the time 
I have the same problem on occasion and, after walking away from the computer in frustration, I've come back to discover the page FINALLY did load. It sometimes does take THAT long! Sometimes refreshing the page with help it along. Of course, every browsing problem is exaggerated by a dial-up connection such as mine, but there are many on ES with a broadband connection who experience the same things I do. I'm convinced the ES site has some serious shortcomings with this new format. I'm not a computer geekazoid but horse training has taught me to be patient and curious. Patience is now running thin. But curiosity has led me to a few observations:
I looked at the ES page source code and noticed it's written in xhtml as opposed to html. I looked that up and found it's a hybrid code of XML code; something recently designed to detect what kind of browser the end user is using and present a version of the page that will best fit their screen. It was designed to accommodate people who browse the web with PDA's, Blackberries, cell phones, etc. In essence, the web page contains a kind of 'universal remote' like the one you may have for TV. And, just like the universal remote, there are buttons and functions on it that probably do absolutely NOTHING for your particular TV but are there nonetheless for others who may need them.
When you're signed in on ES using the xhtml code, there's a bunch of information that is being exchanged between your computer and the the page to determine what browser and format you're viewing the page with. And the server has to sort through a shoebox-full of options until it finds your browser version and delivers the page. The process is supposed to take nanoseconds, not minutes, to accomplish! I can understand how the process would be more cumbersome to dial-up users and barely noticeable to broadband users under NORMAL circumstances. But there doesn't appear to be anything NORMAL about the way the ES pages are operating for some users of either connection. My browsers (AOL default, IE7 and Firefox) all work just fine elsewhere on the Internet running all kinds of scripts (Java, flashplayer, etc.). And I'm certain I've been on other xhtml pages, although I haven't specifically sought them out... but will start doing so for comparison.
Appyt's delete cookies suggestion is helpful. AND, for ME, the ES pages load more quickly when I'm NOT SIGNED IN! I have no idea what that might indicate, other than the xhtml code has identified me as just a window shopper with no need to interact. But it DOES load pages correctly and in a reasonable amount of time.. for dial-up, at least. But bad things start to happen once that sign-in cookie takes up residence on my computer.
Like I said, horse training requires lots of patience. And I don't walk away from training problems. EVER! I keep at it until I find the solution or learn a new approach from someone with more experience. There IS something wrong here on ES. And, although some friends and valuable members of our former ES Community have understandably stopped posting or walked away in disgust because of these problems and "clunky" format, I'll mess about with these "issues" the best I can and maybe pick up some new computer skills along the way.
But as far as xhtml code and the PDA, cell phone and Blackberry user crowd is concerned; "Let them eat cake!" If you NEED to browse the Internet on a hand-held device, you need to be in a 12 step program somewhere and not providing any motivation for a previously valuable resource like the ES Forum to go spastic with format changes for a minuscule portion of potential new members.
I'm beginning to miss the old "The form you have submitted..." error. Granted. I wouldn't have been able to write a post this long in the OLD ES forum without cut & paste from MS Word or something like it. But at least the old forum WORKED! ~FH
"Abuse is when a human action or reaction is obviously accompanied by anger, rage or adrenaline. Proper correction and reprimand are done in silence with thoughtful intent. Your horse knows the difference." ~FloridaHorseman
