As noted in this forum discussion https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=451620 , and in compliance with Brett Dalton's response here https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=451620#p1815598 , the conditions that control the display of the forum discussion list table, specifically related to the column widths and truncation of content require reconsideration and improvement. At least these three aspects need addressing:

• unpredictably inconsistent widths of some of the columns - e.g. producing too much available white space and causing needless truncation of content (post author's names, specifically)
• truncation rules themselves appear unclear
• for truncated lines tool-tips are needed