I totally agree with you, its not the same anymore is it, it feels cold and clinical, i have lost most of my buddies but 2,and i dont post on here much at all,now i hate it,and dont come on much at all nowdays, such a shame, i know we have to move with the times, but its just not and never will be the same again.
I have been struggling with this new site, but it might have been easier if I was better on the computer, even my grandchildren have left me way behind!
The new site was designed to make the younger msers feel more at home and supposedly more user friendly.
Id like to ask - what of the older msers, after all theyve been around for much longer, have more wisdom and experience of ms than any other. Some pop in from time to time, whereas others have gone onto other sites where they feel more at home.
Its such a shame the world revolves around the needs of a certain section rather than be accommodating to all. Same with treatment - using criteria as a means of streamlining funding. Just ask symptoms, age, relapses and treatment, then compare and work out for yourself which way things are going. Discrimination is alive and kicking in 2011!
I have been struggling with this new site, but it might have been easier if I was better on the computer, even my grandchildren have left me way behind!
I will keep trying though.
Take care
Pam
[/quote] Hello Pam, I have just called in to say I love your Avatat. It makes me feel as though you are looking into my window and asking is it time for a" cuppa tea yet"…with a great big friendly smile.
I know what you mean about the heart and soul of things but I find some people are working very hard indeed to keep the site going and I think with time the heart and soul feeling will come back as a natural follow on with time and familiarity. I dont post as often as I used to but I think I am just taking my time with the change and getting a feel for it all over again…and when I see people pop up from old it pleases me greatly…while at the same time I am getting more and more used to the newer members that have joined, and so they are slowley becoming a part of “My norm” if you like…So a great big thanks to all of you for sticking with it and working so hard to make it work.
I know what you mean about the pub as well. I loved calling in the pub of a w/e for a chat and a snack…but not seen janine on here at all since the change…maybe she will return soon in a blaze of glory and have a big open nigh of free drinks, food and fun on the house…
I actually DO still come on the site, and always will do, not as much though ,
i was just agreeing with chris that the sites not the same anymore, and a lot of us feel the same,
and the ‘same old names’ had quite a lot of knowlegde about ms,and we have helped each other through some very tough times and through the site changing there have been a quite a few that have been ‘lost’ and thats not a good thing
and for some yes it can be ‘difficult’ some people with ms have quite significant cognitive issues and have found it hard having to change to this new forum.
I miss the “side” conversations. It gave more depth to the forum - instead of everything being “linear” as it is now. It also meant that you could reply directly to someone rather than just quote them (which they may not realise on here anyway, if they aren’t checking for replies). I know they got rid of it because a lot of people didn’t like it, but, well, I did
Says who? Do you have inside information about the brief for the design of the site? I thought the main driving force was that the last one was unmaintainable, and could crash at any time, and be impossible to repair. I’ve not seen any evidence that this new site is particularly aimed at the “younger” MSer. I’m 45, and not finding anything too new-fangled for me.
I admit I’m not a huge fan of the avatars, emoticons, or multiple different sizes and colours of font, as I often find them garish and distracting, and could easily do without them altogether. But you don’t have to use any of them if you don’t want to, and I very rarely do.
Having said that, I don’t find this forum very professional, for a major, high-profile health charity - but I didn’t think the previous one was, either. Both were usable - just. Neither is an outstanding example of what a good forum ought to be. It looks like something a work experience person might have put together in their lunch hour, so I sincerely hope it didn’t cost thousands and thousands. I think an enthusiastic amateur with a technical bent could have knocked up something similar, but never mind.
I have been struggling with this new site, but it might have been easier if I was better on the computer, even my grandchildren have left me way behind!
I will keep trying though.
Take care
Pam
Hi Pam.
You are not alone,if something goes wrong with my computer i have to wait until son,grandson,come up to fix it.
Glad you are still trying to get to grips with this new site.And hope you make it.
I miss the “side” conversations. It gave more depth to the forum - instead of everything being “linear” as it is now. It also meant that you could reply directly to someone rather than just quote them (which they may not realise on here anyway, if they aren’t checking for replies). I know they got rid of it because a lot of people didn’t like it, but, well, I did
Karen x
Hi Karen.
Thank you for your post.
I to miss the side conversation.
But we just have to move with the times [may not like it but cant change it]
I miss the old site too. I miss getting replies, sometimes replies would come through 2 weeks later and I would still get them and I would still know what people were talking about as the message was there. Like most people with MS I have memory problems and forget what I have done the day before! Let’s face it most people would not remember what they did last week whether they had MS or not!
If there was a way of keeping the layout but getting and replying to replies; it would be much better. As someone has already stated, we miss the side conversations and friendships were struck up that way.
Me too Karen. I made lots of friends in those ‘side conversations’ and you could make little comments to a particular post without feeling you were interfering somehow in the main conversation. I hate this ‘quote’ thing. Often puts me off replying.
If I may make an analogy…The old forum was like a tatty back street pub, where things could get a bit frisky. The ‘barmaids’ would step in to sort out anything the regulars couldn’t,but the place was warm and welcoming.
This new place is like a trendy wine bar,where leaning against the bar, getting a bit boisterous and having a laugh are taboo.
This is partly caused by loss of the facility to reply to a reply, and the assembled throng to watch on. I got as far as ‘lengthy posts’ when reading through the ‘don’ts and don’ts’ screwed to the front door.
I doubt the 'barmaids’will ever have to step in to sort anybody out. “There is a lot of apathy, but I don’t want to talk about it”
Adding to what Tina said I’m 65 and i don’t have any problems either.Nor did I have any when the new forum was created.I too don’t care much for the coloured options but that’s because my MS doesn’t like garish colours to read!
I think that the new forum broke of some of the cliques which had formed and made some people especially newbies seem like outsiders.Along with a few who thought they were the best qualified MS Consultant in the UK.
I knew we had the occasional DWP specialist, but I’ve never seen anyone claim to be an MS Consultant. Do they still post? It would be brilliant to learn directly from someone who really knows their stuff and uses it on a day to day basis too.
