Message Board Clean Up

[SouthernLiving]

Please reply with your suggestions for keeping or deleting forums.

Thank you!
Claire

[scarlettdouble]

Keep food forums and entertaining forum. Of course, keep Front Porch.

Hurricane Relief can go.

I need to move to another screen so I can write down what I don't read or need.

Thanks for hearing us!

[maryc]

Thank you Claire! And thanks for your quick response when Nora had a question this morning.

I personally think the Eat Local could be combined with something else.

Parties and Entertaing could be combined with Holiday Planning

I don't think Life in Today's South is used often nor is Every Day Ideas.

You could probably judge by looking back at when and how often the forums have been used. I have trouble picking which forum to use when there are so many!

Thank you for helping! And the use of an edit button would be heavenly!

[MindaAnn]

First, a big thanks for trying to eliminate so many forums! Way too many choices for me! I just went back and counted and I think there are 27 possible places to post! Some are obvious but at times I think we aren't quite sure where to post.

I realize pleasing everybody is impossible!!:D I agree with SD and mary on their selections. I wonder is there any point in two separate forums for Books and Magazines and the Book Club. Could Wedding Advice possibly be part of Parties and Entertaining along with Holiday Planning?

Hard choice to make, Claire, and as I said you can't please everybody but just eliminate the obvious (and Mary had a good point on how often they are used) would be a start and I think it would be a great help!!

I believe the activity here at SL has picked up a lot in the last month or so. I know it has over at the Sun Room!! Drop by and visit some time! We'd love to have you!:D

[Sandra C]

Please reply with your suggestions for keeping or deleting forums.

Thank you!
Claire
[Well, let's try this again as my first reply disappeared when I submitted it.] :confused:

First, THANK YOU, Claire! Eliminating seldom-used and duplicate categories would greatly enhance this board.

When I think of Southern Living, I think of Food -- whether recipes, restaurants, or parties; Gardening, Decorating, and Travel. Perhaps those would be good major categories for the message board as well.

If you add to those a category such as My Interests, that could include the Sun Porch, Books, Football, Pets, Condolences & Celebrations, and Southern Living -- and anything else that doesn't fit into one of the other four areas.

Hopefully most of the fora we use would fit into one of those major categories. Whatever you decide, thanks for cleaning up the board and making it even better!

[brianna]

YES!! Thank you so much, Claire. I like some of the suggestion above especially the combining and reducing of the number of forums. Way to many for me!

[LanaSmile]

Weekend trips..can be changed to an overall travel section? Somewhere for suggestions for vacations longer than weekends.:)

All parties and entertaining put together. You cant really separate food from party decor.

Football/tailgating made into a general sports theme.

Just one BOOK section.

[brianna]

Claire, what do you think of some of the suggestions? Hard choices I'm sure but we do appreciate that someone is actually trying!

[lulumaryjo]

Thanks for asking. So far I agree with the other posts. I'm not sure we need Members Favorites. There is usually someplace else you could post that information. I would appreciate it if you kept the pets posts. I guess it doesn't get used as often as some, but it does get used :)

[maryc]

I agree with lulu. Members Favorite could be spread out in other forums.

[Sandra C]

Here's another idea: create an e-mail address for those who have questions about the houses to be given away. Very few of them are interested in anything Southern Living has to offer other than winning a house.

Many of them have questions regarding sweepstakes, tax implications, autofill forms, etc. -- all matters that we board members are not able to answer. An e-mail, rather than a message board post, would be directed to someone at Southern Living better equipped to answer those questions.

[Nora]

Here's another idea: create an e-mail address for those who have questions about the houses to be given away. Very few of them are interested in anything Southern Living has to offer other than winning a house.

Many of them have questions regarding sweepstakes, tax implications, autofill forms, etc. -- all matters that we board members are not able to answer. An e-mail, rather than a message board post, would be directed to someone at Southern Living better equipped to answer those questions.

Could I second that?

[MindaAnn]

Admin, have you begun making decisions about any changes? And when??

Thanks for addressing some of these problems.

[scarlettdouble]

Any idea when this is going to happen? I am hesitant to post anywhere but under The Front Porch because I don'tknow what will be cut and what will stay. :confused:

[maryc]

It would be nice to know what will be cut. As Scarlett mentioned, if we post in the wrong forum, we might lose it!

[Nora]

WELL?? Is anything going to take place here? I thought there would be some changes this month?? Anybody out there?

[Nora]

Please reply with your suggestions for keeping or deleting forums.

Thank you!
Claire

YooHoo!! Claire? Anybody? We've been suggesting for a month now. Your turn!:D

Thanks!

[MindaAnn]

YooHoo!! Claire? Anybody? We've been suggesting for a month now. Your turn!:D

Thanks!

For some reason I thought this was to take place in May?? Was that May 2009?? :D

Anone out there?? What do you think of our suggestions, admin?

[maryc]

I guess we can take the lack of action as a NO there will not be any action!

[LanaSmile]

Lessee...Claire posted this on 4/27. Did we really think things were going to change?

[brianna]

Lessee...Claire posted this on 4/27. Did we really think things were going to change?


:D:D I don't see any hands being raised!

[MindaAnn]

Anyone know what year the changes are taking place?? What century??

:D:D:D:rolleyes:

[Nora]

You're an optomist, MA!

I did check back and our admin was here on June 1 at 11:11 AM, but I don't think she posted. We might as well give it up.:(

[scarlettdouble]

Admin - What's up with the board clean up? I am finding it hard to know where to post and don't want to post where a forum may no longer be. We all agree that the board needs to lose a few categories. Please give us an update. Many of us enjoy visiting here everyday and it is important to us.

[MindaAnn]

Admin??? Are you there?

[SouthernLiving]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the delay. Here is the new category structure I am going to implement. I will be sure to make the changes this Wednesday.

Thanks for your suggestions! Claire

Food
-What's for Supper?
-Recipes
-Tips
-Holidays and Entertaining

Home
-Choose Your Home Giveaway (I will remove this forum when the giveaway ends this month)
-Decorating
-Gardening

My Interests
-The Front Porch
-Tailgating and Sports
-Crafts
-Book Club
-Celebration, Support, and Condolences
-Movies, Music, Books and TV
-Pets
-Travel Ideas

[scarlettdouble]

Looks great!! Thanks so much!

[Nora]

Great job, admin! I'm looking forward to Wednesday. Thank you.

We're gonna have a more compact board! A big cheer!!:D

[MindaAnn]

Counting down the days!! Hope we also get an edit button!! :D

Thanks, Claire.

[magenta]

I love that edit button too - on another forum that I have been on that looks just like this one, we had an edit button that was only there for five minutes. Some folks thought they needed a bit more time and it was increased to 15 minutes. Love being able to edit out mistakes and add an afterthought.

Thanks!

[SouthernLiving]

The edit button is something that tech should have replaced. Not sure why you guys don't have it, but i've put in another request.

Claire

[magenta]

Thanks Claire!!! :)

[maryc]

Thank you so very much, Claire. I'm sure we'll all enjoy the forum with less places to chose where to post. Sometimes we got confused! Thanks for addressing the edit problem. So far we could only edit on the "food" section.

[ozsmom1]

Claire, what's up with the new member whose name is just numbers?

[Nora]

Claire, what's up with the new member whose name is just numbers?

There are two of them on the loose!! One has even posted on Ozsmom's birthday thread!! We're hijacked!! Help!! SOS!!

[magenta]

Trolls! It is summer, kids are out of school. Can you hit the "report abuse" button on their posts? I am not sure but when I see their posts when I am logged off it seems they are posting links and I am not sure to what.

[Mari']

Hey y'all, I just finished reporting all the new spam...Yikes. Also sent a PM to Claire ...maybe they can block these two houligans.

[SouthernLiving]

They are blocked, but I am sure there will be more. It looks auto-generated. I am going to update the forums now. Is that ok?

Thanks,
Claire

[magenta]

Wow, thanks, that was fast!

[SouthernLiving]

Ok -- the clean up is complete. I tried not to delete as much as I could. So when it seemed right I moved a forum under another one. I don't want us to loose archive material.

Let me know if this works!

Thanks,
Claire

[luv2cook]

Much better. Now for that edit button :-)

[MindaAnn]

I missed the trolls?? I guess I've had a very good day!:D Thanks, Claire, for your great work.

Mari', great to see your name here!

[Sandra C]

They are blocked, but I am sure there will be more. It looks auto-generated. . . .
Thanks,
Claire

Thanks, Claire! Have you all considered having a new registrant wait a couple of days after registering to post? If there were a waiting period, I think the trolls would be more likely to move on to unmonitored forums where they can experience "immediate gratification."

[LanaSmile]

Good Morning, I've been without a computer for the past 4 days or so..and when I come back the boards are cleaned up.Yay!! :) I see there are no more resveratrol posts tho...darn! LOL Tell me..where should we post about healthy living..and..have I missed seeing it..but where do we post about support..congratulations.. and those kind of personal issues? Thanks!! :)

[MindaAnn]

Good Morning, I've been without a computer for the past 4 days or so..and when I come back the boards are cleaned up.Yay!! :) I see there are no more resveratrol posts tho...darn! LOL Tell me..where should we post about healthy living..and..have I missed seeing it..but where do we post about support..congratulations.. and those kind of personal issues? Thanks!! :)

You're right, Lana......I think 'congratulations/sympathy' was on Claire's list a few pages back but I didn't go back and look. Hope she will add that in. I don't remember about 'healthy living.'
I do like the clean up but maybe it needs a little "tweaking" to include those.

[MindaAnn]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the delay. Here is the new category structure I am going to implement. I will be sure to make the changes this Wednesday.

Thanks for your suggestions! Claire

Food
-What's for Supper?
-Recipes
-Tips
-Holidays and Entertaining

Home
-Choose Your Home Giveaway (I will remove this forum when the giveaway ends this month)
-Decorating
-Gardening

My Interests
-The Front Porch
-Tailgating and Sports
-Crafts
-Book Club
-Celebration, Support, and Condolences
-Movies, Music, Books and TV
-Pets
-Travel Ideas

Found it!! I don't see anything about healthy living.....maybe Claire will see your post and add it........along with the EDIT button!! :D:D

[magenta]

Is it just me or is everyone's "reply with quote" button all messed up?

[luckydog]

Is it just me or is everyone's "reply with quote" button all messed up? Working normally for me.

[KLD1019]

Is it just me or is everyone's "reply with quote" button all messed up?

mines messed up too

[Southern Thunder]

Yeah, the button itself works, it's the image for the button that is messed up.

[Sandra C]

Yeah, the button itself works, it's the image for the button that is messed up.
Ditto.

[luckydog]

Yeah, the button itself works, it's the image for the button that is messed up.

I see. My button image is also fine & dandy...looks the same as always.

[magenta]

Oh, mine looks okay too, now. So someone must have fixed it. Thanks!

[magenta]

And I had an "Admin" edit button! Yay! Doing the happy dance!

[magenta]

Oh, wait - Admin button goes away too fast for me to click on it. Does anyone else have an Admin button for a split second after they post?

[luckydog]

Oh, wait - Admin button goes away too fast for me to click on it. Does anyone else have an Admin button for a split second after they post?

Making a post to check it out & see for you...just a sec & I'll let you know.

[magenta]

Well I just made another post and it didn't show up that time... before long, y'all are going to accuse me of spending way too much time behind that fern!

[luckydog]

I didn't see any admin button magenta.

The triangle at the top with an exclamation mark in it (report post) can reach admins, for what it's worth. It's usually present in all forums, unlike the edit button which is currently only over in foods.

[luckydog]

That's it! Cut her off! No more swamp water for you today.:D

[magenta]

That must be why I saw it - I was probably posting in foods! Dang, I was so excited for a minute!

Yeah, I am a cheap date, never have been able to hold my swampwater! :D

[Nora]

Hey, Claire!! You're doing a great job but could you please let us have the section called Celebrations and......Prayers? Can't remember!! Anyway, we posted Happy Birthdays, Anniversaries, Prayer requests and that kind of stuff. You were planning on saving it 'cause I saw it on your list but I think those 'techie' guys took it away! They might not have seen your list!

Thanks, Claire. Now I'm going to post this and see if I can 'edit!' Fingers crossed!

[Nora]

NO! I can't EDIT!! Where's that little figure that flings himself on the floor ranting, kicking and screaming? I need it to put right here...

[Nora]

Did the number of posts that a member had made change when threads were deleted? I guess they would.

[maryc]

Thank you, Claire. The board does look much cleaner and is more effecient but as others mentioned, could we please have the "Celebrations" forum? I know it was included on your list and maybe Nora is right, the "techie" guys didn't remember to leave it! Thanks again.

[luckydog]

Guess what? Now my button image is messed up. So is KLD's avatar...but hers is the only one. How weird!

[Nora]

LuckyD, by button image do you mean the 'quote' at the bottom of a post? Mine has been a bit 'fuzzy' since they started playing with the board but it still works. I didn't notice KLD's avatar but I'll look. The 'mad' image has been gone for at least a week I think.

[luckydog]

LuckyD, by button image do you mean the 'quote' at the bottom of a post?

Yes.:)

You can read back earlier on this thread for all the details, but the short story is:
Magenta & others reported theirs didn't look normal. Mine did look normal. Then, Magenta's went back to normal. Day or so later (last night), mine went on the blink. Seems to be a minor glitch that comes & goes. Works correctly, even when it doesn't look right.

Guess it's a byproduct of the board tweak on Wednesday.

[luckydog]

The 'mad' image has been gone for at least a week I think.

I wouldn't swear to it, but I think I had the mad icon up until last night.

[magenta]

My quote button is still pixelated (is that a word?) but, you're right, for about a half a day it was normal.

[MindaAnn]

The quote button has been "fuzzy?" for a while on my computer and I think LD is right...probably due to the tweaking. I haven't had the "mad" icon for at least a week! Maybe that was another tweaking glitch.

[razzle51]

plese keep the board . I have met some great people and gots lots of wonderful ideas and good receipes .

[brianna]

I see the board is cleaned up, but has anything else been done? Edit button? I do miss the Celebration/Condolences that has been mentioned. Where do we post prayer requests, birthday and anniversary celebrations? Any ideas?


razzle51, I don't think there has been a mention of closing the board. Where did that come from? Don't remember seeing you here before so Welcome to SL!

[SouthernLiving]

I see the board is cleaned up, but has anything else been done? Edit button? I do miss the Celebration/Condolences that has been mentioned. Where do we post prayer requests, birthday and anniversary celebrations? Any ideas?


razzle51, I don't think there has been a mention of closing the board. Where did that come from? Don't remember seeing you here before so Welcome to SL!

Sorry still working on edit button it's a lot harder to bring back than we thought. I'll let you know when we have a break through. You should have the quick edit option? Do you not?

Claire

[luckydog]

Testing to see if there is an edit button here.