Proposed Forum Changes...

Burlesque_Babe

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Hi folks,

I have to say my current thinking is to do a trial split of the diaries into a sub board of DFW but not a DMP sub-board as i think once diaries are split out that'll give more breathing space to breath.

Im intending to call it

Debt Free Diaries: Trial Board

To start with to make it clear its not permanent, and to try it for a month.

As people will appreciate theres a rash of views on it - and either way someone will be unhappy. I hope you'll be ok to let us give it a try.

Martin

I feel it will split the DFW community even more than it currently is but I think it should be tried just so the subject stops coming up every 12 months or so and the same old conversations going around.

The only way that it can be properly analysed is to take numbers of replies to non-diary threads over the last month and then compare to the number of replies to non-diary threads over the trial month. If no significant loss of replies, then maybe think about it becoming permanent, but I feel it will be a sad situation as someone who actively takes part in the DFW community both online and in real life at meets etc. The divide will need to be very clear on what is and what is not allowed in the non-diary thread areas - ie challenges - will they stay on the main board? There are loads of them. Also - when does a thread become a diary?

Numpty_Monkey

Burlesque_Babe wrote: »

I feel it will split the DFW community even more than it currently is but I think it should be tried just so the subject stops coming up every 12 months or so and the same old conversations going around.

The only way that it can be properly analysed is to take numbers of replies to non-diary threads over the last month and then compare to the number of replies to non-diary threads over the trial month. If no significant loss of replies, then maybe think about it becoming permanent, but I feel it will be a sad situation as someone who actively takes part in the DFW community both online and in real life at meets etc. The divide will need to be very clear on what is and what is not allowed in the non-diary thread areas - ie challenges - will they stay on the main board? There are loads of them. Also - when does a thread become a diary?

Some very good points there BB
I think it will just lead to confussion and more work for the BG's:A

I read a good few of peoples diarys, but probably post more on newbies threads, usually just offering the basics,

I'm not looking forward to the changes,:sad:

skintchick

I fully support splitting the diaries out. When I joined, I only ever posted in DFW and there were no diaries - I would spend hours posting on threads helping people and sharing ideas but as more and more diaries began I found them unhelpful, cumbersome, self-indulgent and a hindrance to helping people.

I wasn;t prepared to trawl through ten pages of chat to see if I could help someone in any way and I much preferred it when each question or milestone got its own thread.

People always prefer the status quo but hte reality is that DFW was less cliquey and served its purpose much better when there weren;t any diaries, so splitting them off will, IMO, make the board work much better for its real purpose, which is helping everyone, not just the regulars.

It's the newbies who suffer most from DFW being impenetrable and they are the people who most need the help usually.

System

How about a 'Need Help with Debt, Start Here' Sub Forum?

DoWhatULove-LoveWhatUDo

I would be in favour of any measure which would help new posters to find help by navigating the site correctly and I believe that my needs and preferences should be secondary to what would be most helpful to the new people.

So it is my opinion that there needs to be a more radical overhaul of the boards to reflect the prominence of DFW as a first port of call for new posters.

It needs to be very clear to a new visitor that their problems paying off their loans or credit cards belong on the DFW board and not the Loans or Credit Cards board where they may not receive the right kind of responses.

Give DFW a section of it's own, outside of Pure Money and break that down into as many sections as are necessary for Living With Bankruptcy, IVAs, DMPs, Debt Busting Diaries etc as well as a general board for challenges and posts

DoWhatULove-LoveWhatUDo

arunadasi wrote: »

posting on a thread is an automatic subscription to that thread.

I would heartily support this measure as well.

DoWhatULove-LoveWhatUDo

MSE_Martin wrote: »

I've always found sexism offensive - and its covered by that. You could also say isn't 'racism' offensive so why pick it out. The reason's simple, we've had sadly major racism problems here, we havent thankfully had it with sexism.

Martin

Perhaps it's merely that people have a higher tolerance threshold for sexism than for racism?

fermi

MSE_Martin wrote: »

I have to say my current thinking is to do a trial split of the diaries into a sub board of DFW but not a DMP sub-board as i think once diaries are split out that'll give more breathing space to breath.

Other (vaguely DFW related) chat threads to go there as well?

Or is that exclusively personal diaries?

In_Search_Of_Me

Re the dfw boards and diaries being split...c&p from dfw...

"the old cookie...I think its a case of not pleasing all the people all of the time - however you do it! I do, where possible, help newbies but also use subscribed threads cos I just dont have the time to help everyone plus when I do I end up feeling depressed and overwhelmed...trolls dont help because they make it feel more like a battle - which becoming a dfw is anyway! People are also forgetting us as individuals...some will post, some lurk, some help newbies, some not...personally I like to get a balance of it all. I have people I genuinely consider friends on here and support them, I hope, as much as they help me.
I think dividing the boards will make newbies feel even more isolated...they wont feel able to post on diaries as will feel they are intruding and for those of us with limited time, the new "please help" posts may be missed...
So my vote is leave it as it is..."

SarahNeedle1872

I think making the Bankruptcy board its own board is a great idea, its becoming much more of an issue for society, and should be made more prominent. I also think the DMP sub-board is a great idea.... but...

As a relative 'oldie' now, I'm gonna go against the grain and agree with splitting the diaries from the DFW board. Whilst I wouldn't say they are 'cliquey' (sp?), the same people do tend to post on the same diaries a lot, and I, despite being here for ages, do not always feel 'comfortable' posting on those diaries... with all the diaries/comps on the first couple of pages, new posts can easily get lost.
For me, its simple.... if us 'oldies' want to help the new posters, we will make the effort to go onto the board and help them... but I will also keep up with the diaries I subscribe to!

*runs off before getting shot!*