OK Here goes...

Former_MSE_Andrea

Thanks everyone.

Although this hasn’t been the ideal way to do it, these issues have created an opportunity to discuss some good points. Regulars, please bear with me as I hardly ever read the Daily Thread so I’m looking at this situation from the point of view of a complete outsider to it but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It means hopefully I’m viewing it from the same angle as relative newbies.


Long threads

One thing we can't do anything about, which was one of the initial issues mentioned, was the length of the threads. The site has grown massively in the last couple of years and obviously that means the forum has too. We have a thread from the OS board in the email every week meaning the influx of newbies to this board is growing and will continue to grow. Plus, as someone’s said, especially once the OS book comes out next year threads on OS, not just the Daily Thread, will be getting a whole lot longer. I’m afraid that’s just the way it is and may mean some aren’t happy with it but it really is a good thing if it means more people are reading these threads and being motivated and inspired to save, don’t you think?

Repeat Threads

Again there are only limited ways this can be dealt with and whichever way OS’rs react to them some people won’t like it, that’s the way life is. In the past I believe the BGs have been merging these so that all info on one topic is kept to the same thread and should be easy to find. Unfortunately that can mean there are some long threads on the board, which other people don’t like. It’s hard to please everyone. On this note, the BGs have suggested that rather than merge chatty threads into one in this case they simply take a judgement call on moving threads that have no MoneySaving discussion at all to the Arms or Discussion Time. Whichever option they take we know it won’t please everyone, but that’s impossible as you know. Perhaps it’s worth having a poll on this?


Of course we all know the search function isn’t infallible (it’s why I posted asking for help the other day – regulars’ memories are often a lot more reliable!) so some threads don’t come up but this means people do need to ask the question again. It’s up to OS regulars to either reply with the same information again or give a link to where they know they’ve seen a good thread on it before. Either way is great if it’s done in the nicest way possible and helps give the answer. But at the end of the day posts are always going to be duplicated. We get exactly the same thing happen behind the scenes, many people email to ask for information that can easily be found on the site if they searched but they wouldn’t think much of us if we replied back to say that. We simply let them know very nicely that there’s some great information about that in xx article or on xx forum and give them the link to it. If we got upset with it where would that get us?

The Daily Thread

Various people have come up with ideas that may help.

Sticky welcome phrase

The main one is that we perhaps need a sticky on the board with some phrases that anyone who starts a Daily Thread could simply copy and paste into the first post.

Here’s some suggestions (mine and from BGs and some of the last few days’ posts) on what could go in there.

Hi, this is the Daily Thread for xx (add date). This is an “over the garden fence” type thread where we chat about everything OS and maybe a little bit more. It’s a great, inspiring and motivating thread we start each day to discuss what we’re going to do today or what we’ve achieved already. Everyone’s welcome, please do come in, put your feet up (although check the fence hasn’t just been painted first!) and join us for an OS natter. The more the merrier!

When you make a post, if you feel like giving it a title, that will help others that don’t have the time to read everything skim through the thread quickly but if not it's not a problem, we’re a laid back bunch here so you won’t hear any complaints.

Some people who chat here like to try to answer everyone. Don’t feel you have to though, a general “hi everyone, hope everyone’s well” type start does just as well.


Let's have a poll

Several people have suggested having one strictly dedicated OS daily chat thread and one that's more chatty. I don't think it's up to me or BGs or any one person for that matter to make that decision for you so how about someone starting a poll and leaving it open for say 24 hours? That way you can all see what the majority think.

Time of Posting

This is up to you all. To be honest, especially as some OS readers and posters aren't in the UK it's a very hard thing to gauge so you really do have to take this with a pinch of salt. As I think I said above, I believe the daily thread is about both what you've done but also about what you're planning to do in the day so I can't really see a problem with it being started earlier, although yes, I can see why it can be annoying when people start them just for the sake of it. Perhaps this is something that having 2 separate threads would resolve. If not, again, why don't you do a poll on it and base your decision on that?

Remember, this is your board, this'll sound really cliche but it's for you and by you so it's you OS readers and posters that should be making the decisions. I really do think if you have questions like this where you can't all decide starting a poll is a great way of gauging everyones' opinions. You could always call in the Pollmeister Southernscouser to do one for you

Anyway, I'll leave you all for a while to digest this little essay. I think it would be great, if you like the sticky thread idea, for someone else to perhaps start a new thread to discuss the phrases you'd like in it if you don't like the wording I've used or you think there's something I've missed that could go in it.

Go on, you're a great community and discussing is what you all do best.

Talk to you all later

PS. Anyone that's started a new thread and/or poll can you pop the link into a post in this thread so everyone can see where it is? Ta

Kazonline

I'll be brave and jump in first (lol, bet I cross post )

I like both the idea of the Sticky in the Daily thread and that of having a chatty thread and a daily OS thread. I'm happy to go with either. Could someone who knows how maybe create a poll with a few options?

Looking forward to it returning to 'normality'
Kaz x

foreverskint

Sounds reasonable to me Andrea. Lets hope it sorts it out.

Just been for a scream over in the arms and am feeling soooooo much better :rotfl: :rotfl:

Former_MSE_Andrea

I missed out a section, I've added it in above, called Time of Posting

PS. Anyone that's started a new thread and/or poll can you pop the link into a post in this thread so everyone can see where it is? Ta

dannahaz

Thanks Andrea. I like the idea of having the standard opening at the top of each daily thread. The way it's been written is very welcoming.

Whilst in theorytwo threads sounds a good ideaI;m not sure how two threads would work in practice.. I might be misunderstanding what the content would be, but it sounds like the "chatty" thread would be very similar to the current "Daily Thread", and the "OS" one would be each person posting a list of stuff with perhaps very little interaction.

Anyway, I'm a long time lurker, only recently started posting to the Daily Thread (actually since this all blew up, and the thread changed anyway to make it more inviting for people like me to jump in). Whilst everyone's opinion counts, some should count more than others.... and I think the regulars should count more.

I don't think it's up to relative newbies to come in and demand fundamental changes to something that has been working. Suggesting a little tweak, yes.

Thanks again Andrea
Hazel
l

Glad

this is just my point of view but I don't think the idea of 2 seperate threads would work well
the main thing is that if chatty posts are allowed in one thread on OS then why not leave the daily as it is - a mix of chat and your OS day
it's the one-to-one convos that seem to have bothered some people and who's to say they wouldn't upset posters in the new thread, there is always pm's or why not make the MSE OS chatroom link a sticky for a while


another point is that it will be difficult to post and to BG on 2 different threads, what is seen as an OS part of your day to one will be chat to another
if someone posts a good OS way of doing something in the strictly OS thread and someone else wants to comment on it or ask a question, is that just chat? should it then be on a different thread?
will people be reported for chatting? will posts then be moved between threads?

I think as long as people are using the daily thread not just to chat but to swap ideas, post about their day and give support too then it will be easier and friendlier all in one thread

Kazonline

The only reason I suggested two thread is to try and satisfy those who don't want the chatter, and also those who do. I don't think that two would survive - over time people would probably settle on one... whichever it was the majority preferred.
That said, as Andrea says it will probably get much busier on OS, so perhaps two threads would survive? I dunno....
Personally I've no problem with the board the way it's been - however I've not posted today as I wanted to say the odd 'good luck' and 'well done' in response to some of the posts and I feel that it's that kind of thing that people have been unhappy with. To me it felt rude to post and not mention those things - so until I'm sure what 'is' 'allowed/acceptable' I'm trying not to cause offence IYKWIM.
If I were to be purely selfish and say how I would like the thread/s to run without consideration to others it would be as it is now(and over the past weeks, so not today specifically), but with the addition of the sticky so no one ever feels left out/obliged/overwhelmed. I would also love to see Queenie and Tootles come back as I miss them.
I am also offering the services of my garden fence as without my new and dear OS friends I'd never have got it errected
Kaz xxx

MATH

They sound like sensible ideas to me. I wonder if the two chatty thread will work though. In principle they seem to address the issue but I bet it wouldn't be five minutes before one of us is doing in the STRICT thread what we should be doing in the CHATTY ONE and vice versa:rotfl: Would we just be making a bigger problem?

Kazonline

I'd probably be the first to get a finger wagging Math I'm a sociable bunny with aggraphobic tendandcies IYKWIM

Can someone please clarify what the 'gripes' were for me?
I thought it was that some people didn't like the 'chatting' on the daily thread and that it should be purely OS to do type stuff... or is it that some don't like the ammount of chatting?

Kaz x

Ticklemouse

Kaz - for me, it wasn't the chatting per se. I'm all for a good old chinwag. What my original questions to Pink were that could there be an end to the need to acknowledge everyone, even if there was no real "need". I'm not against personlised posts if there IS that need IYSWIM. Eg, I'd rather no-one was saying "hope you enjoy your trip to Tesco's" cos that's all there is to say about my day but if someone has some good/bad news or needs a virtual hug, then go for it.

Also, there were getting more and more 1 line posts where by the time you had posted your reply, someone else had posted, so people were going back in just to say "hi" which is what was making the thread hard to read and untidy.

For me, these "problems" seem to have been resolved, so if everyone carried on with their normal posts MINUS lists of acknowledgements they felt the HAD to make, we'll soon be back to normal.

For what it's worth, I didn't post those lists, but that's not to say I have ever ignored anyone. I respond to an individual as I see a need

(Blimey - didn't I open a can of worms here ?? :rotfl:)

thriftlady_2

I agree with what Ticklemouse has just said.

I do like the idea of the sticky welcome, I love your wording Andrea, very welcoming and clear.