Debt diaries Are they getting in the way??

Zulu_Dawn

Just looking through the threads there seems to be a surfeitcurrently of debt diaries.

Whilst I think they are a great idea, they does seem to be clogging up the forum somewhat and they often end up as just being a bit chatty and not particularly helpful or "dare I say it" interesting.:embarasse

Just a thought but should there be a separate area for everyones diaries so that this particular forum can be used more for the seeking and dispelling of sound advice.

I hope this is not too controversial.


Regards,

ZD

pania

Hi Zulu.

Not controversial at all me dear, everyone entitled to their own.
I think people find debt diaries here a massive help and somewhere to spill without having to start a new thread each time they feel the need to talk. even just for a natter to take their mind off the crud that can be everyday life.

I know i find mine helpful just to look back on. am awful at writing but seem quite good at blog keeping!
I think if it ends up that new posters are being ignored then yes a seperate place would be an idea, but this is NOT the case at present and many people here freely give of their time and experience outside of their own diaries to assist those in need.
Many new posters have stated that they have read the diaries and find them helpful.

Personally i cannot ever see a time when people would be ignored or not find the diaries helpful so here they stay i hope.
Kind regards
P
xx

southernscouser

It's been brought up many times Dawn. By me included.

The general consesus of the board and that of the top brass is that people like them. Alot of newer posters comment on how inspiring they are and for the less serious ones (like mine ) hopefully they are an indication that being in debt isn't all doom and gloom.

I do think people need to be more considerate when starting new threads though. I don't mind chatty ones at all, but maybe they should be restricted to one sticky perhaps.

My own feeling is sometimes not enough time is given to those seeking help, but at the same time, we all need to deal with debt in whatever way is easiest for ourselves. :undecided

sammy115

No not really. I don't want to start my own and do find myself chatting on the diaries. But it makes me feel part of the community and I always pick up tips from them. IE the egg card!! woo hoo. I think if we started a thread everytime we wanted to ask a question or just chat the board would lose the community feel I think it has now.

People can choose to ignore the diaries that don't interest them. I tend to veer towards the ones where I know the posters have something in common.

But each to their own and that is only my opinion. It would be interesting to see other peoples views.....

CAFCGirl

This question has come up a number of times in the months that I've been a regular poster.

As Pania says, debt diaries can be fantastic for motivation and support....
I agree that sometimes they do get a bit chatty, because you get people who regularly read your diary because they can relate to you, and you build a rapport with people....

I for one have made three very good friends on MSE after my diary thread.

Whilst I think they are a great idea, they does seem to be clogging up the forum somewhat and they often end up as just being a bit chatty and not particularly helpful or "dare I say it" interesting.

Whats helpful to one person, might not be to the next. It's all relative to each individual.... I know that to someone with three kids and a mortgage my old diary may have seem a bit immature and have no relevance to their situation. However I obviously like to think it was highly interesting

Personally I dont read every single one, and a lot do sometimes fall by the way side, like a paper diary would do, and some are a total inspiration to others as well as the OP, so I must say I'm of the opinion that they dont bug me, and I dont really mind have to click "Next" to see what threads are going on

Seaxwyn

CAFCgirl, I have four kids and a mortgage and I found your diary highly interesting!

Maybe someone who's good at searching could post a link to the recent discussion on this very question as there were lots of views, well expressed, on the issue. As I remember it the resounding conclusion was that the diaries should stay on the DFW board.

southernscouser

Seaxwyn wrote: »

Maybe someone who's good at searching could post a link to the recent discussion on this very question as there were lots of views, well expressed, on the issue. As I remember it the resounding conclusion was that the diaries should stay on the DFW board.

You lazy sod!

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=367901&highlight=diaries

CAFCGirl

CAFCgirl, I have four kids and a mortgage and I found your diary highly interesting!

:rotfl:
Is that interesting or amusing?!

But thanks hun :A

Zulu_Dawn

CAFCGirl wrote: »

Personally I dont read every single one, and a lot do sometimes fall by the way side, like a paper diary would do, and some are a total inspiration to others as well as the OP, so I must say I'm of the opinion that they dont bug me, and I dont really mind have to click "Next" to see what threads are going on

Sorry to ask a question that has obviously come up before. I suppose my e-mail came about from seeing someone post their SOA (something which I've never had the courage to do) and get one response. This contrasts with the diaries that in many cases are over 1,000 posts long. I certainly just skip through them all because the threads are so long.

I personally feel that the analysis of an SOA is absolutely at the core of what this forum is about and we should all (me included) make more of an attempt to get involved when someone lays their heart and soul open on this forum. There are clearly some desperate people out there who need our help.

I just hope that diaries don't take away from that in any way.

Cheers,


ZD (BTW My "real" name is Zulu not Dawn);)

Zulu_Dawn

southernscouser wrote: »

You lazy sod!

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=367901&highlight=diaries

Having just had a quick flick through that thread I'm not quite sure that your conclusion is right. There was a lot of support for putting diaries into a sub board and a lot of people with similar thoughts to me.

I also think that simply looking at the number of posts on a thread is not the whole story. Some threads have a few bumps and a few of the "can't help but sending you hugs" type posts which though comforting are not particularly helpful.

Cheers,

ZD

Frugal_Fox

I don't want to see the 'diary' threads in a sub board. I don't read them all - in fact I hardly read any (hangs head in shame!) I suppose I sort of have my own... I first posted here on this board in September 2005. I was a newbie and I was saying hello. Feeling rather scared and not knowing what reaction I might have. I raised an issue and I got lots of helpful comments. Six months later I posted an update on where I was. Yesterday I posted another update. Mine isn't a Debt Diary as such, but reading it back yesterday I was moved to tears by some of the kindness extended to me. I don't want my 'thread' to become a big debt diary, but I want it to remind me, when I'm feeling low, or that things look bleak, that I have come really far, and I should be proud of myself.

Maybe we could move to a compromise - this issue has been raised many times! Maybe we could 'self regulate' and start (and amend) Debt Diary threads with the words

DEBT DIARY: then the title...

Least then anyone scanning the DFW board can choose whether to read that thread or not? I'll do it now with mine. Just a suggestion....

FF