Squeaky! (merged with Q and A)

squeaky

Listen hon, you're doing fine

Threads drift a little but usually get back on track all on their own. Sometimes they get a little nudge And yes, I'm one of the chatty ones too

The only place I've felt the need to be quite firm is the coffee shop, and a couple of posts up is my explanation as to why. There ain't nuthun' wrong pet. Honest

Curry_Queen

moggins wrote:

I think the trouble is that first we were given the Coffee Shop to take our gossip off the main board and now we're being told that when we post in the Coffee Shop we have to make it relevant to old style so we still have nowhere to sit and gas bag

That's exactly it moggins :T

I quickly became very confused over what was allowed to be discussed in there, so much so I vetoed the place for many days as I was worried about being told off


My understanding was that it would be like a Coffee Shop where we could gather for a natter, similar to the Arms, but amongst familiar faces that frequent this board. I know I was terrified about stepping foot in the Arms originally, and I'm sure many others still are, so this was the ideal place gather for a chat, but then we got told off


I think some clarification is needed all round on the purpose of the Coffee Shop, and I'm also disappointed it was rushed through before hearing everyone's views on it (yet again, something that happened too quickly and appeared within hours of Queenies first suggestion). This board belongs to everyone who posts on it, not just the BG's, and we should all have a say in what we want from it

Murtle

Curry_Queen wrote:

That's exactly it moggins :T


My understanding was that it would be like a Coffee Shop where we could gather for a natter, similar to the Arms, but amongst familiar faces that frequent this board. I know I was terrified about stepping foot in the Arms originally, and I'm sure many others still are, so this was the ideal place gather for a chat, but then we got told off


I think some clarification is needed all round on the purpose of the Coffee Shop, and I'm also disappointed it was rushed through before hearing everyone's views on it (yet again, something that happened too quickly and appeared within hours of Queenies first suggestion). This board belongs to everyone who posts on it, not just the BG's, and we should all have a say in what we want from it

I agree, when I read Queenies initial request for a chatty place, I thought it was for a sub-forum within money saving oldstyle like the health one on the other board....so was surprised when the coffee shop thread opened....and likewise reading the reprimands in there when it first opened, I've not been back!! I think a sub-forum would work better then the current thread as that it just loooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggg

Magentasue

I haven't checked the coffee shop thread because I don't have time, real life has to feature somewhere.

I just check the topics that I am interested in and if they're off topic or too chatty I move on to the next one. And if I'm the one posting off topic, I assume others will do the same. Sooner or later (more often sooner) someone posts something totally relevant and it's all back on track.

What I feel uncomfortable with, is the way threads are deleted or locked or people are 'told off' for posting the wrong thing or whatever. I haven't noticed this on other boards (might be because I don't check them so often) and although I'm sure it's done with good reason but I feel sorry for the person at the end of it. When I read their next post saying they're upset, I want to shout out 'It's alright, I didn't mind!'

squeaky

The Coffee Shop was opened as an experiment to try to avoid needing a forum split between having a forum for "Informative Old Style" threads and a sub forum for "Chatty Old Style" threads.

Note - Old Style in both titles.

Reasonably free and open chatty discussion bearing on Old Style topics is what it was set up for - not to be a chat area that was simply an Old Style version of The Arms.

Curry_Queen

Maybe it's just me struggling to understand the difference between OS "chat" and what goes on normally in the threads anyway

I can see your point in wanting to separate out the two, but where do you define what's "chatty" or not, and if we shoot off to the Coffee Shop thread to discuss something in a chatty way pertaining to one of the other threads, how does anyone else following that thread know and keep up?

As mentioned before, some people just don't have the time to read every thread ... yes I know I do as do some others, but that's cos we don't have a life outside of MSE :rotfl:

I think we also need to consider the people who "dip in and out" of the site, but then those are the ones that are perhaps complaining about some of the "chattier" posts as they don't have time to read them


*BIG SIGH* ............... how can we please everyone

spendaholic

I thought the coffee shop thread was started as an experiment because we couldn't just "order" a sub-forum. But it was my belief also that we went there to get slightly more chatty about Old Style hints and tips, etc. There are some who just come in "have a cake", and wander off out again - rather like wandering into the Arms and talking about nothing in particular, and I have to admit as much of that content is so off topic I don't go in there very often. Our board guides come across as quite friendly and I don't think their "reprimands" are really as "stern" as they sound. I just see them as a gentle nudge or reminder and think people should try not to take it personal - and they call ME Paranoid of the North! - and quietly do as requested, unless they genuinely believe they're being treated unfairly. This is voluntarily run, after all.

moggins

But the trouble is we are old style otherwise we wouldn't be here. And to some of us 'old style' means that kind of over the fence gossip that doesn't happen elsewhere. The rest of the site is great and when I need advice on a particular subject I go there but I feel my 'life' fits in here, and I honestly thought the Coffee Shop thread was going to be a place for everyday, where did you get that bargain?, what's for tea?, my life is going down the pan! bits of daily info that don't warrant a brand new thread to themselves.

It is a shame that this wasn't spelt out right at the beginning so we didn't end up having the same discussion that we had two weeks ago and which brought about the Coffee Shop thread.

Even Martin admits that we Old Stylers are 'different', that he likes the flavour of this board, maybe it is time we took it to the 'top' and asked for a sub-forum?

Murtle

If people can't post chatty posts in threads, then maybe a forum split is the answer. As Martin has said before, he likes the different way of the moneysaving oldstyle forum, and by taking away the chattiness removes much of what makes this board the way it is. The arms has completely random chattings (they make me laugh and can keep me entertained)...but often the chatting in old style is a lot more indepth...I personally like the chatty responses to most of the threads, they usually give a real life perspective on tips or receipes etc. I guess we are all adults on here, and I think it would be nicer not to have people 'told off' on the boards...it makes me feel like a naughty school girl and not want to post!! That's my opinion.

....and I am grateful for the work the BG's do.

Edinburghlass_2

As a Board Guide on the aforementioned Phone Board, I can tell you if Abcons came in and deleted posts there for being chatty I would be the one complaining

Chatty posts happen on all boards and what a good thing that is, where would half of the Debt Free Wannabes be without the friendly **hugs** that help them on their way.

I also suggested when there was talk of a sub-forum that perhaps a chatty thread could be incorporated in Old Style but I certainly didn't envisage that there would be an agenda of what was allowed or disallowed.

As board guide for Silver Savers, it is felt that something needs to be done to gee it up as our SS's don't feel knitting and Saga holidays are a major part of their agenda. :rolleyes: I suggested an Internet Cafe and and topics suggested have included the next Elton John concert

However, it has to be remembered that Old Style is just one small part of MSE and everyone should be welcome, and is, on every board.