A sadness that so many OS stalwarts aren't here now isn't it?

[Deleted User]

These OS threads are looking so sparse since the new format came into being and I can't be the only one missing our friends like JackieO who has given up posting and many others who were the backbone of the OS ethos.  Who else is missing? It's such a pity as they are the holders of knowledge and sensible views that are priceless in these days of uncertainty after Brexit and before the possible Coronavirus outbreak.  I wish we could turn the forum back to how it was don't you?

joedenise

Absolutely agree with you MrsLucherwalker.  JackieO will be sadly missed, she was certainly very knowledgeable.

Don't think anyone likes the new format.  I'm finding it much more difficult to navigate that it used to be.

ConstantKathyPatient38

I really only read OS, and catch up with one person on Debt Free Diaries.   I believe I'm right in thinking OS has the most contributors/readers of all the boards.  Surely the experiences/needs of the most active readers and contributors (or of those who have recently stopped contributing) should count for something?  No need to throw the baby out with the bathwater!

tooldle

Maybe people are just busy? I know i’ve not been reading much these last few weeks, just because i am busy.The new format works well on my ipad, so no desire here to go backwards. 

[Deleted User]

Just a desire to keep in touch with old friends of long standing because I miss the companionship and shared years we've had in the OS forums.  I don't think turning things back would get them posting again, I think many may have gone from the feeling of being 'of no importance' to the MSE set up and having their pleas and opinions completely ignored and no response to any questions asked before the changes.  We have what we have, I don't mind it and am getting along reasonably well with a little coaching from tech savvy friends but I miss all the old familiar people and the banter and general support that typified Old Style.

tooldle

Change is not for everyone i guess. Some people are reporting problems with remembering their email address. It is half term here and things are generally very quiet. As you say, it is what it is. It’s a free forum and therefore a lack of consultation is not particularly surprising

Gers

 Yes, we are missing a few 'ken't faces' though I suspect that the problem may be logging back in again.  Even though I did everything correctly I couldn't get in for four days.

As for the site, yes, it's different and some things look 'wrong', however it's just an online forum.  As we learnt our way around the old site I'm sure that it can be managed again. 

I miss the old faces so am sad that they are gone.

greenbee

tooldle said:

Maybe people are just busy? I know i’ve not been reading much these last few weeks, just because i am busy.The new format works well on my ipad, so no desire here to go backwards. 

I like it too, and some of the new features are handy. At the end of the day, the old forum was well past the end of it's life and needed to be moved. It was a major undertaking, and while there were a lot of problems that could have been dealt with by further testing, it was a massive project and they probably had a deadline for turning off the old one. Lots of issues have now been resolved, and other things have become clear through trial and error (and the efforts of helpful people sharing their solutions, particularly on the site feedback board). 
Unfortunately digital technology has lifecycles as short as 18-months-3 years, so we're in an era of constant change. Maybe it would have been better if we hadn't been allowed to get so comfortable.

Many of the problems with emails getting through are down to the email service providers (there's apparently been a particular issue with BT), but in many cases people had ignored the notices that had been up on the old forum for weeks asking them to check that the email address on record was for their current email address (or had somehow read it as saying they needed to change their password not their address!). It's probably a good reminder that you should update your email addresses when changing provider and have a decent overlap period as I'm sure this isn't the only service that people will have lost access to over time. 

Hopefully after a few weeks everyone will be comfortable with the new forum - glitches will be fixed (although I suspect that compatibility with some older operating systems and browsers may not be possible to achieve), solutions will be found for features that were available in the old software but aren't in the new one, accessibility issues for people with disabilities will have been resolved (probably the most important issue in my view, although I'm not affected), and we'll all have worked out how the new features work and got comfortable with them. The more we use them the easier it'll get

pollyanna_26

Lyn Part of the problem may be the storms. Storm Ciara took my internet out. Dennis the menace meant I wasn't able to post from Thursday night finally got the internet back a couple of hours ago and was replying to important emails.

I'll miss Jackie and those who feel they can't post again but we have others who've learned the OS way such as our dear Fuds from those posters and others who are still here.

I used to post quite happily on the Green but started to find it a bit cramped so although I still had the option to read and post on there I started readiing on the blue and logging in to reply on the green. I know many people disagree but I like this blue and white.

I'll never forget Jackie, Kittie and so many others including dear Squeaky and Pink and others no longer with us.

The only problems I've had are finding myself locked out after posting on the first day the forum went live. Finally got back with the new password I used then and am never logging out again!

I keep noticing various glitches have been fixed so things are being sorted.

pollyx

[Deleted User]

I don't have any problem with the new look or set out of the forum, I don't find the colours difficult and am managing to find my way round the threads quite nicely it's just the people I miss.  I know posters come and go and come back or have to be a new username because the old one isn't recognised, that's all part of forum life it's just a feeling of sadness because some good friends have left the OS family because they for one reason or another aren't any longer comfortable with things here online.  Change always brings reconsiderations and changes in the order of things but I miss some of my old pals, there are gaps in life which I'm not used to yet.

unrecordings

I'm trying to minimise screentime, and my peripheral neuropathy is getting worse, as is short term memory loss, so typing just isn't so easy anymore. As my mobility improves I'm concentrating more on getting out in the garden. Maybe a little lurking on rainy days...