The Forum is getting a new look

GingerTim

Please ban emojis!

KajiKita

GingerTim said:

Please ban emojis!

Why? I’m genuinely interested.

KK

cathybird

KeithP said:

oceandreamer said:

Can I just ask that the cutting down/giving up alcohol thread is considered when changes are made.

Whilst I understand the problem you mention is a very real one, is it a moneysaving issue?

We totted up some rough numbers at one point and worked out that over the 15 years that the challenge has been running, those who had taken part in it had collectively saved something in the region of half a million pounds. So in addition to the vital help it offers from a health point of view, yes, it is a money-saving thread.

cathybird

beanielou said:

Let's just wait & see what the changes mean.
No need to be negative before the changes happen.

Beanie, it's less a matter of being negative, more a matter of flagging up that the last update caused a lot of issues and trying to head those off at the pass before they happen again.

GingerTim

KajiKita said:

GingerTim said:

Please ban emojis!

Why? I’m genuinely interested.

KK

That was posted only slightly tongue-in-cheek, but I genuinely think they clutter up the forums and don't serve a useful purpose. I realise I'm likely in the minority here, though!

Pollycat

beanielou said:

Let's just wait & see what the changes mean.
No need to be negative before the changes happen.

I think there is a need to be 'negative' before the changes happen.
Any perceived negativity is based on what happened last time.
If the last upgrade had worked, there wouldn't be so many 'negative' comments.
I'm sure we all hope that this time will go more smoothly.
And if it does go ok, the next upgrade will be met with more 'positive' comments.

Wanna_Bee_Free

Please can any changes keep Cathybird's lovely thread and her emojis on the Money-saving Cutting Down Alcohol Thread. This has been a positive and motivating force for many of us which In Search of Me started back in 2008 and it is one of the loveliest places on the internet.

Last time there were 'improvements' it stopped our emojis which are the foundation of our little thread. I hope GingerTim will grant an exception given they serve an extremely useful service for us. Basically an addictive star chart for grown ups to keep us motivated!

KajiKita

GingerTim said:

KajiKita said:

GingerTim said:

Please ban emojis!

Why? I’m genuinely interested.

KK

That was posted only slightly tongue-in-cheek, but I genuinely think they clutter up the forums and don't serve a useful purpose. I realise I'm likely in the minority here, though!

Hi GingerTim, thank you for responding. 

Forgive me, but in the nicest possible way, I disagree with you 😊 Emojis allow expression of emotion and response in a succinct and clearly understood way. Some of us, including myself, are very visually driven and emojis are a useful hook / clue to the emotions of the writer. I also think they make the forum less intimidating. When I first started here I was quite nervous (bear in mind that I am a middle manager in a large organisation and wasn’t in too bad a financial or emotional space when I started here, so I would imagine I was reasonably confident coming in here) and emojis served to make the space more friendly and open, less formal. I would imagine for those who are really in significant difficulties, emojis would carry even greater emotional security to offset the shame, anxiety and ‘feeling stupid’ that many people arrive here with. 

I apologise for the visual ‘clutter’ they create for you 😉 but if you see them as being the equivalent of a ‘cosy cup of tea and a friendly biscuit’ for those less confident with direct data and numbers etc who come here, hopefully they will be slightly less annoying for you? 😊

KK

prowla

cathybird said:

beanielou said:

Let's just wait & see what the changes mean.
No need to be negative before the changes happen.

Beanie, it's less a matter of being negative, more a matter of flagging up that the last update caused a lot of issues and trying to head those off at the pass before they happen again.

Pollycat said:

beanielou said:

Let's just wait & see what the changes mean.
No need to be negative before the changes happen.

I think there is a need to be 'negative' before the changes happen.
Any perceived negativity is based on what happened last time.
If the last upgrade had worked, there wouldn't be so many 'negative' comments.
I'm sure we all hope that this time will go more smoothly.
And if it does go ok, the next upgrade will be met with more 'positive' comments.

Precisely - if nobody is aware of the issues (or requirements!), then how can they deliver the product?

The point I've made is that:

1. the function of the forum is for people to read and post comments, so
2. the forum should give priority to (or at least equal real-estate to!) that content.

Anything which doesn't is deficient:

• the last update seemed to treat the content as incidental,
• my current page has more dead space than content.

Hoping for an improvement! :-)

GingerTim

KajiKita said:

GingerTim said:

KajiKita said:

GingerTim said:

Please ban emojis!

Why? I’m genuinely interested.

KK

That was posted only slightly tongue-in-cheek, but I genuinely think they clutter up the forums and don't serve a useful purpose. I realise I'm likely in the minority here, though!

Hi GingerTim, thank you for responding. 

Forgive me, but in the nicest possible way, I disagree with you 😊 Emojis allow expression of emotion and response in a succinct and clearly understood way. Some of us, including myself, are very visually driven and emojis are a useful hook / clue to the emotions of the writer. I also think they make the forum less intimidating. When I first started here I was quite nervous (bear in mind that I am a middle manager in a large organisation and wasn’t in too bad a financial or emotional space when I started here, so I would imagine I was reasonably confident coming in here) and emojis served to make the space more friendly and open, less formal. I would imagine for those who are really in significant difficulties, emojis would carry even greater emotional security to offset the shame, anxiety and ‘feeling stupid’ that many people arrive here with. 

I apologise for the visual ‘clutter’ they create for you 😉 but if you see them as being the equivalent of a ‘cosy cup of tea and a friendly biscuit’ for those less confident with direct data and numbers etc who come here, hopefully they will be slightly less annoying for you? 😊

KK

Not a problem to disagree, and I completely appreciate all your comments. I should probably have added that I'm a miserable so-and-so and that probably accounts for a lot of my view!