topic Re: I'm starting a new discussion in Forums feedback and updates

I'm starting a new discussion

Doolhof — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 21:42:13 GMT

I'm starting a new discussion because I am feeling totally lost with this new set up.

I can' locate any of the old threads I used to feel comfort in reading and occasionally contributing to.

I don't feel at all welcome in this new set up, far from it, I feel more disconnected than ever while at the same time people can see everything I have ever written, but I am having trouble contacting others!

To anyone else who feels a little confused and unwelcome, I totally understand!

I am disorientated and hope to feel more orientated somehow!

I receive notifications, but when I click on them, I can't even find the notification.

The Newest to Oldest option doesn't seem to work.

I have commented on a couple pf other posts about my struggles with the new set up...but can't find those posts anywhere!

It seems to me that if I start up this new discussion, then I should be able to find it under my own profile?

Maybe I will just chat with myslef here for a while until I either figure this new system out of give up!

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

mmMekitty — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 22:56:28 GMT

Hello Doolhof, 😺Great to see you.

I'm so sorry you are finding this new set up so difficult. I've been wandering around, & seeing many people are struggling with it, & I do doo.

I'm not surre if instructions I give will help if you are coming to BB via your phone or tablet. I'm using my old PC, with my screen looking very dark & the writing is white. That's just more comfortable for me, but it makes some things look different & hard to find. Thing like the NOtifications button, up near th search magnifying glass shape. It looks to me like a unfilled circle but I think it's supposed to be a bell shape. That's my eyes.

When I have found a Disccussion/thread, & I want to see in there or in my profile page, someone has responded, I am using the 'Options' at the top of the page, & I 'Follow' it it. Trouble is what I find in the Notifications or in mMy Profile doesn't really tell me clearly who & when posted to any of the Discussions I have Followed.

Being able to click on someone's name near their profile picture, wherever you spot it within a Discussion, is a problem for people who don't want others to be able to see everything they have ever written here. It does allow for us to find where to find you, though. I cn't remember everywhere I've seen you, even lately. That's 'cause of my memory getting so bad. I realised I felt like I was snooping, as if into someone's private room. I've suggested that people ought to be able to choose whether or not to allow anyone to see all those listed Threads of old for this reason.

I've been wanting to find you, so I was happy to discover this Discussion this morning, under, 'All Posts', near the big logo. Other brand new Discussions ts can be found there.

Who are you looking for? Maybe I can help locate them, & put up a link here. Or I could tell you, click here, here, & here, in the order to take you to them, hopefully in a Discussion you were talking to them in. If you know the title of any Discussion, tht ould help.

I would like to see you around more again.

Let's see if we cab work some of the problems out.😺

Warnly💖💖💖

mmMekitty

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Summer Rose — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 03:28:16 GMT

Hi Dools

Great idea with this thread.

I feel a lot like you at present. I’m sort of watching what’s going on, pressing buttons and trying to piece it all together! It just makes me feel old!!!

I can’t offer you much help with the new system, I’m struggling at present. But I can let you know that I care about you and wish that things weren’t so hard for you. Also, I really encourage you to email bb with your privacy concerns. I’ve done so and know they want to help people.

At the moment I get notifications sometimes, so if you don’t hear from me again it’s because I can’t find you.

Kind thoughts to you

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Doolhof — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 08:16:01 GMT

Hi Summer Rose,

Thanks for dropping by. I feel like a total idiot trying to navigate this new forum!

Why is it so hard to find discussions that you have not started yourself, ones that you used to be connected to?

Apart from trying to navigate this new system yourself, how are you travelling?

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Doolhof — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 08:25:15 GMT

Hi Kitty,

Thanks. I'm afraid it is hard to navigate something you just don't understand. I will try the "Follow" thing and see what happens.

Due to past experiences with trying to study online with very basic computer skills, no help available, angry people telling me to hurry up and hand in assignments, and threats of having Centrelink funds stopped, anything to do with learning new computer programs and skills sometimes causes severe anxiety!

I had to do some online training for work to do at home and totally lost it!

I didn't find the BB video very helpful and don't know where to access it again!

Part of me feels like this service is only for the tech savvy now.

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

ecomama — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 08:27:24 GMT

Hey Dools, I'm so glad you found another way to stay with the forums here. Yes I'm finding it confusing and frustrating at times too. Know you're not alone!
My own thread show up in "Your discussions" but any other people's I write in, even I press "Follow", don't turn up anywhere special.

I was able to use the "search" button to find Blues Clues Thread on Minimalism because I remembered a word or close word in the title.

How are you doing?
It's been very cold here and oh so much rain! So many flooding events here this year. If I hadn't loved through them, I wouldn't believe it myself lol.

Are you still working?
Have you been doing any craft projects lately?

Talk soon!
Love EM

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Beaser — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 08:38:46 GMT

HI I totally understand how you feel. The thing that i dont understand is what was wrong with the old forums and why did it need to change. Beaser.

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

james1 — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 09:04:48 GMT

Hello Dools,

The change has definitely been a big one and you aren't alone in this.

What I've started doing is I click "Follow Post" on the first thread of every thread I want to keep track of. This means that whenever I want to check in on a thread, all I need to do is I click my own name and it shows me the ones I have followed. It's not the same as before, but it's one way I keep track of which ones I've replied to.

Hope you are doing well otherwise! I know the BB team really do care about everyone here, and hopefully it will not take too long for the experience to become more positive.

James

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Summer Rose — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 12:36:20 GMT

Hi Dools

I’m feeling better now that I found you! I thought I’d set notifications but don’t get them. I suspect I’ve done something wrong, which is not surprising. Should have seen me when I got a new TV remote control! Took weeks to master it!!
I just keep saying to myself “give it time” and keep plodding along.

You take care.

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

mmMekitty — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 14:24:36 GMT

Hello Doolhof, & to James1, Summer Rose, EM, Beaser,

James1 has a good idea there.

What I have done to find this Discussion of yours again was to click on my own little picture up there, near the top right corner, & I then see where to clidk 'Profile' & there is a list showing Discussions I've posted & Followed,(under Options), & there was your Discussion.

My problem ws that I hadn't remembered what you'd called it, but upon seening the name again, I remembered it is yours. It would be better if the author of the Discussion could be mentioned there, too. This 'Re: ..." business doesn't help at all. But I know how to find this list again now.

It's funny, I was thinking the exact thing about this site being better suited for computer savvy people now.

I din't find the video helpful, because I can't see it. I need clear step-by-step instructions - not making any assumptions I know anything. I'm forgetting too much now, & it may get worse, eh?

Seems i had a lot of anxiety about learning computer stuff, & it was most difficult when someone was trying to show me, & have me do in front of them. I plug away, experimenting around the site, getting really confused at times, because I keep forgetting where I just was, or who I ws talking to, where posts were located, all of it lately. It's like my mind is really slippery

I thought some additions to the old, but not so many changes to how things are achieved. I'd have been happy with a few more options & features, like the auto-save while I'm typing, (if my PC would stop announcing the auto-save when it updates.).

I find it easier to offer a link to a Discussion - only my own, unless I'm doing for someone else.

I'm fine with people seeing the Discussions I've made, or the list of Discussions I've posted to. There is little else there to see. I say I'm okay with it now, but who knows how I will feel after a few years of posting? I think I will still be okay, because part of my journey has been about owning my thoughts & feelings.

I'm glad some others have found you here, & I hope we will be talking again soon.

Warmly,💖💖💖💖💖

mmMekitty

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

geoff — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 16:13:08 GMT

Hello Dools, you are not alone in feeling this way, I am bemused by what has happened and although the intention was meant to good, we won't be able to get used to them because there are more unhappy members than those who accept this.

When long term volunteers are dissatisfied then something needs to be done.

Geoff.

Life Member.

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Doolhof — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 21:29:08 GMT

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for dropping by. One of my problems is that I don't seem to be able to locate the message Sophie_M sent me with a link to the video showing and explaining some of the changes. Maybe I am missing a simple way of connecting to that, I don't know.

I also know my mental health is fragile right now, so coping with changes and trying to nut this is out is more difficult.

Hope you are managing okay Geoff. Regards to you and kind thoughts, from Dools.

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Doolhof — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 21:36:30 GMT

Hi mmMekitty,

I like your comment about needing clear step by step instructions, as I do too.

At work when I have to do something different on the computer, I have to ask the staff to be patient with me while I write everything down...each little step. They know now not to assume I understand what they are talking about as I don't.

If I have never been shown how am I supposed to know!

I will read your post again and try to follow some of the steps you have mentioned.

Does anyone know if there is a simple step by step written version on how to use the forum and if so how do you find that?

Hope you have a good day .

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Doolhof — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 21:40:11 GMT

Hi Summer Rose,

My mind struggles at times and becomes very overwhelmed. Just going to the supermarket looking for shampoo and conditioner can cause a melt down...to many options can be stressful for a tired mind.

Like mmMekitty mentioned, a set of clear instructions with all the steps would be beneficial to me on how to navigate this new system.

Hope you are doing okay.

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Doolhof — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 21:44:51 GMT

Hi James,

Thanks for the tip about the "Follow Post" option, and also where to find the posts once I have followed them! I have struggled to find any clear and precise examples of how to use the new forum. As I have mentioned in previous posts I don't seem to be able to find the connection to the explanation video anymore.

To be honest, I am struggling with my mental health. Maybe that is a discussion for a different thread...or do we not call them threads anymore?

I'm confused.

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Doolhof — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 21:51:18 GMT

Hi Beaser,

For some people who understand technology, computer systems and who are adaptable, capable and open to change, this new set up may be brilliant!

I'm just wishing there had been clear and precise written information somewhere or maybe a more descriptive video that could have shown the changes more easily.

Maybe I am missing that information? I did see a video but can't find it again.

Hopefully my mind can muddle through. I hope you are able to make some connections and slowly navigate your way around the new forum.

Using the "Follow post" sounds like an option that may work as long as we know where to find the posts we are following!

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

geoff — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 21:52:14 GMT

Hello Dools, I think when people don't know how to use these forums, then of course it's going to affect our mental capacity.

The impact on people wanting to post a comment or reply to someone may have altered considerably, that's what we don't know.

Sure changes needed to be made, but we weren't expecting anything like this and when you spend a quarter of the time helping/responding to people than you usually did before, there is a problem.

Geoff.

Life Member.

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Doolhof — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 22:27:31 GMT

Hi Em,

Thanks for dropping by. If you have a look at James post in this discussion (as I think threads are now being called) you will see that he finds his Follow Post selections when he clicks on his profile ( I think that is what James meant!) He did say when he clicks on his name, not sure where he find his name!

Yes, I can use the search button, I just need to try to remember the names of the old threads I enjoyed reading or connecting with. I have not been on the form frequently so do not remember all the old threads I enjoyed.

As for me, I have found myself working full time in a job I find stressful at times. People seem to think it is okay to yell at me. My skin is getting thicker and unfortunately with part of that I don't try to assist people as much when they are angry now, I just suggest they leave.

I have been crocheting blankets and giving them away. Crochet is familiar. I am going to try a new pattern and bought some yarn on special to make myself a blanket.

Walking and taking photos while out and about calms and soothes my soul. I sometimes send my husband a message after work saying I will be home late, I find a quiet dirt road and go for a walk.

I've not had a Dr support me with my mental health issues for 1 1/2 years now. They state they don't do mental health care. The Drs in our area from different centres are not taking on new patients. If I want to see a new Dr I will have to drive an hour down to the city and see if any centres there take on new people. It can take 9 weeks now to see a Dr in our area!

I'm trying to hang in there the best way I can by myself. Some days I am just exhausted!

The floods are something I can just not comprehend. It is so dry usually in our region. Wishing you all the best.

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Summer Rose — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 01:57:44 GMT

Hi Dools

I hear you about a tired mind and feeling overwhelmed.

I set aside some time this morning to read through various tips on how to use this forum. It’s so wonderful that the tech-savy among us are stepping up to help. But boy did I realise how far behind I am as far as technology goes. I feel like a dinosaur.
With the pressures of work, caring for someone with a MH condition and life in general, I spend most of my life tired and now just feel exhausted facing what I need to learn—never mind doing it! Think that’s my cue to shut down the technology and get out for a walk!

Hope you have a good day and kind thoughts to you

Re: I'm starting a new discussion

Doolhof — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 21:00:33 GMT

Hi Summer Rose and to all reading,

Are you able to share the title of the Discussions/Threads that you have found helpful to explain the new forum set up? One of my problems is people use terms I am not familiar with so I have no idea how to implement what has been suggested! Oh dear! How to start when you don't understand the lingo!

Having a tired and busy mind doesn't always work when trying to learn something new. Good on you for taking time for yourself and going for a walk.

I sometimes walk away from the office at work, even if it is for another trip to the bathroom.

I hope to spend some more time after work on the weekend looking at the forum and trying to nut it out.

Today I am going for a walk after work as I will be in the office by myself...we used to be a team of 4 people!

Thanks for your kind thoughts and best wishes, hoping you have a day you can look back on with a sense of peace and you can recall moments of thankfulness, regards form Dools