How can we improve the forums? Your suggestions and comments please

[Chris_B]

Hi all, this thread is a running commentary for all members on things for improvements to the forums. This can be anything from how it looks, the categories, to moderation, community rules etc.

While we might not be able to implement everything straightaway, or keep everyone happy all of the time, we'd like to hear about what you think we can do better.

This is not a thread for discussing the moderation or editing of individual posts - if you have questions about this please contact the team offline via email modsupport@beyondblue.org.au

To avoid repeating suggestions already received, below are some results from our last user survey giving an indication of which new features people would like to see on the forums. This survey was answered by 1,597 users:

44% - Email notification when I have a reply on the forum
39% - Access to the forums via an app
27% - Ability to block seeing posts by specific users
25% - Ability to contact users privately
25% - Ability to use emoticons
25% - Ability to follow posts by specific users
24% - Ability to share links
23% - Forum posts visible only to registered users
22% - A profile, viewable by others users, where I can introduce myself
21% - Ability to quickly access all posts by a particular user
15% - Ability to tag users in a conversation
10% - Ability to share images
6% - Ability to share videos
17% - None of these

Update July 2022 - This discussion has now been closed. Please go to the updated version below to share feedback and follow our updates:

How can we improve the Forums?

[Mudcakes]

Can I please ask what one personal thread means as there are different sub forums etc... what if I have things related to the different sub forums. Like anxiety, lgbt, friendships, grief etc? You mean one per section? Or one post at all and it must be one section and you can’t do a thread anywhere else? Sorry I’m new here and just learning.💕

[Sophie_M]

Hey Mudcakes, 

Welcome to the forums, and thank you for your excellent question! We do encourage members to try and stick to one thread for similar issues, rather than starting new ones frequently, as it can be really difficult for the community to keep up with your story if you have a lot of threads going at once. You may also find yourself having to repeat information if parts of your story are spread across the forum, and sometimes other members offering support will also be repeating themselves if it's an issue you've had previously. There's also great benefit in seeing how someone's story evolves over time, and it can often be really helpful to scroll back and see how you've coped previously during difficult times. We know that it can also be really difficult choosing a sub-forum to share your journey when it may cover many different topics, but we'd encourage you to try and choose the most relevant one that you feel best fits your experience. 

[Mudcakes]

Many of my experiences involve many different topics such as lgbt, depression/anxiety, friendships etc. And it also says please post relevant to each topic. So I’m kind of confused. For instance if I needed to share a lgbt thing but I used the anxiety section as my personal would I be told to move it to the lgbt section? Sorry I’m just struggling to understand this as I am wondering how this would work as I experience most of the subforms. So you’re saying pick one and stick with it and I can’t ask for advice on another topic because it’s not relevant to that forum? Sorry I’m just confused.😕

[Sophie_M]

Hi again Mudcakes,

We do understand that personal experiences are not limited to just one topic, which is why you would never be limited to speaking about your experiences related to anxiety/depression, friendships, lgbt on the same thread. We would only move threads like these to different areas if they may be triggering for some members to read (for example, if discussion relates to PTSD/Trauma or Suicidal Thoughts and Self-Harm). If you are seeking advice on completely different topics, then we would also allow more than one thread in instances like these. 

[Mudcakes]

Thank you so much! 💖

[geoff]

What seems to be happening, sometimes in the early morning is that a reply you've just made isn't listed on the top of the page, not that I necessarily want this, but it's listed well after someone's comment about an hour ago and 4 or 5 down from the top.

I only say this because the person who posted their new thread would expect it to be on the top, rather than halfway down the page.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone.

if you report a post, will the person who's post was reported know? Will they get an email saying their post was reported, why, etc? And will the person know who reported the post?

[Sophie_M]

Hi Mb20lover,

If you report a post, the other user will not receive any notification that their post has been reported. However, the user will be provided with an email outlining why their post has been removed, edited etc if moderation has chosen to act on the report.  Hope that helps!

[Guest_4643]

Thanks Sophie, so they won't know who reported it?

[Sophie_M]

Yes, that's correct Mb20lover 🙂