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?

[blondguy]

Thanks Mark, Geoff and moderators for the TLC x

[ecomama]

Hugs Paul, my sincere condolences for the passing of your dear companion. That's a beautiful photo. More hugs.
Love EMxxxx

Thankyou for posting that link Sophie_M.
Love EMxxxx

[quirkywords]

Sorry Paul for your loss.
This must be a hard time and sometimes words are not enough.

[blondguy]

Hey EM & Quirky

Thankyou for your kindness...I miss Prince so much...its physically painful

Bear Hugs and heartfelt appreciation...Paul

[Hanna3]

Did you lose your beloved dog Paul? I am so sorry. My little guy Sam is ten years old this month and I honestly don't know what I would do without him (this is Sam in the pic). Deepest sympathies from a fellow dog lover - losing our furry mates is the worst. They leave such a huge dog hole in our hearts don't they? That's a lovely photograph - what a beautiful dog. Sending you hugs.

[blondguy]

Thankyou Hanna...you (and Sam) understand and thankyou so much...I was just about to write a new thread about Prince

We have chatted before many times Hanna...Its always a bonus to read your kind posts...Hugs x Paul

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Hey Paul,

Very sorry to hear about Prince. I know how dear he is to you, and I understand how devastating it is to be parted from your best friend. My birds are my world and just the thought of ever not having them near is horrifying. Always here to listen if you need, I know well how deep the connection is with an animal - they are always a joy and a constant comfort in their beautiful innocence. Hugs to you.

Blue.

[Guest9337]

I have participated in lots of forums over the years since forums came into existence.

bb forums are pretty good.

I'd like opportunity to post up images, perhaps not site wide, but somewhere would be good. I think images can be really uplifting and fun. We have a joke thread on another forum that provides me at least one smile/laugh a day through funny images, something like that might work on bb.

Right now bb forums are entirely walls of text, high quality text no doubt, but still all text.

[Guest_1643]

hi david n goliath, thats great suggestion - i haven't used other forums, do they have more rules? glad to hear the BB forum compares well! It is so helpful talking to ppl who understand.
I don't know if other forums address PTSD but I'm quite grateful for the PTSD section here. Think it's good also that theres special areas for diff concerns. It helps if u are feeling vulnerable than u can avoid those sections and stick to the others.

[Guest9337]

G'day Sleepy21, forums vary widely in their rules. From complete anarchy to highly moderated.

One forum I frequent denies discussion of politics or religion and also denies open discussion of moderation decisions. I contacted the site owner privately and presented an argument for permitting open discussion about those topics and he replied "You should have just let it go." and permanently banned my account.

A few years later I rejoined under a new ip address and username, as I still like that forums main topics and have internally agreed to disagree and exclude posting about such things. Some conflicts can't be won, or aren't worth the effort. But that gentleman/site owner is in my black book.

bb is the only forum I've sought out for support re health. Are there any others?

I too like the differentiated areas here on bb.