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?

[geoff]

Hello All, missed posts is something I've also been frustrated about and can happen if there is a glitch in the forums because your second reply is never the same as the first and even if you click on 'history' your reply that has gone swimming elsewhere doesn't appear, I realise that's not necessarily B's fault, but somehow they should be saved elsewhere.

The Character limit has always been a concern because once you open a thread and it's got what appears to be 3 pages of comments, turns people away, so my idea is to have a short introduction, then they can have a 3 page reply.

Hi Rt, I'm pleased to hear your comments, I just wonder whether Champions have been told this, whereas others haven't or am I behind the ape ball here.

Thanks.

Geoff.

[blondguy]

Hi Geoff

its great to see you again...I havent been online for a while..I hope you are doing well

Just a polite note...RT is a Champion ...You arent behind the 'eight' ball at all. The previous community forum manager did an excellent job with interviewing various tech companies. The new forum platform was expected to be rolled out in early 2019. Unfortunately the reasons why this didnt occur werent communicated to the Champions at the time

my kind thoughts

Paul

[geoff]

Hello Paul, yes we have missed you on the forums and are pleased to have you back.

We do hope after all these promises that the new forum does happen, as I've heard this many times over the past years, but nothing actually happens.

Take care.

Geoff.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi,

Oh gosh I can't keep up with the replies! Please tag me if you want me to reply otherwise I might miss something important. I'm really glad everything has been helpful so far 🙂

Quirky I will have to look up the old fable.

- Missed posts: I hear you. In the system we plan to have a way to filter posts that have been new and unanswered, as so far it kind of relies on our community to jump in. Sometimes when I go on the forums I'll go page by page to see what only hasn't had any replies. This is a real pet peeve of mine but I'm super optimistic that this is one of those big issues that won't happen in the future.

- Medications: This is great feedback, love it. Yes, we can talk in detail about side effects so long as it's not dosage specific. I went up 10mg and got diarrhoea is not ok, I increased my dose and got explosive diarrhoea is a-ok. I completely agree with you re taking medication. My only worry would be for people who make changes in their medications without telling their care team, like "I have diarrhoea, I hate it, so I'm just going to bin the rest". Excuse my poop references 😉

- Follow/Unfollow: This is something on my wishlist too. I have threads pop up I contributed to once or twice and the conversation has gone on without me. I know sharing this isn't helpful, but hopefully it is helpful to know that this is something I'm really pushing for. I hope that you are being kind to yourself in the meantime! We don't want anyone here to ever feel obliged to reply even though I totally get it.

rt

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Geoff and Paul,

Wanted to reply to you both directly, and thanks Paul for jumping in to clarify as well.

Geoff- To answer your question, both! A lot of these questions and suggestions have come up earlier in this thread as well as throughout parts of the forums and BB has jumped into clarify. The other part of this is general conversations that I've had as a CC.

For me, I'm nosy- so it's important for me to understand the rules so it's not just no and no. I also think if I can understand them I can talk here about the why.

Paul- ah, we've been way too patient for these forums! I know we've both had long wishlists so I'm advocating and pushing and listening. (Not in that order! 🙂

rt

[quirkywords]

Paul welcome back.

I know that many members answer first time posters. And am very grateful. I only mentione champions because this discussion has been about beyond blue and how it can improve.
it is wonderful that so many members including life members , and recent members and member who have been members for a while, contribute so much to the forums and communicate with so many on the forums.

I am sorry if my post gave the wrong impression. I was answering Katy’s post about how more new posts can be answered .

Thanks best wishes

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Thanks everyone for a great discussion.

I want to echo EM’s concerns about triggering threads/thread contents. Sometimes triggers are more easily managed, some days not. I’d love an “unfollow” for that reason alone.

Good to see you here Paul. Hope you’re going ok.

Katy

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Forgot to thank you for your reply, Quirky!

cheers 🙂

[Guest_1643]

hi rt,

amazing response and clarifying. helpful to us here trying to understand

so some ideas that have gained traction are

1) ND board

2) being able to follow and unfollow threads to help us manage our mental health on here

3) more specific info on what it is or is not okay to use here - eg swearing, how to talk about meds, etc.

I liked ur examples on this rt.
I like how ppl here are open to hearing this input and validating the suggestions.

[geoff]

Hello Rt, I quite agree ' ah, we've been way too patient for these forums', time after time we're always being told 'it's going to happen', yet year after year and nothing happens, guarantees are not honoured, we deserve to be given an exact date, give or two a couple of days.

As I've said I've heard promise after promise, could some action begin, please.

Geoff.