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]

I hear you loud and clear Hanna...I have also experienced the same

In such a difficult time (global pandemic) I am tired of seeing 'No Reply' in occasional moderator emails. I do respect the workload that our moderators have yet I dont see any empathy for a persons mental illness

[Hanna3]

I agree Blondguy - I understand their workload but it's distressing when what you have originally said is altered in such a way that it comes across all wrong and there is no way you can explain it or rectify the situation to the person /people it was directed to. 😗

[Guest_1643]

are threads sometimes deleted without any warning to the users of the thread?

i may be losing it but i have noticed a thread i used fairly recently which had a lot of discussions is no longer there (it says its an old an expired link....)

im confused. wouldnt we be told if a thread was being deleted, and isnt the policy generally to simply close the thread (with an explanation why?) so future users can at least see it and see the discussions, rather than wipe the whole thread from existence? If something like this is done, i think it sits better with me that i receive a reason why. Generally it's much bettr to be included in the process and given as much info as possible, in the name of transparency for all users.

[Guest_1643]

please can i ask where is the vent and let it go thread?

what happened to it? thanks, sleepy.

[Lillylane]

Hi Sleepy,

I searched for that same thread too and couldn’t find it. I thought maybe I wasn’t entering the right key words or something.

Good to know it wasn’t just me wondering the same thing.

LL

[Guest_1643]

hi LL - thanks for that - the link doesn't work for me.

I think i'm surprised because i always appreciated that BB did that, when they closed threads they left a message about why they were doing so, which i really respected.

I'm worried and confused that its not there.... just wanting to know why?

[blondguy]

Hey Sleepy & Lillylane

If you have posted on 'vent and let it go' it will be in your 'my threads' section

I remember the thread and it hasnt gone away....its too recent

Have a good week 🙂

Paul

[Sophie_M]

Hi Sleepy21, 

We're really glad you flagged this, the Vent and Let it go... thread was accidentally hidden and now has been reinstated. This was not due to any content or moderation issues, it was purely in error. We rarely remove threads, and never do so without explanation. Should you ever wish to query a moderation decision, please get in touch with us privately via email and we will respond on the next business day. 

Thank you to everyone on this thread who flagged the error. We apologise for the inconvenience and distress caused. It's a really good thread and we really appreciate everyone's contribution to it! 

Kind regards,  

Sophie M 

[Hanna3]

It can have a very upsetting impact on someone when they have posted something very difficult to talk about and their post is deleted because it somehow has a reference to the moderators and the only notification is a no reply email.

Why can't people pleasantly be offered the chance to re-word it?

The no reply emails come across very abrupt and quite frankly, rude.

[Sophie_M]

Hey Hanna3,

Thank you for your comment. We acknowledge that receiving a 'no-reply' email can feel quite cold or distant. Other members have also shared this sentiment.

We'd just like to inform the community that when a moderator sends an email its default setting will be 'no-reply'. Typically, a moderator will manually change the "from" address to "modsupport@beyondblue.org.au" when a user requires immediate support. 

If anyone has a query or complaint about a moderation decision, please feel free to contact us via modsupport@beyondblue.org at any time (even if the message has come from a 'no-reply' email).