 wildflowerchild
member
Reged: 03/06/2007
Posts: 1512
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I'm sure the w&h crew must have noticed that the topic keeps coming up again and again on the 'your lives' that logging on to the forum is not the experience it used to be. when this is raised by members who have posted for a long time, it obviously turns into a big discussion, baring differences between those who have been around to witness the change, and those who feel blamed for it. it is really not doing any of us any good.
it is clear that w&h's decision to use the magazine to heavily promote the benefits of the website contributed to this change, as it dramatically changed the numbers of users, and therefore posts, literally overnight. to limit damage to the very thing we all hold dear, can we perhaps have some leadership and action from the top? some forumers have offered excellent ideas about structure and organisation of the topics. about getting the active topic thing to work. sealover has offered to try to rationalise the supperclub page single-handedly. how anyone can work out what's going on at their local supperclub, I don't know! the problem is, all these efforts are rather limited as it is not really up to us - someone in w&h really needs to take this on board.
the forum is still a wonderful place - most of the time. but shouldn't the recent disappearance of long-established members be giving cause for concern??? come on, let's get this sorted!!! 
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jillinspain
member
Reged: 21/10/2007
Posts: 264
Loc: Southern Spain
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Well said wfc but I'll be surprised if we get any w&h response as apart from the concerns shown about staying safe on the forum they only seem to step in to promote the mag and it's contents/products. Hope I am wrong on this one.
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Sealover
member
Reged: 31/08/2006
Posts: 1271
Loc: Devon
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I do agree with WFC that it would be good if W&H could sort some of these problems out, but really they can't do anything unless those using the forum are willing to do their bit to help the situation. And that will sometimes involve working TOGETHER rather than as a bunch of individuals.
I, like WFC, am one of the longer-established members and I'm really sad to see that so many of those who used to post frequently rarely, or never, post any more. What makes me sad is not so much that I don't have the benefit of their friendship and support (because I can contact them by PM or keep the friendship going by email), but that the new, or newer, forumers don't have the opportunity of getting to know them, nor do they benefit of learning from the new members.
As WFC mentioned, I have offered to try to get a list of Supper Clubs together. I have done this, not because it is of any benefit to me (I can only go to so many outings!) but because I thought it would be something useful for other forumers, especially new ones joining and looking for new friends. My idea was to get a list together and then approach W&H and ask if there was some way that it could be a permanent feature on the forum that could be referred to, rather than having to trawl through endless posts trying to find a supper club to join.
I have posted on several occasions asking for supper club organisers to contact me with details that I could put on this list. I don't know how many supper clubs have been set up, but so far I have received less than ten replies over a period of, maybe, a couple of months. This leaves me feeling that (a)there are fewer supper clubs existing than I thought; or (b)contrary to what has been said several times on the forum, there is no interest in having a list of supper clubs; or (c)there are lots of supper clubs on the go, but no-one from lots of the clubs can be bothered replying to my posts; or (d)perhaps it's me?
I really don't mind in the least if no-one wants me to try to do this list. As I said, there is no benefit to me in having this list. If I'm wasting my time, please tell me - I won't mind as I've got plenty of other things to do!
BUT what does upset me is the fact that, possibly, no-one can be bothered to give me the information I need - and I can't do it on my own.
What I am trying to say is that we need to work TOGETHER to get this forum to work - not just the Supper Clubs, that's only a very, very small part of it. But the whole thing. Unless we do that, we'll just end up having a lot of very unhappy, sad and disillusioned people around, many left feeling lonely and unhappy by the treatment they receive on the forum.
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SusiQ
member
Reged: 03/10/2006
Posts: 2939
Loc: Quarrata, Tuscany, Italy
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wfc as usual has put into words what a lot of us must be thinking, jill unfortunately has probably hit the nail on the head and Sealover's post makes me want to cry as she has offered to do a mammoth task and has basically been ignored, not even a "no thanks we're happy to bumble along as we are" kind of reply.
W&H could you please not only read our posts in this particular forum (one that you have named feedback because presumably you wanted some) and take some active interest.
Thank you (but I'm not holding my breath)
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So long and thanks for all the fish
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TFG
member
Reged: 10/10/2007
Posts: 1083
Loc: Milton Keynes
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I agree with you all- someone in one of the threads I read tonight suggested a topic for jokes and funny's that would be good.
and Sealover yes the Supperclubs thread is a nightmare to say the least if you are new to the site and looking for one. Well done you for putting yourself in the frame for this one.
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Sealover
member
Reged: 31/08/2006
Posts: 1271
Loc: Devon
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Thanks for your support for the supper club list, SusiQ and TFG. I am getting a few more responses - but I'm sure there are still more out there!
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shootingstar
member
Reged: 05/03/2006
Posts: 264
Loc: South Northants
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Hi Sealover,
Thanks for offering to sort out the Supperclub listings.
Chris x
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My lovely picture has gone - new one as soon as I can get Photobucket to behave.
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feathers
member
Reged: 20/05/2007
Posts: 496
Loc: Tyneside
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The forums need a complete overhaul but it seems they can't beb botehred to spend the money on restructuring and management. I have always found them slow and difficult to navigate, primarily because new posts don't take the thread back to the top. For ages I've thought we could do with a list of supperclubs but hadn't seen sealover's post as I don't come on here that often. Have responded now, however, so Newcastle is included.
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carrieb
member
Reged: 07/08/2007
Posts: 1922
Loc: Ireland
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 Well as usual, WFC talks a lot of sense. Please W&H take her ideas on board. 
 Sealover, fair play to you for taking on this task. I will pm you although we only have a very very small afternoon tea gang not a supper club one.
Also I for one would like to thank you for taking on the task of organising weekends.
 One post you made sticks out in my mind.
It was in relation to forumers spending Christmas alone. I do know that some were alone last Christmas ,and this was their choice but your suggestion of maybe some getting together next Christmas was a fantastic idea. I know that if I lived alone, I would be taking up the offer like a shot.
And would still like you to continue pming me with weekend details for later in the year.
Also another person I would like to thank was Twinsmum who organised Secret Santa last Christmas.
W&H take note of this, as there was NO mention of these hardworking ladies (who do this on their own time) at any time in your magazine.
So Website Feedback, Please take note of the all the ladies above who are trying to make this forum a better place for all.
OK. soapbox is now back under the desk.! 
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Sealover
member
Reged: 31/08/2006
Posts: 1271
Loc: Devon
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Thank you Shootingstar (love your picture!), Feathers and Carrieb for your kind replies.
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wildflowerchild
member
Reged: 03/06/2007
Posts: 1512
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it was claire's mum I think, carrie, who did secret santa. except she hasn't been posting for a while!! has anyone noticed almost all the forum's very own breast cancer walking team don't even come on the forum anymore - and they haven't even done the walk yet?
I just think your utterly insane, sealover. you'd have to pay me to sort out the supperclub page!! (but, then that's why we all love you!) 
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carrieb
member
Reged: 07/08/2007
Posts: 1922
Loc: Ireland
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OOPS! Sorry about the clanger. So a special thanks to Claire's Mum. Thanks Wfc.
Yep. you are right as always, where have they gone???
And while we are on the subject, where is that other Bavarian Bride? Surely she cant' still be on honeymoon.
Really miss her dry comments and wit.
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Pippa_Jackson
member
Reged: 22/05/2007
Posts: 104
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Hi,
Firstly, I'd like to reassure you that we do listen to you. Your feedback is very important to us which is why we set up the Magazine Feedback and Website Feedback areas. Your comments are read by the w&h team. If you prefer, you can always make your comments to Sue James via the 'email the editor' link on the homepage as well.
As you rightly point out, forum membership has increased greatly this year. More people are buying the magazine and more people are visiting the website. It's fantastic that we have this space for like-minded women to interact. We know how much you like to connect with each other, online and offline. That's what makes this forum, our supper and walking clubs, and our w&h events so popular.
We do not want to exclude people from the forum. It is not an exclusive club, it is a friendly support network for women. The tone of the forum is set by you. Remember that written messages do not convey a tone of voice, so messages can be interpreted in different ways. Think before you post!
The Your Lives forum does get very busy. There are several other topic areas though. People often post in Your Lives when their post would be more suitable in another area, such as Family Firsts or Your Looks. Please try to post in the appropriate section to make your posts easier to find.
I do understand your frustrations with the Supper Clubs area. It can be hard to navigate. I am working on some longer term solutions that would make your local club easier to find in both Supper Clubs and Walking Clubs. In the meantime, if Sealover's incredibly kind offer still stands, then I'd be happy to help you with that and ensure that the information is made prominent in that forum. Thank you Sealover!
Our technical team are trying to improve the speed of the website. However, the increasing use of images does slow pages down. Please restrict your images to one per post (including your signature) and do not exceed 300 x 200 pixels in size.
We hope you continue to enjoy this forum. It is a wonderfully supportive, caring and friendly environment. Please do your best to keep it that way.
Pippa
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Web Editor
www.womanandhome.com
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carrieb
member
Reged: 07/08/2007
Posts: 1922
Loc: Ireland
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Thanks Pippa,
Great to get feedback so quickly.
As you say this is a very supportive forum and I for one have made some great friends here.
Long may it continue.
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Sealover
member
Reged: 31/08/2006
Posts: 1271
Loc: Devon
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Thank you Pippa. It's great to get your feedback and to know that you are listening to us.
I am getting the Supper Club list together and hope to post the first copy by this weekend. I'm sure we all appreciate your help in making this a prominent feature on the forum.
Incidentally, SusiQ is one of the Forum Girls who will be walking the walk - and she's posted lots today. I know that some of the other ribbon walkers have been posting, too. So can i just give them a plug and say please sponsor them.
Gotta go now - things to do, Supper Club lists to update!
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Nettlecombe
member
Reged: 31/03/2006
Posts: 336
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Hello, Wildflowerchild, I'm walking as part of the ForumGirls team and I am still around - I hold my hands up, I'm not one of the major posters (joined in 2006 and not yet posted 200 times) but I log in most days to catch up with what's going on - and, thanks Sealover for giving us a plug for sponsorship.
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Waveney
member
Reged: 05/04/2007
Posts: 1337
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I'm here too!!! (not training much though!)
Thank you, WFC for starting this post and Pippa for responding with such sensitivity and common sense.
Sealover you are a star.
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duckegg
member
Reged: 26/02/2007
Posts: 1062
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Pippa - thanks, what you say is very encouraging
It's my view that a lot of the pictures would disappear if we could choose our own avatars. Lots of other sites offer this facility. Is it something you'd be prepared to think about?
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Gemini
member
Reged: 10/03/2008
Posts: 2435
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Hi Pippa and all you other ladies,
Thanks for trying to improve the forum for the rest of us...it is good of you to do so, especially you Seafarer
Pippa I take note what you say about the pictures and if I include a picture on my posting then I'll remove my signature, which I often do anyway. My I be so bold as to suggest that you mention this fact about the pictures in the "My Lives" thread at the top. I say this as I would guess that many forumers don't read this thread very often (if at all) and you would get a far bigger audience for this fact.
Love being on the forum
Alison x
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cupcake
member
Reged: 15/02/2008
Posts: 2878
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Hi Pippa,
Thank you so much for posting your reply. A lot of us have felt concern at the recent mood of the forum.
However, as you say:
'forum membership has increased greatly this year. More people are buying the magazine and more people are visiting the website. It's fantastic that we have this space for like-minded women to interact'.
I'm so glad to hear that the W&H team feel it is a 'fantastic' space. I presume that the W&H team are pleased about the increase in readers and web members.
Also you say:
'We do not want to exclude people from the forum. It is not an exclusive club, it is a friendly support network for women'.
This , I think, makes it clear that we are all EQUALLY welcome to join in? Please, Pippa, correct me if I am wrong in that assumption.
Thanks, Cupcake...
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