Forum: Thoughts and Questions on the NEW Forum

We are happy to help you here and there with questions.

See previous thread Anyone NOT Going to New Forum, now closed, and How to Navigate the NEW Flu Wiki Forum

O.K. here’s a brain drain for you.

I transfered the Websites for prepardness Supplies to the new forum, just a brief listing to get people there started, and linked then back to here for the full listings. I only had two websites that hightlited in blue, the rest did not.What did I do wrong, and how can I change it?

DemCT - while there may be many who are familiar with the new site’s system, etc. I am concerned about the many out there who are less savy - and there are man out there. I’m thinking of say new people I am trying to get prepping, I refer them to this site, and I know by knowing them they will be lost. is it possible to have something on the main page for finding the old forum - it takes a bit to find it - until it gets closer to shutting down?

I do have to say I like the preview feature of the new site! Sorry for the mistakes!

cottontop:

The software doesn’t recognize them as links unless they have the http:// at the beginning.

Fortunately, there you can edit the original diary.

LauraB – at 21:05

Sure i can put it in the sig under the title.

i think.

Thanks Pogge. I’ll edit that. Just to leave a comment for the others about the new forum. I am zipping around there like you would not believe. Now, you all know from my post, I was anxious about it, and frustrated with it, to the point I was deciding not to go there anymore. It was a crisis for me. I really am stupid with computers. Heck, I had to get daughter to help me with setting up my e-mail at yahoo! How stupid can I be? Now I know, if I can do it, others will too in a short peorid of time. Once you let that frustration go, your on your way. Please folks, hang in there. don’t let your dissatification blind you. Take the challenge, accomplish, and teach/help others. We need everyone.

Here’s a new diary from a new person, the very thing we were trying to do.

Any thoughts?

Any labor-related discussion areas recommended?

I lurked here for a long time and never posted. Fear of the unknown. Navigating here was a great challenge. I understood Plan for Pandemic site, just click and read. This was more complicated. I clicked and read on the wiki, then one day clicked on the discussion forum. Wonderful reading, but didn’t understand how it worked. Then posted but wouldn’t do URL’s or anything cause there were rules on how and I didn’t get it. Now I feel pretty comfortable here. And couldn’t figure out the new forum. I just knew I’d be “left behind and uninformed” and didn’t know what to do. I kept trying and feeling very lost. Then I just started clicking. Playing. And read what others wrote here about the profile and how I had control. I just had to take it. Now I like it. I don’t love it yet. And I give thanks that both sites are up and running. Especially while the kinks are worked out. And how nice to have a backup system. I hope they wouldn’t both go down at the same time. I don’t have time, energy, or desire to learn all there is to learn about the formatting at the new forum. But I don’t have to. I can just post, copy, paste, (no tinyURL to mess with), read and learn. I did it by hopping over for just a click or two at a time. If I got frustrated, I quit. It didn’t go away. It’s still there. And I LOVE no spam, and no hiding on who says what. And when someone gets out of line a bit, Dem has the patience of Job and gently firmly handles it and life goes on. Class. And everyone helps there like they do here. They are still nice to newbies. We’re all newbies. If you just want to read, do it. Try the new forum for two minutes a day for a week and you’ll be more comfortable. I’ll see you there, and here. Note we have lost some folks. Too bad. But we’ve lost folks and found new. We come and go. Make sure you keep coming to check the wiki out. BTW, for true newbies, I send them to the Fluwikie, not the discussion forum. I think they need to read that stuff first and get started on prepping. The basics are there. Reading all the prep articles on the wikie is the BS in Preparedness. This is icing on the cake. Tweeking. This is where we get our Masters or PhD.

mj-quilter, that was beautifully said.

I’m so glad you’re feeling comfortable in both places now.

I came here because it was easy and I’m very technically challenged. I am overwhelmed by the new site and will remain here as long as the mods keep it going.

I am also intimidated by how much personal info is revealed on the site meter at the new forum. It makes me feel paranoid, although I’m not exactly sure why. I know there’s a site meter here, too, but it doesn’t seem quite so detailed. Perhaps I am wrong.

Please keep this one up and running as long as possible. Thanks to all who have invested so much time and energy into this project.

Correction: I guess it is the same site meter in both places. Didn’t realize before. Oh, well. Just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get me…

I know I said I was walking away. However, I was curious if there was an answer to my question and came across this:

“DemFromCT – at 20:26

Sthrn Tr – at 20:11

my family misses me

And mine misses me.

Texas Rose – at 18:47

If you remove things out of context, you can twist and slant it any way you want. But that’s neither what people want nor what people need. The day we opened, the other site had a network slowdown and the irony was that this place was faster for a few hours. having both places was good. It’s also different. It’s neither better nor worse, it’s different. Some people don’t like ‘different’. But there are many people we are not reaching who need ‘different’.

My thinking at this point is that this place will get an upgrade (I’ve said that here but not there, so you can’t go and lift it easily, but take the trouble and you can find it) and we will take a few necessary steps to make it spam-resistant (nothing is spam-proof).

If you want to stay here, stay. We’ll stay open for months and then we’ll see who is here and what people need. I expect lots of cross-traffic with the new place and other sites. It’s as simple as that. “

http://www.fluwikie2.com/pmwiki.php?n=Forum.AnyoneNOTGoingToNewForum

Take things out of context to twist and slant? How did I do that? I provided a link for those who wanted to see your words for themselves. Should I have C&P’ed the entire thread from over there in addition to or instead of providing the link?

My opinion of your words still stands.

I asked a question based on YOUR WORDS over there. If my question was based on an erroneous interpretation, then I apologize for assuming something unintended. If it was not, well, the onus is on you to own your words and proceed accordingly. Me, I plan to move on. Life is too short and my time is too precious to spend any more time on this topic.

As for my second question, it was answered elsewhere and by someone else.

As for whether I stay, move, waltz, whatever, I’ve already said what my course of action will be. Here’s to willing that swan to stay upright.

“If my question was based on an erroneous interpretation, then I apologize for assuming something unintended.”

That’s exactly what it was, and I accept your apology. You’ve illustrated, however, how easy it is to search for things, link to individual comments and use the site to gather and retrieve information. That’s what it is for, and thank you for that. ;-)

Now, kindly use your new powers for good, and help us and your community.

BTW, just for grins:

link

Question:

Is it possible to view the (list of) diaries WITHOUT the 1st paragraph of comments showing? Some of the diaries have rather lengthy 1st paragraphs and so take up a huge amount of room on the page. I shudder to think that when we get 1,000′s of diaries that I’ll have to click thru 100′s of pages to see the titles of all of them. Maybe if I can’t get a list view, at least you could limit the 1st paragraph to maybe 50–100 characters (more like a brief summary)???

Kim – at 07:56

We have that as the posting etiquette, which requires cooperation. Some of the diaries I write need more upfront on the main page. if I put them only on the main page, the diary view readers complain they do not see it. If I put it in the diaries, there are complaints that the first para is too long. But the real best answer is to go to the main page and look at the recent diaries box. it has the last (however many you want - you set it) diaries, nwewst first, by title only.

It even tells you (if you are logged in) how many new comments you have not read. See above.

Ok, thanks, I LOVE that feature with the “recent comments”.

I guess I’m gonna have to play with the new forum only after I have imbibed LOTS of caffeine, because I seem to be having plenty of trouble navigating it this morning. I wasn’t over there for 10 minutes this morning before getting thoroughly lost and confused. I’ll try later and see if maybe a few more of my brain cells have come to life.

Yes, synapses are not firing yet… it should be “recent DIARIES”, not “recent comments”. Oh well…..

I tried an experiment last night with the new incarnation. I was intimidated by the new software, but I didn’t want to be one of the “left behind” here, with all the news going to the new site.

I went to the new site and tried what I’ve done numerous times before online - I read, typed a response, and posted it, without thinking about how different anything was - just did it. And you know what? It worked.

I was able to post, and keep track of my post, without giving it hardly any thought or effort at all. Means I might miss some of the bells and whistles of the new place, but it’s functional.

That’s all I really care about - function over form, and all that.

Those of you who, like me, have been intimidated or reluctant - do give it a try. Don’t attempt to figure anything out. Just go and do. I think many might be surprised at how easy it becomes when approached from that direction (me included). :)

clawdia- That’s what I did. the first test is a post. and you take it from there. I’m spending less time here now that I’m able to navigate my way around the new place. It’s so empty here, and I’m really trying to encourage people to keep trying the new forum. Please don’t let your frustration be an obstacle for you. Find a way around it. We need everyone, and everyone need you.

any differences for those of us on macs instead of pc’s?

I’m on a Mac. Didn’t have any problems.

I’m on a mac. I made sure it worked for macs ;−0

BTW, i highly recommend firefox 2,.0 as a mac browser.

Thanks, Dem - I didn’t know 2.0 was out. Running it now, though - so I do appreciate the info!

Dem In response to your questions about what is helpful. What to me is helpful is the basic preparedness information. Things like information on what preps are most useful in a situation where one might find themselves having to SIP for an extended period of time, perhaps with limited water and power. Info about alternative power that a lay person rather than a techie can understand easily. The cooking threads were helpful. The news threads are great because they help everyone to stay informed. Things that can help parents know what to do for their kids with regards to education.

I often felt my head was swimming every time I tried to read some of the more technical stuff on here when it came to power and medical issues. I am not tech savvy nor do I have a medical degree. Those threads were useless to me. I’m not an idiot but neither am I a genius and I have less free time to even be on the computer due to work demands, so simple easy to understand information works best for me. I’m sure I am not the only person on here who might fit that description.

I realize that the spammers have become a real problem on this discussion forum and I applaud the mods efforts to keep things in check. As for only the mods having our email addresses…Yep, right up until the time some government agent looking for hoarded preps comes knocking on your doors wanting a list of all the preppers using the site. I may not be the brightest bulb in the lamp but I read that law about hoarded preps and how the government can take them away. I know what it could mean. Already my husband has heard of incidents where people have had their preps inventoried by their local law enforcement so they can be used for “the greater good” because a neighbor/friend found out and blabbed about them.

This site can do a lot of good but only if people (including those completely new to prepping) can easily understand the information and can remain anonymous. The new site just is not easy to navigate and there is little chance of remaining anonymous.

Poppy – at 12:24 --- right up until the time some government agent looking for hoarded preps comes knocking on your doors wanting a list of all the preppers using the site.

Poppy---my old Left Coast neighbor! Get a Yahoo! or Hotmail email account. No personal info is required to get those, and if some guv’ment entity tried to track you down through that account, they’d have a really hard time.

heard of incidents where people have had their preps inventoried by their local law enforcement so they can be used for “the greater good” because a neighbor/friend found out and blabbed about them.

What did the local law tell those people after they “inventoried”? “Don’t use any of this stuff until we tell you…?” I don’t see how the local law could expect anyone to just leave stuff alone, when it’s sitting in your house, without a court order.

Sorry…just being a skeptic here…

BB- I will have to agree with you on this. Perhaps if it was that serious, the inventory would have been hauled off. (also just being a skeptic here)

Don’t put all your inventory in one place.

However, I don’t think “they” will come looking for Fluwiki people for their preps. After all there is little indication of how much an individual preps- we might all be like Tom and not prep at all or we might have eaten them all for T day when the family showed up. They would have to show probable cause and just being a viewer of a computer site does not prove we store preps.

dennisC- true. Perhaps that should go on the rumors thread, because that’s a good one.

Furthermore, everybody who has said they have preps might have been lying.

After all, it’s the internet - the place where no one knows if you’re a dog.

Poppy - who, what, where, when about the people who have had their preps inventoried by local law enforcement? I hadn’t heard of such a thing.

Probable cause goes out the window in a declared disaster.

I refer you to New Orleans as the most recent example when a constitutional right was voided.

Poppy – at 12:24

Hope this helps. You don’t have to register.

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=299

There are times when you don’t tell anyone anything. I just told a neighbor about the twelve week of preps warning to embassy folk, and I don’t think she is prepping, but I would help her out voluntarily. I judge her as a decent woman.I for one do not have three months of preps for one person I might feed the families who are my neighbors for a few days tops. Since I am practically a flat liner as to my fear of H5N1 become pandemic this year I won’t lose any sleep over this.

anonymous @ 13:25 I’ve no doubt that constitutional rights are disposable, given the right set of circumstances.

What I want to know is what’s happening right now.

One of the biggest arguments I know against trying to involve those around you but that you do not know well in this effort of preparation is that in the long run they might decide that one way or the other they have more right to what you have collected than you have . . . or they might decide they “need” it more than you do. If the day comes when a call made to the right person results in your rights being ignored, I have a feeling the phone in question would be ringing off the hook.

btw, there’s a poll there for the registered…

and interesting reading for those not registerted and who wish to comment here.

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=293

The day before Thanksgiving a young man I didn’t know introduced himself, and asked me a lot of questions about myself, full name etc. Since this is a small town and evidently he has seen me around, this isn’t unusual, people are always saying “HI, I’m so and so, I’ve seen you around and thought I should introduce myself.” Yet,only because I do post on the internet, I was a trifle leery, even though I was comfortable enough to give my full name, and I judged him pleasant enough (Looked like Brendhan Frazier.) He talked about 20 min. just as long as I talked to my neighbor this morning. I wouldn’t do that in a strange town, or NYC or even traveling. I probably would put a spin on what I said, honest, but unrevealing. While I would be friendly, I wouldn’t give out any personal information. I do know I no longer mention prepping as a precaution. I might talk a bit about H5N1, but not about stocking up. It just seems more sensible to keep my mouth shut about some things.

The new site overwhelms me. I’m not great with computers - but I didn’t think I was this bad. Wow- I can’t figure out what to look at and the indented comments really confuse me. The whole thing is too busy and makes my head hurt and after a few minutes of trying to figure it out my eyes glaze over and I come back here where it’s easy and comfortable. I’ll stick to this one as long as it’s up

CC Prep – at 14:16 indented comments I don’t much care for the new site either, but this may help: Go to your page > profile > comment preps > then pick oldest first and unthreaded.

That makes those nasty indentions go away and put them in historical order.

CC Prep – at 14:16

CC Prep – at 14:16

My advice is to at least do the following:

1. register - this allows you to vote in polls and to change the comments to undented. We can explain how. You can even set the comments to newest first or oldest first.
2. use the diaries entrance. it will look more like here.
3. explore a little at a time. Click on things. Anything blue is a link that will take you somewhere.

This place will stay up, so there’s no rush. Take your time. ;-)

Whenever you want more help, start here. cottoptop, I’m-workin’-on-it and other posters can tell you, it starts out strange and gets better fast enough to be useful.

that is to say, you may never love it (see DennisC), but at least it’ll be functional.

Guys, the more you go over there, the more familiar it gets. I haven’t registered yet, but I go over there to do reading. It gets easier, trust me. It is overwhelming at first, but you can figure it out. You don’t have to be good with computers, just good with forums, and we are all great at that.:)

I still haven’t found the spell checker…. :)

Ruth – at 14:32

It is not the “figuring out” or the learning that people keep saying. It is that it is not as good for my purposes as this one. I do like not having to “tinyurl”. But other than that it is not as useful for me. My guess is that people who live and breath FW and use it as their “primary window” will like it. Those that like to chat more will like it more. But it does not fit my “style” as well as this one since FW is a secondary or tertiary item for most of my time and I just pop quickly in between “my real work”. Here one click and I am going. In the new one I have to do several clicks to do the things I want. It is just not as easy to click over while I am waiting for my “real work” to load and such.

I just feel the forum is moving from information,news and warning to more talk and it will limit the average person just dropping by to see what Bird flu is about. But that is OK- things change and directions and purposes change.

DennisC- Mine is called a dictionary, and I’m tired of using it!! ;-)

Yes, I often pop up a word sheet and still make mistakes. But my degree “ain’t in English” so ……..

I will like make “old Yeller” my primary site for a while. Now if the new just had a single “recent comment” page like this old last 50, a spell check, required fewer clicks, just had 2 columns, and had Tom and Monotreme… I would be there.

DennisC- I understand what your saying. I’m just trying to imagine Tom using the new forum. Hey, for all I know, he’d take to it like a duck to water. I’ll get easier with time. It feels weird to be here now. I feel like I’m missing the party.

Poppy:

Here is a diary which lists links to all the diaries on the subject of personal prepping:

http://tinyurl.com/yz6ztw

I try to update it daily to include new diaries.

I’m starting to be assimilated by the new board, with only a few reservations remaining.

As I’ve stated in earlier posts,, I haven’t been totally thrilled with the format of the new board. As mentioned before, there are features I do appreciate, and I realize that it would be impossible to create a format that will please everyone. My only complaint has been the one echoed many times, that the opening page is just too cluttered for quick appraisal of recent posts/diaries. While all the other stuff is informative and interesting, my usual reason for going there would be to read posts of interest to me.

I have determined that one thing that improved my experience on the new board was to immediately enter the “Diaries” page, since that is my main interest (click on “Diaries” in the upper right-hand box). In fact, I would suggest that anyone who prefers this page simply bookmark it and enter the new board that way instead of the home page.

Two things that would make me even happier …

(1) As more people learn to type a short, concise opening remark in the first box when creating a new diary and then finish the rest of the post in the second (marked “Extended Text,” if memory serves), that would make scanning the Diaries page much, much faster and more pleasant for those of us who are basically looking to get in and out of a message board quickly.

(2) If it were possible for the order of the diaries to change according to when a comment was posted (so that the diary with the most recent comment was at the top), it would facilitate scanning the messages also. There are some posts that I’m moderately interested in following up on, depending on what course the conversation takes, but not interested enough to add it to my “Hot List.” (I don’t want to add too many posts to the “Hot List,” as it sort of defeats the purpose. As those posts drop lower on the list, I’m not likely to scan that far and might miss some useful information.

I think that the new board is also becoming more attractive because more people are posting and there’s more new stuff to read.

Two things that would make me even happier …

(1) As more people learn to type a short, concise opening remark in the first box when creating a new diary and then finish the rest of the post in the second (marked “Extended Text,” if memory serves), that would make scanning the Diaries page much, much faster and more pleasant for those of us who are basically looking to get in and out of a message board quickly.

we are working to socialize people to do that. If you go to the Main poage of flu wiki or yellow forum, you will see a Diaries view as well as a main entrance view. I have been making the same suggestion, Genoa. You can even make the diaries you entry point, though you might miss stuff on the front page, like the poll today.

(2) If it were possible for the order of the diaries to change according to when a comment was posted (so that the diary with the most recent comment was at the top), it would facilitate scanning the messages also. There are some posts that I’m moderately interested in following up on, depending on what course the conversation takes, but not interested enough to add it to my “Hot List.” (I don’t want to add too many posts to the “Hot List,” as it sort of defeats the purpose. As those posts drop lower on the list, I’m not likely to scan that far and might miss some useful information.

There’s a different technique there, the DemFromCT – at 08:27 and DemFromCT – at 08:28 posts.

I know nothing about puters - just ask my DH :) I was very intimadated at he new site. I felt lost. Now its a piece of cake. I even did HTML :-) The site is easier than here. I can even post links there, and I couldnt figure that tiny url thing here for the life of me.

The biggest + at the new site is that it flows like a dinner table conversation at a holiday gathering. No more scrolling down long threads. The new posts can be set to come to the top and the site tells you how many new posts there are.

DemFromCT;

Apologies if this has been asked before, but is there a facility to change the login password?

And will there be a facility to send personal messages to other fluwikians?

Apologies if this has been asked before, but is there a facility to change the login password?

No question too big or too small. Yes, there is.

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showComment.do?commentId=2585

And note the ability to link to individual comments ;-)

And will there be a facility to send personal messages to other fluwikians?

No. there’s no chatroom attached.

PS I don’t know what your password is. Only you know what your password is.

bump

bump

bump

I entered my username and password (as emailed to me) into the appropriate fields on the new forum. I have been repeatedly denied access. I guess I’m relegated to the old forum until you decide to shut it down.

I reset your password and emailed you.

Yay—I got in…I always wanted to be one of the cool kids.

We’re glad for the fix, but there’s still a NEW forum to explore. take periodic trips over. There’s a hot discussion there about a Dec meeting in Atlanta at the CDC about mitigation strategies. Now is your change to have input.

DennisC…for the recent comments, on the front page, look at the last box on the left hand side. This is the equivalent of the last 50 changes. It is even called recent comments.

For each entry here in the recent comment box there are three different links.

The top, darkest link, is the subject of the comment or reply. If you click this link it will take you to that comment or reply only. It won’t show all the thread (diary).

The second, a lighter blue link, is the name of the person who posted the comment or reply. If you click this link it will take you to that person’s personal profile page. (Poppy, it is not mandatory to post a profile. I haven’t gotten around to it yet myself, but I will.)

The third, another lighter blue link, is the name of the thread (diary) that contains the new comment or reply. For me it’s usually better if I click on this link and then look down the thread for the red “new” posted beside each new comment or reply. I really like this feature.

Dennis, you said yesterday in another thread, that the comments were only changing about one an hour, but the comments change at a rapid rate. Sometimes there are several a minute. I think you are thinking of the recent diaries box, which is on the right hand side. This only changes when someone starts a new thread (diary). I think you may have gotten mixed up because we started with the recent diaries (threads) box on the left, and someone asked Pogge to change it to the right, so he did.

Yesterday, I noticed someone was having problems with the Hot Tags box. This box has a link called “All Tags”. If you click this it takes you to a page that is a lot like the index at the back of a book. It’s a whole list of keywords that help you find all the threads (diaries) that pertain to a certain subject. You can sort this “index” by popularity or alphabetically.

Just click on the keyword you are interested in and you will get a list of all the diaries that have that been tagged with that keyword. For instance, Poppy, if you are interested in Preps, clicking that keyword would bring up the diaries that use that tag (keyword).

The “Hot Tags” box lists some of the most popular tags (keywords) used recently.

By the way, If the above two posts should sound to you like a first grade teacher…remember I was one…for twenty-seven years. I apologize for sounding like one. My husband doesn’t like it either.

bgw in MT? that’s well explained & I think will help me…I’m going to try a search on ‘butane’ over there like I tried yesterday….only found 6–7 threads and none of them were the copious fku prep info threads that had been copied over. I had to come back here to my old faithful search to find in seconfs what I needed, I’ll go see if searching tags would have located the copied info! THANKS Girl! (this upgrade may be just what I need to learn to correctly type numbers)

Ok, I signed on the new site, but it won’t let me vote. I signed on a second time but it still won’t let me. I was able to add comments yesterday. Suggestions….What’s the code # for?

What’s the code # for?

That is your password and you have to be signed on (logged on) to vote or comment. You enter it in exactly as you did the first day. i can reset your password to something you want if you email me at demfromct@earthlink.net if you hate the code. Also, you can change it yourself one you are on.

If you can’t vote, it means you are not logged on for that session. You must do it each time. That prevents someone else from pretending to be you.

I’m-workin’-on-it, tags are not going to find your butane posts unless someone took the trouble to add ‘butane’ as a tag to th diary in question. Use the search box instead, and search diaries and then search comments.

I would love to see the Date, Time and author of the last “comment” in all the threads. As it does here. When you look at the main/home page of the new site I find it gets very confusing with the initial post date and authors name. I also like the boxed in posts/threads on this side. The new one has a bit too much info cramed into a small /narrow space (yes I changed the indents, helped some but not nearly enough)with only lines seperating it. I like seeing what I need to all one page that allows me to pick what thread I want to read, not have to scroll and go from one page to another. The graphs and all are nice but are they really necessary?

Side scroll

A former lurker, I know exactly what you mean….I did 2 things that have sorta helped me some….I learned that if I look over on the right of the page, either above or below my name’s page (in a little box near the top) there is a link named Diaries. That takes you off the “main” page and onto just the diaries which makes them a little easier to read. You still have to go through 3–4 pages maybe to see all the current diaries, but then as you’re looking, if you’ll look to the side of the name of the diary and click on the + sign, it’ll add that diary to your own private “hotlist”. I have a few threads hotlisted — sort of like having my own person top 10 list. That way I can find certain threads I’ll visit often very quickly.

The other threads (I mean diaries) will drift to the top the more people ‘converse’ on them or ‘recommend’ them or something….Anyway, if it’s a much used thread, it’ll be near the top of the first page or two of the diaries (I know, I’m interchanging words like crazy here).

I know it’s not a fix and NOTHING like it really works here that we’d all gotten used to, but it’s some steps that might help you adjust to that site a little better.

g’luck!

Some advice: it’s different, get used to the difference. Everyone on the site has, and it’s very active and functional. But, we’ve written to the designers and requested a ‘bump the last commented diary’ feature, like here, and they are interested in exploring that. ;-)

It isn’t here, it’s there. It isn’t this, it’s that.

Are the charts and graphs necessary? For whom? We want others to see what we are doing and attract readers (don’t forget it hasn’t been open for as long as a week). For those who don’t want that, just go to the diaries, or just ignore them or scroll down.

You do have to put more effort into the new site, but the rewards are tremendous. It allows those doing the tracking and the cataloguing and the map-making and the policy input a much easier way to locate and display the work. That’s the trade-off. ;-)

DemFromCT — 29 November 2006, 11:48 wrote:

Some advice: it’s different, get used to the difference.

Natural selection picks out the ones that will survive. It doesn’t mean they are better than the others.

I think this forum is much easier to read and see what is new for me. The new forum I feel that even though I read it that I am missing something big.

Birdie Kate

The ‘big stuff’ is on the main page and tough to miss. The news thread and anything that’s not to be missed will be there.

Klatu, that’s true everywhere about everything.

bump

“Some advice: it’s different, get used to the difference. Everyone on the site has, and it’s very active and functional.” (DemFromCT 11:48)

I think a lot of the comments (including mine) about what we like or don’t like about the new site are simply in response to what we have perceived as a request for critiquing the site, perhaps even offering some useful suggestions that could be implemented at some time. Unfortunately, all too often it’s easy to complain about what we don’t like and forget to compliment the good things. Each of these sites has its pros and cons. It doesn’t have to be an either/or situation. I’ve been dividing my time between the two sites, spending more time on the site that has the most posts that address my interests/concerns at that moment.

“But, we’ve written to the designers and requested a ‘bump the last commented diary’ feature, like here, and they are interested in exploring that. ;-)” (DemFromCT 11:48)

I’m so glad to hear this is being considered. If it is possible to do this, I think it would make a lot of us who are primarily interested in the message board features very happy. If not, at least it shows you’re listening to and considering our feedback. Thanks.

You know, what Dem says is true. The new format has capabilities that you don’t even realize when you first start reading over there. It’s not just that a conversation is possible, it’s that collaboration is possible.

There are projects going on over there that would have taken forever in this format, that are really surging ahead. It’s very exciting. We might really be able to make a difference in the outcome of a pandemic.

I know we’ve been working on that all along, but we have been limited by what we had to work with. The new format is a facilitator. It is worth the time it takes to learn to put it to use.

Genoa, I’m happy that folks are giving us the feedback. It’s important, we read everything, and try to make it easier for those interested in learning how. This software designer is great to work with.

We will not, however, be working to turn it into a simple message board. Instead, we will be working to maximize it as a facilitator, as bgw in MT points out (and bgw in MT comunicated directly with thte software people to share concers, so thank you for that.)

bump

Oh dear, I’ve been over to the new site a few times and can’t get on with it at all. It just took me forever to find my way out of the ‘how to navigate’ page - doh!

Congratulations though Dem, others are obviously thrilled with the site, it must have taken a lot of work, it looks really good but my spatial skills just aren’t up to it.

Oh well, never mind, I’ll miss following what’s going on with you guys but as I was really only a lurker you won’t be missing me - sob!

Try this, Solitaire… go into Diaries view and it’ll look more familiar. And try to spend a half hour every once in a while to get familiar. You’ll be zoomin’ around the internets in no time.

Solitaire? — 30 November 2006, 14:28 YES WE WILL MISS YOU — stay put here — many of us will remain here. Poke around there when you feel like it and visit with us here the rest of the time…jusy don’t go.

bump

highlights from this am:

Recent Diaries

News Reports for December 1 by: Nimbus - Nov 30 4 Comments

Water Collection, Purification, and Storage by: Will - Nov 30 1 Comments (1 new)

Consumer Drug Stockpiling for the Coming Pandemic by: The Doctor - Nov 30 6 Comments

Interesting 1920 Monograph of 1918 Pandemic by: Irene - Nov 30 17 Comments

interesting govt? disaster site that links to our more heated discussions by: Annoyed Max—Not mad yet - Nov 30 1 Comments

Maine Preppers by: bird-dog - Nov 30 4 Comments (1 new)

Oregon Preppers by: AlohaOR - Nov 30 3 Comments

North Carolina Preppers by: InfoLady - Nov 30 4 Comments (2 new)

News Reports for November 30 by: Nimbus - Nov 29 69 Comments (16 new)

Picky Kids? by: Goju - Nov 29 40 Comments (3 new)

Bump

Another thing that I really like about this side of FW is that people restrain themselves when it comes to the comments. For the most part if they aren’t posting something relevant they don’t post. Your new forum seems to be encouraging snipping and bickering, just look at the rumors thread. A reader has to scroll through countless comments in case some one posted something Relevant. The questions & comments are Not the same thought provoking /wiki encouraging types of questions. Many are downright juvenile. If I was a Doctor or Vet (we need all the help we can get)looking to join the wiki family I would be hard pressed to identify myself with the people that just want to “chat” which seems to be what’s happening there.

A former Lurker

I don’t know if that’s a fair evaluation. There were recriminations on every flu board yesterday, and ours were pretty mild. Certainly lessons were learned.

Actually we find comments like

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showComment.do?commentId=5164

so i don’t know that you are correct about how professionals would view the site.

I have to agree it’s more “chatty” which makes it more difficult to scroll through what’s relevant.

How chatty a thread is depends on what kind of thread you are in, usually, though we do get into an occasional aside in the “business” threads; at least the asides can be kept off to the side. LOL

I don’t think you realize just how chatty the threads get over here at times. It just shows up more with the indentations. You can just use your page down key and whisk right past them if you don’t like them. However, chattiness is what has built up the real family feeling we have here at fluwiki. Later, we may need the relationships here for emotional support, if we are lucky enough to have the net and electricity operational most of the time.

A larger number of more personal posts are necessary when a group is learning something new together. A lot of the threads at first were personal sandboxes for learning and for area preppers and lookout posts. Newer threads that are of more general interest are beginning to take more of the place at the beginning of the diary list.It just takes time.

The Soapblox creator is working on a new page much like our forum topics page that will enable us to bump. He likes the idea, but he wants to do it right, so it may take a while.

It’s all coming together, and I think those you that prefer it over here, are going to begin feel more and more comfortable over there too if you will try it for a little while everyday.

PLEASE monitors- put this in place on the new site. “quick overview of the threads in one easy-to-scroll format. “

Dem at 15:21, thank you for the encouragement - I’ll keep trying :)

IWOI at 15:25 thank you for your kindness, I’ll keep lurking :)

DC, that’s here. But once you get used to it, that’s exactly what the front page is for. Starting at the top and scrolling down shows you everything at a glance.

What’s missing is the ‘show me what I’m interested in’ page. Without knowing what that is, that’s a tough order to fill. ;-)

However, the subjects box on the front page may help there. Click the topic you are interested in.

Dem, Pogge, et al: Please, oh please, keep this forum active. Even after all my effort to explore the new one, I join the ranks of those who still prefer this one. It is simple and to the point and, when time is limited, that is such a user advantage. I do however miss many of the wonderful contributors who have moved over there.

take a look at this post at the new place.. it’s an important read.

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=374

Nova, we upgraded this post with that in mind. I applaud you exploring the new place. We’ll see how it goes.

I can’t find the threads easily. This is much better.

i agree anon 44 - it’s hard to locate new info - especially by the end of the day as the responses/new info blend into the full, long post. trying to adapt to new forum but fear i’ll miss pertinent information as it just gets buried in the multiple threads. visited monotreme’s site tonight and there is a new board just starting up. much more manageable.

I just went to the new forum as you mentioned anontoday and was immediately put off by the site having invalid certification information - this could leave my computer open to hackers - which I am most definitely not prepared to do. I noted in the comments from the Mod(s) that they ‘don’t see it as a problem for now’.

I was also amused by the comment that they want to set up a private thread in case they need to discuss problem posters …

I wish them well but I will not be considering signing on until the security certification issue is resolved - it even says the name on their certificate does not match the name on the site … makes me very wary of ‘connecting’.

anon44 - if you would like to give us/me a list of the threads that you most like to follow, we could help you set that up in own personal list on the new discussion forum so you can start finding your way around - if that would help.

The concern is that, as so many of you have indicated, we don’t want people missing out on new information but it is not possible to have the sites ‘synchronised’ without considerable manual intervention. Further, to keep this site at that level of detail would return the access speed problems to what they were before etc etc.

We make every effort to place links here that take you straight to the information there that may be relevant - save you searching around for it and just letting you have a read. This also means you can see what your favourite ‘posters’ are saying etc. We hope this helps keep you up to date and yet still retain your comfort level on this version of the forum.

Cheers