Website Feedback

Hi Blake,

It's been a few days since I last logged on and just saw the new website format today. So I am trying to get acquainted with it.

If I may I would like to share some feedback. (I sent similar feedback to the webmaster address under the contact info, so I apologize for redundancy here).

I think the site looks nice and professional. However, I am already finding it frustrating at best to use. I think it's too complicated and cluttered. There are also some features from the former layout that I wished the new layout had to make it a little easier to nagivate. First, I miss the old posts link that was on the right side that could take me to previous posts with relative ease. Secondly, I miss the most frequently read (and responded to?) post information on the right side. Thirdly, I liked being able to look up, with my username, all the posts I have ever posted. I can't seem to do that here, so I have no recollection of all the posts I've done. With this new format I tried searching in under my username and noticed many of my posts were missing. Fourth, I liked being able to preview my posts before posting them. Finally, I noticed in the "Private Messages" link that two other members contacted me, but I have six messages---4 (duplicates) from one member, and 2 (duplicates) from another. The worse part of all these messages, however, is that I have no idea whatsoever what post(s) of mine these members are responding too. I searched and searched without success trying to figure this out. I feel like I've lost some hair in the process from pulling it out.

In all honesty, I simply find this format just too frustrating to deal with. As such, I won't be utilizing the site as much, unless it becomes a little more user friendly. If I appear to have missed these options on the site, please let this be a testimony of the difficulties I am having--and I've been using computers for many years.
Thanks for the opportunity to share this feedback.
Dodi

PS...I tried to post this last night and this morning but ran into problems with the site. I have IE 7 and get the message that "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage.". I tried to email to the webmaster address separately and the email was rejected because of "service unavailable."

5 Comments

More info

by Dodiad71 - 2007-03-21 02:03:14

Oh, by the way, I was able to finally post here through netscape. Thanks

I agree...

by auntiesamm - 2007-03-21 03:03:21

I agree with you wholeheartedly! The first couple of days I was dazzled by the site appearance but then as I tried to find the very things you have described I got very frustrated! I really miss the comments underneath a posted message that makes it seem more like a "chat room". Like you I miss the archieved postings; all too often I will think of something I had previously read and by navigating backwards thru the archieves have found it. Not to be negative, but looks like we have a little too much "fluff" and not enough substance. Also, I had the same experience with my personal messages. And, 3 of them were duplicates. Blake, I know I congratulated you on the appearance of the page but it isn't working as well for me. Or, am I just too old to change my ways? Sharon

Re: changes

by tman - 2007-03-21 06:03:17

I think the ability to search for all postings by a member would be a great idea, and simple enough to implement. As for archived postings... they are all still there. I've seen a few references to this, and am unclear as to what they are/were. Every message posted on the site is still there, and comments still appear under a message when you click on its title to view it. To reply to a message, you just have to be logged in, and the "reply" form is at the bottom of the screen. I guess it seems simple enough to me...

Thanks!

by admin - 2007-03-21 09:03:37

Your comments have been very helpful. I have spoken to our web developer and are looking at the Internet Explorer posting/loading problem, list of comments by member and the ability to display the most recent postings. We should be able to resolve these soon. Private messages got duplicated when we upgraded the site. The duplicates can only be deleted by the respective member. Blake

Most recent messages now available

by admin - 2007-03-22 08:03:37

To view the most recent messages posted within the last seven days, click on Forums/Most Recent. Thanks again for the feedback. Blake

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