Forums = NO!! Newsgroups = YES!!

This is discouraging. With ng's one can clearly follow any conversation; with forums (perhaps I'm just stupid) I can't determine where the first post is, who replied and when I find dialogue I cannot easily determine the order! Some dialogue is in a box and some is not.

If I go to the forums homepage there's one post that has 140 replies. I don't see WHO posted but I do see who was the last to reply. This is NOT helpful. If I click on the heading I see that Bob P originally posted and there are ten pages of responses. If I'd like to follow how Dave Hooten (for example) replied I can't find him! Also, as if this wasn't bad enough there's another choice: "Posts." Bob's original post has a "15" next to Post, Rick has 4, etc.

With ng's I can readily determine who, the time, and how many posts. If I want to ignore one post and go right to Dave Hooten's response it could not be more easy. With forums I cannot do that.

Ng's were originally intended for the user community to get the latest breaking news from the company and for us to share ideas and information on LDLS. A win-win for everyone. The ng STILL provides this service quite adequately so I'm mystified why the new forum.

Frankly, I can't make heads or tails out of it and may just ignore the forums and ng's altogether.

Terry Cook

sDg

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Comments

J.R. Miller

Hi Terry,

If you are not familiar with forums, it can be an adjustment at first. Many folks who were not used to the Newsgroups had the same problems as you list above. I hope you put in the effort and stay connected. [:)]

Joe

BillS

Hi Terry,

For me, too, the conversational aspect of the NGs is still missing. I've been browsing the forums since they were created, but this is the 1st time I've ventured to post. I have seen many new folks posting that haven't before (I've been a "member" of Logos NGs since some time in '94 or '95).

Maybe it'll feel more like a community again after some time. But for now, my overall feeling is similar to yours. But it looks like we need to hang in there, because the community appears to have moved already.

Blessings to you!

Bill

J.R. Miller

the conversational aspect of the NGs is still missing.

Hi Bill, but don't you find that the ability to have avatars and bio information helps develop community? Everytime I reply to a new person, I check their profile, visit their site, etc... It makes me a bit more connected... but maybe that is just me?

George Somsel

the conversational aspect of the NGs is still missing.
Hi Bill, but don't you find that the ability to have avatars and bio information helps develop community? Everytime I reply to a new person, I check their profile, visit their site, etc... It makes me a bit more connected... but maybe that is just me?

Avatars? This sounds more like what I've heard about "Dungeons and Dragons" than like a discussion group.

J.R. Miller

Avatars? This sounds more like what I've heard about "Dungeons and Dragons" than like a discussion group.

You are not the first Christian who got confused by the term and thought it was some kind of demonic ore religous thing.... you should get out more. [;)] Seriously, avatar is the traditional name used for the profile image... it is quite generic and harmless to your salvation George.

Maybe folks don't use that terminology much anymore, but it what I got used to over the past 15 years of web design.

BillS

Hi Joe,

After 25 years as a manager of various Info Systems functions in a large corporation--including stints responsible for computing security, I find myself paranoid about putting enough info on-line to have much of a profile on any system. To me, forums & social networks seem much higher risk than our NGs did. Obviously, our mileage differs. [;)]

Blessings to you.

Bill

Dave Hooton

This is discouraging. With ng's one can clearly follow any conversation; with forums (perhaps I'm just stupid) I can't determine where the first post is, who replied and when I find dialogue I cannot easily determine the order! Some dialogue is in a box and some is not.

Hi Terry!

We all have to get used to using "Quote" when we "Reply" else there is NO dialogue. It's the opposite of NG's where all previous dialogue is automatically appended. Yea, it's difficult to find who has contributed but you can scan quickly from the beginning if you use the navigation aids at the bottom of the page. Hang in there.

Dave Hooton

To me, forums & social networks seem much higher risk than our NGs did.

Hi Bill!

Forums are probably more secure since we need an account to get in. But put in as little as possible about yourself else we will become a social network! How do you like my picture/avatar?

James H. Schafer

I totally agree with you, Terry. The forums have caused me to lose all interest in following the posts. For the life of me, I have not discovered why some feel the forums are better than the ng's. Just my .02 cents worth. [8-)]

BroJames