Forum Participation

[snowplow3840]

Every so often someone says how long it takes to read the forum and keep up so they don't come here very often. The forum has a lot of topics and most of us (myself included) aren't very careful about where we post a question. (Just look at the topics listed in this one category and almost all of them have little to do with the function of the forum) Now before you all get upset and think that is a criticism ----- NO IT IS SIMPLY AN OBSERVATION OF OUR BEHAVIOR AND I AM ONE OF THE WORST OFFENDERS !!!!!!!LOL-----

to new people to the forum or those of you who don't read it every day, I have these suggestions.

1. JUST START - Read a thread or two that you are interested in
(for example if you are a long arm quilter start by reading that section first) then each time you log in to the forum, read one or two new sections. Read the newest entries first and go back only if you have time or the discussion is something you are really interested in.

2. After you get started so you have read a few sections, run through the forum at least once a day if possible. When I have had to miss three or four days, I feel overwhelmed .

3. Watch for people who have said things that were helpful to you or were particularly interesting to you and read their entries first. Then read the other entries if you have time. I am not suggesting that you do not read other people - I think everyones entries should be read but when you are getting started that is a good way to approach the problem of too much information too little time.

4. Respond to a thread or start your own thread. By doing that you will be more invested in reading the entries to that thread

5. Don't feel like you have to read every entry completely. I don't have a Bernina so often skip that thread, I don't do Dear Janes so that is another one I can skip. No long arm machine ok ski[ that one etc.

BUT MY MOST IMPORTANT SUGGESTION IS JUST DO IT. GET STARTED AND YOU TOO MAY HAVE TO JOIN ONE OUR ADDICTS PROGRAM.

(HI My name is Ann and I am addicted to TQS, the forum, the blogs, anything Ricky convergences etc. AND I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE SO THERE TOO)

[tkwritr]

I've been guilty of trying the forums, found them difficult to navigate (just because I'm so used to the Blogs), and left after just a couple of clicks. Then I happened to read a blog that suggested giving the forums another try. So I did and found the tip about "new since last visit" link. MUCH EASIER to get to the latest information.

I'm still searching through the forums and find myself wanting to respond to posts from last year! I'll keep fumbling through them until it becomes as second nature as the blogs and add my name to the roles of the TQS addicted. Currently my name appears at the top of most lists for Blogs, Quilt Gallery, Shows, Daily Blog, and Classrooms.

[tkwritr]

What simplifies it for me is the ability to click on "view posts since last here." thank you to whoever designed that part!

[tkwritr]

When I come to the forum, I click the "since last visit " spot and once I am there I make my choice of topic. At the top in the light purple bar It says "oldest first" that starts you at the beginning of the thread. If you click on that spot you can chance it to "newest first" then "Go" which is right next to the spot you just clicked. That will take you to the entries of that day. Then you will not be responding to posts from months prior. Hope all you newbies feel free to join in. The more voices in the choir, the prettier the music. Betty Ann

[GloriaH]

I've noticed that at times some one will hop in on an old thread which starts up a new discussion. So I don't think that is a bad thing. I would really encourage people to just start some where. The more the merrier.

[Lorna1021]

What simplifies it for me is the ability to click on "view posts since last here." thank you to whoever designed that part!

Thanks to the one who originally came up with this feature, but more improtantly, thanks to someone who pointed it out last week. This feature does make going through the forum much faster. Thanks.

[Judymc]

I love to read all the threads, but I've had to exert some self-control when it comes to the Forum. I think Ann has the best advice for all of us addicts out here! :lol: Once in a while, I fall off the wagon and read everything!!! :shock:

[sandytn]

I also use the 'view posts since last visit' button and then I click on the sheet of paper (to right of screen name of person who posted last comment) which takes me to the most recent post and I can scroll up the page to see what has been added since last visit. I hate to check in and only have two or three posts to read so everyone jump in. Or maybe I shouldn't check in so often. Noooo

[PattiSure]

For some reason this feature isn't working for me. Like today, all the Jun 4 posts should have had the red highlight on them and it didn't and when I clicked to get most recent posts, it should there were none.

[PattiSure]

PattiSure, that happened to me earlier today, too. Perhaps it was one of those mysterious "glitches" or "burps." (A techie once actually called it that once!) But when I came back a few minutes ago, it was working again. I am so addicted to this, my family is ready to commit me. But I think it's just because I have few responsibilities right now. (Am I an addict in denial?) 8)

[Margo]

For some reason this feature isn't working for me. Like today, all the Jun 4 posts should have had the red highlight on them and it didn't and when I clicked to get most recent posts, it should there were none.

It doesn't work for me either, and NEVER HAS!!
Sometimes the red highlights are there, and sometimes not...
but I always seem to be able to get to "view your posts", then, when I have some time I just scan through the rest of the forum checking the dates to see what's going on currently.

[gran5]

That feature has never worked for me either. When I click on "view posts since last visit" I get message that says, "no topics or posts met your search criteria." Also the little yellow indicator for new posts used to work off and on but doesn't work at all now.

[gran5]

Part of the problem is we use the forum as a chat room... WE ALWAYS GO OFF TOPIC making the thread hard to read for someone who comes just for information and not to catch up on each others lives.

I try to keep my personal notations in one area of the forum and stick to the topic of the thread when I respond... I do this by responding to the first post and then reading other comments.. Yes I do get off topic too. Births and happy news is too hard to resist.

MAYBE we need to be germain to the thread keeping our comments to the topic discussed and start new threads that we can post our comments about life on...

As you know I think there are tooooooo many topics here making the board totally difficult to view but this is the one time I would like a new category... something like

OFF TOPIC or

Coffee time or

JUST AMOUNG US QUILTERS... someplace we can post our community and freindship notes.

[gran5]

Instead of the VIEW LAST POST SINCE YOU WERE HERE ... I think they should have the last 25- 50 threads posted on...

I never get to stay on this forum for more then a quick break at work... 01 - 15 minutes tops... So I come here two or three times a day... the VIEW LAST POST get wiped out with each visit so I have to try to hunt through the post manualllllly .... such a pain.


I like the people here but I hate the format of the board... just oo hard...

Maybe we should address this again in the FORUM / WEB PAGE comment section...

Another thing... why dont they have the quilting stuff first since this is a quilting forum... WHY DO THEY HAVE all the web page commentary stuff at the top?

[gran5]

Oh my goodness... I realized after I posted I was in the forum section.... toooooo early in the morning... I think I will go back to bed.