Anybody else feel the mood/tone of the board has changed

[HollyDay]

I dont want to start something and I dont even know how to explain it really. It just feels like the mood or tone of the board is different. The change isnt necessarily bad, again, it feels very different to me than the old board did. Anybody else??

[Night Elf]

Yes, but I don't feel comfortable elaborating. This is my only homeschool support. I don't post nearly as much as I used to. And I check my rep points so often to make sure I haven't gotten any negatives that I actually dreamed about negative rep points one night. :ack2:

[Jean in Wisc]

But I'm not here as much as I use to be. My kids are getting older, and they all are going to be high school or older next year--I've almost all my textbooks already for the next 4 years! I check my control panel every day to see if someone left me a message (not sure why--no one normally does. LOL!)

 

I have noticed that more folks leave messages on my blog rather than here on the boards now. I rather like that. LOL!

 

And when I have a question, I still get good answers...and I try to return the favor by helping a few others with their questions.

 

I do miss the camaraderie of the high school board, but that may be caused by my not going there as much--I tend to do the "new posts" rather than just one board if I come to check out TWTM.

 

So far no one has given me a bad rep (that I noticed anyway), but then, I don't suppose I'm immune to that...but I also don't suppose it matters too much to me (maybe it should, but this is just an internet board, right?).

 

:)

 

I suppose I see that the board changes come with the good and the bad--and everything in between.

 

:auto: (Off to the dentist and to pick up dd from college)

[beansprouts]

This board is growing fast. There are many new members, and even for the old ones this way of communicating seems "new". I think this "storming" we are seeing is a normal part of group dynamics. As we get to know each other and learn to communicate, there will be some misunderstandings, and some butting of heads. I think things will settle down again soon :001_smile:

[beansprouts]

A better explanation of what I was trying to say:

 

The Forming – Storming – Norming – Performing model of group development was first proposed by Bruce Tuckman in 1965, who maintained that these phases are all necessary and inevitable in order for the team to grow, to face up to challenges, to tackle problems, to find solutions, to plan work, and to deliver results. This model has become the basis for subsequent models of group development and team dynamics and a management theory frequently used to describe the behavior of existing teams. It has also taken a firm hold in the field of experiential education since in many outdoor education centers team building and leadership development are key goals.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forming-storming-norming-performing

[KidsHappen]

I don't believe that we are having any new conversations or communication issues that we didn't have on the old board. You can expect certain conversation to come seasonally and others to come less frequently but still somewhat regularly. It's just like life.

[WTMindy]

I don't believe that we are having any new conversations or communication issues that we didn't have on the old board. You can expect certain conversation to come seasonally and others to come less frequently but still somewhat regularly. It's just like life.

 

I agree with this. It is very cyclical. I actually find it close to the same, it is just a bit harder to be conversational because of the way the threads flow. I still love this board and it fills a "socialization" need for me! :001_smile:

[Jenny in Atl]

I agree with this. It is very cyclical. I actually find it close to the same, it is just a bit harder to be conversational because of the way the threads flow. I still love this board and it fills a "socialization" need for me! :001_smile:

 

And folks worry about the kids socialization! :tongue_smilie: I'm sure glad this board is here, along with all the others that have popped up over the years. I think it's great to have 3500+ members, that's a great "town" square.

[Josie]

Like some of the other ladies have said, I think it just happens from time to time. I think it is human nature. I just try to remember that the only person I can control is me, so I try to be uplifting. I pray I have never hurt anyone's feelings.

 

:grouphug:

[Mamagistra]

And folks worry about the kids socialization! :tongue_smilie: I'm sure glad this board is here, along with all the others that have popped up over the years. I think it's great to have 3500+ members, that's a great "town" square.

 

Yep. It's my little coffee shop. :001_smile:

[WyoSylvia]

I'm a complete newbie to this site so, I cannot comment on what this board used to be like, but this seems to be the perfect opportunity to post the comment that I've been composing in my head for a few days.

 

I have been humbled and awed by the outright generosity, helpfulness and respectful attitude that I have experienced in my few weeks on this forum. I knew that I would appreciate, at least generally, the teaching approach of posters here (TWTM) but I just didn't anticipate what I have seen, which is a true effort to help other people and frankly, people going out of their way to be respectful. I'm so glad that I have found this.

 

Sylvia

[KellyBelly]

It's funny you mentioned that... I thought this forum flowed much better and was "friendlier" than the former.

 

Maybe I just happened to see more "heated" exchanges on the other board... but so far things here seem calmer. I could be wrong... I'm not on much! :confused:

[Scarlett]

It is a great board. I agree it goes in cycles---I too remember some very ugly discussions on the old board. That doesn't come from board format though...that comes from ugly posters. The mood shift *I* feel in the last few days is a good one.

 

And that's all I"m going to say about that. ;)

[*anj*]

I agree that we had our share of tense moments on the old board too. I think that one difference is that in the old format the boards would flip. We knew that if there was an unpleasant discussion further down the board, eventually it would go away when the new board appeared. I know some of you remember how many times we purposely did silly things just to get the board to flip. It was like starting anew.

 

Those types of threads linger here. They may get pushed down the list, but they remain. And the fact is that unless they've been locked, people can still choose to bump them up or resurrect them.

 

(Oh, and I know that threads get deleted, but that doesn't usually happen to hot debate threads. I think that generally the deleted ones are those deemed detrimental to the health of the board and/or in outright violation of the stated rules. That was also the case on the old boards.)

[beansprouts]

I am one of the newbies here, and I am a bit envious of the history many of you share together. I am sure you all have seen each other's best - and WORST - days ;)

 

I also agree with Sylvia that this is an exceptional group. We can get through these rough phases :grouphug:

[DB in NJ]

Ya know what it reminds me of?...

 

Eleven years ago, when I first started homeschooling, many (most?) materials published BY homeschoolers FOR homeschoolers were simple, basic, not too busy, to the point, pick-it-up-and-go, black & white -- and got the job done. They were friendly, non-intimidating. Now, after so many years and lots of success, a lot of those friendly, unintimidating materials have been updated with new formats, slick covers, full-color graphics, extra/additional materials (*optional* but you'll feel like you're missing out if you skip them), etc. They are somehow less homemade and more corporate. Does that make sense?

 

Anyway, those of us who have been here forever (feels like it anyway) still sense that undercurrent of the "coffee shop." However, if I were brand new here, I'd feel like it was more corporate and less homemade.

[Night Elf]

To clarify my first response, I've always thought this community was wonderfully diverse. On the old board though, miscommunications were hashed out in public which kept things more civil (in some cases) because people still cared about how they came across to others. On this board format though, more can take place behind the scenes. A private jab (such as a pm, or negative rep) can be more hurtful because it's not aired in front of everyone. It reminds me of being cornered on the playground and threatened or admonished in a rough whisper. I encountered that very attitude on the Sonlight boards which have the same format as this one, and that is a very Christian board! Complaints did no good as the person who admonished me was known as a popular, frequent poster. So they got away with hurting me. I know I've seen others talk about experiencing that here too. It's the main reason I think of no longer being an active participant; but because this is truly my *only* homeschool support I feel I have no choice but to deal with it. So yeah, I miss the old board format tremendously. Just my humble opinion.

 

ps - I didn't post to purposefully receive positive reps, but I thank those of you who commented to me. :)

[Elisabeth in IL]

I don't think the board has changed all that much in tone. What I do notice, because I'm a part of it, is that different people are doing more posting. I lurked for a period of 5 years on the other board. On this new board I post a lot more.

[Jennifer in NH]

I love the coffee shop analogy! I only visited the old boards a few times, maybe 5 at the most! I've been here since the beginning of February and I do think of it as a coffee shop in a way! I have read some of the heated threads and have not posted in them...actually I haven't read through some of them because i just cannot read that much! I'd be here too long!;)

[Jill- OK]

Maybe I just happened to see more "heated" exchanges on the other board... but so far things here seem calmer. I could be wrong... I'm not on much! :confused:

 

...if you want to avoid seeing certain threads. On the old board, you had to keep scrolling past something, even if you didn't care to see it again, and here...you can just roll on by, and not open it up anymore. ;-)

 

But the flip side to that is that you have to click on threads to open them, just to know what's going on. I know you can subscribe to threads, etc., but what I enjoy most about the board is just hopping on for a few minutes and seeing what's going on.

 

It was possible to 'see' EVERYTHING at a glance, on the old board, and it just isn't here. I always search the "New Posts" when I log on, and that's helpful, but it isn't the same. In a way the "New Posts" keeps it quicker, but I'm sure I miss a lot, just because I don't want to open up each. and. every. thread. I do open up most of them, and glance through, in Hybrid mode, and that's helped me regain some of that old feel, but it's definitely changed things for me, as far as involvement.

 

The combining threads without any way of noting that sort of trips me up in that respect, too; I might think that someone else is just commenting on an old thread, and not read it, not realizing that the OP made a new update, and Admin. combined it with the old thread.

 

And...I can't help but think that there's WAY much more traffic than there was, on the old board. I don't know if Admin. tracked it, before, but that would be interesting to know; how much the traffic has increased, with the format change. That can't help but figure in to a change in tone.

 

So, I do think that a lot of the sense of 'community' that we had on the old board is gone, I think, because of that...but it's still a great resource, and the new format has many features to recommend it.

 

I kind of feel that the tone is more positive, overall, but it might be because, as I said...I can ignore certain things much easier.

[Whisperlily]

The main difference I see here, is that there are a lot of dead horses being beaten... Conversations that should/could have been buried, can be resurrected, forever.

 

A new board always meant a fresh start, even though old topics were often brought forward, it seemed that it gave people time to take a breath before jumping back into a hot topic.

 

That same issue is also a *good* part of these boards. Information, and topics that could get lost or buried unnoticed can be resurrected. The detailed information given by posters about a topic posted in the past can be linked for those who have a similar question months later.

 

I think the new format will take some time to get used to, but I'll take the bad with the good. Overall it's a wonderful new, feature-filled board.

[DB in NJ]

I love the coffee shop analogy! I only visited the old boards a few times, maybe 5 at the most! I've been here since the beginning of February and I do think of it as a coffee shop in a way! I have read some of the heated threads and have not posted in them...actually I haven't read through some of them because i just cannot read that much! I'd be here too long!;)

 

 

Credit for the coffee shop analogy goes to Mamagistra. :)

[beansprouts]

Credit for the coffee shop analogy goes to Mamagistra. :)

 

Coffee...

 

Now there's an idea!

[GailV]

I've been a member of another vbulletin board since 2001, and this same conversation comes up at least once per year: "Oh, this board is so different than it used to be," and, usually, "this board isn't as good as it used to be."

 

Which may well be true. Mostly, though, I just find it fascinating. When I think of my IRL communities, I can see that they've also changed within the past few months -- people come and go, encounter new stresses, we all hash through something together. I wonder why we are so inclined to comment on it when it happens to Internet communities. Or maybe y'all notice and comment on this IRL, too?

[Brigitte]

I've been a member of another vbulletin board since 2001, and this same conversation comes up at least once per year: "Oh, this board is so different than it used to be," and, usually, "this board isn't as good as it used to be."

 

Which may well be true. Mostly, though, I just find it fascinating. When I think of my IRL communities, I can see that they've also changed within the past few months -- people come and go, encounter new stresses, we all hash through something together. I wonder why we are so inclined to comment on it when it happens to Internet communities. Or maybe y'all notice and comment on this IRL, too?

 

That is a very good point. Take a look at the relationships you have with IRL friends, family, coworkers and acquaintances. They have their ups and downs. Think about the last place you worked, sometimes it seemed really friendly and happy and other times it seemed cut-throat and unwelcoming. The same applies to communities such as this. There are times both on the old and new board that I have felt I need to walk away and not come back, but most of the time it is a place I like to hang out.

[Susan Wise Bauer]

I've been a member of another vbulletin board since 2001, and this same conversation comes up at least once per year: "Oh, this board is so different than it used to be," and, usually, "this board isn't as good as it used to be."

 

You are so right. And in fact this same conversation came up at least once a year on the old board. I think it's just an inevitable element of an online community.

 

Those of you who have been around a while know that we resisted this change for a long time. But whatever you like/don't like about it (personally, now that I've gotten used to it, I LOVE it), it has one huge advantage that most of you don't fully appreciate. It can't get spammed by porn while all the adminstrators are sleeping.

 

Yeah, there's a story behind why that particular advantage stands out in my mind...

 

SWB

[Scarlett]

It can't get spammed by porn while all the adminstrators are sleeping.

 

Yeah, there's a story behind why that particular advantage stands out in my mind... SWB

 

Shudder. I like the new boards too. LOTS of members. Wow.

[readwithem]

But I'm not here as much as I use to be. My kids are getting older, and they all are going to be high school or older next year--I've almost all my textbooks already for the next 4 years! I check my control panel every day to see if someone left me a message (not sure why--no one normally does. LOL!)

)

 

 

Jean you can set your control settings to send you an email when you get a PM. Go to "Edit options" and about halfway down there's a box to check for email notification when you get a PM :)

[Dayle in Guatemala]

I know that in my life, real or cyber, I go through different changes. I have different needs, or a different outlook on things than I used to. Because of that, sometimes, relationships, real or cyber, change for me. Needs that were met before, aren't needs I have now, so it seems as though the relationship has changed. Really, my needs and views have changed.

 

This board really helps me. I know that my needs as a home schooler are changing, so maybe I won't be posting on the K-8 boards as much as I used to, maybe I won't be reading there as much, but, thank goodness for the High School Board! The tone there is different to me, but, as I lurk there, I'm getting the feel of it and soon, I'll feel more comfortable there.

 

For those who feel that there is maybe a little more opportunity for "cyber bullying", I hope that that all gets resolved. I hope you all don't feel as though you don't have a voice, that would be tragic. I learn so much from those with different points of view than myself! It's part of what makes learning so good.

[KellyBelly]

I lurked on the old boards from time to time, but I never posted b/c I felt like everyone was a tight-knit group of friends...

 

I post more here b/c I'm familiar with this format (I used to frequent another site with the exact format) and because it seems less exclusive. It's also easier to follow conversations imo, and it's nice to see everyone's avatars. (I haven't taken time to put mine up...)

 

Happy Friday! Cheers :cheers2:

[dangermom]

I hang out here much more with the new format. I enjoy seeing what everyone has to say. And every message board I've ever been on has a thread at least once a year, saying how much it's changed and how much better it used to be.

[OnTheBrink]

I hang out here much more with the new format. I enjoy seeing what everyone has to say. And every message board I've ever been on has a thread at least once a year, saying how much it's changed and how much better it used to be.

 

I agree.

 

I really hated the old board format and didn't post a whole lot over there. This has been a great change.

[Heather in Neverland]

Yes, but I don't feel comfortable elaborating. This is my only homeschool support. I don't post nearly as much as I used to. And I check my rep points so often to make sure I haven't gotten any negatives that I actually dreamed about negative rep points one night. :ack2:

 

Just out of curiosity, why are rep points so important? I have never checked my points and am not even sure how to and I don't even know if I have any. I can't see myself losing sleep over it unless it had some huge importance behind it that I am not aware of.

 

I get WHY people leave positive or negative rep...I just don't understand why it is so important to so many people. Sorry to sound like such a dolt but can someone explain this for me?

[Scarlett]

Just out of curiosity, why are rep points so important? I have never checked my points and am not even sure how to and I don't even know if I have any. I can't see myself losing sleep over it unless it had some huge importance behind it that I am not aware of.

 

I get WHY people leave positive or negative rep...I just don't understand why it is so important to so many people. Sorry to sound like such a dolt but can someone explain this for me?

 

 

Weeeeeell....it isn't important. It means nothing really....except there is a little part in all of us that just wants to be liked by others.

[mom2abcd]

When we had the old board, threads would "die" a natural death when the board rolled over. Here they can bump up and create a new stir.

 

Things seem a lot more negative here with the new format. I don't check in nearly as often because it doesn't seem as friendly to me.

 

I know next to nothing about the reps, but I'm not sure they're a good thing. Great idea for the swap and sale board, but they seem to be being used in a negative way for this board.

 

JMHO.

[genie]

Just out of curiosity, why are rep points so important? I have never checked my points and am not even sure how to and I don't even know if I have any. I can't see myself losing sleep over it unless it had some huge importance behind it that I am not aware of.

 

I get WHY people leave positive or negative rep...I just don't understand why it is so important to so many people. Sorry to sound like such a dolt but can someone explain this for me?

 

Because some people have been very vicious and rude in the comments they've left with negative rep. It's hard to miss it if you visit your user control panel. Some people feel like they can't post their opinions because they will get negative rep. Some people can't let it go as easily as you might be able to because they see the obvious hypocrisy displayed by some members here.

 

Ultimately, should people really care? Possibly not. After all, ignorance is bliss. But sometimes it's hard to stay ignorant.

[beansprouts]

That is a very good point. Take a look at the relationships you have with IRL friends, family, coworkers and acquaintances. They have their ups and downs.

 

I do have this one friend IRL... okay she is my best friend, she is the one who is always there when I need her.

 

But man, we have gotten into some nasty fights. More than once I have resolved to take my toys and go home and never, ever, ever play with her again :willy_nilly:

 

That never lasts long.

[Parrothead]

I just have to say that I like the new format. I could never figure out how to operate in the old one.

[Heather in Neverland]

It's hard to miss it if you visit your user control panel.

 

 

 

OHHHH...the user control panel...got it. So apparently I have 16 whole points! Is that good? Or bad? Should I be upset that more people aren't repping me (did I just turn that into a verb? sheesh)

 

I can see why, if someone wrote something really rude how it might upset someone. I still don't think I would lose sleep over it. Leaving each other nasty rep seems kind of junior high-ish to me...like writing mean things about someone on a bathroom wall.

 

I wonder if I will get negative rep points for posting this? And all you women out there who are not giving me positive reps are just not going to be in my popular club...so there. :tongue_smilie: :lol:

[Guest Virginia Dawn]

I have grown to like this board better than the old one.

 

I like being able to pass my curser over a new thread and get a glimpse of what's inside.

 

I like seeing how many people have posted in a thread, and how many have read it.

 

I like the avatars, profile pictures, and signatures.

 

I really like the rep and the private messaging. In fact those two things have made me feel much more connected with the posters here than I did on the old board.

 

When it first changed over I had thought of just dropping out of sight. Now I'm hooked.

[Lakeside]

Since I'm fairly new here and have only been on one other message board, which has the same format as this one, could someone please give me a lowdown on the formatting differences? On a few different threads people have posted links to the old board and I've tried to look at it, but I don't understand it. Also, what does it mean that the board flipped?

 

Thanks!:)

[Kelli in TN]

I have grown to like this board better than the old one.

 

I like being able to pass my curser over a new thread and get a glimpse of what's inside.

 

I like seeing how many people have posted in a thread, and how many have read it.

 

I like the avatars, profile pictures, and signatures.

 

I really like the rep and the private messaging. In fact those two things have made me feel much more connected with the posters here than I did on the old board.

 

When it first changed over I had thought of just dropping out of sight. Now I'm hooked.

 

 

Ditto on all that. That is what I would say, if you had not said it already.

[Mrs Mungo]

Yep. It's my little coffee shop. :001_smile:

 

I agree, I like chatting, telling jokes, hanging out and sometimes engaging in debate.

 

I haven't been around for the past couple of weeks, we had visitors. I feel like I missed something and I'm not sure I want to know what it was. :confused1:

 

eta: I like this format MUCH better than the old one. I love the ability to edit, use cute smilies and the whole nine yards. I love the avatars and signature lines. It gives everyone a more distinct personality to me. I'm very visual and the old boards didn't work for me, I didn't feel connected to anyone.

 

The thing I love most about rep is the funny comments people put in sometimes. I check mine frequently for this reason.

[Storm Bay]

It can't get spammed by porn while all the adminstrators are sleeping.

 

Yeah, there's a story behind why that particular advantage stands out in my mind...

 

SWB

 

Yes. Since most of my years here have been spent on the slower boards, this really is an advantage. The General Board didn't have too many problems, but AL and SN boards sure did because it took months for them to flip.

 

As for me, most of the change has been my using the highschool forum more often and this one less as we are planning to homeschool high school. I'm making new virtual acquaintances this way, although some are the same ones I've "known" on the AL boards for years, or on this board. There has been a big change on the AL board, but that's due in large part to a change of some of the people there and is neither bad nor good. Just like IRL, the dynamics are bound to change as the members of the group change.

[runningirl71]

I just have to say that I, too, really like this board! Although I've been using TWTM for 4 years now, I wasn't fully aware of this forum until earlier this year. I am usually a lurker, and still am on the more heated threads, but I have found so many who have been friendly, courteous, and so helpful, that I feel really comfortable posting here. Maybe it is me just coming out of my shell as I get older, or it could be I feel much more comfortable with the written word than with verbal language, I don't know.

 

As for heated threads, I don't think they are all bad. I come away reading the posters thoughts and comments challenged to think outside my little life "box" I'm living in. I agree this should be done in a polite, respectful manner, and sometimes it is hard to "read" a tone, but for the most part I think everyone here does a great job "playing nice." But, as some of you have said, things can be easily e-mailed privately, and no one else but us sees our rep points.

 

I just want to encourage you all to be yourselves! I love to be challenged in how I live my daily life and in my worldview! We all have unique perspectives on life as no one but us has lived for us!

 

:grouphug:

[Angela in TN]

I lurked on the old boards from time to time, but I never posted b/c I felt like everyone was a tight-knit group of friends...

 

I post more here b/c I'm familiar with this format (I used to frequent another site with the exact format) and because it seems less exclusive. It's also easier to follow conversations imo, and it's nice to see everyone's avatars. (I haven't taken time to put mine up...)

 

Happy Friday! Cheers :cheers2:

 

This is exactly my feeling! It felt a lot more cliquey on the old board and it was hard to know when and where to jump in. I do have to say though that I miss a lot of those voices that didn't come over here. Even though I felt like I was on the outside looking in I gleaned a lot from them. So all you oldies but goodies need to come on out!:D

[Beth in SW WA]

This is exactly my feeling! It felt a lot more cliquey on the old board and it was hard to know when and where to jump in.

 

I hope you didn't feel like that about the K-8 or high school board. They are the sweetest, most inviting group of folks -- ever! I was welcomed w/ open arms when I joined last summer.

 

As for the General board -- I just joined in these conversations recently and have had a great reception. I was disturbed by the tone of some of the members' postings over the last couple weeks, but it seems to have subsided.

 

I do like the meaty discussions w/ dissenting ideas (nod to Phred :)) because I need to learn more about issues that I otherwise would not discuss anywhere else. Not to mention, my kiddos will be having these discussions in "real-life" in the not-so-distant-future and its great to know what is coming down the pike. I obviously have a lot of reading/researching to do.

 

Rambling to self now...thanks for indulging :)

 

Happy Friday Night!!

[Night Elf]

I never said I was losing sleep over the rep system. I said I had a dream about getting negative reps.

 

And now because I feel weird about having dreamt about neg reps, let me also say I once dreamed about the TOG (Tapestry of Grace) program being a hotel and my not finding my way through to my room. I've never used TOG. I could easily write a book about my strange dreams. :)

 

I recall many parts of my dreams every night. I've been this way all my life. My dreams are extremely bright and vivid. I wake up recalling smells, touches, tastes, and sounds as well as larger than life visuals. Guess that's part of my dreamy nature. :sleep:

[Diana in OR]

OHHHH...the user control panel...got it. So apparently I have 16 whole points! Is that good? Or bad? Should I be upset that more people aren't repping me (did I just turn that into a verb? sheesh)

 

 

 

Here's the thing I've noticed about rep points. I have been here for 6 years, I have almost 300 posts with this new board, and have received whopping total of 5 rep points. Interestingly, I received most of them a while back when there was a discussion about giving rep points. I don't sweat it, though. I rarely give them, mostly because I forget to. I am trying to be more diligent about it, though.

 

Ooops! I guess I have 24pts! It takes me awhile to catch on sometimes, lol!

[Kay in Cal]

Strangely enough, I agree. It actually took me a month to get on this board I was so afraid of the new format, but now I really enjoy it.

 

I think this board is LESS cliquey--because there is always more going on, more threads, a larger community. It may be less close knit, but on the old board if you weren't in "the" conversation, ofttimes you weren't "in" the conversation, if you know what I mean. Here the fireworks are regional...

 

Though I do miss the drama of some of the old days... middle of the night flame wars between friends who will remain nameless, and the drama to end them all--the online "unmasking" of JGEMom. We had friends over that night, and they and my dh were calling up for updates. Those were the days! Now I'm feelign old.

 

"When I was a kid, we used to have to walk 5 miles through the snow, uphill both ways...."