Notice: we're making some changes

Hi everyone,

We have finished making the layout changes in the group, but we are still in the process of moving threads into the new categories. As we have to do this one by one, it does take some time so it is a work in progress which will be ongoing this week. 

If you cannot find the thread you're looking for in one of the categories, you should be able to find it in the 'Archive' as this is where all discussions are being moved from. 

If you see anything which you feel is in the wrong category, please do let us know and we can move it to where it should be. 

Thanks for your patience with us during this changeover. We have set up a Feedback thread, where you can post any thoughts about the new layout, and give us your feedback about what works well or where we can improve. I'll also add a link to the feedback thread in the notice across the top of the group for easier access. 

Best wishes,

Ellen

Don't expect too many reply's or responses..... you can't find this page.

For what my opinion is worth:

the categories are terrible
no dates showing when post posted
archive.... Awake thread in 'archive' - crazy - its used on a daily basis.

To be hones this new layout looks just like 'two other sites that have forums' ....
I don't use them sites, they are over complicated, not user friendly and sadly this layout is going the very same way.

I can honestly say 'Macmillan had a really user friendly forum before all this, it felt, for want of better words 'typing was like actually talking to other members' - now I feel we are been pushed into 'clic's' - feeling left out, lost in a maze of different sections that don't make sense.

I think you are changing something that is 'not broken' ..... you are actually breaking it.... all in the name of progress/updating.... well, give us basic updates that we have asked for.... a like button, a dislike button, a laugh button, a love button, a cry button..... I think I can say we are a straightforward group in here, just like 'plain, simple, straightforward' - please just do the basics - less is more so to say 

G x

Hi Ellen, sorry but it doesn’t make sense to move active threads like the ‘Awake’ thread into archive.  It doesn’t make sense to separate or categorise people or direct them to different sections when cancer is something that changes on a daily basis and people need support at all stages and in different situations.  I am sorry, but I worked in IT for many years and find the site hard to navigate and clumsy to use.  What about people who don’t understand technology.  It shouldn’t be so hard to setup a forum and keep it running in a sensible, easy to use environment.

Kirsty

Hi Ellen,

Oh dear.....you have opened a Hornet's nest today.

 But I still feel this organisation could work. 

I have understood you haven't finished. Maybe a temporary heading....this group is being reorganised whilst maintaining operations so things may change frequently.......might stop some of the posters assuming ...this is it....!.

The headings need to be more prominent so they are obvious. 

I still believe it will be easier to use under the four sections but I realise I am in a minority at the moment.

I am wondering if to start it you should put into each section only topics that have been active in the last 48 hours. The rest will still be in Archives but all the relevant, current ones will be clearer. I don't think 48 hours will miss anything important..........

I would also like someone to look carefully at the screen on a phone. We are getting too much ' archive ' material on each page. Sometimes the original comment takes two thirds  of the page. Then at the bottom....Latest activity can list things days old. Sandwiched in the middle....two comments from the last few hours.

The other anomaly is the reply system. Nothing replies directly to the point being answered . It may say the name of the poster but drops out of sequence to the bottom of the list. This can be very confusing for the next contributor. I don't know if it's possible to fix this or remove it?

I think back to when I first found the site. Actually it was never easy. I had a couple of urgent questions and had no idea where to put them. There seemed to be chatty, private conversations everywhere. Since then I have realised that it wasn't quite like that but last week I read several newcomers saying....Is this the right place? Or words to that effect. I think a section saying ...if you're new introduce yourself is great and obviously once you've got treatment, posters aren't stupid....they can move their question to a new place. And a chat section .....I still think mental support seperated from physical support is clearer and it doesn't detract from important practical questions by knocking them down the list. In the same way morale support is equally important and doesn't need to be interrupted by questions about chemo or radiotherapy . I like the idea of two sections covering both.

My opinion.....very much in the minority....is to persevere with this. With proper graphics, clear headings and less archive material in the forefront ,this site could accommodate improvements without alienating everyone.

I know you're getting a lot of flack and none of this is probably your fault. It is easy to forget the previous format had problems.........and as we are all individuals some people will dislike the changes but we must never lose site of the purpose of this site....that it has helped and will continue to help ....whatever the format......many thousands of people sadly affected by cancer.

• Karen

Hi Ellen, have posted my thoughts somewhere else, no idea where but also wanted to add. 

could we get rid of the ‘views’ I remember this being used on another site I used to go on and left in fact because it was just too structured and cold. Which seems to be where this is heading! But anyway I think there is nothing more disheartening than to see your post was viewed 20 times but that no one or just 1 person replied! Why do we need to know how many people viewed our question/post?! 

Also on a different topic, I still find I am unable to post a pic on the AWAKE thread! I follow the usual route and there is no ‘upload’ option! So I come out of the thread, go to another thread pretend to post there by going into photo option and the upload appears, so I then go back into the AWAKE thread and then the upload appears and I can post a Pic! Why does the ‘upload’ seem to only appear at certain times? 

I really hope Mac can find a set up that suits everyone. Something that is practical for newcomers but also gives off the caring/relaxing vibe that it used too. Instead of the structured, clinical vibe that it is currently showing! 

I know I thought initially before you made changes that a few catagories were useful but seeing it in practice I would just have 2.  One for new to say hello and the other for all the questions, chat etc.  

I do think since you've had the "new here" catagory we've had more new people saying hello and it would be great if all forum members looked out for this to welcome people.  I do think this catagory makes people feel safe in making their first post.

Think that is a great idea Carol (Grogg) xx

Hi everyone, I've pasted below my post from the other thread, as there's a few threads talking about the new layout and I wanted to be sure you could see my post:

Hi everyone,

Thanks for taking the time to share with us how you're finding the new layout. 

We wanted to test this new format as we have had a lot of feedback from users saying they find the site really difficult to navigate. We posted about testing this new format in this group, which had a positive response. 

We worked with the members on the thread we created to come up with the categories, as we wanted to keep things as simple as possible for new members who are coming to the site. 

The categories are absolutely not intended to segregate people, but rather help people find what they're looking for more easily. We ran remote user testing on this new format, which received a really positive response.

Moving the content is a manual process, we have to move each thread one at a time, so it's been a work in progress. We haven't left any threads in the 'Archive' intentionally as of yet, as we're still moving the content into the relevant categories. I made sure this was clear in both the original post in this thread, as well as the temporary notice at the top of the group, to let members know there are some changes. 

We can absolutely move the Awake thread, walking back to happiness and others into the categories, as we haven't yet finished moving threads across.

We've changed the name of 'Archive' to 'Ongoing discussions' for now.

This change is very much based on feedback from our members. New users are telling us that they find it difficult to find a thread which is relevant to them, and they're unsure where to post. We hoped that having spaces for these would help new users to find their way around, and would ensure member's who are already here would know where to go to welcome the new members as well as find their own threads and connect with others. 

We really value your thoughts, and we want this group to work in the best way for you. 

I can see there are some benefits of having a safe space for new users, so they feel they know where to go when they first come to the site. 

There is definitely overlap across the categories and we aren't trying to have a really structured site where you can only post something that's about the category you're in. We recognise experiences are all unique, and there will be some more emotional support threads in the treatment and diagnosis category, and vice versa. The categories aren't there to categorise people or experiences, but rather help group content so everyone can find what they're looking for a little easier.

We can make amendments to the categories as we go along, if the current ones aren't working how we want them to.

We understand that change is not easy, but we hope that in time both yourselves and future users will see the benefit of this new format as throughout our testing, this was the feedback we had. 

Best wishes,

Ellen

Hi Ellen 128 views of your original post and 6 replies I think speaks volumes as you gave us all the chance to be involved if we chose not to take that then that is no one's responsibility but our own.

I agree with the changes and voted on them as you had asked us all to do. It is not helpful for responses to include negative comments to people in their replies about the forum that is not what we are here for.

I like many have tried to access the forum on my phone and the only clear view I get of the whole site is on my laptop therefore, I for one never access the forum on my phone now as It doesn't seems compatible with a good view. 

Best Wishes x

The only thing is  how many of those views have come after the changes were made? I for one didn’t see the post until this morning! So had no way of voting before hand! The fact that only 6 people commented/voted would perhaps say that the message didn’t get through! Perhaps an email would of created more interest/more responses!