Feedback on new layout

You say..... (each are quotes/extracts from your reply)...

""We have a great deal of other data and feedback from across the whole Community, which we also need to consider when updating groups"".

You are carrying out these changes to the Breast Cancer Group based on a). the 'whole Community' or b). the whole Breast Cancer Group Community?......

if its a). When why does the Breast Cancer Group have to suffer because the wider community has concerns with their own Group.

if its b). I can't say I have seen anyone saying the original layout/structure to the Breast Cancer Group was confusing. We have complained of 'site' issues - genuine problems eg attaching photo's - but, not about the 'structure'.   

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You say.....

""The more recent changes made to this group are as a direct result of feedback from our users. We are hearing that users are finding it really hard to find their way around the site, and struggle to know where to post when they’re new. As mentioned previously, these categories are not there to categorise people or experiences, but simply help users find what they’re looking for"".

The Breast Cancer Group is being changed based on a direct result of feedback from our users......  
I can honestly say I have never seen a post in the Breast Cancer Group saying they are finding it hard to find their way around the site.... I am seeing very many 'now' saying they are finding it hard to find, navigate and confused where to post.... I hadn't seen it before.  

I totally agree with LondonLass, when I first came here, my opening words would be 'my way of asking for help, I don't know if I'm in the right place, or can someone please help me' (I've not looked back to check, as it was one of the worst times of my life) - however, whatever I posted would be 'my way of gently saying to the ladies on here .... I'm lost, I need help .... not lost on 'the site' ..... lost in life!! 

We don't want to go back to the old platform - we understand that needed to go.  We are asking you to stop all these categories - because like it or not 'you are categorising us' - even if you say its not meant to.... it is categorising us!

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You say.....

a). ""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.

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

a). This sentence says it all for me....  you can see there is an 'overlap' across the categories - so this should let you see New Members will be confused on where to post and existing Members will easily miss new posts or lose the thread to reply to.  

b). You say you can make amendments to the categories - the categories are 'not' working, they really aren't.  They may look nice as you look in from the outside.... please see they are "not working".

We are having to fit/post into a category - we didn't do that before.  Before, we could all see new and old posts and easily reply.  If you look at your feedback since you introduced these categories you will see very many people agreeing 'the categories' don't work.

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I would like to add, I think how different threads have been started for this ---

1. Would you like to help us test a new group layout

2. Notice; we're making some changes

3. Feedback on new layout

4. Outcome of new testing of the new group layout

All the above 4 threads/posts relate to the same subject  ..... in the old layout/style we understand it.... you are posting these in the very same way that we understand.....

However, in your new structured categories .... this is confusing, just like we are saying.  All the 4 threads/posts should be looped together - because our responses, replys, questions, concerns, upset, etc have all been spread out over 4 posts - this does not feel right - we don't know where to reply and more so ..... most members won't reply, they are here because they are desperate, they have either had or have got cancer (now you have made me type 'the' word) - they don't want to be designing websites.... they want to be able to 'read' posts, decide if they want to join, join, then post....

In truth.... I don't think many (I would not of wanted to) want to have to feel they have to go in the first category 'New here, say hello..... this would possible of put me off posting ... I don't want to be .... Hello look at me, I'm new blar blar.  I think most want to sneak in and write things like .... I need help - please can someone from anywhere help me -  If we were joining a 'Bingo online Community' then.... go for it.... New here, say hello....I'm new here, I'm form Northbourne, I am so missing going out to the bingo, I was buying 6 books twice a week - anyone else here missing our trips out!!!! 

Sadly, its not like this..... We are desperate, we come here for help, support and to be lifted.  I don't think you are realising how the categories don't work.  If you look at this from our side, you need to be looking from "I'm vunerable, my like feels like its ending, I don't know what to do, I want to find someone that might be able to help me whilst remaining anonymous - until I feel comfortable to share my personal information and life with you.  For now I want you to take me by the hand and guide me...... all of which we were getting without categories .... three years on and I have only just started to give my name out, and this stopped as quick as it started as I don't want to get mixed up with another member with the same name.

An open letter to admin...... was a way of hoping you would listen.

I don't think you can see what these changes are doing.... it's creating upset, stress and worry - the very opposite of what Macmillan is about.  We are being made feel that we have to fit into box's, new people can only post once they have posted in "New here, say hello".

My final part to this post..... You might notice since your new design/categories many of the long standing members aren't on here so much  I don't blame them.  Why not update the site with straightforward things, move the completion with the Top 'percentages' ..... fortunately, we all get on... but seeing most members are 1% and the another member is a 50% (luckily she loves us and we love her, she was always galloping about )  - you did say this was not intended for use and it would removed, yet its still there.... tidy the site up instead of breaking it up.

I'm not meaning to offend anyone, this is said from the heart, from a stressed mind that really doesn't need this - but, like others, we need to speak out - so you can see.  I have nothing to gain from any of this - I am trying to help new people that follow in our footsteps - I want them to feel the true warmth and love you can get from this Group - before it changed. 

Now where do I post this.... hmmm will it get noticed if I post in 1 or should it be 2, hmmm maybe it should be 3 or 4.... I'm going with 3 - Feedback on new layout arrrrghh xx

I've changed the blue text back to black 

Beautifully put WhatHappened. I just hope they can see how much this site means to us and that we aren’t trying to be awkward we are fighting to give those that follow the same experience that we have had. Xx

I have had a post edited out now. This does not change my views on this new construction, I do not like it, and it dies not work fir me. I have pointed out how well the bowel cancer group works. No categories, posts easy to find, newbies easy to support. Why can’t we have that back please ?

  we are  now on page 11 of feedback and non of it is positive about the changes,   i dont understand  what this points thing is next to my name or percentage   , it makes me feel like i am being ranked   who by  other members? macmillan ?

My reflections are   previously when  i logged on the site  i could see who had posted and also it allowed  re posts to bring posts back up the list     i haven't worked out how to know who has posted what  where yet    also   the number of views   is very disheartening    people are asking for help and advice  and can see how many people have had a look at their personal post and then not replied     how disheartening this must feel for them

  Ellen ( Macmillan )   you mention  the improvement in  terms of new members   in the traffic on the site since the changes    ,    this  does not  mean/ equate to the new layout encourages more people as they wouldnt know you had a new site , the increase in traffic  compared to presumably the previous month  is the sad fact as Moony mentions that  we have had a backlog  in cancer diagnosis due to pandemic 

The response   from  Macmillan to the feedback lacks compassion   and that makes me feel really sad    the part about we will not be change  it back   makes me feel like macmillan wants to cleanse itself of the regular posters who have criticised the changes      please do reconsider 

What's this members percentage ?  I've not seen that but I use iPad or iPhone .  Is it only on laptop and what does it provide a statistic of ?

Totally agree ursula2 I have previously mentioned the viewed number being shown and how disheartening it must be. However I didn’t even get a response. In fact I believe I have mentioned it a couple of times now! I know I have felt I need to reply to certain threads because I saw there were 20+ views and no reply’s! Now I know that might be because people who have read it had nothing useful to add, but if I was new to the site and desperate for help. I would feel sad and ignored! 
So many things still need tweaking! Perhaps Mac should concentrate on getting these smaller niggles sorted before deciding to redesign the whole group and yet still have the issues that people were commenting on! 

I don’t recall anyone saying they didn’t like the old singular group! So I am still confused as to why it has changed! It certainly doesn’t seem to of improved things! Especially when it’s not even capable of putting the larger threads where they belong! 

Please start listening to those of us who use the site and who CARE about the site and more importantly the people on it. Surely you can see how much this means to all of us!!

Good morning Ellen and Steph, apologies as I know you will have lots to read through already this morning! However having just logged in this morning I have noticed that your Sub groups don’t seem to be as ‘clear’ and easy to understand as  Macmillan seem to think they are! 

This....

Finding it hard to navigate around site to find categories as some seem to be years old, any advice? Would be great if anyone at roughly same stage on here

Was posted by one NEW member! 

Also....

Got my first Chemo later today, will this be the end of life as I know it. I know I have cancer but still feel well, so worried that I won’t feel like this again for a very long time 

was posted in the Ongoing Discussions! 

And finally this..

Morning, just wondered if anyone esle has an upset stomach since diagnosis. Very loose stools , am going 3 or 4 times in the morning then it seems to calm down. Am still waiting results of scans so am feeling very anxious. Not on any medication yet.

was posted in Emotional Support and Chat.

Its first thing Monday morning and those 3 lovely people clearly show that this set up is NOT working and that even those that you have stated, find the site easy to navigate, clearly don’t! If the group had its previous set up of just one group where everyone posted, those threads would be in the right place and would be answered and those members would be given the advice and support they need! 
Can you really still say this new design is ‘working’!

Grogg if you place your mouse on my name - it will open in a little square. In that little square it shows my name, picture, latest activity and then ...  Points (?) and Percentage (?) 

most of us are 1% and a certain Lion Lady that likes gallop about is 50%

This has been here since new platform - I mentioned it to Macmillan in a post a few months back and they said it wasn't going to be used and would be removed.  

These are things that should/could be tidied up ‍

None of this post is meant to offend and are my own views x

Breaking news this evening shows that Macmillan has acknowledged at least 50,000 cases of cancer delayed diagnosis because of the first lockdown, and that cancer diagnosis was already behind and has not caught up; also that there are many more (numbers unknown) due to the second lockdown. 

So the numbers filtering into the breast cancer group are probably the tip of an iceberg. In my opinion therefore, the group needs to stop this sub-group divisive system as it’s obvious it confuses some new people joining, and reinstate a proper flow of latest posts. It would make for a far more logical system. The present flow of latest posts is not current (in that it does not include all the latest posts) and by including all the original start of the post it occupies far too much of the ‘page’.

However, distinguishing between ‘started’ and ‘latest’ is very useful for those of us who do try to answer new posts, but to have to search them out in any number of sub-groups is not only time consuming, it’s very frustrating! so again, one proper group is FAR more logical. Admin, you’ve been shown quotations in previous posts which demonstrate that posts don’t present in the logical sub-groups and need us ‘helpers’ to search. Please do change back, otherwise you will end up losing the very people who, like me, try to stay to help the newly diagnosed, frightened, terrified, panic-stricken folk who can’t find their way around logically. When your mind is filled with panic you cannot logically slot into sub-groups with accuracy! 

actually, I joined the site when there were only two current threads, ‘general cancer discussions’ and ‘chat’ and found even that confusing in my distress! 

And yet again, I got thrown off the site while typing and had to sign in again before this would post! Thank goodness my post was still available!