Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hi guys and gals - Just a brief note to say that our group has grown to almost 1100 members, even though the active ones are much, much less. I think we have outgrown the limited format where each message just posts one after another and you cannot seperate topics, emails can inundate your inbox and even daily digests can be very, very large. I see no solution other than to change to a different format and that is what I think we are going to do. I have looked at some of the other places that host forums, but have not found one that I want to move the group to, so I think what I will do is have our own site created which we can set up however we like - where we can have a group of forums all together on our own site and seperate forums for just oleander, general discussion, recipes, humor, you name it - and perhaps a chat room too. Yep, big, big changes. As luck would have it, I happen to know a guy who can do such a thing for me. Hang in there, it will take awhile - but I think big change is coming that you will all like. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hi Tony, It makes sense and though I like the homey feel of emails from this group it is a testimony to the energy of this forum that we keep coming back to post about oleander, baking soda, depression and bras. Good luck with the transition, Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 The change sounds good, so long as I can continue as a member. I do not "participate"as the others do, but I utilize the information. I have bought products and books that are recommended on this site, I have added websites to my favorites that this forum has suggested. I am very happy to be a member. Looking forward to the change. Francine Morrison, M.D. --- On Fri, 1/16/09, Tony wrote: Tony Change is coming to the forumoleander soup Date: Friday, January 16, 2009, 12:02 AM Hi guys and gals - Just a brief note to say that our group has grown to almost 1100 members, even though the active ones are much, much less. I think we have outgrown the limited format where each message just posts one after another and you cannot seperate topics, emails can inundate your inbox and even daily digests can be very, very large. I see no solution other than to change to a different format and that is what I think we are going to do. I have looked at some of the other places that host forums, but have not found one that I want to move the group to, so I think what I will do is have our own site created which we can set up however we like - where we can have a group of forums all together on our own site and seperate forums for just oleander, general discussion, recipes, humor, you name it - and perhaps a chat room too. Yep, big, big changes. As luck would have it, I happen to know a guy who can do such a thing for me. Hang in there, it will take awhile - but I think big change is coming that you will all like. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Oh no. I truly dislike forums. I have to go to the web to read the emails, and I never do that as I MUCH prefer all my emails come into my email program. I like subjects moving back and forth without having to go to different forums/groups to read each subject. Well--I guess I'll just have to see how it turns out. Funny, because though there are a lot of posts daily, the group that actually DO post is very small. And I haven't seen too many complaints about how the group receives messages, or trying to find messages. Of course, many more may be writing you privately than we get to see in the group. I do know that the CS group I belonged to was as active as this, then the owner switched to an on-line forum, and participation fell way off. If a person doesn't go to the web for their email, they forget to go for just one group's messages. Sadly, Renee ---- I see no solution other than to change to a different format and that is what I think we are going to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hi Francine, Of course you and everyone else would remain members! We value each and every member. I know you don't post often, but I do remember your last post. And I am so glad that you avail yourself of all the information that is offered. Thank you for sharing this with us.Hugs,oleander soup , Francine Morrison <diaper_70748 wrote:>> The change sounds good, so long as I can continue as a member. I do not "participate"as the others do, but I utilize the information. I have bought products and books that are recommended on this site, I have added websites to my favorites that this forum has suggested. I am very happy to be a member. Looking forward to the change.> > > Francine Morrison, M.D. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 No need to be sad - what I have in mind is a custom made forum that keep the best feature of this group, such as the email options, but also adds much, much more. You're gonna have to trust me - and have I ever let you or the group down? What is sad is the number of people who come to this forum seeking information about oleander and cancer and see an endless barrage of personal chitchat and off topic messages and get turned away. And I do NOT want to eliminate those things or get away from the family atmosphere we have tried to develop here at all. But I don't want to turn anyone away who finds such things to not be there cup of tea. Likewise, I a number of people somehow miss the message we send all new members and post more or less regularly about how to keep down or eliminate a barrage of emails that they find burdomsome. What you do not see are the private messages I get and, worse still, you do not see how many people from the group. The larger we get, the more that happens. Though we keep getting quite a few more new members than drop-outs, it bothers me a great deal to see anyone leave. With the new private forum site I have in mind there will be no need for anyone to drop out, those who wish can still get emails - as well as each have their own private messages stored online - different forums for off topic messages and perhaps even a chat room where members can visit in real time. I have been around the block and then some when it comes to forums. I think I know what will be best AND, unlike here, I will be able to make changes and additions according to the members wishes. I have a five plus year record here of caring and trying to do the best I can for the group and it's members. That will never change! oleander soup , "Gaiacita" <gaiacita wrote:>> Oh no. I truly dislike forums. I have to go to the web to read the emails,> and I never do that as I MUCH prefer all my emails come into my email> program. I like subjects moving back and forth without having to go to> different forums/groups to read each subject. Well--I guess I'll just have> to see how it turns out. > > Funny, because though there are a lot of posts daily, the group that> actually DO post is very small. And I haven't seen too many complaints> about how the group receives messages, or trying to find messages. Of> course, many more may be writing you privately than we get to see in the> group. I do know that the CS group I belonged to was as active as this,> then the owner switched to an on-line forum, and participation fell way off.> If a person doesn't go to the web for their email, they forget to go for> just one group's messages. > > Sadly, > Renee > > ---- > > I see no solution other than to change to a different format and that is what I think we are going to do.> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hope we don't get to miss good health tips like we do get them now. Will there be a table of contents where we can click to read? Thanks. Melly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Ok--whew, eliminated my furrowed brow. :-) Samala, Renee ---- No need to be sad - what I have in mind is a custom made forum that keep the best feature of this group, such as the email options, but also adds much, much more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 For whatever it is worth, some of us do not like or use forums. I find it much more difficult and complicated to find the information I want, than being able to scan down the digest and decide what to click on. And go to the homepage and search the archives with questions I have. I don't have to be " online " for big chunks of time, either, which is a big plus for some of us. I don't " do " forums. I can never find the information I am looking for on those sites. WAY too zooey. There are many that feel this way. I am on several who have separate lists for other " stuff " - one main list, one for off-topic, etc. Some have as many as five separate lists, all associated with the main list, and moderators will nudge folks to move a topic to the " correct " list if folks get stuck on discussing something on a " wrong " list. Its kind of the best of both worlds. Folks who like forums don't usually " do " (or other group) lists. Many folks who prefer lists such as this one often don't " do " forums, other than to click on some message forwarded to them. I think you will lose a lot of folks if you move the format. You might draw a lot of others. There would probably be some overlap, but I think you'll be surprised at how little. Maybe you want to do both.... just a thought. Sara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Not to worry - you have not seen MY forum site yet. Also, no doubt I will keep both going at least initially while we try to combine the best of both worlds. The problem with maintaining other "lists" is that they are really other groups and each one has a website you have to go to seperately. We already spun off "Oleander Soup for Pets" but you cannot get there from here and vice-versa. Maybe in the end it will turn out that we keep this group and have the forum too. But the forum will have many features, including an article directory where every article I have written and many more will be posted. Oleander will be one forum in the site and it will work a lot like this one, except that you will be able to see all the topics listed at once instead of having to hunt through lengthy digests, scroll back through several pages (and over 10,000 messages now), communicate privately with other members, and on and on. Nothing is imminent, but change is coming. Much better "change" than I fear may be coming elsewhere (ahem). As this forum grows it is just consuming me along with everything else I do and the same with . I am a poor guy because I give so much time to things that make little or no money for me. Of course that is what I want to do, but I have to have a roof over my head and eat and have a modest life at least. The forum site should go a long way in helping that too. Just have to trust me and wait and see - and then help me with suggestions and such to make it as user friendly as possible. oleander soup , Sara Mandal-Joy <smjlist wrote:>> For whatever it is worth, some of us do not like or use forums. I find > it much more difficult and> complicated to find the information I want, than being able to scan down > the digest and decide what> to click on. And go to the homepage and search the archives with > questions I have. I don't have to be "online" for big chunks of time, > either, which is a big plus for some of us. I don't "do" forums. I can > never find the information I am looking for on those sites. WAY too > zooey. There are many that feel this way. I am on several > who have separate lists for other "stuff" - one main list, one for > off-topic, etc. Some have as many as five separate lists, all > associated with the main list, and moderators will nudge folks to move a > topic to the "correct" list if folks get stuck on discussing something > on a "wrong" list. Its kind of the best of both worlds. Folks who > like forums don't usually "do" (or other group) lists. Many folks > who prefer lists such as this one often don't "do" forums, other than to > click on some message forwarded to them. I think you will lose a lot of > folks if you move the format. You might draw a lot of others. There > would probably be some overlap, but I think you'll be surprised at how > little. Maybe you want to do both.... just a thought. Sara> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 I completely agree with Renee. Especially if the new group is anything like curezone. I have never been able to figure that out. I have never been able to see any replies to the original post. It is the most user unfriendly site. I like the way works. I will miss this group, but, I don't need any more stress. Nonie Oh no. I truly dislike forums. I have to go to the web to read the emails, and I never do that as I MUCH prefer all my emails come into my email program. I like subjects moving back and forth without having to go to different forums/groups to read each subject. Well--I guess I'll just have to see how it turns out. Sadly, Renee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Nonie,What we are doing is in the planning stages. I want you to know that it will be NOTHING like Curezone. Tony and I will have full control and there will always be a family atmosphere. Tony is in the midst of looking at different types of alternatives and I can assure you it will be most user friendly.Also, I thank everybody for your suggestions. We are listening, and putting our heads together. We value your input tremendously.Hugs,oleander soup , Nonie <nmsammy wrote:>> > I completely agree with Renee. Especially if the new group is anything like curezone. I have never been able to figure that out. I have never been able to see any replies to the original post. It is the most user unfriendly site. I like the way works.> > > I will miss this group, but, I don't need any more stress.> > Nonie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 trusting the two of you,sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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