Request for Forum User Feedback
Posted , 21 users are following.
Hello,
We recognise that recent changes to the forums have not worked for all users. Therefore, we are now planning an update to improve users experience of the forums. As part of this we are requesting that you please add your requests or ideas that are your highest priorities as a reply to this discussion.
Once we receive a suitable number of suggestions we will put these into a survey where users can then vote for the change(s) they would most like to see in the update. Once we have the results we will do the required changes and share these with you for any comments before we release to the site to ensure we have got it right.
There are some things we cannot do such as removal of ads as they fund the site, reinstate emails for every post and reversion to old format of the site. All other constructive suggestions to improve the forums will be considered.
While we may not be able to do everything that is suggested in this update we will take note of users input in deciding priorities.
Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Patient
1 like, 74 replies
ptolemy Emis_Moderator
Edited
I cannot believe how a perfectly good, professional site has been totally destroyed by bad systems design.
Joanna-SMUKLtd Emis_Moderator
Edited
Really should be looking to re-introduce the email notification for a brand new discussion.
I am not receiving the push notifications at all. I access the site via a laptop, a desktop and an Android phone and I am getting nothing on any device or any browser.
I have to actually go onto the site myself to see if there are any notifications at all, and because I don't check the site every day, some days can go by before I even realise there was a brand new discussion posted. The last discussion posted in the Alcohol Consumption group was 2 days ago, and I didn't know about it until just now when I just happened to log on. No push notification came through on any of my devices.
Advertising is awesome for you and does pay for the site, but people asking for help will not come back once they realise that no-one is answering (though they wouldn't understand that people didn't know their discussion was there). That is a 'one and done' person who will go elsewhere and your advertisers simply won't get a chance to advertise to them again.
It's brilliant that Patient are asking our opinions, but if 100 users of the forums tell Patient that they need/prefer notifications back, only a company with a deathwish would ignore such a strong opinion. It's very clear from the comments already that this is a 'hot topic'. Based on my experience, the push notifications simply are not working.
Also, we really could do with being able to 'copy and paste' within this writing board. I might want to quote something I replied that is the same as I replied to someone else a few months prior, but it will not let me copy and paste the bulk of the reply and then change what is appropriate. Instead, it makes me have to type out every single word of it again.
Anhaga Joanna-SMUKLtd
Edited
That's an interesting point about the copy and paste option. I wonder if it's because it would give us the ability to copy and paste anyone's comments, not just our own? I do know some people keep a little desktop file of their answers to most commonly asked questions - these are the people who have become the patient experts on a topic over the years. If you are one of them in your community, you could consider doing that. Then you can copy and paste your own document. In the past I've sometimes linked to another thread and indicated that I had a lengthy comment there.
nick67069 Joanna-SMUKLtd
Edited
I agree with everything you said about email notification..
but I wonder what device and OS you use if you cannot copy? Here is the text above from your message...
..."Also, we really could do with being able to 'copy and paste' within this writing board. I might want to quote something I replied that is the same as I replied to someone else a few months prior, but it will not let me copy and paste the bulk of the reply and then change what is appropriate. Instead, it makes me have to type out every single word of it again."
I did nothing special... just highlight the text of interest and copy it - all with few clicks of the mouse..
Anhaga nick67069
Posted
Ah, I tried the highlighting thing when I read Joanna's post, but because it came up yellow I assumed what she'd said was right, because it's not like any highlighting I've ever seen when copying and pasting. But you're right, Nick! They just decided for some reason to use hi-lighter yellow!
EileenH Joanna-SMUKLtd
Edited
Haven't tried the C&P - something I do use quite often - but everything else I can only shout a heartfelt "me too"!!! Not an email notification in sight - maybe a few since it was changed. And more than a dozen unread comments for this thread and I haven't a clue which is which.
But leave it another few weeks and the forum will be dead.
Joanna-SMUKLtd nick67069
Posted
Hmm, interesting. I can copy your post, Nick, but then it won't let me paste it. When I right click the 'paste' bit is not an option - maybe because I tend to use Internet Explorer perhaps? I know a lot of sites are phasing out being able to use IE,
Thanks anyway, though - that bit is clearly just me then 😃
nick67069 Joanna-SMUKLtd
Posted
Have you tried Ctr-C and Ctr-V for cut/paste? Also if you can copy in IE, you can still use Ctr-V to paste.
Not using IE here, using Firefox. Even Microsoft replaced IE with "Edge", so maybe it is time for you to change too 😉 .
Emis_Moderator Joanna-SMUKLtd
Edited
Hi Joanna,
Re the push notifications - you will only receive these for direct replies and PMs, not new discussions which is the same as emails. As I have posted elsewhere I am aware of the user feeling and we are looking to reinstate the emails on an opt in basis.
As Nick says re copy/paste, using Ctrl V to paste does work in IE.
Anhaga - the yellow highlighting when copying - agree it is "odd". I'll ask if this is something we can change.
Alan
EileenH Emis_Moderator
Posted
You do realise that only Joanna will be told you have replied? You have included Nick and Anhaga as we used to do - but that is a waste of time now. Each person requires their own reply ...
1951grumpa Emis_Moderator
Edited
For the past several weeks i have not received anything from the PMR GCA site. I don't know how to go about receiving them?
Thank you, George
EileenH 1951grumpa
Edited
They have changed the system - read the whole thread for details. If you don't get a reply from someone (like this) you have to be proactive and come and look. It is an utter pain
Emis_Moderator 1951grumpa
Posted
Hi George,
Further to Eileen's comment you will not receive notifications from the PMR group as you are not showing as a member of the group. You need to click "Join" at the top of the page here https://patient.info/forums/discuss/browse/polymyalgia-rheumatica-and-gca-1708 then you will receive notifications of new discussions on https://patient.info/forums/me/notifications
Regards,
Alan
1951grumpa Emis_Moderator
Posted
Hi Alan, first I had been receiving PMR notifications on my notification page. I still receive them for sinus and knee, but the PMR have stopped. I tried going to the link but I cant find where "join" is.
Thank you, George
Anhaga 1951grumpa
Posted
I went to Alan's link out of sheer curiosity and there is a word under Polymyalgia Rheumatica which says Leave, so I suppose if I weren't a member of the community that's where I'd see Join.