[DocJohn]

Here is an update on a number of suggestions received in our first thread, asking for improvements, feedback, and suggestions:

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Private Messaging Updates
[*]As noted in the Technical Support forum, we've made a number of upgrades and improvements to the private messaging system here, and we'll continue to look into whether we can have PMs sent to a small number of people at the same time

More Information for Moved Threads
[*]I've asked the moderation team to start putting more of an explanation into any post that is moved or removed as to the reason for its removal or moving. So while you can assume every post that is removed is breaking a community guideline, everyone will be told in the placeholder post which community guideline is being violated.
[*]Unknown to many of our members, most moderators were privately asking a poster who had posted something inappropriate to edit their post to remove the inappropriate material. However, because posters can only edit posts for an hour after it's been posted, this is a short time window in which to receive and act upon a violation. Moderators work with posters as much as time allows to fix or change a post (or its title) to bring it into compliance with the guidelines.

PM to all mods
[*]There is now an option at the top of every page that says Send PM to Moderators. This option will send a global PM to everyone on the moderation team. Use this feature sparingly, but since it was requested, I was happy to provide it. This the equivalent of a "global moderators mailbox," as close as we can get to with this software.

More Moderator Visibility
[*]The moderation team has been asked and agreed to not be "Invisible" in the "Who's Online" screen, except in a case-by-case exception. What that means is that there is more visibility into when a moderator or administrator is online. Please respect this increased visibility and I hope it makes members feel more safe. Remember, too, if you're ever wondering who is a moderator for a specific forum, you'll find a list of the moderators for that forum at the bottom of that forum's index page.

Members Respecting One Another
[*]Members are reminded to respect one another, as respect is something we all deserve and should expect of fellow members on this life journey. This means honoring one another's requests in threads (e.g., if a thread poster asks that the thread's subject line not be changed in the thread, it is not changed), keeping offensive profanity off the forums and out of the chat room, and respecting other member's wishes if they have placed you on ignore or vice-a-versa.

Global Membership List and Privacy
[*]A global membership list will not be made available at this time. While we understand some people's desire to see a list of everyone who's a member here, I feel the forums have enough transparency into active members (and the search function) that allows members to find another member very easily. I'm not sure what purpose making a membership list available would serve.
[*]Which goes to this point -- your privacy is something we try hard to respect and maintain here. You'll notice a lot of online communities allow search engines to come on their forums and index every post made by every poster. They are, for all intents and purposes, indexed forever and it is very difficult to have such indexing removed later on from the dozens of search engines that do that indexing. That may not mean anything to you now, but it may mean something to you 5 or 10 years from now when you discover that the same username you're using in a business or personal forum elsewhere can be Googled and anyone will see all of your health or mental health issues on display for all time.

Teen Forum
[*]I've reviewed all of the requests that come up from time to time about a teen forum, and thought long and hard about this. After consultation with the moderation team, we still feel we cannot support a teen forum at this time. We're going to put together a resource list of other online communities for teens grappling with mental health or relationship issues, but one good one I've discovered recently is Trapped Minds (mainly adult forums, but also has a teen hangout which you'll see after you've registered with them). I hate to refer teens elsewhere if they feel like they're not getting everything they need from here, but that's what I encourage any teen to do.

More Smileys in the Chat Room
[*]I cannot easily add or change the smileys available within the chat room, as this is a function of software that is far more difficult to customize. So while I'll try and look into this more in the future, I'm not going to be able to do it anytime soon.

Community Guidelines Reviewed When Registering?
[*]People were wondering if the community guidelines were something that people had to agree to before they became a member here. The answer is yes, that is a part of the agreement that everyone must read and agree to in order to get membership here. My experience has been that many people don't read those agreements no matter what you do, but we do try our best to have people read and understand our guidelines before becoming a member.

Venting or Anger Forum
[*]After consultation with the moderation team, it was decided that a venting or anger forum would likely end up being a negative experience for most of the community. Others and myself have had experiences with such a forum in other online communities, and they haven't been good. If you need a place to vent, there are many, many places online to do so.

Free Blog or Personal Webpages?
[*]I am actively looking into providing free blogs/personal page space to members who want them here. It will likely be implemented before the end of summer.

Fewer Posts in General That Could Go Elsewhere
[*]Some members wish the General forum was less of a dumping ground for everything or for threads better suited on their own forum. I agree. We're going to work harder to move threads to their proper forums if posted inappropriately to General. But as your responsibility as a member, I would ask that you please consider the most appropriate place to post your thread before posting it to General. It may very well go here, but if it fits into one of the forums we have a specific topic for, try to post it there instead. The recently renamed Social Chat forum (right underneath General now) is really the place to post "fun" threads (of a more social, non-mental health nature, e.g., entertainment news, what you had for dinner, etc.)
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This is a good portion of what was posted in the suggestions for change thread, although it's not quite everything. I'm still combing through that entire thread and will post additional updates on changes and such in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your continued membership here, as I understand that this would be a poor community indeed if it weren't for the spirit, support, and partnership of our members!

DocJohn

[DocJohn]

While you're welcomed to comment on what I've posted above, I'd ask that you not post additional suggestions for change or such at this time in this thread. Why? Because I'm still combing through the last thread (which was very long when printed out!!), and am afraid that I'll miss or lose a good suggestion if I can't keep up with them. I'll open a new suggestions thread in another month or two and we'll take it from there. Thanks!

Also, these decisions have been made for the time being. So while I respect your right to disagree with them or be disappointed by a specific decision, we're going to stand by them. None of them have been made in haste or without a lot of internal discussion and debate.

DocJohn

[(JD)]

I'm impressed. Thank you for your lengthy explanations of what is being considered and a little of what goes on behind the scenes.

I totally agree about the non search engine access. I am a member of a yahoo group and was shocked to find my information available through a search.. I have since stopped most of it, but what is already out there can never be removed.

I spied the PM the Moderators today and am pleased... hopefully, now that it's available, I won't have need of it!

The only thing I could use is a permanent listing of moderators and what forums perhaps, or can I assume that all moderators are "over" and listed at the bottom of the General forum?

Also, if there's anything else you need us, the members, to do ... that would be nice to know too. Oh, I wanted to know if clicking on the "ads" and viewing the main pages are enough or while I'm at the other site is there something I'm missing to "give" pc "credit" for the link? (I'm thinking this is an automatic notation, but ... I'm really not computer literate.)

Thanks DocJohn!

[DocJohn]

I just you all to continue to contribute, help one another, and remember that the reason everybody is here is to give or to get support (and hopefully provide a little lift to each others' days!).

[Overcastbutclearing]

Great ideas!
Thank you Doc John and the moderators for taking the time to discuss and implemate some changes.
Thank you for your support and dedication to a healthier site that promotes goodness and peace.

[inkblot]

Thanks, Doc, I like seeing the stats. It's interesting to see how dramatically my numbers changed during my stalker crisis this past winter.

[kimmydawn]

(((((((((((((((((((docjohn)))))))))))))))))) what hard work and what a great way of showing your care and concern for our community.

thanks doesn't seem like enough, but THANK YOU.

kd

Tra, la, la, la~~~~a little song for you! the changes are great and i thank you for all the hard work that i know you did!! i have to confess that the changes in the PM system caused me to send a message to Shirley that was meant for someone else. she was a bit puzzled, when she didn't know what i was talking about!!!

[wisewoman]

Good listening and responding. It feels as though this helps us truly be a community.

[LadyDragus]

Thank you so much for updating us all on this. I really like the Pm mod thing and now that we have it, I hope I never have to use, it but it does make me feel safer having it ..

I like all the things you are doing, and I love the things that are going to come up in the future.

You are such a caring person and so are all the mods and extra admin you have on this site..

[gardenergirl]

Thanks Doc John and mods!

gg

[Butterfly_Faerie]

My site Minds Alike John has a teen thread for the younger crowd if people need a place to go...

Minds Alike Support Forum

[jennie]

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DocJohn said:

Free Blog or Personal Webpages?
[*]I am actively looking into providing free blogs/personal page space to members who want them here. It will likely be implemented before the end of summer.

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Yippie!!!

DocJohn does good work!

[Miss_A]

All I can say is good work doc john...Good work!