Thoughts on the Aging Care website?

The only time I was wrong was one time I thought I was wrong but I was really right.

AgingCareCM:  some suggestions, beyond those addressed in your recent post, but ones which I've felt are worthwhile for some time. 

1.    Add ability to underline or italicize to emphasis specific issues w/I a post.  All we can do now is "shout" in upper case letters.  

2.    As already suggested, add a "report" option to the original post so ads, solicitations and tolls can be reported more readily.

3.    Personally, I find the individual response feature disconcerting.    Often these responses should be mainstreamed so all can read them, chronologically, w/o going back and back to search for the context.  I've given up on some of them reported through the News Feed b/c it requires scrolling back and forth to determine to which specific post a comment or response is made.   That's a waste of time. 

All anyone has to use is use the poster's screen name, and we can tell to whom the comment is addressed.

Or enable the @ function as well as a notification to the poster so she/he knows someone has specifically addressed her/him.

4.     Enhance the search function, which is the most limited I've ever seen.   I keep my own database of important and relevant posts b/c I've found the search function so limited and dysfunctional.

If there's something that's really, really frustrating and limiting, it's the search parameters and inability to find specific posts.   Some are specifically on point to current posts, and it saves posters time from repeating the same concepts over and over.

5.     Create the ability to edit at any time; a limited time for editing forecloses reconsideration much later, or after reading others' posts.  

6.     As to the issue of giving legal and medical advice, I agree that there are issues.   Unfortunately some folks aren't in a financial position to or don't want to, or for other reasons don't or can't get the appropriate advice.   

I've thought that a disclaimer should be posted prominently somewhere so that anyone who does take professional advice KNOWS that it may or may not be from medical or legal personnel, but that it could also be from people with solid experience and advice to share.    The current speech therapy issues is a good example of wrong advice.

Some sights do have such a disclaimer, stating clearly that use of the forum constitutes an acknowledgement that advice is not necessarily from professionals in specific fields, and that users follow such advice with that caveat.

I see no way though  of preventing anyone from following advice that might be wrong.    And it's clear that some folks aren't in the position of making good decisions, or simply lack the experience in even determining how to do so.    At least options are offered for these people.

7.   I don't understand the restriction on our changing our own user names, unless it's b/c it's been determined that some people are using multiple "socks".    I think that's happening right now on the speech therapist thread.

8.   I think it's important to remember that we all gain from participation, and that includes the hosts.   The previous administration used posts in its magazine; there's reciprocal benefit here, and I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts.

I think something that would be helpful was if there was a way to highlight any comments made by the OP - sometimes threads take on a life of their own and the original question seems almost forgotten, and sometimes comments answering the original post continue long after the OP has come back to ask further questions or to update us about their chosen course of action.

CW, there used to be a count feature that would at least give an idea of how many new posts to a thread since we last posted to it. I miss that. I agree if there was something to differentiate the OP on a thread, would also be helpful especially in this day of so many fly-bys.

Qmnpxl, wish I could say the same.

CW, I like that idea of a notification when OP returns for updates. So many times the OP does not return, it would be helpful in that we wouldn't be searching for OP's responses.

What I definitely would not want to see is a way to tag other users. That, I think would absolutely drive me nuts.

REPLY function:
1) The problem is that the OP can come back anytime to post an update under "REPLY" and it will never be seen by others because it was 3 pages ago.

2) The chronological postings are disrupted when someone uses "REPLY", but they reply to something posted way way back.

No one has time to re-read the entire thread, often several pages long, EACH TIME a "REPLY" notification has been received on our NEWS FEED.

Thank you for addressing these website needs so the AC members can be more helpful.

When replies show up in my news feed they sometimes don't make any sense because they are out of context but it is often not worth the effort to try to figure out who or what is being replied to.

I support Send's and CWillie's suggestions on the "reply function."  To me it's almost worthless, but it does become so when trying to read posts in chronological order.   

Another issue I find irritating is the dysfunctional limitation on editing posts.   I've never encountered this on any other forum, and see absolutely no value in it.

Tacy (going back to your 2nd response to me on Nov 26)... I'm sincerely grieved at your horrible experience both in your life and at the digital hands of people PMing you incredibly hurtful things. I'm trying to connect this with your desire to prevent the posting of provably wrong/bad/incorrect/damaging legal advice, and I probably have a knowledge gap since I haven't been on this forum that long. Again, what solution can you suggest that is actually doable? The admins can't police and fact check everything that everyone posts. Using the Report function and then providing the support for the complaint is the only reasonable thing I can think of. What's the purpose of "harsh"? Why not let the admins be harsh by notifying them to remove the erroneous info and maybe banning them from the site for a repeat of bad info?

I love reading the posts! They remind me that I’m not alone and some have it worse. This site gives me hope that as mom’s Alzheimer’s progresses, she will find peace and all her anger, fear and frustration will disappear .

Suggestion to AC:
Maybe an entire section of "Archived" posts or discussions (over a year or two old) can be created, with it's own searchbar, accessible by members?

I would like to be able to see who has "liked" my posts.. instead of just the most recent one or how many..

It was me, Pammzi! I was always liking your posts. And so many others too!
Sometimes, I come on here to "like" everyone's contributions. Just to be encouraging.

There are usually only 3 "likes" (out of pity, ha ha) on my posts that I have made.
I know who they are.

There have been criticisms on the "likes" feature, trying to put down others who enjoy being acknowledged by their fellow caregivers. I do not "need" likes to know when I have made a contribution.

I grew up in the generation where accomplishments were rewarded, without others feeling jealous, or less, or competitive, or an attack on their self-esteem.
Small rewards like Dean's Honors List for a 4.0 grade average; Medical Assistant (forgot what they honored me for), lol; and of course all those Hallmark cards telling me I was loved, best Mom, Best and loved Grandma, etc.
I once received an A- in group therapy, lol, hilarious right? I asked what was the minus for? They changed it to an "A+. This really happened. It was all part of the funny side of life.

The absence of "likes", can often feel like being shunned if in a community where one has become accustomed to "likes". imo.

And life does bring competitions. I can remember in Jr. High being selected for the Posture Queen, feeling, oh groan, I don't want to be chosen--too shy. But when advanced in the finals, what I recall is how angry my mother was that she had to buy me a dress for the event. Of course, I was glad that I was not chosen.

From now on, maybe I will stop posting "likes", and will stop posting at all if no one "likes" my contributions. ha ha.

Pamzi, Go to your profile page and open votes or likes, that tells you who. It is tedious because it doesn't collate the information, it is in the order it was received.

ISTR.. Just tried that,, it still just shows the most recent one,, but thank you for the advice!

I got an award in grade two for having the best handwriting of all the grade two girls. Yee hah! Yippee for me!

Send, you know I Iove you girl but I kind of disagree. I think in a society that already makes people feel bad for so many different things that it would better to just take out the like category altogether. After all on this forum anyway it's all about helping one another mostly, not seeing who is better right? Maybe I'm wrong and if I am I can take the high road but so many things in this world already set us all up for failure anyway.

Nobody press like for this post..........I won't mind.

Seriously, I get deleted and you get to rant. Mods this is getting to be as bad as junior high letting one poster poke at another and when they are asked to let it go it gets deleted.

Oh wait, maybe she is the moderator.

Pamzi, even when you scroll through the pages?

Gershun.
That is the point I was trying to make, but missed the mark.
It does not matter if anyone agrees with me. I will try to be sensitive to people who feel the way you do, and not post likes for them.

I feel this way:
I contribute, volunteer, and post to AgingCare. For the thumbs up (or likes), or whether or not no one likes my posts.
Not because I need "likes", or want my name in lights, but I appreciate this feature on the forum.
1) It acknowledges that one has been heard.
2) That someone out there who might not have the time to reply has read your post.
3) That one is not alone, and in community with others.
4) And, I have enjoyed giving out "likes", "thumbs up", and "hugs".

The "likes" or thumbs up is not there to see who is better!
It is not a competition.

A competition is the Super Bowl this Sunday, between two outstanding teams in the NFL.

Two friends who disagree. Love your posts!

Oh, it's definitely an ego boost to get a "like". In conversations I feel it says somebody saw and understood, when I give advice it validates what I tried to say. I'll often read through threads and like a post or two without bothering to reply myself if I don't have anything different to add. And I like to acknowledge new posters to let them know somebody does see what they've written.

As anyone else here noticed on their Private Message board a lot of very old messages recently started to show up?

Usually I erase my messages after reading them, so the PM board is is clear slate. Then the other day, oh my gosh, posts going back to 2017 showed up. I dread the thought of deleting each and every one :P But it was fun the old photo "hugs" the website had back then.

ITRR, noticed your deleted post. SoHorrible

FreqFlyer, I noticed when I first began posting after the site reconfiguration that I CANNOT delete any messages, none at all, as well as the fact that stored messages I deleted before this change were resurrected and now available as if they'd never been deleted.

It appears as though the ability to control message deletion has been taken away from us.

If anyone still can delete their messages, could you share how you do this?

(I'm not referring to posts, but messages, public and private.)

GardenArtist

There are three rather hard to see dots on the right hand side of posts on your wall. Click on them and you will see the option to delete. Your asking this prompted me to go look. I learned something today. Thanks!

Oh dear, I did not mean I want to see the likes for popularity.. I am sorry if it came across that way. I just like to see who thought my advice was good and if it was on point, or if I misunderstood. I think Cwillie got what I was saying? The validation and understanding, not the ego boost..

NoTryDoYoda, thanks!  I never, ever noticed those dots.

On another issue, has anyone had difficult revising or editing a post and being bounced from one point to another, while the remaing message collapses into one paragraph? 

That's weird, my post got edited and I didn't say anything bad...

I want a way to report a new, inappropriate post without having to respond then report my response.

I want the "like" feature completely gone. When there are disagreements and ugliness occurring the feature encourages ganging up and condescending behaviors.

The "Reply to" feature invites disagreements that are personally targeted. When this happens, it threatens the harmony and helpfulness of the forum. It also makes it hard to find and follow if the response is for an old post in a thread with many replies.

Greetings & salutations e1-

I feel the ‘like’ thumb is a key factor in what AC is about and it’s mission:
1) it let’s the author know someone read what they wrote
2) contributes to a sense of validity of author’s feelings/opinions
3) confirms that another human being can actually relate to how author feels, is going through, has been, etc.- that somebody else gets them
4) allows author to express themself without criticism or scolding which aids in feeling of worthiness
5) assures author of having support from others
There are many things that simple thumbs up icon means and represents to people who post, it is a positive gesture with huge potential for the author that we may never know details about but what is certain is the author knows from the ‘likes’ that they were not alone for a minute while a faceless stranger acknowledged them. They have camaraderie here. Their feelings are valid and are worth sharing. Promotes an outside connection for the lonely, often isolated, sense of self common in our caregiver roles.
Plus it’s a quick way to put some overall positive juju out into the universe!

With that being said, I have either explained my take on the ‘like’ option, or unintentionally divulged a self profile that inadvertently can aid as a starting point of diagnosis regarding several issues I may possess. Hmph, neat.

xoxoxo
susan