Thoughts from Patrice
 

Please don't freak out when you notice i've changed my opening comments in this thread. I'm just exploiting an opportunity to say "Thanks" up-front for the comments that follow, and to emphasize the fact that we are well on our way again. My original comments here made mention of some things we have moved beyond for the most-part. Time to put those things to rest ... at least from my own perspective.

It's taken me a while to catch up on EMails, PMs and other behind the scenes activities.

There are many things I hope I can post in future to improve "customer service" and to provide useful information we might not yet be able to find easily and in places that seem most logical. All of that will take time, so you'll see it appear a little at a time as I figure the best ways in which to make it happen. A few nibbles for now:

1. Since we have a community calendar here, I'm going to try getting into the habit of using it to post period reports of significant developments and announcements of significant things to come.

2. Members have questions about some things, in particular that I hope to answer in detail very soon. Look for more about these things in the future.

• In the meantime, please don't rely on rumors in place of fact. Feel free to send me a PM if you are confused or concerned about something you've heard.
  

Thanks again to all the members who have posted in this and other topics to provide encouraging words.

Thanks to those who've posted constructive and useful feedback about things they'd like to see added, changed, removed, folded, bent, or spindled. (Sorry, but mutilate is not an option. LOL )

In general, thanks for being here. :D

I appreciate your comments. The complaining comments are not read by me. There is always negative comments and as far as I'm concerned, they should be ignored. I'm sure you have read more comments that have not appeared here, and
for that I thank you. I hope that I will feel more at home with the new format soon. I am not very computer literate, and I have a new computer that is very different from my old one so I'm having a hard time navigating any sites. Better times are coming--at least that is what I'm telling myself.
Sue

Patrice, I just want to say "thank you"..I know the new board can be confusing but most new things are..even down to our cars, new quilts we want to make and ect..Eventually, I know that the new board will become like those special slippers that feel just right that we like to slip on and get comfortable with :thumbup:

I think the site is beautiful! I don't understand the complaints...I really don't. It looks so much more like a "quilting board" than it ever did! Thanks.

As for white...I guess most forums and news sites I read have white as the background. That complaint I don't understand at all!

For some people, change is a hard thing. If you've ever worked in environments where computer upgrades happen every so often and totally affect your work, well this is just the same. Take a deep breath and go with the flow. There are some great changes and we'll see them as we enjoy the new process.

I'm still learning
But, I can see that I'm going to like this new Board a lot
Thanks for all your hard work

Change is hard. I'm looking forward to utilizing all the new things we didn't have before. Consider the positive, all this change is exercising your noggin. Noggins need exercise. Have fun exploring...

ha! I laughed at the ignore comment too. Oh, the irony ;-) Hang in there, Patrice. Best regards to all involved. I'm loving the new capabilities as I learn them.

Thanks Patrice!! I'm beginning to like the site and I'm really trying to learn. I appreciate the help you gave me earlier behind the scenes!! Lol. Boy did I feel stupid!! 

Having been in the Information Technology field for over 15 years, I can completely understand long, long days.... and all nighters. They are no fun for anyone. I can also appreciate improving systems by placing them on a better platform, implementing a more robust security mechanism, and making them more appealing.

It is a simple fact that typically we, humans, do not like change. We are creatures of habit and find comfort in what we know and find familiar. There are, however, many measures that we (as IT professionals) can take to ensure our users will not experience such a shock to a new way of doing things. By not preparing the users..... you will, inevitably, receive much negative feedback. Who can blame them?

Patrice, thank you for your patience and perserverence with our new look board and the recalcitrant members. All change presents a challenge . If we can't accept a challenge we admit we are getting old and the grey matter is being put out to pasture. USE IT OR LOSE IT ' is my motto. I am not the most computer literate but I will perservere as I really like all the informative content and positive vibes from most members here. I choose not to read the negatives as these only lower my own levels of peace. I am sorry some members are old and inflexible but with time I am sure they will see the benefit of these changes. Thanks again to all concerned.

if they're gonna do something about the color, how about pale pink for new topics, pale yellow for msgs, pale blue for resources, pale green for live chat... easier on the eyes and we would be able to see where the heck we are when in a specific area...right now, it all looks alike and i keep losing the little bit i've found...

and we haven't used or commented about the ignore button because most of us didn't know it existed or what it really does... there's just too much to absorb at once... there may be many new things that are good, but we got hit over the head with literally dozens of new things to learn at once with no instructions or tutorials to help... i just found out there was an FAQ today. am working my way thru that but would sure like to know where the button for it is...i have to go back to the original comment made by another user and use her included link...but that doesn't help with the button. And please, where is My Pages? I know you can find your old pages on My Blogs, but that's not what i want....i don't want my pages to be public... is there a different place with some other name that we haven't been told about? I do appreciate the change to the 'subscriptions' area that is keeping track of what i saw and commented on, which it did not do originally... still don't understand why they are changing names from a good clear label (Watched Topics) to another label that is not only not clear, but that has a specific meaning in the online world that is NOT how it's being used here (Subscriptions)... but at least i know where to find my watched topics and i do APPRECIATE that... now what are we doing about Unread Topics? lol.... which i really mean... it's all we can do is lol....

Patrice,
I'll admit, I was not happy on day 1......and 2, but I love this board too much to go away. I am copying and pasting hints I have learned and am trying to help others find their way. Isn't that what we did on the other board? The instruction photos are blurry but we will figure everything out eventually. I am sure changes will be made to make things better as we go along. I do appreciate all the hard work. Thank God, I didn't have to do it. You would all REALLY be in trouble then!
http://signatures.mylivesignature.co...D894571161.png

So if we don't like the new version of the site, does that mean we're not part of your family?

No offense to the web developers, but this is pretty much an out of the box install of vBulletin. I really doubt they slaved for hours or worked weekends. Anyone with basic web development experience could produce this site in a few days. The converting of the old database to the new would take some time, of course, but we're not talking months of effort here.

Wholeheartedly agree with this.

Thank you Patrice! I'm enjoying the new board! Each day I discover something new to help me post. Yesterday were the albums, advance posting to change font and color on posting. And I have had a blast customizing my profile page. Images are showing up nicer too!
Today, I discovered the "member list" at top of page was faster to use than "search" tool to look for posters.

Also just found the "recent post" button, top right, a big blue button just sitting right in front of me.:)

Patrice, I just want to say thank you to you and all the people who have worked hard to change the board for the better, even if we are not always grateful we will adjust and adapt. we as a people just like to complain and "vent" (especially us women folk) I hope that all the bugs will get out and we all will adapt quite quickly.

Thanks PatriceJ, The background color change was a huge help. Still getting used to the new board but, it has some great new features. Hopefully all will eventually come back to the fold and enjoy again after they get used to it.

In my defense, I've never needed to use an ignore button here before, but I took immediate and hostile exception to someone telling me I HAVE to change. Sorry about that.

I know about forums. I know about ignore buttons. I know about forum upgrades. I own a forum and participate in several. Rarely does a forum change or upgrade go smoothly. I understand the frustration from an Admin point of view.

Yes, we'll all get used to it.

Thanks for the reminder, Patrice...
My kids say that I went kicking and screaming into the 21st century...and I don't do well with change....but, you notice that I'm still here....and still posting.....a bit (?) confused yet, but hanging in there....
The white is a bit better than it was the first day...

I feel so badly for you. It's easy to see how much time and effort have gone into this HUGE undertaking. I can't believe all the negative posts. I haven't been on the QB for that long but I thought that the people on here were gracious and kind...until I read some of their posts...which I stopped reading! Prefer to go to the positive comments instead. Much more encouraging! Best wishes and a job well done. Reverend Julie

can you tell me how to get rid of something on the subscription list once we are finished with that thread?

sorry, found the button...it's inside the actual thread...thanks anyway....

Patrice, I bow to your superior tact...

We love you, Patrice. It is the changes that are challenging and even a bit disturbing. But the changes are interesting, and as we learn things, it looks like things will go even better than they did before.

Patrice,
There are always complainers and fault-finders - even in church, of all places! Everything computer-related takes time for us older minds to comprehend. I still don't know all the ins and outs with MS operating system 7 and with Photoshop Elements 8. It takes time and practice. I'm sure that's true here. So stay upbeat as much as is possible with all the negatives!
Marcia

This is just like my work. We converted to a new ERP system the same day you launched this new website. To say the least I went home and had a couple of glasses of wine Tuesday night. Both are coming to me. The more I work in the ERP system and look around the Quilting Board the more I learn and it is becoming easier to do what I need to do. My husband always says that "The one constant is change. You can either live with it or die." I choose to embrace it and enjoy it. Thank you for all that you do for this board. I truely appreciate it.

BTW I love the archive section.

Thanks Patrice!! I SO agree with Charlee. You all have worked hard - Those of this board who are unhappy will be unhappy no matter what - The site, I am sure, will be tweeked - but for the most part you all have done a nice job with the transition.

Could someone please explain the "ignore" button? Where it is and how to use it?
Stick with it,Patrice!! I notice that many negative posts are from "members" that hardly ever contribute to the board! :rolleyes:

I am one of those that doesn't embrace change easily, but, I am working through learning this new format and expect that with time it will become very comfortable. I am grateful for its existence and thank those "powers that be" for it. I am not quitting or giving up.

Thanks for your candid thoughts! I appreciate everything you guys have done to make our site better. It was sad to see some of the negative comments that were out there. I just stopped reading them. It is one thing to be upset with the new changes, but to be "ornery" is another. Keep your chin up! You have a lot of support out there for you and fellow mods and people who designed the site!

ps. what is the ignore button about? I saw it but don't know what to do with it? :-)

WE WILL SURVIVE!!! Thanks Patrice for all you do for us!

the site is looking good now. things are getting easier to find. it just takes time to figure it all out.

The more I am online the easier it is to find things. I don't like to be in crowds but there are times when I have to be but I still go. I LIKE THE NEW BOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And you are a gem for being so patient with everyone's questions.

I am working through the newness too. I have loved coming here since I joined in May. This afternoon I noticed that the MyFitnessPal.com is now on the bottom of weight watchers comments. I had it there but then when it was coming up just a stream of numbers, I deleted it. I would like to reinstall it as well as my cursive name. I tried it by settings and profile. When I paste the stream of numbers given to me at MyFitnessPal.com QB says it is an invalid code. Could someone who has found out how to do this let me know. I really like seeing pounds lost as a post - quilting and losing weight at the same time. Thanks for your help. I am getting better at navigating here.

Thank you for all your work and effort. I appreciate this place and the possibilities it offers to us. Hugs.

I will admit that the first look at the place, I didn't like it. I was also very frustrated with trying to maneuver the place. I'm slowly finding my way around and in a few weeks I won't know any different.

I hope I didn't say anything too offensive, but if I did, I offer my apologies.

We will manage cause we all LOVE what we can see and learn here. Today was easier than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better than today. Thanks for all your efforts.

Do the negative-speaking folks realize that if they don't like any of this that they have the option not to participate? I go on the QB for fun and entertainment....and reformatting a site such as this is really a lot of work. I enjoy the topics and the conversation...regardless of the format....I think you guys do a great job...

Thanks Patrice and everyone else involved.
Change can be hard but, we learn from change.
The bugs will get worked out and I hope everyone will realize that our new forum has so much more to offer. We will learn :)

PS. LOVE the new calender!!

I joined the forum for the community for all the knowledge that others have so unselfishly shared and all that it offers- I did not join for the way the board was formatted or how it looked. In time I will learn the ins and outs and get used to it. I have spent the last 3 days just meandering around and I have no complaints. I just want to thank everyone for all their hard work, being so thoughtful and helpful when I need it and the wonderful sense of community.

It must be so nice to have everything in your life go so perfectly that you never complain. Or is it just a fact that people will people just take whatever they are given and say that's okay. I don't think the world works that way & I truely hope that people will stand up when they think something is not right or could be better. It's a shame that you don't take people's complaint's as seriously as you do all the compliments. :( My biggest complaint, like others, is the background color. I do sincerely hope that can be worked out. :thumbup: If we don't listen to all things/people then we get what they want us to have & nothing any better. Sorry I am not a complainer or a whinner, but if I disagree it is because I truely believe in what I say. Your right this is a great place. So many people go out of their way to help and I for one greatly appreciate that. So I guess that I will step down off my soap box now & go back to learning. :D