topic Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ... in Get Support

Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

Korth — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 07:43:00 GMT

I'm not particularly impressed with the recent forum software "upgrades".

Maybe it's been phenomenally improved for back-end users - CSAs/MODs, PM staff, Oracles, etc. I don't know.

But it doesn't seem very improved for us normal plebe visitors/users.

There's a few "under the hood" improvements, part of the Khoros/Lithium package update.

I saw a little collection of new avatar images in the user settings.

I saw a few new trivialities in the notification settings and subscription settings.

Everything's been organized a little differently - "streamlined" or "optimized" or "simplified", whatever euphemism you prefer - which is probably good overall, especially for new faces, though (to me) it makes the site seem very business-like, corporate, and impersonal.

And everything's slow, slow, slow. Much, much slower than ever before. Glacial, sluggish, unresponsive, it feels bloaty and lazy on a PC browser, I can't imagine how awful it must be on a mobile browser.

Does anybody else any opinions about the forum changes? Good, bad, ugly? Anything I'm misjudging or might've missed?

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

Korth — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 07:06:43 GMT

And still this yucky glaring eye-hurting pinkish-peachish-yellowy-white background, lol. Why do so many websites rudely insist on denying their visitors a pleasant option or two, at least the standard "dark mode" so one can actually see and read the onscreen text when viewing it on a laptop/smartphone screen outdoors?

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

computergeek541 — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 07:38:19 GMT

@Korth wrote:
I'm not particularly impressed with the recent forum software "upgrades".

Maybe it's been phenomenally improved for back-end users - CSAs/MODs, PM staff, Oracles, etc. I don't know.

But it doesn't seem very improved for us normal plebe visitors/users.
There's a few "under the hood" improvements, part of the Khoros/Lithium package update.
I saw a little collection of new avatar images in the user settings.
I saw a few new trivialities in the notification settings and subscription settings.
Everything's been organized a little differently - "streamlined" or "optimized" or "simplified", whatever euphemism you prefer - which is probably good overall, especially for new faces, though (to me) it makes the site seem very business-like, corporate, and impersonal.
And everything's slow, slow, slow. Much, much slower than ever before. Glacial, sluggish, unresponsive, it feels bloaty and lazy on a PC browser, I can't imagine how awful it must be on a mobile browser.

Does anybody else any opinions about the forum changes? Good, bad, ugly? Anything I'm misjudging or might've missed?

Nobody has said it? The Community as a whole has been extremely critical of the changes. Unless things are fixed, the site in it's current form is almost unusable.

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

pkaraa — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 08:00:25 GMT

No site is created error-free, it has to be made better.

today we look at the new born baby and want it to run in Olympics. not possible. Keep reporting the errors to admins and it will take some time but it will be corrected accordingly. By that time, keep patience and keep helping others too.

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

Korth — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 08:05:05 GMT

@computergeek541 wrote:
Nobody has said it? The Community as a whole has been extremely critical of the changes. Unless things are fixed, the site in it's current form is almost unusable.

I haven't seen these complaints. Probably because the excessively slow wait times when navigating threads.

Which itself seems to prove your statement. Teething pains are expected. I'd thought the notifications must've been broken, but evidently there aren't many just because there's almost no traffic on the broken forums.

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

esjliv — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 12:56:48 GMT

@Korth wrote:
@computergeek541 wrote:
Nobody has said it? The Community as a whole has been extremely critical of the changes. Unless things are fixed, the site in it's current form is almost unusable.
I haven't seen these complaints. Probably because the excessively slow wait times when navigating threads.

Which itself seems to prove your statement. Teething pains are expected. I'd thought the notifications must've been broken, but evidently there aren't many just because there's almost no traffic on the broken forums.

@Korth - I do see some good improvements. A couple of the things I really like is the showing of a post being Edited and the timestamp of that edit, and the continuous threads in private messaging rather than a broken one.

And i appreciate the effort to have it look, hum, i guess more animated.

But overall, I too, find it difficult to follow a thread. Or, see when a new post was posted...for example, there are no timestamps in the landing page under the Recent Discussions:

Also, agreed of the increased lag.

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

HALIMACS — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 14:51:35 GMT

I'm unsure I'd go so far as to say "unusable" @computergeek541

It is certainly not as user friendly when posting or commenting or following a thread (start with making the dialogue box a white background or at least a different color-background if white not available) so it's easier for us to see where we're commenting.

Also, why make the box so small and when 'quoting' a reply the quoted material is above the view.

So YES, it's more challenging to use, but perhaps easier for new users to navigate threads and posts to find out information.

Perhaps that was the driving factor in the changes - to allow infrequent users to find and implement answers to their questions vs. allowing the Community to be more user-friendly to the 'regulars'

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

CountyDownIeUk — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 22:37:36 GMT

I agree....not user friendly. While no one should expect a training manual on how to use or to explain the losses vs upgrade changes .... the logic to use, should be simple ...... but it isn’t. I had planned to wean my self away and become an occasional lurker but I decided to wait out to see my December community reward....which has now arrived with no notification. So the “change” expedites my decision.

Oh wait! Did I just mention a flaw that could have been fixed but was not? Would it not make sense to apply community rewards to your account, provide the badge and notification all on same day? Like who wants to keep checking your My Account when there are notifications that can be used? Isn’t it all there, but being handled backwards? During my years of working I was exposed to and worked with efficiency consulting contractors....and ISO processes as well.....and there are some no brainers here that would be spotted as quick and efficient fixes without having to hire a consulting agency.

Thanks to the oracle that made the unofficial posting that the funds had been deposited.

And why not fix those 30 day cycle renewal messages. Just drawing issues from the Community and prioritizing upgrades would be a prudent move, would it not? And be recording and summarizing, system wise, the repetitive issues that CSA’s have dealt with.

While I will use my hybrid payment method and continue to gain referrals I will remain to continue to be satisfied with the service. But I will continue to have to give my head a shake to see where resources are used vs not used. I can see resources used elsewhere that would improve customer retention and would allow many to not even have to use the community.

I find it frustrating to be a customer here, that is able to see easy fixes etc. and see that money and time could be better spent to make improvements to improve retention, to attract more customers, reduce PM payroll AND to be the best and largest third tier service provider in Canada!!

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

esjliv — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 16:29:06 GMT

@CountyDownIeUk - well said

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

softech — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 17:07:13 GMT

I am not sure I find it slower than before... I would say it is the same in terms of performance.. no improvement.. but not worse either..

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

ShawnC13 — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 18:30:30 GMT

While I do like some of the improvements there are things that I don't like for sure. I don't find it slower than before, but I do wish some of the additional things brought up were taken care of

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

Meow — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 18:34:44 GMT

@esjliv wrote:
@Korth - I do see some good improvements. A couple of the things I really like is the showing of a post being Edited and the timestamp of that edit, and the continuous threads in private messaging rather than a broken one.

Why would you consider timestamp of an edit important if you do not know what has been 'adjusted'?
How many times customer A replies, more knowledgeable customer B corrects it and customer A rushes and modifies its reply so it looks 'proper'?

So timestamp of edit has no use to me unless I know what has been corrected in order to learn from (other's and mine) mistakes.

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

Anonymous — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 18:41:53 GMT

@Meow : I agree. But it's a start. Or it's the only available feature in Khoros (without investigating). So it at least lets us know and think "uh huh...what'd you edit eh?".

The downstream effect also becomes a possible bone of contention when our beloved Luddite marks a post as the solution. Was the now edited post edited to get this solution or puts it in line for it? hmmm

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

Meow — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 18:58:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

The downstream effect also becomes a possible bone of contention when our beloved Luddite marks a post as the solution. Was the now edited post edited to get this solution or puts it in line for it? hmmm

You got That right!

Rush to post answer ASAP in order to be considered as 'solution' leads to unwarranted copy/paste and 'kitchen sink' answers (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

If you want to post nice post, it takes time and proper thinking.

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

esjliv — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 19:32:51 GMT

@Meow wrote:
@esjliv wrote:
@Korth - I do see some good improvements. A couple of the things I really like is the showing of a post being Edited and the timestamp of that edit, and the continuous threads in private messaging rather than a broken one.

Why would you consider timestamp of an edit important if you do not know what has been 'adjusted'?
How many times customer A replies, more knowledgeable customer B corrects it and customer A rushes and modifies its reply so it looks 'proper'?
So timestamp of edit has no use to me unless I know what has been corrected in order to learn from (other's and mine) mistakes.

@Meow - agreed, but this at least is a better direction. And lends a bit more integrity to the poster (hopefully 🤞).

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

dabr — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 19:39:31 GMT

Yep, not really liking the changes except for the edit notation.

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

darlicious — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 22:33:14 GMT

While the edit notation is nice unless the poster explains the edit it doesn't really do much. Since I hate typos I end up editing at least half of my posts. While I will denote a major edit I don't bother with a typo or a spelling mistake or grammatical error.

The loss of the category boards makes it more difficult to scan threads to see which ones you can offer additional advice to and generally has made me less interested in contributing to the community.

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

Korth — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 23:07:00 GMT

@darlicious

I'm finding myself generally less interested as well. The forum software was clunky before, now it's frustrating and clunky. I'd rather spend my online time at other sites which aren't frustrating and clunky.

I suspect there's going to be a lot less community involvement in coming months, lol - aside from a few altruistically dedicated, stubbornly persistent, or financially desperate diehards. Fewer active community members means less active community. Not because we resist change ... but because the changes suck.

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

softech — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 23:26:49 GMT

Oracles, we made many comments and suggested various improvements, do you know if PM will accept some of them and made further tweaks accordingly Or they have sent home the developers and we are stuck with what we have now until the next upgrade, which could be couple years later....

Re: Well, since nobody else is gonna say it ...

ShawnC13 — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 23:22:16 GMT

@softech, we made many suggestions prior to release as well. A couple seem to be here but many aren't. To answer your question, I am not sure but doesn't this look familiar to what we have here now? Forums - TELUS Neighbourhood