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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Willful on August 2, 2010, at 17:22:43
This would be a fabulous idea imo. Babble was so much more helpful when I was trying to find out about meds with the old search. Now searches seem to bring up a thousand different pages for the same threads, mostly threads from the very recent past, often off-topic. It's really impossible to get good stored information about meds, and side effects and what people did or what insights they had about it.
The old search was something I particularly valued.
You mentioned this previously, and decided not to revive it, I assume. But I hope you rethink it, and come to different conclusions this time.
I know people didn't like the idea of avatars, and I had doubts-- but if it would attract new people who expect that sort of thing, it might be worth it. On some sites, the avatars aren't bad, and are relevant to the discussions--- and it seems to give people a bit more to relate to about other people--if they're well done.
I'm just thinking maybe people would be more likely to stay, if they found features that they've come to expect. A newbie mentioned this recently, which is what made me wonder-- and realize that most message boards do have more features, that we haven't updated to include-- searches, and ways for posters to express themselves and communicate outside of posts-- such as with IMs and avatars. I know we have babblemail, but it's a more combersome system than letting people IM directly to others' accounts. That may not be possible with the software here-- but if we can do more, it might help.
I do hope we can modernize a bit-- even if some don't like the conception of modernizing per se-- and find ways to attract new people to the community.
Willful
Posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2010, at 18:33:41
In reply to Going back to old search, posted by Willful on August 2, 2010, at 17:22:43
Tried to search the other day for first time in a while and could find nothing. Phillipa
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 6, 2010, at 1:59:26
In reply to Going back to old search, posted by Willful on August 2, 2010, at 17:22:43
> This would be a fabulous idea imo. Babble was so much more helpful when I was trying to find out about meds with the old search. Now searches seem to bring up a thousand different pages for the same threads, mostly threads from the very recent past, often off-topic.
Thanks for your input. I liked it, too, but it took up a lot of memory.
> I know people didn't like the idea of avatars, and I had doubts-- but if it would attract new people who expect that sort of thing, it might be worth it. On some sites, the avatars aren't bad, and are relevant to the discussions--- and it seems to give people a bit more to relate to about other people--if they're well done.
I suppose people could opt out of avatars, too. But how could we make sure they're well done?
> most message boards do have ... ways for posters to ... communicate outside of posts-- such as with IMs ... I know we have babblemail, but it's a more combersome system than letting people IM directly to others' accounts.
But then they'd have to come here to read them. And I'd have access to them. That would be better?
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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