MS: New site causing you problems - advice

[supermum_ms]

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Firstly, If you are experiencing problems with the new mobile set up, you are not the only one.....please make sure you report it!

Secondly, the more user's reporting, the more specifically detailed the information, the more the negative implication of each of the problematic site changes are causing, the more attention it will get and the 'more likely' the issue will be rectified.

These new site changes have not been rolled out to everyone, you are in essence, the selected voice of the many in the MS community who are 'going to be' negatively effected if no one speaks on our behalf.....so please consider the big picture and report all the problems these new site changes are causing, because your opinion truly matters!  

Contact us - https://medhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

HUGS............JJ

[supermum_ms]

Tips and Tricks:

I'm keeping an eye out for every tip and trick that turns up.....apparently your brouser makes a difference on which set up you'll get, the old version or the new. It isn't just mobile systems, some users are reporting the new set up is now on their PC as well as their mobile

Possible solution 1: Change your brouser
[note i'm still trying to work out which one to change too]

Possible solution 2: Logging in and out multiple times
[note for some reason 3 times seems to revert back to the old version

stay tuned for more tips and tricks as they are discovered

Cheers..........JJ

[doublevision1]

Just noticed in your OP that the website address to medhelp feedback site isn't hyperlinked. I think I recall in the previous format that such text was hyperlinked. Certainly made navigating much more striaightforward. More feedback I will provide to Medhelp.

[Emily_MHManager]

Hi there -

We are happy to leave this here, and do want to hear from those who have constructive feedback for us, but please, don't be negative just in hopes of getting things changed back.

I assure you that we hear you just as well if you simply explain your preference and why you prefer it that way. :)

Thanks,

Emily

[essdipity]

The moderators keep saying just tell us what the problems are--no promises to fix them to anyone's satisfaction. Well, they've been told over and over, here, in the Suggestions forum, and all over the place in various postings.

I'm far from a favorite with MH, and I have only the old formatting thus far, but agree with lotscofvyou that what you describe will drive people away in droves.

ess

[aspen2]

I actually like much about the new format, and I'm now coming up with the old one on both pc and mobile ... hoping it comes back again (with one major adjustment with respect to the reply box ;) ...)

[ConfirmedRachel]

One thing I've noticed even when using the old format, the order is posting query order rather than reply, do you can't bump something to the top any more.

Not sure if I've missed something there ...

Nx

[kwarendorf]

Jut became subjected to the new format. Noa a fan so far. The removal of the last posters list from the main page is a major drawback.

[kwarendorf]

Also, I seem to have lost my purple flower...

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi,

The biggest problem I see with the new format is that the questioner's name and the last few responders names cannot be seen until you open each thread, which makes it difficult to tell if a question has been answered, if it's one you've already responded to, or if anyone has posted on it since your last post.

I don't understand either why a recent post doesn't bump a thread to the top anymore in the original version..

By the way, did you notice that MH has apparently resorted to censorship now? They only left your list of comments/complaints on ONE of the threads in the Improve MedHelp Suggestions forum...

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi,

The logging out and then in again seems to be the best bet (at least for now) for getting back the old version. The past 2 times I've only had to do that once, instead of 3 times.

However, it probably won't be long until they make a couple of changes (if we're lucky) in the new one, then discontinue the old one permanently...

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hope this will show up as a link, for those who wish to give feedback on the new version:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Improve-MedHelp-Suggestions/show/110

[kwarendorf]

You have identifies the major problems I have with the new format. Additionally, removing the link to the last post in a thread means you may have to scroll through 50 posts to get to the last one.

[kwarendorf]

Now it's back to the old version? I'm a software project manager. I have never seen a change so mismanaged in my life!

[kwarendorf]

I just posted the following in the Suggestions forum.

"I am somewhat alarmed by the appearance and disappearance of a new format in the MS community. It seems to be happenening at random and without the users knowledge. There has been no information shared before or during this change, not to the users and not to the community leaders. This is not any way to manage change.

I am a systems project manager by profession. If I were to mismanage my system in this way I would be unemployed. If  you continue to mismanage the forums like this you'll have no one here but yourselves.

Kyle Warendorf
Community Leader, MS Community"

[supermum_ms]

I don't know why the medhelp 'contact us' above didn't hyper link, i don't even recall that ever happening within the site before.......lol i was trying to make it easier for everyone but it's probably less fuss if you scroll to the bottom of your screen and click on 'contact us'  and directly report the problems you are having with the new set up.

With every previous problematic site change, there has been a disproportionate level of incomprehension, with each of the genuine MS incompatible site changes, and how it is causing the MS community a lot of legitimate problems.

Believe me, it is not been easy for this CL to keep repeatedly explaining to people who haven't experienced MS cognitive and visually disabling issues, why MSers are unable to "get use to it" and why the understandable impact will be the continual dwindling of our MS community.

Please consider taking the time to report the site problems with an informative educational mindset and with fingers crossed collectively the MS community will be supported into the future.....

Cheers.........JJ

ps Emily, please keep in mind that people with MS have legitimate cognitive and visual requirements for the viability of online usage, it has nothing to do with dissatisfaction and all to do with providing a site that understands this and supports it's MS community!    

[Emily_MHManager]

Hi everyone -

I appreciate that everyone has strong feelings about this, but please understand that we have passed on all your feedback to our developers. Some changes will be made (and I'm not trying to be mysterious, I'm just not sure what they are at this point), but they will take time. Please try to be patient.

We do support ALL of our members, and want to update the site with current technology so that all members have a good experience using it. We'll continue working through this.

Thanks,

Emily

[kwarendorf]

Emily,

Change is both inevitable and good. How change takes place is vital. In this case no one was given advanced notice, neither the users nor the CL's. No information was shared about what to expect. What features wer being eliminated? What new features would there be? When would the change take place? None of this information was shared.

People come to this community for support at times of great uncertainty. One of the things that draws them hear is familiarity, both with the people and the user experience. These changes have added unnecessarily to the already elevated strss levels of our community members.

I do not know what drives the new ownership of MedHelp. It does seem clear that the satisfaction of the current user universe is not high on their list of motivators.

Kyle

[immisceo]

Wow. Got it for the first time today (using Chrome on a Mac). It looks more up-to-date, yes, but none of that matters when functionality is jettisoned. You don't roll out something that's barely a beta with zero community consultation. This is not about the devs, Emily. This is about corporate ethos, project management, and general amateur-hour inability to roll out features in the unique environment of an on-line community.

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi friend,

You can make the old format " behave properly" (i.e. bump to the top the  thread with the newest  new posts) by clicking on the little wheel at the top left, in the picture, and then click on "last post"( instead of date started).

This option only comes up when you are on  the  forum page showing the list of questions,  NOT when you have opened a thread in the forum.

bluebutterfly

[Emily_MHManager]

Hi everyone -

If you have any constructive feedback, please send it to Contact Us at the bottom of every page, or https://medhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

If you have concerns or questions about an email you have sent or been sent, please reply to it, or use the same Contact Us link.

Thanks,

Emily

[Corriel]

This all seems ridiculously out of control.

I am sorry that you are experiencing this when you are trying to help.

I honestly don't know what to make of this. I commonly recommend this site to others and I no longer can do that comfortably Because of all of these changes.

I did send an e-mail with feedback to MH with a lot of what was mentioned above. Cognitive issues are HUGE in this community and I fear it is not being understood by MH for whatever reason.

Sadly, I do spend less time here because of everything going on with these changes and I hesitate to create new posts because I honestly can't be sure they will be easily seen and responded to.

This is all so unfortunate. This sort of thing hasn't happened with other communities online or on Facebook that I am a part of but this group was special to me because of the sense of family and support while struggling to live with MS and the havoc it creates in my life. This was my solace.

This disease has imposed so many limits on my life that it is horrible to imagine that this community, this family, can be forced to have limits as well.

C.

[Sara_MHModerator]

Hi everyone.

I want to reiterate that your complaints have been heard and are being passed along.  It's beginning to disrupt the forum having so many posts that are basically complaining about the site.  Again, we understand that you are not happy and are, again, passing that on.

Any personal correspondence between an individual member and MedHelp is considered private and not appropriate to post on the public forums.  

As our developers work on things, it would be helpful to let the forums get back to what they are intended for, providing support and help. Remember, not everyone is seeing the format changes at this point.  

And again, if you have questions or concerns, please use the "Contact us" at the bottom of every page.

Thank you

[essdipity]

Don't you understand that so many here have tried their best to be constructive? Or does constructive mean not complaining, in MH-speak? If these comments are disrupting the forum, ask yourselves why. The answer is that people feel they are not being heard; moreover, your abrupt and unannounced changes are far more disruptive than anything members have the power to do. You impose and we react, in that order.

You clearly don't like Kyle's reference to the new ownership. Well, I think it raises a valid point: What could be the reasoning behind the almost willful effort to antagonize your member base, which is your bread and butter? For more evidence of some less than admirable game plan, I cite

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Improve-MedHelp-Suggestions/MS-Community-Health-Pages/show/2698190

in which, when pressed 3 months later for an actual answer, you said regarding the much-valued and now defunct MS Health Pages, 'We reviewed Health Pages to try to find a way to keep the functionality. Unfortunately, we were unable to keep the Health Pages and the content in them.' Why? There is absolutely no technical reason the Health Pages could not remain, so there is a policy reason couched in your evasive PR response. I suspect that your corporate bottom line would somehow be affected.

Before you retort that I'm straying from the subject, I will pre-empt that by suggesting that both the formatting issues that cause hardship for our members and the Health Pages disappearance, which does the same, spring from the same motive, one that hardly does you proud.

I realize that as MH employees you must try to cloak corporate activities in as favorable a light as you can, but here your credibility is strained to the breaking point. You are not so much a service as a money-making operation; when your member and activity base declines, so does your advertising revenue. I don't expect you to be altruistic, but I do expect you to be forthright, and I also expect you to credit us with the intelligence to understand what is happening here. Else why all the secrecy and evasiveness?

Guess I've really burned my bridges this time.

ess

[Sara_MHModerator]

Again, we are very sorry that you are unhappy.  All we can do is pass along your complaints/feedback and we have.  If there is any new feedback, please use contact us at the bottom of every page to forward that to the team.  

Thank you

[supermum_ms]

Please be mind full, of minimising the negative impact these site changes are genuinely causing people with MS, as it is not very supportive or helpful in reassuring the MS community that their legitimate complex medical issues are being taken 100% seriously....

"want to hear from those who have constructive feedback for us, but please, don't be negative just in hopes of getting things changed back."

"I assure you that we hear you just as well if you simply explain your preference and why you prefer it that way. :) "

"I appreciate that everyone has strong feelings about this"

"I want to reiterate that your complaints have been heard and are being passed along.  It's beginning to disrupt the forum having so many posts that are basically complaining about the site.  Again, we understand that you are not happy and are, again, passing that on. "

"Again, we are very sorry that you are unhappy"

Over time site changes have continued to occur that has negatively impacted usability, and continued to decimate our community, as someone who has battled for YEARS to explain what MSers are ignorantly expected to get use to and my efforts 'rarely if ever' making any difference, the choice of language is disappointing too familiar, i'm sorry but it is :(  

The MS community is a shadow of what it once was, unquestionable it's no longer the 'very' active community with pages of new poster activity and new questions hitting the boards ever day as it was when i first became a community leader, it averages less than a hand full now.

Those who are voicing the problems these site changes are causing are actually representing 'all' the MSers who are currently effected or who are going to be but will not be heard....we are the voices of the MS community fighting it's last collective breath!

We are not simply unhappy and complaining because we don't like these changes....we are a visually and cognitively disabled community, who are devastated because medhelp doesn't understand the impact this keeps having on our MS community!    

Eyes wide open.........JJ

[Dee1956]

Supermum, I agree with you completely, if you read one of Emily's responses she says they don't want to hear that we want it back the way it was so this is it.  What is really frustrating is that I only have one line to type in so am not sure what I have said or not.  Mainly I just wanted to agree with you.  The new owners do not have a clue how much of a life line this has been to many many people.  They are destroying what was a home to many of us.  As someone said, we were their bread and butter.  Now we are just in the way, jamming the system. WOW!!  I still believe this is all about how many clicks they can get, so it is about money.  I guess the ads did not provide enough revenue. Not really sure what the purpose of these changes are but it is clear to me that we as members are not respected at all. Thank you for what you wrote, you too Esie

[kwarendorf]

It's intersting that what is seen as disruptive are the comments about the change rater that the change itself.

Kyle

[clean_in_ks]

Hi all....my name is Connie....I have been a member of MH for over 3 yrs now...and while I do not have MS myself, one of my sisters, my best friend in the whole wide world, DOES have Relapsing/Remitting MS.
  
The forum family that I have been helped by and grown to love is the Substance Abuse Forum/Community.
The Health Pages that literally educated me and helped me immensely were also in that forum.  I LOVED them!!!!
I have been reading all of your comments, both here in your MS community as well as in the Improve MH community.  Can I tell you something?  It doesn't matter WHICH forum/community we have been "living in"....we ALL FEEL THE VERY SAME WAY!!!!

I began asking about the "disappearance" of the Health Pages very early on.  We were put off for months....we didn't let it drop, did we?  Then we were finally told it was because the "widgets" were being worked on and told how we could still "get" to the Health Pages.  So, I bookmarked all my favorite Health Pages so I could at least get new forum members to the information that was INVALUABLE when you are new, sick, scared and seeking help.  Now, as you have all found out just like me....they are GONE GIRL!!!!  LOL  
Respecting us enough to tell us the truth?  Explain?  Nope
Now this new format?  If I could find something good to say about it I would!!  After all, being a chronic pain patient every single day of my life I have learned to seek out the positive, to find the gold nugget hiding in every situation, to focus on the treasures in this life.  But this format?  It doesn't even "look" like a colorful, welcoming community any more.  We are all families within our communities...we love and care for each other.  Not some black and white blog that looks like every other typical forum out there.  We bragged about MH, we encouraged people to come here.  We were helped so much ourselves we couldn't wait to help others and get them here, right?
Now we can't even see who the author of a thread is?  Or who posted last?  If a really helpful thread has 50 comments, we have to page thru each and every comment to get to the last one?  Our community leaders can't help us because many (most in my forum) haven't even had to try to use this?  Believe me, if I could think of one single positive change I would be more than happy to share it.  I'm NOT a negative woman...My motto in life is HOPE....Hang On Pain Ends☺  
Just wanted ALL of you to know I share your hearts about this...the new format, the elimination of our Health Pages, the new owners of MH... ALL of your comments I agreed with.  
Communities are just that....a place where we commune with those with "like interests".  MH used to be different...and our forum has slowed down considerably too....not just since this trial roll out that some of us are so displeased with.  We once used to be a place of attraction...we didn't have to promote.....the love and the knowledge and the faithful AUTHORS of the threads were all we needed.  Now we don't even get see who they are~

I, for one, will be in prayer about this....and if our voices are not heard as we attempt to share....well, at least we can have peace that we tried~
Blessings to you all,
Connie