Ande's Blog is the longest running and arguably the most popular thread on the forum and should be returned to the General Swimming-Related Discussions. It is more than just a blog in that it has been highly interactive, generating a lot of discussion and addressing a wide range of swimming-related topics.
While I will admit slogging through all the blogs was tedious, I do think Ande's should be grandfathered in to remain on the main page, if nothing else to enjoy the folly of the roll start.
Jim & Rob,
Why was this change made...was there a complaint of some type or someone for some reason just felt the change needed to be made to fit a particular "format".
I respect/appreciate "rules" but at times if holding to said rules actually works against the greater good maybe they need to be reexamined? This change does nothing to advance the interest and advancement of USMS in my opinion.
I'm not exactly sure what all the consternation is about. The new version of the forum software has a blogging feature, so blogs that were in the regular forum area have been moved to the blogs area. It's not like content has been eliminated, just moved to a different place. Quite a few people have already started blogging. It's just a matter of training ourselves to go to blog area rather than the General Swimming-Related Disussions section.
I would vote for retitling the thread to "Ande's Workouts" (or maybe "Big, and Fast!" LOL, or "Performance Swimming," or some such) and moving entire thing to Workouts forum. It's substantially more than what normally appears as a blog.
A blog titled as such and left on Swimming-Related forum would forever more bring questions and complaints ("His blog is there; why can't mine be?").
If a goal of moving blogs off the main page and to their own corner is to limit third-party responses, it probably should be all or none. That said, there are probably ways of keeping Ande's thread more forward.
I'm actually more concerned about our Canadian friends who have contributed so much. If non-USMS, will they still enjoy full participation?
VB
I agree with VB's thoughts. Is there a reason why it can't go in the workout section? That's more accessible and could more easily provide the back and forth between readers. JMiller's Fun & Fast seems to get good viewership. Ande has dedicated a lot of time and effort to the blog (not saying the others bloggers won't and I have both read and commented on them), but his is unique and used as a resource by many.
I'm not exactly sure what all the consternation is about. The new version of the forum software has a blogging feature, so blogs that were in the regular forum area have been moved to the blogs area. It's not like content has been eliminated, just moved to a different place. Quite a few people have already started blogging. It's just a matter of training ourselves to go to blog area rather than the General Swimming-Related Disussions section.
It's a matter of ease of access. Currently, it requires a bit more effort to reach and read thru entries in the Blogs section. This may or may not change as further enhancements occur. but we can only deal with what is.
It is just that Ande spent a vast amount of time detailing his workouts, answering questions and giving advice on that thread that it seems such a pity for it to be closed.
Is it not possible for the entire thread to be moved over to the blog section? It is not the same providing a link to the old thread. We all know the fate of closed threads: they slip slowly off the most recently posted page into oblivion. It is far more convenient to have it all together.
What about changing the name of the thread to Ande's workouts and posting under the workout thread? (Ande suggested this). Just don't want to see a good resource closed down. I know it will still be available but it just doesn't seem as effective if it is no longer interactive.
I have never used Ande's Blog because I come here for workouts, and slogging through all of the posts and details is tedious for ME. I use the Workouts section more than anything and would love to see Ande's workouts separated in that area, and the conversation aspect saved for the General Swimming-Related Discussions.
I know many of you have been here for years and enjoy the discussion in Ande's threads, but for ME, it would be easier to have it separated and NOT in blog form.
