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.
Former Member
You're out of control, Gull.
I think it has something to do with my new avatar.
Are we compelled to open every thread, I think not.
If I am not interested in any thread I just ignor it.
If I do not like it, it is a very soon that I do not want to read it.
It is the same thing with TV, I do not like certain programs I do not switch to the chanell.
Are we compelled to open every thread, I think not.
Apparently there are some among us with OCD who must in fact open each and every thread. We must be considerate of them.
I apologize for the length of this post, and most people won’t read it anyway, but I wanted to express my opinion. I first discovered this forum through Google search results from Ande’s blog. I read it all the time, but never responded in the thread (more of a lurker). It is a great resource and the culmination of 3 years of work.
My understanding (and I understand very little by the way) is that the administrators didn’t do a good job of communicating with Ande. It’s funny that the administrators of a crowdsourced forum utilizing web 2.0 features didn’t reach out to its community about the changes. Ande stated:
“I was given no choice, I was ordered.
I was told the thread would be closed and I had to move.
I didn't close the thread.”
Ande was given mandates and never afforded the opportunity for discussion—which is what this forum is all about. The community as a whole didn’t even understand why the changes were being made until this thread arrived. Matysekj stated:
“Given that the new capability is here, why not use it? There are some advantages to using a blog tool instead of a forum thread. Blog tools allow for comments to be left on specific blog entries. Viewing that entry includes viewing the comments in context, relative to that entry. Forum threads don't work that way. Ande has very often had to quote lots of posts in his old blog thread in order to put his answers in context. That's not necessary in the blogs - you comment on a particular entry and your comments are kept with that entry.”
These are good points, and why they weren’t communicated before the changes were made to everyone is somewhat confusing. I also don’t mean to sound negative regarding the administrators—it’s not an easy job at times.
One of the most telling points about this whole thing for me occurred when Ande stated;
“I've been posting in it for more than 3 years. I wanted to continue posting my workouts in the thread where they started to keep the body of work together.”
Ande wants all of his work in one location, not busted apart and linked to. I totally agree with this and can understand his frustration. Did the administrators offer to migrate all of Ande’s old content to the new platform? No. This to me is one of the underlying problems. Sure, it would take a lot of time and maybe some money, but it could have been done.
To me, this is a loss for the forum. Ande is the most accessible person on here. Couldn’t a phone call have been made beforehand? Can’t the administrators take the time to do the migration?
Knelson also downplayed the navigation effort when he stated:
“True. About one additional mouse click!”
In the online world, one additional mouse click can be quite a difference. That’s like saying what’s a couple of extra tenths in a 50. But if we can’t fix the location problem, maybe the administrators would consider a migration.
Dear Friends,
I want to thank everyone who's posted here in support of reopening my blog.
www.usms.org/.../showthread.php
On September 15th the forum rolled out new features
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
who decided on the policy regarding blogs?
"Blogs (members only): Confirmed USMS members may maintain their own blog in the new Blogs section. Existing thread used as blogs will be closed in favor of using the real blog feature. Everyone can read blogs and comment on them, but only USMS members may create them. If you have maintained a blog-type of thread up until now, there's no reason to copy over all of your old blog posts. Just add a link to your old thread in your first blog post. Your old thread will be closed to new posts, but will not be deleted."
in another thread Rtodd asked me:
"Ande, why not put the blog up on the blog page?"
here was my response
www.usms.org/.../showpost.php
Here's where my new blog is:
andesswimmingblog.blogspot.com
I ask that my USMS workout thread be opened and people permitted to post in it.
Ande
Ande,
I hope the moderator reads your request and does the right thing. There appears to be a consensus that your thread would fit in just fine under the workout section. In all likelihood Jim may not have realized how many forum members valued your postings.
The new forum features work well in that the new blog section serves its purpose in assigning a location for blogs which starting to cloud the general discussions. But closing it down wasn't necessary. And he should not only respect your request to reopen it, but acknowledge that 3 years of your time has provided a invaluable asset to this on-line community (despite what the poll says).
People who voted against having it in the "General Discussions" may not have understood that the blog section does not work in the same way. The blog section allows for comments, but no on-going dialogue. Therein lies the difference. Your blog initiated dialogue, and more discussions about swimming. It wasn't just a record of day in and day out swim practices.
Jim seems like a reasonable person. Let's hope that he makes an exception. You deserve that consideration.
The title of this section is "General Swimming Related Discussions"
I have always thought of Ande's "blog" as just that, an ongoing discussion of swimming that happened to include what they were doing in Texas.
That said, I guess we all have to learn to move on.... however inconvenient we may find it to be.
(Thanks for the ride, Ande!)
