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🔄 SW Group & Category Re-Structuring (Feedback Appreciated) 📩

[b]Hello SW Members! :)

We are looking forward to Re-Structuring our Group and Category format, as well as improving the list of Topics that will be available to post in, on Similar Worlds.[/b]

To be able to launch Similar Worlds and develop many of the urgently needed features in a timely manner, we imported mostly all of the Groups (as is) that were already available on Experience Project.

We also needed time to familiarize ourselves with the members here, their likes, dislikes, interests, habits, etc…

Now that we have a much better understanding of our audience, [b]we would like to soon proceed with the re-structuring and consolidation of our many Group and Category topics that are available for members to post in.[/b]

[sep]

[b]A major problem we recognized with the original EP group structuring, was lack of relevance or inter-linking between topics, as well as redundancy.[/b]

For example:
If one types "Animals" in the Group search box, here are some of the results that may currently appear:

[quote]• I Love Animals
• I Love Animal Animals
• I Love Animals Also People That Loves Animal
• I Love Animals On All Farm, Nature Animals, and Out Door Life

…

• I Hate It When People Feed Animals To Other Animals
• I Hate Animals Abusers Alot Because Im A Animal Lover
• I Im An Animal Lover And Hate Cruelty To Animals
• I Love Animals And I Am Against Animal Cruelty[/quote]

As we can see, there are two major issues here:

1) Redundancy between groups. That many groups are not needed, when many are repeating the exact same topic/title, with only minor changes to wording.

2) These similar groups are not inter-linked/inter-related.

This means that two persons could each join one of these two groups:
[i]• I Love Animals
• I Love Animals Also People That Loves Animal[/i]
… and have no connection/relevance to each other whatsoever.
They would not be able to as easily find related posts or questions without joining EACH of the very many duplicate groups about the same topic.

This is not well organized at all. It makes the site confusing and less relevant when it comes to the posts appearing in feeds, recommendations, searches, etc…

[b]To resolve the two problems highlighted above, we would like to "Consolidate" all SW Groups, whereby [u]we will be merging relevant groups, as well as trimming out groups[/u] that have no relevance or interest in being on Similar Worlds.

We will also be working on a feature which allows members to submit/suggest new topic category suggestions.[/b]

[sep]

[c=#004A59][big]Groups? Categories? Topics?[/big][/c]

At this time, we are considering to reduce the separation between "Stories" and "Questions" on Similar Worlds.

Stories and Questions will indeed remain as separate features each having their own feed.
However, they will be more similar in format and options, as well as Topic (Group/Category) selection.

(For example, at the moment, you can only attach Polls to Questions, however, you will be able to do the same on Stories, if/when this change is implemented)

During the post creation process, the user will be able to select whether the new post will be marked as a Story or a Question (and it will appear in the appropriate feeds).

At the moment, on Similar Worlds.

[b]Groups => Stories

Categories => Questions
[/b]

We find that this adds to the "redundancy" and "lack of relevance" issues, as explained before with duplicate groups.

For example,
Currently there is both:
a) A Group called "I Love Animals On All Farm, Nature Animals, and Out Door Life"

b) A Category Called: Life > Pets, Animals and Nature

These "Topics" are currently not connected algorithmically in any way, on SW.

Therefore, joining the category "Pets, Animals and Nature" doesn't help in any way to see stories about Animals, Nature, etc…

[b]To improve this, and also improve the user experience, we would like to merge the selection of Group and Categories under one umbrella called "Topics".

In this way, you can much more easily select what type of Stories and Questions you are interested (or not interested) in seeing on SW, and they will finally be relevantly filtered per your preferences.[/b]

[sep]

[c=#004A59][big]Example of SW Topics Structure[/big][/c]

I will attempt to draft an example below on how the proposed Topics structure may look like.

[c=#BF0000]Please Note that these examples being used below:

[b]1) Do NOT in any way suggest our endorsement, approval or opinion on any of these topics.

2) Are being used because I feel they are easier examples to understand/relate to (being polarizing topics).

3) Are topics/ideas people discuss in real life, and has no indication on what is True or False, Good or Bad. We are a platform for sharing opinions and experiences. regardless how incorrect, inaccurate or false an opinion may seem.[/b][/c]

Our aim is to create a HUGE "Tree" like structure of all relevant topics of discussion.
They will branch from "Parent" Topics/Categories, down to more specific Topics.

This will help greatly for organization, relevance and filtering.

Examples:

[quote]Identity -> Politics -> Democracy - > News & Events
Identity -> Politics -> Democracy - > Politicians
Identity -> Politics -> Democracy - > Ideology
Identity -> Religion -> Democracy -> Terrorism
…

Identity -> Politics -> Republic - > News & Events
Identity -> Politics -> Republic - > Politicians
Identity -> Politics -> Republic - > Ideology
Identity -> Religion -> Republic-> Terrorism
…

Identity -> Religion -> Islam -> Praying
Identity -> Religion -> Islam -> Quran
Identity -> Religion -> Islam -> Fasting
Identity -> Religion -> Islam -> Terrorism
…

Identity -> Religion -> Christianity -> Catholicism
Identity -> Religion -> Christianity -> God
Identity -> Religion -> Christianity -> Satan
Identity -> Religion -> Christianity -> Terrorism
Identity -> Religion -> Christianity -> Homosexuality
…

Relationship -> Homosexuality -> Dating
Relationship -> Homosexuality -> Marriage
Relationship -> Homosexuality -> Divorce
Relationship -> Homosexuality -> Affairs
Relationship -> Homosexuality -> Legality
…[/quote]

As is observable all across the internet, such conflicting topics do appear very often on Similar Worlds as well.
People will have different opinions, points and things to say about varying topics.

[b]Our hope is to better categorized these posts, so that they can be shared between the correct (relevant) audiences.

Conversely, we can use such groups as filters also, whereby users don't have to see posts about certain topics they dislike.[/b]

For example, if you are tired of seeing "posts about Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton", and no longer wish to see those posts on SW.

[b]You will easily be able to filter (block) topically:[/b]

Identity -> Politics -> Democracy - > Politicians
&
Identity -> Politics -> Republic - > Politicians

or simply:

Identity -> Politics -> * - > Politicians

If feasible also, we will allow block filters by specific Keywords as well, such as "Trump", "Diaper", "ISIS", etc…

[sep]

[b]Another dimension we would like to add to these SW Topics, is your "Stance/Preference" on each Topic.
This can also act as a filter as well.[/b]

[big][c=#005E2F]Like[/c], [c=#665D00]Opinion[/c] (Neutral), [c=#800000]Dislike[/c][/big] - Something along these lines

For example, someone can
[c=#005E2F][b]Like:[/b][/c] Identity -> Religion -> Islam -> Quran
[c=#665D00][b]Opinion:[/b][/c] Identity -> Religion -> Islam -> Quran
[c=#800000][b]Dislike:[/b][/c] Identity -> Religion -> Islam -> Quran

For the topic Titles, we are planning to allow them to be flexible, as Question Titles are at the moment.

However, the linked topic or sub-title may appear as: [b][u]I have an Opinion about the Quran[/u][/b]

[sep]

There is still much to discuss and share with everyone, still more planning to be done (the topics are still to be chosen, so those examples are not necessarily official yet).

As I discussed a lot of new things already, I'll pause for now, and give a chance to members to provide some feedback and suggestions.

Features such as the "Like, Opinion, Dislike" need to be thought out very well in order to be seamless with the site, user-friendly, and not too confusing/complex.
We have some ideas on how this and the other features could be implemented, but more planning is still to be done.

Thanks for your attention and support!
[c=#005E2F][i]-The SW Team[/i][/c]

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Peapod · 61-69, F

I wish you guys could shut down all the real hardcore porn and talk of fetishes. It seems to me it's really dicey around young adults.

You have to know you CAN have a really busy site without it, right?

SW-User

@Peapod Here here!!
Keep that stuff on appropriate sites for it

VSonMe · 56-60, M

@Peapod Here, add another block for me. You know you can simply choose not to read or participate in posts? Instead, you prefer to prohibit people from talking about things you find distasteful. I find that attitude distasteful. Go ahead - block me.

Peapod · 61-69, F

@VSonMe, there are lots of porn sites for people that want it. Trying to integrate young, vulnerable teens and other naive type people with those of you that like some really dark crap is just deviant. You don't want to be censored because you know there are lots of young, innocent people here. smh.

VSonMe · 56-60, M

@Peapod Thank you for making assumptions about my intentions. I don't want to be censored because [b]I don't like censorship[/b]. It doesn't need more justification. I have always loathed people who want to trample on other people's freedoms because of their fragile sensibilities.

Peapod · 61-69, F

@VSonMe, I will always defend young, vulnerable people against your rally for content you can enjoy in places that don't involve them.

VSonMe · 56-60, M

@Peapod And i will always defend freedom of expression from censorious busybodies.

VSonMe · 56-60, M

@SW-User the expression is "Hear, hear!" if you don't want to advertise your ignorance in future

SW-User

@VSonMe yeah well it's their site and they can do whatever they choose. Bet you would censor what comes into your own house

VSonMe · 56-60, M

@SW-User Of course it's their choice. But the purpose of the site seems to be to encourage open discussion without censorship, while at the same time protecting minors. As the site is anonymous, that's an impossible task but they do a decent job. For example, I have my profile settings so i don't even see minors let alone interact with them. Also, the posts are tagged to provide an indication of mature content.

SW-User

@VSonMe Okay fair enough. People are always preaching about anonymous site but nowhere have I seen Admin or the site front page mention that it is intended for anonymous.

VSonMe · 56-60, M

@SW-User Given that anyone can choose their username, that email addresses are not visible, that location is choosable, it doesn't really need spelling out, does it?

Is that your real name? David1? I doubt it. It might be David Something but you don't say what your surname is.

Don't make stupid arguments.

Faust76 · 46-50, M

@SW-User "Our Goal is to continue the Experience Project vision, rebuilding a fresh new website with notable improvements to Privacy, Security and Functionality." Note that "Privacy" in this context also means anonymity, if it isn't clear what "EP vision" means. To be fair, I'm sorely missing a real mission statement from SimilarWorlds.

The brand new verification feature effectively makes truly anonymous users second class citizens, and the ToS has a section on "Anonymous and Fictional profiles", which is confusing when nobody, not even the staff, uses their real name/identity here. Not really following the discussion, though I wanted to point out that being "anonymous support group" was EP's central mission and SW has so far kinda toed the line, though any references to "support group" seem to be gone.

SW-User

@VSonMe In other words a bunch of fakes.
Some of us do like to be the real us. Yes this is my real name and age.

Don't be such a putz.

VSonMe · 56-60, M

@SW-User I made a point that on a site that features anonymity it is impossible to ensure that minors are not accessing adult content.

You responded with the fatuous comment that "It doesn't say it's anonymous" as though that's somehow proof that the site doesn't protect people's privacy.

And your name is not David1 so don't be a fucking twat.

SW-User

@Peapod make your own clean, wholesome site and take David1 with you 😊 im sure it'll be a busy site in no time

Chickie · F

@Peapod I agree, I believe it's running off new members or the reason why some members don't stick around for long

Peapod · 61-69, F

@Chickie, I think MOST people [i]aren't[/i] OK with some of what is out there. I am not about stopping someone's right to express themselves, but it's scary to see it in a place where a lot of young teens come, probably having no idea what they are walking into. If this was presented as a true ADULT site, then there should be a bigger emphasis on that.

SW-User

@Faust76 I don't think they mean privacy in that sense. I think it's more to protect our personal info. It just confirms that it is a site full of fakes. No real names, no real pics and on and on. I get wanting to be private but I like to interact with real people and not fantasies.
@VSonMe Yep I do agree that it is impossible to ensure that minors are not accessing adult content. So why not do away with the crap and keep this a support site as intended. There are tons of adult sites already for that.

VSonMe · 56-60, M

@SW-User I think the adult material is part and parcel of this site tbh. Many people find solace in the fact that they can find others with similar interests and don't feel as though they are unusual or deviant for having them. You are right that this is not a porn site, but people do need to be able to talk about things in an anonymous setting that they are perhaps embarrassed to talk about to people irl.

SW-User

@VSonMe Yeah I agree to an extent with that. Adult content is different than porn to me and this is not intended to be a smut or porn site.

VSonMe · 56-60, M

@SW-User Glad we agree! I do take your point about minors and about the intent of the site. For me, SW is a safe place to explore issues that people find difficult or impossible to talk about in other environments. Necessarily, this will deal with sexual issues but obviously, this is not a sex site per se.

I think having the ability to avoid seeing topics that don't interest us or repulse us is sufficient, along with the ability to avoid interacting with users we find objectionable. My main point, btw, is not about having the ability to talk about taboo topics, it is about my distaste for censorship in general.

I respect that you are open about your identity to the extent that you need to be. My profile too is not fake although it obviously does not include my name. I think if I were pretending to be someone other than who i am, i would not choose to be a balding 54 year old!

I apologize for the tone of earlier posts.

SW-User

@VSonMe Hey thanks a lot. Appreciate all you said. Lol @ the balding 54 year old.

But yeah, I think people take things to the extreme and that's why there needs be censorship as you say. I'd rather say moderating. With the new coming structure should help weed out some of that.

I apologize for mine too. I'm grumpy sometimes and honestly admit it, lol. ✌