1ī¸âŖ â Group Consolidation Stage 1 | đ â¤ī¸ Moods (Post Types) đĄ âšī¸ | SW Group & Category Re-Structuring
[b]Hello everyone![/b] đ By now, many of you would have likely noticed a new feature that was recently released on Similar Worlds, referred to as: [big]"Moods" [i][c=#666666](Post Types)[/c][/i][/big]
[b]Think of "Moods"... as an Improvement and Replacement, to the much requested return of: [c=#800000]"[u]Stories & Questions[/u]"[/c].[/b] [i](I'll explain this more, below. âŦ)[/i]
[b]This feature is only a First, but Major step, in completing a major improvement to SW which we have been discussing for [u]well over 2 years now...[/u][/b]
The core "Project" to which our new "Moods" feature belongs to, is the larger [b]Group & Category Re-Structuring of Similar Worlds[/b], more commonly referred to as [c=#800000][b]"Group Consolidation"[/b][/c].
[quote] [big][c=#800000][u]Previous Related Announcements:[/u][/c][/big]
[b]đ SW Group & Category Re-Structuring (Feedback Appreciated)[/b] https://similarworlds.com/100-Admin-Announcements/2149687
[b]âī¸ How would you Categorize All Groups and Posts on SW? đ[/b] https://similarworlds.com/100-Admin-Announcements/3614866
[b]Clarification on Group & Post Changes[/b] https://similarworlds.com/100-Admin-Announcements/3432517
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While the new Moods feature, was not outlined in the previous discussion regarding Group Consolidation, it became clear to us over time, that such a feature may be necessary to provide the best overall experience to users, on Similar Worlds.
[quote][b]Think of "Moods"... as an Improvement and Replacement, for the much requested return of: [c=#800000]"[u]Stories & Questions[/u]"[/c].[/b][/quote]
We have definitely been listening to your feedback and concerns, and one particular issue that was often expressed, is the removal of the "Stories & Questions" sections, which previously existed on SW.
From what we understand and have observed, one of the main ways Stories & Questions were utilized, was as a separation between "Post Types".
[c=#800055]On the [b]feed of "Stories"[/b], there appeared to be more often: [u]Well written stories, experiences, discussion of issues, seeking of advice, etc...[/u][/c]
[c=#003BB2]On the [b]feed of "Questions"[/b], there appeared to be more often: [u]Fun, relaxed posts, jokes, games, controversial topics, etc...[/u][/c]
We do realize, that the [b]removal of Stories & Questions[/b] some time ago (with good intention, and some necessity)... did create some form of [b]"Disorganization" between user posts[/b], leading to dissatisfaction. ([b]We do apologize for that.[/b])
Where some users, much preferred the type of posts presented in the "Stories Feed", while other users, much preferred the posts which appeared in the "Questions Feed".
([b]Varying Audiences, with lack of Segmentation.[/b])
After much consideration of what options we have available, while maintaining compatibility with the final form and completion of Group Consolidation...
We came to the idea of providing "Post Types", which is now named as "Moods" in our latest release.
[b]We do believe and hope, that this new way of categorizing posts by Mood or Emotive Type, will greatly help users in being able to see more of the type of posts they prefer, on Similar Worlds.[/b]
[c=#800000][b]Please note, that we will "Very Soon" include links to the various "Mood Feeds" in much more accessible places.[/b]
As well, the Mood of each post, will be soon directly visible from feeds.[/c] (right now, they are only visible within (opening) the post)
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For your convenience (until properly integrated to the site, which should be soon), [b]here are direct links to the various feeds of posts, for each of the newly released SW Moods (Post Types):[/b]
So on a more constructive not than my last post in here, I mentioned this to another user and figured I'd post it here too. I understand that no matter what you do there will always be someone who likes a change and don't like a change. You can't please everyone. That said, again, this change seems to not be very well liked overall. I appreciate that you're trying, but this seems to be a one step forward, three steps back situation. But to my point here, what I said to that user with an added underline to highlight one point:
[quote]Instead of this massive change they're doing it seems like it would be much more useful if they just had more active group moderation. Sure, it might mean having to add a person or two to the site staff, [u]but to me it seems like what people want isn't an entirely new system; they just want functional groups[/u].
Basically, something like this: * Allow users to create groups again. * Maybe/maybe not have new groups screened for approval. * Have all groups get an extra button; the "report duplicate". User selects what group this is a duplicate of. The group moderation staff checks this and if it is a duplicate they merge the two groups. * Users who follow a group that has been merged into another will get a notification so that they don't get confused about being in a group they don't recognize/can't remember having joined. * Have an "uncategorized" group for people who don't want to have it in a specific group (or maybe for the fringe situations where a post needs to be moved out of a group).
Sure, there's still the whole questions vs. story thing, but that'd go well on its way to solving the groups issue.[/quote]
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If people want to add an optional mood, that is perfectly fine. Heck, some groups would work well as a mood on their own and need no further "mooding". All you've achieved is add another thing on the checklist of things to do in order to post. It might not take much longer than before to make a post but it is still yet another thing to do before you're allowed to post.
[quote]This added convolution just makes the hurdle to post larger, and the hurdle to post on other sites smaller in comparison. [...] Sometimes I just want to write and be done with it, not go through a questionnaire [...][/quote]
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As for questions vs. stories; back in the day you had to choose if you wanted to show the questions feed or the stories feed. You could have just made a third feed (maybe even set it as the default) which showed both questions and stories.
Heck, instead of moods you could just have made an optional tag that could be added with the options "question" and "story". Not saying that is necessarily the best solution, but what you have already implemented seems counter-intuitive at best.
