As we continue to work our hardest to make Similar Worlds as compatible and user-friendly for everyone, for those who do not wish to Categorize or Type-Label their posts before publishing, [b]we have now added a feature which allows you to SKIP Labelling & Categorization (Step 1 & 2) during the post creation process.[/b]
1) Create New Post - https://similarworlds.com/post
2) IF you do not want to correctly organize where your post should be, you are free to use the [c=800000][big][Skip Categorization][/big][/c] [b]button[/b], to [b]"1-Click Skip" Steps 1 & 2[/b].
3) You simply carry on with the creation of your post, as usual: [b]Title + Content[/b] [i](+ Audience)[/i] ... [b][Post][/b]
Your post will be Categorized as: [b]"Uncategorized" [Random][/b]
[sep]
Do note however, that it is not only beneficial for the community as a whole, that posts be correctly labeled (so that users can find they are interested in, from the Groups/Categories they are subscribed to).
It will also benefit you, the poster, to have categorized posts, since once our improved post feed relevance goes into effect, users will see more of the posts they are actually interested in, and subscribed to, and less posts from unsubscribed groups and unfamiliar users.
Kind regards, -The SW Team
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Here is a chart showing the percentages % in relation to [b]Total[/b] Posts, [b]Private[/b] Posts, [b]Uncategorized[/b] Posts, and Posts in the "[b]Random[/b]" category.
On the 27th, we released the [b]Uncategorized[/b] option. It is averaging less than 20% of total posts.
We want to thank everyone who is choosing a category for their posts, as that helps the whole community finding relevant posts for their interests, as well as being able to Mute specific topics (without having to block actual users), and helps in reducing fragmentation.
@Nuno society is fragmented ... in the US we encourage individualism and thus fragmentation.
I say
■ What is wrong with fragmentation?
■ What is wrong with individualism?
■ What is so wrong with being American?
I urge you to rethink this effort to remove the individualism you all once encouraged.
SW-User
@Nuno it's just that even if it says uncategorized goes to that section fun and games, so I rather select an option that's more accurate, if it truly was uncategorized would be different.
@Nuno my question is when are y'all gonna introduce games and avatars and avatar clothing and accessories to spend our coins on , this has been an idea mentioned in the SW coins section since the beginning of SW so is it even being considered or what
@Nuno So three things about this. One positive, the rest are debatable.
1) It's great that you are trying to be open and forthcoming in the sense that you are posting numbers. If you do it properly that is a very good thing, and something I think the greater community will appreciate.
2) Just a shame that the first impression of that statistic gives a bit of an incorrect image. I am not doubting the numbers you have written, but for anyone glancing over this post instead of thinking about it for a moment won't realize that the graph looks more flattering than it is. You chose "total posts" rather than "otherwise categorized posts". If you had chosen the latter, that line would have dips mirroring the random and uncategorized lines. While it might still represent less than 20% that would have looked a tiny bit less flattering. Is this something you've cooked up to show other companies and advertisers or something, 'cause this feels like it's trying to make it look a bit better than it is.
3) Okay, so 80%+ is categorized. Fair. While you have never stated it directly in this post, this almost feels like a post tooting your own horn being all "look, people are using the new topics, therefore it is clearly what the users wanted".
Imagine a road to somewhere that is used a lot. A new road is then built, and they turn the old one into a gravel road and remove all amenities along the way. Then someone goes "look at this, so many people are using the new road, what a success!"
Point is, while there are many who like the new change, some people don't like it but are still complying because that is better than the alternative. And uncategorized being under "fun and games" means some people who would want to post there won't do that. And surely some of those 80%, given the choice, would have rather used the old groups than the new system.
Or maybe you are just dismayed that it turned out to be a divisive change as opposed to a universally beloved one, and this is your attempt to "prove the rest are just negative people". Hard to say, doesn't feel sincere at least.
@Nuno I’m still getting used to the new system, but I like it, even though, y’all took out all my sassy groups🧂🙃 I think overall it has been a good change, so, thanks for the update. 💗
[quote]@PirateMonkeyCabinet Just a shame that the first impression of that statistic gives a bit of an incorrect image. You chose "total posts" rather than "otherwise categorized posts".[/quote]
I don't get your reasonings, to be honest...
The way the chart is done is simply the way we (admins) look at the stats. It gives us a better overview/image, if we look at the Total Posts, and then how much % of that is Uncategorized... The Difference between Uncategorized and the Total Posts is the Categorized.
So, I don't really get your points there. The chart above is simply how we look at the data.
We're not trying to hide anything. I explicitly mentioned in my post above, "Total Posts". Nothing is "manipulated" there. That's just how we look at the data, in our internal dashboard.
[quote]@PirateMonkeyCabinet Is this something you've cooked up to show other companies and advertisers or something[/quote]
You keep coming with those points about "this all being done because of advertisers".
We already explained several times before, that we're doing this to allow SW to grow. We simply couldn't grow if all posts are fragmented into many random groups, and if we have loads of redundant groups that all mean the same, and several of them with questionable names, all out of control.
We put a lot of thought and research on this, and this is surely what we believe is the best vision for SW.
At the same time, we're listening to our members and accommodating in what we can.
[quote]@OfflineFriend what about giving us the option to put a category as favorites like select 4 to reduce the amount of clicks to get to ones you post in more ?[/quote]
Actually, we made a change recently so that when you click/tap on the "type to search" field, it automatically opens a list of your Top Groups (where you posted the most recently).
@Nuno I want to say that I haven't forgotten about replying to this, but it is taking time as it is turning into a quite a long one. Since you say that you are listening and as such interested is in feedback then I want to make sure that my reply is proper and thorough. I hope you'll take the time to read and mull over that reply when it arrives even if it will be long. Naturally we won't agree on everything but I'm hoping you as admins and those of us who are strongly dissatisfied with the update will to some degree see more eye-to-eye. So it will take some time before it is there and it won't be today, but I am genuinely interested in a constructive dialogue even if I at times show quite the frustration with these things.
However, I want to clear up some things straight away.
[quote]@Nuno You keep coming with those points about "this all being done because of advertisers".[/quote]
I have generally tried to take care about how I word it in my replies about that. Been trying to ensure it comes of stated as a [i]possible[/i] avenue (i.e. saying that it [u]feels[/u] like an advertising-centric change), as opposed to claiming straight up that "this is why they are doing it". Although if I've made a mistake in how I've worded some of the replies in which I've mentioned that I'll happily own up to that.
However, I will say that in the reply I made earlier in this very thread I did accidentally use punctuation instead of a question mark. It was never intended to be a direct claim but rather despite the incorrect use of symbol to end the line it is still worded as a question.
Part of what I'm getting at (and will touch more upon when I make my proper reply) is that this is about the impression you give. I know you've said it is because you want to grow the site, I know you've never said it is for advertising. However, for a fair bunch of us there are things in both the way you explain things - and for that matter in details left out - that makes it feel like it doesn't add up. And in looking for potential explanations, increasing the successful hit rate of advertisements and ensuring content remained more advertiser-friendly seemed like one of the natural potential reasons.
I'm not saying the entire update is just wrong. There were things that I'd say are improvements, and I do absolutely agree that there needed to be changes to the way groups were organised. In fact, theoretically, adding categories/topics in itself is useful. Unfortunately the path you chose, the implementation you went for, conflicts with use cases for enough of a subset of the old guard and long time members here that some see it as an overall user-unfriendly update (at least for existing users).
You can never appease absolutely everyone, but as they say: there is more than one way to skin a cat. And I honestly think you could have achieved both your outwardly stated goals and still appeased more of the existing userbase than you did.
Anyway, this is long enough already. I'll get back to you with a more full reply once I get my thoughts gathered and my concentration has lasted long enough for me to put it in words proper.
