Online Community - Comments, Improvements and Feedback

5 days ago copied as suggested from the other thread
Another idea for our forum.. I think the 5 heading groups should be extended to have a "Teens and 20's" section. They don't necessarily fit in with parents and carers and they don't fit in quite the same with older adults. They sort of get missed in the middle and need a place. ? Also it does concern me that new people and also some other posts get missed and unless you go to unanswered posts don't get replies.. which must be disheartening.. not sure what you can do about that though

Teenagers and those people in their twenties fit in the 'Autistic adults' group.

If we have a group for such people, where does it end? Do we then create a group for adults who received a diagnosis after a certain age? Do we create another group for those of pensionable age?

I see no reason to single out teenagers and those in their twenties from any other adult group. If we create a group for those people then in fairness we should create groups for other categories of people.

Regarding posts being missed, I wrote a thread about using RSS feeds ('Keeping Abreast of New Threads') and mentioned above adding RSS icons; I do agree, though, that people missing posts does seem to be a problem.

I just posted suggesting a 'teens' group, but missed your comment, caretwo.  Sorry.  I've been on MH forums in the past where they've had separate forums for, generally speaking, people over around 18, and for younger people.  There was a post yesterday with a mother asking if we knew of any suitable online communities for teens.  Her daughter is 13.  She might feel she's too young, therefore, to take part in a forum group entitled 'Autistic Adults'. Maybe the forum title could be changed to something that feels more inclusive.

I take your point about adding to the moderating burden, which must already be substantial (and I echo everyone's heartfelt thanks to the Mods for their great work).  But I also think there may be younger teens out there who might feel more comfortable talking to people in their own age group.  When I was 13, anyone who was 16 seemed vastly older.  Anyone who was 18 or 20 might as well have been 30.

I don't think it necessarily needs to go any further than that.  Adults who receive a diagnosis after a certain age are still adults.

Just thoughts

Misfit61 said:

Thanks Deepthought I'll practice that when I feel up to joining in again. Some days I'm slower than others and it's surprising how quickly some of the conversations go. 

It normally takes several hours up to a number of days to write stuff in my case, and I generally refer to my written work as mind babies ~ labour of love and all that; what with the delivery being rather exhausting from time to time.

So as the saying goes ~ "Rest up Buttercup!" ~ and have a good one and many more.

Thanks Deepthought I'll practice that when I feel up to joining in again. Some days I'm slower than others and it's surprising how quickly some of the conversations go. 

Misfit61 said:

And now I'm getting behind again as whilst I slowly type other posts answering posts from all different times come out and make my comments seem like I'm not listening! 11.27. 

As a slow writer myself, I generally quote what I am responding to, so whatever I may be referring to is made more relevant . . . possibly, and it is generally a given that we not able to keep up with that which we not yet aware of, and all that.

Misfit61 said:

And now I'm getting behind again as whilst I slowly type other posts answering posts from all different times come out and make my comments seem like I'm not listening! 11.27. 

As a slow writer myself, I generally quote what I am responding to, so whatever I may be referring to is made more relevant . . . possibly, and it is generally a given that we not able to keep up with that which we not yet aware of, and all that.

Misfit61 said:

Thanks Deepthought I'll practice that when I feel up to joining in again. Some days I'm slower than others and it's surprising how quickly some of the conversations go. 

It normally takes several hours up to a number of days to write stuff in my case, and I generally refer to my written work as mind babies ~ labour of love and all that; what with the delivery being rather exhausting from time to time.

So as the saying goes ~ "Rest up Buttercup!" ~ and have a good one and many more.

Thanks Deepthought I'll practice that when I feel up to joining in again. Some days I'm slower than others and it's surprising how quickly some of the conversations go.