Forum Facebook page

[Dinkum]

Well, it seems like I set the cat amongst the pigeons or is that the chicken wing amongst the schnauzers, when I inadvertently 'exposed' the Schnauzer Forum FB group to all and sundry on Facebook. I have put the group back to closed, but it has left me wondering of the usefulness and appropriateness of the Facebook group. I'll try and outline why.

I originally set up the Facebook group when we lost the domain name in June 2012. I am sure many of you can recall the withdrawal symptoms. I set it up so that I had an alternative way of letting members know what was happening with the forum, where the temporary site was and how we were progressing. Once I had restored the forum to its rightful place, I took the decision to leave the group in place in case we had a mishap in the future. After that, it became a place where people were having a bit of banter and sharing photo's. I don't think anyone minded.

From there, it has now become a discussion area and IMO is distracting from the forum. Members are discussing food, grooming, health, getting a puppy, etc on the Facebook group and I feel that those topics should be discussed on the forum. People are also complaining that the forum is getting quiet. The stats don't bear that out but a lot of people are discussing topics on Facebook, which means the forum will be quieter.

I see the Schnauzer Forum as a valuable tool for past, future and current schnauzer owners. There is a wealth of information here that you won't find on Facebook, but by continuing the group on Facebook, are we destroying the forum? I realise things move on and I'm the last person to stand in the way of progress, but is Facebook progress? It is not, IMO.

I've implemented a lot of changes (with more to come) to make things better. I've made changes to make it easier to find similar topics. I've improved the speed of search and there will be even further improvements over the summer as I upgrade the servers to give us more speed, so things happen faster.

Overall, I would like to believe that both could co-exist. One for general banter and photo sharing, the other for the hard core issues surrounding raising a puppy and looking after a dog. But I don't think it will work.

I'll paint a scenario or two to illustrate what I mean and what the Facebook group will and is taking away from the forum.

Firstly, let's look at Gryff. Sherri and Grahame have walked each and every member of the forum through every step of Gryffs injury, operation and recovery. They have been updating the forum and Facebook about progress. Many of us have learnt a lot about Cruciate Ligament Injuries. We learnt about the treatment, the surgery, the hydrotherapy, the insurance and the palatial crate. In a few weeks time all of that will be behind Grahame, Sherri, Gryff and Nessa and Gryff will be running around as if nothing happened. On Facebook, it will be the same. It will be forgotten! On the forum, anyone in 2 years time who has a schnauzer or even a dog with a cruciate ligament injury will find all of Shergra's posts on the forum and be able to learn from it as we all have. That's invaluable and something that Facebook cannot give us. We risk losing that and I, for one, don't want to.

Then there is the wonderful Liz and Buster. We've all cried, we've all laughed, we've all chuckled and we've all said: "typical schnauzer". I think we have all taken something from Liz' fortitude in caring for Buster and her devotion to him. For many of us, we walked that journey with Liz. I know I still have that journey to walk with Rupert or Watson, but reading Liz' story with Buster, will help me in that journey and I've taken something away from it. I may have to walk that journey in a year or 2 or 10 and I'd like to think I could come back here and read their story and take solace from it. I won't be able to if Liz had shared her story on Facebook. It will be gone and forgotten. I don't want it gone and forgotten because of Facebook.

There are hundreds of similar examples throughout the 13,500 odd topics on the forum. We're losing something valuable by maintaining the group on Facebook and I for one think it should be stopped. I realise it does bring in members, but we are probably losing as many.

I value your input and would appreciate any constructive comments. I know a few in the Facebook group have been quite negative about the forum, but I'd like to keep this topic positive please. I'm also open to suggestions on how we can improve things, just let me know. Someone said they liked the real names on Facebook and we should do the same here. Should we? But in the process, I don't want to turn this into Facebook either.

Over to you.

[BeeBee]

I much prefer here and have left the FB group, too much of the trivial side of things that I personally don't feel is good for me to spend time on when I should be doing some work ;) but when it keeps popping up on my newsfeed I can't be disciplined not to dip in. Now I can't and I don't miss it.

I think you've given very good examples of why this place is much more valuable than FB especially in the longer term and agree having the FB group linked to here, it detracts from it.

There's nothing that stops anyone having any schnauzer group they want on FB, those that felt strongly will more than likely start another if the Forum linked one closed.

[Claire Farrington]

I like both and think we should discipline ourselves to using FB for photos and general chit chat and the forum for proper subjects

[lyndsey + matt]

I don't see why the two can't operate side by side - I personally find the forum somewhat intimidating and quite clicky and sometimes quite judgemental. Just my opinion of course and certainly not meant to cause upset. Having both is an inclusive way of embracing our love of the breed. I certainly use this forum to search for information on important matters but prefer to "connect" on Facebook. As with all things in life people choose different ways to connect - isn't the forum about sharing stories and information about the fabulous breed regardless of whether that is here or Facebook? I am sure that those who only use Facebook don't feel they are missing something and the same for those who only use the forum.

[Robert Lockwood]

I will do my best to keep this constructive The threads concerning both Gryff and Buster are both great examples of what is great about the forum , you are correct we can look at this in future and get good advice and take some comfort from what has happened in both cases. BUT sometimes the forum doesn't feel like a forum but more like a '' Schnauzer reference library'' I find nothing more infuriating than seeing post after post stopped dead in their tracks by members automatically giving you a link to an old post almost like a dismissive '' look we have talked about this already and it's here for you to read'' . You have kindly put a 'similar topics' area at the bottom of the screen which we are all capable of using ( and I do) but the linking of topics is maddening it just stops any conversation stone dead as not only does the poster read it but so do any other people willing to reply on the subject if they feel the topic has been covered THEY WILL NOT ADD TO THE POST ! . Another area hit on is the impersonal Usernames we use on here I think it would be good if we can change these so we can use our own names as I for one am fed up of being called Monty and Maisie ! and would prefer to use my own name now if I could... I don't actually care which format- fb or forum I use to get my Schnauzer fix I just want more interaction between members ? Maybe we start some basic threads re- food ,training, grooming etc from scratch without been sent to the library ! The thing is anyone can access this forum and glean excellent info without ever having to contribute which isn't good a lot of members seem to disappear after 6 months once they have gone through the whole puppy raising stage never to be seen again. I really hope things can be worked out to suit ALL members

Robert.... not Monty and Maisie ;)

[Bluebell]

I agree with Claire above. Facebook is easier for photos and a little chat that is soon forgotten. But the forum is much better for an in-depth discussion and knowledge/experience. And, like you say, I often refer back to forum threads to check up on something or remember there has been a topic that I want to re-visit.

Also, on Facebook I get so much other rubbish I don't always look through properly. The forum is much tidier and organised.

Thanks Dean for your ongoing efforts to keep us all in touch.

[Robert Lockwood]

This post is now almost an hour old and has been viewed by 59 people with only 5 replies... come on members you have a chance to have your say ???

[lj_thorne]

Well as I said on Facebook I think there is a place for both of these.... I am probably a fairly new member in the world of schnauzers and poss don't understand where the forum came from.... But this forum has been my sanity, my guide and as the two posts that have been indicated an important way of sharing what is most important to us... our schnauzers whether they are a mini, standard or the antics of a giant!!!

Could we have a sticky at the top of the Facebook - in fact writing this I think there's one you can click on leading to this forum... But at the top of the posts could we have something saying that the Facebook site is used for sharing photos and casual chat (?) but that we should go to forum for further discussion?!?!?!

[summer46]

If you close the Facebook one people will only move to another schnauzer related group or start a new one but I do agree that Facebook is great for chit chat and photos but I much prefer here for indepth discussions on certain topics that others members or not can glean info from.

I also don't see what all the fuss with names is about after all we have the info box under our avatar to add details.

I fear that if the Facebook forum were to close you could possibly be alienating people perhaps we should be promoting the forum more via Facebook for indepth discussions.

[Tulip]

I love them both. I think we should be allowed to choose where we post and contribute, and closing the facebook page will really only result in another being opened, so it seems likely that both will still have to coincide anyway. I don't like being told where to post, I post on both, but sometimes I'm just sick of writing the same thing over and over on the forum when there are a lot of threads already covering it.

[Maty]

Like many people I love the forum, the only thing I dislike is the difficulties I have posting photo's so I just haven't tried for ages

I get frustrated with the facebook page, I love seeing so many photo's and would love to see them over here, but I think it is being used too much for discussions and we will lose the history for future members. Many of you may see me trying to plug the forum whenever I can. If I stay on there I will continue to do that.

But I also plug past threads on here as they contain good advice, not to stop a discussion. If someone has already linked I may check what they have linked to but I will usually add my own comments too.

As for user names, you must have put some thought in to it when you signed up? I picked something that I am known as in real life, it is also very similar to my real name. I understand that some people may want to be 'known' that is fine - add your name to your signature or so it shows up on the bar at the side, whatever you want. I also know that we have changed some people's in the past, I don't know how difficult that is to do.

As for it being clicky and intimidating, I can see that a little but that is because we all know each other (virtually or in real life) and so we sometimes have a little banter with each other, sometimes people don't get the joke. But join in more and you will soon get the hang of it. If you feel any post is intimidating (and yes I have seen some that have made me wince) report it Or answer back and turn it in to a discussion about why their opinion is wrong or nasty or whatever.

Long live the forum

[EvieDog]

I really enjoy reading the posts each day on the forum. There is so much useful information and other users are always keen to help with advice. I also love looking at the photos. I am not on facebook and don't intend to be. I am not the most computer literate person, but have always found the forum easy to use.
Sandy

[Robert Lockwood]

You need both or just the forum ? what would be deemed casual chit chat on fb ?? Same with pics posted on fb... here is 'dog' in his new jacket..next poster then asks where did you get jacket from ? before you know it there is a fully blown conversation going on about dog jackets ? It is possible to pin a notice on top of fb forum pages maybe one could be pinned saying '' If possible would you please post your thread on the forum for others benefit'' or similar it is just so easy to post on fb and get a good quality answer very quickly...

[Lotties Ma]

I love the forum and get regular schnauzer fixes from it. For me FB is too busy and frustrating to pick your way through the linea posts. Having said that I do sometimes post there because it is so much easier to post pictures than the forum.
While I'm here Dean can I ask why the second page of smilies don't work. I love the big hippo and 'dont wanna see' but can never get them to work.

While writing this I see that Maty can use the big hippo!!!!!

[lj_thorne]

I know that is why I put a question mark after 'casual chat' as it would be difficult to describe in a notice..... And I guess that would be up to us to quantify? I just wondered as a halfway house is this worth trying....

And I am guilty... The other night I was at the end of my tether with Albert and I got an amazing response on Facebook... I have posted in here as well and not had as much response...

In terms of people linking to old posts... The problem with that is new posters on here won't feel welcomed if we don't attempt to interact with them as I'm sure the majority of new users will join either at puppy age or if there dogs are unwell or they need a question answering...

we should all be able to post where we want and those that want to use Facebook will and those who want to be here will we just need to make them work together... Which I thought they had been?????

Was about to post then seen post about smileys... Page two is a new discovery to me and frankly I love that hippo so here it is