LSB new features - help, dumb question!

Now, I don't belong to any other forums (don't have time, this one is enough!) so maybe this is a very dense post...

... and maybe there is an explanation on LSB somewhere, but I don't know what all these new features are, why I should use them, or why people want to be my friend (although it's very nice, and I love you all!) when I already know they are my friends (well, that's what they tell me ).

For example, I can see why MM has started a wine group, and I can understand the appeal of a goat group, but how is it different to how we normally use the forum?

I'm wondering also why I have all these friends recommitting me to friendship as I don't know what its all about either - glad PG got to ask the dumb question first though

You know me Tiggs, always good for a few dumb questions

"Better a fool for a moment than a fool for a lifetime" - and I have LOTS of those moments!

I wont be joining up to any more groups...god I spend some much time on the computer now...so I hope I can just come onto LSB (as per norm) and not have to pop into all the new groups to see whats happening in everyone's world ????
As far as the "friend thing"..its just a cute new toy and I cant see that anyone will be conversing on it after the novelty has worn off...or will they?? I wil just PM ppl as normal.

Birman Babe;197492 wrote: I hope I can just come onto LSB (as per norm) and not have to pop into all the new groups to see whats happening in everyone's world ???.

Same...

You don't need to have friends or join a social group - you can just use lsb as usual. For a bit more information on how (if not why) they work see here

Oh, so glad someone else asked, I couldn't find this feature anywhere.[][][] I think I will stick to the forum.

Kate;197495 wrote: You don't need to have friends or join a social group - you can just use lsb as usual.

But now there's all this pressure:confused:! I have no friends and am not a member of any social groups . Same as yesterday. But today I feel like a total failure [] Does this new software come with a counselling service??????

Forget councelling..just sign up to MM's wine group[]

Birman Babe;197492 wrote: As far as the "friend thing"..its just a cute new toy and I cant see that anyone will be conversing on it after the novelty has worn off...or will they?? I wil just PM ppl as normal.

I use another forum where they introduced the Friend thing last year. For a few weeks people used it, but then the novelty wore off, and only the owner of the site bothers to use it now.

IMO, it is a "me too" function that has been copied from the most popular social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Bebo etc. It seems as though all the forum developers decided it was a "must have" function and that any forum which didn't have it would be left behind by those that did.

In another year or so, it will become clear if the Friend idea is just a passing fad, which in my opinion it is, or something which adds extra value to your typical forum.

The most important and irreplaceable part of any on-line forum is the community which frequents it, and we have a unique and precious community here. Extra frippery and eye-candy such as Friends is not really going to add any great benefit to the user experience in my view.

Sorry if it looks like I am pouring cold water on one of your improvements Kate, but this is my 2c worth on the subject

The Social Groups feature has definite merit though, especially MM's T.W.A.T.'s group

hilldweller;197525 wrote: But now there's all this pressure:confused:! I have no friends and am not a member of any social groups . Same as yesterday. But today I feel like a total failure []

Aw HD, check your messages

Grant, it came with the upgrade and those who want to use it can use it....it is in my humble opinion a bit 'teenage girly' but as you say, time will tell whether anyone uses it or not...

Cheers
Kate

Kate;197556 wrote: Grant, it came with the upgrade

OK, understood. I'm glad you didn't put any special effort into providing it

Kate;197556 wrote: ....it is in my humble opinion a bit 'teenage girly'

My thoughts exactly

I too felt all alone and orphaned and unloved 'cause no one wanted to be my friend so I felt like running away and joining the Foreign Legion BUT someone on the forum (you know who you are) needed an asnwer to a question and I thought - "Stuff it if I have no friends - I have years of experience, a good heart and a desire to share my humungous knowledge so I don't care if I have no friends because I'm too bloody old to join the Foreign Legion anyway!

Guess what - I just scored the longest sentence (probably) ever on LSB!