Goodbye to Doodle Kisses BLOGS!?

[Adina P]

OK...so I won't actually get rid of Blogs.  But I had to get everyone's attention =)
I have THOUGHT about it though because the purpose of the forum and the blog section is so frequently confused and in some ways overlap...I've wondered if having both is really useful.  But I think it is, we just need a reminder about what the role of EACH is.

The main purpose of this long explanation is to get more people to put their QUESTIONS and advice solicitations into the FORUM where they are better responded to--and NOT into blogs.
I will address the difference between writing in a BLOG and writing in the Discussion FORUM.  When should you do one vs. the other?

Well the simple answer is: When in doubt, use the forum.

The longer answer is below:

DISCUSSION FORUM: This is the place to ask questions! 

• Need advice? Use the forum!
• Want a discussion on an interesting topic?  Use the forum!
• Want to share something you think others will find useful and worthy of chatting about?  Use the forum!

Use it lots!  But before posting in the main forum, please search our past discussions--your doodle question has likely already been asked and answered in the past.  The forum archives are a wealth of knowledge...  Use it for all it's worth!  If you can't find what you're looking for, by all means post in the forum :-)  It's okay to ask a question that has been asked before--after all new members may have some useful insight and great answers, but just check the forum archives 'just in case'' your question has already been thoroughly answered.

Now when I say "Search" the past discussions, I don't mean physically go through all 300+ pages of discussions. What I mean is to use the "Search" box, on our Forum page, by typing in a word related to your search.


For example, if you were wanting to know how to keep your puppy from nipping you...you could search for the word: nip, nipping, bite, or biting and that would find past discussions that contained those words.  For example, when I searched for nipping (a while back), I got 167 results (see below).  In the results you'll see quotes from the latest response, but focus on the circled area to read the title of the discussion.  If the title looks to be on the topic you are seeking, click on it to open it and read the discussion.


Remember that the forum is for asking questions and starting discussions...if you are simply sharing a glimpse into your life or a story about your doodle that does not require a discussion...use your personal Blog to write it.

WRITING BLOGS:  BLOG is short for "Web log" -- in other words this is your journal or diary.
If you have a personal story or want to share a glimpse into your life you can either start a discussion in the forum or write a Blog.  It's your chance to share your experience or thoughts when you don't expect answers, advice or a discussion in return.  Popular blogs on the web typically feature writers who write about their thoughts on current events, hobbies, or whatever interests them.  Blogs are not typically written to seek advice or ask questions...bloggers TELL a story, express their opinion, rant about a link or photo or current event, etc...they don't typically write to seek information.  Please use the  main forum (or one of our groups) when you have doodle questions or want a discussion. 

Another way to look at it: IF the question you are about to ask is rhetorical...write a Blog.  If you'd like responses to your question(s) or want to start a discussion on a topic then write in the FORUM.
It is far more difficult to have a conversation in a blog where comments are not threaded. 

ANY QUESTIONS?

[Tante & Jordan & now Annie!]

I do not write many blogs, but I do read them....everyday.My first thought was WHAT IS ADINA DOING! NOOOOOOO.....I clicked the link OH Thank Goodness!
I have noticed that people have been mixing up the two but blogs on here are more active than the forum. Thank you for the reminder.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Adina, you definitely caught my attention when I saw the subject line on the weekly update email. My first thought was "say it isn't so". I don't think I have ever open an email so quickly. Thank heavens Blogs are staying. I love reading everyone's ruminations.

[Frannie & Callie]

Thanks Adina - that was really helpful! I didn't realize I was cross-purposing. So glad the blog feature is staying though...my DK blog has overtaken my personal blog completely. Turns out that Callie is SO much more interesting than I am!!!

[Dan, Judi, & Timbow]

Thanks Adina!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Maybe we don't need the distinction. Almost all blogs here do elicit responses and sometimes even discussion. Blog replies can't be edited, which is annoying to those of us with limited typing skills and mild OCD : ) You can't reply to a particular response in a blog as you noted. I find the blogs limit communication which is what DK is all about after all. If people confuse the forum and the blogs it may be because there really is little need for 2 different formats. I think most people expressing an opinion, ranting, or telling a story still want feedback if not direct advice. One can always skim over any posting that is not a topic of personal interest.

[Adina P]

Yes, blogs do and ideally will get responses. But because they aren't intended to create a long conversation (though if they do that's great!). Some people might want to write private blogs that they or their friends only see (not an option with forum) for the sake of keeping a diary of sorts. Some might even want to screen comments or not receive comments at all...only one is an option in the forum. I can't get rid of blogs without actually losing the blogs that have been written. So I won't. Again my MAIN objective is to get people who have QUESTIONS or want to discuss (not just share and get comments) to head to the forum to meet this objective.

The other thing about blogs is they don't ever get bumped back up if someone later is interested in the topic. Whereas forum discussions can get revitalized later.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I guess I missed some of the ramifications of this. Certainly losing all past blogs would be a bad thing.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Like Tante and Jordan, I haven't written blogs (ok I wrote one when I won the Hopeless Doodle Adict trophy, but I enjoy reading them and actually I don't care what is put where, however I have learned the "rules."

[Mikol & Omni]

You wrote this in a really cool way. Thanks for clarifying and now I know how to search properly! p s I think I was searching the site while on the photos page and it didn't direct me to the discussions, it directed me to photo captions that had the words in them (ex: that's why I didn't find the therapy dog discussion). Now, I can find what I was looking for! Anyway, I really liked how you wrote that FYI.

[Adina P]

Thanks =)

[Karen & Lucy]

Well, I really do not know what to think about this, just because I read them all and it doesn't really matter to me where there is a discussion/topic posted. I do know that blogs last longer on the front page and maybe that is why some people use that mode more to get discussions started, I don't really know. UMMMMMMMMM, I'm confused, as usual, but I will try and comply. Please forgive me though, in advance, if I post in the wrong place </:-)

[Adina P]

All you have to remember is BLOG is the same as DIARY. You wouldn't write in your diary if you needed advice right? At least you wouldn't expect people to respond by writing in your diary right? OK, so online blogs do get responses, as they should because they are public. But a discussion forum is for discussion.

You mentioned blogs stay on the front page longer...but they don't. Both the list of discussion topics and blogs only stay on as long as new ones aren't written. As soon as someone writes a new forum topic OR blog the old ones get bumped down to make room for the new one. So neither is set to stay up longer or shorter.

Have you noticed how when you respond to blogs you can only respond to the blog but you can't respond to INDIVIDUALS in the blog? Whereas in the forum you can click "reply" to individual people who responded? That's one difference and why a discussion works better in the forum where you can respond to individual replies.

There are just lots of differences...even when you write one or the other the way to publish each one is different, different options to click etc.

For examples of blogs on the internet, do a google search for "popular blogs" and you'll find that it's individual sites where ONE person writes their thoughts almost every day... Usually individual people's blogs tend to be on a certain topic. For example, some people like to blog about their vegetarian cooking experiences. Or they may blog about their life as a mom. Or they might blog about political news and their viewpoints...and anything you can think of. BLOGS are VERY different than a place set aside for discussions.

Here on DK people have the option to keep a blog of their own and of course the topics are usually our doodles since that's what we're here for (but you can write about anything). VERY different than a forum for discussing things with others.

For discussion we have our forum--for conversations, discussions, asking advice, asking questions....etc.

Does that make more sense?

And when you are NOT sure where to post, remember what I said at the start: WHEN IN DOUBT POST IN THE FORUM =)