As our weather in England is changing from Winter to Spring, I have been reflecting on many things, myself, my family and Weavolution. The Groups versus Forums question comes up every so often. As we're all likely doing some mental Spring Cleaning, I thought we might have a "coffee talk" about Groups versus Forums.

My initial thoughts are simple. Forums are there to discuss the big ideas, Weaving, Chatting, Site News, etc. Groups are there for those more specific interests, particular looms, structures, techniques, etc. Lately I've been using the Drawloom, Double Harness and Taquete groups to ask questions about using my drawloom attachment and weaving taquete. I have received wonderful information and offers of help with my journey. The groups have allowed me to tap into a very specific knowledge base. 

Please share your thoughts on groups versus forums and how you use each.

Cheers,

Erica

 

Comments

Thu, 03/07/2013 - 11:41

coastalgal (not verified)

I think there's a place for both as you describe above. As a frequent lurker, I find a lot of very useful and helpful information. And as more weaving time will occur in the not too distant future, I hope to participate on a more frequent basis. The wealth of knowledge as a group is so amazing as questions are answered, guidance given. 

Just my simple opinion, Elaine Almquist

Thu, 03/07/2013 - 18:06

laurafry

Ravelry has the same sort of set up and people seem to be able to navigate ok.  :)  And comparing the two, Ravelry is a more 'mature' site - been around for quite a few years and has *way* more members.  I like the focus on weaving here.  The weaving community is a very small one.  We don't have the population that knitters and crocheters (I doubt that's a correct spelling but will hopefully do!) have.  You do, after all, have to be warped to weave!  :^)

cheers,

Laura

Fri, 03/08/2013 - 10:47

ReedGuy

Yes, few and far between. Not guilds around these parts and the last commercial handweaving company closed years ago, the Madawaska Weavers. Probably due to aging and loss of markets. Kinda like the cotton mill era that ended here with Alexander 'Boss' Gibson during the Great Depression who also had railroad and timber interests.

Fri, 03/08/2013 - 15:40

sally orgren

Not really sure I have ever understood this distinction here at Wevo, maybe because we are a smaller community, or, the way folks actually use the two seem sort of interchangeable. 

If Inky-loom had his own "something," would it be a forum (Where's Inky?) or a group (Inky followers)?

Would it matter?

Fri, 03/08/2013 - 16:52

laurafry

It would be a group.  If you click on the 'Forums' link in the orange box in the header you will see the list of forums.  

cheers,

Laura

Fri, 03/08/2013 - 17:54

Erica J

It would be a group. You may have also noticed, anyone can start a new Forum topic, but you can not add new forums. Any one can start a new group for others with a common interest. Cheers, Erica
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 18:28

SallyE (not verified)

One confusion I have noticed, mostly with new people, is that they post things for sale in a group posting instead of in the "for sale" forum.

Also, people who are posting a new loom so that they can list it in a project are often asked how much it is selling for, even though it's not for sale and is not in the for sale forum.  I suppose that is just a learning curve issue. . . . .

 

Fri, 03/08/2013 - 20:57

ReedGuy

Yeah, I had a couple messages about selling my home made loom, accessories and shuttles. But, I can't remember in what context. Like was it those exact items or if they were asking if I make them to sell. My memory about it is a little foggy. :)

 

I've got boxes and boxes of Ironstone and Royal Copenhagen I can sell instead. :D

Sat, 03/09/2013 - 07:41

Erica

We also get messages asking the price of a particular loom "listed on your site." I know some groups don't mind sale posts which are relevant. For example if the post is selling a wifnly wonderful loom in the wifnly wonderful group, the manager may find that acceptable. Our advertisers are encouraged to post sales and specials in their own groups, etc. We aim to achieve content which is relevant for the group or forum.
Sat, 03/09/2013 - 12:55

kerstinfroberg

While I like the difference between forums and groups, I have a problem with the sheer number of the groups! There seem to be some 200 of them (I have not counted), and I can't find a way to "sort" them. They seem to be presented in chronological(sp?) order, as it is. Not that I know if it would be easier to find a specific group if they instead were presented in, say, alphabetical order, but...

(One example of what I mean *can* be the fact that there are two "UK weavers" groups - one called UK weavers and the other called UK weaver, spinners and dyers guild)

 

Sun, 03/10/2013 - 02:02

TinaHilton (not verified)

Kerstin - If you click on "Group" in the header, it will change the sort order to the group name.  Likewise, you could change the sort order to manager or number of members.

Sun, 03/10/2013 - 10:15

kerstinfroberg

it never occurred to me to try - I guess this qualifies as a big "DUH"...

Sun, 03/10/2013 - 14:10

BoyLearner

As a relative newcomer I have found coming to Weavolution to be almost like visiting a foreign country; new language/jargon to learn; different geography to learn, like where to find things; and many different personalities to meet. Overall a very positive experience from which I have learned heaps.

As part of my orientation to this new place, I had a marathon over one or two nights and went through every group to see what was avalable. I went through every single group to see what it was about, quickly discarding those like specific loom types and areas of weaving I am not interested in (at the moment).

I was surprised to see some were inactive, some for literally years. One of these inactive groups was Downunder weavers and, being a stranger in a strange land (sorry Mr Heinlein), I said "cooee" and waited for a response - none, not even an echo. The emptiness was apparently so complete that even god (in the form of the group coordinator) didn't respond to my prayer of isolation and need for belongingness.

I have just visited now and have seen that another Aussie has joined and I didn't know so she too has had the same response - none. I will remedy that with a message as soon as I have finished this post.

The point of this observation is that several groups apear to be dead with even the coordinator inactive for some reason. They act as a sort of honey-trap promising something that doesn't exist any more and providing only disappointment.

I have since met a variety of Aussies here so perhaps that particular group is redundant now and can be deleted. Or, if the coordinator is absent, perhaps another can be appointed. Are the other dead groups also without coordinators?

Anyway, apologies for the verbosity/running off at the mouth.

Hakim

Sun, 03/10/2013 - 14:34

endorph

with BoyLearner about dead groups. I ran into this issue when I first joined as well. Is there a way the groups can be monitored for activity and if they are in active for any length of time culled from the list? It can be discouraging to a new member to post in a group and never hear anything back. The forums vs. groups set up has not been an issue to me. I see the groups as a way to be more specific in topic than the forums. Both have their place.
Sun, 03/10/2013 - 17:43

laurafry

I agree about 'dead' groups.  Unfortunately as a moderator of one of those 'dead' groups I can't delete it.  Perhaps something that can be addressed in the next upgrade?

cheers,

Laura

Sun, 03/10/2013 - 23:46

Oli J

Erica and I will definitely be looking into options for them, and do our best to come up with the best solution possible. We really appreciate this great Feedback! I helps us loads!

Cheers,

Oli

Mon, 03/18/2013 - 06:35

Weavejoyforall

I am going to make a tee shirt that says that.... YOU HAVE TO BE WAPED TO WEAVE ... lol   cause its Sooooooo true  lol