I came back to the Gatherings site this morning and actually logged in to post this message. In these recent months since the format has changed so drastically, I’ve visited numerous times just to look and try to catch an interesting thread to read.
Now I’m giving up.
I can’t find the lists of topics and I don’t know where and how to start again.
The forum seems empty and vacant. No one seems to be here.
I used to relish reading from people all over the world, and they inspired me tremendously. Surely Threads has now invested a lot of money in this new format and there really isn’t a way to get back what is lost.
PS: I’m not a computer novice. I use complicated online resources several times each day. I’m a well-educated professional.
But these changes have bewildered me.
THANK YOU for listening.
Replies
I give up
Kansas Sky,
I think there's more of us out there than you think--check out "gather for a chat" Where is Everybody?. Those of us just lurking need to start posting more often. It IS a cold, vacant looking site. For those of us, like me, who are novices, it's very sad to lose that experienced advice. I haven't really seen anything else out there that appeals to me either though. It would be a shame if we all gave up.
Jane
I give up
Lately I've just been going to Where is Everybody? It seems that a lot of people from the old site have appeared there. It's as if a lot of us have found a place to get together without messing with the rest of this annoying site. I remember the frequent newbies from around the world who would regularly appear with a basic sewing problem. There was always some experienced seamstress or teacher to help them. That no longer seems to happen. It was a warm and friendly international place. I guess someone thought it was TOO friendly and chatty. I'm sure to some well-organized computer people it seemed like things meandered and didn't stay on subject. Well, I for one. really enjoyed that. There were many subjects that I knew nothing about and would probably never need to know, but I found the discussions informative and enjoyable. One that comes to mind, was a discussion about men's ice skating costumes. It is highly unlikely I will ever need that info and search for it, but I really enjoyed reading the tips and info.
Likewise,
I am very computer literate and have pretty much given up on this forum. The new program is so unusable that there are very few new discussions and practically no interchange or reasons to log in. To post this simple reply, I had to go back, log in, then find your post again. I cannot see how anyone can figure out how to post a photo or find anything they've seen before!
Perhaps the editors of Threads magazine realized that a lot of useful information was being exchanged for free on this site, which must cost them something to host, and used the "new program" technique to make it less appealing. Although at first there were some communications that suggested they were listening to feedback and making changes, nothing has improved in a few months.
In any case, it is a sad loss for those of us who used to learn a lot from others!
Frankly, Teaf, in my humble opinion, it will be a loss for Threads eventually. The people who buy the ads on this page will begin to pull out because they are getting no traffic from this site -- and they do measure where their traffice originates from. I was originally drawn to subscribe to Threads magazine because of this site, and I'd venture a guess that I have a lot of company. I've made a concerted effort to stay and participate in hopes we could regain the coffee klatsch style of the old format. I do miss the chatting while exchanging ideas and helping newbys to sewing. The help we were providing to these new sewers was spawning another generation of fabric artisians and hobbyists. The Threads staff would be well placed to take that into consideration. Hopefully they will.
Don't give up!
I just got here :) I used to get Threads for years, but life intervened and I had no time for sewing or anything creative. Now I am craving the rush I get from sewing and I just bought myself a new sewing machine (ex stole my old one...) and I am all set with a couple of projects to start. I'm going to ease back into it since I have not touched a sewing machine in a really long time and I know I will need lots of help from all you experts so PLEASE don't get discouraged! Stick around if only to get a good laugh as I post pictures of my disasters. (Ok, probably won't be disasters. I used to be pretty good at all this, but is has been so long.)
I'm so excited to find this place - please don't leave!
Lost novice
I don't spend a lot of time on the computer but I find it helpful to be able to read what the more experenced computer sewers have to say ,I find myself lost with all the new forms.
Okay!
OK, OK, OK ---- this is great news.
I'm chuckling. I'll keep checking back, if only to see your "disasters". It will be fun to watch for your postings!
THANK YOU! ! ! !
I'd like more than anything to see this thing take off again.
I give up
I gave up long ago. I too have peeked in once in a great while. It's just not worth my time. Threads editors don't seem to care at all. This forum went the way of the magazine. Downhill. What a shame. I used to really like having my cup of coffee with all of you. I hope evry oneis doing well. I'm signing off for good
Judy
a different forum
I used to enjoy Gatherings so much.........not so much now. I rarely stop by. I found another forum SewForum.com and it is much easier to navigate and has the friendly chatter and lots of help. Everything from novice sewers to some very talented gals. Stop by and take a look. I did and stayed and have been a member for several years now. When the changes came to Gatherings that made it cold and impersonal, I quit visiting except for a rare occasion.......
Kay
where is everybody
ok, i have searched everywhere tonight for a group to talk about sewing with. so what and where is the Where's Everybody site? is it someone on threads?
The Where is everybody thread is under the Gather for a Chat section, most easily accessed by going to Recent Topics. However, this site if awfully difficult to navigate, and a lot of the long-timers--who used to enjoy easy, long discussions about all things sewing--have given up.
Even those of us who are very computer literate have difficulty navigating discussions, which adds aggravation to the already-frustrating process of trying to learn something new in sewing. A lot of possible reasons for this change abound, but most of us conclude that the hosts somehow wanted to make more money off the site and their publications and so made the site less user-friendly.
Some of us, though, still check in occasionally and are happy to contribute ideas and explanations to new topics; it's still relatively easy to start a new discussion by posting a new topic under one of the major categories (Fitting, General Discussion, etc.). I always check the Recent Topics section in hopes of finding someone who has recently asked a question or offered some advice, and I'll look for your question!
Agree. I go straight to "recent topics"
the layout and design of this site is too complicated and messy
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