Suggestions for making sure new posts and members are not lost.

They both sound like excellent suggestions to me @Former-Member .....

I don't mind being tagged into any new messages that cross over with our issues either. There are times, as with al of us, that my home situation becomes a bit overwhelming, or I am focussed on supporting a set few members who need extra TLC in the moment ...., and they tend to be the times that I am not scanning for new posts, and I tend to do that more on C-forum when I do ..... so please feel free to tag me in if you see something I might be able to help with (everybody).
You

Loving those ideas @Former-Member

Great wording @Faith-and-Hope
Thats the same as me so if anyone thinks i can help someone feel free to tag me into the conversation

Great ideas @Former-Member and thank you for starting this conversation.

I particularly like the suggestion of a longer 'Latest Comments' section as I feel that posts move through so quickly that new posts can be missed when it is a short section.

I think @Zoe7 touched on something that seems relevant to this and that I agree with too, regarding starting new threads when there are existing threads of the same nature by the same person. I've found that posts are easily 'lost' and think it can be compounded when the same user is posting the same content across multiple threads they have created of the same nature. While I am very much of the belief that it is a million percent great to see people reaching for support (and know how invaluable getting support can be), it's potentially problematic when it comes to other people getting 'lost' in it all and not receiving support too.

I was googling some mh stuff on the weekend and came across another message board. (This discussion is strange timing as I've been sitting with something I came across since then, not really knowing how to work it out or where I can work it out). That message board seems to have pretty firm guidelines regarding duplicate posts/threads and closes them off to free up space for other members, particularly new members. I very much appreciate how difficult it would be for moderators to maintain a balance between over moderating the forum, and allowing people freedom to express themselves and seek support, so this has the potential to be very tricky and I can't imagine how to do that without shutting people down. Glad I am not a mod 😛 (Side note - I am also SO glad the wind blew me here to this community, and not somewhere else).

Another suggestion to help new members would be to expand upon the existing tips for new members section (I can't remember exactly what or where this is), perhaps including some information about how to make a new discussion topic, what you might talk about (if people aren't sure how to begin), etc. I remember how hard it was to join, then how hard it was to post in the Introduce Yourself Here thread, then how hard it was to sit and think "now what". The CGs did a great job helping guide me to now what, but I see that it can be hard sometimes too.

On that note - what about a thread that can be messages for new members (positive stories, sharing your experiences and what helped when you first joined, sharing how fabulous the forum is :P, etc) from members who feel settled/part of the community here? It could be a way to normalise the challenges of being a new member, instill hope that it can be worth riding out the new member bumps, and strategies that might help 'settle' people in to the community. I would have loved that when I joined 🙂

Just my two cents on it all and I hope it can be taken the way I mean it, with nothing but genuine care for the whole community. So glad that we are part of somewhere where it seems as if our two cents are listened to 🙂

Thank you so much for this @Former-Member and all those who have also contributed.

All ideas and suggestions welcome!