It can be unsettling to wake up, sit down at the computer and discover that overnight your favorite site has been messed with!

Often the changes are for the better when you get used to them.  But I dunno.  The latest Active Rain "improvement" doesn't work for me.

At the top of each of our blog pages, the latest post is full sized and easy to read.  Below that, there are summaries of the subsequent posts, and it leaves us to rely pretty much on the title and the first few words to figure out if we want to read it or not.

As someone who is constantly looking for things to put into my Sunday favorites post, it's going to add a lot of work and waiting for screens to open and shut.

I'm guessing this has something to do with storage issues or something like that.  The Rain Gods usually don't do anything without a reason.  It may have been broke or sorta' broke and I didn't realize it.  But now it's sorta' broke for me. 

So what would be perfect?  Maybe having the first page show the recent posts in their entirety, then abbreviating pages 2 through whatever. 

So what do you think?

P.S.  They've also messed with the Channel topic categories!  You have to choose one that's already there!  Yikes!  What'll come next?

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Posted by Patricia Kennedy on 05/10/2012 07:04 AM   Comments (34)   ActiveRain Community in the ActiveRain Channel   active rain format  
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34 Comments on If It Ain't Broke!

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

MAY
10
2012
1,210,622 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Patricia - if you think that Gods know what they re doing, think twice. there has been no rythme and no reason too many times.

Love your title
10:15pm • #15
MAY
11
2012
975,889 Points 351 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I thought it was odd to jam us into just a few channel topics.  I noticed that there is not one for home inspections, or inspection related stuff.

Just sayin'...
3:07am • #16
396,963 Points 17 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I noticed it yesterday and was torn. Im sure it helps somehow, but I did like being able to see the post without clicking on the link. But the new version helps when someone posts 5 marketing reports that I dont want to read. Plus I think it helps on those posts where there are large attachments/pictures/videos. I can read someones blog from today without having to wait for the large attachment in the post they wrote last week. Since Im on every day, it cuts down on a little bit of time there.
7:56am • #17
1,346,153 Points 71 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pat -  I contacted Bob Stewart on this since it totally messes with my outside blogs. Within 2 weeks there is going to be another change and we can still pick our own topics for the outside blogs according to Bob. He had forgotten how this would mess with our outside blog categories.

I am not a happy camper about the changes. If it works, why on earth would you change it????? Leilani wrote a post about the changes as well. We are ALL Not happy.
9:19am • #18
402,561 Points 47 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Patricia, I just noticed this when I wrote a post this morning. Here I was writing my title and there is now a limit of 70 characters. Cut off...just like that! Oh..I am sooo not likeing that! I think they should forwarn us of the changes. I just went in and edited and old post and although the 70 character limit popped up, I was able to still use the title that it had.
9:29am • #19
182,724 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Patricia. I saw and knew the change was coming but don't know yet if it is better for me. Guess I need to check it out.
10:33am • #20
356,724 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I haven't seen it yet, but I don't like the sound of things. I'll have to go look...
9:02pm • #21
MAY
12
2012
1,444,010 Points 26 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Adjusting to the daily changes can be a challenge for some of us.  The ActiveRain blog explains the reasons for their changes.

Have a great weekend.
5:44am • #22
1,111,851 Points 72 Featured Posts

Patricia, We don't like the A/R Channels now at all. What's up with "things to do in Austin for 2010"??? That's gotta change!
6:10am • #23
303,579 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hey Pat... where are you picks of the week... looking for em... you have a great day!
10:31am • #24
570,707 Points 25 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Pat - Yes, Bob explained all the reasons for these changes in a recent post, but I don't much like it either - especially the channel changes.  They may need to expand the subcategories of channels, as some of my posts don't really fit perfectly in theirs.  Also I had been posting all of my local posts under a couple of channels that I made some time ago.  Now I can't post to them any more.
8:21pm • #25
MAY
13
2012
1,210,622 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

After reading comments, I have to agree with many. I do not get this Topic thing. What to do in Austin 2010? I am not even looking what can fit, just mark "Miscellaneous" and move ahead
12:16am • #26
797,174 Points 80 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Interesting to hear all the comments on the changes...i like leaving it alone but we'll see how it sorts out...i like to do my own categories...just me Pat..btw, love the fife pic in WIlliamsburg..sure the graduation was a great and rewarding time...
3:56am • #27
1,951,369 Points 478 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I believe that most of the recent changes are about duplicate content. 

Google is going to read the titles and a few lines and jump to the article. 

I agree about the channel selection.  Most are not relevant to most of my posts.  That said, who uses the Channels to select articles to read????  That is the question.  I suspect that many read your selections, scroll down the featured list or general lists and read articles of members to whom they subscribe. 

I agree, the Channel feature is flawed.  I also believe that the "States" section is also flawed.  There is no list of members by type - agent/broker/loan officer/home inspector, etc.  There used to be but now they're listed by points.  Not helpful when you're looking for a referral source.

 
4:30am • #28
1,929,096 Points 155 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

That would be perfect, I love your idea of having the first page be the entire post and then additional pages be re-caps.  

 
5:10pm • #29
MAY
14
2012
4 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hopefully, this latest 'revamp' can be 'revamed again' the next time they update, if we all give constructive feedback, the AR people might just listen to the member input ;)!
1:12pm • #30
MAY
16
2012
274,932 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Late, sorry... but I don't like it either.  It's like browsing at a bookstore vs going on amazon and trying to find something new... doesn't work.  I buy more books than I need while browsing and don't necessarily buy anything while on line.
3:10pm • #31
524,999 Points 46 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Pat, let me join in on grumping a bit.  I definitely don't like the channel changes.  I don't mind so much having to select from the preselection but only if it feels like we've been given true choices.  It doesn't feel like that's the case here.
7:33pm • #32
1,585,361 Points 430 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Pat

Can't say I am jumping up and down with glee at the changes. And maybe they wrote a post to let us know in advance what the changes were and why but I sure missed it. The weird thing is the Channel category and the items you can choose from - what IS Austin Things to Do doing in there? How weird is that??

Jeff
8:44pm • #33
JUN
22
337,460 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Pat ~ I found your post while on a hunt for the skinny on the format changes.  I've been away from AR for some time and was boggled to see the new look. I had been looking forward to catching up with some of my favorite blogs but I gotta say from a blog reader's perspective this change is a bummer.  Titles only - no pictures?  Having to click on every single post to read it?  No thanks.  I'm getting the impression that this is now the way it is given the change is over a month old.  Too bad.

Liz
3:33pm • #34

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Patricia Kennedy

Washington, DC

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Evers & Company Realtors

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Pat Kennedy -- author of The Irreverent Guide to Real Estate -- gives you a look at life on the streets as a real estate broker in our nation's capital. And her blog is peppered with great advice combined with humor!


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