HT community feedback poll

[Csara]

I wanted to do a poll on the HT community membership.

How often do you visit HT?
If you visit on a daily or weekly basis, what is it that keeps you coming back?
If you visit only occasionally, what would make you come back more often?
If you are more of a lurker than a poster, what would make you more inclined to participate in the forum discussions?
Any other feedback?

[jana]

I'm a (usually) daily visitor. I come to check in on friends and read interesting posts. It's been pretty slow around here lately, but I really liked the topic-of-the-week posts. It was nice to spice things up.

[MissRyry]

I'm a daily poster (at least once a day!) but I've noticed things are really slow around here and to be honest, I've thought about leaving. The only suggestion I have is just more topics! And I'm terrible at thinking of topics. That's why sometimes I say "good idea for a thread!" I'll try to be better about thinking of some threads---it's just when I do look for advice I usually ask my sister or my mom on the phone like I've always done (i.e. before the internet forums).

>'.'<

edited to add: my Mommy journal is here and I think that's the only thing that keeps me coming back. It's almost like my "baby book" online!

[meliz]

How often do you visit HT?
Just about daily. I work on my PC all day... it's just a click away and an enjoyable, much needed distraction

If you visit on a daily or weekly basis, what is it that keeps you coming back?
Just to check in on people... see what's new, play some of the little "game room" features. It's a hobby.

Any other feedback?
I am most interested in current event/state of the world issues and as of late there is not so much of this. I think this the result of a couple things: some nasty discussions turned mean have scared people away from discussing such things, which is too bad. But more positively, I think the "life cyle" of HT has switched in recent months. So many of you are new moms and moms-to- be... a great thing to be sure...and this is naturally what is most interesting to many posters. And it is great that this is the case-- what a fantastic place to compare notes/talk about parenting experiences. However, I think it has also left non-moms (especially men?) a bit out of the loop. Well not exactly because all it takes is someone to start up threads on different topics... but given the importance of motherhood to so many right now, plus the leariness about discussing world events, I think the focus of HT has been shifted to Baby Talking, which is totally fine. It's neat how these things go in cycles; the HT of 2005 is nothing like the HT of 2003 which is in turn nothing like the HT of 2001. It's cool how that works. Talk boards really are living breathing organisms.

Overall, I think HT really is doing a really great job. It's responding to the needs/interests of posters which is, I think, what a such sites have to do. That I am not totally into the topics of late is no reflection on the site at all, just of how interests of people diverge. No doubt I will find it more relevent somewhere down the road, whether it's because I join the rank of parents, or because topics get reoriented toward other topics. I am with Jana on the topic of the week feature too-- same with the Gameroom forum. These go a long way to fill the void for non-parent posters.

[yonksgirl]

Several times daily! I come here to "get away"
I agree with Meliz, while I am a parent I come here to get away and talk to adults for a little while. While it may sound mean I do not want to talk about kids all of the time.

[Sunny2004]

I voted daily as long as I have a computer to access I am here for sure! I love it and hearing about everyones lives!!!!

[pikachu0519]

I come here multiple times a day, from Monday to Friday. I take weekends off so that I have some good catch up posts for Monday morning. When I initially came here, it was because a TTC and TOC board, The Labor of Love, had shut down. A bunch of us there were devastated. We didn't want to lose our group connection, and were very upset. People were frantically suggesting different chat sites, but none seemed that interesting. So my upset about the other board ending, increased. But then one of the girls found HT, and suggested we come over. And so we did. I've loved being here from the moment I signed up as a member, and it has kept me here ever since.

I do agree with some of the other girls that the nature of topics have shifted since I first joined, but for me, in a good way. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who always finds something of interest here. But for those who aren't in the same vein of interest as myself, I do think that the games and topic of the week, add to the board. Something new to spark interest. I think the only thing we are lacking in is a considerable male member group, but I don't know that it's for the lack of trying. A lot of the available topics would be of interest, but for some reason, it just hasn't been a big draw for them.

At any rate, I think the boards are great, and I enjoy checking up on my HT friends. If I didn't have HT, I would definitely feel like something and some people were missing from my daily routine. ( That includes you C! )

Just a sidenote, and I guess a bit of a thank you. When I came here from the other boards, there were two girls who also came along from there. Kara (luvtodance), and Jen (Tearianna). I had known them somewhat from the other board, but it wasn't until we came here, that our friendship really cemented itself. We now email on pretty much a daily basis (sometimes multiple emails a day), chat online every Saturday morning over coffee, and have become the best of friends. We exchanged Christmas gifts this year, and are in the works of planning to finally meet face to face this fall. So if it wasn't for HT, I may not have kept these two amazing girls in my life, and gotten to know them and love them as much as I do now. So, you're definitely doing something right C. Sorry for sort of highjacking this thread with my little tangent. That wasn't the intent. It just got me to thinking that I owe you and J a huge thank you. If it wasn't for you guys and this site, I wouldn't have been blessed with the two most beautiful people I have ever known, and been lucky enough to call my best friends.

[rdy2rac with]

I come here daily (usually many times a day). For me I have been slowed on my visiting due to double duty at work. I typically don't get on the computer at home because I use that time for the kids & housework. However that is even added on since racing season has started & we have been staying at the track, which means no internet form the moment we leave home until we get back there (I used to be able to get online in the hotel rooms with our laptop).

I don't post a lot in the baby/mommy areas unless I feel I really have something to offer (or a milestone for my kids). I have used my kids journals to fill in their baby books when I find time later on so they have really come in handy for me.

For me I try to find other areas to post such as the physicall section with my weight loss journal & the car/hobbies forum. I try to stay away from the home section, I'm useless in there.

[CC21]

I visit several times a day. Sometimes so much that when I click new posts there aren't any. However, I don't usually visit on the weekends cause that's family time. If something exciting is going on (like somebody going into labor on Friday) I'll check to see what has happened before Monday.

I mostly come just to check in on people and see whats up. I don't post much, just cause I don't post unless I feel I can really add to the conversation. I guess I don't post just for the sake of posting. KWIM? I only update my journal when something exciting happens, mostly because we really don't do much of anything so it wouldn't be that interesting.

I'm not for sure what would make me post more. But I don't feel the need to post more I guess... I'm happy just checking in on everyone.

I do know that I would feel like something was missing if I didn't have HT to visit all the time though.

[Csara]

Thanks so much for all the feedback! I really appreciate it and hope you keep it coming!

It's just giving me some food for thought and maybe will spark some ideas for me to help make things a little more active around here.

[Margarita]

I'm embarrassed to say I voted a few times a month. Being a moderator, you'd think I'd be here more often. I used to come every day, but that was pre-baby. I just don't have the time to do that anymore, so there's really nothing anyone else can do to get me to come back more often. Well, I guess Naomi could take longer naps.

What has kept me coming back is the people. I like to keep up with what's going on in my HT friends' lives. I have been a member since the very beginning, and as long as HT is here, I will be, too. When I'm away for too long, I miss you all. That's when I buckle down and get ready for lots of catching up. Gulp.

I mostly post in the parenting section because that's the stage of life I'm in now. I do pay attention to other topics and read them if they sound interesting. I don't like to get into huge debates so generally stay out of the hot current events. Plus, I'm not really into politics and wouldn't have much to add.

I'm not sure that I can add any other helpful feedback. Since I can only pop in here and there, I haven't noticed the decrease in activity as much. Although I have noticed that it doesn't take me as long to catch up.

I wonder if it would be helpful to make a list of the things that members are really interested in on an ongoing basis? (I'm into list making, so if this sounds stupid, just ignore me. ) Maybe have everyone list the top 3 (or however many) things that they feel they have a lot to say about or would like to know more about. That might help us come up with topics to start. People might think no one else is interested in underwater basketweaving, for example, and not talk about it, when in actuality, maybe there are 10 people just dying to share their experiences with it.

[pikachu0519]

Originally posted by Margs:

People might think no one else is interested in underwater basketweaving, for example, and not talk about it, when in actuality, maybe there are 10 people just dying to share their experiences with it.

Underwater basketweaving! Margs you cracked me up with that one! I love it!

So.....any takers????

[Neneuu]

I am such a lurker. I come in a few times a week mainly to check on my pg buddies and some of your other interesting threads. Honestly, from my perspective, it always looks like there are tons of threads going on, lotsa games, etc. I have a journal on another site so I try not to get addicted to TOO many sites otherwise I'd get nothing done.

[heather6773]

DAILY for me...I love reading about the girlies having their babies and wished I had found HT when my boys were babies.... oh well I'm here now!!!

[Tigerlily]

I voted once a week, although it seems that I visit almost every day, but only actually post about once a week, LOL. I really only post when I feel I have something to add to the conversation. So, I guess I'm a lurker. I'm always looking for interesting subjects, and although I have a toddler, I have to admit that I come here to explore other subjects than parenting. (Although if I feel I have anything to add in the parenting forums, I do...)

I've gotten kind of sad that it's gotten slow around here, sometimes I'll try to think of some good threads to come up with to get things going. I think it's tough though, since debates and current events (my faves) are not really popular here right now. I like the idea of topic of the week, or Margs idea (I'd love to hear about underwater basketweaving! LOL). Or maybe all we could start "getting to know you" threads, like talking about everyone's dreams, goals, and passions we all have.