We have a triangle on the bottom of the posts after they have been done. You open that thread, and you see the (pic attached) sign on the bottom right.

I have answered a few ONE TIME POSTER questions only to discover that another ONE TIME POSTER comes on to leave an answer that is SPAM to get hits on their site.

When this happens:
I click on the triangle icon and report the SPAM and can also choose to ignore the poster, but likely they won't be back to comment nor to read any comments.

One thing for sure is that these BOARDS are gleaned for information.

One POSITIVE thing that can come of all this... is that anyone wanting to know the answer to that question (if we have replied) at least they got an answer and learned something!

I will be LESS likely to answer this type of post again... I think the OLD standard of asking...
Do you have any photos of the project in mind?
Do you have measurements or floor plan?
What is it exactly you are looking to do?

AT least IF it truly is a FIRST time poster, we do not ignore that precious post!

Any other suggestions welcome on this thread! This is NOT SPAM! LOL

It's fairly easy to tell if it's spam if there is a link to a business and a first time poster. Most legitimate first time posters don't post a link.

I think, unless we want more of this, every member needs to report every spam poster. Mods don't seem as vigilant any more.

Thanks for this thread MR.

I just hit the yellow triangle and ignore them so they sink into the sunset.

They are pretty obvious. I report and ignore them. Too bad the mods are no longer on top of things.

MR, I did not know that was what the triangle was for, so thank you for letting me and others who also might not have known that there is a way to report SPAM.

Thanks again,
Candy

Christmas Candy,
The 'mods' may not respond right away, but at least it makes me feel like I am doing something...

Thanks for responding everyone! I appreciate it!

You are right in the first time poster that includes a link in their post. And most of the time their name is part of the link as well.

The BEST thing we can do is NOT respond to those posts and of course also hit the triangle. Altho our friend Michael has been reported by me several times and I'm sure lots of others have reported him as well and all his posts are still here.

I think also for those like him who post several times...just stop even looking at his posts...maybe with no views he might finally give up and go away....we can only hope.

quote:

just stop even looking at his posts...maybe with no views he might finally give up and go away....we can only hope.

I totally agree, just ignore them.

I'm concerned that the lack of interest on the part of hgtv is signaling their disinterest in these boards and am expecting them to disappear.

Anyone else considered this possibility?

annie,
I think these boards are used for gleaning information for those gathering for their own blogs and posts somewhere else....

Life these days seems to all be about getting 'hits' for sponsors to pay for space on their sites...

So, I wonder how LONG HGTV will continue to pay to keep these boards up... or are THEY being paid by sponsors who use the boards to glean the info...?

I hate to be negative about this...but I too think this board and others like it have a short future!

I'm not sure what type of info anyone could get
from this board. However, I would think advertisers could learn alot from the "favorite show" where there are nothing but complaints about reruns,no schedule and general decline of hgtv.

What alternatives are there as far as deco forums?

annie,
just trying NOT to think negative saying we are all useless as a source...
but think about it, WHAT in the world could HGTV gain from what we say? I agree.

Thinking positive... after all 10 yrs or more of having the boards, the 'hidden' resources for searching for particular words and phrases and viewing photos is totally 'hidden' from the posters... but not the ones 'given the privileges' to view.

I appreciate your attempt to stay positive and I should try also but when I look at the decline of this network and these boards I see trouble ahead.

Just last week I checked in and noticed the top posts were days old. It s kind of sad.

It's kind of scary, and sad, that if they took the boards away, we'd never know where everyone went

https://www.facebook.com/Hometalk

And Facebook are places to look for posters that posted here IF ever the END comes (saying this with tongue in cheek)

So, if anyone wants ever to find me I would be there...
I use Mary Ruth in every place I post.

Pinterest Boards:
http://pinterest.com/mary_ruth/

HAS anyone reading this have an option for another place to meet?

quote:

Originally posted by WWanda:
It's kind of scary, and sad, that if they took the boards away, we'd never know where everyone went

I'm speaking from experience here. If there are those of you that would like to continue to hang out together in cyberspace if these boards are taken down, you need to do something about it now. You need to share contact info with each other and now is also the time to talk about what type of place(board) you would like to hang out on. Is Facebook enough? Or do you want a board(forum) of your own? Public or private?

My friends and I that left a few years back went to a board set up by one of the group. She turned to have "issues" if y'all know what I mean...so one day our board was just gone. we were scrambling and communicating via PMs here...so don't let that happen to y'all...cause I have my doubts about the longevity og the HGTV boards. Hate to lose them, but it won't surprise me to find them *poofed* one day .

the problem with Facebook is a lack of privacy. Isn't there another place, like Garden Web or something???

There are options out there. I don't know much about them. I do know you can set up a message board type forum through Pro Boards.

Myfamily.com is also an option. you can have public public or private options. My family has a free forum set up and a low cost one also.


And that is pretty much the extent of my knowledge.

My Family has a free set up but it eventually won't hold as much. I paid for that site for years and just gave up on the amount of storage cost much more.

I only gave the FB or Pinterest address to FIND me, there is a private message area on FB. But it was only for contacting IF anyone was starting a board and wanted me to join.

IF anyone wants to start a board now, let me know if you want me to join...

IF the board DID disappear fast, at least we would have a plan as to where we could go to find people we wanted to keep in touch with.

I have run a few boards before, and I found that it is BEST to have 2 to 4 owners that way no ONE person can make the board go 'poof'! And they usually have a private area where owners can gather to discuss dropping someone who might SPAM or not follow polite policies.

I am going to check out the ProBoards that Becky suggested. I am sure it could be made public at first and have members invite friends so it is easier to get to. Then made Private as soon as it shown it can be a success.

Most boards start out strong, so 60 members might only end up with 20 regulars, then down to 10 if they are lucky, so new membership drives need to continue to keep the new information coming in.

Garden Web is another place as Wanda suggested.... BUT that has MORE 'drama' posters as it is public... they are MEAN when they strike! And it is searchable on google! So, the posts will be even more public there.

checked out Pro Boards ... looks petty good, and no bandwidth limits.

http://www.proboards.com/free-forum-features
so you can check them out for yourselves.

What can come of this? IF a new board is started:
NO mods because NO SPAM.
comments can be monitored or not.
Admins should be able to delete posts or anyone who finds their way there.

What do you think?
BTW, IF anyone wants to start a board, and YOU might want some help, I can help transfer information there (sticky board for information like links to home and project photos, etc)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

If I were going to start a board, I would probably go Pro Boards if the cost wasn't too much.

My group currently does the paid version of My Family .com.

You do need several admins. We began public. Weeded out the nuts and went private. It works.

says FREE unless the owner of the board wants a URL that is more personal (meaning not one made up by the name and site name URL.

You could count me in as well. I'm on FB and Pinterest, but I think they are under my own name, not mamaspoon. Have to check it out. Don't know if BHG has an open forum don't remember seeing one there before.

Yes, just checked out Pro boards... seems simple and they have a live chat room which I like

I didn't mean to imply that the boards were going to disappear anytime soon. I just think with the lack of mods, we will continue to see the boards decline.

I took a peek at garden web and see that is where some of our old posters are now. I do miss seeing the inspiration type threads and discussion we used to share.

Times change, I'm sure blogs, fb, etc have also
taken a toll on these boards.

annie,
I see some over there too, but you are right, things always change. And with the economy in a low ebb... does not look like it will ever be that lively again. Most of us are learning to be content with what we have and how we have our decorating done. After I work on a room in my house I won't be doing much in changes either.

Also if someone starts a board, they need to know that also will change...

I keep in touch with a few that I met here, but we talk on the phone, email each other photos and ideas and have met in person at one point so they are my Real life friends now. That I will always thank this board for... the place where I met treasured friends of mine I shall keep close!

Before I joined this board in 07, I was on a decorating board on iVillage, which did shut down. It didn't just go "poof" - we were given warning and a date (and then I ended up having the last post, telling everyone "bye," and the posts, with that one at the top, stayed up for several years; it was just no longer active). I've been on this board much longer than I was on that one, but it could happen. I do remember when someone on here split off and formed their own board, but I don't remember who it was (now I'm going to be straining my brain, becky56). Hopefully it won't just go "poof" but we will be given some warning if it happens.

It was Jeannine, remember her? I don't think it ever really got going.

Hmmm...vaguely, annie. Thanks!

I think I remember that board..just not who started it. At least I remember someones. I never joined it, but I did read it a few times.

I didn't mean you guys needed to start a board. But a couple times lately this site was wonky and I couldn't get on. My first thought was that they took it down. Knowing how HGTV operates, it wouldn't surprise me at all for it to happen with no warning.

Just didn't want you guys to be in the position we were in once.

I hear you Becky, one never knows these days! I understand about thinking ahead, at least just to have a place to FIND someone you know!

Spam is an annoyance for sure. But I am more dismayed at the prospect of the demise of this message board. I will freely admit my time here has been limited of late due to work. Do we think they will yank the boards due to lack of participation or because of lack of sponsorship?

quote:

Originally posted by WWanda: Isn't there another place, like Garden Web or something???

GW has a good Home Decorating forum. I know you had a problem there Mary Ruth altho I missed it. I've actually been spending more time there than here as this forum is soooo inactive and GW is very active. Haven't really seen a lot of drama there myself altho there are always some personalities who speak their mind regardless.

The problem I've seen with new start forums is that not enough people join so they are even less active than here. I've belonged to a few and gradually gave up on them. Just checked one I used to belong to and the last post was on the 6th of Feb! That's not slow, that's almost d.e.a.d. I don't think there is a Home Decorating forum on Proboards tho so perhaps one could be started. It's not easy to attract posters when the forum is slow. People just won't spend time on a slow forum or they often turn into OT personal complaint sessions which I have no use for. If people don't post here, why would they post on a new forum? There's a certain momentum to forums and there needs to be quite a few active people posting interesting threads and posts to attract and keep members. GW has that and there is always room for more over there.

Whether this forum will survive or not has been under discussion for years now as it's gradually declined. I've wondered why TPTB won't make simple changes to make it better. Do they want the Home Decor forum to fail? Almost seems like it.

quote:

Do we think they will yank the boards due to lack of participation or because of lack of sponsorship?

We were just commenting on hgtv's lack of interest and lack of mods. The more spam, the less posters and so it goes..... The boards are slow and lacking the inspiration they once had.

I do agree with Lucky's post.

Annie

I think I will PM the ones I want to not lose touch with and get an email addy (that I will not share publicly so I can keep in touch. I already do that with members from old boards I was part of anyway.

The slowed responses on ALL public boards is understandable in this economy so projects also are less to post about. There is so much information out there now with Google, Houzz, Pinterest, HomeTalk on FB and Facebook.

Cavin,
I am glad you are busy with WORK, I think it may be lack of sponsorship, BUT who would want to sponsor something NOT monitored?

OR are CATFIGHTS and DRAMA really what people want to read about and check in on? Makes you wonder!

quote:

BUT who would want to sponsor something NOT monitored?

AMEN....

I miss the homes, the projects, the inspiration posts and those that have already moved on.

I don't recall alot of drama other than some goofball who posted gruesome pics.

IN general people are not moving UP in houses as much right now due to the economy so that slows down something to view.

I miss all the projects going on too!

gruesome? yikes!

Oh, yes....I have wondered who he is tormenting these days.....

I think things have slowed down here for all the reasons discussed. I miss the busyness of the way this place used to be.

I need to remember to check in at GW, I have a membership there-if I can remember how to sign in!

We have lots of decorating projects coming up this year. Got a new roof and floors last week. Next we're finally getting that screened porch I have dreamed of. After that- painting and redecorating all the way through the house. I would hate to lose the boards now- I have questions!

I don't care to click on any type of spam, so I try to make sure that I don't. I really enjoy the decorating board. I have been here a long time, but rarely post. I have started to post now because I don't want to see this board dissapear. I have watched as many posters that used to be regular contributors with very useful and helpful information leave. I feel kinda responsible, for just getting information and leaving no responses. My next test will be trying to post pictures of projects that I did with information I gathered from this board. Let's all pull together and keep this going, people are benefitting from this board.

Seashell,
Oh what a SWEET post! I will be looking forward to your photos! Thanks for posting such nice comments!

Welcome Seashell!!

Let's keep this post up where the regulars can read it and scroll on by the span.

annie17! HOW SWEET! That is a nice Valentine!

It is a shame to think we could lose this lovely forum because I love the ability to exchange ideas with one another. Unfortunately, I get busy like many others do. From now on I am going to make an effort to participate more often.

I am guilty of not being a participating member although I am here daily. My home is much more modest than many of the posters but I have been able to present it in the best possible way due to informaton and knowledge that I've gathered on this board.

In the past week, I can not come to the board directly through the link I've used for a couple of years now. I have to go to the mainpage and scroll down and click on message boards. I would be so disappoited if we lost this forum.Hope someone will PM me if you move.
However, I have to say that I have enjoyed the tranquility of the board since it slowed a little.

busyjo,
when you do arrive on the Decorating board, bookmark that and delete the old link from your bookmarks. That will save you time in getting directly to the exact Decorating Board link.

Hint:
I just click (and hold down) the little globe avatar to the left of the bar that shows the address on the board site...then drag it to my toolbar area and I have the link stored right at the top of my internet browser page (or right click and save on Bookmarks Toolbar selection. That is where I save my frequently visited (and easier to find) bookmarks!

Great to see you here! Thanks for commenting!

I think thread labeling is important. I try and give the 'idea' of the thread for a title so that if someone is not interested in that topic does not have to open it. The SPAM ones seem to be simple... and of course the name is unfamiliar so we get a clue as to which one to miss.
I am guilty of this, but forget to put (pic or pics) in the title so that I give a clue that I have included photos for anyone interested in viewing a thread with photos of the project or topic I am posting. Some of us (like ME!!) LOVE to view photos, so much is described by one photo!

quote:

Originally posted by Mary Ruth:

I think thread labeling is important. I try and give the 'idea' of the thread for a title so that if someone is not interested in that topic does not have to open it.

I have actually made posts on this labeling subject before. I personally will not open a thread that reads "What do you think about...." or "Why can't I...." and then continues in the body of the post.

If a thread title clearly states what I am going to read about and I am interested, then I read it. And I will go back and reread if the title has been amended to read "updated" or "pics added".

Pinterest is great for getting ideas, but I wouldn't want to post photos of my own home decor on there.

there was another decor board for awhile a long time ago that was quite active. Can't remember now, LOL oh well

Here I found it! It's all archived now but still some great ideas and info.
http://www.hometalkentertainme.../index.php/f-20.html

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sarah Ann,

OMG I have not been on hometalk board in years! Did not have a welcoming feeling back then... you mean it is better now? Funny how things change!

Oh really? Thats too bad, I really liked it there. It is closed now. Seems like there was a lot of drama here at the time so it was calmer over there, lol

They are NOT NICE at HTE. I have a membership there but stopped going because of personal attacks.

Busyjo- don't worry about having a modest house. I live in a trailer- it doesn't get more modest. Okay- it's a huge manufactured home. But I love it, and compared to many homes here, it is quite modest, but I still share pics-when the board will let me. Lately each time I try, it won't. Got some things coming up in the upcoming months and I sure hope I will be able to!

Mary Ruth I have done exactly what you suggested several times. However, when I leave the page and try to use the new link, it appears for a few seconds and then "scripps controller", appears in the address area and the page diappears. Strange I know, but no stranger than the fact that some people can not post pictures who use to post them regularly.