Drop in activity level in Ireland Genealogy Research group
The activity level in the Ireland Genealogy Research group seems to have fallen off a cliff over recent months.
Before the upgrade to the new community format, the activity level in this community was quite buoyant. However, in recent months it has been approaching zero. Total number of discussions in June so far has been 1. In May there was also only 1 discussion. April had 4, March had 17, February had 8, and January had 13. Discussion in 2020 was steady.
Would there be any underlying reasons for the fall in activity? Are people finding access more difficult? Is this pattern of activity reflected in other community groups?
Comments
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John
I am just another 'lowly User/Patron ...
The 'Group' for "Ireland Genealogy Research" is not alone ...
Short Answer(s): 'Yes'; 'Yes'; &, 'Yes'.
Unfortunately, the NEW (Vanilla) Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, is certainly not; as, "User Friendly"; and / or, "Intuitive"; as, the PREVIOUS Platform.
Plus ...
Like all things NEW ...
There is a STEEP 'Learning Curve' ...
Some (possibly, Many), of the Regular participants, in the PREVIOUS Platform, of the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, have, either; but, not limited to ...
(1) Taken a LONG 'Time' to 'get onboard' with the NEW Platform; and/or,
(2) Still trying to 'come to grips' with the with the NEW Platform; and/or,
(3) Unfortunately, were not originally 'Transferred' over, to the 'Groups' in the NEW Platform; and/or,
.... [ MANY 'Groups' DID NOT have ALL the members of their 'Groups' 'Transferred' over ... ]
... { I think that may have been rectified by now ... }
(4) Sadly, just, 'Given Up', with the NEW Platform altogether; as, is too hard for them to 'get a handle on it'.
The NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum is quite a "Radical Shift".
The NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum is now very much MORE inclusive, of OTHER "Features", than was the PREVIOUS Platform.
Please be aware and remember ...
The NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum is still vey much a 'Work in Progress'; and, 'Ever Changing'.
There are still a LOT of things in the NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum that need, 'fine tuning'; and /or, just addressing/fixing.
It will certainly take a while for the NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum to, take hold; and, be embraced by all (well, most, anyway ...).
It is all a matter of ... Education; and, Encouragement ...
That is something that we can all do, BOTH, individually; and, collectively (to help/assist others) ...
Just give it time ...
There is NO 'Going Back' ...
Too much, money; and, time and effort, has been expended in/on the NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
Just my thoughts.
Brett
ps: I am Forever the Optimistic Pessimist ...
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Hello Brett,
Your assessment is very likely accurate.
The new community format seems to require digging to deeper levels before you get to actual content. The content doesn't jump from the page.
For a novice user, who would be the type of user who could perhaps get significant benefit from the community forum, this would seem to be an off-putting factor.
I wonder what we can do to help improve both the usability and the immediacy of the content?
John.
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I agree, I was helping people with questions about Irish genealogy at least weekly, but now such questions are very rare.
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John
Belive me ...
It is certainly NOT just the NOVICE User/Patron who gets significant benefits from the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am a somewhat, relatively, experienced User/Patron; and, yet, I have also gained quite a LOT from/through the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, over the years.
As to 'Off-Putting' ...
'Yes', 'Off-Putting' for ALL Users/Patrons ...
The latter has been self evident in MANY (just about ALL) of the 'Posts' in the NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
CONFUSION "Reigns" supreme; as, to WHERE to post ...
Far too 'busy' ... far too 'noisy' ...
The "Administrators" of the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, have been advised by MANY Users/Patrons; and, I am sure are aware, of the various Problems/Issues; and, little by little, seem to be taking many of the suggested enhancements 'on board'.
The problem/issue is that the "Administrators" of the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum NEED to go to the Makers/Developers of the "Vanilla" Platform to get MOST thinks done. The "Vanilla" Platform is an EXTERNAL "Programme", connected/linked to; but, not DIRECTLY part of, the 'FamilySearch' suite.
There was "Testing" in the "Development" Phase of the NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum ...
But ...
That said ...
Much more "Testing" SHOULD have been done; and, by a much WIDER "Focus" Group.
MANY more problems/issue have come to light, when the NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum went "Live".
As to what WE can do ...
(1) Keep 'plodding along' ... 'getting to know' ... the NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
(2) Just KEEP advising [ie. 'Posting', in the, "Ideas" ---> (Topic) "FamilySearch Community"] of, Problems/Issues in; and/or, Suggested Enhancements to, the NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
(3) IF, you are, one of the 'Group Leaders', of the 'Group' for "Ireland Genealogy Research"; THEN, just keep encouraging/helping/assisting those in that 'Group'. Some 'Group Leaders', of the various 'Groups', have 'Messaged', certain of the members of their group, to try to encourage participation in the NEW Platform of the, now, all inclusive, "Community.FamilySearch" Forum - of course, easier said, than done.
(4) Just keep 'hanging in there' ...
They say that "...time heals all wounds..."
There are a lot of things that need, addressing/fixing; and/or, 'fine tuning'; and/or, 'tweaking'...
Almost NOTHING is IMMEDIATE ...
EVERTHING takes TIME ...
Again, just my thoughts.
Brett
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Raising this topic again.
Three months have passed since I initially raised this topic. Activity levels in the Ireland Genealogy Research Group have not improved to any appreciable level.
What happened? A community with vibrant involvement seems to have simply almost stopped.
Has there been any analysis as to why people are no longer using the valuable community feature of FamilySearch?
John.
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John
What is that well worn cliché ... 'Rome was not built in a day' ...
Seriously ...
It is going to take quite some time ...
Hopefully, there MAY be FUTURE "Changes", to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum, to make BOTH, 'Questions' (ie. "Q and A" Section"); and, 'Groups' ("Groups" Section"), MORE "Seamless", like they used to be, in the PREVIOUS version/platform of the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
eg.
Being able to "Mention", a 'Group' in a post, in "Q and A", like we used to be able to do; thereby, "Tagging" the post in the particular 'Group' (or, 'Groups') mentioned.
I have raised that matter on a number of occasions, with the "Administrators".
We can live in hope.
I 'see' that some of the (NEW) "Moderators" [ ie. 'FamilySearch' "Support" (Personnel) ], are finally also steering Participants towards the 'Groups'.
MANY; Many; many, of the the (NEW) "Moderators" [ ie. 'FamilySearch' "Support" (Personnel) ] are themselves. NEW to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum; as, they have ONLY just been introduced to the Forum - many of them were most likely not even really aware of the 'Groups' - it has been a 'learning curve'.
I know it is not easy; but, we just have to be patient ...
Easier said, than done ... I know ... I am not a patient person ...
Such is Life ...
Brett
Attention: @Mark McLemore
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You'll have to ask the people who left why they left and where they went.
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I have argued elsewhere that there is a strong case for winding-up most of these groups and for questions to be posed in the main Q and A section / sub-sections of the Community platform.
I am a member of the British Isles, England, Scotland and Family Tree groups and share a similar experience. The first two of these have had just one post this month and the latter two just two posts in September.
There was an announcement a few months back that the Indexing group would be removed, as there was a section for this in Q and A, so I definitely believe this should be applied to the Family Tree group.
The reasoning behind having these separate groups is sound enough, but if they are hardly being used (I only infrequently visit my groups to check for new posts) they might as well be removed.
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I don't know the answers but suppose:
If the group on the previous platform was 'lost' it will take time to 'rebuild' the group. There are alternative groups on other platforms but I would not know whether they also have experienced this downturn in participation.
Covid and summer vacation (i am guessing) at least in my neighborhood has affected group participation in family history - there was a significant drop in participation from my local group around March/May timeframe. So there are seasonal and other concerns that are 'probably' affecting participation generally and this is being reflected in low participation in the online community groups here.
Personally I am only returning to my sporadic participation because of various factors which make my participation possible. I can only hope, invite and persuade others to participate because as a collective group we can get much more family history work done.
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