Very true and good to get some perspective. I have a theory that the average GW poster/lurker swings more toward the "control freak" end of the personality pendulum. This may make the changes a little harder for us. I for one hope the forum can endure the changes. It's benefit to this control freak in the midst of big changes at home has been invaluable!

Interesting concept. and applicable!

I guess after 3 decades of working with computers and being online, I jumped to Acceptance and not only looking for the best, looking for the ways to make it work for me.

No temper tantrum and slamming the door behind me from this one.

Christine - I love your no nonsense put your big girl pants on and move along attitude. Not even a little foot stamp? A toe tap perhaps? ;)

No, autumn_4_gw! Not even a little. Really, I've been through too much and in the scope of life, this change is so unimportant it's really not worth the time it takes to type these messages. Why waste breath?

It's like my friend haranguing a store cashier when the girl asked for my friend's phone number. Best Buy, I think. If you're going to harangue, harangue to the right person. Or just make up a phone number, or just SAY NO. But don't waste breath or time, or God knows, energy.

Acceptance. If I found this board today, would I care that it didn't look like (what? can't think of anything) the Dell users forums? No.

I'm with Christine on this (Cookie Dough 4 Life!!!). A day of Uh-Oh for me morphed into Acceptance. No amount of foot-stomping or breath-holding will change what's happened. If this is the only real game in town, you'd better adapt or die or figure out a backsplash on your own.

Christine - Yep. I think the phases just take longer for some - and are scope dependent. I just don't want the feeling to change. Or honestly I kind of think everyone has heard of HOUZZ but not everyone had heard of GW so that kind of kept it smaller or sort of like an underground (okay just let me think that in my mind) but a legal one. Good point on if you found it today - you'd truly know no different. It all works out in the wash.

Linelle-no could not figure out backsplash on my own. No, no way. Couldn't figure out layout on my own after hours of reading. I am on to #5 and glad to see so many of the users from 'the other side' to continue talking down the novices like myself.

In the old GW forum you could click on the persons name and send them a private email message. I can't seem to do that anymore. Does anyone know how?

There is a messages tab but it shows sent and received but I can't figure out how to actually MAKE A message.

Autumn, yep. I think it was Mtn who commented it was like the disorientation and disconnect of everyone suddenly being in a new school. Imagine how survivors of hurricanes or floods feel when their REAL homes and neighborhoods are destroyed, not to mention loss of life. We all need to gain a little perspective here and be grateful that this is an optional activity in a community you don't even have to pay to belong to.

I have to figure out something to do about my garage door and I fully expect this here group of souls to help me make good decisions.

I had just posted on another thread about actually liking the merge... but now that autumn_4 mentions it, it did almost seem like we were a "secret society" of REAL people. As much as I've always loved Houzz...it always seems "above" me. Ig we'll all adapt. :) I do appreciate that it's not quite so "clunky" as GW was alone.

I came over the first day and I said "no, no, no, no, no, no, no!". Actually, I may've been saying that ever since I found out houzz acquired garden web. I was sure I wasn't going to be back, but I miss the community. I missed seeing all of my "web-friends" so I decided to check back today, and I appreciate the updates that they've made based on suggestions. Since this is my first post, it may be a sign that I'm coming around....

So far mermanmike is in the lead with 4 likes (can you tell I was just startled by an email telling me someone liked my comment? Not really into it. Does anyone know how to turn it off?)

And I didn't mean that as an attack to anyone who likes to like things.....

Go to your profile & into your preferences & turn it off

Thank you Lily Spider!

I've been part of forums for 15-16 years so have seen a lot of change. I don't like this change as I usually don't like change initially but soon, we'll probably forget what is was like pre-Houzz

I like the Like feature. It's good for lending support to what someone posted without having to add a whole comment, as I'm doing here. :)

It's Day 4 and I feel like I have adjusted just fine and am getting used to the new format. Like most, I was not a happy camper Day 1. It took a couple tries to get in, but I did with my GW name preserved. I'm not at all computer savvy and it reminded me when I had my new iPad for a few months and then DH upgraded it and everything was/looked different. I told him to never touch my iPad again and he (in IT for 35 years) informed me you have to do the upgrades. Of course, I had to roll with it, like now, and it hasn't taken long to adapt each time.

The bottom line......we still have a forum to talk about decorating and personal things...it just looks different. I'd rather have the new format than nothing and have to say goodbye permanently to my "imaginary friends."

I think I like your DH, joanieponie (Haven't seen you in a while!) having been in IT since the late 80s (yes, the very birthing pains of Internet use) I've seen much, too. Which is why I really, could care less.

I was trying to think what actually Would cause me to have a fit. The only thing I could come up with, would be a forum that had to "approve" every post. I.e. censor what was posted. Like blogs. Don't you dare disagree!

Speaking of blogs, I there is so much I totally dislike them! There is no community. No place to ask a question for group input. Sure, someone is welcome to drone on and on about something they're fond of, or think they invented, or, frankly, just to read themselves. (Hear themselves talk?) But blogs will never replace community, just by nature of the beast. Ok, rant done.

So here we are. Lots of settings adjustments, since like crap mail or phone calls, we're forced to opt out, vs. choosing to opt in. Don't like that much, but in the scope of things it's soooo minor!~

To you IT guys or those more savy than myself. Can you/how do you private message someone now? I have posted this question a few times but so far no one has answered it. I liked that feature in GW. Thx!

I was just googling a kitchen topic:gardenweb and got houzz. Totally confusing and befuddling. I'm not a daily user anymore I sure was when doing my first kitchen. Now I'm doing my second, but we're doing it ourselves ...sloooooooowly so, no need to be here daily

Anyway, I was recently crushed to find the ikea fans site to be just gone into the Internet ethers. I'm so relieved to find gardenweb just moved (and got a little current, which GW really needed). So far my biggest miff is that my houzz username was the same as my gardenweb username and I can't combine them, so I had to change my gardenweb username. Not the biggest deal.

Lily Spider, I'm wondering the same thing... I seem to have tried everything I can think of, and can't figure it out. But my level of IT is at the "I know enough to be dangerous" level, so I'm not an expert for sure!

It took me a few days to want to even confirm my GW User name to get onto the Houzz new GW forum. Finally last night I decided I had to do this if I ever wanted to see my friends again and continue to learn and share. So here I am and I am getting used to the change. I was not able to figure out how to keep my user name lynn2006 so now I have become SusanLynn2012 which is my first and middle name and the year I joined Houzz as I wanted to look at pictures. Now at least I will remain how to log into Houzz to save pictures.

I missed everyone. Thank you all for always helping me and others and for sharing.

Lily Spider, I found this under FAQs How do I message another user:

"You can message any other Houzz user that follows you by visiting their profile and clicking on the message button you see there. If you do not see a message button for a profile that follows your own, that means they have disabled the messaging feature in their profile settings."

link

(Please ignore me guys, I'm just posting here to test changing my opt in/opt out settings.)

Sena01, Thx. So they have to follow you inorder to message them. That stinks. It was nice to be able to ask people more detailed questions about their project without following them. Following has always seemed creepy to me :)

Lilyspider, "more detailed questions" have a place on the public board, since that's the entire point of these boards in the 1st place.

That said, I couldn't have helped you because I don't PM. I don't talk on the phone, either, so my cell is a nice texting machine.

The easiest thing to do is just sit down and follow everyone's posts you enjoy. If THAT isn't a PIA, it would save you from doing it later. I don't think they have to OK the follow, do they? Or is that Facebook. Rhetorical. I don't care.

Things continue to improve, become more logical, and therefore, more useful. I appreciate all their hard work!

I think following will become routine in time. They should probably find a non-stalkerish name for it.

Yes, I follow some friends on Pinterest but for the most part I am happy to go on my merry way since I am not much of a follower anyway.