>> Don't try to fix what ain't broke.

Um, a fair number of people seem to think that it is broke.

I have some comments:

a) under "Your Topics", you can link The Garden Party and then it's easily accessed from your home page:

b) this is not about condemning any threads....rather, it's about putting all the game threads in one place (I count 9 that are wordle-like) where they become easier for people to find rather than being interspersed with other threads....just like why we have plant threads and decorating threads and cooking threads etc.

c) if the threads are moved to The Garden Party, given how active they are on a daily basis, that thread will no longer be dead but be revived with a purpose.

I was thinking of just the recent Wordle- type threads going to the Garden Party. Not all of the daily games, , the daily quiz, find the hidden word, pic etc etc. The newer games that dominate the front page only. It would definitely kick up the activity on that forum. I've never been there before. But having said that, I'll go along with what everyone else wants.

I’m not active on any of the ”ordle” threads…well, maybe a few posts and discussion on the Phrazle thread recently with Lars and FOAS but I truly enjoy seeing how active the ”ordle” threads are and how folks seem to have come together with these games. Good fun. 😀 It seems a shame to move them and very selective.

Saying that, it won’t matter much to me where they go. I do feel bad for the active posters on those threads, though.

roxsol, I'm trying to understand...why would you feel badly for active posters who still have as much access to the threads as they always did? This is not like sending a naughty child to their room any more than having a separate thread for people who like cooking where they can find the cooking experts and recipes and such. This is not excluding people from anything but giving a unique location to a specific topic in which there seems to be a lot of interest. I'm really surprised as I would think people who are looking for the wordle threads would be glad to have a place where they can easily find them all without a lot of scrolling and looking and have a place to discuss the new games that they've found.

I'm fine with moving them to the Garden Party. Then I will just spend my time there instead of at KT.

I've never been to the Garden Party and I can't see what the commotion is about. Just scroll past if you aren't interested. Why should we be segregated?

Annie, I think we are both trying to understand.

I believe several posters who are active on the ”ordle” threads have said that they would like to keep things how they are. I also realise that several non-posters on the ”ordle” threads have been troubled by having so many similar threads on KT.

To some posters, scrolling on by seems to be an inconvenience while others have expressed that moving them to another forum would be an inconvenience for them. Neither one seems like too much of an inconvenience to me but we are all different and have different abilities on how to move around in GW/HOUZZ.

I just feel that it is very selective to choose one type of puzzle to go to another forum.

I just like the idea that people can post on whatever forum they want and where they feel the most comfortable.

Like I said, it doesn’t matter much to me but I feel it is a shame for those who like KT as a one stop shop for such a harmless activity.

eta Maybe, the ”wordle” people will like their own place. Who knows?

No one is kicking anyone out of the kitchen table...

It's like adding a games room to your house...no one is pushing anyone out of the kitchen...it's just giving *more* space to those who want to discuss playing games and puzzles.

I'm really stunned as I would think this would be a benefit to all involved. Games would be easier to find, conversations would be easier to find...

But it's clear that no matter what, someone is going to be unhappy....most likely me for trying to find a solution that would make everyone happy...

Annie, give it a try if you feel so strongly about it. ☹️

I think your heart is in the right place. You definitely can’t please everyone. I know that.

Let the individual poster decide. See where they post. Life is full of inconveniences.

I will be happy no matter what, but I just think that banning certain topics from a forum is being rather petty. It would definitely cause division, but I think I am fine with that.

I have noticed in the past that people from the Home Dec Conversations forum have complained about people on KT cross posting with them, stating that they did not like KT and wanted to be separate. Therefore I think that splitting people up can be a good thing. I've come to realize over time that I do not have much in common with most people on the Home Dec Convo forum, even though there are a lot who post on KT as well. I did enjoy the SoCal meetup that was organized by that forum, but I think it is much easier to like people that you meet in person.

Again, no one is *banning* anything. This is not coming from the powers that be who enforce prohibitions against hot topics or anything and remove threads at will. This is not banishment or punishment or anything like that.

Rather, this is coming from us who play here. Some have expressed a desire to leave the KT because it's not what it used to be due to all these game threads proliferating (of which I have been a part). As a result, some have expressed a willingness to *stop* posting on the games threads to let them diminish which is not as much fun for the gamers either. And now, by suggesting adding a gaming space where gamers can have complete freedom while the KT continues to be what it always was, some are threatening to leave the KT.

Not sure how a win-win in my book turns into a lose-lose-lose, but there you have it.

I think if game threads were moved off the KT and to the GP, it would need to be all or none of them. Moving some of them and leaving others would just end up being a muddled mess over time. And probably provoke complaint threads and possibly bad feelings about some games being moved and others not.

It's kind of amusing, I can't help thinking back to being a kid reading this thread and the thread where a few folks are complaining about the game threads. The kitchen table was where we would gather to play games- and sure enough at some point it was time to clear off the games to use the table for other. I can understand why some folks are unhappy at feeling like they are being cleared off for other with the suggestion to move the game threads off to GP. I can also understand why some folks want the table for their kind of other and not wanting to scroll through other folks other like games.

Here's what I'll do, which I'm sure will make everyone miserable.

I'll start new threads on the GP for the wordle games with links to the KT and I'll add links on the KT threads to those on the GP. People can vote with their fingers. Those who like having a forum to discuss all things gaming can post on the GP. Those who don't like the games space can continue to post on the KT. Those who want to can post on both. Those who don't want to need post on neither. If the threads evaporate in one forum or the other so be it. If they live in peaceful coexistence so be it. And if the conversations move organically from one to the other, that's fine too. I'm just building a room....up to you guys whether you use it or not. (And Lars, I'm presuming adding some games threads to GP won't interfere with your ability to search for FNM topics.)

And if everyone wants to dump on me for pursuing the ridiculous pipe dream of trying to find a solution that makes everyone happy, so be it.

It’s interesting to see how an action described by you to accomplish one thing is perceived by others in ways that were never your intention. It seems that for some there’s more of an alliance with a Topic area than a Coversation. As Lars points out, I too have noticed that some have said that they will post on a Conversation only if it appears in a specific Topic area, even though they have participated in Conversations in that other Topic area. ISYMIYSMY comes to mind.

I appreciate your efforts on this and other areas here.

I have noticed in the past that people from the Home Dec Conversations forum have complained about people on KT cross posting with them, stating that they did not like KT and wanted to be separate.

I don't remember this, is it still a thing? I am beginning to crosspost some new threads I start in both the KT and Conversations because there are people I appreciate and like to hear from on both sides.

Annie, I admire your energy and dedication to community. Also your patience.

I don't remember any complaints from the Home Dec Convo folks being included on some threads. The ones I've cross posted have had good participation from both communities...and there is a lot of crossover in membership as well.

And if everyone wants to dump on me for pursuing the ridiculous pipe dream of trying to find a solution that makes everyone happy, so be it.

Well, I certainly hope that doesn’t happen! i don’t think it will.🙂

For a very long time, there have been chain reaction games on KT. Some chains are very long and I have never participated. But it's not a problem for me. I just scroll on by.

Thanks for trying, Annie. I posted in the KT wordle thread today. May just skip it in the future. I do enjoy seeing how people did compared to me. I already follow four forums and that’s enough. One I only read and one I only post occasionally. I like how Lars cross posts the FNM thread, but that’s only once per week. I love that one.

"Annie, I admire your energy and dedication to community. Also your patience."

So do I! ! ! ! !

I also appreciate you for all you do trying to keep everyone happy.

It will be interesting to see how this all turns out.

Rusty

People on Home Deco Convo have complained to me personally for cross posting on KT. Maybe I am the only one that they do like doing this. Anyway, I was asked specifically not to do it because some people there did not want comments from some people on KT, and they wanted HDC to be separate.

I was also criticized on KT the first time I posted a comment for being an outsider and not someone that they knew. That was many years ago, however, and things here have changed, but there still seem to be complainers here.

Perhaps there will be fewer complainers on GP, and that would be good. Complaints can be tiresome.

I don't remember the Home Decor Conversations posters complaining about cross posting between the KT and the Conversation side of Home Decor.

However there have been occasions when someone posted to multiple ( 3 or more ) forums which resulted in some confusion. There was one recently where someone from the Home Decorating forum posted to several forums and didn't realize that there was a Home Decor Forum and a Conversations side. Then the OP complained about all the extraneous non-decor topics and wondered why they were included. The poster was unaware that it was the Off-Topic side.

Thanks again Annie for your willingness to take this on.

And would someone tell me what ISYMIYSMY means - thanks.

Lars - that is uncalled for. No wonder you mentioned it. I think there may be more cross posters these days so perhaps it's less of an issue.

I have seen myself where some posters in Home Decor Conversations have requested that thread starters don't crosspost with the Home Decor forum. They feel that that forum is somewhat private and want to keep it that way. So I am sure that Lars' memory of a suggestion not to crosspost with KT is accurate.

As for the game threads on KT, it seems like there was only one person who objected to the game threads being posted here and suddenly all of these changes are being suggested to accommodate him. In general people don't like change so I think we should leave well enough alone.

Oh great...since creating new threads in the GP, I now seem to be unable to start any new threads anywhere...

I'll try again tomorrow.

I wonder if there is a limit on how many new threads you can start per day. It seems like a logical limit to have, to prevent someone from flooding a forum with new threads.

I started three threads on GP for games that you had not gotten to, including Worldle (which often gets buried here), alternate (foreign) Wordle, and Duotrigordle.

I'm flexible about where the game results go. I do find it more convenient to find them on GP, since the ones I like are not as likely to get buried. I just hope that FOAS knows to find the German Wördle there. We had been comparing results in the past. I have not figured out how to share my results with the Italian Wordle, however. That version can be very challenging, since so many Italian words have so many similarities, and there are only 21 letters in the standard Italian alphabet, unless you count letters with accent marks as separate letters.

"As for the game threads on KT, it seems like there was only one person who objected to the game threads being posted here"

Read the discussions again, without presupposing the answer first. There were a fair number of people who felt the forum was being overrun by threads of limited interest.

There will be a fair number of people who will find any category of topic of limited interest, but they know how forums work--you SOB those topics.

It seems there is a significant number of people who find the Wordle threads of interest; otherwise, they wouldn't be posted in several times a day. Why should the significant number accommodate the fair number and move the threads?

"It seems there is a significant number of people who find the Wordle threads of interest;"

I wouldn't say a significant number, but a number. Same as with other Houzz visitors who are interested in Vegetable Gardening, or Laundry, or Home Decorating, or Orchids or anyone of dozens of other topics. Interest groups and separate forums for such specific things are in place and used without flooding a general discussion forum with topics of narrow scope and limited interest.

Don't pretend to have quantitative information to justify your opinion, one that seems to not be widely held.

If you don't appreciate a thread ... don't view it.

I am still locked out and am never able to find the link to get help. Can someone please post the link for me? I seem to get lost in FAQs and never can find where to email to ask for support help. Thanks!

Never mind...I finally found where to request help. Hopefully I'll hear back soon.

I think there may be more cross posters these days so perhaps it's less of an issue.

I think this is the case. I counted 4 recent HDC/KT crossposts and no complaints on those threads about it, and good participation numbers on both sides.

I'm going to continue my one Wordle post here. I don't do any of the others.

Maybe it will revive The Garden Party with more activity!

I don't have time to visit a lot of discussion threads on Houzz and don’t believe I have ever visited The Garden Party. So I would prefer Wordle stay here.

It’s probably too soon to tell how it’s going to work but these are my initial thoughts.

I haven’t really noticed any difference on the Kitchen Table for it being any different to find discussions. Scrolling by topics or posters who I’m not interested in is just as easy as it always has been.

I do find I’m feeling a little guilty in participating in other ’games’ on KT as I still can’t get past the idea that only some have been asked to use the Garden Party for non-discussion topics. ☹️ That’s my issue😀

Just my initial thoughts.

roxsol, which others do you think should be added to the GP? I tried to amass all the wordle type games as those are new and are what have been proliferating, and I added the "spot the difference" as that one's new too.

Annie, I really don’t think anything should go to Garden Party unless the OP puts it there.

But, if moving threads is what needs to be done, then anything that is a puzzle, guessing game, adding one word to the last word, spot the difference. In other words, anything that is not a discussion thread. (Even though there is quite often discussion that does happen in some of the puzzle threads)

Annie, I hate harping on this but I really do feel it is very unfair to only put the new puzzles there. Funny thing is that I am a very easy going person but the one thing that drives me crazy is unfairness and I’m seeing a real unfairness here.

Whew! Okay, I promise this is the last time that I will bring this up but I just had to.

Thank you Annie and Jasdip for all the work you guys do on KT. It does not go unnoticed.

Ok Roxsol, thanks. The way I look at it is, in our town, when a new zoning rule kicks in, things that pre-dated that are "grandfathered" in.

Accepted Annie. Thanks. (the word grandfathered doesn’t have the best origins but I know what you mean)

I am not a forum game player. I did find it annoying on KT when game threads kept rising to the top. That's why I made two forums on POV--one called Conversations for chatting and one called Daily Amusements for games, puzzles and such.

You're separating them here now but I agree with roxsol. Those original KT threads were allowed to multiply and dominate KT without complaint. Then Wordle came along and somehow it's a different story.

Speaking of multiplying...now we have 2 Wordle threads hanging near the top of KT.

Kind of like Gremlins!

I don't think the term "grandfathered" applies here, since the new rule went into effect after the rest of the games had been posted, and there was never a cutoff date. All games that had already been posted here should have been grandfathered, or none of them should have been. That's how grandfathering usually works. I hope the person/people who originally complained is/are happy now. BTW, I am not complaining - I like the separation, but I think it should be complete and not splintered and sloppy. What I don't like is the idea that grandfathering applies to some and not all, especially since the new rule came after almost all of the new game threads. If people had been able to vote and there had been a consensus, it would have been different, but that did not happen.

I'm confused that there are now Wordle and Canuckle threads going simultaneously on KT and GP.

I see two chain posts going back to 2020. Why hasn't anyone complained about that? I never have participated but it was no bother to scroll on by. Wordle is the original and should remain.

I play wordle and a few others and have posted and created threads about it. So I like the games. However, I too noticed the "character" if you will of KT was changing because wordle and its offshoots were proliferating and becoming more dominant and prominent...by my estimates taking up 1/3 of the first page posts. While we have had a few long-term games dating back years, they have never predominated or proliferated as wordle has done. Other threads about various games such as spelling bee were more like other conversations that were a single topic, active for awhile, and then drifted off.

So, for me, it's wordle and kin that have created the change in KT, and that's why I selected them to give them more space at GP. I'd suggest that subsequent game-related threads move there as well.

But I am not czarina here. I'm just trying to facilitate what I see as an improvement for all involved...KT not overrun with wordle threads and wordlers having their own space for convos about the games. There is nothing that prevents anyone else from doing just what I did...create a new thread in GP and cross link with the sister thread on KT. If you think other threads should also have a home in GP, go for it. I've done my part.

People are voting with their postings as to which they prefer. We'll let it grow organically and with time, we'll see what settles out.

Annie, right now threads with you as the OP are taking up the first page and people are posting on them because they are fun threads. People like posting on them. They are generally the same posters every day. Others are scrolling by as it is their choice.

I think it would be bad form to start redirecting them to GP and it would be poor manners to redirect another’s thread. I can’t imagine doing it myself. I can’t imagine anyone else doing it either.

People were posting on the the Wordles threads because they found them fun, I’m guessing. They were generally the same posters every day just enjoying themselves. They have moved because they were asked to and they were made to feel uncomfortable on KT. The threads got redirected in one fell swoop. Not much of a choice. The deed is done.