Come on weatherman, tell us the truth. You simply do not like the Obama ads! Don't you realize showing a picture of him fist pumping the janitor will surely get him re-elected? Ha-Ha!

Actually, I agree with much of what you said, especially about the comments being compressed and not displaying the responses by official Patch bloggers on the main page. And some blogs tend to vanish from the home page fairly quickly despite their popularity, while several blogs under Local Voices that have no comments and little interest remain there. But overall I’m still a loyal fan and I keep coming back. It’s fun and informative and best of all local!

Thanks for the response Mitch!
I agree, I'm still here and will be but I hope they listen to their audience to help prevent future issues like some that we're having now.

I think many people come to the Patch to see the comments and blogs, it's just ashamed the comments aren't more visible on the main page like they use to be.

NGW, keep in mind that Kristi's directives come from, I suppose, the home office. No, I do not like the current format but Kristi has done an excellent job in ascertaining that Dacula Patch has not, given the circumstances, lost its "hometown flavor." I will send a comment as per the feedback site you mentioned and hopefully the folks at the home office will return the leeway to Kristi that she had when Dacula Patch first came on line. However, make no mistake about it for as long as Kristi remains as editor, I am in her corner win, lose, or draw.

No Jimmy, don't get me wrong, this has absolutely nothing to do with Kristi. This is all corporate IT directives. I'm not talking about editorial issues, I'm talking website issues. I actually had something in there about Kristi (but she blushed and took it out!) being a great editor.

No, this is bigger than she is. We've been fighting this ever since the problems arose, and we're still fighting it. I've sent many emails and gone back and forth.No one sees the posting and comment issues that bloggers have to content with. And this not only effects the bloggers but the editors too and I understand they are all upset about the issues.

Keep in mind many of the comments that are made are made by the blogger. Those are not being seen on the main page. I remember making comments (or trying to) during a not so recent storm, thinking they would show on the main page where people would notice them, but no, they never appeared, you had to go to the post to see them.

Did I mention that even at one point, each of my comments to my own blog required editorial approval? :-))

Rumor is, the complaints have been heard so hopefully the right fix is on the way. We really appreciate so much of what you guys contribute to our Patches and I believe "the powers that be" do as well. With a little luck we will be back in business and debating the world's ills from back in the sunlight again soon.

Folks,
Word from our HQ is there is movement afoot to return bloggers' (and editors') comments to the stream on the homepage. There also are plans to move the "What's up with you?" buttons to deepen that stream a little. Can't promise when, and I know it can't happen fast enough for a lot of our best users, but they're on it. Thanks for the feedback.

Yes, I've heard the same thing... twice! We'll see if they get it right! :-)

I don't have the depth of knowledge of a long time reader, being that I only started reading the Patch about 2 months ago. I will say, however, that I appreciate the fair and honest reporting I am reading in the Patch. Kristi does a wonderful job bringing both the good and bad that is happening in our area without spin or personal agenda. Kristi, keep up the good work, and know that you are getting new readers all the time!

Jim

NGW, I fully understand you were "venting your spleen" at the corporate office. I well remember that when Dacula Patch came online I often advised those in my e-mail database to go online and read Dacula Patch each morning as it had the flavor of a small town newspaper. Alas, corporate far removed from the people who read Patch daily made some bad decisions. Especially when it came to those who make viable contributions, such as yourself, in blogging. I always looked forward to the various bloggers and the opportunity to comment. I trust that Sharon knows something we don't know and that the corporate office will let each editor on the Patch sites decide how their online newspaper will best serve the local populance. If not, maybe corporate should read what happened in "The Charge of the Light Brigade" when decisions were made by those far removed from the scene of the action.

P.S. Forgot to add that Kristi is my most favorite editor in all of America. :-)

Yes, I want to be sure everyone understands, it ALL has to do with website design and function, not Kristi or ANYTHING the editors are doing. I should have been clearer about that. Kristi has bent over backwards to help promote my blog and my website, and I am extremely grateful for all she has done.

But yes, corporate is far removed from the daily happenings on a Patch site and particularly what bloggers have to contend with. I think they sometimes forget, the bloggers are providing a large amount of content and many people come to the Patch just to read what people have to say. I think it's important for the general reader to provide feedback, good or bad, as to how things are working and what they'd like to see. This is a collaborative process, we all work together like a team and when things aren't working like they should, it makes it difficult provide information that's readily available to everyone.

I've been actively involved in sending emails, talking with Kristi, and providing my own feedback to corporate. Kristi has been in the loop completely (I even asked her if this post was ok before I ever started writing).

I guess I see things a little differently as a blogger and someone that does website design. It's my hope that corporate will start to listen more to the feedback of the contributors.

I just realized that I get an email when someone comments on a blog or story that I've commented on, but when someone replies to MY BLOG, I don't get an email and therefore never even realize anyone has responded unless I notice an increment in the comment count. So sorry if I don't respond to a comment for a while... I'm not ignoring you! :-)

Also, do I really have to get an email after everytime I post a comment? I noticed that has started happening recently and it's pretty annoying.

Hi Mitch - I don't get those and didn't know that happened. I can certainly see where that would be annoying! I'll pass this along to product and I encourage you to email them as well at feedback@patch.com. Sorry about that!

These are just a few of the not-so-well thought out things they've done.
Kristi, you and I both don't get those for the same reason.

I've also suggested that they have a way to "subscribe" to a blog. That way if you have a blogger you like to follow you can get notified when they make a new blog post.

I even have an Admin button... :-)

I like the Patch. Short, concise LOCAL news. The format changes aren't so bad. At least its not boring with the same things over and over. But I have run through a few laptops because of the Obama ads. I keep stabbing the screen.

David - I feel your pain ;)

You're not a paid writer, so "taking ownership" of the content on Patch really isn't an option for you.

Again... I'm not talking about content. I'm talking about design and function. I'm talking about problems and issues you don't see that effects the content that appears.

All,
Some of the changes we've been promising happened today. You'll notice the comment stream has been deepened on the home page -- and, bloggers, the next time you comment, you should see yourself there. Thanks again for the feedback.

Great! :-)

Still issues though. When I make a blog post and add an image, I can't see the image in a preview. Nothing shows.