i dont like it either, but w/everything in life, if its worth it, you will make it happen, those will re appear if they need us, want us, have to talk to us, addicts dont like change, this is a good step....kinda

I see and read you post. I do agree, its an odd layout, the postings aren't in order, so I have to scan through the posts to see the most recent updates. But I'm glad you are here.

I will keep at it and it works for newer folks, since they did not get to experience the old platform. I am thankful the two of you are still here, alive and kicking, Leapy and Itsjustme! Thanks for the encouragement.

I also am lost here, hate the format and it just does not seem as personnel. The other had a better vibe, a feeling of a close connection I experienced with a few. I still look at most posts but hardly ever contribute any more, just hard to get use to the damn format and lack of closeness I had with the other. Still staying clean and taking it a day at a time. Hope all my friends are doing well. Thanks for being here.

Exactly, Skip, they did not ask us users what we liked about the old site before thrusting us in to something completely unfamiliar, that some programmer envisioned as the perfect social site. (But most programmers are anti-social, that's why they need feedback.)

We can no longer share pictures and the banners at the top of the page are huge, I don't need to see the definition of compulsive gambling EVERY time I log into our support group. I would like to see less of the posts and more of the titles, as well as have the title tell me who made the last post. (Like the old platform.) I don't need to read a post if I was the last one to post to it. We can no longer see who made the last post and I keep getting notifications that I replied to my post - NOT helpful. (I have submitted these constructive criticisms to D/S at least three times now. Got email promising to migrate pictures we had on old site and make it so we can add some, but I have not seen any real changes.

I have had a couple of friends on D/S ask me to friend them on FB because they can not take this lack of participation and lack of personal feeling in this new platform.
It seems that many more just did not migrate, I will hang in and keep checking in, I am 21 months gamble free as of yesterday and am doing well. I miss many of my D/S friends though and wonder and hope that they are also still gamble free. My heart goes out to the missing and I am sending prayers and love and light their way.

Would love to share some of my recent artwork with you all but I cannot post any photos except the avatar.
Keep on keeping on my friends.
Love and Light.

Hi All, Yeah, this is the first time I checked into the "new site" and I was kinda lost at first. I don't particularly care for the new either...the old one was fine...if it wasn't broke they shouldn't have fixed it to this crap. I hate change anyway LOL

I hate the new site. The change has kept me away. I realize that's not an excuse to avoid checking in but it really feels awkward. It's not user friendly at all. What a terrible design and layout.

So glad to see you folks, I am feeling the loss of many more voices. Hugs and Prayers!

It's definitely not user-friendly. I own a business that does online marketing and web development, and I can tell that they lost a lot of their SEO optimization (i.e., backlinks, keywords, old posts, etc.), so anyone who did not bookmark the site cannot find it. Even a Google search for "gambling addiction forum" doesn't show this forum anywhere on the first 4 pages or 40 results, even though it used to come up at the top of the first page.

Regardless, if you're a regular and you're reading this, I think we should post new threads as often as possible. Complaining about the new format probably isn't going to change anything, but if we keep creating new content everyday, it might inspire newbies to keep coming back. Just a thought.

I don't like it either. Why did they feel a need to change it? Did someone get a hold of them and sell them this bill of goods? hmmmm

When the new format took effect (end of June?), I was locked out of DS. According to an email sent to me by DS, there was a group of members in the same situation. I have no idea how many or from how many different forums. I couldn't sign in with my old password, couldn't sign in with a new password, then couldn't get another new password, couldn't set up an account with a different email address. They told me they were working on it. It went on and on. I was finally able to get back in yesterday. This could be the reason for some of the 'missing' members. So far, I'm not crazy about this new format but I'm hoping I'll get used to it. All that being said, I'm glad to be back.

Glad to see you Pennylove. Your post certainly may explain why so many are missing.

I agree. I have not been on site as long but find it hard to navigate.

Almost a year later, and it is not improved much. I would really like the banners of what group I am in to be smaller so that using laptop in public place is not so exposing. Still no way to share pictures. I would like to see a "Recovery Art" section and maybe "Recovery Poetry" and "Recovery Humor" sections as well. Still kind of clunky, but it is growing in use and at least is an interface that people are visiting and using. I would also like to see more opportunities to involve the community in monitoring the boards so that offensive, abusive or sales posts can be taken down more quickly. (Especially on the weekends.)

I think DS should make friends with their local community college computer science department and see if they can't get a student intern for a term to address website and user needs.

What is a "Goodbye to gambling letter".... would like that xx