Southern Living Message Board Survivors

[Trellis]

Any survivors out there?? If so, we'd love to hear from you and start some conversations!

[zuzus_garden]

Hi Trellis,

I'm curious - what happened to the SL boards?

Zuzu

[Lucille1963]

I was a newer member to the SL boards and I was really enjoying them. What happened?

[Trellis]

I was new as well. Not sure about all of the actual details but the server is down temporarily. Maybe too much spam??? Just my guess. I did get confirmation from the SL message boards that they will be up again soon.

[Lucille1963]

The message at the SL Boards did change today. It now reads:

The message boards are currently off-line. We will re-launch them when a variety of details are worked out. Thanks for your interest.

It gives me a feeling like it might be a while.

[Trellis]

I agree. Gosh, this board is soooo quiet! What can we do to bring some discussion?

[Lucille1963]

I agree. I went looking for another message board for that reason.

Its sad that it is so quiet, the subject is really great!

[Trellis]

Oh Lucille! Please come back!!

[Lucille1963]

I'm still here! :D

[Twilightmama]

I check this forum nearly everyday, but if you're looking for a really lively decorating board, I've found that the HGTV boards (http://boards.hgtv.com/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=1084078532&f=9334079532) stay pretty busy. There are quite a few cottage style lovers on there and currently a couple of different cottage related threads going on. The General Decorating board gets the most attention it seems but the Trash to Treasure and Gardening forums are interesting, too.

[coco]

I was looking for the SL mag website today that a friend of mine recommended (guess she didn't know it was down) and when I googled sl message boards, this site came up. Is the other site worth waiting around for? She said they had some fantastic advicd and recipes on there. Who built this site? Is it apart of SL? Sorry for all the confusion on my end.

cc

[administrator]

Hi Coco

Cottage Living and Southern Living are both published by the same company. I think both magazines are fantastic sources, but then again, I'm biased. We both test all our recipes in a professional test kitchen and employ some talented interior designers and writers. Our boards here at Cottage Living aren't as large as Southern Living's, but give us a try.

[BarbeyGirl]

For those looking for a new board, try the Cooking Light community. My personal favorite. :)

[ChrisNH53]

I'm not a SL message board survivor but I have been on this board from the beginning. I liked it better at the beginning so I don't post as much now. I think there are just too many categories and folders and I find it hard to navigate and find the discussions I like. But I'll keep trying here.

Chris in NH

[Twilightmama]

I agree, Chris, about the number of forums. Some seem a little redundant. Some of the current forums could work as just threads within individual forums (like "What is Cottage", "Do You Serve Wine With Dinner"...could just be threads instead of their own forums. I think maybe there should just a handful like:

Cottage Industry

Cottage Decorating & Design (the "What is Cottage", "Decorating Dilemma", "House Proud", and "Where to Find it Online" could all be included in this...we just don't have enough posters and comments to justify having different forums, I don't think)

Gardening

Cooking ("Recipes" and "Wine With Dinner" could go into this forum)

Forum Tech Support

I just think that having fewer forums would create a cozier, more cohesive atmosphere and gathering place. But that's just my opinion:)

[JeanW]

I just think that having fewer forums would create a cozier, more cohesive atmosphere and gathering place. But that's just my opinion:)Yes, I agree. Too many categories and subcategories make it confusing and hard to navigate. It's nice to have this forum but it's hard for me to get anything out of it.

[administrator]

I hear what you're saying. I'll attempt to simplifiy the forums and we'll see where it leads.

[Trellis]

Coco - These boards are really nice but I sincerely hope the SL boards will be back soon. Keep checking - SL has a certain "flair" that I haven't seen on other boards. They are really easy to navigate as well. Cottage Living is a little more focused as far as the subject matter.

[administrator]

I've done a bit of Spring cleaning with the forums. Let me know if you like the new simplified version. I'm here to help, so just let me know.

FYI, SL had a minor legal problem with a posting that was no fault of their own. I'm sure the wonderful SL boards will be back soon.

[Twilightmama]

Thank you so much, Adminstrator! I really love these boards - the cozy, homey feel... and would love to see more people get involved and I think this will help a lot. I also think that all of us who love cottage style will work harder to support the forums, too. If we can each contribute a little something, that will go a long way in generating more interest and participation.

I've maintained about three different discussion forums before over the last few years (none now though) about topics from homebirth to remodeling. It's *tough* to keep things active, I know, and I really appreciate the steps you're taking to improve the board...Thanks again!

[Twilightmama]

Admin, just another suggestion...could it be possible to show more than 12 topics at once per page? I think if more of the older topics could be readily viewed, we might have more people to notice them and bring them back up to the top by commenting on them. I always forget to look for additional top pages myself. Just a thought:)

[JeanW]

I've done a bit of Spring cleaning with the forums. Let me know if you like the new simplified version. I'm here to help, so just let me know.Very cool! Thanks! It looks good so far - much easier to navigate and find our way around. It's so nice you that you're so quick to respond. :)


FYI, SL had a minor legal problem with a posting that was no fault of their own. I'm sure the wonderful SL boards will be back soon.Appreciate the info. I was beginning to think maybe they thought the boards were too much trouble. Sorry to hear about the problems. :(

[FlowerLady6]

I am new here and I hope this forum will become a lively place for 'cottagers' to come and visit. I've been visiting a home decorating forum and do not feel really welcome there as most people there live in 'mini-mansions'. They spend lots of $$ on decorating then aren't satisfied and want to throw everything out and start all over. Sheesh!

DH and I live frugally by choice and now that I know there are lots of lovers of cottages, and the life-style that goes along with them, I am happy to have found this forum. I have been getting Cottage Living Magazine for a year or so now and really enjoy it. DH and I have done our share of 'curb-side shopping', shopping from flea markets and thrift stores, and in some antique shops as well. It's all part of how we live.

I am learning to negotiate this forum, and know it will become more familiar to me the more I use it.

Thank you for making this forum/community available.

[Lisa S]

Welcome! I think you are in EXACTLY the right place!

I too am practicing voluntary simplicity. Don't get me wrong, I've spent money to have parts of my house refurbished, but I've spent it wisely and lovingly. I would rather recover an old sofa than buy new, some of my greatest treasures have come from the side of the road with a "free" sign stuck to 'em. It's what makes life really, really fun! Life's too short to work all of the time to pay to keep up with the Jones'.

[FlowerLady6]

Good morning Lisa ~ We've also spent money to do remodeling and buy some things, like a new stove, and computers and like you do it wisely and lovingly. It's so much fun to 'find' things either via 'curb-side' shopping, or in thrift stores, antique shops, flea markets, yard sales, or just getting something when it's on sale.

Have a great day and thanks for the Welcome.

FlowerLady