I hope the new software will include an improved LiveChat set up. These times are invaluable, and always far to short, for those that use the chat room. I wonder if there will be a way that you can monitor the Secondaries Live Chat. I have become more and more concerned recently at how often someone enters who does not have secondaries. Just recently many of us could not even access Secondaries Live Chat because numbers were being restricted. Problems are created when there is an 'intruder' because attention is often diverted towards that individuals needs when the members there need that time to share their own concerns. Will it be possible when members register to ask the specific question 'Do you have Secondary BC?' I think so long as you are stating in the information about the LiveChat session who they are specifically for, that this should be adhered to.
Profiles will be visible by registered users and you will have the option to choose what information you want to show.
We envisage having a user mailbox on the website to receive, reply to and store messages. You will be alerted by email when you receive a new message.
I have never come across the issue of usernames being rejected except when the username has already been taken by another user. But for confidentiality reasons, your username must be different from your name. The new website registration form will be shorter and simple.
The option to subscribe to frequently visited threads and store messages sounds really interesting. We will add that to the requirements list.
We have recently extended the maximum number of attendees to live chat sessions. The team will discuss your suggestion regarding limiting access. We already specify on the live chat page "this session is only open to people with a diagnosis of secondary breast cancer". Finding a good live chat software is one of our biggest challenges. There are currently two technologies available for live chat: 1. Using a browser (e.g. Internet Explorer or Firefox) and connecting to a chat server. It is easier for users, you connect to a server which does all the technical “stuff”. 2. Downloading a chat software (e.g. Windows Instant Messenger or Skype). This technology is more reliable but requires users to install a programme on their machine. I don’t want this thread to turn into a technical discussion but we’ve always opted for the first option: easier for users. However this option has its limitations. If some of you are more technical and would like to give me their views, you can send me a private message.
It was not my username that was rejected, it was my first name. Would you please have a look at my profile? You say that ".. for confidentiality reasons, your username must be different from your name." You will see that in my profile both my user name and first name appear as "Elena". Of course there may have been a system fault on that particular date when I registered but, because the system did not accept my first name, in the end, I tried "Elena" in that box and it accepted it. Before I try to see if the system would now allow me to enter my correct name, I would like you to see it first.
Would you please advise me when you have had a look, so that I can try to make the correction?
Bertie you have missed the point on Secondary Live Chat! My gripe is that I know you state on the live chat page "this session is only open to people with a diagnosis of secondary breast cancer". It is the fact that this is not being enforced and my suggestion that the moderator should monitor this more closely by asking, when she is uncertain of an individual's diagnosis, "welcome to secondaries livechat xxxxxxx, do you have secondaries!". It gets embarrassing if it passes that point and the individual gets involved in the session and the moderator does not intervene. It is becoming very clear from the thread in the Secondaries Forum that the members do not want to spend time supporting non-secondaries in this particular environment. This is their one hour a week when they can offer each other mutual support.
I agree completely with dawnhc - live chat needs to be private. I would also like other posts to have better security so thay cannot be googled and read so openly. Geraldine
I would also like to be able to change my username (not just my password) without losing access - other sites can do this eg ebay - normally they have a transition period so not data is lost. Geraldine
Why would you want to change your user name?? I think this could cause more probs with privacy and cranks being allowed in, we wouldnt know who was who. I like knowing who is who and them continuing with that name. I can follow peoples progress then.
Rather infuriated me that non secondary ladies would go to the one hour live chat. Its not exactely BCC fault its the women who go there. I do feel there is little help for secondary ladies and most definately agree with you Dawn about it being stricly for sec ladies.
Sorry Liverbird but I don't agree with you on this one. BCC make the rules and it is up to them to see they are adhered to or to change them. It does state clearly on the website that the Chat on Tuesdays is for those with a diagnosis of secondary breast cancer, but sometimes on bcc you see a notice about live chat and dont always stop to read the detail.
I thought we might be wondering off topic here, but realise we are still on a point that Bertie raised in answer to one of my suggestions.
How is this to be achieved though Dawn? People go 'mental' with BCC if they become controlling of us look at the PM and passing on email ad's being banned a while ago.
Are people to be vetted before entering chat or when they come into it? This would take up the whole hour. You could give each secondary lady a code i suppose which they apply for from BCC but even that could be abused. How would the moderators know if someone has secondaries.
It comes down to the individual ladies, maybe some are worried about secondaries and want advice but i dont ofcourse think the chat is the best place to air their concerns.
I know you run another site with a chat facility but its different than this one, BCC is a huge site, sometimes too big i think but then thats the sad thing so many of us are affected with BC.
I am sure BCC will look carefully at what you are sayin and think of ways to address the prob but having been on many chat forums it isnt easy to control who comes in to them. (A football one i used to go on, on my ISP i have given up on the language is appalling no moderation seems to be in place
Hope you have emailed BCC tech team as i find they usually reply given time.
I want to change my user name for two reasons - it is the same as other logins I use (I didn't realise everyone would see it in this way) and when joined I didn't realise how valuable this site would be. Also I would rather be known by my first name (or similar) as this login causes confusion. I agree it's good to track people that why I suggested a transition approach akin to ebay so people can track you!
FULL STOP. From me I run when it gets personal on here.Been TOO hurt on the other site for that to happen again. Glad you enjoyed the chat tonight, personally i dont go on live chat as everyone seems to know each other and last time it was cliquey and unhelpful.
Control The live chat team are currently discussing when and how to intervene. It may be useful to give you a bit of history – some of you already know about it. The Breast Cancer Care website has been through different phases. Initially the forum was on a separate site and was unmoderated. Following a serious incident a few years ago, moderation was introduced and contact between users was restricted. We then got criticised for being too controlling, so we listened to that and are now moving towards a website facilitating dialogues between users and building tools to help you share more information. I would like us to move from moderators to facilitators providing help and advice. Obviously making sure we still provide a safe environment but giving you more control because you told us that’s what you wanted.
Privacy We make sure your username is different from your name to protect your privacy. We don’t want to stop search engines indexing the Breast Cancer Care website because 60% of our users will spend time reading the forums before registering and becoming active members. But we are looking at ways to create restricted areas on the website for private group conversations.
User profile If you want to change your username, you can register again. If you want to change your username but have all the posts you made associated with your new username, please contact the moderator. It’s a bit of work but can be done by a techie. The new site will have more flexibility around updating your profile.
I have noticed on the forums that many nicks look to me like the real names! They are not always picked up and of course make you easily identifiable to anyone googling.
If possible could the link to 'Head Strong' be made more visible. I only found this after another lady had talked about it on one of the threads and unfortunately this was after buying lots of scarvesetc that were all totally useless.
The 'Head Strong' service is excellent and offers a brilliant service to people.
I joined the site recently and didn't realise that my user name would show at the top of my messages which was my full name but I had an e-mail from the moderator after my first posting asking if I would like them to change it for me so I asked for and got this one, thank you moderator.
As I have read threads and commented I have bookmarked them but there isn't anyway of filtering out the bookmarked threads, could this be done on the new site.
I haven't joined any live chat sessions as I still feel a bit of a techno-phobe about "going live" but I certainly think they should be private and, if meant for a target group, restricted to that group. Maybe a second log-in page?
Anyway I find the site very helpful, thank you. AJxxx