UPDATES: New Forum Categories

I am about to install a change that will enable two new forum categories. Not only are they new, but they will work slightly differently to the existing forum categories.

The new categories are:

Off Topic: For posts that don't have anything to do with fashion and style.
Style Exchange: A place to announce the sale or swap of wardrobe items.

OFF TOPIC

We originally intended the "Other" category to be for topics that were on topic, but didn't fit the other categories. That is, "other fashion and style". Of course, there is also value in truly off topic posts as people share aspects of their lives with the community here. The new "Off Topic" category is for these posts.

To reduce confusion, the old "Other" category has been renamed to "General". Don't be too shy about about posting things here that are not entirely about fashion or style. As long as the topic is related to fashion and style in some way it is welcome in the "General" category.

Although off topics posts will be welcome in the new category, we will still apply the same moderation approach that we've used in the past. I think the only posts we've ever moderated are ones that talked about someone who was not on the forum to defend themselves. But it is entirely possible that someone will find a new kind of post that we're not comfortable hosting here on YLF and if that happens, we'll be in touch.

Please note that your posts in this category, like posts in any other, are open to the Internet. So the normal words of caution apply.

STYLE EXCHANGE

This is the category we promised to create so that members can announce the selling and swapping of items. We are not providing any infrastructure for payments or anything like that, so you will still need to work out the commercial aspects using eBay, Paypal or some other service. YLF takes no responsibility for transactions that are initiated through this forum category.

Note that the Off Topic and Style Exchange categories are different in two ways:

Their posts do not appear in the main "Latest" list on the front page page the forum. You have to go to the category page to see the posts.
Only active members can post to these categories. As you know, it takes a very short time to become "active" and this limitation will just serve to discourage spammers and trolls who might have signed up purely to make mischief.

I will enable the new categories at about 5pm PST (i.e. in 5 minutes or so).

As always, we're open to feedback and look forward to hearing what you think about these categories. And if there are any problems, please send email to feedback@youlookfab.com.

11 years ago

cciele

Veteran

Thank you Greg! I like how you separated the categories in the right-hand column and left Latest and Realtime in the left-hand column.

Queen Mum

These two new categories sound great and I LOVE the new limitations on them (that they don't appear on the main page and only active members can post). That is brilliant Greg!

RunnerChick

Active Member

Awesome, Greg! Especially excited about the Style Exchange category!

Greg

Administrator

The new categories are now live!

You put some good thinking into this. :o)

Transcona Shannon

Wow, this is fantastic Greg! You've been very busy lately!

marianna

Wow... I love these updates! Very smart.

Mamapicklejuice

I'm a little sad to see the addition of the "Off Topic" category, to be honest. YLF has always been a refuge from all the political/religious/social commentary/ranting that you see on other sites, and which can be so divisive.

goldenpig

(website)

Thanks Greg! I think these two categories sound great and will be very useful. Does this mean that the General category of posts will now show up in the main page sidebar? Because I noticed that the Other posts didn't show up.

Also, if you want any suggestions about new categories, I suggest Personal Style or something similar. There are a lot of posts where I (and others) are trying do figure out and define our style persona or rubric etc, and I never know where to put them--Inspiration doesn't seem quite right (to me, that's more like Other People's Style or High Fashion), and Other/General seems too nonspecific. I would love to be able to click on a category like Personal Style because I love these type of posts where people are ruminating on their own personal style. I find it fascinating. It's more of a big picture than the typical WIW's.

Parsley

Thanks, Greg!

Natalie, I always thought that personal style would be under the category "Dressing".

Oh Parsley, you're right...how did I not notice that category before? Thanks!

Laurinda

It is fun to watch this forum evolve -- thank you to Greg & Angie for all your creative work.

@Mamapicklejuice, I agree that YLF is a pleasant refuge from the rough & tumble of other forums. Having "Off Topic" separate from the 'Latest' postings is a brilliant accommodation to let users pass it by.

tarzy

I always feel guilty when I post things that are just silly and humorous, but I doubt we need a whole category just for that.

Jaime

Great - I have been waiting for the exchange category! Will check out - thanks!

Mamapicklejuice, I understand the concern, but the reality is that there are already off topic posts here on the forum. The change is that they will now be posted in an "Off Topic" category, and people who don't want to participate in off topic discussions won't see them unless they go to that category.

As before, it is up to this community and its moderators to ensure that things are not divisive.

CocoLion

Thanks Greg. I love these changes and additions!

Greg - I will say that I very much appreciate that the off-topic posts do not appear in "Latest" - which is where I generally click. I do appreciate all the work you and Angie do on the forums, and do not mean to sound like a Debbie Downer!

velvetychocolate

I really like the new categories! I think it's very well done, and I'm sure it will go quite well. Thank you Greg and Angie

Just for the record, while I do post "off topic" threads, it's usually about something silly like how to avoid buying polo shirts for my husband, about travel, about diet angst/healthy habits stuff - definitely not anything too controversial. Well...I'm assuming that polo shirts for men aren't all that controversial....:)

Meanwhile, I admit that I'm always curious and very interested in the economic side of things, and will sometimes get excited about new stores opening or existing stores doing a radical re-vamp or what have you. I realize this kind of thing isn't 100% on topic either, but I like to think it 'sort of' fits.

I think the new categories will go well. Having an 'off topic' section isn't going to mean veering way off topic, just that there's a place for stuff that isn't perfectly 'on topic' if that makes sense. Much appreciated! Thank you

velvetychocolate, the way Angie and I think about it, the economic side of retail, or stores revamping, or even polo shirts for hubby are perfectly fine for one of the normal categories.

"Off Topic" is for things that don't have any connection to fashion and style. For example, something about work (that isn't fashion related), or the recent thread about TV shows that didn't have anything to do with the fashion on those shows.

I think for the things that really should be "Off Topic" it will be obvious.

And don't be afraid of miss-categorizing something. If we think it is in the wrong place we can always move it.

Mamapicklejuice, I think it is a completely reasonable concern. We'll see how it goes and tweak if things aren't working the way we expect.

One thing I've learned over the last few years of YLF is that the thing we launch is really just the starting point.

Thank you again Greg, I appreciate that bit of clarification.

I think having an 'off topic' section is a great idea, and I'm also looking forward to seeing how the Style Exchange topic evolves too. Thank you for all that you and Angie are doing to make this place work so beautifully.

Lisa

The off topic category is a great idea! And I like that these do not show on the main page. Thanks for always adding something new to enhance the site.

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