Universal members' pages / Dump the dumb!

[Community Support (Ning 2.0)]

My members are having a problem using the TEXT BOX on their page.  I'd love to be able to name everyone's TEXT BOX "About Me" to make it easier for them to undertand this is the place to write something (bio) about themselves.

 

I also give my eye teeth to be able to dump those "Comment Walls"!!!  I hate them, they are so juvenile and childish.   We are adults on our site.  We have big boys and girls.  It is asking for attention.  I screams "Write on my wall if you like me!"  Dumb.  There should be a code to dump the dumb.   Someone do something!!!!!!!!!

[Star-Dust]

l would like the about me say something like,'tell us a little about yourself.'

[Patrick Chappelle]

No need to be condescending, Doctor. I'm sure someone of your caliber can express himself in a manner conducive to intellectual discourse and problem solving. Your tirade itself reeks of juvenile behavior, as well as insensitivity to those hundreds of thousands of Ning network creators who find the comment walls quite useful for their purposes. 

To your point, I am certain someone will happen along your discussion and offer you a hack by which you may be able to hide the comment wall. Renaming the text box to "about me" is not likely to encourage your members to utilize it to its fullest potential. If it's information about your members you'd like, you could make it a sign up question as many of us do. 

Lastly, you should be able to rename your text box in the Language Editor.

[Star-Dust]

The comment walls are what l think are great. Thanks for sharing your point of view.

[Luciano Costa]

Where's the "I Like" button for this comment? lol Well put Patrick.

[Luciano Costa]

Was just thinking. I've been trying to figure out a way that my members can upload their resume to their profile. So I thought that the txt box could be used for that but I don't want to upload as a text file because it'll take-up too space on the page. Any advice on how one can turn a word file into an image file so that it's uploaded that way?

[Patrick Chappelle]

Your members can upload their resume's using the file uploader in the text box, but a better option might be to use Scribd. There was a physician I knew here at Ning once who had his students upload their resume's to Scribd, and embed them into the text box.

[Patrick Chappelle]

I'm not sure what you're a doctor of, but apparently they do not teach etiquette or  communication skills at whatever university you attended.

You continue to express yourself in a manner unbecoming a man of your station, yet have the temerity to infer the text box serves no other function other than the juvenile. The text boxes are used by all manner of professionals here on Ning, from uploading presentations to resumes. Diane has a point in that if your members are using the text box any other way, perhaps they are not quite as "big" as you believe them to be. 

I would like to reiterate my suggestion to you for an "about you" field, in that you could simply include it in your profile questions. This is what most of us do, and I am perplexed as to why you have not done so, or why it never occurred to you as an option.

Not that it's terribly important, but is your use of the term "chill pill" an attempt at racial humor? No, I am not offended. I've heard worse. You might want to consider refraining from using antiquated African American colloquialisms in the future, however.

Have an pleasant weekend.

[Janettee McCrary]

I have nothing to add to this discussion - I think everyone else has already said what I would have said... But I do have a question for you, Patrick... I was not aware that "Chill Pill" was anything but a slang term... Could you send me a PM and advise me further? I say this sometimes, and I wasn't at all aware that it may be offensive.

[Ed]

I changed the Comment Wall to "Quick Contact Centre" using the Language editor. 

I agree that the name "Text Box" is not necessarily intuitive for people who don't spend as much time as I do on Creators, for example. The advantage to leaving it ambiguous is that if you changed it to "About Me" it would give the impression that that's the only thing members can do with it. Although maybe that's what you want, in which case, can you not change it in the Language Editor?

#Star-Dust, how about adding the "tell us a little about yourself" as a profile question, leaving the text box open for other things?

cheers,

Ed

[Patrick Chappelle]

Well, you took the words right out of my mouth, Ed. Or should I say out of my response. Haha!

[Star-Dust]

Thank you, sometimes l really say some dumb stuff, then l get perfect answers.

[Writer Chick {Diane}]

You could make "About Me" one of your required profile questions.  That's what I have done and it makes things less confusing for new members.  Then they can use their text box for whatever they want later on. 

I guess some object to the term "dumb" to describe a feature that is meant to encourage positive member interaction.  (comment walls).  They're not necessarily a juvenile or childish feature, that is, unless your MEMBERS are juvenile and childish.  

But you say your members are "Big boys and girls", so I fail to see why you have an issue with the comment wall.  If they're as mature as you say, then they are using their walls in the proper way.  (wishing each other happy birthday, or to have a nice day, or to leave a pic or quote that would inspire their friend, etc.)