Aweb

still not getting used to the site

Didn't find your answer?

I still do not like the site are members warming to it ? i presume Ben Smith has forbidden any of the staff form talking about it (or maybe the are posting anonymously LOL)

Replies (29)

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By Ruddles
16th Jul 2016 18:31

Why do people insist on dropping the 'h' when discussing the site (sic).

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By tom123
17th Jul 2016 07:33

I still come here each day - but am struggling to enjoy it as much. I find there are fewer AA threads that really 'get going' if you see what I mean?

I still post a blog now and then, but that's about it.

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By ShirleyM
17th Jul 2016 14:46

Nope. Still hate it. I keep popping in to see if there are any useful modifications, but no. It's still a pain in the [***] with the BIG posts and endless scrolling and a shot in the dark whether you can find anything interesting, and whether it's worth the time even looking.

Can we have the UKBF format, please. THAT, is much more user friendly. Sift, please take note.

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By Moonbeam
17th Jul 2016 17:03

I used to need to look at Aweb daily to stop myself going barmy with all the nitpicking stuff. Now I think twice about even posting a question and I get the feeling that lots of regulars from the past are not bothering with the site any more.

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RLI
By lionofludesch
17th Jul 2016 17:07

It's not as active as it was but I still keep visiting.

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By Tim Vane
17th Jul 2016 18:24

I find I lose interest in a thread once the replies go over half a dozen or so, since it's just too much effort to scroll to find the most recent posts on it. And when it goes over 50 replies forget it, it's torture: open thread, scroll down a little bit (not too far or you're screwed), click the button that says "view all XX replies" (which it won't!), scroll down past 50 posts to the bottom (again) (but not too far or you're screwed), click "next", scroll down some more (but not too far or you're screwed), click the button that says "view all XX replies" (again), scroll down again (but not too far or you're screwed).

Honestly, you couldn't design it to be more awkward.

It's telling that there seem to be very few posts that go more than a handful of replies, and only 1 post in the last month has gone over 50 replies.

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By mrme89
18th Jul 2016 08:16

I’ve contributed on other forums in preference of AWeb for a while now. I still used to visit regularly, however.

Since the change, I’ve probably only come on once a week, if that.

It’s just awful.

I was asked to give feedback on the new website prior to launch, but I declined. I am glad I didn’t waste my time, because Sift have not listened to it’s members at all.

Some of the remarks by Sift have been, quite frankly, embarrassing.

There is certainly now a gap in the market to create something that resembled the old Aweb.

I have a feeling that the new Aweb will slowly end up liked the American Aweb, or it’s sister website, Business Zone … completely devoid of active contributors.

RIP old and much loved Aweb.

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Time for change
By Time for change
18th Jul 2016 08:56

It's almost three months since AWeb was given the major overhaul and, it begs the question - what tangible improvements have there been?
Of more concern is that; the editor and the publisher must assume that everything has gone to plan?
The arrogance of silence is truly deafening and, whilst I'm well aware that my presence won't be missed, I have promised myself that, if I can see no visible improvement, by the end of the month, I'll call it a day.
I've simply lost the will to scroll to this extent.
PS. Even loathe to request updates as, whenever I do, I seem inundated with trolls scrapping between other members.
This place has the feel and smell of BHS, since 3rd May.

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Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
18th Jul 2016 09:25

ditto

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By Democratus
18th Jul 2016 12:04

Getting used to ...Yes
Liking ... No
Possibility of throwing in the towel....Rising
Expectation of any major improvment.... Falling

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By Alex_T
18th Jul 2016 12:08

It's so painful! I drop my most days for a browse but I'm spending less and less time on the site as time goes by. Such a shame..

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Portia profile image
By Portia Nina Levin
18th Jul 2016 12:17

That is all very well, but what "like" icon are we going to get?

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Replying to Portia Nina Levin:
Time for change
By Time for change
18th Jul 2016 12:34

I can only imagine what John might say;-
"well, we're certainly not going back to the previous one"

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Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
18th Jul 2016 13:38

It's not all bad - I've just discovered you can thank your own posts, so am going to go back over the past 18 years and guarantee a prize.

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Replying to Paul Scholes:
Portia profile image
By Portia Nina Levin
18th Jul 2016 13:44

Biggest thanker 0f 2016?

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Replying to Portia Nina Levin:
Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
18th Jul 2016 16:18

Maybe, but you'll have to be quick

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Replying to Paul Scholes:
By petersaxton
19th Jul 2016 10:35

Can you thank the same post more than once? I wouldn't be surprised being able to do that with the competence of those who are in charge. I suppose they are incapable of getting another job so they stick around messing up this site.

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
18th Jul 2016 16:38

I have waited a number of months now to say anything about the site to see what happens. I think I have posted about 5 comments in the last two months and some of those were about the EU. That was even painful. I do come on about twice a week to take a look but I must admit I don,t even think I will do that now, May be once every 2 to 3 weeks. I actually like John and the guys at Aweb so I feel bad for saying this but the site is truly awful for all the same reasons Tim has given. For me it is not even about having the old web back. It is basic web design, click any of the headings and you have to swing to the left as fast as you can to pick the dropdown box. That takes me about 3 goes.

It is a shame and hope Aweb will sort is out but until then I must admit I lost patience with it.

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Replying to sarah douglas:
Time for change
By Time for change
18th Jul 2016 17:08

Sarah - you actually echo many of my thoughts. I'm quite sure that the team, who administer the Aweb site are great individuals.
Where I do have issues is that, the "improvements/revisions", which none of us asked for, are the reverse of what was obviously intended.
More worrying, both John and Ben, who seem to be the "face" of the changes, appear to have taken an arrogant dismissive attitude to genuine representations from many members.
This was once a great site to take part in, either as a visitor or contributor but, since 3rd May, it's more a hindrance than a help.
When the likes of Paul Scholes are taking the hump, you know it's a bad day for Aweb.
That's without counting those that have gone before.

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Replying to Time for change:
Portia profile image
By Portia Nina Levin
18th Jul 2016 17:17

You seem to be missing the point. We cannot move forward until we have a "like" icon on which we are all agreed.

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Replying to Portia Nina Levin:
Time for change
By Time for change
18th Jul 2016 17:23

As John (the Editor of Aweb) would (persistently) say
"well, we're certainly not going back to the previous one"

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Replying to Portia Nina Levin:
Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
18th Jul 2016 17:34

My transferable vote for a like icon = Desmond Tutu or, failing him, a glass of Rioja

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FT
By FirstTab
18th Jul 2016 23:08

Whatever form AW is and will be, I am staying. This is because even now I find very useful information. Rebecca Cave's tax articles are a great example.

There is also big personality Marmite Portia, who always makes me laugh.

It is such a shame we have lost, to a large extent, Ken Howard, Locutus, Peter Saxton, Maslins Andy Partridge (please come back!) and not forgetting highly experienced and ever-helpful Paul Scholes.

The new site has brought some positives from me, in that some people who made my AW life total hell thankfully are not here much. Believe me; they will be back. It is just a matter of time.

What I have noticed about the new AW is that it is aiming to be a national newspaper for accountants. You just have to look at the Guardian and the Times websites to see what I mean.

Another interesting factor is the content, and what comes at the top of the page is now heavily dependent on the editorial team/editor. We no longer have prominent Most Read and Most Commented sections. These are now hidden away.

Same applies to the blogs section. The editorial team decides what blogs are to be prominent (before it was just two blogs at the top). It is no longer the number of clicks and number of comments. The prominence of content is no longer reader (click rate) determined but editorial team determined.

I think the above is a conscious move by Sift, to make it sites highly professional. Let's face it - there is My Week blog, and there is Simon Sweetman or Philip Fisher blog, guess which blogs are well thought out, without typos and not written on Fri eve in a real rush? I understand this aspect of Sift. Though I do NOT agree with it. I prefer readers click rate to be a deciding factor (within reason).

I am staying regardless.

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Replying to FirstTab:
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By carnmores
19th Jul 2016 09:11

what a surprise FirstTab there is always at least one ;-) Aweb are relying on people like you to continue regardless. did they not ban you at some stage? the point is that the vast majority of the major contributors are agin the changes and have been completely ignored so i am writing an open letter to Ben Smith

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Replying to carnmores:
Time for change
By Time for change
19th Jul 2016 11:33

Will you share the content Carnmores?
Don't forget the Aweb mantra
"we will not entertain the possibility of returning to the old site"
As a matter aside, it's 11.30am and, at the time of writing, Aweb has only three questions today.
Says it all really, I'd have thought?
There again, what do members with wide experience know?

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Replying to carnmores:
Portia profile image
By Portia Nina Levin
19th Jul 2016 12:03

Do not forget to address the very pressing issue of a professional, but nonetheless appealing, "like" icon.

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By JCresswellTax
19th Jul 2016 09:44

Personally I love the new site. I hate well thought out, easy to follow websites, they are over rated.

I love this because it is a challenge. It so difficult to post a question or follow a trail of responses, gets your brain in gear for the day ahead.

Good job Sift!

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Replying to JCresswellTax:
By mrme89
19th Jul 2016 09:50

JCresswellTax wrote:

Personally I love the new site. I hate well thought out, easy to follow websites, they are over rated.

I love this because it is a challenge. It so difficult to post a question or follow a trail of responses, gets your brain in gear for the day ahead.

Good job Sift!

You missed out that it is in interactive website.

Your fingers get plenty of exercise from the continuous scrolling. I've now got an index finger that looks like Popeye's forearm.

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By KH
20th Jul 2016 15:19

It's crap, so I tend to visit if far less often, and when I do, it's nowhere near as interesting since everybody else seems to be visiting it less often, and there are far fewer trenchant respondents compared to yore. CRAP [***]

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