Weekly release: March 11, 2008

Like you Julie, I just had the same issue. We had a fantastic event last night, and now members cannot comment on the event itself in the survey area. Although members think they are commenting on the event, they don't realize that they are now commenting about the entire group experience and that it posts to the "Member Comments" page. This is not good.

Example of a comment that now appears on my "About Us"/General Comment area'

SO MUCH FUN!! This is one of my favorite events! Thanks to Andy for his hard work and to Jim for havin' the best strategy in town....multiple 20 pointers.....way to go TEAM 2!!!"

A potential member or member who didn't go to this particular event has no idea what this is about.

Please change the survey back to the way it was.

Sandy, I couldn't agree more! Here's an example of a comment one of my moms left after the Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt Friday night. I shows up on my "About Us" and "See all members comments" page so new, potential members would read this and think she was talking about ME ("they" being ME /the group). When in reality she was talking about the town who held the event. Here's the comment:

"Wow! It was a mob scene, and not nearly as well-organized as they let on. At least they were quite good about making sure everyone got an egg, even if they didn't find it. But I really think they need to move this to a bigger venue and employ multiple Easter bunnies if they want to do this at night."

I'm sick knowing potential members will see this and I hope it doesn't turn them away!!!!! I don't know what to do because I can take it off the 'About us " page but can't delete it. Help!!

Having the same problem. Here is a comment that now sits out there for all potential members to see:

"I enjoy this event at Kamp kreatures. the girls enjoyed the show alot. Maybe we could have this a monthly event."

I guess potential members think we go see shows now?

This latest change was made one month after this thread: http://www.meetup.com... which talked about how the comments were so much more useful than the star ratings. So if I want something done, I should ask for the opposite of what I want?

So members are confused and organizers are ticked off, but meetup says we should just suck it up. I'm so frustrated! So happy to know my money is sooooo well spent.

Michele

I totally agree with all of you! I hope meetup staff start listening to the needs of the orgs.
We had our second anual Easter Egg Hunt last week, we had over 100 in attendance. As an org it is always so exciting to read the comments after an event (when the orgs have put so much work in to it) Well this year we had not one comment! It was very discouraging. Its usually the groups little way of saying thanks. Bring back the comments meetup!!!!

Julia

i am just baffled. What is so difficult about asking members to post a comment?

Um...maybe because it *is* more difficult? What's easier - one click to get what you want, or two? Or, three? I don't see what's so baffling about it. I'm a busy person and don't have time to dilly-dally around the web site to get where I want to go.

PLEASE BRING BACK THE OLD EVENT PAGE WHERE YOU CAN LEAVE COMMENTS...THE PAGE LOOKS JUST LIKE A MEETUP.....AND WHY HAVE THE PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE ALSO......I SEE RATINGS BUT NO COMMENTS ON HOW THE EVENT WENT..I DO DINNERS SO I NEED TO KNOW IF THE LADIES ENJOYED THE MEAL OR NOT.....WITHOUT THIS I HAVE NO WAY TO DECIDE IF WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK......

PLEASE BRING IT BACK

I dont often come on this board, and rarely ever complain, but I cant say this any better myself. Please bring back the rating comments in past events!!! This is REALLY a PITA the new way its set up :/
Ty

Just wondering how many more pages of comments do we have to write here before the problem will be fixed.

Meetup screwed up really big with this one. Maybe we should ask for a refund (let's say 10%) every time they come up with these funky ideas to fix something that's not broken. This is a business relationship - I pay and if it's not delivered or changed into worst, I want my money back.

Therefore, I want 10% back on my yearly membership because this change affects the image of my group: people don't leave comments anymore, people rate venues, like parking lots, instead of the actual event.

Is there anybody at Meetup not just listening, but actually doing something about it?
We need to know!

I just realized that after people rate the meeting, they are immediately taken to the event page where they should see the "Talk About This Meeting" textbox, which is somewhat helpful.

I just realized that after people rate the meeting, they are immediately taken to the event page where they should see the "Talk About This Meeting" textbox, which is somewhat helpful.

I suppose the time to ask the member to "Talk About This Meeting" is at the immediate moment, memories fresh, when the member gets the "Rate This Meeting" e-mail that's already sent *after* the meeting. It used to be one step. Answer the questions, and viola! The comment is added. Now, it's a chore - no offense, but members are not going to waste their time (that's what it is: a waste of time) to go back into the web site to add a comment. I sure wish *I* had that level of dedication from the people signed up for my Meetup group....

Members already *did* "Talk About This Meeting," in one step - easy, effortless, all in one step - and now it's basically an added effort. And for what? This is simpler? This is easier?

I just realized that after people rate the meeting, they are immediately taken to the event page where they should see the "Talk About This Meeting" textbox, which is somewhat helpful.

thanks mindy, i had been wondering if i was missing something. i remembered clicking "submit" on the survey and then immediately seeing the post event page. edit: also i just realized that the last survey i took was for an event that didn't have a location specified. that's why i didn't see any venue comments. duh.

someone has to start it off these "discussions". The organizer should obviously be first to comment. mention someone's name in a fun or helpful way would stimulate the feedback. as in "Great time everyone, thanks for showing up! Suzie, you have to give us that great recipe!" or "This was the best discussion ever! Thanks Bill for all the helpful hints on (um) rhinocerouses." or maybe "How about next time we meet an hour earlier so we have more time to socialize!!" The discussions don't have to go on forever, just be enough to get someone to respond.

difficult, Brian? getting some members to show up when they say they will is difficult. getting my AOs to stop being so freaking territorial is difficult. Wading through 30-some Get Out emails a day and trying to find more administrative help is difficult. explaining to members why we can't refund them when they cancel the day after we pay an outfitter is difficult.

posting a comment in a big white box that says "talk about this event?" um, not difficult at all.

I am VERY disappointed and frustrated that Meetup had removed the ability to see comments made by attendees of an event. This was one of the most helpful parts of the feedback process.....and now it's GONE!!!

PLEASE reconsider and put the comments back up for past events.

Thank you,
Jill Peery

I've been so caught up in the comments goof, I forgot about some of the other goofs:

I can't put in the number of attendees. The "estimated" number is the number that RSVP'd yes. Not everyone that says yes shows, so the estimate is totally off.

When editing attendance, Maybes aren't shown. If I were really intent on adding them, I'd have to go through the whole friggin list.

posting a comment in a big white box that says "talk about this event?" um, not difficult at all.

That's new--guess meetup is kind of listening. Nice of you to let us know, Meetup! I consider it a half-ass attempt at redemption, however. Most people, having already filled out the survey, WILL NOT take the time to add something, even should they realize they have the opportunity to do so (which isn't likely, especially for long time meetup members used to doing things a certain way). I guess your members are just special, Amy.

Therefore, I want 10% back on my yearly membership because this change affects the image of my group: people don't leave comments anymore, people rate venues, like parking lots, instead of the actual event.

Hmmm. Maybe we should all contact our credit card companies and dispute the meetup fees. That might get their attention. If meetup wants to make carte blanche changes, that's fine, but it shouldn't be charging us.

Even if you are brought to the page to post a comment in that box, it is again, 3 more silly steps (click submit, have page come up, post, click submit again!)!! I dont even write anything, i have 3 babies running around house and do things as quick as i can, theres no 'dilly dallying' online clicking here there and everywhere.... So how can expect the members of our group to do the same? It was a very simple, practical and fast before.... Now, not so much! :(