I'd say one of the worst parts of this job would be having to make some un-popular decisions that you know is for the eventual good of the forum, but cheese some people off at the time.

I've just condensed all my non graphics related boards into a single category of sub forums with all their sub forums intact as well. Nothing has been lost or merged or deleted, and you only see an Off Topic link on the front index. For some reason, a large portion of the community is against this decision. Our graphics section has expanded so much, that combined with all the non graphics boards, it's a wall of sections, which is way to overwhelming for new people. I'm receiving a lot of backlash from the non graphics part of the community for it, even though I feel this is an important move.

The real kicker is I posted a poll about this move 4 days ago, and there wasn't a single vote or reply, so of course I assumed nobody was against it.

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Let them know that you are shifting the focus of your forum more to graphics - and that it's for the greater good of the community. Also inform your members on how they had the option to vote about it but didn't use it. People don't like changes, but they will soon get used to it and stop complaining.

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Well I tried to give you a little help with a post on your site. Hope it helps and good luck, you have a really nice site!

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It's hard with certain things where you know or even think it will help and many users, even longtime regulars get upset by it. Although there are plenty of times that admins and owners just completely ignore people responses. If you look at facebook for example that newsfeed stuff was horrible, and if I was the owner I would have taken it down a long time ago. Its there now, but everyone has it minimized.

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It's long since I stopped caring about their opinion. I have some awesome members on wtricks for instance and some of the other forums, but also have 2-3 communities where people were just a pain you know where. So .. after having quite a scandal for some modifications (some were against, some liked it, how can you make them all happy?) I just decided I now announce some of the big decisions only. Mostly checkpoints for the community or new features added. Otherwise .. let them see for themselves

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I move forums often. I change graphics often. I run the site as I see fit. I never ask permission, may ask for opinions but in the long run I have to do as I decide. Otherwise nothing will get done. I tell all my members: We must agree to disagree.

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yeah just love that, about the poll i mean. Ive experienced the same in the past where ive asked for feedack on an idea and not one response then when i go ahead with changes i feel are beneficial the moaners and groaners surface!
you will never get 100% customer satisfaction, and if your striving for it your making hard work for yourself.
It has already been said people dont like change, they will throw their toys out of the pram, have a tantrum and sulk for a little while, but they will settle into it, trust me

Members always complain when I try to change something. I usually try to make changes that'll please the most people at once and be good for new users at the same time.

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You'll never have 100% agreement unfortunately, there will be the people that will hate the change but like others have said give them about a month then they will love it, just one of those agree to disagree things.

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True. Responding to this thread again from a few months ago, the change went down without any incident. There was some grumbling for a few weeks, which is to be expected, but several months later everyone agrees it was a good decision.

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