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Poll: How often do you visit the IFSQN website? (197 member(s) have cast votes)

How often do you visit the IFSQN website?

  1. Every day (56 votes [28.43%] - View)

    Percentage of vote: 28.43%

  2. Voted Very regularly (96 votes [48.73%] - View)

    Percentage of vote: 48.73%

  3. About once a month (28 votes [14.21%] - View)

    Percentage of vote: 14.21%

  4. A few times a year (4 votes [2.03%] - View)

    Percentage of vote: 2.03%

  5. Very rarely (3 votes [1.52%] - View)

    Percentage of vote: 1.52%

  6. Just when I have a question (4 votes [2.03%] - View)

    Percentage of vote: 2.03%

  7. It’s my first visit (6 votes [3.05%] - View)

    Percentage of vote: 3.05%

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Sandima

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Posted 06 November 2014 - 02:16 PM

I read the newsletter and go to the site if I want to download or if I think I have anything to offer.  I don't think I have ever posted a question because I can usually find information on what I want to know with a little searching.



Tomato Country Girl

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Posted 06 November 2014 - 02:57 PM

This is my favorite site, go in and read at least 2-3 times a week depending on schedule.  Love love the Q&A forum great practical advice and a lot of different viewpoints.



Barbara Serra

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Posted 06 November 2014 - 05:06 PM

It is the best way to keep informed or even to get ideas to implement in our own working spaces. Everytime I need reassurance of what I'm doing or if I have a doubt I will come here, so basically very often, which almost on a daily basis.



Snookie

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Posted 06 November 2014 - 06:21 PM

Magenta makes some good points, however I like the two prong approach on thanks and reputation.  I may thank someone but not give it a reputation point. 

 

I know where the file tab is but have to admit I have probably only looked at it a couple of times. 

 

I often have trouble when drafting a post, as what I want to quote or more than one quote is on a different page.  If I go to the different page so I can quote then I lose everything that  I had created.   

 

I agree with a better newbie section.  I had been here a while and it was not  until the MOM that I knew what the green arrow was about. 


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Simon

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Posted 07 November 2014 - 12:22 PM

At this point I wanted to pick up on a few points and ideas made earlier.

Firstly Majenta.
 


Files - I love this idea, but every time I visit the files section, it feels anemic.  I almost always end up searching the forums on a quest to dig through and find examples of the files I want. Not sure how you could encourage us to use it more though.  Maybe auto add files people post to the forums to the files section?  Maybe a search that lets you pick out forum posts with file attachments?



and RG3.

 

 


Funny thing is...I didn't know a "File" section existed until Magenta had mentioned it. I like the content that is in it, and it would be a good idea if some document was uploaded somehow it would be threaded into the "File" section.

 

I agree the files library is a great tool and is not used to its full potential, there are hundreds, maybe thousands of useful files buried in the forums and it would be great to add a copy to the files library whenever a new, high quality document is posted on the forums.  That way it would be categorizes for easier retrieval. Currently there is no automatic way to do this, so it would have to be a manual process.  Then there is the small matter of the archive of files scattered all over the forums.  It is possible from the administration section of the forums to search for attachments by all types of criteria, such as file type, keyword, number of downloads etc. so again it is feasible to do this.  This two pronged approach of dealing with new and old files would surely make the files library a very useful resource and is certainly worth considering. 

 

 


Stickies - I would love love love the idea of stickies - it's very common to see someone new ask a question that has been asked a lot before, and Charles will muck through a few hundred forum posts and link to the gems.  It's be great to have metal detector, HACCP basics, Risk assessment how tos, CCP vs PRP, micro limits, etc in a sticky thread at the top of the topic - that way we don't have to wait for Charles to link :)   Sometimes the words are so common searching the site is impossible.

 

I see what you are proposing here Majenta and have had similar thoughts, but rather than stickies at the top of each forum I would love to see a food safety glossary that would provide definitions and answers to simple questions such as “What is GFSI?”...”What is a PRP?”...”What is a risk assessment?” etc.  Maybe the glossary would be able to have categories so there would be for example a category “HACCP” and there would be many items underneath it.  Rather than being a discussion the definition would be fixed (once peer agreed).  There is probably an ‘add on’ modification available for this forum software already...I will take a look, but again it would take time to build and even more time to populate. 

 

 


Noob Guide - Also maybe something more apparent for noobs when they first  visit - we almost always need to know standard, prodct, location, and sometimes more about the process.  You can't post files at first, which is confusing.  Maybe the error message can say something like "You can't post files yet, but you'll be able to in 5 posts" or whatever.  I didn't know the "More Reply Options" button existed for a really long time (This probably exists, but maybe make it more prominent?  I'll link to it in the welcome posts).

 

I agree there is more that can be done to instruct new members on posting guidelines and it is relatively easy as all new members get an auto email when they register, I could add something to this template.  Also error message are a pain, often they are non descriptive, but again I can edit them.  If there are particular ones that you come across, let me know and I will improve them.  One thing I have done is compile a list “Helpful Links to Get You Started” – I have it linked in my signature, please check it out and let me know your comments / ideas for improvement...if it is useful maybe members can put it in their signature too. 

 

By the way the “More Reply Options” button is there at the bottom right of a topic thread...do you not see it?  Maybe I could change the button color to make it stand out.

 

 


Blogs - as mentioned above...what are these? How are these different than posts in the forum? I see Tony C's sometimes, but never any others.  Do they have different features or functions?

 

Blogs are not used a lot; of the blogs that members have they are a mish mash of work and non-work.  There are two blogs that are posted / promoted on the site home page and on the forums..they are the IFSQN official one and Tony C’s.  If a member had an idea to write a regular blog on a subject related to site content and it was decent enough quality then I would happily promote it on the site and in newsletters etc.

 

 


Reputation and Thanks fight each other - I vote for one upvote system instead of two

 


Maybe "Thanks" should be worth something like 1/2 a point??? I know I'm new and I'm trying to work my way up to get some sort of credibility, because like AntonellaTromba said, when you're new who's going to pay attention?

 

 


Magenta makes some good points, however I like the two prong approach on thanks and reputation.  I may thank someone but not give it a reputation point.

 

To me also reputation and thanks does seem like duplication on first glance.  A bit of explanation...the reputation green arrow is an inbuilt part of the software, it’s been there since day one, but was very seldom used, not promoted, not visible etc.  A few years back I added the “thanks” mod, which I liked as it is a nice gesture for members to give thanks for an answer to their question.  So that worked ok for a while and then I found out about the Member of the Month modification, which as you know is a great feature and it uses the inbuilt reputation system.  MOTM has given the reputation system a new lease of life and we are giving and receiving green arrow reps liberally.  So now a member has reputation and thanks...I would hate to lose that data and I’m sure many members would, so I don’t propose to change this right now and think they can happily coincide.

 

 


I often have trouble when drafting a post, as what I want to quote or more than one quote is on a different page.  If I go to the different page so I can quote then I lose everything that I had created.  

 

There is a ‘multi quote’ button at the bottom of each post...click it on each post you want to quote before clicking reply then you can edit the quoted text and add your comments under each quote.  Give it a try.

 

 


Diet craze based standards that have no bearing on food safety missing - Where's my forum section for Paleo Friendly certification?  Gluten Free certification?  Vegan certification?  Atkins Approved certification ?  (Ed note: I felt like this post had to include a joke complaint)

 

And Majenta, I will consider opening up any new forum as long as related to site content and there is enough interest for example five members who say ”yes I’d be active in that”. 


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Snookie

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Posted 07 November 2014 - 05:55 PM

There is a ‘multi quote’ button at the bottom of each post...click it on each post you want to quote before clicking reply then you can edit the quoted text and add your comments under each quote.  Give it a try.

 

 

I always wondered how that worked.   Thank you!


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bzuelch

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Posted 07 November 2014 - 06:22 PM

This is my first "real" visit. Member since March of this yr ('14). I turned into the "HACCP guy" by default several years ago. Been muddling through ever since. We now have some national and international customers and had a third party audit earlier this year, which we missed passing by very little. Reaudit 2 months later got us passed, but not by enough to make me comfortable.

 

I am here because I need the help of people smarter and more experienced than myself. I'm hoping this is the place.

 

Happy Friday.



Snookie

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Posted 07 November 2014 - 07:09 PM

Bzuelch  :welcome:  :welcome:  A lot of great help and people to found here. 


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cazyncymru

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Posted 07 November 2014 - 08:59 PM

Not sure if we're smarter!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



Philip @ Safefood 360°

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Posted 07 November 2014 - 09:45 PM

Too much info to quote..

 

Stellar response Simon.. great information about the forums and how they work. About the poll - I'm in the 25% "everyday" category. I'm surprised its not the only option  :x_tongue:  (< - too early?)



Mr. Incognito

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Posted 10 November 2014 - 05:04 PM

 

 

Reputation and Thanks fight each other - I vote for one upvote system instead of two

 

 

I actually think having 2 systems is good if they are used properly by everyone for different things.

 

Thanks:  Thank you for your information / input / helping me through the asylum that is food safety

 

Reputation:  Wow.  You have provided extremely valuable insight on the subject and I understand things in a different way.

 

In this way, much like my stats, your level of thanks would be much higher than your reputation because we all help each other but not every post really rises above the level of a thanks.


____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Mr. Incognito is a cool frood who can travel the width and breadth of the galaxy and still know where his towel is.

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Snookie

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Posted 10 November 2014 - 05:05 PM

Not sure if we're smarter!!!


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But we are smart! :gleam:


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Simon

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Posted 10 November 2014 - 06:05 PM

I actually think having 2 systems is good if they are used properly by everyone for different things.

 

Thanks:  Thank you for your information / input / helping me through the asylum that is food safety

 

Reputation:  Wow.  You have provided extremely valuable insight on the subject and I understand things in a different way.

 

In this way, much like my stats, your level of thanks would be much higher than your reputation because we all help each other but not every post really rises above the level of a thanks.

 

Well put Mr I.


Get FREE bitesize education with IFSQN webinar recordings.
 
Download this handy excel for desktop access to over 180 Food Safety Friday's webinar recordings.
https://www.ifsqn.com/fsf/Free%20Food%20Safety%20Videos.xlsx

 
Check out IFSQN’s extensive library of FREE food safety videos
https://www.ifsqn.com/food_safety_videos.html


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Orange Blossom

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Posted 12 November 2014 - 10:23 AM

I check inn to see who is who or what is what :giggle:

 

But all the food safety talk help too!



AS NUR

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Posted 13 November 2014 - 07:30 AM

just regulary visit to view any up date



Simon

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Posted 17 November 2014 - 12:00 PM

This topic/poll generated some comments that have stimulated further thought about the management and development of the website and the discussion forums in particular.

Ideas that would improve the user experience for both new and existing members:

1. Addition of a glossary / wiki for basic food safety definitions.

It is a great idea, so I investigated and currently there are no suitable add-ons available for the forum software that could achieve this. 

A new version of the software is in Beta testing and there may be possibilities with it.  This new version of the software has been two years in development and is a huge change, so it is unlikely that we will upgrade to the new version soon. It will no doubt have a lot of bugs and we have a large number of add-ons in use on the forums that will need to be updated by various developers to work with the new version.

Realistic there will be no progress on this for 12 months, so maybe a project for 2016.

2. Improved newbie guide on how to use the forums.

As above I think it would be unwise to start anything dramatic on this as there already exists the “helpful links for new members” and the inbuilt “forum Help” files.  They’re not perfect, but they are ok-ish...and importantly as the new version of the software is such a huge change it is highly likely the help files will have fundamentally changed.

Realistic there will be no progress on this for 12 months, so maybe a project for 2016.

3. Further development of the files library.

This project isn’t reliant on, or affected by, the new software version, so does not need to wait. I will review and outline the project in more detail shortly.  I will probably start a separate topic on it.

Thanks,
Simon


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Get FREE bitesize education with IFSQN webinar recordings.
 
Download this handy excel for desktop access to over 180 Food Safety Friday's webinar recordings.
https://www.ifsqn.com/fsf/Free%20Food%20Safety%20Videos.xlsx

 
Check out IFSQN’s extensive library of FREE food safety videos
https://www.ifsqn.com/food_safety_videos.html


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MWidra

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Posted 17 November 2014 - 04:39 PM

2. Improved newbie guide on how to use the forums.

As above I think it would be unwise to start anything dramatic on this as there already exists the “helpful links for new members” and the inbuilt “forum Help” files.  They’re not perfect, but they are ok-ish...and importantly as the new version of the software is such a huge change it is highly likely the help files will have fundamentally changed.

Realistic there will be no progress on this for 12 months, so maybe a project for 2016.

 

First off, I want to thank the sponsors of this forum and all who make it happen.  This has been so useful for me.

 

I found this forum through a Google search for a specific topic.  I then blundered my way through signing up and figuring out how to use the forum, because I did not know that there were some helpful guides to the forum available.  They were off the bottom of the page as I visited the site, so I totally missed them.  I'll blame the use of trifocals, the bottom of the screen is a blur.

 

So maybe having something across the top of the forum saying 'welcome to new members', and 'check out the guides to using the forum' would help people know that a resource is available.  I've used a lot of forums, so it was kind of intuitive for me, so I did not do too badly.  But in this day of finding forum posts through search engines, I'm sure that there are people who wander into this wonderful gang of food safety gurus and don't find it easy to interact.  For them, it may be nice to know that there is help for them and not to panic.

 

Thanks again for this great forum.

 

Martha


"...everything can be taken from a man but one thing:  the last of the human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."  Viktor E. Frankl

 

"Life's like a movie, write your own ending."  The Muppets


Snookie

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Posted 17 November 2014 - 05:41 PM

First off, I want to thank the sponsors of this forum and all who make it happen.  This has been so useful for me.

 

I found this forum through a Google search for a specific topic.  I then blundered my way through signing up and figuring out how to use the forum, because I did not know that there were some helpful guides to the forum available.  They were off the bottom of the page as I visited the site, so I totally missed them.  I'll blame the use of trifocals, the bottom of the screen is a blur.

 

So maybe having something across the top of the forum saying 'welcome to new members', and 'check out the guides to using the forum' would help people know that a resource is available.  I've used a lot of forums, so it was kind of intuitive for me, so I did not do too badly.  But in this day of finding forum posts through search engines, I'm sure that there are people who wander into this wonderful gang of food safety gurus and don't find it easy to interact.  For them, it may be nice to know that there is help for them and not to panic.

 

Thanks again for this great forum.

 

Martha

 

I also appreciate all the sponsors  and volunteers who make this happen.  It has been so useful and kept me (reasonably) sane. 

 

Martha, your experience of finding this forum sounds like mine. 


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Snookie

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Posted 17 November 2014 - 05:45 PM

This topic/poll generated some comments that have stimulated further thought about the management and development of the website and the discussion forums in particular.

Ideas that would improve the user experience for both new and existing members:

1. Addition of a glossary / wiki for basic food safety definitions.

It is a great idea, so I investigated and currently there are no suitable add-ons available for the forum software that could achieve this. 

A new version of the software is in Beta testing and there may be possibilities with it.  This new version of the software has been two years in development and is a huge change, so it is unlikely that we will upgrade to the new version soon. It will no doubt have a lot of bugs and we have a large number of add-ons in use on the forums that will need to be updated by various developers to work with the new version.

Realistic there will be no progress on this for 12 months, so maybe a project for 2016.

2. Improved newbie guide on how to use the forums.

As above I think it would be unwise to start anything dramatic on this as there already exists the “helpful links for new members” and the inbuilt “forum Help” files.  They’re not perfect, but they are ok-ish...and importantly as the new version of the software is such a huge change it is highly likely the help files will have fundamentally changed.

Realistic there will be no progress on this for 12 months, so maybe a project for 2016.

3. Further development of the files library.

This project isn’t reliant on, or affected by, the new software version, so does not need to wait. I will review and outline the project in more detail shortly.  I will probably start a separate topic on it.

Thanks,
Simon

 

Bow_down.gifBow_down.gif   All Hail Simon.....All Hail Simon... worship.gifworship.gif  Thank you Simon.


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cazyncymru

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Posted 18 November 2014 - 08:20 AM

There should have been an option for "100 times a day"!!



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trubertq

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Posted 24 November 2014 - 04:04 PM

I look in most days to see what the peeps are on about as they are generally a step or two ahead of me....I come for information, education, and laughs believe it or not, and also for confirmation that I am telling people the right thing.


I'm entitled to my opinion, even a stopped clock is right twice a day

Lexter Cruz

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Posted 02 December 2014 - 11:05 AM

I used to visit this site very regular, because update in this site helps me a lot to learn more and implement good and best practices.

So whenever there is or there is no quality issue i always consult and use the relevant information that can be read and download here.



Premananda Singh

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Posted 03 December 2014 - 03:25 PM

almost 4-5 days a week. New post regarding quality issues and its comments are very helpful to me.


Regards

 

Premananda Singh

+91-8811025586


csalyer

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Posted 02 January 2015 - 12:53 PM

Now that I am employed back in the food manufacturing industry once again, I check this site daily.  It is the best way to keep up with SQF updates/discussions.  Valuable resource.



law322

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Posted 05 January 2015 - 08:12 PM

All of the Food Safety Talk newsletters go into an email folder for me.  When I have downtime - maybe once a week or so, sometimes less often - I'll start with the oldest and read the questions that are intriguing to me / help to teach me something / relevant to my current position and company.  My method doesn't work well for answering anything in a timely manner (which is why I'm just now on a topic from November), but it has been incredibly useful in teaching me more about quality.  I'm grateful to have found this site!





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