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[jsbenkert]

The answer to the ultimate question.  At least it is in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  Maybe it would be the best answer the CafeMom Team can come up with, if they ever chose to respond to our questions about why they are choosing to remove the Journals Section as we've known and loved it for years.  What they've explained thus far makes about as much sense as anything in The Hitchhiker's Guide, but with far less humor.  At least, I'm not laughing.

Something else the two have in common is how they made this "announcement".  If you aren't writing a journal or going to the Journals' tab, or if another member hasn't contacted you about it, you won't know about the change until you are inspired to write a journal or want to check out what other members have written.  It won't be there.  It's like when Arthur Dent, the hero of The Hitchhiker's Guide, learns that his house is about to be demolished--the day before the scheduled demolition, when it's too late to do anything about it.

In the story, Arthur learns that the plans to destroy his house when a man from the demolition team visits his house the day before, and informs Arthur that the plans have been available "in the local planning office for the last nine months."  Arthur heads straight to the planning office, and does find the plans displayed--in the cellar, with the lights out, with missing stairs, "in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'Beware of Leopard.'"

Now, to be honest, we don't have to go to such drastic lengths to learn about these changes.  We just have to regularly check the two places where the change is posted--a little pink notice clearly appears at the top of the Journals Section, if you go to all journals, and not just the popular or just the recent journals.  And, while there's no "Beware of Leopard" sign preventing you from visiting the CafeMom Features Discussion forum, it's unlikely that any of us is a regular visitor to that group, either.

For most of us, the signs may as well have been posted in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet in a dark, dirty cellar.  It is very hard to launch an appropriate protest when we have just days or hours to absorb the news and react.  Maybe the caring CafeMom Team has been replaced by the cold and heartless Vogons of the novel.

That, at least, is the best theory I can come up with to explain the impending changes.  It sure beats what they've given us so far.

 

[evwsquared]

Jul. 20, 2011 at 6:02 PM

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

[sgr123]

Jul. 20, 2011 at 6:07 PM

That is exactly what it's like.

[Mrs.BAT]

Jul. 20, 2011 at 6:21 PM

I love the comparison. I hadn't even thought about it, but it really fits.

[parrishsky]

Jul. 20, 2011 at 6:34 PM

Their excuse was lame in my opinion because you do not get the same "journal" style writings in groups, you can not go anon if needed in groups and honesly I've made more of my cm friends through the journals section than thru groups.

This bites !

[briarraindancer]

Jul. 20, 2011 at 6:40 PM

Does everyone have their towels? I've been using mine to wipe up the crap the Team has spewed all over our beloved journals... but it's a lost cause, it seems.

[ErikaRobin]

Jul. 20, 2011 at 6:48 PM

I have my towel.  I shall not panic. 

Instead I will reflect on "Ode to a green lump of pus I found in my armpit one midsummer morning".

I'm still sad about this crap though.

[Lb128f]

Jul. 20, 2011 at 7:40 PM

Thanks for sharing...SO TRUE!  I do visit the Journals and had NO idea what was happening until alerted by another CM member. Because, as you said...I didn't look in the right place. Pretty "sneaky" of them, huh? Grrr! It's the first time I can remember that they did NOT make a Journal post about a change and stick it on everyone's page...wonder why? Maybe they figured the backlash would be bad? At this point I've PM'd ALL my "friends" because they SHOULD know and be able to voice their opinion. Anyway...it SUCKS!

[Lb128f]

Jul. 20, 2011 at 7:40 PM

[momofne]

Jul. 20, 2011 at 8:13 PM

Doesn't it seem like Cafemom is choosing who we can and can not respond too? Hmmmm not liking the vib.

[Squirrell34]

Jul. 20, 2011 at 8:18 PM

I love you.  For the answer to the universe & everything.

Personally, I was thinking they've all turned into storm troopers, and the journals are Alderaan.  I like yours better.

(BTW -- would that make The Stir the death star?)