I just got back on here and don't really recognize it as it was a few year ago, as you can't really see friends' profiles or interact? Before or after? What's beat and why?

Hi Hilary!

Firstly, welcome back to Blurtit :)

You're correct - a lot has changed in the past couple of years - and we'd like to think for the better.

However,  we're continuously looking at ways to improve,and I can't tell you how valuable our "core community" has been in making suggestions and guiding us through the past year or so. Please don't hesitate to share your thoughts and impressions too!

• So this latest version of Blurtit was launched in March 2013, and aimed to address a bunch of issues we were having on the old site:
  
• The design was modernized and cleaned up
  
• We replaced the complicated "shout" messaging system with an easier to use inbox system,
  
• We pushed for a change in ethos: We are no longer about posting as many answers as possible - rather, we encourage detailed, helpful and engaging answers. We want people that land on Blurtit looking for answers to think "wow, these guys really know their stuff".
  

You mentioned problems interacting with profiles in your question, and I guess there are two answers to that point:

1. We have kept all the old profiles and content on the site, but that doesn't mean those users are still active.

When an old user rejoins Blurtit, they have the option to "reclaim" their old Q&A here:

Not everyone has rejoined yet, but we're growing day by day (around 80 new profiles are created each day).

2. We still have work to do.

I feel strongly about the fact that, as a social Q&A platform, we should be doing everything we can to facilitate "ease of communication".

At the moment, people can converse through private messages, or using the comments + answers boxes on the page, but there is a lot more we can do to connect people.

Hopefully, the next few months will see some major improvements to the site that will drive things forward.

And with trusted and loyal users like yourself returning to help get the word out, I really don't see a limit to how big this project can grow! :)

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Finally, I wanted to say that any and all thoughts you have on the new site are very welcome.

First impressions count for so much, so helping us understand your experience of returning to the site will enable us to improve the welcome party for new users too.