Considering a Move from Yahoo to Facebook

Up to this point, the Texas HSP Group has always had its home on the Yahoo Groups network. In the beginning, this worked quite well, as Yahoo was one of the better forum providers out there.

Unfortunately (for us and many others) Yahoo Groups went through a major format change a couple of years ago, and the new layout and features for groups are really not very conducive to interaction and conversation.

Even Yahoo old-timers have found the new interface difficult to use.

We are gradually coming to the realization that maybe the idea of having an "email group" has more or less run its course.

One possibility under consideration is to simply move the group's "headquarters" to Facebook. I have written about this previously, and shared the idea inside the group... with a somewhat mixed response.

Of course, a lot of HSPs don't like Facebook, and avoid the social media giant like the plague. However, we have to consider the fact that activity in the HSP Texas group has dropped to almost nothing in the last few years. So it's safe to say that the YahooGroups format is NOT working out for anyone.

After all, there's not much point in being a member in a group if there's never any activity!

Some people would probably follow us to Facebook, and by having a group (possibly a "closed" group) there, we could also gain more exposure, and hopefully help the group grow.

After all, the entire point in forming this group in the first place was to help HSPs connect with each other for friendship and support. And that is NOT happening, at the moment... so the group is not serving its original purpose.

Comments and feedback invited and welcomed!

Facebook, twitter and other Social Media

We have been cautiously considering the possibility of having a page on Facebook, as well as a twitter account, to help promote the group. Even after almost four years in existence, the group still only has 66 members... in a state with almost 25 million people.

For the moment, we're playing it pretty low key. The challenge with using venues like Facebook and twitter is that (a) they are global, and we are a statewide group, and (b) HSPs are not necessarily comfortable with the idea if social media... and how "public" these venues are.

We will continue to discuss and consider. In the meantime, we will look at other ways to add new members to the group.

Happy Holidays!

It is that time of the year again. Whether you love it or loathe it, let's take a moment to pause and to wish for peace and healing in our turbulent world.

2010 was a good year for the Texas HSP group. Our membership now stands at its highest level ever, with HSPs having joined from across the state... and increasingly lively discussion on our message board/forum on Yahoo. If you're an HSP who has come across our site for the first time, why not come and join us!

It is our hope that in the course of 2011, the group will continue to grow to reach sufficient numbers that we can start having face-to-face meetings in some of the larger metro areas across the state. Significant interest has already been expressed in having groups in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and in the Austin/San Antonio area.

Happy Holidays to all!

Our Growing Texas HSP Group!

Today-- May 22nd-- marks an annniversary of sorts, for the Texas HSP group.

Two years ago today, the first message was posted to our online forum on YahooGroups.

In the time since those tentative steps, the HSP Texas group has grown to 40+ members, and the "conversations" keep growing, month by month. Our group is actually on its way to becoming one of the most active "state level" HSP groups on the web! Which is saying quite a lot, given that the "original" Texas group for HSPs "went away" due to a lack of interest/activity.

Thank you to everyone who has joined and is now part of our group! Let's continue to build a supportive and safe online community for HSPs in the Lone Star State.

If YOU are a Highly Sensitive Person and are reading these words from a computer somewhere in the state of Texas, please consider joining our group. Just follow one of the links in the left margin, under "Where to find us."