# Change the name of the General Category? **URL:** \ **Category:** Forum Feedback\ **Tags:** question\ **Created:** [August 30, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060 "2022-08-30T18:33:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060/1 "2022-08-30T18:33:54Z")
I created the General topic as a catch-all for iNat-related posts that were separate from bug reports or feature requests. However, the title “General” is probably misleading as people understandably think pretty much any nature related topic is a topic of “general” discussion. So sometimes posts that would better fit Nature Talk are posted in General. Would it be good to change General to something like “iNaturalist Discussion” to make it more obvious that the category is just for iNat-focused topics? Let me know if you have other suggestions for a name. ---
**Author:** ![jnstuart](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jnstuart/32/1623_2.png) [@jnstuart](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jnstuart)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060/2 "2022-08-30T18:43:40Z")
Or “iNaturalist Topics” just to be clear that _that_ is what’s supposed to go there. Anything too informal, like “iNat Chat” might leave it open to more Nature Talk-type topics. ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060/3 "2022-08-30T18:59:49Z")
I kinda like #general (or something equally generic) since it underscores that the intention of this forum is principally for talking about iNaturalist whereas #nature-talk is the outlier. And I don’t mind moving topics to the right category. ---
**Author:** ![DianaStuder](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/dianastuder/32/43358_2.png) [@DianaStuder](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/DianaStuder)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 7:52pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060/4 "2022-08-30T19:52:32Z")
‘iNaturalist Discussion’ - works for me Also Curators (I thought that was **for** Curators - but since it is open to all, needs to be ‘About Curation’ ---
**Author:** ![jnstuart](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jnstuart/32/1623_2.png) [@jnstuart](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jnstuart)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060/5 "2022-08-30T19:56:48Z")
“About iNaturalist” would also work for the General category since most questions seem to be about how to do things within the website. ---
**Author:** ![vreinkymov](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/vreinkymov/32/58876_2.png) [@vreinkymov](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/vreinkymov)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060/6 "2022-08-30T20:56:58Z")
What about “Using iNaturalist”? This seems a bit more in line with [About the General category - please read before posting!](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/about-the-general-category-please-read-before-posting/61). The issue with general or iNaturalist + modifier (including my suggestion) is that iNaturalist is broad: Is it the app, the forum, the store, the community, etc. I think “using” is a narrow enough modifier to capture most of the questions I see there. ---
**Author:** ![wildwestnature](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/wildwestnature/32/20310_2.png) [@wildwestnature](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/wildwestnature)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:21pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060/7 "2022-09-01T14:21:02Z")
We hear @tiwane that “General” does not necessarily guide users among the different categories. We feel similarly about the name. We hear what @bouteloua is saying, in that the other categories aren’t named iNaturalist Forum Feedback, iNaturalist Bug Reports, iNaturalist Feature Requests. We appreciate the specificity and clarity in the suggestion by @vreinkymov with “Using iNaturalist.” We think the clarity and guidance provided by such a name could benefit posting. “Discussing iNaturalist” is similar and inclusive. How do people feel about standardization of the category names, which might be disrupted by “xyzing iNaturalist,” vs potentially enhanced usability of the category? ---
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2022, 12:12am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060/8 "2022-09-03T00:12:59Z")
Thanks for the feedback, I like @bouteloua’s point so I’m cool with keeping it just “General” for now and it’s not a serious problem. ---
**Author:** ![jnstuart](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jnstuart/32/1623_2.png) [@jnstuart](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jnstuart)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060/9 "2022-09-03T01:35:58Z")
All that collective brainstorming, wasted! ;-) ---
**Author:** ![jasonhernandez74](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jasonhernandez74/32/33615_2.png) [@jasonhernandez74](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jasonhernandez74)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2022, 1:52am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060/10 "2022-10-09T01:52:51Z")
I would have preferred @vreinkymov 's suggestion, myself. Much clearer as to intent. ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 1:53am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/change-the-name-of-the-general-category/35060/11 "2022-12-08T01:53:47Z")
Closed on December 8, 2022, 1:53am UTC This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.