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What would it take to reinvigorate this forum?
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    Posted: 27 Aug 19 at 9:37pm
A few years this forum was thriving, now it is moribund. The forum software is ancient and there appears to be no appetite to improve it, but the real problem is everyone has disappeared. Where have they gone? Is it possible to get these people back, or am I missing a thriving new place of discussion somewhere on Facebook or WhatsApp?
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maxibuddah View Drop Down
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Posts: 1760 		Post Options Post Options   Quote maxibuddah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Aug 19 at 10:13pm
Subject matter??

What is there left to discuss other than iGRFs py rants every now and again?

Software wise, all forums are suffering as they are not instant enough maybe. That's where Facebook comes in to be honest I don't know where those discussions may be taking place but I expect others will do
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Posts: 3420 		Post Options Post Options   Quote 423zero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 6:08am
No where, just summer quiet, will pick up once main season is over.
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Posts: 201 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Alistair426 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 7:36am
Most of the classes now have thriving FB pages and many forumites are members of numerous pages and have 'bants' on those. 

As 423Zero says, once the season is over, people will also be back on here.
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Posts: 440 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ian.r.mcdonald Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 8:28am
I always feel that I am intruding on a private club. Posters not using their real names and not even putting their real names on their account. Not welcoming hence low involvement?
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Posts: 8956 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 9:45am
Having been here since the start, back then this was a revolutionary way of talking about boats etc. Now it is one of many, and Facebook is much more instant. So, whilst it could, I'm sure be improved, it is never going to be the thriving community it once was. Pretty sure all forum traffic is way down.
As for posts, I guess real names help, and a balance between factual (boring) and argumentative (off-putting) is needed to keep things interesting and opinion lead.
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Posts: 750 		Post Options Post Options   Quote H2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 10:00am
My impression is that this forum is a bit cliquey and new comers are not really welcome with their comments just ignored. If you get ignored enough you just stop coming along or posting. Seems to be the same group ending up ranting about PYs or ending up bashing handicap racing as being for idiots which frankly is a bit dull.

I suspect that there is an element of it being summer but also its true that most use Facebook forums because they check FB much more often then going on a web based forum.

For me I tend to log on when a boring conference call gets too much!
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 10:14am
For boat specific stuff facebook collects groups of people together much better.  Also, people are on facebook already each evening, so you're likely to get more expert eyes much quicker on your boat specific question than on here. 

On the other hand, facebook only serves up new posts in peoples feeds, so once your post is more than a day old you're unlikely to get any more useful input from new sources. Additionally, facebook is quite selective about which posts from groups it promotes in peoples feeds, so often unless it gets quick engagement its unlikely to be seen unless people specially visit the group, which drastically reduces reach. 

The last three years facebook has got much better with groups., however, with more moderation tools and more promotion of posts in groups versus facebook pages (which dominated with spam around 2014).  

The forum is still a much better archive and much more equitable in promotion of topics / posts. Stuff gets quite lost in facebook. However, it does then take more wading through as you don't have an algorithm doing it for you. I also think the forum is better for more descriptive replies. So, i think it has life left.  

I'm not sure real names help. I imagine it would put quite a few off posting. To there is no difference to a real name I don't know versus a username I don't know. I don't see one as more welcoming than the other. 
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 10:17am
The lack of moderation and toleration of personal abuse was a big factor in my decision to cut down what I post here and the subjects I am prepared to comment on.
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Posts: 3400 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 19 at 11:29am
Originally posted by mozzy

The forum is still a much better archive and much more equitable in promotion of topics / posts. Stuff gets quite lost in facebook. However, it does then take more wading through as you don't have an algorithm doing it for you. I also think the forum is better for more descriptive replies. So, i think it has life left.
 

Agreed, and it's a pretty civilised place compared to SA or some other forums I (only occasionally) frequent.

I'm not sure real names help. I imagine it would put quite a few off posting. To there is no difference to a real name I don't know versus a username I don't know. I don't see one as more welcoming than the other. 

Agreed, it's your call whether to use your real name or not, doesn't worry me either way (for the record, my real name is Chas). I have people I know in 'real life' (whatever that is) call me Sam 'cos we first met online.
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