Affairs of a Forum.

Post by **jones jones** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 12:48 pm

When I returned to FG recently, I noticed that a large slice of the community who used to be here and who were very active were missing. I did ask someone about it once and the reply I received was that “all social forums evolve … members leave and others join.” Obviously I have no way of telling if those who left did so willingly or if they were banned.

Anyway my guess was that Facebook & Twitter had taken away a fair slice from most Forums including FG. As far as I am concerned a Message Board should also function slightly like a business. So I got to thinking how, if I owned/administered/managed an Internet Forum, I would go about trying to rewind the tape back to the “glory days.” Of course as I have never managed or moderated a Social Forum, I am not privy to what happens in the “engine room” so to speak.

However I did run our family business for many years, so I have had that experience. Something I learned very early on was that there was basically only one way to ensure that you made a profit every year. Your income always had to be more than your expenses. A basic business practice to be sure, but it is surprising or maybe not surprising, how many of our employees either didn’t share this belief or if they did, they didn’t care.

So in order to make this happen you either increase your income or you decrease your expenses. Usually I found that our expenses were as low as they could go and that no business can function unless it spends money. So inevitably I tried to increase our turnover which meant more sales and if your expenses remained more or less static, then your profit would be greater.

I should imagine that a Forum like FG requires and desires to have a high, active membership in order to function. So attracting members and at the same time involving them would be my number one priority. So your members can perhaps be equated with your “income” in terms of a business.

Any newbie to FG, after checking in at the Introduction Forum is then faced with this looooooong list of intimidating looking forums … some 100 plus, many with sub-sections and several that have not seen a new thread for a couple of years. To me, and again I speak as a Social Forum Running virgin, a trim, slim set of ACTIVE forums is far far better than what is currently on offer.

Finally, maybe our family business is old fashioned and I guess it is seeing as it was established in 1929, but we still adhere to the notion that the customer is always right (until proved wrong!) So, perhaps even fools should be suffered ever so slightly more gladly.

Just my humble opinion of course.

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:00 pm

i have come and went. i can only speak of myself. if u are not hurtful or mean spirited, why would anyone be banned. think before u type. is my motto

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:09 pm

I was going to ask if you felt you hadn't been suffered, but the odds are you would have taken me seriously.

So, I won't.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:36 pm

What would you suggest a Brazilian ?

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:44 pm

At my work people say it was better before (but they moaned about it then)

New people have taken over the local shop, people say it was better before (but they moaned about it then)

Conclusion - people like to moan.

Post by **jones jones** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 4:36 am

buttercup;1366250 wrote: At my work people say it was better before (but they moaned about it then)

New people have taken over the local shop, people say it was better before (but they moaned about it then)

Conclusion - people like to moan.

Nothing is what it seems. One person's moaning is another person'es constructive criticism.

Skylark · Post by **Skylark** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:28 am

jones jones;1366293 wrote: Nothing is what it seems. One person's moaning is another person'es constructive criticism.

Very true, you can't please all the people all of the time! Tolerance and respect are the two commodities to make a successful forum!

tabby · Post by **tabby** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:45 am

As for the layout, I like it very much the way it is and have found it easy to navigate. The only thing I haven't been able to figure out is how to create a poll but I haven't given up yet!

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 1:08 pm

tabby;1376589 wrote: As for the layout, I like it very much the way it is and have found it easy to navigate. The only thing I haven't been able to figure out is how to create a poll but I haven't given up yet!

When you start a new thread fill it in as normal then scroll down past the "Post Icons" to the "Additional Options". After "Manage Attachments" and "Subscriptions" is "Post a Poll" where you can flag for a poll and specify how many options you want.

With this option ticked, when you click "Submit New Thread" it takes you to a new screen where you can add the poll question and the options, specify any time limit and whether it is to be a public poll or private etc.

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:32 am

I never think before I type .................................I SHALL NEVER SURRENDER!!!!!! because that would mean I have to do the same crap I do in real life ...I don't want to do that .

as for the opening post you kinda lost me half way through .

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:51 am

I remember the good ol' days when whinging about a forum was much more spirited, even volatile. Oh moan moan moan moan.

:yh_sigh

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:59 pm

Accountable;1376651 wrote: I remember the good ol' days when whinging about a forum was much more spirited, even volatile. Oh moan moan moan moan.

:yh_sigh

Ah, the days when whinging was whinging and a good punch up before breakfast was just the thing to wake you up :wah:

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 5:08 am

Bruv;1366001 wrote: What would you suggest a Brazilian ?

I realise it is irregular, but can anybody explain to what MY comment refers ?

Has a post been deleted ?

Is it in the correct thread ?

Was I trying to be clever and or funny ?

Snooz · Post by **Snooz** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:06 am

I was wondering what waxing had to do with anything. :wah:

It's a good line to insert anywhere though. "How's the weather?" "What would you suggest, a Brazilian?" "What does everyone want for Christmas?" "What would you suggest, a Brazilian?" It's a good, all-around answer.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:30 am

Looks like I shall have to adopt that as my signature.....it is going to haunt me forever now.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:48 am

SnoozeAgain;1376791 wrote: I was wondering what waxing had to do with anything. :wah:

It's a good line to insert anywhere though. "How's the weather?" "What would you suggest, a Brazilian?" "What does everyone want for Christmas?" "What would you suggest, a Brazilian?" It's a good, all-around answer.
Almost as good as "so I peppersprayed him." :wah:

OpEdNews - Article: Top Ten Twitter "so I pepper sprayed him" Jokes

Snooz · Post by **Snooz** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:21 am

3) My little boy asked if god was really a republican #soipeppersprayedhim @markm1962

hahaha!

theia · Post by **theia** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:59 am

Bruv;1376790 wrote: I realise it is irregular, but can anybody explain to what MY comment refers ?

Has a post been deleted ?

Is it in the correct thread ?

Was I trying to be clever and or funny ?

I've got to honest, Bruv, it seems apropos of nothing. But if my memory serves me right (and it rarely does nowadays), I'm sure it was in reponse to something...

curioser and curioser

Snooz · Post by **Snooz** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 10:04 am

That sounds like another fun forum activity. Post something obnoxious/odd, wait for an indignant reply and then delete your original post.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 11:12 am

That might be the answer, either that, or I am getting stranger.

koan · Post by **koan** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 12:30 pm

Due to skim reading I had thought the Brazilian comment was about the OP's suggestion that there are too many forums and sub-forums on the FG boards. I had actually thought it quite cute at the time of skimming.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 2:56 pm

I shall take a quite cute from koan, and pretend that was the idea I had originally.

Snooz · Post by **Snooz** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 3:07 pm

Bruv;1376820 wrote: I shall take a quite cute from koan, and pretend that was the idea I had originally.

I prefer the conspiracy theory that someone's trying to make you look insane.

Skylark · Post by **Skylark** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:55 am

I think the size of the forum could put people off!

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:10 am

Skylark;1377133 wrote: I think the size of the forum could put people off!

Bruv;1366001 wrote: What would you suggest a Brazilian ?

Yup it works well...

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:41 am

YZGI;1377135 wrote: [QUOTE=Bruv;1366001]What would you suggest a Brazilian ?
Yup it works well...[/QUOTE]In more ways than one!

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:20 am

Skylark;1377133 wrote: I think the size of the forum could put people off!

I very rarely use the Forum page as I done stick to one subject but like to view all of the threads that come up.

For that I use the "Today's Posts" or the "New Posts" buttons.

theia · Post by **theia** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:32 am

Bryn Mawr;1377149 wrote: I very rarely use the Forum page as I done stick to one subject but like to view all of the threads that come up.

For that I use the "Today's Posts" or the "New Posts" buttons.

Same here

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 12:33 pm

Me too, and when you actually come to post a topic, it's a bit of a search to find the right place to do it.

theia · Post by **theia** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 1:17 pm

You're never going to be allowed to forget that Brazilian comment, are you, Bruv? It keeps cropping up

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 1:36 pm

theia;1377175 wrote: You're never going to be allowed to forget that Brazilian comment, are you, Bruv? It keeps cropping up

Thats what you get when you travel down slippery slopes..

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 3:06 pm

Accountable;1377136 wrote: In more ways than one! ;)With a little work, it makes for a pretty good signature.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 3:51 pm

Ahso!;1377183 wrote: With a little work, it makes for a pretty good signature.

I will seek advice about that new signature of yours, thats gotta be plagarism.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 3:54 pm

theia;1377175 wrote: You're never going to be allowed to forget that Brazilian comment, are you, Bruv? It keeps cropping up

I only wish I knew what I meant, that puts me on a par with our Kevin.......and he's clever.

theia · Post by **theia** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 4:04 pm

Bruv;1377188 wrote: I only wish I knew what I meant, that puts me on a par with our Kevin.......and he's clever.

Maybe it was so incredibly insightful that you'll be celebrated in years to come. People could be reading this forum in 100 years time and say, wow, that Bruv character was a very, very wise man

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:44 pm

Bruv;1377187 wrote: I will seek advice about that new signature of yours, thats gotta be plagarism.I had originally given you credit for it (and I'm willing to do so again if you wish me to) but I' had changed enough of it that I couldn't be certain you'd want the credit.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:20 am

Ahso!;1377193 wrote: I had originally given you credit for it (and I'm willing to do so again if you wish me to) but I' had changed enough of it that I couldn't be certain you'd want the credit.
No that is OK, I am not a litigious sort of person.

All my quotes are 'Open Source' amend and improve if you wish.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:34 am

I'm confused. why would you wax a Brazilian?

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:44 am

gmc;1377220 wrote: I'm confused. why would you wax a Brazilian?

Who mentioned wax ?

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:16 am

Bruv;1377222 wrote: Who mentioned wax ?

Who needs to, you've pretty much set a new precedent. Wax away!

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 11:39 am

Ahso!;1377223 wrote: Who needs to, you've pretty much set a new precedent. Wax away!

Whats Obama got to do with anything ?

tabby · Post by **tabby** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:42 am

Bryn Mawr;1376594 wrote: When you start a new thread fill it in as normal then scroll down past the "Post Icons" to the "Additional Options". After "Manage Attachments" and "Subscriptions" is "Post a Poll" where you can flag for a poll and specify how many options you want.

With this option ticked, when you click "Submit New Thread" it takes you to a new screen where you can add the poll question and the options, specify any time limit and whether it is to be a public poll or private etc.

I tried to set up a poll today but I don't see an option after "Manage Attachments" & "Subscriptions" as described above. This is all I see:

Additional Options

Additional Options:

Automatically parse links in text

Automatically retrieve titles from external links

Disable smilies in text

Attachments Manage Attachments:

Valid file extensions: asf au bmp doc flv gif jpe jpeg jpg mov mp3 mp4 pdf png pps psd txt wav wmv zip

Subscription

Subscribe to this thread and notify me of changes:

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:35 am

tabby;1380125 wrote: I tried to set up a poll today but I don't see an option after "Manage Attachments" & "Subscriptions" as described above. This is all I see:

Additional Options

Additional Options:

Automatically parse links in text

Automatically retrieve titles from external links

Disable smilies in text

Attachments Manage Attachments:

Valid file extensions: asf au bmp doc flv gif jpe jpeg jpg mov mp3 mp4 pdf png pps psd txt wav wmv zip

Subscription

Subscribe to this thread and notify me of changes:

Wow!

I just went back and tried it again and it was as I said so I tried logging in as a non-subscribing member and saw it as you do.

I did not imaging that starting a poll was restricted to subscribing members but it is.

In the short term PM me the title, text and options and I'll set it up for you.