Points to Ponder

[Ian]

'why is the phrase 'old folk' offensive?"

But it isn't. That wasn't the issue. One issue was - I thought - very simple: an entire cohort of people were defined by age but then characteristics were applied to that group as an entity. It was as though all people over 65 behaved in the same way. That, to use Yorkie's eloquent turn of phrase, is "one large mouthful of garbage".

If you're going to assume all over 65s behave in the same way, then it not only displays an astonishing lack of awareness about an entire group of people but could be seen by members of that very group as highly offensive.

I know it can, because - like you - I've had emails and chats with members who feel exactly the same.

[Ian]

Quite frankly Ian you are expounding one large mouthful of garbage in your posting!   What on Earth is the sense in maintaining a list of almost 2000 Members when there is only about 20 pf us who regularly contribute to the debates?

It costs the forum nothing to maintain the list, so why remove them?

[A.L.N. (a local nobody)]

With the greatest respect to everyone involved shouldn't these discussions be moved to another thread now as they don't really relate to the original issue.  What that thread might be entitled ............!!!! ££$ ££$

[Yorkie]

Quite frankly Ian you are expounding one large mouthful of garbage in your posting!   What on Earth is the sense in maintaining a list of almost 2000 Members when there is only about 20 pf us who regularly contribute to the debates?

It costs the forum nothing to maintain the list, so why remove them?

For the simple reason that if they are removed and the reason why explained, they may then realise that being a Member requires some participation, however small.
Many Forums operate a minimum requirement of so many posting in a certain period of time, others are just time limited, no post in 6 months and you're counted out etc.   In other words a "positive" action from Admin can turn a negative Member into an active Member.   0.1% of contributing Members must be considered as pathetic by any statistician, no matter how lowly his qualifications!  By pruning out three quarters of the dormant Members this would immediately rise to approx 4%, from which it should rise by rejoiners or new Members who should be encouraged to be active on the Forum.  Now shoot me down!   
 ^^^^

[DaveR]

It would be great if we could 'force' members to post. I know of quite a few local and knowledgeable people who are members but do not contribute for one reason or another. However, I don't think anyone likes to be coerced, so a strategy such as you suggest would probably backfire, to be honest.

[Fester]

I know it can, because - like you - I've had emails and chats with members who feel exactly the same.

I would hope then, that were encouraged to bring those feelings to THIS Forum.

[Yorkie]

It would be great if we could 'force' members to post. I know of quite a few local and knowledgeable people who are members but do not contribute for one reason or another. However, I don't think anyone likes to be coerced, so a strategy such as you suggest would probably backfire, to be honest.

No one is suggesting "forcing" people to post.  But I know the strategy I have suggested works!

One does not have a Football team where only one player kicks the ball, not the best analogy but I'm sure you will see the point!  If these people you know are knowledgeable, then could make invaluable contributions to the Forum and the debates.  Also as knowledgeable people, they should realise that the Forum would or could benefit from their input.
Encouragement to use the Forum is not coercing, it could be laid down as a simple requirement of Membership as it is on other very successful Forums. 

 ££$

[Yorkie]

If one looks at the list of people visiting the forum on any particular day, the "come for just a look" brigade are not that many, and in fact the same names are repeated from day to day.  From this it can be seen that the actual "dead wood" is quite a large number.

 

[DaveR]

If one looks at the list of people visiting the forum on any particular day, the "come for just a look" brigade are not that many, and in fact the same names are repeated from day to day.  From this it can be seen that the actual "dead wood" is quite a large number.

 

I don't quite see why it matters? We have an average of 900,000+ page views a month, which makes it one of the most successful local forums in Wales, if not the UK.

[Yorkie]

Great!   I'm  not too concerned about numbers!  Just joining in the discussion, giving my two penny worth, having my say, getting on the band wagon etc. etc.

Along with other like minded people I would just like to see more contributors, and thought getting existing visitors to become contributors would be a step forward.

Page views, as a statistic in themselves, mean very little.  Just that a page has been visited but not necessarily read.  I would personally judge the value of a Forum by the number of participating Members, and the quality of their contributions.  But then, I am somewhat old fashioned in my thinking!
 

[DaveR]

Here's an interesting comparison.

The City of Leeds has its own independent forum at: http://www.leedsforum.co.uk/

Leeds has a population of 751,000. The Forum has been running since May 2010, has 4,386 Members and  66,665 posts.

The Three Towns area has a combined population of roughly 60,000. This Forum has been running since August 2010, has 1,067 Members and 73,049 posts.

[Yorkie]

If you want figures have a look at this lot!

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_forums

Have a look at Pistonheads, a very popular car forum.   Listed a few lines down.

[DaveR]

If you want figures have a look at this lot!

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_forums

Have a look at Pistonheads, a very popular car forum.   Listed a few lines down.

Interesting Stats. Looking at those figures, Pistonheads has an average of 6.39 posts per Member. We have an average of 68.47 posts per Member.

[Yorkie]

Must consider that Pistonheads is a rather specialised Forum.  It don't get people moaning all the time about the Councils, Roads, Grass cutting, Beaches, Seagulls, Busses, Trains, and many other sundry subjects.

Should we now call it a day and settle for a Draw?   Or waste more bandwidth which will continue to push the stats even higher.

Who are the most prolific posters excluding yourself and Ian?  How about a league table like what we once had?
 

[Merddin Emrys]

Yorkie, you can still see it. 

http://threetownsforum.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=stats