How can we encourage people to post?

28 Oct 2008

Quote by keeno
Bloody Hell!!!!!!!
All I did was state what a newbie said to me when I asked them why they didn't post in the forum.
They didn't say "oh all the MODS love locking newbies"
they said a name. The reason I said they named names was to stop any feeling that it was all MODS. To stop things being political it would perhaps be better if everyone didn't just jump on anything they didn't agree with.
The thread asked a question. I stated an opinion given to me that I thought was relevant and now it seems everyone is in a bloody tizzy.
What have I learnt?
Newbies don't post because some of the forumites are unforgiving and pernickety. :cry: This is or can be a very unforgiving place to be. :cry:

You're over-reacting a tad there, Keeno. People aren't in a tizzy at all. I thought I'd go and look, to see if there might be any fact in your friend's statement. All I said was that I think to say 'she named names' is inflammatory. You've now changed that to 'they said a name', because really it was inflammatory - as it wasn't actually based in fact (judging by the last six pages of cafe threads, anyway).
And you're right - it can be an unforgiving place. Particularly when people make sweeping statements which aren't always accurate.

28 Oct 2008

maybe if basic members were allowed to post in the forums,that might encourage people to post!

28 Oct 2008

unforgiving indeed.
and degenerative at times.
Mr Powers, that seems rather a good idea. One little perk for basic members, bring life to the site, and indeed may further encourage basic members to sign up for full membership after toying in here with us lot.
they must be mad!
lp

28 Oct 2008

yes cos we are on the whole quite an ok bunch biggrin

28 Oct 2008

I'm sorry if I have immflamed passions here. No doubt my inbox will be stuffed full of PMs from wounded MODS demanding a duel or something because I have besmerched their honours.
It is interesting however, that I have quoted the reasons why a newbie is reluctant to post (please note their stated reasons, not my opinions or anyone elses opinions) and they are dimissed as being wrong.

28 Oct 2008

Indeed Keeno, I can understand why a nervous newbie may be reluctant to post, and would be viewing the fora with a wary eye.
Friction and 'dismissal' would be spotted like a lighthouse on a foggy coastline, though not as welcome.
I also understood the nature of your posting above, stating the 'reasons' given. It can "appear" that way at times even to the more seasoned forumites, hence some tension at times. So is it any wonder that newcomers may have that "impression"?
nope.
however... my advice to the wary, for what it's worth....
come on in.
it ain't life and death in here...it's far more serious than that.
though the shores are indeed very very rocky and perilous.
there are lifeboats.
iceberrrrrg!
will they listen?
lp

28 Oct 2008

well point the newbie in my direction i'll prove to the dear thing that you don't need to b witty n inteligent to post on ere i mean my humour is flat n my inteligence is well n truelly missin in action ffs lol

i think that it just goes through phases sometimes i post loads other i don't post at all
it'll pick up sometime soon
keep up the good work minxy n all you other glorious posters
as for gettin threads locked i feckin tried just so i could join the wonderfull sarges club but they never feckin do :cry:

28 Oct 2008

Quote by keeno
I'm sorry if I have immflamed passions here. No doubt my inbox will be stuffed full of PMs from wounded MODS demanding a duel or something because I have besmerched their honours.
It is interesting however, that I have quoted the reasons why a newbie is reluctant to post (please note their stated reasons, not my opinions or anyone elses opinions) and they are dimissed as being wrong.

Not interesting at all. Quite simple really.
Even you didn't appear to agree with her that we are all clever/witty, ie 'I wonder which forum shes reading'
The other comment about newbie threads being locked is incorrect (wrong) based on the last six pages of forum threads.
What you seem to be implying, Keeno, is that she has been dismissed as being wrong because she's a newbie. That isn't the case at all.

28 Oct 2008

Quote by bouncy332
well point the newbie in my direction i'll prove to the dear thing that you don't need to b witty n inteligent to post on ere i mean my humour is flat n my inteligence is well n truelly missin in action ffs
i think that it just goes through phases sometimes i post loads other i don't post at all
it'll pick up sometime soon
keep up the good work minxy n all you other glorious posters
as for gettin threads locked i feckin tried just so i could join the wonderfull sarges club but they never feckin do :cry:

keep trying, Bouncy! Post a joke thread - they get locked. Hey presto, you're in the LTC wink

28 Oct 2008

mind the fucking iceberg!!!!
told ya, no-one listens
lp

28 Oct 2008

Damn these days of political correctness... there was a time that all it took was a keyboard and an Uzi, hey presto you could get anyone to post anything at anytime!

28 Oct 2008

Can someone throw me a life preserver?
I seem to have run a ground on Freckle

28 Oct 2008

Quote by splendid_
tis a dildo not a vibrator
and the only way that anyone is seeing it is, in action and about to enter them anally.

:shock:

28 Oct 2008

Quote by markz
tis a dildo not a vibrator
and the only way that anyone is seeing it is, in action and about to enter them anally.

:shock:
Are you bracing yourself with that look upon your face? lol

28 Oct 2008

Quote by Theladyisaminx
tis a dildo not a vibrator
and the only way that anyone is seeing it is, in action and about to enter them anally.

:shock:
Are you bracing yourself with that look upon your face? lol

I'm not a dentist you know...... rolleyes

28 Oct 2008

Quote by Mr-Powers
maybe if basic members were allowed to post in the forums,that might encourage people to post!

I agree - I moderate a forum on another site where free members can post on forums and send one pm a day... it works for those who want to use the site sensibly.
The downfall was that banned members opened up another account to post inflammatory remarks on the forum or got mates from another site to open accounts to help fuel the fire! Whether it would happen here I don't know.
As for locked threads - I don't always give an explanation in the thread itself, some are pretty obvious to all. I do always pm the op and tell them why I have done it. On occasion I may remove the thread or lock it - then ask other moderators opinion as to whether or not the thread should be locked for a small period of time to let things cool down or lock it permanently. Sometimes the op is involved and has the chance to give their opinion on what they feel should happen.

28 Oct 2008

Quote by anais
maybe if basic members were allowed to post in the forums,that might encourage people to post!

I agree - I moderate a forum on another site where free members can post on forums and send one pm a day... it works for those who want to use the site sensibly.
The downfall was that banned members opened up another account to post inflammatory remarks on the forum or got mates from another site to open accounts to help fuel the fire! Whether it would happen here I don't know.
As for locked threads - I don't always give an explanation in the thread itself, some are pretty obvious to all. I do always pm the op and tell them why I have done it. On occasion I may remove the thread or lock it - then ask other moderators opinion as to whether or not the thread should be locked for a small period of time to let things cool down or lock it permanently. Sometimes the op is involved and has the chance to give their opinion on what they feel should happen.
Anais I agree with your comments I have also seen and have threads reopened after a cooling off period to continue with out any more problems and are still active today.

28 Oct 2008

Quote by Mr-Powers
maybe if basic members were allowed to post in the forums,that might encourage people to post!

What a rocking idea! :thumbup: Mr Powers any chance admin could think about this do ya think? Could a kindly Mod put it to them perhaps and come back to us with some views on it?

28 Oct 2008

Quote by Lost
maybe if basic members were allowed to post in the forums,that might encourage people to post!

What a rocking idea! :thumbup: Mr Powers any chance admin could think about this do ya think? Could a kindly Mod put it to them perhaps and come back to us with some views on it?
Nope :dry:
:giggle:

28 Oct 2008

I hav just started putting posts in the forum, I was dubious at first in case sum1 slated me for what i put, but i av decided at end of the day its a forum and i can say what i like, it is my own thoughts that i put in.
I must say i do enjoy reading a lot of topics and if i have n e fing to say i will put it in.

28 Oct 2008

People on this site are either...
1. Forum people.
2. Chatroom people.
Also lots of people feel that on the Forums they can be sent 'on the naughty step' if they have views that others don't like.
My own view is that I respect others but have at times very strong views. Am also willing to question these if others think that I am out of order.
Yet I still have my views & in the end its not like all of us live in the same street OR work with each other.
Cyber communities are diffrent hence the fact that we ALL go by diffrent names on this site.
Some people use the rules of the real world on this site fully 100%.
Allow yourself to say & be what you cannot in the real world.
From,
Wunderhorse (not my real name, by the way).

28 Oct 2008

Quote by slutwife
I must say i do enjoy reading a lot of topics and if i have n e fing to say i will put it in.

:thumbup:

28 Oct 2008

Quote by keeno
I've been chatting to one of those people who lurks but doesn't post. She gave the following reasons for not posting
1. She's not clever enough, and has nothing witty or clever to say (I wonder which forum shes reading )
2. Some of the MODS like nothing more than to lock newbies threads. She named names.
So clearly we need less clever people here and less officious MODS

thats because she has not read my postings yet!

28 Oct 2008

I have spoken to several forum newbies and one thing that puts them off posting is when they make their first post they have been literally pounced on with a
"jeez, why didnt you use the search button, this topic was discussed 400 pages ago."
Interestingly enough this very subject has been debated before, but this time it hasn't been jumped on. Is that because the thread wasn't started by a newbie, or are the pouncers out playing in the snow? (not actually looking for answers on this point).
The main reason that I personally dont post in the forums very often is that I can go to bed and a thread is on page 2, by the time I come home from work the next day, the thread can have moved on a dozen pages or so, and I havn't got the time to wade through all the responses.
If a couple of people want to post to each other in "real time", why not move over to the chatroom for a bit?
That aside, I normally only post on the funny / witty types of threads, and try to avoid the controversial threads that I feel have sometimes been started only to cause arguements.
Ian

28 Oct 2008

Quote by Ian
If a couple of people want to post to each other in "real time", why not move over to the chatroom for a bit?
Ian

Totally with ya on that one!! smile

28 Oct 2008

Quote by Wunderhorse
People on this site are either...
1. Forum people.
2. Chatroom people.

Not correct and rather a sweeping statement.
I love both the forum and chatroom. I spend early evenings in here, then slip into chat and then often pop back here later on.
I'm not one or the other :smug:

28 Oct 2008

Quote by Dawnie
People on this site are either...
1. Forum people.
2. Chatroom people.

Not correct and rather a sweeping statement.
I love both the forum and chatroom. I spend early evenings in here, then slip into chat and then often pop back here later on.
I'm not one or the other :smug:
Me neither! :shock: :shock: :shock:
Bluddy Hell - I have something in common with Dawnie!!! confused

28 Oct 2008

It took me ages to post.
At first I couldn't see what relevance the forum had to the reason I joined the site but then I started to read it and chuckle/groan/seethe/smile/nod in agreement and figured hey, why not join in?
Here I am now, posting away whenever the whim takes me!
I guess what I mean is that the forum is not for everyone.
However, I can see some merit in the allowing basic members access to the forum - although not sure how that would sit with the LMU forum... it would mean that people could sign up for socials/meets/parties etc without having joined fully and therefore, in my opinion, would make the paid membership null and void.
dunno

I guess if we're all happy, smiley and generally fabulous then people might join in more... wink

28 Oct 2008

Quote by anais

If a couple of people want to post to each other in "real time", why not move over to the chatroom for a bit?
Ian

Totally with ya on that one!! smile

Or take it to PM or MSN chat.
.

28 Oct 2008

{hijackmode] Why are joke threads locked immediately and the political dribdrab threads allowed to carry on and deteriorate into potential anarchy?
There are some very dominant personalities on the forums at the moment, which I'm not saying is a bad thing, but it can quite off-putting to some people.
Forums are circular in nature, it'll all pick up again in a few weeks and then die off again.

Are you sure?