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Post by Sunny on Oct 19, 2013 8:16:05 GMT
Guys if you look at the numbers of members and guests each day that logon to the site it cannot be missed that we (members) are being grossly out-numbered by Visitors.
On average there are 500 guests a day looking at the site....which is an incredible number. Admittedly they cannot see the Catch Reports, but are able to view everything else.
I wanted to ask you guys - who are the regulars and keep the forum afloat - do you think this Board should be closed and for Members Only ?
Should the forum be for Members Only ?
I'm all for allowing folks to come and view us; to see whether they wish to sign up, but 500 a day is a lot of lurkers. Okay, some will be members viewing from work and I wouldn't want to force the guys to have to logon in work time. So I thought I would ask to see what you all think ....over to you for discussion.
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Post by bobshotter on Oct 19, 2013 9:20:40 GMT
Nick you are being looked at because you have something of interest going on.
For once sea anglers are posting and sharing political views be they right or wrong, as long as you do not allow the commercial influence to flourish and put anglers off of posting like another well-known site you’ll be fine.
There are things that should only be discussed in private which is why these sites provide a PM facility; as the admin the only thing I feel other than that mentioned is you will need to keep on top of any over the top personal attacks and bad language. 
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Post by Sunny on Oct 19, 2013 14:12:35 GMT
Nick you are being looked at because you have something of interest going on.
For once sea anglers are posting and sharing political views be they right or wrong, as long as you do not allow the commercial influence to flourish and put anglers off of posting like another well-known site you’ll be fine.
There are things that should only be discussed in private which is why these sites provide a PM facility; as the admin the only thing I feel other than that mentioned is you will need to keep on top of any over the top personal attacks and bad language.
Bob we have been getting 500-a-day for years now...in fact at oner point I recall 700+ in a day. I don't think the current discussions are dragging in anymore than usual. But equally I don't understand why there are so many who come in and don't wish to view the catch reports....for me that is the stuff I like best (persoanl choice). We have been very quick to banish any commercials that surface and if (no doubt they are) coming on here they have learnt to keep quiet. We are a forum for anglers run by anglers. That doesn't mean that commercial fishermen are specifically excluded, but I cannot conceive of a scenario whereby their interests and our can be reconciled; certainly in the current state of the UK fisheries. Perhaps two hundred years ago we could all have been virtually oblivious of each other....but now with anglers blanking on the beach there is only one culprit. But trying to stay on topic. Should we close the doors to the forum and say members only ? It might be worth a trial period ...I really don't have the answer. In the past we have had members leave because they wanted a 'closed forum'. This could be one answer, then again it might just prove counter-productive. |
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Post by bobshotter on Oct 19, 2013 19:42:05 GMT
I'm a new member Nick so it's not for me to say TBH Both options have good and bad points for me the real question is do I have something to hide?
IMPO Best debate it for a few days and then have a poll.
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Post by skyetoyman on Oct 19, 2013 19:55:30 GMT
Keep it open to all . Cannot see that we will get more members if we make it a secret.
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Post by tomstevo on Oct 19, 2013 22:28:51 GMT
It’s a lot of people, why not close this section which seems to be attracting them but leave the rest open, try it for couple of weeks, if it encourages people to register all good and well, if it does not, nothing lost go back to the way it was.
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Post by Sunny on Oct 20, 2013 3:53:19 GMT
Some good points made so far. I like the idea of a debate lasting a week or so and then a poll. And as Tom says we can always close on board and then later re-open it; a simple activity which takes 30 seconds. I'm just trying to explore ways of encouraging more guys to sign-in and then hopefully contribute. If they are not signed-in they can never contribute...obviously :0) There are also sound arguments for keeping the forum size down. When B&B first formed it had a membership that was roughly the current size of guys regularly loging-on. It rarely had any trouble and things went well, so I understand. But then it grew much bigger and problems of character evolved...seems like a nice way of putting it  So its a balance of keeping the forum active enough to make the visit interesting and enjoyable for the members and at the same time not allowing it to deteriorate in to any bun-fights. We have been debating some interesting stuff of late and this is cool...there have certainly been no upsets. Where there has been differences of opinion everyone has accepted counter views gracefully. It's all very grown-up and allows us to benefit from each others knowledge and experiences. So lets keep the debate going and then a poll in a weeks time and we will take it from there. |
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Post by tomstevo on Oct 20, 2013 11:27:15 GMT
To give it some perspective, very few people who used to post on WSF for the region I fish a lot no longer do, put they still PM me lot asking about how the fishing is doing. Now every request I get there I post this web page address.
They have no interest in the one horse pony WSF has become, driven by the same dozen people, no matter what subject is posted, they will all lead to anti SSACN/AT and tagging.
Anyone who expresses a different opinion has their voice drowned out by these same few people, so they stop posting.
As for the poll? My betting is you will see a clutch of people registering and as we write this they will be on their secret squirrel club, plotting how best to disrupt the site… sad but true.
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Post by theoldfart2 on Oct 20, 2013 11:54:39 GMT
Question that springs to mind, is why do people not become members?
after all its free, hardly a hassle to do, and you can add your own Two Penneth if you want to.
I guess the reason people don't join is they can't be bothered, like a lot of other things in life people can't be bothered with.
If you make it members only you could loose 500 hits, or gain 500 members.
For me, make it members only, if they can't spend a few minutes to register, tough.
How many fishing clubs do you know that are open to non members all the time?
If they want the benefits of reading this forum, join the club, if not they should take up agriculture, and log onto that well known farming web site Sheep and Goat.
TOF
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Post by iknowagoodplaice on Oct 20, 2013 13:35:04 GMT
I'm afraid I often count amongst the visitors as I will often take a quick look without logging in first - hate fiddling about with logins actually.
Not sure whether closing B&B off to casual browsers is a good idea. Some of our discussions lately we want others to see. And you might find you pick up fewer new members if no one can see the pages.
I think there are so many forums these days one can spend hours and hours on them. I'm trying to cut down myself. So there is a lot of competition for members. I'd tentatively say keep it open for the time being.
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Post by theoldfart2 on Oct 20, 2013 17:34:17 GMT
Point taken, but none are as good as this one.
if you want the best , join up, or follow the muppet forums.
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Post by tomstevo on Oct 20, 2013 17:45:24 GMT
"Bill Thirkle I take it Tom Stevo is one of the boat and beach circus???. a new tit known as toon."
This is a post from their desperate facebook page by one of the keyboard warriors.
Just an example of the character of some of the people not registered.
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Post by Cam on Oct 20, 2013 19:12:53 GMT
Am i banned i put up a long post its disapeared
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Post by theoldfart2 on Oct 20, 2013 19:32:45 GMT
Memory seems to serve me that some of the threads I have put on this forum have been stolen and put on other sites.
'Three favourite fish,' springs to mind and others.
So are 'visitors' looking on this site to get ideas to put on their sites?
Was there a man on 'the grassy knoll'
Did Neil Armstrong really walk on the moon?
Who knows.....But.....
If you want to read a newspaper you have to buy it, why should non members be allowed to browse our content.?
Admittedly it doesn't make a Tinkers Cuss of difference if they are members and steal ideas , but at least they have to log in first, and then if content is copied ,perhaps it could be traced?
If I wanted to write on other sites I would, but I don't, and I object to people nicking our ideas.
TOF
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Post by Sunny on Oct 20, 2013 19:54:56 GMT
Am i banned i put up a long post its disapeared Not that I am aware cam....I suspect your computer has had a brain fluff...or Proboards server Sorry mate...but you will have to type it again  Anyway....nice to hear from you buddy. How's the fishing been this summer ? Have you been getting many sessions on Aquajack ? |
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