Decline in Valued Contributors???

[Blackswanwood]

I’m really struggling to see what all the fuss is about.

This is a forum that requires no membership fee and allows members to switch off advertising. Ownership changed a couple of years ago and perhaps the way this was handled could have been better but the software got a quite significant upgrade. In any case it’s done and no one can turn the clock back to undo it. The owners sometimes ask for a financial contribution but there are no adverse consequences for ignoring any requests.

To edit content once someone has commented on it requires a PM to a moderator. Once anyone has posted it’s in the public domain so don’t post what you don’t want anyone to reuse.

No one is trapped here. We can all be members of multiple forums. There’s another forum where some talented woodworkers who used to post here now hang out. That forum has a different “ambience” and the members are welcoming to anyone who wants to join with no stigma about also being a member here.

While it may not be perfect (like most things in life) it doesn’t feel bad.

 

[Padster]

BTW - I just want to say that whilst the OP talks about a decline in Valued Contributors - yes I believe I have seen some very good and informative people leave, but I also believe there are still plenty of talented and knowledgable people here.

When questions are asked I think they are generally answered - so I honestly don't see an issue, if I didn't know of some of them I wouldn't know and would still think of this as valuable and informative place.

Padster

 

[Spectric]

I’m really struggling to see what all the fuss is about.

This is a forum that requires no membership fee and allows members to switch off advertising.

Exactly, free to join and free to use so at what point does who owns the site have any impact on us the members. The moderators are all into woodworking and active contributors so not just not appearing when moderation is required and we work as a team to discuss issues and listen to the members so yes I agree with @Blackswanwood in that

While it may not be perfect (like most things in life) it doesn’t feel bad.

but any imperfections can always be ironed out and I believe we are a great woodworking forum.

 

[AJB Temple]

Blackswanwood nailed it. I choose to make active contributions elsewhere, but sometimes pop in here and comment if I feel like it. This is just the internet and no one has any obligation.

 

[Terry - Somerset]

The "forum" was the first use of the internet to allow exchange of views from a variety of users and started (I would guess) in a crude way for ~30 years ago. The format has remained largely unchanged - predominantly text - although pictures and videos are of course possible.

Facebook, Pinterest, etc exist to exchange ideas. Formatted differently and often patronised by a completely different demographic.

Interest in practical skills has diminished in the young. When I left school in 1972 (proper) apprenticeships still existed. These have largely disappeared - in joinery we are left with a few specialist craftsman + production engineers, material scientists, designers etc who work for larger furniture makers.

This forum which I value for its mostly good humoured discussion and knowledge will disappear or evolve to be unrecognisable. I simply accept that as I age my interests, experiences and knowledge are increasingly irrelevant to those who are increasingly much younger than I.

 

[raffo]

The "forum" was the first use of the internet to allow exchange of views from a variety of users and started (I would guess) in a crude way for ~30 years ago. The format has remained largely unchanged - predominantly text - although pictures and videos are of course possible.

30 years ago, when the Internet took off, email was the "new" way of communicating. Mailing lists and Usenet evolved rapidly. Bashing those pesky AOL users was a sport. Web based online forums were not quite the thing yet, Mosaic was the gratest and latest, puting tables on your web page was cutting edge.

There were all those dial-in online communities, but that was before my time and I never really used them. Yuk, wasn't that what AOL was about?

 

[Doug B]

It makes me smile when I read folks bemoaning lost members from when the forum was sold a couple of years ago, I’ve been here long enough to know of 4 forums that have been started up by disgruntled members leaving, one in part because of the total lack of input by the previous owner & one that took far more numbers of talented individuals than the recent exodus.
No one is irreplaceable as folks leave others join it’s just the way of things, this is still the busiest of the uk forums I look at, no one’s forcing any one to be here, enjoy what is a great free resource.

 

[Valhalla]

30 years ago, when the Internet took off, email was the "new" way of communicating. Mailing lists and Usenet evolved rapidly. Bashing those pesky AOL users was a sport. Web based online forums were not quite the thing yet, Mosaic was the gratest and latest, puting tables on your web page was cutting edge.

There were all those dial-in online communities, but that was before my time and I never really used them. Yuk, wasn't that what AOL was about?

NCSA Mosaic.....now that is a blast from the past and then came Netscape. Don't forget Compuserve...

 

[Valhalla]

There were all those dial-in online communities

They were BBSs - Bulletin Board Services.....probably THE first forums all on 9600 bps

 

[James555]

I’m new to this forum but have been involved in many cycling forums over the years and petty squabbles can be very damaging. I don’t know if this is an issue here but I’ve seen it many times on cycling forums.

 

[Jameshow]

Well that's 10 mins I'll never get back!!!

 

[Fitzroy]

Since this post started the level of contribution on all the other posts has jumped up, I'm struggling to keep up with them. I think it's had the desired effect! I think we are all in violent agreement that UKW is a on the whole a great place, even if your pass time is just troll hunting, and that it would always be nice to see lots of photos of what folks are making, and all comments and criticisms are welcome.

 

[John Brown]

They were BBSs - Bulletin Board Services.....probably THE first forums all on 9600 bps

I think you'll find there were bulletin boards on 1200/75, as in Prestel/Viewdata, and probably 300/300 baud as well.

 

[John Brown]

They were BBSs - Bulletin Board Services.....probably THE first forums all on 9600 bps

https://www.viewdata.org.uk/index.php?cat=31_The-nbsp~Gnome&page=05_Introduction
For example..

 

[raffo]

They were BBSs - Bulletin Board Services.....probably THE first forums all on 9600 bps

In 1992, a 9600 baud modem was hot stuff, 1200 bps was more the norm.

 

[baldkev]

Some of the adverts are ok.... look at this screenshot:
Victoria, 34, from ukraine better than an advert about a boilers

and sharpen my chisels- oops,s I did it again

You can say you are going to sharpen your chisels, it's fine.
Just don't for petes sake say how you intend to do it

 

[Jameshow]

Some of the adverts are ok.... look at this screenshot:
Victoria, 34, from ukraine better than an advert about a boilers


You can say you are going to sharpen your chisels, it's fine.
Just don't for petes sake say how you intend to do it

How come you get those ads?
Maybe I need to up my game?
Or get a mini digger!!

 

[artie]

Viktoria is very nice but could she sharpen your chisel?

 

[baldkev]

How come you get those ads?
Maybe I need to up my game?
Or get a mini digger!!

In the preferences bit in your avatar, search down and you'll see a tick box for adult only ads.... tick that one

 

[baldkev]

Viktoria is very nice but could she sharpen your chisel?

When she gets here I'll update you on that