Decline and fall

[klondike]

I'm sure like me you must all have seen a falloff in forum posts over the last few months. Early on we had 6-7,000 posts a month and now we struggle to reach 2,000 with most of those posts in the word games which only a few bother with. Anybody turning up, looking at a forum and seeing nothing new of interest is less likely to bother next day and eventually won't bother at all. In the end all that remains is a sad and completely unused forum.

Can I ask you all if you think this place is worth keeping going to use it.

See something that interests you in the news or something jogs your memory of the past - post about it. Maybe others won't find it interesting but if they don't see your post at all they may never hear of what you have seen or recalled.

You see a thread somebody has started and agree - at least say so. Maybe you don't agree with their take on it - don't ignore it say so and give your own view unless you think you may genuinely give offence by doing so of course. We can't expect 100% agreement from all and certainly shouldn't be upset if they don't. That said nobody wants somebody to be downright rude as we have all seen elsewhere.

If nobody starts threads then there is nothing new and no point looking so please post and make the server earn its keep.

I see we had a new signup today Soul Survivor. This looks like a genuine new user with a believable email address and an IP address with a major UK ISP so not another spammer which a forum extension sends packing with a flea in their ear. So far Soul Survivor hasn't posted. If you see this please do either in the Announcements section to say hello or maybe just reply in an existing thread - even this one - and welcome aboard. Please don't think I'm a nag - this is the first post of its type I've ever made.

[Alex]

Can I  be honest ?   I think I tend to post about illegals and dinghies and perhaps people are fed up of reading about this topic ? so I've eased off - but not stopped     The trouble is there's no good news AT ALL.   My only good news comes from family and friends, no point in relating their escapades.  Jokes seem to have dried up lately too.

While I'm on a roll it's a bit annoying to see threads started over on the Mother Ship that could have been started here.    THEN AGAIN we're a democracy (I think) so folk are free to post where they choose.
What's the old saying "Use it or loose it " 

[Michael Rolls]

well, I do my best to use it, and certainly don't want to lose it!

[GrannyMac]

I'm tired of doom and gloom, Alex is right about the topic, IMO. Its all been hashed over so many times, until there's some real news, I tend to swerve 'illegals, dinghies' etc.

I've never been a thread starter, more of a joiner.  The (for me) more interesting type of games, the cryptic ones, have disappeared.  I like the hangman and limericks on the mother ship, but not a lot else these days.  They do a lot of chat they've brought with them, I'm not interested. 

We need more Alfreds!  I hope he's ok btw.  I'd hate to lose this forum though. All the effort put in by Mark is appreciated. 

[Scrumpy]

Alfred is not in the best of health so I doubt he will be posting anytime soon..
 I can understand people posting on the other side.. and responding to threads that are put up..  After all, we join a forum to chat to others, play games, ask for advise.. and so on..
A site is only interesting if it has a variety of members offering different topics..
Granny Moss uses the forum because she is lonely as do many others.. People respond to her and she to them.. Having no-one listening or answering your input is disheartening..
Mark has put a lot of time and effort into this forum and I have his back , at all times....

I blame CRABBY...  Bloody Scottish miner.. 
     

[Sheila]

Scrumpy, is Crabby still in Goa?  We wanted to go in January but there were problems with the visa so we ended up in Cuba. TBH I think the long haul took it out of us a bit but we both want at least one more holiday in Goa.  The visa situation seems to have got back to normal now.

[klondike]

I blame CRABBY...  Bloody Scottish miner.. 
   

Crabby did upset a few folks but the real decline started way after he left and even if he was a bit crabby at times he did start a lot of threads and having new threads is what keeps a forum alive. That's the reason I gave him a bit of backup in his spat with zoony when a thread he started with an admittedly naff clip from an old TV show degenerated into a discussion on how crappy the show was which I considered rude to him.

Then he tried to tell me what I could and couldn't post in another joke thread of his when what I had posted was entirely inoffensive imo so I argued with him about that and he took the hump and flounced.

[GrannyMac]

I hope Scrumpy can work her magic on him and get him to rethink.  I'm not always into the jokes, but I didn't fall out with him, and I hope his health is ok. I wish akbuk had moved over here. He usually talks sense.

[Scrumpy]

I do keep in touch with Crabby.. I tell him like it is.. We get along fine..
He is a stubborn old bugger.. I doubt he will come back to either of the forums..
Sheila.. Crabby is still in Goa.. He returns in April..

I always respond to threads on PF when someone is not too well.. Akbuk being one of them.. He is going through a rough time at the moment..

[Alex]

 "I can understand people posting on the other side.. and responding to threads that are put up.."    I respond to threads over there too Scrumps, but it was starting new threads on the Mother Ship and not here that was a bit disappointing.    But as I said before people can post where they like. 

I agree about Akbuk, it would have been great if he'd come across too.  I'll continue to keep a foot in both camps, but here will come first 

[Raven]

I get times when I don't even look at the computer for a week or so, I just get so fed up with it all.
I am not posting on forums anything like what I used to do, for several reasons but I do sometimes pop in and just read.
I don't like the double acts between the the 2 PFs and don't see the point in answering on one then doing exactly the same on the other. The original PM used to be my go to place to relax and get away from the people who I didn't like and the arguments on the OFF, I was glad to have found it and was there daily. Now the whole feel of the place has changed.

Been very down this last week, Dunc is away back up North, I'm back on my own again, I miss being on the farm and I miss the beaches and the horses and my girlfriends.

[Scrumpy]

i think PF was changing dramatically even before the new arrivals..
There was just a handful of original members.. dwindling all the time..
The new members bought the site back to life in my opinion.. after Chris managed, single handed, to bring it to it's knees..
 Things do change... it would be a dull life if it didn't..
I see nothing wrong with the new members.. I just wish they were here instead of there..
I don't do 'double acts' ..  not my thing..
 Does it really matter what others do.. !!  Not in my opinion..

[GrannyMac]

You're right of course Scrumpy.  Some of those newbies are here, but post more over there. Apart from the usual suspects like Sciatica, there is one on my radar to be watched over there...

[Raven]

You're right of course Scrumpy.  Some of those newbies are here, but post more over there. Apart from the usual suspects like Sciatica, there is one on my radar to be watched over there...

I bet I know who that is. Most ARE ok, just 3 that I really can't stand. I know they have brought the place back to life and yes I agree it was needing it. Most are still on OFF as well, but on their best behaviour. Makes me smile as I know their post has been well reigned in. I don't understand why Azz has turned on members the way he has, they are only posting their view on the subject, and after all that's what a forum is all about in the end.

[JBR]

Like GrannyMac, I tend not to start threads and am more of a 'joiner' when I see something of interest.
Unfortunately, many of the threads on here seem to be games and don't really interest me.  I do, however, visit every day.

I'd much prefer it if this site not only continued, but also flourished.  Good luck.