Is this a Discussion forum Or Sales website.

[Simon Wright]

Quite surprised at how this forum is developing, or not as the case may be.

I view the forum content by clicking on the 'View active topics' shortcut and invariably it takes me to a page of for sale or wanted adverts.

Now I have met quite a few LMA members and most that I have met have no problems chatting about planes, (full size or model) flying and quoting amusing anecdotes. In fact in many cases its hard to shut them up..

So why is it that the forum has developed so little character or should that be so few on line characters? Is it a loathing of the typed word or a concern about the formality of sonmething put into writing for all to see?

I use a few different forums (Fora?) and while some posts do develop into inane chats full of three word sentences huge quotes and smileys, most actually develop a thread that links to sources that actually provide useful information.

Just a thought, hopefully to create a discusssion without any offence.

Simon

[Tony Collins 1073]

Simon, Those are my thought too. I think it is very sad that the forum has become one big classified section. Absolutely nothing against lads buying and selling as it is the lifeblood of our hobby, but it should be one part of our forum not the main reason to come on here. There just seems to be a general air of can't be bothered, apart from the same few regulars who do make the effort to communicate. Too many just come on here just to browse and see what may be gleaned from the sparse input available without even bothering or wanting to make a contribution. The same lads that do make the effort invariably post on the some of the other very successful model forums. Without them we'd be dead, apart from the ads of course. It may be that there is a lot of beavering away on new models and people struggling to make a living in these trying times. However I think that one should make the effort to join in and make this yet another successful part of the LMA which we should be proud to belong to.


Input- we must have input.

[Vince Raia]

To answer your question in my own opinion, a lot of people hate change, although this web site is a nice clean, regulated site, which Dave Parry has done a superb job of modifying and enhancing, members and the general public had used the old (loose?) forum for many years, were familiar and at home with it's informal and laxed attitude, whereby anybody could post any subject on it without having to be a member, created a total place of freedom for the poster, although it did denigrate into a few abusive postings as there wasn't a regular team of moderators, which gave the modeller an air of freedom, whereby he could air his views, which often resulted in pages of interesting banter, rather like our version of speakers corner, and people felt more inclined to post their views whilst using a fictitious name. (Which is not allowed on the new forum but IS on others)

Yes, the old forum at times did denigrate into heated slanging matches, and yes it was open to abuse and spammers, but it was loved by all.

The new forum is heavily regulated and very clean and clinical, I think people are scared to open a debate that could be sensitive or post their views that might go against the grain for fear of reprisals, as their name is highlighted, or getting a rap over the knuckles from the hierarchy and possible dismissal from the Association!
So this is why I feel other forums are popular, there is a little more freedom of speech, people can use a “non-deplume” and there is no association or organisation to get barred from!

[jimlambert]

Here we go again, some people just have to moan, moan about having a for sale section, moan about not having a for sale section, moan about not enough moaning on this forum.I like this forum, I don't post very much, but I visit it every day for a browse, it's a good blend. Lets not expect too much of what people want to contribute, but if you have a half finished
Bud Nosen monster that you want to sell to an interested party, this is the place to start. Without this forum Joe Addisons' magnificent Hellcat would not find its way easily to a 'good
home'. There is a website..www.irritating moany nigglers.com. Why dont you pop over there ............. Jim Lambert
PS to our webmaster and all the LMA members who contribute to all of our diverse activities, keep up the good work..

[Paul Savage 1568]

Getting the older generation to write anything on a web forum is practically impossible at the best of times. It seems that most are generally happy to read bloggs and threads and even complain when there aren't any of any particular substance. But getting them to respond to a thread or even start one is another thing. Ask anyone who has tried to produce a club newsletter, Journal or website and they will tell you just how difficult it is to get any input from its readers. I've been there, done that and bought the tee shirt...Perhaps we all know too much already.

One the other side of the coin, the younger generation spend the majority of their time communicating through the written word. My daughter, armed with her wifi enabled Ipod and laptop computer in addition to her mobile phone, spends far too much of her time either texting or commenting on Facebook and Twitter. In the so called good old days, if you needed to talk to someone then it usually meant getting on yer bike and riding to their house. Perhaps we have something to learn from todays youngsters and that is not to be afraid of these new forms of communications but to actually just get on and use them.

[Tony Collins 1073]

Jim, Perhaps you should read my post more carefully. Where do you find me moaning about having a for sale section.
Quite the opposite in fact. I said that it was the lifeblood of our hobby. In spite of that it is nice to see you taking part for once instead of just looking to see what others have taken the trouble to post.

And Paul, age is no barrier. If you are alert enough to take part in our sport/hobby then the grey matter should be able to cope with something like a forum if the will is there. I'm 73 and it doesn't stop me.

I'm off to portugal in the morning so I'll be back in a week.

I'm S--t scared about the storm weve got to fly through. Don't like flying at the best of times.

[jimlambert]

Tony, I wasn't referring to your post, I was reacting to Simons post which has a rather negative tone, personally I like your posts, keep up the good work
infact, I think there should be a stand alone section on this forum devoted to your posts, " Tony's Fun Page" Best wishes Jim

[Tony Collins 1073]

Yes, Okay, I'm Fine on that Jim.
As far as my fun stuff is concerned, It would be very nice if there was a bit of assistance. There have been thousands of views and only a few people have felt inclined to add to it. A bit of assistance would be greatly appreciated, and lets face it I can't be expected to keep it up all the time [As the Bishop said to the actress ]
Also, it is somewhere to go when we have the long blank periods on the forum.

[Simon Wright]

Jim

Lighten up a bit mate, you sound like its all mega serious. I view the For sale sections too and have no complaints about it, just stating my opinion that there is little in the way of banter on here, and that in effect is the reason for my post.

Its hardly surprising that the forum doesnt develop discussions when any comment made is taken as an offence to the almighty officers of the association, and I say this with a light heart; the guys that run clubs, associations and forums are a special breed to whom we should all be grateful.

Regarding the formality of using your proper name on a forum, I think its great, In fact I changed my account details on all forums that i use to show my name. If you have something to say you shouldnt want to hide behind some ' Handle' its not CB radio you know!

remeber that discussion forums are for members to express opinions and share information. Condemming views that are different to your own causes arguments and that is what (I Hope) we all want to avoid.

Look Guys & girls, this is a great hobby and pastime, the forum should show how passionate we are about it and a placew e enjoy visiting to talk to like minded folk.

[Dave Parry]

A healthy discussion is always a good thing and we like to encourage it, the only time I will step in and stop it is when it gets personal or when I have been asked by the committee to lock a forum to give it time out on a thread that is going around in circles, there is no ‘hierarchy’ there is only me and I think the decision to have only real names is the right one.

If you have something to say you should not be hiding behind a false name only cowards do that, I too am a member of other forums and I also have alias’s but in my profile which is there for everyone to see I have my real name.

This forum is here for member to use if they wish to it is also here for non members if they wish to join in, whether or not the forum is used is up to the members, you can’t force people to comment on any issue if they don’t want too and nothing you post on here will change that.

Dave LMA Website & Forum Administrator

[Rob Cavell 529]

Here we go again, some people just have to moan, moan about having a for sale section, moan about not having a for sale section, moan about not enough moaning on this forum.I like this forum, I don't post very much, but I visit it every day for a browse, it's a good blend. Lets not expect too much of what people want to contribute, but if you have a half finished
Bud Nosen monster that you want to sell to an interested party, this is the place to start. Without this forum Joe Addisons' magnificent Hellcat would not find its way easily to a 'good
home'. There is a website..www.irritating moany nigglers.com. Why dont you pop over there ............. Jim Lambert
PS to our webmaster and all the LMA members who contribute to all of our diverse activities, keep up the good work..

Well said Jim, I agree entirely.
When all is said and done we are a very small Association so there is always going to be a limited amount of people posting.
If I want to read and post abuse I am told there are a million out there, I wouldn't know.
Personally I don't recognise the 'problem' of sales taking over, yes there are sometimes sales posts in inappropriate threads but I don't think it's the rule at all.

[Pat Marsden]

I think Rob has hit the nail on the head here, we are members of a very small association of around 1000 members I believe so obviously we are not going to get anywhere near the volume of threads etc that RCMF gets with its 7545 members.
Also, I think that generally our members only say something if its worth saying and without the general moaning and slagging off you get on other forums. Whilst we all have our opinions some of the members over on RCMF seem to to get most aggressive if anyone questions there views, something which we dont get here.
I do agree with Tony in a way, the For Sale section does seem to be used more than other sections but then again it is probably the best place to sell your larger than average models/equipment.
If you want to see a really quiet forum then go look at Scale Soaring, this time of year its almost dead as most glider pilots are still hibernating

[Peter Clare]

This forum suits me fine. It is an excellent source for information, sourcing specialised items and also on the welfare of individual members. It is also the place to look if you want to buy a large model because you won't find many in the Free Ads !
Peter Clare 3057