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[Neil]

Originally Posted by Bigsby

If it wasn't for Stripey's shit threads/posts keeping the place going, there's a chance this forum would be dead.

I doubt that very much.

[Bigsby]

Originally Posted by Neil

I doubt that very much.

But then you would say that, wouldn't you.

Not having a go at anyone in particular, including you and the other mods, after all a forum is dependent on the contributions from its members so I'm as responsible as anyone else. But I don't think anyone would try to claim that this forum is anything like as interesting as it was a few years ago, and that's not just rose tinted glasses/nostalgia. I seem to remember a thread on this before where even you acknowledged this and put it down to people spending more time on Bebo/Myspace etc instead of here.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Bigsby

But then you would say that, wouldn't you.

Not having a go at anyone in particular, including you and the other mods, after all a forum is dependent on the contributions from its members so I'm as responsible as anyone else. But I don't think anyone would try to claim that this forum is anything like as interesting as it was a few years ago, and that's not just rose tinted glasses/nostalgia. I seem to remember a thread on this before where even you acknowledged this and put it down to people spending more time on Bebo/Myspace etc instead of here.

I'm conscious I don't want to take this thread any further off-topic, but yes, you're right. I've said in the past that as far as popularity goes then this web site reached it's plateau some time ago and won't get any bigger than it is now. Especially with people spending less time on web sites like this to instead spend more time on the likes of MySpace, Bebo, Facebook etc. All of which is perfectly understandable and to be expected.

However, I've also said in the past that I'd prefer quality over quantity on these forums and I'm quite prepared to sacrifice the numbers of active users on this web site in order to achieve that aim. My tolerance for putting up with the "characters" that contribute little, but cause plenty of disruption, has long since dwindled away. Read into that what you will.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand...

[Stripey]

Originally Posted by Neil

However, I've also said in the past that I'd prefer quality over quantity on these forums and I'm quite prepared to sacrifice the numbers of active users on this web site in order to achieve that aim.

What you really mean is you want the users of this site to be obedient little robots that behave in a manner that fits your revenue stream concept without requiring any moderation effort. That's not how human beings work.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Stripey

What you really mean is you want the users of this site to be obedient little robots that behave in a manner that fits your revenue stream concept without requiring any moderation effort. That's not how human beings work.

I have a revenue stream concept? Awesome. Can someone tell me what it is?

[Stripey]

Originally Posted by Neil

I have a revenue stream concept? Awesome. Can someone tell me what it is?

Maybe I've overestimated your approach and all the banner ads are just there because you like the way they look...

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Stripey

Maybe I've overestimated your approach and all the banner ads are just there because you like the way they look...

Well the Snafu banners are usually rather fetching. If I take them down then I can count on you paying me my £200 a month web hosting bill just to keep this web site online? Ah, thought not.

[Stripey]

Originally Posted by Neil

Well the Snafu banners are usually rather fetching. If I take them down then I can count on you paying me my £200 a month web hosting bill just to keep this web site online? Ah, thought not.

the advertising actually pays for the hosting in full?

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Stripey

the advertising actually pays for the hosting in full?

The advertising plus our supporting members (who kindly pay their £3 a month) not only pays for the web hosting in full but has, for the last couple of years or so, even left us with some money left over. And before you get excited, that money isn't lining my pockets but instead sits in a separate bank account and is used to pay for other on-going costs (e.g. vBulletin licence renewals etc) and used to fund new features on the web site (e.g. mobile version of the forums).

All of which you should be rather satisfied with otherwise you wouldn't be able to spend your days looking at this web site all the time.

[Cloud]

Originally Posted by Neil

However, I've also said in the past that I'd prefer quality over quantity on these forums and I'm quite prepared to sacrifice the numbers of active users on this web site in order to achieve that aim. My tolerance for putting up with the "characters" that contribute little, but cause plenty of disruption, has long since dwindled away. Read into that what you will.

Apologies for replying to this, but...

One of the big problems the website has at the minute is the amount of people that are jumping all over anyone with a 'different' opinion to them. Look at my posts concerning the Lemon Tree and possible issues surrounding their funding - instead of getting a reasonable discussion on the go about whether or not there's actually any problems, the answers mostly rotate around "you know nothing" - and I think this kind of attitude is incredibly harmful.

Lemon Tree No More???

This is an example - I like Chris, have no problem with him at all...but this kind of post, coming from a staff member, does nothing but devalue the site. If I'm speaking rubbish, I want to see a well thought out post showing me exactly where I'm wrong. I may very well have been barking up the wrong tree, but to suggest that I'm "not clued up" without any sort of attempt to prove otherwise is just asking for trouble.

I don't apologise for having an inquisitive mind, and I think exploring these things can do nothing but improve the site as a site for discussion. If people keep jumping on these kinds of things, then ultimately, you will end up with a site where no-one expresses an opinion for fear of what happens.