Is Bukf Dying? Options

[Jason Chapman]

Is BUKF dying?

I think this question has been a long time coming, and the answer from my point of view is no, it’s not dying. I admit I haven’t posted in a while, but it’s not because I have fallen out of love with you guys its simply because nothing interesting is happening in our world at the moment, the news has got unbelievably predictable.

I think this forum has evolved, topics have been discussed to death, and now we’re all sitting about wondering what to talk about next. Added to that there are no more angry people left to argue with.
This is not the only forum which seems to have fallen by the wayside there are many out there who have no one posting. This forum has helped me immensely over the last few years, develop my debating skills, I feel that I have gained a lot from the topics I have posted or have written replies to, to say the least its been a real education and to that, I say thank you to everyone I have had the chance to talk with, whether they be still with us or no longer with us.

I believe another reason for people dropping out of existence is the social networking revolution, Facebook, Twitter and other sites have totally changed the way which we communicate. We can post quick messages like twitter, or post videos on Facebook, you can now play games on these Social networking sites. But I think one of the most attractive elements of these sites is that you as an individual can amass a personal fan club. Think of it as that scene from Life of Brian where Brian inadvertently ends up preaching rubbish to the local folk, and then ends up with thousands of followers. You can literally become your own cyberspace Messiah on these sites. My scifi design Facebook account has well over a thousand followers now, and is adding more each day, I’m hoping to have several thousand by the end of the year, and that means opportunity to sell stuff.

People do blame the moderators for lack of interest which I think is slightly unfair, it’s not their fault Joe Bloggs no longer comes on to rant and rave about the state of the world. I for one will continue to pop in and out to see what’s new.

[Rach227]

I have to admit, I always wondered where the board administrator was because everyone seemed to be just mods, the admin is the one that should keep the place going.

I think the mods are being pinpointed because they have been the most involved

... not that I'm saying that good reason to

This post has been edited by Rach227: Mar 21 2010, 05:01 PM

[teeo]

I packed this place in a few years ago because I got tired of the bitchiness, but it was busy. 2005-6 it was great fun.

I was at a loose end today and thought I'd see what was going on here.

It might not be dead, but it seems to be about to draw its last breath.

Shame really.

I'll have another look later tonight at a time when it used to be the busiest.

P.S.

Just looked at the bottom of the front page - 9 Guests and 1 member on line.

This post has been edited by teeo: Mar 24 2010, 05:28 PM

[teeo]

Well, it's now nearly eight at night.

2 members and 9 guests and no new posts since I last looked - about 2 hours ago.

I pronounce life extinct.

What a pity.

[teeo]

Well it's now 10.00.

Other than my posts above, the most recent post in this entire forum was at 10.51 this morning - which is 09.51 in real time. 3 posts in 12 hours, all from the same person.

That's that then.

Forgot to add... 6 Guests and 2 members - one being me, the other has been looking at the samepage since my previous post. Maybe they're dead too.

This post has been edited by teeo: Mar 24 2010, 10:17 PM

[charlesr]

Well it's now 10.00.

Other than my posts above, the most recent post in this entire forum was at 10.51 this morning - which is 09.51 in real time. 3 posts in 12 hours, all from the same person.

That's that then.

Forgot to add... 6 Guests and 2 members - one being me, the other has been looking at the samepage since my previous post. Maybe they're dead too.

Shame on you teeo, you did not see me sat in the corner talking to my self, you should have gone to Spec savers i think.

The fact is AI21 asked a question and the answer is one he probably already knew but perhaps wanted to breathe some life into here in the form of debate in however small a quantity.

And it appears that he succeeded in his endeavours, this thread has attracted a few contributions already, well done ai21.

Out of interest Charles, you are still relatively new to BestUk, what brought you here in the first place and what drives you to return?

Regarding how I came across this forum, I found it quite by accident, I was searching for UK forums using goggle with out much luck, so I was trying different search terms ie uk forums, good uk forums, popular uk forums, list of uk forums ect ect and I came across this web page here. http://www.osmium.org.uk/links/05Forums.htm

As you can see, right at the top of the page is Best UK Forums http://bestukforums.co.uk/. I don’t know what the connection is between this forum and the web page and I cant remember the exact search term brought up that web page, but that’s where I got the link. I had a look around the forum a few times before I joined. Primarily the reason I was interested was because of how quiet it appeared to be, but when I went looking further back I could see how busy and boisterous it was in the past and that is what sparked my interest. I would say that it was what killed the cat that kept my interest, simple Curiosity.

This post has been edited by charlesr: Mar 24 2010, 11:02 PM

[teeo]

Shame on you teeo, you did not see me sat in the corner talking to my self, you should have gone to Spec savers i think.

Wait..... what's this?? A faint pulse, a slight fogging of the mirror held close to the mouth.....?

It's just gone 11.00 - what was the busiest time in the 'good old days' and we have 11 guests and two members right now, with a daily total post tally of about 13.

No, it must have been an involuntary muscle spasm or maybe rigor mortis setting in.

(Sorry charlesr, didn't see you. You must have been bloody well hidden)


Down to 6 + 2 now.

This post has been edited by teeo: Mar 24 2010, 11:22 PM

[charlesr]

Of course you could not see me, that's because i was in Ninja mode or was it because i had fallen to sleep on the chair and had slipped to the floor in the corner, one of the two anyway.

Good evening to you sir, its good to se you out this time of an evening, haven't you had your cocoa yet?

[charlesr]

I expected a comment like that but please understand that we have had these threads for so long. They used to interest me too, i admit but I think as AB pointed out, people would rather talk about how crap this place has got, instead of creating other posts and topics.

But does this not tell us that people here enjoy discussing the forum, this is certainly interesting to me, and perhaps to one or two others who have posted here.

Absolutely but do you realise how sad i think it is for myself to have said that? I had an unhealthy obsession with this place for a long while where i spent far far too much time on it, trying to contribute and make the place better. But i am only being honest i'm afraid. I can only try my best. Perhaps i should hand my permissions over to you and see how you get on without any advertising.

That’s a very generous offer sir, but my workload is rather heavy at the moment. How’s that for a cop out?

Are you implying we werent good at what we did? I'm sorry but i have to point out, and i think you have done so too, that this forum began five years before you joined and the most activity here happened before you were here.

I have to say that, I don’t understand how a compliment can be turned in to in insult, if some one had compared me with a policeman, I would have been greatly flattered. My comments regarding a Moderators job being like a policeman’s job, was simply to say that your job is a very important job, just as a policeman’s job is. You get little thanks for your efforts, as with our boys in blue. Moderators are right on the front line, as are our police. And as for doing your job so good that you have eliminated the need to moderate, I really don’t see how anyone could take that as an insult, its clearly a compliment.

But also, there was so much more that we took on, as i mentioned, that is needed on active forums. Such as running competitions, managing the forum software, and banning and suspending trouble makers. Without those things you'd have an out of date, and chaotic forum.

So Moderators Keep the peace, just like a policeman? And get little or no credit for it, like our police?

The very fact that we had lots of harrassment complaints,

Just like the police?

I have no idea what you are saying here. But it does sound like you are comparing members of forums to criminals which is strange. Unless you are implying that’s how we treat them here.

That’s not what I said and it is not what I meant.

If thats not what you are implying, then i apologise.

That is not what I was implying and I accept your apology in the spirit it was offered.

(i would estimate that at one time at least, those posting in the debate section were in the minority) suggests that the majority did most definitely not want that.

The viewing figures do not seem to back that up though, although the stats do point to the fact, that far fewer people contributed, than just viewed. That would indicate to me that those who view the posts only, felt too intimidated to join in, or equally that they did not feel qualified to join as their knowledge of that subject was not sufficient, clearly the viewing figures were high, which i would have thought says that a lot of people were enjoying the thread, but what I cant understand is why those who left because of intimidation have not returned.

If I could just add, my comments were not meant to be derogatory in any way, I was simply trying to find out what had happened, I was curious, it’s the way I am. You could say, its non of my business, and that may be true, but if I am a member of a forum or a club of any kind, I like to know exactly what I am getting involved in, once again its just the way I am. I came here by accident, but I stayed despite being offended by one member, because of my curiosity and because of the kindness extended to me by aboutblank1967 and ai21. In the final analysis. I would say that my curiosity and inquisitiveness regarding this forum, has contributed to and extended this thread and quite possibly attracted other members to post in or view this thread, which I think tells me that this forum is not dead.

Strangely, I can not fully evaluate the success of this thread, because the posting and viewing figures are missing.

I believe that the only thing we are lacking is money. I'm sure you will say that you can have popular forums without advertising but i'm pretty sure as i said before that the forums that advertise are the most active as they are the ones with constant streams of new members.

I would not dream of saying such a thing, because I have no idea how forums are run and I would not pretend otherwise.

but I wonder why he is never mentioned.

Because, unlike the Moderator and equally the Police, he is not on the front line?

If my presence here is causing disharmony or friction between members or staff, please let me know and I will not return again.

[Scorpio]

That’s a very generous offer sir, but my workload is rather heavy at the moment. How’s that for a cop out?

Miss

I have to say that, I don’t understand how a compliment can be turned in to in insult, if some one had compared me with a policeman, I would have been greatly flattered. My comments regarding a Moderators job being like a policeman’s job, was simply to say that your job is a very important job, just as a policeman’s job is. You get little thanks for your efforts, as with our boys in blue. Moderators are right on the front line, as are our police. And as for doing your job so good that you have eliminated the need to moderate, I really don’t see how anyone could take that as an insult, its clearly a compliment.

Fair point, i just over analysed what you said. I'm not used to the police force being talked about in positive terms, especially on this forum so i took it in a negative way

Strangely, I can not fully evaluate the success of this thread, because the posting and viewing figures are missing.

I dont get you. Right now it says there have been 244 views on this thread.

Because, unlike the Moderator and equally the Police, he is not on the front line?

Yes you're probably right, just as is Rach.

If my presence here is causing disharmony or friction between members or staff, please let me know and I will not return again.

Cant see where that came from

[Jason Chapman]

I'm still here

[Rach227]

then talk more!!

[charlesr]

Fair point, i just over analysed what you said. I'm not used to the police force being talked about in positive terms, especially on this forum so i took it in a negative way

That really does surprise me, the police force as a whole has the most important job in the country and do it exceptionally well. I know that rogue elements have surfaced with in the force from time to time, but that happens in every organisation I’m afraid and having said that, the police have had far less rogues than other service’s as far as I have seen. If we had no police, who would catch the murderers, the rapists, the people who attack and rob our old age pensioner’s etc etc. I can only say, that have nothing but respect for our Police.

I dont get you. Right now it says there have been 244 views on this thread.

That’s rather strange, on the page I have been looking at, there are no stats showing either viewing figures or posting figures. I have just checked again right now and there are no stats showing, but only on this thread, on the other threads the stats are clearly their to be seen.

What about other members? Can they see any figures?

This post has been edited by charlesr: Mar 31 2010, 04:02 PM

[Scorpio]

I couldnt agree more on the Police. Not everyone does though.

As for viewing the stats, i can see them both as a guest and using a "normal" member account

This is as a guest




----------------




And this is as a member

[aboutblank1976]

I know that rogue elements have surfaced with in the force from time to time, but that happens in every organisation

You should see the "rogue" element of the moderators - gosh we're bad, we make North Yorkshire Police look like pigtailed girls!