Is this place getting crap Or is it me!!

[hlb]

Now I can get allong with so many questions and so many newbies as well. But theres so many folk just gone away from here reasentley through bordom. No bodys putting any in input anymore. They just want output. Think we arwe here for free and that we are going or maybe have to put up with there stupid questions I'm going to follow quite shortly. I wont need to be band!!
This place is changing. All the experienced folk are drifting away. Leaving just the newbies with there binliners Any one fancy flogging flags??

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[BarryH]

Nah, its getting slow. Very slow. I don't bother with it so much these days. Don't even see many of the Dot com mob, as the poole posse are called as I've found out, these days around here.
New people are the life blood of any forum, but thats where the place losses its identity as far as the regulars go.

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[Neraida]

It must be the weather, end of season for most. I'm new tho so can't comment, but we would miss you and your elixirs and ideas (<------from over there)

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.quest-net.org/jamesaustin/images/Img1094.JPG> Recognise us? </A>

 

[ccscott49]

It's not just you Haydn, I've noticed it aswell, I don't know whats happening or why, but just can't be arsed these days, something went about six months ago and just hasn't come back, I don't see the same names anymore, mustn't cry though, seems our time has passed and it's a new era or something. I know I wont be here much now, but I will try and keep in touch with PM's etc, if anybody wants to keep in touch with me, just PM me and I'll send you my E mail. Otherwise you know where I'm berthed!!

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[BrendanS]

well I'm doing me best, but there's only so many adventures I can have in one season.....have you seen this one? tcm's bin very quiet about it so far

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[Medskipper]

Like most things it seems to go in fits and starts! dare I say that I even get bored with my MBM mag now and again! after you have been doing anything for a long period of time boredom sets in. (just ask the wife! l.o.l)
I just take a break for a few weeks and then look afresh again at the site! but I do think there is a lot more non boat talk here than there used to be. Its starting to look more like a chat room than a place to discuss our favourite hobby!

Barry


<hr width=100% size=1>I just want to retire with my boat to the Med!

 

[kindredspirit]

This place is akin to a pub and pubs change all the time. People come and people go. It's the nature of it.

Try livening it up by treading the thin line of banishment (don't lose your footing by stepping over, though)

I thought "Betty Swollocks" would have done but no one rose to the occasion. Not even you, Haydn !

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[hlb]

Yep seen it Brenden. Excelent. It's what finally prompted me. You saw fit to post it on Shuttlebut though, well I suppose it was a raggie adventure../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[hlb]

No sorry about that. Think I'd just lost the inspiration.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[Renegade_Master]

Have to agree on this one, lots of the old characters not appearing any more, like, PaulineB, cneighbour, Coliholic, Nicho, Swingo, Tomo, obiwonkeyblokey, sailbadthesinner,chrisd, zefender, darcy can you add to the list? at least this post will make you think about something.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.suncoastmarine.co.uk>Sun Coast Sea School & Charter</A>

 

[hlb]

Well ToMo's got the most positive reason. He's eloped to the Med. Ljs, Byron. C Scott and loads more just got fed up.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[Dave_Snelson]

...and paulsjs_eng

nm

<hr width=100% size=1>Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[tico]

Have to agree..... lots of newbies asking the same questions... "i've got 10k and want to cruise transatlantic, does the forum reckon a glastron wud be any good???" come on, do a bit of research first, read a few mags use a bit of common sense and look at a boat or 2 before asking asinine questions.

otherwise I guess thats its season end and all the winterise/use debate will soon start up together with the questions that liven the forum up a bit.

How about any more experiences from this season like brendans?? i keep meaning to write up 'Muda's summer hols, but havnt got round to it yet.
'beware gonfishing, wakeup, gludy you all get a mention in this unless non-consecutive numbered 20's arrive soon!'

<hr width=100% size=1>Been there, done that, got the oily T shirt

 

[andyball]

It's only an internet forum....the "golden days" don't last forever. If anything, there's more "just boats" talk now than in the past, so I don't think it's the topics; just that some of your mates don't come here much anymore so not the same vibe.Same thing happens in most forums/chatrooms/public bars etc.

fwiw, we're off to Holland/Germany next week searching for a steel boat (again!) to use in chich. harbour,solent occasional channel x. Need something woth more room to sleep/relax hopefully movement less painful to wife's busted back- current tiddler feels quite capable in waves,but doesn't do 'er indoors any good at all after 10mins or so, unless we drop out of warp..& even then it's tricky.

So: a week of boats, cheap food & beer, an easy 90 on the m'way a x-channel boat trip to dunkirk nice dutch countryside etc etc....& if we're lucky, the icing'll be finding a boat we actually want to buy & not being scuppered by dutch broker too shy to leave an answerphone message.

Got a postcard from my icelandic mate yesterday (yes,the one who was in all the national papers for crashing..."fool speed ahead", "oh no!,yacht again" etc etc). Stuck in Figuera la Foz in Portugal due to paperwork prob's at present, but eventually due to set off for the canaries- you have been warned.

 

[burgundyben]

I think to be honest that alot of the problem has been caused by bickering, we do seem to have lost a certain user1 who I think caused most of the fighting, sadly though I suspect its too late for some of the regulars to return, it certainly kept me away for a while and now tend to observe more than post.

But is it neccessarily a bad thing that the quorum of forum members is moving on?

not much has happened lately on Playtime, spending quite a bit of time with new girlfriend and most time on boat has been spent fixing and stuff. I'm quite handy wiv the boat so I dont ask many of the "how do i" questions.



<hr width=100% size=1>Sod the Healey - I think I'll buy an E-Type.

 

[hlb]

What pisses me off. Well it pissed LJS off at the time anyway. Is questions like. "Whats the best boat for fishing in the Bristol channel" So every one chips in to help the guy. What they should have said was. I'm going to buy this really cheep petrol Binliner and I'm going to keep asking the question untill some one tells me it's perfect.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[kimhollamby]

Ebb and flow

Users ebb and flow with the tide but perhaps some of the malaise among a few stems from a thought process that believes an old guard has to 'tolerate' new users asking "stupid questions". As much as I value the input of regulars you won't find me supporting such a view.

We run the forums for the benefit of all and that is the way we will encourage them to evolve although their health is of course very much in the hands of those participating. Looking at recent stats MBC has never been healthier in terms of the broadness of its audience.

I would also remind that I have offered, on several occasions, to have a question-specific forum for motorboat users, leaving lots of scope for MBC to remain the more chatty area. Each time shouted down but it remains a potential solution to some points raised here.

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[Bejasus]

Have to agree with you Ben, although I bear no malice, I do think that there have been certain posters who have just about worn things out and sorely tried the patience of others, but there are other reasons also. Forbsie moved out of his apartment and as a consequence couldn't post as often. Col has been very busy. Byron has been sorely missed. Dunno about PaulineB but she is missed also. However we are mainly talking about the people who are more the 'social' side of the forum, this notwithstanding their undoubted knowlege of boating. PBO has had something simililar lately with certain individuals hell bent on causing a fight(usually a raggie failing), but for the past few months Shuttlebutt has been where I have found the most interesting postings. I think things have just gone stale at the moment, and hopefully once people have put their toys away for the winter then we may see some more involed posts here.

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[martynwhiteley]

Is it not just a victim of it's own success?

When things have hit a peak, and you could perhaps even say 'climaxed', there will inevitably follow a down-beat, re-grouping period.

I agree with the pub analogy, and have used it before myself. How many times do you visit an old favourite haunt after months away expecting to see a few old friends, just to come away very dissaponted.

Some of the current newbies will become the 'Byrons' of the future (albiet we could do with some PaulineB's of the future - what happened to BroadsGirl?)

So in summary Haydn, I'd vote for option B to anwer your poser /forums/images/icons/wink.gif



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[andrewbarker]

Have to take issue with this point of view. We were all newbies once. Whenever you start looking at any forum like this you have no idea what the unwritten rules & codes are - or what has been discussed to death.
I think I've seen this cycle happen before on this forum. It's very general, broad interests etc. Then people get familiar, see who's got lots in common with them & soon a core group is created. They then think the only issues that are valid are ones they decide are important & start doing entries which are really just for themselves. Then they get fed up with wading through all the other stuff which isn't relevant to their "club". Lots of them get bored & drop out & hey presto in about another 3-4 months another core group emerges. I'm interested in the marine stuff - I couln't care less who's writing it, I pick out by subject, not who posted it. I think if people are fed up with this forum then that's fine - but remember this is a public meeting place, not a private club. The main point of common interest should be motor boats, not personalities. Also, those people with the £10k they've scraped together for their 20 footers will maybe be 50 footer flybridge owners in 20 years so give them a chance.

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