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The Forum - a 'third' way?
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ChrisArmstrong - 13 posts
Bearing in mind the sheer lack of activity in the forum since the requirement for users to register was brought in, is it time to consider other options?
Prior to the changes the forum was a great place for lively debate and discussion. Since the changes it is VERY quiet and I’m starting to get out of the habit of visiting the forum – as I’m sure many others are too.
Is there a “third way” between where we were and where we are which allows lively debate but doesn’t tolerate personal attacks or blatant promotion of products and services?
I appreciate there is an overhead on DS to “police” the content and delete any inappropriate threads, but don’t they do that now AND have to manage user accounts?
I don’t have the perfect answer, by the way, but I do wonder if allowing anonymous posting, with tighter monitoring of the content, would breathe some life back into the forum?
Red Pen - 8 posts
Chris I believe you have a valid point. I hope DS team consider what you are saying.
Like you say, I think people may begin to post again if there is no registry but obviously DS would have to police the site. Surely though all networking sites/forums should be policed any way, irrelevant of it contained anonymous postings or not.
It’s a shame the registry has put people off but DS were not to know until they tried it.
Leicesterguy - 5 posts
I agree that the registration has put a lot of people off posting which is a shame, however maybe those who have not registered don't realise that you can still post under whatever user name you want as long as someone else has not already taken it. The only people who will actually know who you are will be the administrators at DS. Under the data protection act they would not be able to disclose your details to anyone but they would have the power to remove you from the forum if you break the rules. Personally I think that this is a pretty fair system.
ChrisArmstrong - 13 posts
Leicesterguy
That's brilliant, I hadn't realised you could do that so hopefully others will now be aware which may in itself stimulate more activity.
cheers
Chris
Red Pen - 8 posts
An other thing people may not realise is that your email address does not have to be your own personal address, it can be your works address or any other.
I think some may be worried about posting in fear of the response they will get. I think its relitivly safe to say that the people who have registered so far are looking for educated debates and the previous childish 'people' (for want of another word!) have now got bored.
So post away people...
AndyWhyte - 37 posts
I think that the 'activity' of the forums prior to the sign up process was flattered by the same people posting as multiple personalities.
I think it's a shame things have gone quiet. But! I'd much rather a little amount of decent discussion than a lot of rubbish.
Milo, Black Dog - 6 posts
I am in agreement with Andy. Surely quality is preferrential to quantity, and if you bear in mind that at least 50% of the traffic on the forum appeared to be thinly veiled advertising of a thread to keep that thread at the top of the 'rankings', whilst at least a quarter was either schoolyard squabbling or downright slander, then I am positive that the 'grown ups' will still use this as a vehicle for discussion, to bounce ideas around and to post opportunities and information not covered by the news feeds.
Sparkly Donkey - 12 posts
I have bitten the bullet (or carrot) and registered. I was actually put off by some of the wording in the T&Cs for the site - "you agree to be responsible for all losses of Dealer Support or Intelligent Media Solutions arising out of any breach by you of these terms and conditions." This is quite scary and I think has put some other peeps off. However, I do agree that you cannot have a forum without some degree of banter, and sometimes this will get close to the mark - its up to the moderators to ensure that rules are bent but not broken. I also agree that quality beats quantity hands down. I was also put off by the hijacking of the forum by some individuals - I know you can ignore them, but it was annoying - congrats to DS for dealing with it. So, I am back and I hope we can get others on board and get this party movin'. Clippety clop.
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