Ways to improve the forum

[general jack o'niell]

where did you get the idea you were doing the entertaining, i'm swinging on the big tyre here while your sitting at the back, throwing your ain sh!te at everyone.

oh i see, that would be more entertaining than just me swinging, what if i swung and threw sh!te? do you think the gawpers might react and join the teaparty?

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Back in the cage for you!

[general jack o'niell]

hey listen i'm only number three in this madhouse, do you want to tell the good fee paying customers or rubber neckers as i call them, who is way out ahead at number 2? with only the "P" himself in front of you!!!!!! and he lives here, he's the johnny morris figure, well he has tried putting words into my mouth on occasion

it's an old joke, but a, no, it's just an old joke

[Jeanette]

Disagree with you John about not reading the posts if you don't like them. It's not much to expect to come on the site and find something about Kintyre that is topical. When the drivel goes on for weeks then no wonder no one posts.

I feel annoyed enough to at least post my opinion, right or wrong

[sconeface]

you're quite right Janette, even old posters like Bubbly Jock haven't been on for ages - things must be bad

[Kintyre Lad]

See there it goes again, ones posting, completely off the thread. John and Jeanette thanks for getting it back on track.

To me there are other areas where people can post whatever they want but it just annoys me when it is under local issues. Like Jeanette I'm keen to read and discuss local matters without the matter being hijacked by drivel!

[Bobbie En Tejas]

What is drivel to you is pages of posts by people who are interested in particular threads. Tell ya what.. you start threads and I for one will make them off limits to myself. I know you particularly resent me being here, you've made it quite clear that you don't like me or my posts. You take more pleasure in throwing darts than actually having something to say. So there is a little bit of boring and drivel you can be assured won't be on any thread you start. Fair enough?

[Kintyre Lad]

What is drivel to you is pages of posts by people who are interested in particular threads. Tell ya what.. you start threads and I for one will make them off limits to myself. I know you particularly resent me being here, you've made it quite clear that you don't like me or my posts. You take more pleasure in throwing darts than actually having something to say. So there is a little bit of boring and drivel you can be assured won't be on any thread you start. Fair enough?

Chill Bobbie. If I made it quite clear, then where did I say it?

The point being, this thread in particular is about improving the forum and after my initial post there were two or three relative posts then 6 or 7 ones completely off topic.

Don't bother with me, I'm out of here.

PS - Stick the dummy back in.

PPS - How did you know I play darts

PPS - Do you never sleep?

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Actually, that was for Jeanette, not you. You posted before I did. But if you look at Feb 14

http://www.kintyreforum.com/viewtopic.p ... sc&start=0

you will find that you complained about the same thing as you are complaining about now. The natural flow of conversation usually takes it into another direction. Anyone can pull a conversation/thread back to the topic.

And asking about my sleeping habits is off topic.

[Ship called Dignity]

I've had an enjoyable day so I'll post more on this once I have had a chance to digest this. One thing, I wish people would realise is that it is not my forum, or Malky's - it is a community forum. Personally, the forum for me is not going in the direction that I had initially hoped when first set up. In fact it has got to the point where I have not bothered posting too much myself. I've got thoughts on how to move forward with the forum but it needs a team of people to do this.

More later, I've got work to do.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

What you have is a forum that is rated 4th of the top Scottish sites. What you have is a forum that has had 40,500+ posts in just over 2 years. That hasn't happened by accident. It happened because people like it for what it is. Maybe you want to have a section that only locals can post to while the rest of us can only read, and a section that is open for posting by anyone registered. I can't wait to see how exciting the complainers make it.

In any case, if you prefer that people who don't live there go, delete me. My msn address is tejasldy2005@hotmail.com for anyone who would like to keep in touch, or im.bobbie@gmail.com.

A lot of people have made this fun and interesting.. you know who you are, if you aren't sure, write me and ask

[Ship called Dignity]

WIt happened because people like it for what it is. Maybe you want to have a section that only locals can post to while the rest of us can only read, and a section that is open for posting by anyone registered. I can't wait to see how exciting the complainers make it.

Hi Bobbie,

I don't think it will ever be suggested that we close certain sections - certainly not the local news and issues. Mainly because there aren't many locals left in the area

The forum is still used as much as ever. Nevertheless, I've had alot of people say to me the forum isn't doing what it could do. Alot of people whose opinion I value, say they won't post because of fear of being shot down or the posting going in a completely wrong direction as often happens.

However, what it needs is a team of people to work on the forum and keep news and events etc up to date. I tried long and hard for several months to do this but it becomes tiresome and sometimes rather disheartening at the lack of support. My personal interest is sport and I would like to concentrate on that. Perhaps we could get ones to post on Local News, other to post events, others to post Announcements, others to post photos etc - bascially trying to encourage others to. As mentioned this needs to be done by a TEAM of people - there is far too much going on to burden one or two people with the expectation that they should keep everyone else informed.

I've lots of ideas, in fact too many!, but willing to share them and others thoughts if anyone is willing to help!

[Bobbie En Tejas]

I suggest we pass out senses of humor with registration and make it mandatory that it be used once in a while.

And while some won't come because they are afraid others will shoot them down, seems the ones doing the most shooting are the ones who rarely come, but then insult the people who are posting.

[Ninja Mania]

My opinion for what its worth.

There is not enough local news to solely keep this forum alive and kicking, and if its to be used for local news only, then it will eventually slip way down the rankings and become lost with all the other pointless forums.

The mixture off news, photo.s, banter, including the topics that go off topic, are what makes a forums rankings climb up the league table, and make me continue to come back time and time again.
I choose to read what topics I want too, I also choose not to read the topics I dont, because thats my choice, One thing I never do is come on and slag of anyone's attemp at starting a thread, like the way The Hitman and many more do, if you dont like it, dont go in and read it, I mean I dont care what anyone reads, or what they dont read, but if we all read and join in, on the topics and threads we do like, then the forum will keep growing.
Remove the freedom of choice and the forum is finished.
This is Kintyre Forum agreed, but without the input from members outwith Kintyre, it would be pretty dull.

These few words are only my opinion on this subject, and I dont really care if anyone does'nt agree with them, thats their choice, just like these are mine.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Hopefully this post makes sense and everyone accepts it in the manner it is intended.

I work in Product Management for a Computer Software company. Essentially what the means is I'm responsible for delivering a product that our customers appreciate. These customers range from well known multi-nationals to slightly more obscure enterprises.

The product I deliver is like a member of my family. I'm very passionate about it, I help enhance it, I change it to meet new needs, I constantly listen to suggestions about it, and I think it's the best there is in the world.

However, it took me along time to stop being defensive about it. It's like someone criticising your child. Alot of time people have a genuine reason for complaining, however, they don't provide a solution all they have is a problem. From a Product Management perspective it is much easier if they have a solution, however, if they don't - coming up with the solution is my job! Even when they do come up with a solution, it's generally never thought through to the n'th degree. Again that's my job. You tend to get to the point where they say - "oh, I never thought about that aspect" quite quickly. At this point they leave the discussion, and you have to take it forward.

....... so what's your point caller?

Well, what I've learned, or had to quickly appreciate in this role is:

* Changing things takes a long time.
* No single person has all the answers, especially you
* Everyone has a valid opinion.
* Criticism is not to be taken personally.
* You will never have enough resource to do what everyone wants, therefore you have to keep plugging away at what you/they believe to be the most important issue.
* People have unrealistic expectations.

(don't think this is any different to any other area of work )

Essentially I hear what everyone is saying - as soon as we realise that everyone has the same interest at heart, i.e. improving the forum, then we can begin to move forward. We're all passionate about it, we all want it to work, we all want it to be a success, we've all got loads of ideas, and finally we're all a bid defensive of it!

Davie - PM me if you think there are things I can do to help. I'll let you know how much time I can dedicate to the forum, and we'll take it from there.

Hope this makes sense - had a few bumper measures of the 'barley tea' tonight