Thread Closings

Winilyme · 09-12-2023, 06:57 PM

Well, at least the pine sap thread is still open.

LikeLakes · 09-12-2023, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winilyme

Well, at least the pine sap thread is still open.

Well said.

LikeLakes · 09-12-2023, 07:32 PM

I get the rule.
I also get that the people running the site get to set the rules, and I respect that.
I'm just saying that, due to what I feel is excessive policing of what to me are productive discussions, I'm going to bow out. I'll check in once in a while and maybe post when I see something interesting, but other than that I'm moving on.

John Mercier · 09-12-2023, 08:28 PM

I don't think it was going to be productive.
Most of the general public isn't reading the site.
And the tempo of the general area, along with the structural limitations, isn't going to change.

TiltonBB · 09-13-2023, 07:09 AM

It seems to me that the Webmaster does a good job keeping the focus of the site on the Lake's Region. It is a thankless time consuming job which does not give him a salary. Most people have no idea how much time he spends correcting grammar, removing problem people, or deleting what we would consider spam.

There is a tab on the site to contribute and I have done so. I wonder how many people who complain (Or have no complaints) have offered their financial support to help keep the site going? If you enjoy the site, please consider it.

When the posts head off into an area that may be controversial I understand why he closes them out. For over 20 years the Webmaster has made it clear that he does not want threads to become arguments and he has taken the appropriate steps to keep that policy in place.

There are plenty of online places to post your thoughts or have your arguments. This is not that place.

LikeLakes · 09-13-2023, 09:40 AM

I do appreciate the efforts of the webmaster and any others that help out to keep the site going. Nearly all of these focused forums are a work of goodwill these days, particularly as more content has moved to other mediums.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

There are plenty of online places to post your thoughts or have your arguments. This is not that place.

I've never argued with anyone on this site. And I'll make sure not to post any thoughts here.

LikeLakes · 09-13-2023, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

There is a tab on the site to contribute and I have done so. I wonder how many people who complain (Or have no complaints) have offered their financial support to help keep the site going? If you enjoy the site, please consider it.

Great reminder, thank you for posting that. I just made a donation.

Poor Richard · 09-13-2023, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

It seems to me that the Webmaster does a good job keeping the focus of the site on the Lake's Region. It is a thankless time consuming job which does not give him a salary. Most people have no idea how much time he spends correcting grammar, removing problem people, or deleting what we would consider spam.

There is a tab on the site to contribute and I have done so. I wonder how many people who complain (Or have no complaints) have offered their financial support to help keep the site going? If you enjoy the site, please consider it.

When the posts head off into an area that may be controversial I understand why he closes them out. For over 20 years the Webmaster has made it clear that he does not want threads to become arguments and he has taken the appropriate steps to keep that policy in place.

There are plenty of online places to post your thoughts or have your arguments. This is not that place.

FWIW, I have two close friends who own forums. Those forums have Admins and Moderators. Those folks help to maintain the direction of the forum. Point is, help is available to forum owners should they choose to seek it out.

In your example, limiting the arguments, politics and bickering is totally understandable.

What about the topics that don't result in arguments?

How about the artists on the forum that no one will ever know about because we can only post reviews about restaurants?

Or how about the craftspeople who simply want to be able to share the work they are proud of?

We have motorsports enthusiasts, creative types, technical people, artists, musicians...does any of the forum talent get recognition? No because it's not a sunset, a restaurant, a drunk captain, a wake boat, loud music or the lake speed limit.

I posted a boat repair thread a while back. It was locked for whatever reason. I asked why it was locked (so I didn't make the same mistake) and suddenly it was unlocked. No information provided whatsoever but I stopped posting in that thread because of that experience.

I love motorcycles. I'd enjoy sharing that passion with others on this forum by posting group rides or upcoming trackdays or race weekends but I don't because it's not within the current scope on what's allowed. I'm actually surprised my thread about the Loudon Classic this year made it through.

What I'm trying to convey is, there are a whole lot of other topics that can be shared on this forum that don't result in arguments....topics that barely require moderation and topics that can bring people together or perhaps help people find something else in common beyond the topics that get regurgitated here.

I see an opportunity to create member participation in a positive way and also bring people together for new discoveries. This forum is an incredible source of information with some amazing, smart and talented folks.

Please take my comments as constructive criticism rather than complaints as I am keenly aware this isn't my house.

Respectfully,
Poor Richard

Descant · 09-13-2023, 03:48 PM

I think I've seen threads about most of the items Poor Richard mentions. CateP comes to mind for her artwork and the Flying Monkey and BNH for performing artists. These types of threads don't seem to draw the continuing interest that follows other topics.
Sometimes, I'd like to see a calendar rather than a thread discussion about the next fireworks that remains for several days after the event. However, that doesn't seem to be part of this software that I think otherwise is well planned and managed. I e3xpect something like "Group motorcycle rides" would quickly move beyond the Lakes Region and then folks would be upset because of an already existing geographic focus. Hard to please everybody. I'm happy as is.

John Mercier · 09-13-2023, 08:32 PM

I don't know about a calendar...
But either a sub-forum or locked thread on upcoming events with just the specifics could work.

I don't know about everybody else... but I seldom have time for even the most promoted upcoming events.

Merrymeeting · 09-14-2023, 08:55 AM

I'm sure there are many forums on motorcycles, art, and other topics that you can find, or even start your own if that rows your boat. But I like the fact that this forum is narrowly focused on the Lakes Region. Those are the topics I come for. If all the other ancillary topics are added, the site quickly becomes unmanageable and loses it's core audience. I've seen it happen many times.

I think Don has proven over the years (decades?) that he applies a fairly even hand in these decisions. The proof is in the fact that this is one of the oldest, still well attended forums on the web.

09-13-2023, 03:48 PM	#9
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,413 Thanks: 1,362 Thanked 1,636 Times in 1,068 Posts	Artists? I think I've seen threads about most of the items Poor Richard mentions. CateP comes to mind for her artwork and the Flying Monkey and BNH for performing artists. These types of threads don't seem to draw the continuing interest that follows other topics. Sometimes, I'd like to see a calendar rather than a thread discussion about the next fireworks that remains for several days after the event. However, that doesn't seem to be part of this software that I think otherwise is well planned and managed. I e3xpect something like "Group motorcycle rides" would quickly move beyond the Lakes Region and then folks would be upset because of an already existing geographic focus. Hard to please everybody. I'm happy as is.

09-12-2023, 06:57 PM	#1
Winilyme Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Ice in = CT / Ice out = Winnipesaukee Posts: 508 Thanks: 137 Thanked 302 Times in 162 Posts	Well, at least the pine sap thread is still open.

09-12-2023, 07:32 PM	#3
LikeLakes Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 339 Thanks: 50 Thanked 92 Times in 66 Posts	I get the rule. I also get that the people running the site get to set the rules, and I respect that. I'm just saying that, due to what I feel is excessive policing of what to me are productive discussions, I'm going to bow out. I'll check in once in a while and maybe post when I see something interesting, but other than that I'm moving on.

09-12-2023, 08:28 PM	#4
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,469 Thanks: 3 Thanked 609 Times in 503 Posts	I don't think it was going to be productive. Most of the general public isn't reading the site. And the tempo of the general area, along with the structural limitations, isn't going to change.

09-13-2023, 07:09 AM	#5
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 3,025 Thanks: 705 Thanked 2,208 Times in 940 Posts	It seems to me that the Webmaster does a good job keeping the focus of the site on the Lake's Region. It is a thankless time consuming job which does not give him a salary. Most people have no idea how much time he spends correcting grammar, removing problem people, or deleting what we would consider spam. There is a tab on the site to contribute and I have done so. I wonder how many people who complain (Or have no complaints) have offered their financial support to help keep the site going? If you enjoy the site, please consider it. When the posts head off into an area that may be controversial I understand why he closes them out. For over 20 years the Webmaster has made it clear that he does not want threads to become arguments and he has taken the appropriate steps to keep that policy in place. There are plenty of online places to post your thoughts or have your arguments. This is not that place.

The Following 11 Users Say Thank You to TiltonBB For This Useful Post:
Blue Thunder (09-14-2023), Cindido (09-13-2023), FlyingScot (09-13-2023), KPW (10-06-2023), LIforrelaxin (09-13-2023), Merrymeeting (09-13-2023), Phantom (09-13-2023), Resident 2B (09-14-2023), smith point boater (09-13-2023), Susie Cougar (09-13-2023), upthesaukee (09-13-2023)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Poor Richard For This Useful Post:
ApS (09-13-2023), LikeLakes (09-13-2023)

The Following User Says Thank You to Descant For This Useful Post:
winterharbor59 (09-14-2023)

09-13-2023, 08:32 PM	#10
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,469 Thanks: 3 Thanked 609 Times in 503 Posts	I don't know about a calendar... But either a sub-forum or locked thread on upcoming events with just the specifics could work. I don't know about everybody else... but I seldom have time for even the most promoted upcoming events.

09-14-2023, 08:55 AM	#11
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	I'm sure there are many forums on motorcycles, art, and other topics that you can find, or even start your own if that rows your boat. But I like the fact that this forum is narrowly focused on the Lakes Region. Those are the topics I come for. If all the other ancillary topics are added, the site quickly becomes unmanageable and loses it's core audience. I've seen it happen many times. I think Don has proven over the years (decades?) that he applies a fairly even hand in these decisions. The proof is in the fact that this is one of the oldest, still well attended forums on the web.

The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to Merrymeeting For This Useful Post:
ApS (09-15-2023), Descant (09-14-2023), FlyingScot (09-16-2023), jbolty (09-14-2023), Senter Cove Guy (09-14-2023), TiltonBB (09-14-2023), upthesaukee (09-14-2023)