Where's everyone gone?

[Guest fountainhall]

Although I no longer post here, I do look at the Board from time to time. Today I noticed my name and so feel it is appropriate to respond.

 

Firstly thank you to Voldemar for his kind words. But I would like to assure him that at no time was I ever treated with anything other than the utmost respect from GT and Scooby. As GT reported, we were indeed all in contact with each other, a fact I greatly appreciated.

 

Secondly, I must take issue with paulg’s statement -

 

If you look at the posts at GB, you will certainly notice that besides GB the huge volume from lvdkeyes, fountainhall,undaunted and LMTU make up a large part of all postings.

In only a couple of months, that Board has picked up more than 250 members, of whom at least 75% - 80% have posted. With respect to paulg, it is not just GB + 4 making the bulk of the posts. A quick look at the members' area shows that 15 have more than 100 posts, not counting GB himself. If you look at the topics list on that Board, you will see a wide variety of subjects that are far from exclusively Pattaya-based.

 

But I am not here to debate the merits of one Board against another. I had four enjoyable years posting here. I am now enjoying my break and even though I am posting on another Board, I will cease posting altogether soon when I am away from Thailand for more than 5 weeks. By the end of the year I expect I will turn up again somewhere.

 

In the meantime, I hope this Board will soon attract more posters, especially the new ones who have been attracted from the Facebook ads. It took me a few months between joining and starting to post. I hope more will take the plunge more quickly. There’s a lot going on in Thailand and there will soon be more with the high season just round the corner. Just start a thread on any relevant topic and you’ll get some useful and interesting feedback.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Those of us who are long time posters here know what transpired with Fountainhall and one other poster and we know who caused all the problems which seem to have gone away now that the other poster rarely posts here and is no longer on GBT.

[Guest beachlover]

All forums go through ups and downs. Even SGT, which was dead quiet 2-3 weeks ago has picked up a lot in just the last few days and is very active now. GayThailand.com has heaps going for it...

 

I still think a cleaner and brighter user interface like the one both SGT and GBT use would attract more new members and encourage returning posters.

 

The new owners here have failed in their job, and with GayThailand withdrawing the situation is more desperate for them.

How the hell have they failed in their job? It's far from dead. It doesn't feel any less active than it was before they took over.

 

When you look at the boards mentioned you will note that some posters almost swamp the posts with their own self important comments on everything. Thats when I get turned off.

When I see new posts are all from the same person I dont bother to read let alone post.

 

Sometimes I think certain posters would be more suited to say MSN where like minded people could log in and chat to them, if they wanted.

It does sound like you would rather people don't post on forums at all.

 

If you look at the posts at GB, you will certainly notice that besides GB the huge volume from lvdkeyes, fountainhall,undaunted and LMTU make up a large part of all postings.

It's normal for boards to have a couple or several prolific posters. I don't know any board that thrives without a good group of core posters. They drive most of the activity.

 

Out of curiosity, what is your ideal board then? How would you make it happen? It's as if you would rather forum boards did't exist at all.

 

It appeared to me...personal opinion...that the newer members of the board were cuddled and cared for in a much more protective manner, while the long time poster were kind of swept out with the trash...just a personal opinion.

Since you asked (for the rocks!), I should say I disagree with your opinion. Leaving an unjustified and unsubtantiated personal attack running so long is not cuddling. No one was 'swept' out either.

 

As mentioned in several post above, a lot of posters have gone to GB board out of loyalty for GB...but I think also because they know exactly how they will be treated there and that all will be treated fairly...and this hasn't happened lately with GT.

Wouldn't be so sure about that. The only two posters who happen to be aged in their twenties were booted from the board with no rational reason given.

 

I, for once, do not check GB message board at all.Unless you are permanent resident of Pattaya, bored to death and interested in local gossip ( I am not) you will not find anything useful over there.

It does feel like the owner wants to move it that way but the last time I checked there was plenty of posts about stuff outside of Pattaya.

 

I would mention Fountainhall.

He is an intersting personality and obviously was not treated fairly by moderators.

He left on his own accord but I doubt posts being made invisible was his primary reason for leaving.

[Guest voldemar]

I'd say you're either psychic or lying. I think I know which of the two it is.

 

Of course, you know everything. Surely, I checked out your board couple of times.Not a single post was of any interest for me. As I mentioned in my previous post, there are people who like to discuss the same things again and again.

Nothing original or informative on your message board...

[Guest voldemar]

Although I no longer post here, I do look at the Board from time to time. Today I noticed my name and so feel it is appropriate to respond.

 

 

 

 

By the end of the year I expect I will turn up again somewhere.

 

 

Hopefully it will be this message board.

[Gaybutton]

Of course, you know everything.

No, not everything. But I know enough to know a troll when I see one. I also know that on my worst day, I still know far more about Thailand than you'll ever know on your best day.

 

I checked out your board couple of times.

Then I was right. When you posted, "I, for once, do not check GB message board at all," you were lying. You just proved it.

 

Scooby overrode my decision and let you back in. You're his problem now.

[Guest voldemar]

No, not everything. But I know enough to know a troll when I see one. I also know that on my worst day, I still know far more about Thailand than you'll ever know on your best day.

 

 

Then I was right. When you posted, "I, for once, do not check GB message board at all," you were lying. You just proved it.

 

Scooby overrode my decision and let you back in. You're his problem now.

an

I frankly consider such posts as a personal attack. I do not like to be called lyer,

I do not like to be called troll, I do not like to be reminded about previous abuses

of Gaybutton as moderator on this message board. I do not understand why Gaybutton is allowed to do all that. If moderation here is biased, it should be enough to suspend Gaybutton posting priviliges over here and that is what I EXPLICITELY ASK TO BE DONE.

I am not going to tolerate personal offences from somebody like Gaybutton.

[Guest jomtien]

 

I am not going to tolerate personal offences from somebody like Gaybutton.

 

 

Then perhaps you shouldn't start slinging mud. You reap what you sew.

[Guest voldemar]

Then perhaps you shouldn't start slinging mud. You reap what you sew.

 

There is nothing personal in my posts. I am expressing my opinion about Gaybutton's message board not about Gaybutton. Gaybutton offenses me personally. This is unacceptable.

[KhorTose]

But I am not here to debate the merits of one Board against another. I had four enjoyable years posting here. I am now enjoying my break and even though I am posting on another Board, I will cease posting altogether soon when I am away from Thailand for more than 5 weeks. By the end of the year I expect I will turn up again somewhere.

 

I have not been posting because I have been on vacation in Europe. I missed the row where Fountainhall quit posting on this board and so I do not have any particulars to add on that issue other then I will miss his input. Even though he is often wrong----just kidding ---he has displayed a very sharp intellect and a willingness to debate within the rules of civilized discussion, and it is this boards loss if he is not posting here anymore. Is there someway we can get him back?

[Guest]

1 Let's cut out the personal attacks please. This thread is under discussion on the moderators forum.

 

2 Fountainhall is welcome to post here any time he likes & continue his valuable contribution to the board.

[Guest beachlover]

Is it me or did one of GB's posts get made invisible here. It's a little ironic LOL.

 

Anyway, just wanted to point out this thread at SGT about a frustrated new member who's had trouble posting here:

 

http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum/gay-thailand-f9/gaythailand-forum-t20201.html

 

----

BLUEBOY WROTE:

 

Has anyone else had a problem posting on the GayThailand forum?

 

All posts seem to have to be approved before they are posted which is fine by me.

However, I have tried several times to post - my post are not objectionable by any means, but they do not appear!!

 

It just seem strange, or does the moderator does not want particular people to post?

 

----

 

Just a suggestion...

 

I think it's fine if new members are moderated initially but (1) THIS HAS TO BE MADE CLEAR AND OBVIOUS TO THEM and (2) actioning their posts and taking them off moderated mode has to be done promptly! Otherwise, don't start them on moderated mode at all.

 

I had no idea new members were moderated when I first registered. If I hadn't bothered to PM GayThailand asking what was wrong (and if he hadn't replied quickly explaining) I wouldn't have known all new members are initially moderated and wouldn't have bothered posting anymore.

 

I reckon it's possible you lose more than 75% of entirely new members through this (without knowing any of the real stats).

[kokopelli]

 

How the hell have they failed in their job? It's far from dead. It doesn't feel any less active than it was before they took over.

 

The title of this thread "where have the posters gone" suggests that same members believe that posters are no longer active since the new management took over.

 

If new management takes over a business and loses customers then is that a sign of failure or success? Nonetheless the owner of this forum seems to believe it is going in the right direction so that is what counts, I suppose.

[Guest]

It may just be a sign of cyclical variation in posting activity.

[Guest beachlover]

The title of this thread "where have the posters gone" suggests that same members believe that posters are no longer active since the new management took over.

 

If new management takes over a business and loses customers then is that a sign of failure or success? Nonetheless the owner of this forum seems to believe it is going in the right direction so that is what counts, I suppose.

 

You've got a point but I wouldn't call it "failure" in an absolute sense. I'm also unsure if there was much the new owners could have done to arrest the minor exodus primarily caused by an external factor - the entry of a new competitor.

[Guest beachlover]

Not sure if you guys check what they're saying on other boards...

 

Two more usability complaints about the GT board posted on SGT:

 

View here: http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum/gay-thailand-f9/gaythailand-forum-t20201.html

 

Jason1988: There is something wrong with the GT board. I have tried to post numerous times

and the post do not appear. This seems to be something that has happened in the

last 30 days or so.

 

Perhaps it isn't working out as well as the new owners had hoped.

 

Pudel: I don't find the 'log-in' so I am not able to post anymore there, maybe they don't want old members (Kurt)

 

I have had the same issue with the login facility too. I find that if I'm not already logged in when I visit, I have to back track to the home page and use the login fields there. There is NO OBVIOUS WAY to login once you click into the forum page... bit ridiculous.

 

Might be something to fix in due course... I think the clunky, cluttered feel and these major/minor usability irritations put off a lot of users.

[Guest xiandarkthorne]

I have had the same issue with the login facility too. I find that if I'm not already logged in when I visit, I have to back track to the home page and use the login fields there. There is NO OBVIOUS WAY to login once you click into the forum page... bit ridiculous.

 

Might be something to fix in due course... I think the clunky, cluttered feel and these major/minor usability irritations put off a lot of users.

 

Same problem here, too.

[atri1666]

Same me with IE only... but with firefox i get other startpage and can log-in normally.

[Guest]

My Firefox bookmark is for forums as follows.

http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/

 

Today there is no login box whatsoever, so I have to go back to the home page to login.

[Moses]

The same with Opera: I see loginbox only at "home" page

[TotallyOz]

I am sorry gentlemen. I was working on the main banner and the code was replaced. I am working on having it fixed today. I am pretty new to this so please give me a little time and I'll have it working again.

[KhorTose]

I am sorry gentlemen. I was working on the main banner and the code was replaced. I am working on having it fixed today. I am pretty new to this so please give me a little time and I'll have it working again.

 

In the meantime click on "register" on the title page. Sign in and then click on forums.

[Guest beachlover]

You might be able to call the forum "dead" now LOL. Hopefully temporarily.

[Guest]

It has been rather quiet here in the last few days. However, I figure traffic might pick up again given time.

There's possibly a niche for a forum which allows robust serious debate, but does not allow posts to be taken off track by certain regulars who just like the banter.

How do other people see it?

[Guest lvdkeyes]

It maybe that GBT has taken over.