Baht-stop is back looking for a mod to take it over

[KhorTose]

Yes, baht stop is sort of back with a message basically asking if anyone wants to take it over and be the moderator. I am making the assumption that the old mod/owner is definitely no longer available and this is someone connected with him/her looking for someone to take the board.

 

http://www.baht-stop.com/forums/index.php?app=members&module=messaging&section=send&do=editMessage&topicID=564&msgID=592

[Guest fountainhall]

Seems like Beachlover is out of posting work - might be a job for him, perhaps?

 

Seriously, I thought someone had started a new Baht Stop. Won't he just take over the original site? That would seem to make sense.

[Rogie]

A note on terminology:

 

Baht-Stop = original one

bahtstop = new one

 

As to whether it would make sense or not, that is debatable.

 

In favour of merging the original Baht-Stop with the recent bahtstop is the fact Baht-Stop started in 2006 so has been running for nearly 6 years, whereas bahtstop is a relative spring chicken, set up earlier this month (July).

 

The new bahtstop was set up because whoever is behind it missed the old one and I presume hoped to entice members who'd posted on Baht-Stop and to re-capture the flavour of that Board.

 

However, Baht-Stop's 'flavour' has over the years polarised opinion. There are some posters who have been turned off that Board by the behaviour of a fairly small minority. I think it is fair to say most of that group I have mentioned would be banned (or indeed already had been so were refugees seeking safe sanctuary on Baht-Stop) on almost any other Message Board. Hence the polarised opinion: should that kind of posting behaviour be tolerated or not? Those in favour presumably continued to read and post on Baht-Stop; those not in favour ceased to post or even bother reading it.

 

The $64,000 question is: will Baht-Stop, upon resumption, be run in the same way as before? If it is then a case can be made to continue with bahtstop as the majority of its members who have commented so far seem to favour keeping it going as an alternative to Baht-Stop. It seems to me though, that if Baht-Stop were to carry on like before that would be a mistake. They would fail to attract many, if any, new active posters (the 'golden eggs' of any Board i.e those members who actually post), and would find it hard going trying to post civilised topics without the looneys messing things up.

 

My preference would be for bahtstop to merge with a rejuvenated Baht-Stop and to have the moderator (Mod 1 as he calls himself) become a mod on Baht-Stop. Not necessarily to run it, I'm not saying that, but to assist whoever is appointed as the new owner of Baht-Stop. That would entail something of a risk, but assuming the two sides (original and breakaway factions, if may call them that) cooperate there is a reasonable chance it can combine the best of both worlds.

 

However, posting on bahtstop earlier today, Mod 1 seems to favour continuing his new Board even after Baht-Stop bounces back.

 

That begs the question, should it continue to call itself bahtstop?

[Guest fountainhall]

As one who has only read Baht-Stop and bahtstop infrequently, I am slightly confused by Rogie's suggestions.

 

From what I have read, Baht-Stop was particularly prized for its politcal debate - especially relating to Thai politics. I realise there were topics on US and Israeli/Palestinian politics, as well as a leavening of what others have termed crazies, but it was that Thai political content that seemed the most valuable.

 

Having looked just now at bahtstop, I don't see any political debate at all! I see a lot of links to fairly general media stories without any comment - e.g "Night flights to be Increased" - and with just one or two follow-on posts. Yet, a topic like this should engender a lot of interest. First of all, who wants to take-off from BKK at 04:00? Besides, merely saying "Night Flights to be Increased" takes absolutely zero account of the airlines themselves. The Prime Minister may have given a directive, but I can see no way Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Delta, United and most other legacy carriers will change their schedules just to please the Thai PM! (And I do happen to be friends with a couple of very senior CX executives.) But then, of course, Thai PM's have a habit of poking their noses into their Ministers' Departments without having first considered the implications of what they are saying!

 

Now I am not saying that Ethiopian, Nigerian Airlines or charter carriers (aren't they supposed to be moving to Don Mueang??) might not be persuaded by cheaper landing fees etc. to alter their schedules. But the fact is, the airline industry as a whole is highly complex and dependent on a huge number of factors. The vast bulk of carriers create a route network involving minimal connecting times between long- and short-haul flights at their home hubs. The savings from operating into and out of BKK in the wee small hours will be more than be negated by the reduced fares required to get passengers on to these flights.

 

So, purely as an observer, I cannot quite work out what niche bahtstop (version 2) is intended to fill, other than to be another somewhat general fish in what is a relatively small pool. Can it in fact survive if someone does take over and continue the old policies of Baht-Stop (version 1)?

 

On another thread we talked about another new site http://gaytouri.com/ Its policy also seems to be linking just one-line posts to media articles, and it also seems to have attracted few members. I realise it's only been going a month and it does take time to build up some sort of critical mass. But I just cannot see all these Boards staying alive.

[Bob]

But I just cannot see all these Boards staying alive.

 

I can't even see all of the 5 boards we've had around for a while surviving for the long term.

 

It seems to me that there's a limited audience. When Dreaded Ned's was up and running, it was somewhat new to the concept and fairly busy. Since the demise of that board, we've seen several other boards pop up but I'm doubtful that the total participating in all the boards exceeds the total traffic/interest generated by the DN board (or, if it does, it can't be by all that much).

 

And I'd guess that the average age of posters on all the boards has substantially increased over the years and there seemingly isn't all that much new blood that's joined the boards to participate.

 

In a way, maybe all of this somewhat parallels what some see as the slow decline or stagnation of the entire gay scene in Thailand (at least from the falang's point of view).

[Guest]

I think a little diversity is a good thing.

Ting Tong, Gaybtuttonthai & this forum all try to keep friendly debate.

Sawatdee used to allow some fairly hostile posts, although recently it seems to have achieved a nice balance by allowing some witty quips and eliminating the worst of the hostility. Well done to the mod.

 

Perhaps Baht Stop had become the board which permitted the most bitching (not said with much confidence, as I visit it 2~3 times a year). If this assessment is correct, lets hope it continues.

 

In fact, all the people who advocate hands off moderating should be queuing up to volunteer for the job.

[ChristianPFC]

There is a niche for the old Baht-Stop (with some higly polarizing posters), but if moderation is increased, they can as well shut it down as the market is served by other boards.

 

And I wonder, why do people need a gay Thailand forum to discuss US and Israel-Palestine politics?

[kokopelli]

Christian, I believe this may be a golden opportunity for you to take over Baht-Stop. You post frequently and are fond of the style of Baht-Stop so why not take it on?

[KhorTose]

I think a little diversity is a good thing.

Ting Tong, Gaybtuttonthai & this forum all try to keep friendly debate.

Sawatdee used to allow some fairly hostile posts, although recently it seems to have achieved a nice balance by allowing some witty quips and eliminating the worst of the hostility. Well done to the mod.

 

Perhaps Baht Stop had become the board which permitted the most bitching (not said with much confidence, as I visit it 2~3 times a year). If this assessment is correct, lets hope it continues.

 

In fact, all the people who advocate hands off moderating should be queuing up to volunteer for the job.

 

Good, I don't have to say what I think, you have done it for me. Thanks. I too hope for a hands off moderator.

[Bob]

I too hope for a hands off moderator.

 

While I agree that it's best not to have an idiosyncratic, biased, or heavy-handed moderator, it's difficult for me to understand why anybody that would opt for what occurred on the original Bahtstop. What I'm talking about specifically is the small group of morons (all of whom, I believe had been booted off multiple boards) who existed solely to post insults and juvenile/idiotic statements.

[Guest No2]

What I'm talking about specifically is the small group of morons (all of whom, I believe had been booted off multiple boards) who existed solely to post insults and juvenile/idiotic statements.

Why would you need a moderator for that? All you have to do is pass by the 'offending' posts. I mean, just how difficult is that? Why do adults with functioning brains need nannying mods for? I don't need a nannying mod in my real life so why on earth would I, or anyone, need one on an anonymous cyberspace forum? Don't you have a mind of your own to be able to 'deal with' the above?

[kokopelli]

Welcome back.

[kokopelli]

I believe I shall follow your advice.

[Guest fountainhall]

I don't need a nannying mod in my real life so why on earth would I, or anyone, need one on an anonymous cyberspace forum? Don't you have a mind of your own to be able to 'deal with' the above?

 

And what, I wonder, had any of the "above" to do with anything relating to "gay Thailand". That's what the Board claimed was its focus! I fail to understand why the "morons", as Bob calls them, don't set up their own Board where they can slash and burn at will.

[KhorTose]

Why do adults with functioning brains need nannying mods for? I don't need a nannying mod in my real life so why on earth would I, or anyone, need one on an anonymous cyberspace forum?

 

In real life if someone physically or verbally assaults me I have recourse to defend myself and get in his face. Not on a board. Don't get me wrong I really can ignore that kind of anonymous assault, but what about the nut who starts posting personal information, I won't ignore that and need a mod to get rid of that. Any idiot can see that there are subjects---especially on a political board--that you would not like the Thai authorities to hear you espouse;. Then there are the commercial messages. The boards are free and I need a mod to remove the unwanted advertisement.

Also, what about the man who uses several board names to attack you, is that fair. Finally what about the nutcase who post 50+ messages a day and destroys every thread with his spamming. Truthfully, I don't think you gave any thought at all to your message. Sorry, but it is somewhat insulting and dumb.

[Rogie]

Goodbye bahtstop, hello again Baht-Stop

 

Message posted on bahtstop Forum this morning UK time:

 

"The original Baht-stop is now live again, many thanks to all who joined and posted here in its absence, this board is now closed"

 

Baht-Stop is running again and its original owner is back at the helm.

 

"I started this Board in August, 2006, expecting I’d be retiring to Thailand someday. When I changed my mind in 2011 and decided to retire to Costa Rica, I was happy to hand the board over to some great guys.

 

A year in Costa Rica, however, convinced me that I didn’t want to retire there. So, I headed back to the USA last April where I’ve been thinking seriously about taking the expat plunge again to Thailand.

 

When I realized last week that the board needed new management, I decided to see if I could get the board back. Here I am, happy to be back. I hope all the regular posters and readers over the years will be back too. If you have any suggestions on how to improve the board, you're welcome to chime right in."

[Guest]

Please keep the comments polite everyone.