Carlton Supporters Club

Forum => Notice Board (Visitors Enter Here) => Topic started by: Lods on November 03, 2017, 07:07:17 pm

Title: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Lods on November 03, 2017, 07:07:17 pm
Just interested in folks opinions….
We’ve been operating for close to two decades now.  At our peak our membership numbered in the thousands with probably a hundred + active members posting regularly.
Just in terms of the current site…since 2014
New topics have more than halved (942-416)
New posts have dropped by 20000 (53611-35378)
New members down from 133 to 30
Most online at one time has halved (330-179)
Page views down by nearly a million (4172638-3498045)
There is still a couple of months to go but these figures won’t get close to that 2014 level.

Now an obvious factor impacting is the number of facebook groups that have sprung up. I’m a member of a few of those… but the decline does raise a number of questions.

1)   Is there still a place for the anonymous forum like ours or are we a dying breed?
2)   Do we need to change to remain viable in the current climate?
3)   What changes would people like to see?
4)   What other Carlton sites do you visit/ are a member of?
5)   Is there anything in particular you don’t like about the site in its current form.
6)     What do you like that keeps you posting/ viewing here
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: bigblue on November 03, 2017, 07:22:33 pm
I'm not a regular poster but I like fellow blues supporters differing opinions. I like hearing the views of a few of the old heads in here.
Do I like  all the threads in here?? No. But that's ok. This site is great cos theres something for everyone.
Please don't shut it down. Crashz phantom drafts, sheiks sacked backed and cracked threads to name a few, are my faves.
I've been a member here through the darkest period of our club and want to be part of it right now and for years to come as we're coming good !!
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Thryleon on November 03, 2017, 07:34:14 pm
This forum is more of a community than facebook.

We build relationships and you tend to view a poster with the body of work behind their opinions.

On facebook there's too much noise and you get lost as well as too many people.

Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: kruddler on November 03, 2017, 07:36:49 pm
You can't hide from sites like this. Everything is there for all to see, recorded in history........until we change sites which has happened a few times now.

Facebook might steal some posters, but will never reach the same level as these forums in terms of community feel. A lot less trolls on here, and generally more learned posters it seems.

In terms activity numbers....
You've always said "losing is good for business" and although we have been losing, the majority of people can see we are heading in the right direction, thus less arguments/discussions are occurring.

As for less threads....thats because the sheik doesn't come on and post 10 threads a day about stuff that we already have on the site. ;)
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on November 03, 2017, 07:36:59 pm
Just interested in folks opinions….
We’ve been operating for close to two decades now.  At our peak our membership numbered in the thousands with probably a hundred + active members posting regularly.
Just in terms of the current site…since 2014
New topics have more than halved (942-416)
New posts have dropped by 20000 (53611-35378)
New members down from 133 to 30
Most online at one time has halved (330-179)
Page views down by nearly a million (4172638-3498045)
There is still a couple of months to go but these figures won’t get close to that 2014 level.

Now an obvious factor impacting is the number of facebook groups that have sprung up. I’m a member of a few of those… but the decline does raise a number of questions.

1)   Is there still a place for the anonymous forum like ours or are we a dying breed?
2)   Do we need to change to remain viable in the current climate?
3)   What changes would people like to see?
4)   What other Carlton sites do you visit/ are a member of?
5)   Is there anything in particular you don’t like about the site in its current form.
6)     What do you like that keeps you posting/ viewing here

Lods, answering your questions in order :

1. Yes there is a place, and no this type of forum is not a dying breed. The figures you quote are to be expected in an era where there are so many platforms to voice opinions. They all tend to cannibalize each other to an extent. I'm guessing a forum like this may appeal to older folks, and the young ones may use twitter etc. This may mean footy forums become a little more "niche." A forum like this certainly gives you the chance to expend and elaborate on ideas, thoughts etc., something not possible with "instamedia".

2. No changes than i can think of. Just keep the moderation balanced so that people can have sensible and sometimes heated discussions in a mostly civil manner.

3. see 2

4. This is the only footy site of any kind that I visit.

5. Generally happy with the site. Everyone who is involved with the site, past and present, should be appreciated. It's a good place to hang out.

6. It's just like a virtual online pub or bar, where you see familiar faces, and you know the lay of the land. And occasionally it's like hanging around on a notorious street corner knowing that some fireworks are just around the corner.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on November 03, 2017, 07:51:37 pm
x2 what Paul said...

I will also add that when you have success you get more posters/members jumping onboard, when you are at the bottom its only the die hard
fanatics that keep the posts churning , the banter happening and will come back each day to talk about defeat...

Start playing finals, win a premiership and the numbers will get better.......
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on November 03, 2017, 07:57:52 pm
x2 what Paul said...

I will also add that when you have success you get more posters/members jumping onboard, when you are at the bottom its only the die hard
fanatics that keep the posts churning , the banter happening and will come back each day to talk about defeat...

Start playing finals, win a premiership and the numbers will get better.......

Yes EB. Lods started the discussion referencing 2014 (for obvious reasons), but I wonder what the figures were like circa 2010-2011 ? I'm guessing they were higher, partly because of better on field performance, and partly because instamedia was less ubiquitous. 
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: cookie2 on November 03, 2017, 07:58:13 pm
Lods this site is great afaic. We have a solid core of regular posters and a few who drop in from time to time. The pub bar is a good analogy. I personally think it's working well and we shouldn't be too concerned that numbers may have fallen - bigger is not always better! Let's keep it going.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Lods on November 03, 2017, 08:38:01 pm
Thanks for the input so far.
Feedback is something we should probably do more often...

Just to make it clear there are no intentions to shut the site down at present.
No,
This is more a state of play and ideas thread to perhaps suggest ways we can evolve.

(My own tenure may be more of an issue as I've been moderating for a long time and it might be coming time for a fresh injection of younger ideas to take us forward. ;) ;D)

Just a couple of responses to some pf the comments.

1)The reason I chose 2014 was that was our second year of operation under the new format.
The initial year had the enthusiasm of 'newness' behind it and the figures for new members were inflated by the folk from the old site migrating across.

2) I'm not so sure we're more active when things are going well.
Our peak period for activity coincided with the draft penalties and the Pagan era.
Lots of argument lots of debate.
But I may be wrong.
It will be interesting to see the activity when we're regularly successful.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Jack Burton on November 03, 2017, 09:01:52 pm
I don't post much but I really enjoy reading the opinions of others on this forum. I don't follow any other footy sites. As others have said, it is good fun to get to know the various regular posters and follow their arguments, and good to hear various opinions on directions that the club should go. I wouldn't change anything, and hope to keep following on here for years to come
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: DJC on November 03, 2017, 09:24:31 pm
1)   Is there still a place for the anonymous forum like ours or are we a dying breed?

I think there is if you want generally well-informed debate or critical opinions.  The Carlton Facebook pages are extremely lightweight in comparison.  Is anonymity important?  I imagine that it may be for some folk.

2)   Do we need to change to remain viable in the current climate?

It seems to me that some aggressive, blokey responses may put people off.  The diversity of the active posters seems to have declined more rapidly than the number of posters.

3)   What changes would people like to see?

Zero tolerance of personal abuse but banning to be a very last resort - I still miss PI2C  :(

That could involve more active intervention by mods at the slightest hint of personal animosity creeping into a thread.

Restructuring the forum to simplify where new topics should go may help folk to kick off discussions.

4)   What other Carlton sites do you visit/ are a member of?

I am a member of a couple of FB pages.  As mentioned above, discussion is usually shallow but they are often where news is broken.

5)   Is there anything in particular you don’t like about the site in its current form.

Kruddler!  Only joking; I generally enjoy his contributions  :) 

One thing that does get up my goat is the tendency to attack posters' credentials as supporters of the Mighty Blues.  It happened to me when I expressed a pessimistic outlook during the Malthouse disaster and I considered giving the group the flick.  I think it should be up to the mods to weed out any trolls and other posters should keep their opinions to themselves.

6)     What do you like that keeps you posting/ viewing here

The informed and differing opinions of posters, interesting and robust discussions/debates, camaraderie, the shared support for the best football club in the universe, and the opportunity to cr@p on about any subject that takes your fancy.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Micky0 on November 03, 2017, 11:11:44 pm
I'm not a prolific posterbut I really enjoy it here.

I feel like the majority of posters are knowledgeable So I learn rather than a site like big footy which is just, as someone said about fb pages, just a mass of people and trolls and you can't follow anything really.

I don't go to other sites.

Only thing I can think to fix is an upgrade on emojis!
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: LoveNavy on November 03, 2017, 11:53:17 pm
1)   Is there still a place for the anonymous forum like ours or are we a dying breed?

He'll YES. I'm not dead yet. I hope I get to bang on about our beloved Blues for a while yet.

2)   Do we need to change to remain viable in the current climate?

No.

3)   What changes would people like to see?

I personally enjoy reading posts that encourage the opinion of others.  As opposed to those that discourage it. I guess it comes down to inclusive values, which I believe fosters discussions.  This is only a small matter as posts are generally good. On the whole I don't see the need for much change. 

4)   What other Carlton sites do you visit/ are a member of?

None.

5)   Is there anything in particular you don’t like about the site in it's current form?

It took me a while to get familiar with how to find threads not on the 'latest list. I still haven't worked out how or if I should start a new thread. This is probably reflective of my forum ignorance but I'm probably not Pat Malone ????

6)     What do you like that keeps you posting/ viewing here

Unquestionably the sense of community.  I love that I can rant on until I'm all out of puff. If I did that in real life with nonbaggers, it could end badly. I love the passion we share and the immense wisdom of other posters. Without this forum I'd be relatively isolated, living in a state that is rather Blueless???? This might seem a bit weird, but what I learn from others enhances my experience watching our games.

With gratitude to those who keep CSC alive and entertaining. LN????
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Lods on November 04, 2017, 12:14:19 am
Without this forum I'd be relatively isolated, living in a state that is rather Blueless???? This might seem a bit weird, but what I learn from others enhances my experience watching our games.

That's one of the things I found in the early days of forum life.
It's good way for interstaters to connect with the club.
Through forum interaction you come across bits and pieces of information that don't always make the mainstream media....especially in places like Sydney and Brisbane
Yep... You sometimes have to make a judgement on it's validity but over a period of time you tend to work out the reliable sources.

Some of the training reports and VFL reports that members post up are also things you wont find reported extensively elsewhere.
The club tends to portray these in a positive light on the club website whereas our guys give a more critical (in the sense of negatives as well as positives) evaluation.
Thanks to those folk that provide them they're much appreciated.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: northernblue on November 04, 2017, 12:57:54 am
I like the place generally, but I wonder how we benchmark against Talking Carlton ?
I think most people aren’t interested in reading a site like this, but I dumped all the FB pages 2years ago, found them to be full of of snot nosed figjam twats, imho ????
Personally, forum use peaked during an unhappy marriage, hunting took over as a preferred pastime when I was single ???? and I’m now engaged, but I’m happy with my current level of lurking/contribution
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Navy Maven on November 04, 2017, 05:01:34 am
Having been here for over 10 years now I've seen a lot of changes that have happened on the site as well as the rise of other social media platforms. To be honest, I actually like that we're a little smaller than we once were. We've seen a lot of dic*heads in here over the years that would dominate every thread with their BS agendas, but I have a lot of respect for the opinions and insights of our current posters.

I'm on a couple of FB pages, but as other have said, there isn't a lot of depth in those. I also post on BF but that site infuriates me more than anything, with it's illinformed posters and slack moderating.

I love our little community here and can't think of too many changes off the top of my head  :)
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Phillipwh on November 04, 2017, 06:17:22 am
i love this site
I post less these days 
I guess I  found it depressing that we were so far out of it
that is until Bolts and SOS came along


Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: sandsmere on November 04, 2017, 06:24:25 am
Lods, answering your questions in order :

1. Yes there is a place, and no this type of forum is not a dying breed. The figures you quote are to be expected in an era where there are so many platforms to voice opinions. They all tend to cannibalize each other to an extent. I'm guessing a forum like this may appeal to older folks, and the young ones may use twitter etc. This may mean footy forums become a little more "niche." A forum like this certainly gives you the chance to expend and elaborate on ideas, thoughts etc., something not possible with "instamedia".

2. No changes than i can think of. Just keep the moderation balanced so that people can have sensible and sometimes heated discussions in a mostly civil manner.

3. see 2



5. Generally happy with the site. Everyone who is involved with the site, past and present, should be appreciated. It's a good place to hang out.

6. It's just like a virtual online pub or bar, where you see familiar faces, and you know the lay of the land. And occasionally it's like hanging around on a notorious street corner knowing that some fireworks are just around the corner.

^^^^   This for me.
I do go to Bigfooty and TC now and again but CSC is much better than either of those.

There is plenty of differing opinions and that is good.

Apart from the odd troll visiting now and then ( and most of us know who they are ) our members seem to be a damn good lot of Carlton supporters .

I reckon our moderators here do a pretty good job too.

Please keep it going.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Wet Willie on November 04, 2017, 08:11:23 am
I really enjoy this site and believe the posters are treated with more respect here than other sites or FB pages.

I think the figures might be down because everybody seems positive and united about how the club is rebuilding.  A few years back we were angry about the way the club was run, the way it was coached, the finances, the deals et etc.  We were far more outspoken...  See this as a positive development!

Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Woodstock on November 04, 2017, 08:23:52 am
Having been here for over 10 years now I've seen a lot of changes that have happened on the site as well as the rise of other social media platforms. To be honest, I actually like that we're a little smaller than we once were. We've seen a lot of dic*heads in here over the years that would dominate every thread with their BS agendas, but I have a lot of respect for the opinions and insights of our current posters.

I'm on a couple of FB pages, but as other have said, there isn't a lot of depth in those. I also post on BF but that site infuriates me more than anything, with it's illinformed posters and slack moderating.

I love our little community here and can't think of too many changes off the top of my head  :)

My sentiments exactly. Big footy is a school yard, full of egos and the occasional revelation from a respected source or two. CSC is where the grown ups come to talk.

Think of that classic TV show: Cheers...Cliff (EB), Norm (Lods), Frazier (Kreuzer), Sam (Crashlander) from Cheers. Oh and Carla (Brettie  >:D )

Good times my friends, good times. Wouldn’t change a thing. Better now than ever. It’s maturing like a good wine.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: mateinone on November 04, 2017, 08:25:25 am
I have mentioned this before, but will again.

I think the site should modernize. I think the reality long term is a 'grumpy old men' situation where it is the same group chatting around a fire. Not that it is a terrible thing, it is of course okay, but if the forum was to grow I think it should be including 'hooks' into social media as an example

Just an ability to build followers there and have regular topics posted to these sites to raise questions etc.
You see the thing about these sites is is that once they are subscribed to, people are alerted to the topics.
Let's say Sheik's Cracked post. When it is posted it alerts members and 'reminds' then to come over and have a discussion.

I think forums have a place, but they have a limited places among the youth.
Today's youth have grown accustomed to 'liking' or 'retweeting' a lot more than conversing, so already there is that little bit of the battle in any case.

On the anonymous side.. I don't think it is necessary in today's internet. People do so much online where their ids are known that being hidden on a football site seems a bit irrelevant. In saying that, it is easy enough to have people link their social media accounts as option (ie sign up through Facebook/Twitter or email) and then the choice to link their own avatar or the profile pic as well as using a 'handle'.

I have a love/hate relationship with the site, I have been a member here since about maybe 2001 or 2002 I think it was, I want it to thrive, but the slide that Lods has discussed is exactly what I thought would happen to the site over time if there was not a freshening up of the place.

Anyway I will probably still be back around the place until it blows it's last breath, but I do hope it moves itself forward from where it is in the future.

Oh regardless of what I have said above, I will agree that NO football social media group I have seen goes close to the depth of opinion (right and wrong) as a forum such as this.
It is a lot of people responding in 10 words or less, in fact the comments are basically uninteresting compared to the original 'post'. In that there is no ongoing relevant discussion on those sites.

====

Edit.

What you mentioned about the training reports Lods is spot on as well as anything VFL. These are some of my favorite posts on the site for exactly the reason you stated. I can get a view from a supporter rather than from the club. I know what the clubs update will be before the training session has taken place for example.

Again though, I think getting an alert telling me a new training report was posted would get me to the site to read it.
A good example is that I get an alert as soon as the teams are posted from the AFL site and one of the 1st things I do if near a computer is come and see the discussion it generates.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: deags on November 04, 2017, 08:55:37 am
I enjoy coming here.
I like to come for both news, and analysis.

I think this type of place will always have a relevance. It may wax and wain in it's popularity, but peoples interest in footy overall will do that due to various things both personal and club related. When we start winning, this lace will once again be a hive of frantic activity.

I left for a while due to the postings of a certain member who is no longer around. I was looking at TC while I was gone and I must admit, I didn't really like the site either in terms of the actual visual look of the site or the "feel" of the site. Maybe just because I was used to this place, not sure.
There are members of the forum who have dominating personalities. That's fine. Most, not all of them, generally have something interesting or useful to say so I imagine most people are willing to put up with the rest of their crap. Some are just horrible, and I wish at times there was an ignore option to filter users posts. I do support banning of people, but I guess probably after a couple of warnings, and maybe a suspension to see if that changes behaviour. We have lost a lot of really great members who posted interesting and useful information due to poor behaviour of certain members... And a lot of the time it may not be terrible behaviour on it's own or as a one off, but when it is repeated over and over it becomes really negative and I can see why people would leave.

Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Rational_Expectations on November 04, 2017, 10:20:01 am
I've been reading posts on this site for around 10 years now, but regrettably a busy work life means I don't post much. It's a wonderful resource that I value highly.

Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: laj on November 04, 2017, 01:16:58 pm
Everything is cyclic and can go up and go up and down. There's a bit more competition these days from the likes of Facebook but there can be alot of twats, know nothings and generally F wits, mixed across a number of good posters too. Sometimes smaller groups are good. Although I occasionally butt heads with some posters, which is part of the forum caper occasionally and it's nothing personal, here all posters here are very knowledgeable and all make good contributions despite what I say occasionally. All on here I would happily have a beer with and discuss all things Carlton, something you feel more in smaller groups.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Jean-Claude on November 04, 2017, 03:06:08 pm
I am probably one of the youngest on here but I still love reading the stuff on here much more than the mostly garbage that gets posted on social media or bigfooty from attention seekers. Thoughtful opinions and generally better informed.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: crashlander on November 04, 2017, 03:57:11 pm
This is an interesting question you have raised. The numbers you have brought up are pretty damning in themselves. But I think they are not as gloomy as they appear.

New topics have more than halved (942-416)
New posts have dropped by 20000 (53611-35378)
New members down from 133 to 30
Most online at one time has halved (330-179)
Page views down by nearly a million (4172638-3498045)
There is still a couple of months to go but these figures won’t get close to that 2014 level.


It appears to me that most forums that I know of are trending down. As the information age gathers pace again, there are people who do not like their expression monitored. They don't like the rules most civilized forums have. They just want to get their 2 cents in and do it first.
OK, I can see that in some people, but it is definitely NOT the way I work.
I would much prefer to get things right. I like when I am not abused for having an opinion. I like to share what I know. I don't want ads or trolls or morons or bullies to appear.

1)   Is there still a place for the anonymous forum like ours or are we a dying breed?
I hope we are not a dying breed. I feel comfortable here and appreciate the respect I get. Most of the facebook sites do not have in depth discussion, tables of data, posts that contain lots of words. Most facebook posts are 1 or 2 sentences (except mind sometimes.... I wonder why that is?) Even with most of these pages now having rules stated on them, many posters still publish material that we would not tolerate here. I gather it irritates the people who run the pages, but we have lived with that over a long period. Our rules are not there just because someone likes impressing their power and authority over others. Nor do we ban people just because we can.
I would say that as long as people come to these sites and want to participate, then there is a place for us.

2)   Do we need to change to remain viable in the current climate?
If we do not change, then we stagnate and die.
However, changing just for the sake of it is also a very poor strategy for long term survival.
I don't mind at all the idea of looking at other forums to see what they do differently and determine what, if anything, we can add to ours.

[/color=limegreen]3)   What changes would people like to see?
I have no idea. I come back to this another time.

4)   What other Carlton sites do you visit/ are a member of?
I am a member of a couple of the facebook pages. However, I don't spend much time there - things are pretty superficial there.
I am a member of TC and BF, but I spend over 75% of my time here. BF has some very good things, but sorting through the rubbish is time consuming. TC isn't that bad, but it has taken them a LONG time to get their act together and start enforcing their rules.

5)   Is there anything in particular you don’t like about the site in its current form.
6)     What do you like that keeps you posting/ viewing here

I feel comfortable here. There is a good community of posters here. I like that.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: chalkybill on November 04, 2017, 04:52:11 pm
I thoroughly enjoy this site!  I rarely contribute but I really like the variation of opinions and the different aspects that each of these bring to the discussions,  As already mentioned, the training reports are a great highlight for me.  :) :D :) :D :) :D :) :D :) :D :) :D :) :D
No longer living just a dropkick and 2 pints from the ground as I did a few decades ago they give a far more interesting picture than the club reports.  (I miss Bluesgirl who gave incredible reports.)

My thanks to all of you for a great site, one that I would miss terribly if it was shut down
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: madbluboy on November 04, 2017, 05:02:20 pm
If we don't move with the times I can't see this forum still going in 10 years time.

Get some young blood on the admin team to help out with getting CSC on twitter or facebook or whatever the latest craze is.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on November 04, 2017, 05:43:36 pm
If we don't move with the times I can't see this forum still going in 10 years time.

Get some young blood on the admin team to help out with getting CSC on twitter or facebook or whatever the latest craze is.

My guess is that sites like twitter or fb would act like news feeds for the main csc site - e.g "check out the latest discussion on Daisy Thomas on csc : www.carltonsc.com/....................

One or more of the csc mods could act as admin for the instamedia sites, creating links and maintaining some sort of sensible flow between the two. It sounds like a big job.

To be honest, I rather like the site as it is now. As a structural engineering consultant told me back in the day, "small fish are sweet."
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: cookie2 on November 04, 2017, 05:47:00 pm
If we don't move with the times I can't see this forum still going in 10 years time.

Get some young blood on the admin team to help out with getting CSC on twitter or facebook or whatever the latest craze is.

Be interesting to know the age profile of CSC membership - I suspect it's currently well skewed toward the older end of the spectrum. Trying to appeal more to a much younger age profile as well sounds good but it may well hasten the demise of our forum if done in an uninformed way.  For example, how do we know what younger contributors would want, if they want a forum such as this at all? Secondly, if we did change things to chase a younger demographic, would we still appeal to the older posters and would they continue to hang around? Tread very carefully IMHO - we could possibly build something new that nobody wants.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Lods on November 04, 2017, 06:30:36 pm
Some really good points being made and it's pleasing that the discussion is largely concerned with preserving and enhancing the site

We have talked about setting up a facebook page that would run in conjunction with the site.
Just not completely sure how that would work but it's something to consider.
There would be a loss of anonymity on that platform...but we'd have to see how that impacted.

Some of the technical changes suggested would best be run past Spanner and would be largely dependent on his having the time to consider them.

10 years from now it's hard to determine how folk will get their football discussion fix.
Yep...
We do have to move with the times.
We do have to work strategies to attract younger folk
...but as cookie suggests the changes may have to be small gradual evolutionary steps rather than radical changes.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on November 04, 2017, 06:57:16 pm
I think it's important that the site be kept to a size that can be managed effectively. I can imagine the main reason that fb etc. become chaotic and unpleasant is that the mods are called on to do too much, and lose interest and motivation after a while. Once you let too many crazy people in......... forget it Marge, it's Chinatown (as Homer once put it). 
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: mateinone on November 04, 2017, 06:58:54 pm
The other point is that it is okay to keep it how it is and let it run it's gradual course.
What I don't think that we should be scared about though is enticing the wrong crowd.
Change is good in most situations, but it is also scary in most. Better the devil you know...

I spoke to an admin a while ago about this and gave some thoughts, but they never went anywhere, which is completely fine as the site needs to determine it's own direction. The only thing that concerns me is someone coming in with a much better site and legitimately overtaking this site as the best place to get Carlton news.

At the moment (at least for me) Carlton SC is a very long way ahead of Talking Carlton (but then the folks there probably think the same), but what we do have is a bunch of members who have been here over 10 years.

I think Ray, Spanner, Sheik, Brettie & Lods(?) might have all been here longer than I. I have a suspicion that Tribey, Jim, MBB, Crash, Sandsmere, EB1, LP, Kruddler & Thryleon might have all been somewhere between about 2003 & 2007 when they joined so would be in the 10 year plus club (and no doubt I have missed more and it is not intentional, but there are others such as Cookie & GTC that I can't remember when they joined, but they do seem to have been here forever also).

So it does point to some of the most prolific posters coming back and chatting, which is fine, but it has struggled in say the last 5 years to attract many regular (say weekly) posters.

Btw as I said, it is okay for that to be the main purpose of the site, but it would be great imo to see the next generation come in and keep the fire burning.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Thryleon on November 04, 2017, 07:21:17 pm
Yep that's about right.  Ten years or thereabouts for me.  I think I jumped on board this forum the trade period before Judd.

I met TUB in person and he got me onto this site.

I'm happy for the site to do what it needs to to remain relevant.

What I think will occur in time is the decline of social media.   It's not as fulfilling as a forum like this.

Also in lengthy topics too many posts to read means you have to come back too regularly to read them all or skip them.  That's not great either.

Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on November 04, 2017, 09:03:46 pm
The Sheik got me onboard after we started at the Club website chat forum, think my old mate Java Blue might have started there too....
That folded after most there got tired of waiting for the forum admins to ok every post...it was a bit like North Korea in terms of criticising the club.
So then Talking Carlton started and most found there way there.....good site, plenty of info from inside the club on players, board challenges and most other gossip but
it ended up being a pissing contest for some and there was more bickering than chat in the end. The Sheik then decided he was over it and was starting his own forum more designed for the Carlton tragics...stuck with TC initially even though the Sheik pestered me to switch  but there were issues with TC, it shut down, reopened from memory, some of the best posters left and CSC was getting some of that traffic so I decided TC wasnt the place for me and I could ply my biases much better on CSC...

Not real keen on the social media apps so if this forum went down that path in any great way then I would be out.....
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Rational_Expectations on November 04, 2017, 09:23:04 pm
Bring back Gozza.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: cookie2 on November 04, 2017, 09:38:24 pm
Must be getting on for 10 years since I found this site. Early on I also had a short spell on TC (only posted there a couple of times) but found CarltonsSC much more to my taste so I dropped off TC altogether. I don't use social media at all - find it quite banal as a matter of fact, so I personally would not be interested in going down that track.

Not really into other sports these days but I follow a few other sites/blogs that are mainly relating to world events and geopolitics.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Spanner on November 04, 2017, 09:50:21 pm
This is a really interesting discussion and something I have been thinking about for the past 12 months. I've been wondering what I can do to modernise the place to make it more inviting to new users and how we can incorporate some new features like Social media plugins etc.

The main issue is finding time to do these things as data migration for a forum of this size is no trivial matter. My business takes up a majority of my time now, yet my love and passion for the Blues (not Gibbs  >:D ) is unrelenting. There are a number of new open source forums out there that look really cool and have most of the features that people have been requesting.

But the time to do the data validation and import is daunting, let alone the learning curve required to learn the new forums nuances for not only myself, but for the great people who run this place on a daily basis. The Mods of CSC are the people who make this place great and should be highly commended on the giving CSC the "feel" it has.

A list of Open Source forums I've been looking at are below. People should take a look at them and test them out (don't worry about the way they look, we can change the colours etc), just test them out for functionality and see which one everyone prefers. We can then have a discussion on what we should do next. Check them out from the following links:

https://discuss.flarum.org/

https://vanillaforums.com/en/showcase/

http://www.yabbforum.com/

https://codoforum.com/                        (This one looks really cool)

I'm sure there are others out there that I'm not aware of, so if anyone has some suggestions, I'm more than happy to have a look at them.

Spanner...
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: flyboy77 on November 04, 2017, 09:57:32 pm
If it's not broken, why change it.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: mateinone on November 05, 2017, 12:06:09 am
Hi Spanner

On the surface I do like the look of a couple of those forums.
I particularly like how the last 2 seem to have reasonably seamless integration into Social Media.

The 2nd one you need to inject the blocks of code, but it seems pretty straight forward

EB has talked about walking away if further integration with Social Media and everyone has a choice, but I don't understand that at all. Integrating with social media doesn't mean turning the site into Facebook or the like, it means using those sites to drive more traffic and hitting audiences that may not otherwise know of the forum. Personally I would think that is a positive thing.
Also just enabling SSO. It is less passwords for people to remember or save for those that want to use their other tools to log into the site and for those that don't, well that is okay also.

For example if someone likes and shares a post on Facebook, that doesn't alter the discussion on the forum at all, it just let's others know about the discussion.

I liked that the last one on Spanner's list allowed for code to be injected, which gives a lot of options for implementing widgets tools over time, simple tools perhaps showing when a player is coming up for an anniversary match or links into stories in the media etc.

I also like that it had options for tags. you could tag a poster or tag say a player. When looking for stories on Murphy (for example) you could click on the tag for Murphy and go to all stories where he is tagged. Looking at avenues to move a site forward doesn't mean the current site isn't good or doesn't server a purpose, not at all. It is just saying... the IT world has changed astronomically in the last 5-10 years, should we be looking at what else we can do?

I admit I am firmly in the basket of wishing there was some change, but that doesn't mean I don't think Spanner & the mods have done a brilliant job here, because they have
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: spf on November 05, 2017, 02:00:41 am
If the forum was to go the social media route I would not use it anymore.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: BlueAvenger on November 05, 2017, 06:55:32 am
Bring back Gozza.
He was a character that's for sure. I echo the sentiments of the majority. Love CSC, I've been around since '09. CSC is much better than TC and BF imo.
I only go to BigFooty.com during the trade period as they have 2-3 in the know type posters but in general and overall CSC is much more like a little community.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: sandsmere on November 05, 2017, 08:19:54 am
If the forum was to go the social media route I would not use it anymore.

x2.

Social media is all over the place. I'd prefer to keep this site free of it.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: cookie2 on November 05, 2017, 09:31:28 am
If the forum was to go the social media route I would not use it anymore.

Tend to feel the same way. I want nothing to do with Facebook or Twitter and studiously avoid both.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Thryleon on November 05, 2017, 09:35:48 am
There's other problems with social media.

Imagine half the stuff said about Gibbs was to make it to social media platform where he could actually read it.

We'd have to moderate that more heavily meaning people won't be allowed to be as critical.  Before anyone says no to that, it absolutely would have to happen because common decency prevails.

I'd rather we get people being able to voice it, and discuss accordingly.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Thryleon on November 05, 2017, 09:37:20 am
I've noticed that social media is changing too.  People don't use it like they used to.  Most of my friends have ditched facebook for insta because there's too much advertising and sports on facebook.

Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on November 05, 2017, 10:11:52 am
Tend to feel the same way. I want nothing to do with Facebook or Twitter and studiously avoid both.

x2...
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: mateinone on November 05, 2017, 10:19:14 am
Thry, are you suggesting he can't read it is on CSC or that he doesn't know the identity of those reading it?

Because integration with Facebook (let's use that as an example), wouldn't mean all the posts on CSC are on Facebook.
It might mean that a link is posted directing those wanting to chat about Gibbs to come over to the forum and discuss it.

Whilst respecting everyone's right to their own decisions around where and when they post, I find some comments a little hard to understand and I wonder if they are just blanket statements without a complete understanding of what integration with sites might actually look liike.

Here are 2 examples

Example 1
=======
IF the forum enables users to use their account (and let's say Facebook again) as an 'option' to logon with (instead of having to signup with email) are people saying they would leave the forum?
I mean that is an 'integration' with Social Media affecting only those wanting to sign on that way, but it is a popular form of integration.

Now why would the forum adopt this method as an opton for signing up? Well as an example yesterday I was in Fitzroy heading to St Vincent's and looking for some sushi to take up to someone I was visiting. I downloaded Yelp onto my new phone and you had to log in or sign up. I was able to just signup with my facebook account in seconds, rather than have to signup with my email, wait for verification etc etc. I was pulled over on the side of the road, I would not have signed up with email. Now this is common, a LOT of people would prefer to hit a couple of buttons to sign up/logon to a site, that is why that method has become so popular everywhere.

So that is one of the most popular forms of social media integration. Would people actually leave CSC if that was enabled here?
If yes, I respectfully ask why?


Example 2
========
What about if today someone went to Facebook and copy and pasted a link from a discussion here and put it on a Carlton Football Supporter group today encouraging people to join csc and chat? Something which has absolutely already happened.

Would people leave CSC if a poster on here was to do that?

If not, then why would people leave if there was an option to "share on Facebook" a thread. Making it easier for the admins or others to post the link?

What I am suggesting here is that it can already be done right now, but having it as a built in option makes it easier for a topic to be shared.

The site can enable these options and the ONLY change for the average user would be a button with the option to 'share' or an option to 'sign in with your ........ account'. Users could still login with their current account/password/avatar. No user would ever have to go to Facebook or Twitter or Google+ (that is funny) or reddit or anywhere else to discuss Carlton.
In other words the site can enable integration with the wider community without a user here changing anything.

So whilst I understand people might jump ship if you had to lose your anonymity (though that anonymity is partly a falsehood regardless right now), or if the discussion here were moving to social media... I do struggle with understanding why someone postiing a link to the forum on another platform would be enough to  drive people away.

This could very easily be a misunderstanding by me, but it does seem as though growth is discouraged by some because that in reality is all that integration is designed to do. To allow CSC to reach out to the next generation of supporters to come and chat about Carlton, because I fail to see how any of the suggestions change things for current users who don't use social media.

===

If it is something other than the above that is worrying people about SM, what is it?


Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Thryleon on November 05, 2017, 11:09:34 am
Thry, are you suggesting he can't read it is on CSC or that he doesn't know the identity of those reading it?

Because integration with Facebook (let's use that as an example), wouldn't mean all the posts on CSC are on Facebook.
It might mean that a link is posted directing those wanting to chat about Gibbs to come over to the forum and discuss it.

Whilst respecting everyone's right to their own decisions around where and when they post, I find some comments a little hard to understand and I wonder if they are just blanket statements without a complete understanding of what integration with sites might actually look liike.

Here are 2 examples

Example 1
=======
IF the forum enables users to use their account (and let's say Facebook again) as an 'option' to logon with (instead of having to signup with email) are people saying they would leave the forum?
I mean that is an 'integration' with Social Media affecting only those wanting to sign on that way, but it is a popular form of integration.

Now why would the forum adopt this method as an opton for signing up? Well as an example yesterday I was in Fitzroy heading to St Vincent's and looking for some sushi to take up to someone I was visiting. I downloaded Yelp onto my new phone and you had to log in or sign up. I was able to just signup with my facebook account in seconds, rather than have to signup with my email, wait for verification etc etc. I was pulled over on the side of the road, I would not have signed up with email. Now this is common, a LOT of people would prefer to hit a couple of buttons to sign up/logon to a site, that is why that method has become so popular everywhere.

So that is one of the most popular forms of social media integration. Would people actually leave CSC if that was enabled here?
If yes, I respectfully ask why?


Example 2
========
What about if today someone went to Facebook and copy and pasted a link from a discussion here and put it on a Carlton Football Supporter group today encouraging people to join csc and chat? Something which has absolutely already happened.

Would people leave CSC if a poster on here was to do that?

If not, then why would people leave if there was an option to "share on Facebook" a thread. Making it easier for the admins or others to post the link?

What I am suggesting here is that it can already be done right now, but having it as a built in option makes it easier for a topic to be shared.

The site can enable these options and the ONLY change for the average user would be a button with the option to 'share' or an option to 'sign in with your ........ account'. Users could still login with their current account/password/avatar. No user would ever have to go to Facebook or Twitter or Google+ (that is funny) or reddit or anywhere else to discuss Carlton.
In other words the site can enable integration with the wider community without a user here changing anything.

So whilst I understand people might jump ship if you had to lose your anonymity (though that anonymity is partly a falsehood regardless right now), or if the discussion here were moving to social media... I do struggle with understanding why someone postiing a link to the forum on another platform would be enough to  drive people away.

This could very easily be a misunderstanding by me, but it does seem as though growth is discouraged by some because that in reality is all that integration is designed to do. To allow CSC to reach out to the next generation of supporters to come and chat about Carlton, because I fail to see how any of the suggestions change things for current users who don't use social media.

===

If it is something other than the above that is worrying people about SM, what is it?

Not exactly.

There is a level of restraint people will subconsciously come to if they sign on with their public identity.

Players will seldom come to forum's like this one.  I think they'd visibly read social media.

If the tie in was just authentication and the comments don't hit facebook that's probably ok.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: mateinone on November 05, 2017, 11:19:05 am
I agree people will comment different if their actual identity is used, but many sites use Single Sign On tools and you still post under an alias and allow anyone who doesn't want to use any of the different SM platforms to still sign up the traditional way.
Oh and I know 100% for sure that players come to forums.

Also I don't think people actual read "posts" on Facebook. They might see a link and go and read further on the site, but if someone tried to run a forum through a Facebook group it would just be a huge mess full of inane comments.

And twitter doesn't allow for lengthy posting.
In both instances any integration would be directing people to talk about footy on the forum I would think


Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: LP on November 05, 2017, 12:20:48 pm
Forums are better for this type of discussion because they are more heavily moderated than Facebook which basically gets overrun with trolls when posts on sport, politics or religion are the content.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: LoveNavy on November 05, 2017, 02:40:58 pm
Tend to feel the same way. I want nothing to do with Facebook or Twitter and studiously avoid both.
[/quote

X2
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blue Moon on November 05, 2017, 03:31:24 pm
I like this forum. I like the way it is set up and I value the comments that the major contributers make regarding the issues around the CFC. While I don't always post, I always read. I do get frustrated by the the negativity sometimes, and I find the down right abuse some people hurl towards our players is disappointing and I will often make my opinion clear on this. However, while I might disagree with what people may say, I will defend to the death the right of people to say it.
I say keep going. There have been dark days at Carlton for a number of years, with a couple of false dawns, however I think there are Navy Blue skies ahead.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: northernblue on November 05, 2017, 04:39:47 pm
Mateinone, I think the people saying that they want no part of a social media integration, just don’t understand what’s being proposed. 
I think once they do understand, they’ll be ok with it, as I think you’re suggesting including the “option” to utilize and not actually making these people join facebook.

The anominity of posters is an interesting one, personally I think it’s a relic of a bygone age, but it’s also quite charming. We’ve had some wonderfully creative usernames over the years !

I wasin a messenger group at one point. It was made up of current and former CSC posters, and I noted that one poster in particular had a much quieter disposition in the messenger group than the testerone charged one displayed on CSC...
I’d presumed that was because in the messenger group we all knew who he was... But then again a quick read of FB will show plenty of angry ants making outrageous statements/threats seemingly without thought of anonymity. 
I guess to me the username/real name thing doesn’t really matter.

The only other thing I can think of at the moment is using the site on a Mobi... I’ll admit I haven’t tried for a couple of years, but the times I tried it was pretty useless.
I can usually wait to get home and use my iPad to catch up, but Trade/Draft period is always an anxious time, but then again the afl and club trade trackers have made it so that at least I’m informed about the changes, even if I can’t join the conversation.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: spf on November 05, 2017, 05:39:12 pm
Mateinone, I think the people saying that they want no part of a social media integration, just don’t understand what’s being proposed. 
I think once they do understand, they’ll be ok with it, as I think you’re suggesting including the “option” to utilize and not actually making these people join facebook.

The anominity of posters is an interesting one, personally I think it’s a relic of a bygone age, but it’s also quite charming. We’ve had some wonderfully creative usernames over the years !

I wasin a messenger group at one point. It was made up of current and former CSC posters, and I noted that one poster in particular had a much quieter disposition in the messenger group than the testerone charged one displayed on CSC...
I’d presumed that was because in the messenger group we all knew who he was... But then again a quick read of FB will show plenty of angry ants making outrageous statements/threats seemingly without thought of anonymity. 
I guess to me the username/real name thing doesn’t really matter.

The only other thing I can think of at the moment is using the site on a Mobi... I’ll admit I haven’t tried for a couple of years, but the times I tried it was pretty useless.
I can usually wait to get home and use my iPad to catch up, but Trade/Draft period is always an anxious time, but then again the afl and club trade trackers have made it so that at least I’m informed about the changes, even if I can’t join the conversation.

I agree NorthernBlue on a mobile friendly site would be useful, I too have been frustrated trying to read the site via the mobile.

Your points about social media integration - perhaps I don't understand what's being proposed, I am not against modernisation but I will not join Facebook, Twitter or their clones. I briefly tried whatsapp and have since removed it, I was not impressed the contacts in my phone were sent information from Whatsapp when they have never used the service. The only social messenger group program I would consider would be Telegram (made famous by ISIS unfortunately), but it does work. Again I was careful about what I gave it access to but it does have a very good desktop app that works seamlessly with the phone version.

Posting links on social media the lead participants to our site where they can contribute I have no problem with, I don't even mind if they can return post from Facebook, but I won't be joining them in Facebook groups.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Lods on November 05, 2017, 06:03:02 pm
I think it's probably important that we understand that any future form of the site would be largely unchanged.
Links to a CSC facebook etc would just be that...links.
Folk who didn't want to access those features would not have to.
Anonymity would be preserved for those who just use the main forum.

All we're considering are some extra "bells and whistles" that would enhance the site and be user friendly.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: mateinone on November 05, 2017, 06:18:52 pm
@spf

As per what Lods has just said I would not think there would ever be any reason that users of a forum such as this would need to sign up to any social media sites, I know for sure that isn't what I was proposing when I was talking about integration with Social Media sites.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: LP on November 05, 2017, 06:38:34 pm
I agree NorthernBlue on a mobile friendly site would be useful, I too have been frustrated trying to read the site via the mobile.

So there is no Simple Machines mobile friendly view for this site?

I understand the desire for a social media based site, because of the mobile issues, and I appreciate FB and others Apps have this already sorted. But it's almost impossible to keep such sites securely closed, I'm assuming you want to retain a closed group.

Maybe the problem is Simple Machines itself, is there an alternative?
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: bratblue on November 05, 2017, 08:22:38 pm
A lot of people don't use their own names on fb. I use my business name.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Amers on November 06, 2017, 01:38:46 am
I joined CSC just over 10 years ago in early '07.
I was living in Adelaide and tired of not getting any news about the Blues in the state paper, and precious little content from the Carlton website.

I joined, TC, CSC and BF all within a month of each other, CSC has always been by far the best site.

TC had some good training reports and and a Carlton recruiting staff member who would comment from time to time, but that all dried up and the discussion there other wise, wasn't all that great.

BF now has a guy that does some training reports, BF is also good for some goss around trade period time and for reading a number of different phantom drafts leading up to the national draft  each year.
I still visit BF but probably split my time 25% there, 75% here.

I love the community feel of this site, the type and level of discussion here is something you will never find on somewhere like FB.

I miss BluesGirl and her training reports, and while I'm sure we still have some female members still here, we seem to have lost quite a few too, not sure why...

I have also had the privilege of meeting a number of people from this site and watching games with them. I've never had a bad experience, and would happily do catch up's with anyone who is interested.

This site has been and still is a great place to come and get my Blues fix!

I'm not against starting up a CSC FB page/twitter account or whatever, with links to threads on this site, it would then be up to individual posters if they wanted to interact with those pages or just come here directly.

All in all this site has served me well over the last 10 years and I look forward to celebrating with everyone when we eventually get our hands on premiership flag no 17!!

Go Blues!!
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: malo on November 06, 2017, 08:52:34 am
If the forum was to go the social media route I would not use it anymore.

That's another x2 from me as well.  I'm am gradually withdrawing from facebook....it's just mostly rubbish & political agendas now.

I don't post a heap, more to do with my own confidence among so knowledgeable crowd than this site !  But I certainly have never felt like I couldn't, & on those occasions when I do extrapolate on a topic, or even (heaven forbid) create a new one myself....I've never been made to feel like an idiot for doing so.

cheers

Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: rocky on November 06, 2017, 10:25:27 am
I stumbled across the site years and years ago after a particularly depressing loss in our darkest darkest days and was looking for solace from somewhere.
1)   Is there still a place for the anonymous forum like ours or are we a dying breed?
Hope it's not dying. Wouldn't be going onto facebook or whatever else people use nowadays. It's either this or nothing as far as I'm concerned.
2)   Do we need to change to remain viable in the current climate?
Possible but not sure to what extent. I'm comfortable with how things run now.
3)   What changes would people like to see?
The old emoticons were better.
Is there a whatever happened to option somewhere because people look to have been dropped off and I must have been away and missed the reason. Where are you Karroto?
4)   What other Carlton sites do you visit/ are a member of?
None.
5)   Is there anything in particular you don’t like about the site in its current form.
Probably a bit busy for my liking. Wouldn't mind if a few bits and spices got dropped off. Some of the things on here I haven't ever looked at.
6)   What do you like that keeps you posting/ viewing here
The reports people put on. The guys that do the VFL especially. Post game threads are always interesting. Sometimes the off football topics get me interested too.

Not a huge contributor but this site would be the number one visited by me other than Google.



Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: BluePhantom on November 06, 2017, 11:04:40 am
The forum probably doesn't get as much attention because our club is heading in the right direction.
So instead of writing and bagging the club for poor decisions there is little to comment on because the club is doing everything right at the moment.
We just need to s=win some games and then we will talk about how good we are. :D
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on November 06, 2017, 12:03:11 pm
..................................
3)   What changes would people like to see?
The old emoticons were better.
Is there a whatever happened to option somewhere because people look to have been dropped off and I must have been away and missed the reason. Where are you Karroto?
........................

http://www.carltonsc.com/index.php?topic=2843.0
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on November 06, 2017, 12:28:56 pm
http://www.carltonsc.com/index.php?topic=2843.0

I miss Carrots contributions, he was a great poster, and I know some others had issues with his combative style but I'd love to see him back on  the forum.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Jofo on November 06, 2017, 04:29:57 pm
I like it. I don't post as often as I used to. In the early days, before Twitter, it was pretty good for picking up and/or spreading rumours. I  think it's still relevant and I'll keep looking in from time to time.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Sexybronco on November 06, 2017, 05:26:07 pm
That's another x2 from me as well.  I'm am gradually withdrawing from facebook....it's just mostly rubbish & political agendas now.

I don't post a heap, more to do with my own confidence among so knowledgeable crowd than this site !  But I certainly have never felt like I couldn't, & on those occasions when I do extrapolate on a topic, or even (heaven forbid) create a new one myself....I've never been made to feel like an idiot for doing so.

cheers

I'm an occasional poster but avid visited of this site, love the insight provided by many knowledgeable posters and hope like hell it continues for many years to come. Facebook and Twitter have their place, and if it helps keep this site relevant then I'm all for it. Let's do what we need to do to keep the site firing as we have some good times coming up that will make it a pleasure to visit!
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: kruddler on November 07, 2017, 08:20:49 am
3)   What changes would people like to see?

Zero tolerance of personal abuse but banning to be a very last resort - I still miss PI2C  :(

That could involve more active intervention by mods at the slightest hint of personal animosity creeping into a thread.

Restructuring the forum to simplify where new topics should go may help folk to kick off discussions.

...

5)   Is there anything in particular you don’t like about the site in its current form.

Kruddler!  Only joking; I generally enjoy his contributions  :) 


When is a joke not a joke? What is a joke to one, is not a joke to another.

Contradiction much?

In any event, i'm pretty thick skinned and don't care. But the same comments made at another person might yield different results. Not good for the casual observer who doesn't understand the dynamic of the people involved either.
So what are the mods to do in that situation? Act quickly and kill all the fun? Let it run and potentially escalate? Not sure about the others, but i was not handed a crystal ball during my time on the moderating team. Its a thankless task that puts a target on your back. The mods should get a big wrap for what they are doing already.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Baggers on November 07, 2017, 08:36:15 am
Glad to read so many positive comments and suggestions.

I'm very sure this site is extremely relevant and run in a spirit that encourages and supports serious, passionate and committed Mighty Bluebagger folks to have a genuine meeting place for discussion and good natured and good humoured banter. And having such a 'spirit' this site soon becomes disinteresting to trolls, malcontents and similar c0ckheads.

As many others have mentioned I'm also becoming more and more disinterested in FB... the novelty is wearing off.

As for changes, well, I firmly believe this site 'aint broke' so it doesn't really need any major changes. I would like to see a greater emoticon variety as we had with the old site.

I'm not a member of any other Bluebagger sites, though during trade period I tend to check them out for 'rumours'... most of which turn out to be horseshizen. This year I only visited BF for rumours, but this site CSC is my favourite by a mile and has been since 2009 when I joined.

I don't believe the fall-off in numbers is due to anything more than the fluctuating fortunes of the on-field performance... it'll change as our fortunes also change, though if our performance next season mirrors this season, there will be an influx of heated discussion!

I, too, miss some of the characters we've had on here though a couple would go way too far (personal slights etc) and limiting that behaviour is one of the genuine strengths of this site.

There is nothing about the site's current format that I dislike.

What I particularly like about this site is not only the footy talk and the variety of perspectives but there is also much genuine intelligent conversation about prevailing social issues. I've met a few folks through this site and attended games together which is fabulous. Mrs Baggers has enjoyed this also... along with RRs dry sense of humour  ;) ;) :)

Keep up the good work. :)

Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: malo on November 07, 2017, 08:46:17 am
Glad to read so many positive comments and suggestions.

I'm very sure this site is extremely relevant and run in a spirit that encourages and supports serious, passionate and committed Mighty Bluebagger folks to have a genuine meeting place for discussion and good natured and good humoured banter. And having such a 'spirit' this site soon becomes disinteresting to trolls, malcontents and similar c0ckheads.

Oi !  no taking my name in vain please !!!

 :)

cheers

(and you reckon I haven't heard every variation of the "mal" words as nicknames over the years  !...the most long lived was when I was a mad fast bowler, & my teammates went with "Malfunction")


Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Baggers on November 07, 2017, 08:36:21 pm
Oi !  no taking my name in vain please !!!

 :)

cheers

(and you reckon I haven't heard every variation of the "mal" words as nicknames over the years  !...the most long lived was when I was a mad fast bowler, & my teammates went with "Malfunction")


 :)) :)) :)) No way I was thinking of you, Malo... you're a ripper. I was thinking of a couple in particular who haven't been on the site for a while.  :) :)
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: spf on November 07, 2017, 09:45:07 pm
Sheik isn't posting much, I remember some of the older contributors in Phoenix Johnson and even Synbad the sailor man at one stage, It would be great to find out where they have all gone and why they stopped posting or using the forum. People need to know the forum is there of course, how do we advertise it?
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: northernblue on November 07, 2017, 09:50:41 pm
Sheiky’s had a midlife crisis and become “Lordlucifer”
All that fire and brimstone has gotten to his head ????????
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: DJC on November 07, 2017, 09:51:32 pm
Sheik isn't posting much, I remember some of the older contributors in Phoenix Johnson and even Synbad the sailor man at one stage, It would be great to find out where they have all gone and why they stopped posting or using the forum. People need to know the forum is there of course, how do we advertise it?

The Sheik has metamorphosed but his new persona - Lord Lucifer - doesn't post all that often now ...
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on November 07, 2017, 09:54:37 pm
Sheik isn't posting much, I remember some of the older contributors in Phoenix Johnson and even Synbad the sailor man at one stage, It would be great to find out where they have all gone and why they stopped posting or using the forum. People need to know the forum is there of course, how do we advertise it?

Think Synbad went to TC then Big Footy...may have had the nick "the Heatley stand end" on BF.....his info was some of the best but a few other posters
were envious of his inside knowledge and liked to tangle with him..
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: northernblue on November 07, 2017, 09:55:33 pm
The Sheik has metamorphosed but his new persona - Lord Lucifer - doesn't post all that often now ...

If someone else says his name you know we’re doomed don’t you ?
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: shadesy on November 28, 2017, 07:52:36 pm
Being able to easily access it on Mobile devices using tapatalk or similar would be a very easy transition.
Would create more discussion during games, easier to access and set alerts to topics you are interested in?

Anyone has any producing background who wants to start a podcast with me?
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 18, 2018, 08:59:27 pm
Is there an app I can use to access this site?
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: LP on February 18, 2018, 09:03:37 pm
Is there an app I can use to access this site?

Yes, any web browser, you can find them online!
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 18, 2018, 09:12:00 pm
Ta
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 18, 2018, 09:17:16 pm
Are you talking about tap a talk? I've just downloaded it but I can only find talking Carlton
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 18, 2018, 09:18:36 pm
Is there an app I can use to access this site?

There's no app for the site, and I'm not sure if there are any plans in place. A question for the mods I guess.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 18, 2018, 09:20:31 pm
Ok thanks!  ^-^

Hey mods are there any plans? Would make it a lot easier using this site.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Inboltswetrust on February 18, 2018, 09:29:06 pm
Just interested in folks opinions….
We’ve been operating for close to two decades now.  At our peak our membership numbered in the thousands with probably a hundred + active members posting regularly.
Just in terms of the current site…since 2014
New topics have more than halved (942-416)
New posts have dropped by 20000 (53611-35378)
New members down from 133 to 30
Most online at one time has halved (330-179)
Page views down by nearly a million (4172638-3498045)
There is still a couple of months to go but these figures won’t get close to that 2014 level.

Now an obvious factor impacting is the number of facebook groups that have sprung up. I’m a member of a few of those… but the decline does raise a number of questions.

1)   Is there still a place for the anonymous forum like ours or are we a dying breed?
2)   Do we need to change to remain viable in the current climate?
3)   What changes would people like to see?
4)   What other Carlton sites do you visit/ are a member of?
5)   Is there anything in particular you don’t like about the site in its current form.
6)     What do you like that keeps you posting/ viewing here

I think banning people for putting across a different opinion to those in power is one thing.   As long as posts are not 'personal' in nature, a poster should be able to voice his/her opinion, even if it is not the more preferred or supported one.  This leads to people not bothering to join/post on the site.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 18, 2018, 09:39:14 pm
I think banning people for putting across a different opinion to those in power is one thing.   As long as posts are not 'personal' in nature, a poster should be able to voice his/her opinion, even if it is not the more preferred or supported one.  This leads to people not bothering to join/post on the site.

Don't play the innocent.

When you post negative, dismissive comments on a topic in which you have no interest, as you did in the women's footy forum a few weeks ago, it's trolling, pure and simple. You've already been sin binned twice, 3 times ? You've been on the forum for a while, so it's not as if you're a newbie. I'm wondering when the penny is going to drop.

The "different opinion" argument is nonsense.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: DJC on February 18, 2018, 09:46:33 pm
I think banning people for putting across a different opinion to those in power is one thing.   As long as posts are not 'personal' in nature, a poster should be able to voice his/her opinion, even if it is not the more preferred or supported one.  This leads to people not bothering to join/post on the site.

I can't recall anyone being banned for expressing an opinion. 

I certainly haven't agreed with some of the bans, and I have expressed my opinion about that.  However, I reckon this is one of the best sites for even handed moderation and folk really have to overstep the mark to earn a ban.

It's a good thing I'm not a moderator because I'd be banning folk for stupid posts  ;)
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Inboltswetrust on February 18, 2018, 09:48:11 pm
Don't play the innocent.

When you post negative, dismissive comments on a topic in which you have no interest, as you did in the women's footy forum a few weeks ago, it's trolling, pure and simple. You've already been sin binned twice, 3 times ? You've been on the forum for a while, so it's not as if you're a newbie. I'm wondering when the penny is going to drop.

The "different opinion" argument is nonsense.

Unbelievable.  This is exactly what I am talking about.  There is nothing wrong with posting an opinion which does not paint a positive picture of something that is going on at the club if it needs to be said.  Plus, the point of a forum is to give your 'opinion' on matters relating to football and the CFC.  This does not mean my opinion will be right or wrong... it is an opinion.  But it would be a boring world if everyone saw things the same way, and through rose colored glasses.  My comment on the women's footy a few weeks ago I absolutely stand by.  I think it is atrocious.    Yes I've been banned a number of times, but I am a passionate supporter and maybe in the past I've overstepped the mark, but not recently.   I do not personally attack other posters for example... like you have here PaulP.  So we were asked to comment on how the site is progressing and I did so, pointing out that banning/ridiculing posters for not being positive or agreeing with the party-line all the time will lead to them not posting/leaving the forum.  I think this is a fair comment.  Did I need the abuse that you have just put on me for mentioning this?  Maybe sometimes it is better to look within, before criticizing others PaulP.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 18, 2018, 10:02:37 pm
Unbelievable.  This is exactly what I am talking about.  There is nothing wrong with posting an opinion which does not paint a positive picture of something that is going on at the club if it needs to be said.  Plus, the point of a forum is to give your 'opinion' on matters relating to football and the CFC.  This does not mean my opinion will be right or wrong... it is an opinion.  But it would be a boring world if everyone saw things the same way, and through rose colored glasses.  My comment on the women's footy a few weeks ago I absolutely stand by.  I think it is atrocious.    Yes I've been banned a number of times, but I am a passionate supporter and maybe in the past I've overstepped the mark, but not recently.   I do not personally attack other posters for example... like you have here PaulP.  So we were asked to comment on how the site is progressing and I did so, pointing out that banning/ridiculing posters for not being positive or agreeing with the party-line all the time will lead to them not posting/leaving the forum.  I think this is a fair comment.  Did I need the abuse that you have just put on me for mentioning this?  Maybe sometimes it is better to look within, before criticizing others PaulP.

Spare me the melodrama.

Folks post positive and negative opinions on matters here hourly daily, and don't get binned or banned, and yet you do. And you can't figure out why ? Have the mods told you nothing ? They just ban you and say nothing ?

I started a thread yesterday, which unbeknownst to me, was considered unsuitable for the site. I received a concise, polite PM from one of the mods explaining why it wasn't suitable, and that was that. Should I grieve because I'm not allowed to "express my opinion"?
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Lods on February 18, 2018, 10:25:33 pm
Banning is an extreme.
It usually takes place after a number of indiscretions
I do understand folks won't always agree with a ban or suspension but it's also important to understand that unless you're watching here 24/7 you wont always get the full picture of why a ban has been imposed.

We've lost some really good contributors and some of them have been quite sad.... but often it's because they've got a "bee in their bonnet" about a coach or player and just refused to let it go infiltrating threads across the forums despite constant warnings. There comes a point where a line must be drawn and the consequences applied.

You wont normally be banned for a critical opinion...it's how you express it that will get you in  strife.

Calling a Carlton player a dog is unacceptable.

Going into a voting thread and making a silly response is disruptive and unhelpful.

Derogatory comments about a player after he suffers a season ending injury, like we're lucky it happened...wont earn you points.

Posts like that will always draw an understandable negative personal response and disrupt the forum. Those type of posts will earn you a holiday.
Be critical by all means, but if you are... keep it on topic and attack the players skills, attitude etc... but don't disparage them on a personal level.

Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Lods on February 18, 2018, 10:34:08 pm
Ok thanks!  ^-^

Hey mods are there any plans? Would make it a lot easier using this site.

No plans at the moment...Spanner takes care of the technical aspects of the site.
Consideration would have to be given to the time to set up such an app.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: DJC on February 18, 2018, 11:32:27 pm
No plans at the moment...Spanner takes care of the technical aspects of the site.
Consideration would have to be given to the time to set up such an app.

I don't have any issues accessing CSC via my phone or tablet.  What benefits would an app provide?
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 18, 2018, 11:45:47 pm
Im apart of a parenting forum which you can use with an app and its a lot easier to navigate through. The layout is user friendly I get notifications if people respond to my post or thread as in a (1) on the app similar to facebook. I don't have to constantly zoom into everything because the writing is too small or re position my page. It's just easier to use.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 19, 2018, 07:41:11 am
Banning is an extreme.
It usually takes place after a number of indiscretions
I do understand folks won't always agree with a ban or suspension but it's also important to understand that unless you're watching here 24/7 you wont always get the full picture of why a ban has been imposed.

We've lost some really good contributors and some of them have been quite sad.... but often it's because they've got a "bee in their bonnet" about a coach or player and just refused to let it go infiltrating threads across the forums despite constant warnings. There comes a point where a line must be drawn and the consequences applied.

You wont normally be banned for a critical opinion...it's how you express it that will get you in  strife.

Calling a Carlton player a dog is unacceptable.

Going into a voting thread and making a silly response is disruptive and unhelpful.

Derogatory comments about a player after he suffers a season ending injury, like we're lucky it happened...wont earn you points.


Posts like that will always draw an understandable negative personal response and disrupt the forum. Those type of posts will earn you a holiday.
Be critical by all means, but if you are... keep it on topic and attack the players skills, attitude etc... but don't disparage them on a personal level.

There's 2 things about this forum of which I am quite certain :
1. The mods are even and fair in their treatment of posters : they don't target, victimize, or single out anyone arbitrarily
2. despite the belief of some folks, there is not and never has been a requirement (tacit or otherwise) that posts on here must toe the party line. As lods says, feel free to agree or disagree with any topic, just be sensible how you do it. Expression is the key.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 19, 2018, 07:54:20 am
I'm pretty new to using apps on small devices, and I can see the appeal. I dare say that this is one of those issues that will divide the younger and older members of the site, and when and if the demographic moves closer to the former, demands and expectations for such an app will increase.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: LP on February 19, 2018, 08:09:08 am
Im apart of a parenting forum which you can use with an app and its a lot easier to navigate through. The layout is user friendly I get notifications if people respond to my post or thread as in a (1) on the app similar to facebook. I don't have to constantly zoom into everything because the writing is too small or re position my page. It's just easier to use.

I see, that is fair enough as a concern.

I'm not familiar with SMF, but I know most such software generally now offers mobile device friendly themes, would that be a possible option an "M" version of the site for small screen users/

It's an interesting issue that keeps popping up, I don't know enough about this stuff to say if it possible, and even if it is it may not be easy or quick to administrate.

There is another potential issue, how big or small do the Mods want this forum to be? I suspect even at our smaller size it's a handful to Mod over the main season! A mobile theme might cause a significant growth period in the short term. I've been a little involved in Admin of CRM systems in the past, and found that a mobile theme really increases the system interaction with clients but can also cause massive problems if the people resource isn't available to allow the owner to deal with the increased traffic.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 19, 2018, 08:39:36 am
I'm pretty new to using apps on small devices, and I can see the appeal. I dare say that this is one of those issues that will divide the younger and older members of the site, and when and if the demographic moves closer to the former, demands and expectations for such an app will increase.

It shouldnt be the case of one or the other as far as i know the browser site should stay the same and the app would be an additional optional thing.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 19, 2018, 08:48:53 am
It shouldnt be the case of one or the other as far as i know the browser site should stay the same and the app would be an additional optional thing.

I dare say you would know more about this than me. I use Chrome on an HTC phone, and I know some sites are set up so you can choose (on the phone) whether you want to view it as "mobile friendly" or "desktop friendly". CSC does not offer that choice as far as I can tell, so the site is permanently in desktop mode. You do have to zoom in and out and scroll around a little, but it's still pretty usable IMO.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: northernblue on February 19, 2018, 08:57:58 am
I'm pretty new to using apps on small devices, and I can see the appeal. I dare say that this is one of those issues that will divide the younger and older members of the site, and when and if the demographic moves closer to the former, demands and expectations for such an app will increase.

I’m not familiar with the app that has been suggested, however it’s not an either/or situation.
For the people who don’t understand what is being suggested it’s like using your banks full www site to do your internet banking as opposed to using their app. The app is much simpler, bigger buttons, simpler layout and no need to keep expanding the screen, that’s if of course, you do internet banking... ????????????
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 19, 2018, 09:25:28 am
I dare say you would know more about this than me. I use Chrome on an HTC phone, and I know some sites are set up so you can choose (on the phone) whether you want to view it as "mobile friendly" or "desktop friendly". CSC does not offer that choice as far as I can tell, so the site is permanently in desktop mode. You do have to zoom in and out and scroll around a little, but it's still pretty usable IMO.

Yeah there is that option too which would make it more user friendly and if other users didn't want to use the mobile site I think it would be easy enough to switch betweennthe two.

I was on this site a long time ago probably about 8 - 10 years ago and I may even have been banned for those playing at home I can't remember but back then apps weren't a thing nor was accessing forums on your phone so when I signed back up to CSC which I did because I liked that there wasn't as much traffic as other forums (although it defiantly has died down since then which is disappointing) I didn't think it would be a desktop only site.

I dont think the site is not usable because it is it is more that it's just a hindrance and not very user friendly and i know personally I will probably lose interest after a while.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 19, 2018, 09:31:13 am
I’m not familiar with the app that has been suggested, however it’s not an either/or situation.
For the people who don’t understand what is being suggested it’s like using your banks full www site to do your internet banking as opposed to using their app. The app is much simpler, bigger buttons, simpler layout and no need to keep expanding the screen, that’s if of course, you do internet banking... ????????????

Yes, I get all that, and I do have internet banking, but only on my desktop. I have no need for the bank apps on my phone. My wife has them, and no doubt they're handy, but she hardly ever uses them. I'm sure she could delete them and not miss them at all.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 19, 2018, 09:33:27 am
Yeah there is that option too which would make it more user friendly and if other users didn't want to use the mobile site I think it would be easy enough to switch betweennthe two.

I was on this site a long time ago probably about 8 - 10 years ago and I may even have been banned for those playing at home I can't remember but back then apps weren't a thing nor was accessing forums on your phone so when I signed back up to CSC which I did because I liked that there wasn't as much traffic as other forums (although it defiantly has died down since then which is disappointing) I didn't think it would be a desktop only site.

I dont think the site is not usable because it is it is more that it's just a hindrance and not very user friendly and i know personally I will probably lose interest after a while.

Fair enough. Do you ever access the site from a computer ?

It would take a lot more than the lack of a mobile app for me to lose interest in the site, but that's just me.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Lods on February 19, 2018, 09:40:04 am
B15

Drop Spanner a PM outlining your suggestion. He's a busy man but he'll be able to determine whether what your suggesting is viable.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: kruddler on February 19, 2018, 05:57:10 pm
While we are talking spanner..

Can we get him to change the default code for Video?

Each time you click on the video icon, it defaults to 200x200, can we have that changed to standard 560x315.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 19, 2018, 07:07:33 pm
So am I msging spanner these request? I haven't yet
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Lods on February 19, 2018, 08:12:14 pm
So am I msging spanner these request? I haven't yet

Just ask him about your suggestion for starters.
I'll direct him to this thread next time I see him online as there may be others.
A lot will depend on the time involved to set these things up and whether he can spare it.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 19, 2018, 08:16:42 pm
Ok no problems ta
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: northernblue on February 19, 2018, 10:14:12 pm
Yes, I get all that, and I do have internet banking, but only on my desktop. I have no need for the bank apps on my phone. My wife has them, and no doubt they're handy, but she hardly ever uses them. I'm sure she could delete them and not miss them at all.

Keyboard warrior you... ????
I have a laptop, but it only gets fired up to do my accounts for my business and to do my BAS, everything else I do on my iPad or Mobi.
In fact on the odd occasion that I do post from my laptop it’s a pain in the arse because my iPad throws commas and stuff in, generally in the right places ???? whereas on the laptop I’m always going back to insert them manually... first world problems ????????

Edit: Have you actually looked at your wife’s banking app ?
Watch her make a payment or even just check the account balance and then try do the same on the full www site on your Mobi, it’s chalk and cheese.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 20, 2018, 07:40:11 am
Keyboard warrior you... ????
I have a laptop, but it only gets fired up to do my accounts for my business and to do my BAS, everything else I do on my iPad or Mobi.
In fact on the odd occasion that I do post from my laptop it’s a pain in the arse because my iPad throws commas and stuff in, generally in the right places ???? whereas on the laptop I’m always going back to insert them manually... first world problems ????????

Edit: Have you actually looked at your wife’s banking app ?
Watch her make a payment or even just check the account balance and then try do the same on the full www site on your Mobi, it’s chalk and cheese.

Yes, the auto suggest spelling and grammar that you get on mobile devices is pretty handy, but it softens you up and makes you lazy.

I do all the banking for the family (from my desktop), so my wife has never used her apps, or maybe she's used them once a few years back.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 20, 2018, 09:06:41 am
Yes! That is something that is annoying my browser doesnt autocorrect nor does it put punctuation in where it needs to be. I never put punctuation in my messages because im so used to my phone doing it for me and im not particularly interested in doing it now

Ive also sent a msg to Spanner, hopefully he can do something about atleast giving us the option.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 20, 2018, 11:12:46 am
Yes! That is something that is annoying my browser doesnt autocorrect nor does it put punctuation in where it needs to be. I never put punctuation in my messages because im so used to my phone doing it for me and im not particularly interested in doing it now

Ive also sent a msg to Spanner, hopefully he can do something about atleast giving us the option.

Unfortunately, those stream-of-consciousness posts can be hard to read, and one is sometimes dissuaded from doing so. In order to optimize communication with the other humans, a little extra effort is occasionally required.

Or as I like to say, "Camarades, encore un effort !"  :D
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 20, 2018, 03:51:15 pm
Lods I have contacted spanner and have also PM'd you.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Baggers on February 20, 2018, 05:39:27 pm
Unfortunately, those stream-of-consciousness posts can be hard to read, and one is sometimes dissuaded from doing so. In order to optimize communication with the other humans, a little extra effort is occasionally required.

Or as I like to say, "Camarades, encore un effort !"  :D

We're a dying breed, Durante Koala. We're headed for a world where our phones do everything for us, even think. Good chance that in 30 years or so there will be record levels of Alzheimers/dementia! I shouldn't admit this but my phone is for text messages (spelled out!!), live calls and photos. I disable data. And I do all the banking and serious stuff on the lap top. eeeekkk.... :o :o :o
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 20, 2018, 06:00:31 pm
We're a dying breed, Durante Koala. We're headed for a world where our phones do everything for us, even think. Good chance that in 30 years or so there will be record levels of Alzheimers/dementia! I shouldn't admit this but my phone is for text messages (spelled out!!), live calls and photos. I disable data. And I do all the banking and serious stuff on the lap top. eeeekkk.... :o :o :o

Yes, the Alzheimer's / dementia is a serious issue. There seems to be a fair whack of evidence coming out that "use it or lose it" applies to the brain as much as the physical muscles.

I also send fully worded and punctuated texts, but I do use data for very simple web surfing and checking emails. I've posted a few things on here from the phone, and it works ok, but I wouldn''t like to do it all the time. So Blues15 does have a point IMO.

I remember back in the early days of personal computing, I started on one of those small, all in one Macs, the ones with the tiny 9 inch b/w screen.  Whilst it was quite a thrill, I remember many thinking how awesome it would be to have a bigger, colour display. As time passed, we got up to 23, 24, 27 and even 30 inch screens. And now we're back to screens on phones that, whilst clearly of higher quality than those old ones, are even smaller than my old Mac SE and Mac Classic. I use a 23 inch screen on my current computer and love it.

I guess compromises need to be made if you want to carry chunks of your life with you wherever you go, and not have to carry an anvil. But I find those small screens of strictly limited use.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on February 20, 2018, 06:25:10 pm
Yes, the Alzheimer's / dementia is a serious issue. There seems to be a fair whack of evidence coming out that "use it or lose it" applies to the brain as much as the physical muscles.

I also send fully worded and punctuated texts, but I do use data for very simple web surfing and checking emails. I've posted a few things on here from the phone, and it works ok, but I wouldn''t like to do it all the time. So Blues15 does have a point IMO.

I remember back in the early days of personal computing, I started on one of those small, all in one Macs, the ones with the tiny 9 inch b/w screen.  Whilst it was quite a thrill, I remember many thinking how awesome it would be to have a bigger, colour display. As time passed, we got up to 23, 24, 27 and even 30 inch screens. And now we're back to screens on phones that, whilst clearly of higher quality than those old ones, are even smaller than my old Mac SE and Mac Classic. I use a 23 inch screen on my current computer and love it.

I guess compromises need to be made if you want to carry chunks of your life with you wherever you go, and not have to carry an anvil. But I find those small screens of strictly limited use.

Agree...I use my desktop for banking/investing, paying bills etc and while I have the bank apps on the smartphone I rarely use them...maybe when travelling.
I try and use my phone as a phone although I do like the alarm/torch features and have a couple of business apps.....much prefer the desktop and big screen so I'm not squinting at a 5" screen.....
Mobile phone use is something I try and avoid to be honest, having a microwave oven to my ear doesnt grab me or strapped to a belt near my orchestra stalls.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 20, 2018, 06:54:52 pm
Agree...I use my desktop for banking/investing, paying bills etc and while I have the bank apps on the smartphone I rarely use them...maybe when travelling.
I try and use my phone as a phone although I do like the alarm/torch features and have a couple of business apps.....much prefer the desktop and big screen so I'm not squinting at a 5" screen.....
Mobile phone use is something I try and avoid to be honest, having a microwave oven to my ear doesnt grab me or strapped to a belt near my orchestra stalls.

Yes, agree EB. I'm one of those dinosaurs that still has a working landline, which I prefer to use when possible.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 20, 2018, 08:22:38 pm
Ok gents getting back on topic  C:-)  :P I have spoken to Spanner and he has said there needs to be some sort of consensus and if the members are on board with a change then they would have a further look into it.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 20, 2018, 08:38:09 pm
Ok gents getting back on topic  C:-)  :P I have spoken to Spanner and he has said there needs to be some sort of consensus and if the members are on board with a change then they would have a further look into it.

There wouldn't be a change to the desktop site as such ? The thing on which we need "consensus" is whether we want :
a. a csc app for ios and android, and / or
b. for the site to be both "desktop friendly" and "mobile friendly" ?

Is that right ? If so, I think all would in favor of one or both.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: DJC on February 20, 2018, 08:52:16 pm
Ok gents getting back on topic  C:-)  :P I have spoken to Spanner and he has said there needs to be some sort of consensus and if the members are on board with a change then they would have a further look into it.

I'm not fussed either way as I use my phone, tablet and PC to access CSC and have never had any issues.  However, if having an app will make it easier for folk to contribute to discussions/debates about our great footy club, I'm all for it.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Blues15 on February 20, 2018, 09:08:45 pm
There wouldn't be a change to the desktop site as such ? The thing on which we need "consensus" is whether we want :
a. a csc app for ios and android, and / or
b. for the site to be both "desktop friendly" and "mobile friendly" ?

Is that right ? If so, I think all would in favor of one or both.

I think he would be looking at updating the whole site which may mean some change but I'm certain it would be in a similar format to this as are other forums when you access them via web browser
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: northernblue on February 20, 2018, 11:37:30 pm
There wouldn't be a change to the desktop site as such ? The thing on which we need "consensus" is whether we want :
a. a csc app for ios and android, and / or
b. for the site to be both "desktop friendly" and "mobile friendly" ?

Is that right ? If so, I think all would in favor of one or both.

I’m in favor of whichever option is easiest for spanner to implement, be it a full blown app or improved mobile friendliness.
Either of these two options are improvements to the site in general, independent of whether the dinosaurs use them... ????
Either should improve the traffic.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Lods on February 20, 2018, 11:58:09 pm
There are a few suggestions for site enhancement.
I doubt anyone would be resistant to changes that make the site more user friendly and increase traffic.
I think it's a case of Spanner finding the time to implement any such changes, so it may take a little bit of time.
If we have a consensus though(no objections or problems with an upgrade) can we say that he has the green light....at his convenience... to proceed with any adjustment that improves access to the site.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: northernblue on February 21, 2018, 12:11:27 am
There are a few suggestions for site enhancement.
I doubt anyone would be resistant to changes that make the site more user friendly and increase traffic.
I think it's a case of Spanner finding the time to implement any such changes, so it may take a little bit of time.
If we have a consensus though(no objections or problems with an upgrade) can we say that he has the green light....at his convenience... to proceed with any adjustment that improves access to the site.

????????
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: DJC on February 21, 2018, 12:53:12 am
????????

????????

 :)
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: PaulP on February 21, 2018, 02:18:36 am
There are a few suggestions for site enhancement.
I doubt anyone would be resistant to changes that make the site more user friendly and increase traffic.
I think it's a case of Spanner finding the time to implement any such changes, so it may take a little bit of time.
If we have a consensus though(no objections or problems with an upgrade) can we say that he has the green light....at his convenience... to proceed with any adjustment that improves access to the site.

Yes, green light from me, and from all of us I'm sure.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: sandsmere on February 21, 2018, 07:29:42 am
There are a few suggestions for site enhancement.
I doubt anyone would be resistant to changes that make the site more user friendly and increase traffic.
I think it's a case of Spanner finding the time to implement any such changes, so it may take a little bit of time.
If we have a consensus though(no objections or problems with an upgrade) can we say that he has the green light....at his convenience... to proceed with any adjustment that improves access to the site.

Sounds good. :)
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: LP on February 21, 2018, 07:58:52 am
There are a few suggestions for site enhancement.
I doubt anyone would be resistant to changes that make the site more user friendly and increase traffic.
I think it's a case of Spanner finding the time to implement any such changes, so it may take a little bit of time.
If we have a consensus though(no objections or problems with an upgrade) can we say that he has the green light....at his convenience... to proceed with any adjustment that improves access to the site.

Yes it's fine, the site has to do what the site has to do! ;)
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Baggers on February 21, 2018, 09:02:14 am
There are a few suggestions for site enhancement.
I doubt anyone would be resistant to changes that make the site more user friendly and increase traffic.
I think it's a case of Spanner finding the time to implement any such changes, so it may take a little bit of time.
If we have a consensus though(no objections or problems with an upgrade) can we say that he has the green light....at his convenience... to proceed with any adjustment that improves access to the site.

...and traffic to the site will naturally increase once folks have more to talk about, ie when the real stuff starts.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: cookie2 on February 21, 2018, 09:17:35 am
My main access is via laptop or android tablet. Very occasionaly via smartphone but this is very small and cumbersome so only used for quick checks. If there is a way to improve the phone access I would like to see it followed up. As others have said, many people use phones for most of tbeir internet activities nowadays so it's important for us to keep up with this.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: deags on February 21, 2018, 12:43:34 pm
Maybe access to one of the forum app readers?
Last time i checked it wasnt available, but that was a while ago.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: mateinone on February 21, 2018, 01:24:08 pm
The Tapatalk app looks like a very straight forward installation. It seems to just be a package installed via the forum admin panel

https://www.tapatalk.com/download_SimpleMachines.php
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: RiverRat on February 23, 2018, 12:13:35 am
I don't visit any other forums at all these days and don't visit this one very much in the off season because I haven't got much to contribute and am not overly keen on pure speculation.

I would not have been able to contribute in the first place if I had not been able to do so anonymously.  Having said that, it was good to catch up with an occasional member from time to time - greetings to Crash plus Mr + Mrs Baggers :)

If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

I expect to get more involved again when the season comes around.

 
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: mateinone on February 23, 2018, 12:32:39 am
I don't visit any other forums at all these days and don't visit this one very much in the off season because I haven't got much to contribute and am not overly keen on pure speculation.

I would not have been able to contribute in the first place if I had not been able to do so anonymously.  Having said that, it was good to catch up with an occasional member from time to time - greetings to Crash plus Mr + Mrs Baggers :)

If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

I expect to get more involved again when the season comes around.

Ahh the Nokia approach. Don't change and hopefully the world won't.   ;D

Whilst anonymity is obviously important to some, fixing things up (and in this latest discussion, making it easier to browse on mobile devices) doesn't need to come at a cost of anonymity.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: Amers on February 26, 2018, 11:58:58 pm
A mobile friendly version of this site would be awesome, I mostly use my laptop for this site, my phone occasionally when I am away from home.
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: LordLucifer on March 15, 2018, 09:04:24 pm
Up the forums !!!








(well only this one) 
Title: Re: Future of the footy forum
Post by: LordLucifer on June 28, 2018, 05:47:12 pm
As for less threads....thats because the sheik doesn't come on and post 10 threads a day about stuff that we already have on the site. ;)


He is bloody annoying too.