By Neiljk
#6542
Several months into the new season and I see that having gone from one forum to two, there is now a fair amount of tumbleweed blowing through both. The move seems to have split and reduced the overall size of the community and the amount of discussion. The last Sale match day thread had 75 comments on it.

I hardly bother these days, and for me a shame this has happened.
By ROLLO
#6546
Agreed, it is only us and Sale that are really using the fforum and all cross postings from other clubs has caesed.
User avatar
By TeflonTed
#6548
Neil, Totally agree, and predicted exactly this.

There was criticism of the vote being held over the closed season, and not being left open long enough.

The other side of the coin being that there had been continuous criticism of the SN site which had prompted others to leave and prompted the Wuss vote. That the SN site then mended some of the irritating jumping ads and persistent need to clear ad permissions was significant but too late.

The majority of the most regular posters who had remained active over the closed season voted and there was a clear majority to move. The names are here for everyone to see. As are several previous SN posters who are here under new names.

Shame that others didn’t respect this vote.

For me this site works well, and I won’t use both.

I understand others disagree, which is fine, it’s a free world !
By Ms. Citlalli Kiehn DDS
#6549
For me the main reason for moving was the ease of use of this forum. Having other teams here is handy but not a deal maker/breaker. SN lack of change and frustration with its performance was driving me mad and I had no emotional link with them so it was an easy choice.

If you’re not happy with the number of posts here you can always post more!
By ROLLO
#6550
Shame that others didn’t respect this vote.


Ted I didn't know that we had to, Posting is of course voluntary. I took little notice of the vote and didn't participate or read it to know what it was about.
As much as I like you TT , it is this sort of comment targetting those who havn't moved or like me who post on both ( although less frequently ) as somehow being disloyal that puts me off this forum. It is the sort of comment that you would take JP to task for. It is not BREXIT.
By Neiljk
#6551
Somehow the people not respecting the vote are to blame ***sigh***

Rather I think time has shown that the vote was ill conceived and ill timed. All it’s done is reduced the size of the community and left us marooned on an island no one else visits with Sale.

Perhaps time to reconsider?
User avatar
By Abmatt
#6552
I will stay here. Even though it is quieter, every time I go for a snoop on SN I get bombarded by ads, even though I have ad blocker plus. That is enough to put me off. I hate unwanted ads.
By A38
#6554
On the basis of no statistical evidence whatsoever it appears to me that:-

- combined traffic on the two sites is less than it was this time last year on SN alone.

- the SN site saw as much if not more traffic than this one in respect of the Sale game (especially if the Sale supporter posts are not counted)

- a significant number of informed SN posters are still very active there (although I don't know if some of them also post on here with a different nom de plume)

I do agree that having two parallel sites makes little sense and I see three possible ways forward:-

- the two sites continue as of now with the expectation that over time one will be seen to be the most used and therefore attract more posters to the detriment of the other. Market forces, I suppose.

- we all move to SN

- we "invite" SN posters to come and join us with a view to SN falling into "disrepair".
User avatar
By Alex
#6556
I think one thing SN never did well was social media, I think there's significant scope to expand and attract new people in by having an active presence online but we'd need someone to take responsibility for it
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User avatar
By Alex
#6558
Had a look at the analytics and month on month the forum is still growing,

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By Neiljk
#6562
No it’s not. At best it’s flat following a peak in the summer. And I guess those are for whole site rather than Wuss?
User avatar
By Alex
#6563
Users and views are growing month on month across the site, it's just getting people to post more which is outside our control really
By Neiljk
#6565
This is a wobbly set of stats. It doesn’t say what the comparison is too, or what the Worcester traffic is. The graphs look pretty flat and it’s clear from post counts that the Worcester community has declined. This is a direct consequence of splitting across 2 sites and if it carries on like this, then the forums in either location will continue to wither. We’re going to end up on Facebook only.
User avatar
By Alex
#6566
The comparison is to the previous month, the scales have changed as the site has got more popular hence the graphs looking similarish.

To the Wuss homepage these are the page views per month

Aug - 13,523
Sept - 15,288
Oct - 14,461
Nov - 18,322
By Neiljk
#6567
All that really says is November was better than previous 3 months, when the World Cup ended. It also doesn’t really address the lack of posts and replies....
User avatar
By Abmatt
#6568
Neiljk wrote:
Sun Dec 01, 2019 9:02 pm
All that really says is November was better than previous 3 months, when the World Cup ended. It also doesn’t really address the lack of posts and replies....
Personally I think that is down to the individuals that have moved or stayed. (No offence meant)

The majority of threads are started by one individual on SN. I’m sure if he had moved here, like he originally said he would we would be much busier.
User avatar
By Alex
#6570
Neiljk wrote:
Sun Dec 01, 2019 9:02 pm
All that really says is November was better than previous 3 months, when the World Cup ended. It also doesn’t really address the lack of posts and replies....
I can't really do much on the posts and replies unfortunately, that just needs people to start new threads etc
By Neiljk
#6571
That being the point Alex. There aren’t people and posts. A two site split isn’t working and is reducing the size of the community.
User avatar
By west brom warrior
#6573
I much prefer this forum but obviously it does miss certain posters for SN who post a lot of topics and content, some interesting some not. It also doesn't have the cross team support where other clubs post a fair bit on other forums however I think the key is for them to move over here
User avatar
By Alex
#6579
Neiljk wrote:
Sun Dec 01, 2019 9:30 pm
That being the point Alex. There aren’t people and posts. A two site split isn’t working and is reducing the size of the community.
Going over old ground but JP was all for the move and asked to be mod on here, once it became obvious the move was going to happen he saw the chance to take over SN and then totally changed his view on here.

Just the way it goes sometimes, we just need some posters to take responsibility and encourage discussion
User avatar
By abberley
#6580
Another significant factor is that the underlying medium itself is past its sell-by date?

Messageboards have been around for 40 years, and the first Worcester Rugby Supporters board was set up 20 years ago! Whatever is done to improve the presentation and usability, the underlying structure is still a Messageboard.

Today, people are becoming used to receiving all their 'news' through a single common interface and, like it or loath it, the current de facto platform is FaceBook. And that is where these types of discussions will probably migrate to in the not too distant future.

Although the current 'Warriors Rugby Supporters' group on FB is reminiscent of the randomness of the old 'Offy' messageboard I have found that, with strong moderators and helpful senior contributors, some of the 'closed' FB Groups I have been obliged to join are just as good (in some respects better) than their original message board.

A good example of this is the demise (mentioned today on the BBC News) of the "Apostrophe Protection Society" website/message board - whereas "The Apostrophe Protection Society" FB group is going from strength to strength.
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User avatar
By WarriorsMisfit
#6583
I don't post much, but having just gone to have a look at the old site on my phone - where there was an ad down the side squashing everything up that twice tried to load the advertisers site without touching anything on my screen, the basic user experience here is infinitely preferable.

(Yes, adblockers exist. But ads do exist for a reason - to pay for the resources the site use. "Responsible" ads I see no reason to block)
By Fuzzy Dunlop
#6592
Ditto, couldn't drag me back to the old site now after using this one, don't even glance at it anymore.
By SimonG
#6593
Personally I never post on the old site possibly because I was banned for simply expressing an opinion that the person who now runs it didn't like!

Can't say I miss him talking to himself on that site.
User avatar
By OverTheBorder
#6624
Neiljk is right to raise the subject and actually wondered when it would be raised on here.

We are a split community and diluted board. However I do feel the tone of posts on here makes it a far more pleasant place than what SN started to become.

I believe most thought there would be a natural migration across. The site is growing but not as quickly as first anticipated and with Leicester and Bath staying put, has probably contributed in the lack over Wuss posters/lurkers from making the move.

I would question the validity regarding number of views on the SN topics as I have a suspicion that one individual could be repeatedly hitting view in order to bump the numbers up.

I was never emotionally attached to SN and the ads drove me insane which I understand is still the same.
Abmatt liked this
By FlipFlop
#6626
Personally, the general tone on here from what I read, is less bombastic than SN board was.

Analogies with Brexit aren’t lost on me in that on the old board you were, or were not- nothing in between.

I don’t see that being done so obviously on here.

I would say that the Like / Dislike options on this forum lessen the opposite posts / confrontation style of the SN board.

Sometimes the SN board would throw an almost deliberately provocative view out to become ‘click bait’ rather than discussion per se.

But before i’m pinged for knocking the SN board, i’ll pipe down on this forum and see the chat.
User avatar
By TeflonTed
#6628
At the risk of further irritating people whose opinions and friendship I do value, I do feel it’s fair and accurate to point out that on the SN board it was common to have more than one identity.
There’s no doubt that this is still occurring.

I don’t think it happens here.
User avatar
By patgadd
#6631
TeflonTed wrote:
Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:10 pm
I do feel it’s fair and accurate to point out that on the SN board it was common to have more than one identity.
There’s no doubt that this is still occurring.

I don’t think it happens here.
Are you sure Ted? I have acquired a VPN (which I actually thought meant people could see the outline of your trollies) and might be posting under various names!
User avatar
By TeflonTed
#6632
patgadd wrote:
Mon Dec 02, 2019 11:00 pm
TeflonTed wrote:
Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:10 pm
I do feel it’s fair and accurate to point out that on the SN board it was common to have more than one identity.
There’s no doubt that this is still occurring.

I don’t think it happens here.
Are you sure Ted? I have acquired a VPN (which I actually thought meant people could see the outline of your trollies) and might be posting under various names!
Ah I know you’re joking....I understood you quietly allowed your alter ego in another place to die of malnutrition.

One of the very few things we have disagreed over....I’ve always rather liked the example set by Kellogg’s, if it doesn’t say Ted on the post, it isn’t Ted behind the post.

I do have x2 VPN’s in regular use, but not to hide forum identities from keen-eyed moderators.

And before you ask, not to access dodgy Russian porn sites either!
By Brummagem Bertie
#6917
Well, I've finally decided to take the plunge and join this board, so I expect that the SN board will suddenly become a lot more attractive again :)

I will do my best to stimulate discussion but I think those who have made the point that other media are increasingly taking over from old style message boards, even up to date ones, are on the mark. Personally, I have no interest in supporting Zuckerberg in any way, so this is as far as it goes for me.

One thing I won't be doing is going back to SN: I haven't posted on the Warriors board on SN since the switch and have only looked at it once, simply because of the way one person acted. I still have a look at the Pirates board now and again, as I have a bit of a soft spot for them, and posted some info on the Ex board before our league game, but I've largely given up on SN otherwise.
User avatar
By TeflonTed
#6922
Wouldn’t disagree with anything there BB, and have had some interesting chat with a number of Sale supporters on here, although they’ve gone a bit quiet this week!
User avatar
By Flumpty
#6923
TeflonTed wrote:
Sun Dec 08, 2019 8:39 pm
Wouldn’t disagree with anything there BB, and have had some interesting chat with a number of Sale supporters on here, although they’ve gone a bit quiet this week!
still quietly muttering, grumbling and grousing to myself after going Sixways last week :hug:
By ROLLO
#6981
The only problem is BB is that apart from Sale you are cut off from most other rival supporters which may make the board a bit stale.
User avatar
By TeflonTed
#6985
ROLLO wrote:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 4:22 pm
The only problem is BB is that apart from Sale you are cut off from most other rival supporters which may make the board a bit stale.
I don’t understand that.

As well as Wuss and Sale, there is an active London Irish contingent on here, and one-click links to all the other premiership clubs, including Shedweb and the other non-SN sites from the Gallagher Premiership header page on here.

I feel better connected here than I ever did there.
By ROLLO
#6995
But can you post on the sites and they do likewise?
By Ms. Citlalli Kiehn DDS
#6996
Yes, the viewfromthe22 ones.
User avatar
By Abmatt
#6998
Correct. But will anyone reply.

Before I get shot down I prefer this forum, however it is quieter than SN, or appears so. If we had moved wholesale and tigers likewise then there may have been more cross-pollination.

I think there are still several split boards.

I only use this one and can live with it. A work in progress. Rome wasn’t built in a day etc.
By Ms. Citlalli Kiehn DDS
#7000
This forum will only get used if people use it. Replies will happen if people reply. No point in second guessing it, just get on and contribute as you feel fit.
User avatar
By Alex
#7001
I do need to do some work on social media as at the moment people only really join if they were aware of SN. If we can build an online presence then we should continue to grow.
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User avatar
By TeflonTed
#7002
ROLLO wrote:
Mon Dec 09, 2019 8:26 pm
But can you post on the sites and they do likewise?
Yes. If you’re registered on Shedweb or the others one click takes you straight in.
By ROLLO
#7010
But looking at the other clubs most have not signed up to VFT22 so wont reply.
By A38
#7028
Interesting discussion on the SN board concerning players re-signed, players unlikely to be re-signed and a conjectured return of Spencer.

Some informed and authoritative input.
By Ms. Citlalli Kiehn DDS
#7052
Blimey, if you want to use SN then use it!
By A38
#7058
Wah-RE-or wrote:
Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:46 pm
Blimey, if you want to use SN then use it!
Perhaps I was being too subtle. There are voices over there who would be very welcome here.
User avatar
By TeflonTed
#7059
There will be some who choose not to contribute during the summer and who simply don’t realise what has occurred.
By TVM
#7081
A38 wrote:
Tue Dec 10, 2019 1:22 pm
Interesting discussion on the SN board concerning players re-signed, players unlikely to be re-signed and a conjectured return of Spencer.

Some informed and authoritative input.
Worth noting that the 'conjecture' is based on 'wouldn't it be nice' followed by some guessing about why he'd possibly do it - rather than a 'link' of any description.
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