The Forum in General

Considering the size and reputation of the RSPB - don't you think it's time this forum was taken offline until such time that a forum that is fit for purpose is implemented?

This has to be the worst forum implementation that I have come across in years.

There are thousands of sites out there implementing third party solutions at very little, or no cost, which have already set the trend in the way boards such operate. Why on earth go for this bespoke solution which looks like it has been knocked up in house?

Stick to what you are good at and for goodness sake take this offline until until a proper solution is put in place. 

PS:  What kind of discussion forum allows end users to lock their own posts??? Kind of inhibits 'discussion' don't you think?

Hi Normsky,

Thanks for your feedback on our forum. You're right that it isn't logical to let end users lock their own posts. We are looking into this.

I would be interested to hear more on what makes our forum the worst you've come across in years.

All the best,

Graham

Normsky,

I see that you have not allowed replies to your post; I hope that you will see this anyway.

Please consider that, despite its size and reputation, the RSPB is a charity.  This site may well have been knocked up cheaply in house (I hope so), but judging by the forum posts many people are enjoying the site hugely despite its teething troubles. 

Have patience, and I'm sure the nice techno-nerds will sort the glitches out very soon.

L

I couldn't agree more with Lucky Bustard!

If the forum has been 'knocked up cheaply inhouse' then I'm pleased as it means more of the money that I give goes towards what the RSPB is there to do! I personnally find the forum excellent and more than adequate to enable like minded people to ask for advice, chat, share experiences and what they've seen, share photos etc...!

I say keep up the good work!

Hi there

For a start I felt  the last RSPB Forum seemed to go downhill over the past 2 years, and as a user I did not want to post on it at all anymore.  I found it a disappointment all together.  I felt that there was a lack of interested members, non-birders, and people where not partcipating with the Forum, and each other at all.  It was a damp squid to me.

What I feel about this new Forum goes without saying too much here.  Personally I feel that this Forum is very enjoyable to use at the moment.  People are keen and are showing their interest in the subject of birds, as it should be noted as. 

It is so different to what we had going on before in the Forum department, and I sing my praises for all the time and effort spent by the moderators and all of the administration staff to give us the forum that we have going on for us now.  Congratulations to everyone.

Normski, I cannot understand why the first post was locked, and your reason behind it.  You are opening this thread, as it was a open door for other people to be able to place their opinons. Comments that are needed to be posted for a debate on this thread.

Yes, The RSPB is a charity and a very well known one to many bird lovers.  Long may it continue as such.  If there is a money saving scheme behind this new Forum, I have no problems with that at all.  Technology has allowed us to do so much now and forums can be designed from scratch witout implimenting any additional extra cost.

So as you say LB, it is a good place, and I have enjoyed posting on it so far a whole lot.  Yes, there are things that people wish for, and updates to be made and all these will be resolved with time and negotiation.

So let the RSPB Forum flourish as a  'new' Community of people now, and in the future and this forum has my full support. at all costs.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

Hi Blackbird

Here, here. Well said.

I agree, Blackbird. I've been around a few forums (not these!) in the past and often found the pages cluttered with people who were not interested in the supposed subject of  debate. These pages seem full of keen, interested people. May it continue to be so!

My only (small) gripe would be that it's sometimes a bit confusing tracking between the various forums and remembering where I've been; I expect to overcome this with a bit more practice :-)

One further thing - if Graham Bird is reading this, I used to know someone of that name during my student days at Leicester University. Don't suppose that's you, by any chance?!

Hi Cartimandua

If it's any help, on "My Page" (MY being your page, if you see what I mean), down the left hand side is a section titled "What I've Been Up To Lately". This shows you all your recent postings and If you click on the topic it takes you to that topic.

Thanks squirrel! I noticed that feature but didn't think about how to use it!

Hi

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place on the issue.

Call me pedantic, but I was under the impression that the forums & blog were specifically aimed at in this instance the Ospreys @ LG what it now appears to have become is a chat room on just about anything other than the subject it was created for. Whilst I have every sympathy for any animal that is suffering, dear god at the age of 50 I’ll still cry at a Lassie film, the copious entries on every dog, cat, guinea pig along with any number of others is somewhat off the mark, this site I assumed was created for a specific purpose for which it appears has disappeared into the ether so to speak.

I’m up for a giggle as has probably been noticed in the past.............However!

Sorry if any of this causes offence?

Hi Simon,

The Community site (forums, blogs, galleries, etc) covers a wide spectrum of topics. We have a Loch Garten ospreys group which is for discussions on that specifically. Hope that helps.

By the way, I didn't attend Leicester University so there must be more than one of me.

All the best,

Graham

Hi to All,

I have to say that to a degree I can see normsky's point the site does seem to be suffering from a few annoying gliches one being the repeat e-mails which we all seem to be suffering (I have turned mine off until it is sorted).

As some have pointed out the RSPB is a charity and I can fully understand if they can implement any financial saving then go for it, but it is often the case where seeking the help of professionals may not be as expensive as you think. I know of one website that does a lot for rescue dogs and the company that does the admin does it for nothing as it is good PR for them and also free advertising.

I agree with you all that this is a friendly and informative site which I for one have gained a lot of enjoyment from but I also think that with proper admin it could be better.

Graham

Hi Graham

You have completly lost me on the Leicester University bit, no idea what you are on about? :-)

The point I was trying to get accross was that the "Main" blog has now for the most part gone so far off track that it has become little more than a chat room on just about every subject other than what I and I think many others thought it was there for.

Anything sort of meaningfull posting I.E weather, wind etc posted or anything else pasted with a little local knowledge appears to be overridden by reams of nothingness.

sorry, perhaps I have lost the plt :-?

Simon

Simon - A few of us have ventured  to say what you have said, but have been shot down in flames by the group, In my case I made my comments on the main blog and some pretty nasty comments were made about me!  This didn't upset me, group dynamics being what they are, but a more sensitive person (housebound, depressed etc) could have been badly affected. I think that those of us who make what seems to us to be an objective, reasonable comment will nearly always find that there are group members who will take it personally and become quite upset. (Maybe they are housebound, depressed etc --) 

I think that following the bloggy disagreements, those who follow the blogs and forums avidly (and more importantly, our osprey family!) may have decided that the best course is to keep one's head below the parapet----

I don't think you have lost the plot, I can't understand why LG have to date not reinforced what seemed to me to be their hopes - that we would use the main blog for comments directly related to the main blog. May be they will do so next season, right at the beginning.

Heather

Simon

Hi Graham

You have completly lost me on the Leicester University bit, no idea what you are on about? :-)

The point I was trying to get accross was that the "Main" blog has now for the most part gone so far off track that it has become little more than a chat room on just about every subject other than what I and I think many others thought it was there for.

Anything sort of meaningfull posting I.E weather, wind etc posted or anything else pasted with a little local knowledge appears to be overridden by reams of nothingness.

sorry, perhaps I have lost the plt :-?

Simon

Heather......

I for one am certainly not in the business of rocking the boat. Your point about users being (Maybe they are housebound, depressed etc --)   is totally relevant, there have been a few, in fact quite a number of entries on the "Main Blog" which have patently been posted under some sort of stress or other, I suppose this is 20 / 21st century living. However, if you can't take nature as is "for whatever reason" to be blunt, log off.

Hysteria helps nobody but I am more than sympathetic for those that might struggle with nature, a bit like television really, if you don't like it, switch the box off!

For those that make supposed "nasty comments" to be blunt they are probably on the blog for the wrong reason, as you say "we are here for the Ospreys primarily or at least this is my perception.

As previously mentioned, I have been the instigator of all sorts of silliness throughout the current season, but it has all been "Osprey" based, unless I have lost it completely this is the primary function of the LG centre. I am obviously aware of the plethora of other wildlife in the area, I live 20 minutes up the road from the centre............

There is little point in keeping one's head below the parapet, if you have something to say............ "Say It" there again, perhaps you are referring to the powers that be at the RSPB?