9248 Where is everyone??

[quote=Aretina;86982]Is it just part of the ebb and flow of any web blog?[/quote]
Since the same question is posed every few months, I'd say that the answer to it is, "Probably". :winki:
[quote=Aretina;86982]Many 'old timers' seem to have disappeared - where to?[/quote]
I'd like to think they're off doing something that seems a more positive and rewarding use of their time at this point in their lives.

Some people get the forum bug in a bad way and then get tired of "talking" to people via a keyboard after a while. Sometimes they come back after a break in The Real World, sometimes they don't.

Some people stomp off in a huff when they aren't accorded the respect they think they deserve or - paradoxically - when they aren't allowed to treat others with disrespect. Sometimes their leaving gravely diminishes the "community", but I think it usually doesn't.

Life changes for forum members, but it and the forum goes on. People come and go for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes their departure is an irreparable loss to the community, but there's always the possibility that the new member saying hello and chattering away about inconsequentialities today will become a valuable contributor in time.

Al

Pigro made a brief appearance last week and has disappeared again. Niall,had plenty to give to and got on very well with Pigro. It be really cool to have them back here soon.

I thought maybe everyone else was having warmer weather than we are here in Umbria and were out enjoying spring!

Well, Aretina, we have not heard from you recently until today. Perhaps you were too busy or there are a million reasons why people come and go. I think that the Forum is alive and well now, after a short period when it was a bit dull, but I suppose that this is to be expected in any Forum. The number of threads started and posts is high again, some are a bit repetitious because new members do not know where to look for past information, but, in turn, it is expected that some of these new members would become good contributors in the future. I don't think there is anything to worry about. Great to see you back!

[quote=Gala Placidia;86999]Well, Aretina, we have not heard from you recently until today. Perhaps you were too busy or there are a million reasons why people come and go. I think that the Forum is alive and well now, after a short period when it was a bit dull, but I suppose that this is to be expected in any Forum. The number of threads started and posts is high again, some are a bit repetitious because new members do not know where to look for past information, but, in turn, it is expected that some of these new members would become good contributors in the future. I don't think there is anything to worry about. Great to see you back![/quote]

I know that there is a general FAQ section, but how about an FAQ section for How Do I type things ?

Hello again to everyone. I have been away along time from the forum, making the odd visit here and there, We have been living in Italy now since november and have had so much too do, still not finished.... however things are settling down now so perhaps I can spend a little more time back on the forum,by the way I love it here

Great, Frantiani. We look forward to hearing more from you.

And Carole B is around today!!! Yipeee

Well, some may not be around but then then are some folks who are just trying to boost their post rating, rather than anything else.................I guess it's all about substance :)

[quote=Aretina;86982]Many 'old timers' seem to have disappeared - where to?
[/quote]

I guess I qualify as an old timer by now ...

I originally became regular here firstly to keep abreast of pertinent news from Italy, then to try and help others (on the odd occasion where I had relevant knowledge), but latterly out of a desire to participate in the more esoteric threads - those that went off at interesting tangents and/or where the participants revealed a little of the real person 'behind the avatar'.

The members who embraced that type of interaction are pretty thin on the ground now; the topics raised are, in the main, practical Q&A's (and the majority of responses are likewise brief and to the point).

Absolutely nothing wrong with that, but if that's it, then 'it' doesn't really foster an environment where active participation is interesting (to me anyway). I'm therefore less inclined to check the forum so frequently and less tempted to post when I do check in - and it may be that some other old hands may have hit a similar "wall"?

Ronald once said "the forum members will get the forum they want/deserve". The majority of currently active members clearly want something fairly basic - simple, quick answers to direct, specific questions, and the more philosophical/engaging stuff has naturally taken a back seat.

As mentioned by Allan Mason, it's probably desirable anyway for those with the higher post counts to give it a rest eventually and let others have a go at becoming the next generation of regulars. I'm 100% sure that new characters will take up the cudgels soon enough.

Having lost the will to keep posting frequently mainly to try and fan the embers of debate, that's exactly what I did a wee while back: I decided to stop posting until/unless I saw a thread where someone could specifically benefit from my particular input or where the subject/debate really cried out to me to get involved.

The fact is, there just haven't been many such threads since I started to think in advance about my input before clicking on 'reply' - so I haven't posted much of late as a result. I guess I have (this post excluded!) joined the ranks of the many members here who are mainly passive consumers of the content rather than active contributors.

Anyway thats probably more information than you wanted to know Aretina, so I'll retract my big yellow head back beneath the parapet again for a while ... as all this now unfamiliar typing has made me dizzy!

is that a polite way of saying-its all got a bit boring of late so we arent coming out to play!

[quote=pigro;87105]I guess I qualify as an old timer by now ...

I originally became regular here firstly to keep abreast of pertinent news from Italy, then to try and help others (on the odd occasion where I had relevant knowledge), but latterly out of a desire to participate in the more esoteric threads - those that went off at interesting tangents and/or where the participants revealed a little of the real person 'behind the avatar'.

The members who embraced that type of interaction are pretty thin on the ground now; the topics raised are, in the main, practical Q&A's (and the majority of responses are likewise brief and to the point).

Absolutely nothing wrong with that, but if that's it, then 'it' doesn't really foster an environment where active participation is interesting (to me anyway). I'm therefore less inclined to check the forum so frequently and less tempted to post when I do check in - and it may be that some other old hands may have hit a similar "wall"?

Ronald once said "the forum members will get the forum they want/deserve". The majority of currently active members clearly want something fairly basic - simple, quick answers to direct, specific questions, and the more philosophical/engaging stuff has naturally taken a back seat.

As mentioned by Allan Mason, it's probably desirable anyway for those with the higher post counts to give it a rest eventually and let others have a go at becoming the next generation of regulars. I'm 100% sure that new characters will take up the cudgels soon enough.

Having lost the will to keep posting frequently mainly to try and fan the embers of debate, that's exactly what I did a wee while back: I decided to stop posting until/unless I saw a thread where someone could specifically benefit from my particular input or where the subject/debate really cried out to me to get involved.

The fact is, there just haven't been many such threads since I started to think in advance about my input before clicking on 'reply' - so I haven't posted much of late as a result. I guess I have (this post excluded!) joined the ranks of the many members here who are mainly passive consumers of the content rather than active contributors.

Anyway thats probably more information than you wanted to know Aretina, so I'll retract my big yellow head back beneath the parapet again for a while ... as all this now unfamiliar typing has made me dizzy![/quote]

I quite agree with your sentiments Pigro.

I do see it as a problem for the forum, if some of the regulars give up because there is not enough to interest them anymore. Just occasionally someone will need information, which the ‘old regulars’ could have supplied and in their absence get well meaning but often-inaccurate replies.

This sort of thing only has to happen for a short while before it has an exponential effect.

For example a newbie comes and asks a question - either gets no proper reply, an inaccurate reply or one, which relies on google rather than personal experience. Is that newbie going to feel encouraged to return?

I agree that there does sometimes seem to be a mad rush to post just to keep the post count up but if the posts are dull and uninteresting it does not encourage other people to participate, rather the opposite.

I had hoped that the new ‘groups’ facility would be a place for people to chat, leaving the forum for more serious discussion and exchange of information but it doesn’t seem to have caught the general imagination yet.

I think Ronald has tried very hard to make the forum a place where all sorts of users can find a level of interaction to suit them but of course it is only if you know the forum fairly well and the people who use it on a regular basis that you can use the new options properly. New members will probably not bother with them so it is up to the ‘old hands’ to make better use of them.

The only problem with this is it would take positive effort and I don’t think many are particularly bothered.

[quote=pigro;87105]I guess I qualify as an old timer by now ...

Iaving lost the will to keep posting frequently mainly to try and fan the embers of debate, that's exactly what I did a wee while back: I decided to stop posting until/unless I saw a thread where someone could specifically benefit from my particular input or where the subject/debate really cried out to me to get involved.

.......
[/quote]

Well, Pigro, why don't you start some interesting threads. Don't wait for the others to do that, take the initiative. I am certain that you have plenty to say.

[quote=herealready;87109]is that a polite way of saying-its all got a bit boring of late so we arent coming out to play![/quote]
I guess you'll be the judge of that :-)

but it was really just a reply to aretina's question - as it's one of the few that I've felt like responding to recently.

[quote=Gala Placidia;87111]Well, Pigro, why don't you start some interesting threads. Don't wait for the others to do that, take the initiative. I am certain that you have plenty to say.[/quote]

starting isn't really my thing, I always thought of myself more of a "joiner inner" unless I had something topical or interesting to say (which I haven't at present). And now that you've urged me to be interesting ... well that's less of a challenge than an invitation to ritual suicide in public, so I think I'll resist the temptation for now.

3/16 isn't too bad and it was interesting to read

Personally, my ability to do anything on the Net is totally at the mercy of Telecom Italia. I currently have a phone line (and Alice) but this isn't always the case...

Hi
Thanks for the replies .. it was a provocative post, driven by despair, but it worked.

I share the views of Pigro and Nielo - the forum just seemed to have lost 'strength' and I found very little of interest or threads that I felt able to contribute to, whether that is a good thing or not is for you to judge. Pigro 'lost the will', I just couldn't be asked.
One liners are of little use,

Perhaps the Spring will put more spring in our fingertips.

I hope this is not the case - I have only recently joined and am hoping to receive advice and to share the experience I have gained since purchasing near Pescaglia, Tuscany.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a reasonable place, overlooking the sea, to stay at whilst in La Spezia in July?

[quote=Aretina;86982]Hi All

Forum activity seems to have lessened recently and the number of different users also seems to have slimmed down. Is this just a coincidence or as a result of the 'revamp'.

Subjects/new threads also appear to be less substantial, and most of the posts seem to be about welcoming etc.

Is it just part of the ebb and flow of any web blog?

Many 'old timers' seem to have disappeared - where to?

Your views...[/quote]

Glenda, to be on the seaside and in a nice place near La Spezia, you are looking at Lerici or the Riviera di Levante in general. Not very many good prices around the area in July - August as it is very popular. Something more or less reasonable may be Hotel Shelley, [url=http://www.hotelshelley.it]hotel shelley[/url]
It is a great area, enjoy your holiday!

Just going back to the original thread for a minute - some people may have personal reasons for 'dropping out' too - I love coming on the forum (I was very proud when I made it to Senator! - how sad is that!) but I've had a lot of family illness recently so just haven't had the time. :no:

But I agree - it's really important for those who have been here for a while to keep coming - I found the site so useful for all sorts of things as we were buying our house in Le Marche and I want to be able to give something back to others going through the same thing.

So as Arnie would say (was it Arnie?) "I'll be back"!!

[quote=juliancoll;87145]3/16 isn't too bad and it was interesting to read[/quote]

are you quoting scripture Julia(n) or is that some fancy mathematical ratio that I'm unfamiliar with (mabe like pi but half-baked?) :eerr:

Glad you asked the question Pigro, see you are still needed here. I was too unsure as I thought it might be yet again another techno thing I was blissfully unaware of. Its sort of like that situation when everyone gets the joke but you?.
A

[quote=Angie and Robert;87163]Glad you asked the question Pigro, see you are still needed here. I was too unsure as I thought it might be yet again another techno thing I was blissfully unaware of. Its sort of like that situation when everyone gets the joke but you?.
A[/quote]

you really must lose these inhibitions of yours Angie - if I've learned anything over the years, it's that the person who's unafraid to ask when they don't know what's going on is usually the one who ends up with the best understanding of the situation. Personally, I think Juliancoll is just being enigmatic to 'keep the plates spinning' on this thread ... but lets see.

Not enigmatic platespinning Pigro, it was a simple fraction which must now be increased to 1/4 which is still interesting. Of course, you are at liberty to ask for further explanation, but this could shorten the odds somewhat as I'm unsure of my mathematical capabilities to reply correctly, but would try.

Well with your maths J&C and my inhibitions (Pigro has obviously forgotten the sweater and wellies incident) we wont be getting far on this thread. What was it about now? I forget.
A

[quote=juliancoll;87183]Not enigmatic platespinning Pigro, it was a simple fraction which must now be increased to 1/4 which is still interesting. Of course, you are at liberty to ask for further explanation, but this could shorten the odds somewhat as I'm unsure of my mathematical capabilities to reply correctly, but would try.[/quote]

Well, I'm almost scared to post any further in this thread now, I don't want to risk ruining my meagre contribution to your ratios - now that my reputation is gone, it's all I have left, you know!

[quote=Angie and Robert;87185]Well with your maths J&C and my inhibitions (Pigro has obviously forgotten the sweater and wellies incident) we wont be getting far on this thread. What was it about now? I forget.
A[/quote]

how could I forget, it still haunts my dreams!

BTW I like how you've bestowed a multiple personality disorder upon juliancoll - "J&C" ... is there something we should know ;-)

This thread is proof that the forum is alive and well and Pigros odds are now 1/4.29. Angie and Robert are correct with J & C as there is also a multiple personality disorder within this username. There is Julia and Collin.

So who's wearing the trousers here so to speak???

I am. :laughs:

Well thats the issue Sally, it was assumed I never was!
oops J& or C beat me to it.
A

Another double Id in op with us as well! Rarely let on which one of David and Linda it is though!! Yes still around the forum as members from old original forums of four/five years ago. The core of active members seems to shift over the months and years as priorites change.

[quote=Sally Donaldson;87202]So who's wearing the trousers here so to speak???[/quote]

Well I do..........but Deborah tells me what colour and size ..........DOHHHHHHH!!!!!

We take it turns

I've been in Italy for a couple of weeks. A relaxed time with some decent weather and hope to contribute more to the forum now.

[quote=chief Wiggum;88372]I've been in Italy for a couple of weeks. A relaxed time with some decent weather and hope to contribute more to the forum now.[/quote]

Good to hear.