Is it time to pull the plug

[SuperRoo69]

As I don't get here much these days, I thought I would have a quick look at the current forum discussions, only to find the only activity less than a mounth old, is the word association game.  Considering how vibrant this small community of photographers used to be, it really is pretty sad to think that a game is the only real sign of life here.  Is it time to turn off the life support???

Just a thought.

[Gez]

Hi Paul
           Yes it was a very active forum but it turned into quite a different type of activity a few years ago. There was a lot of backstabbing and secret campaigns going on with emails flying all over the place. People took exception to so many things it was quite unbelievable. Sides were formed and war was waged on a quite ridiculous scale. I still hear today of some of the insults and insinuations that were going on behind closed doors as it were.
It was a great shame because it was a very good forum before all the pettiness began. People have kept away for various reasons but they could so easily come back again and make it better. That's up to them. Graeme, Bob, Ian and myself pop by every now and again  probably to see if there are any thought provoking comments from other faces that might tempt us into conversation but in the meantime does it actually need putting down, is it hurting or offending anybody, I doubt it.
I'm sure we would all welcome new blood, or even some of the old but it's down to them if they want to join in.
Anyway....... Were mainly british so quite enjoy misery..... Look at the cricket


 

[Bawbee]

Hi Paul
           Yes it was a very active forum but it turned into quite a different type of activity a few years ago. There was a lot of backstabbing and secret campaigns going on with emails flying all over the place. People took exception to so many things it was quite unbelievable. Sides were formed and war was waged on a quite ridiculous scale. I still hear today of some of the insults and insinuations that were going on behind closed doors as it were.

Wow! I don't remember that 

.....Anyway....... We're mainly British so quite enjoy misery..... Look at the cricket

Aye, speaking of being British and miserable, not all of us are crying over the cricket   

[Graeme]

..................I thought it was a grasshopper? Don't tell me we have cockroaches?!!!!


Graeme

[Gypsy]

As I don't get here much these days,

Good to hear from you Paul.  Hope you, Charmaine and all your family are doing well   


I only drop by now and again myself.  Sadly members stopped posting photos for whatever reason and I'm not that passionate about word games. However, I'm not ready to 'pull the plug' hoping things might improve in the not too distant future.   

[Graeme]

I might start posting.....if I start taking

A new years resolution?

Graeme

[Gez]

As I don't get here much these days,

Good to hear from you Paul.  Hope you, Charmaine and all your family are doing well   


I only drop by now and again myself.  Sadly members stopped posting photos for whatever reason and I'm not that passionate about word games. However, I'm not ready to 'pull the plug' hoping things might improve in the not too distant future.

Unfortunately Jan for whatever reason people stopped coming here... 3 blokes showing each other photographs in a darkened room could be missunderstood  We definately need more people here and whoever pops by is more than welcome to post pics and expect a response. It was very odd the way virtually everybody stopped at the same time... Almost as if it was orchestrated 
That other person you spoke about still lurks and never posts by the way 

[Gez]

I think the word thing is just us popping by and leaving a word if there is nothing else going on.... Maybe we all just want to post the last word just in case 

[SuperRoo69]

Thankfully Gerry, I was mostly unaware of all the crap that was flying about, although I was aware through some of the posts that all was not well in PP land.  Its a fact of life that not everyone in a group setting is going to get along... its just a shame when things get nasty.  Thankfully I was far enough away (on the other side of the planet) for it not to be a real problem for me personally.  As for the cricket

Jan... Charmaine and family are all doing pretty well, although this time of year can be a little tough as we get to the 2nd anniversary of Jaxson's passing.  However, a big family Christmas gathering this coming Sunday down at Tallebudgera (on the Gold Coast) should help to raise the spirits a fair bit, with all the kids and grand kids enjoying the beach and warm weather.

Graeme... as we all know that New Year's resolutions never work, I'm setting you (and anyone else who's game) a challenge, to submit at least one of your best photos from the past year for comment on the forum.  To kick things off, I will put up a couple of photos that I really liked from this year to the critique part of the forum and hope that others do the same.  Think of it like a little bit of virtual CPR for this ailing site!!! 

Cheers

Paul

[Gypsy]

Think of it like a little bit of virtual CPR for this ailing site!!! 

Well done Paul, I'm liking your idea 

[SuperRoo69]

Thanks Jan... I'm liking your photos!!!   

[Pipeman]

Just popped in to wish you all a Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year, and saw this post.

I will try very hard to keep in touch and post some pics.

Best wishes to you all.

Ron

[Gypsy]

Thanks Ron and a Merry Christmas to you and your family.


Best wishes for 2014.

[Tanya]

This was such a small community of people that there was bound to be differences and there is always two sides to every story.
Unfortunately in trying to keep the peace I personally had to take an awful lot of insults from certain individuals that quite frankly were to much.
Not to mention finding two members tittering on another forum, what was that you mentioned about backstabbing Gerry?  'only raised because of your comment' all in the past afaic

Perhaps you know something I don't Gerry but I don't recall it being THAT bad lol. I find it amazing that arguements are still being spoken about. Tell them to let it go they will feel much better 


That aside I personally think the birth of Facebook has put a lot of the smaller forums into demise.
Even a forum as large as AP isn't as active as it once was.

As far as closing this place down Paul, I pay for the domain and Ian up keeps the forum. I think for as long as we are both willing this place will stay open even if it's just for anyone to come along and grumble or wish old friends a Merry Christmas and perhaps post a few pictures.
I shall continue to pop by albeit silently unless I actually get into photography again!
It's nice to know that people still care about this place 

[Pipeman]

As far as closing this place down Paul, I pay for the domain and Ian up keeps the forum. I think for as long as we are both willing this place will stay open even if it's just for anyone to come along and grumble or wish old friends a Merry Christmas and perhaps post a few pictures.
I shall continue to pop by albeit silently unless I actually get into photography again!
It's nice to know that people still care about this place 

Good for you and Ian - delighted to read that.

A forum doesn't have to have hundreds of members to be successful, and I would be loathe to see it die.