May I suggest we stick to the topic of each forum subject.
I've noticed the subject gets diverted to something totally irrelevant, and is neither help nor entertainment. 
Keep the banter coming, but keep it relevant.
If one topic leads to another topic, start a new Subject.
But keep the banter and humour coming.
This is one of the most user-friendly, with the emphasis on "friend" I have been part of.  So far everyone has also added much humour while imparting their knowledge or asking for advice.  Let's keep it up.
The contributors use their own experiences and expertise to guide their fellow "forummers".   Let's keep it up.
We share our travel tales based on our own experiences.
We all learn from each other and that's the way it should be.
We all are free to disagree, and can state this on the forum, but we all must respect the views of everyone else.  That's how we all learn.
As the Bishop said to the actress, "Let's keep it up."  Cheers Chris

Chris
I quite like the way the topics flow. Start somewhere and end up "god knows" where. Bit like G madding and more like a conversation.

Agree with the humor, again like a conversation.

Someone normally pulls it back to topic, but we always seem to take the long road getting there - half the fun

me too

I'm with  TwoBob and Dave, happy with "subject flow". One thing leads to another very casually, just how we like life now, casual, minimal hassles etc.
Diverting now to the weather - beautiful sunny day on Sunshine Coast, great for beach walking.
Cheers

Good. Thanks for that feed back. I put the feeler out to see what everyone felt about the way the subjects go. I really find it quite entertaining. As long as we eventually get around to answering or responsding to the initial subject it's all good. Now that we're all on the same track, let's get this show on the road. See you down the track. Cheers Chris

One thing t hat I hope the Webbie is able to do one day is to make the forum so a posted item on a thread comes back to the top, so all topics can be put under the same thread and an active thread doesn't get buried, but comes back to the main page if reactived by another post.

As an example, say if Chris posts a poem under "Poems" and then say a week or later Chris or someone else decides to post one too. So they scroll through the pages (or search for the topic in the search box) and make their post on the thread which comes to the top of the first (visible) page again.

This just saves a lot of threads on the same subject over time on separate threads.

Just a thought if the Webbie ever revises the forum functions. In the meantime I am grateful for what has been provided to us all.

Vic

-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 24th of June 2009 12:51:40 AM

I don't mind the tangential discussion but I'd prefer that things were stored long term in a more easily accesible order or maybe we need a program of re-education so that we put things where they should be. On the other hand maybe thats just me wanting things ship shape and bristol fashion. It does get up my very delicate nose though when you do a search for something specific and dozens of topics show up and there is only a passing reference in a topic and you have to sort for hours to find what you want. No wonder newbies find it hard.
As to a cull yeah lets do that, there are people who joined in 2005 and have never even posted a "hello"....

The "poetry" or "recreational writing" topic could be there similar to the photos, jokes, techies etc. Many people write stories and poetry they may like to share with their fellow nomadders. Basil you are on the right track. It would be good if there was a facility to access specific information. A "search" factor could be built into the site. It would accommodate specific information about specific topics eg air conditioners, engels, tchnical, places, camping spots etc. I don't know if Cindy built the site or just administers it, but maybe this could be considered to be a request for both services. Please Cindy, could we have a new Topic for recreational writers, and a "search" facility to target specific topics. Cheers Chris

There is a search function already available HOWEVER you have to actually be very specific when you use it. If you look for dog shampoo you get pages and pages.... The forum is driven by the very popular "Sparklit" engine the servers of which are off shore and controlled by the Southern Baptist Church of the USA hence we can say root but not the "F" word and we can say Donkey but not a ss and we cant even type in the name of a popular town in the Dandenongs for fear of moral corruption, hell fire and brimstone. Even if Cindy paid to get the "gold" service we would still have those restrictions....

Basically we need either to have a full time co-ordinator (Cindy must be at near boiling pointwith all this) or all be given the Pol Pot treatment and put stuff where it belongs.

Recreational writing Granny????? all my writing is recreational otherwise I'd be able to charge for my inciscive wit and ascerbic thoughts, I can see your point alas I can't quite grasp it. Maybe it's time for a complete rebuild? a Big job but it may make us look a lot more proffesional which goes back to your earlier remarks, Granny, about having Grey Nomads represented, if we look like a bunch of "terrified amateurs" who is going to take us seriously?

Seriously, take us seriously? Now that would take most of the fun out of visiting Nomads. I was just fishing to see if anyone was interested in adopting a stricter format than the one we've enjoyed for so long. It appears they don't. I call all my writing "recreational", but sometimes it has the potential to be marketed and consequently bought. The income goes into my diesel fund. It all starts out as recreational though. Everyone can write, and I encourage everyone I meet to write about their trips, experiences and travel tips. Even if their literary skills aren't up to someone else's high standard, it's the quality of the content and not the grammar which is the story. If it's worth publishing someone can always polish it up for publication. I don't know what the technical capabilities of this site are, but a site-specific "search" capability would be handy for everyone. Especially if they've come upon something they've experienced and want to share. It would avoid some repetition, while allowing the topic to be resurrected for the new input. Do we need to look "professional"? I don't believe so. I've thoroughly enjoyed the friendly, casual atmosphere of this site. It's easy to use, which is a must for the not-so-computer-wise users who want to participate. Maybe, when a controversial subject is raised, with political pressure potential, such as getting more organisations to provide free camps, someone could package the comments, like a poll, and create a proposal to be formally presented to the relevant organisations. The KISS Principal is the best policy. Wow! That was deep and meaningful. Cheers Chris

Do you think we should delete this thread before Sam and Dr Mandy read it?
Ohhhhhhhhhhh damn to late.....

That the site is controlled by the SBC of the good old U.S. of A is one of the preeminent justifications for maintaining a high degree of anonymity and minimisation of personal information in one's postings.
This includes the PM function.
They seem to have developed a reputation for misuse of their data collected through their various activities.

They are not alone in this, of course.
The "Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints" (Mormons) has still failed to explain how deceased persons, their names gathered from their genealogical data bases, can be inducted into their 'flock' and used to bolster their weight when lobbying government and other authorities.

From long and bitter experience I have a decidedly skeptical perspective on religion.

The more organised and evangelical, the less they are to be trusted.

-- Edited by Rolly on Saturday 27th of June 2009 01:21:33 PM