C&M forum closed... Bonus for G/N forum

JayDee · Guru

C&M forum closed... Bonus for G/N forum

Tones · Veteran Member

Tried their 1800 801 647 Phone number also.........DEAD!

Tones

Santa · Guru

I've noticed activity on this forum seems to have slowed noticeably of late as well. confuse

blaze · Guru

certainly not as active as it once was, some may say it is banning itself out of existence
cheers
blaze

Santa · Guru

blaze wrote:
certainly not as active as it once was, some may say it is banning itself out of existence
cheers
blaze

Haven't noticed that, the only people I've seen banned deserved it.

Lots of different social media platforms to choose from now, must have some affect. smile

JayDee · Guru

We have been out of range for a couple of weeks.

Looking forward to participating more from next week.

Jay&Dee

Bushpie · Guru

Shame to see forums on a downward trend ...... they are a very useful tool for many purposes.

But very greatful to those that keep this one ticking over.

Olive Oil · Senior Member

There's only so much that you can talk about on any forum.
Topics seem to be repeated over & over.
No-one seems to use the SEARCH button before asking a question about something.
Caravan & Motorhome travel isn't exactly rocket science is it?
It can be as simple or as complicated as you choose to make it, it's your choice.
That other forum has been dead in the water for ages.

Baz421 · Guru

Santa wrote:
blaze wrote:
certainly not as active as it once was, some may say it is banning itself out of existence
cheers
blaze
Haven't noticed that, the only people I've seen banned deserved it.
Lots of different social media platforms to choose from now, must have some affect.

Agree Santa,,, however the number of posts seems to have decreased in last 12 months or so,, as has the quality of posts IMHO

dabbler · Guru

A forum needs to be moderated and threads merged or deleted when duplicate topics appear. Otherwise, threaded forums become chronologically linear and no more useful than Facebook. Less useful really as images are more difficult to share. Forums in the same format as GN (apart from the mobile skin), pre-date the internet and are outdated in the modern communications world. At some point, the GN forum needs to consider it own app or enable something like Tapatalk.

PeterX · Senior Member

RE " the GN forum needs to consider it own app or enable something like Tapatalk "
I do not want to use a app to access any forum, such as this one

Also Facebook is deliberately made hard to search. and search is less powerful.
Facebook is also a dodgy company in my opinion.

dorian · Guru

dabbler wrote:
Forums in the same format as GN (apart from the mobile skin), pre-date the internet and are outdated in the modern communications world. At some point, the GN forum needs to consider it own app or enable something like Tapatalk.

The only "app" that we need and should be using is a "browser". Everything else is just clutter.

As for searching, this forum's "search" facility has to be one of the worst. I get MUCH better results with Google or Bing:

https://www.bing.com/search?q=motorhome+site%3Athegreynomads.activeboard.com

dogbox · Guru

dorian wrote:

dabbler wrote:
Forums in the same format as GN (apart from the mobile skin), pre-date the internet and are outdated in the modern communications world. At some point, the GN forum needs to consider it own app or enable something like Tapatalk.
The only "app" that we need and should be using is a "browser". Everything else is just clutter.
As for searching, this forum's "search" facility has to be one of the worst. I get MUCH better results with Google or Bing:
https://www.bing.com/search?q=motorhome+site%3Athegreynomads.activeboard.com

lets try an "keep it simply simple " (kiss) some of us old folks are not that computer savvy

iana · Guru

The only thing this forum needs is more active participants from the 12,000 registered members. Other than that I think it is one of the best.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I agree, keep it simple. Many of us here are retired and have put that W word behind us and in a previous life so don't want things to be complicated.

I for one get a lot out of this forum and have done since I first joined many moons ago. I use it for information, asking questions, have a bit of fun, let others know what I have been up to in my travels and enjoy what others have been up to and a bit of therapy as well chucked in for good measure.

One thing that does annoy me is the way people don't use the suitable sections of the Forum, Cindy (Webmaster) has set the forum up to hopefully find threads easily but some people insist on posting in the wrong area. I also don't like the way some people insist on causing trouble and some of those seem to thrive on it.

I don't really care if there are spelling and or grammar mistakes because as I see it we are GN's not school kids sitting an English exam. I do find it hard reading threads that don't have paragraphs or very long paragraphs. I don't care if paragraphs are not even done properly or short, at least what I am reading is easier to read, again, we are not sitting an English exam.

So, that all said, I like the forum the way it is. Just cut the arguments and trouble making smile

Thankyou Cindy (Webmaster) keep up the great work.

Ron-D · Guru

Perfect Dough.

dorian · Guru

dogbox wrote:
dorian wrote:

dabbler wrote:
Forums in the same format as GN (apart from the mobile skin), pre-date the internet and are outdated in the modern communications world. At some point, the GN forum needs to consider it own app or enable something like Tapatalk.
The only "app" that we need and should be using is a "browser". Everything else is just clutter.
As for searching, this forum's "search" facility has to be one of the worst. I get MUCH better results with Google or Bing:
https://www.bing.com/search?q=motorhome+site%3Athegreynomads.activeboard.com
lets try an "keep it simply simple " (kiss) some of us old folks are not that computer savvy

That's exactly why I said that introducing an "app" is not a good idea.

If you think that my search suggestion is complicated, then bookmark it. It then reduces to a clickable link.

If you prefer Google -

https://www.google.com/search?q=insert_your_search_words_here+site%3Athegreynomads.activeboard.com

Mamil · Senior Member

I started in the early years with email based discussion groups. Each person would add their comment to the bottom of the email and it was forwarded to the whole group!

Things improved markedly when the web came along with discussion boards and then forums like this one.

However, technology continues to move on, and the younger generation (and I don't just mean teenagers, I mean people in their 30s and 40s as well) seem to prefer social media platforms like Facebook, and that means all old-style forums like this one are doomed to eventually dry up as the oldies that support them lose interest or move on to something else, and aren't replaced by new members. Remember also that all forums cost money to maintain, and unless by subscription then it's supported by advertising. Advertisers will go where the people are, so its a downward spiral!

Personally I prefer the forum format like this one, as you can develop more detailed explanations, and it's easier to keep track of conversations. But we we have to accept the world is moving in another direction and I've seen a number of forums I'm a member of die a slow death, or be forced to morph into a Facebook group to survive.

Although I dislike the 'throw away one liner' mentality of Facebook, it does have some positives. You have to use your real name for a start, and your posts are in plain view for all your friends and family to see, and people can quickly "like" or just as important "dislike" posts, so it does result in a more responsible attitude and less rudeness and rants than happen on this forum and others.

But at the end of the day it's not our choice, the fate of this forum and others is in the hands of the next generation of Grey Nomads, and what media they choose to communicate through.

Anyway, just my thoughts on the subject....

Lily2018 · Senior Member

I enjoy forums to read what people are up to. I'm always interested to read about their travels, where they are, how their lives are going. I often find it's a great form of friendship although chances are none of us have ever met.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Lily, I have met many members of this great forum over years I have been a member and many of those I have made life long friends with.

I just make my approximate whereabouts known or keep and eye out on the forum where others might be and make contact to meet up maybe.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Tony Bev · Guru

Sorry to see any forum for a traveller, close down

I started my part time travelling in 2012, not knowing about caravan type forums, and other travellers on the road, told me about them

2015 I bumped into forum members Jules 47, and her partner Billeee
They had the same RV as myself, so I asked some questions about the vehicle, and was given genuine answers

When I finally joined this forum around 2016, Dougwe (Doug), welcomed me, and that gave me the feeling, that there are some good and helpful people here

Since then I have gained a lot of information from this forum, and have had the privilege of meeting other members, while travelling
Of the members I have met, I found out that although we are all different, we have the same basic outlook of helping, rather than hindering others

On the question of searching for an answer to a question, I point out that not everyone (in our age group), are Internet savvy
Other members answered my questions, and I will therefore continue to answer any questions, I have any knowledge of

I dips my lid to Cindy (the Webmaster)

Lily2018 · Senior Member

Totally agree with you as to preferring this type of format. It's easier to read, edit, follow posters etc. However, I did want to join another group who only operate on FB. I was really hesitant as I've always disliked the concept of FB and was biased against it from the start.
Finally took the jump and very pleased I did simply because people interact with each other so much more than on a forum such as this.
The groups I've joined are both 'closed' groups which I feel slightly happier about. It provides a certain amount of privacy although of course nothing on the internet is ever private.

Santa · Guru

I don't have a FaceBook account, never have, seen way to many drama's unfold related directly to it, causes an enormous amount of in family based trauma as well.

Mamil · Senior Member

Santa wrote:
I don't have a FaceBook account, never have, seen way to many drama's unfold related directly to it, causes an enormous amount of in family based trauma as well.

Santa, firstly let me say I wholeheartedly agree with you! I was one of the first 'early adopters' of Facebook way back fifteen years ago and I was also one of the first to leave it a couple of years later as I could see the way it was going!

However, as one by one my favourite forums died a slow death and the people and traffic transferred to Facebook groups instead, I relented about a year ago and opened a new Facebook account.

However, I use this one STRICTLY for belonging to 'closed' groups on my interests, including caravans, and have not friended a single person, nor post daily updates of what I'm eating for breakfast, or follow the fake lives of so-called 'influencers'.

Thankfully, you don't have to throw yourself wholly into it's absurdly superficial world, you can just use it as a selective tool to follow discussion groups much like this one.

-- Edited by Mamil on Wednesday 26th of June 2019 04:09:37 PM

Ron-D · Guru

The trouble with face book is when you reply to a post theres a little picture of The members facebook icon they just click that and go into your face book ,there they can see all your family friends ect...and if your part of that group you will reply to posts .

Mamil · Senior Member

Ron-D wrote:
The trouble with face book is when you reply to a post theres a little picture of The members facebook icon they just click that and go into your face book ,there they can see all your family friends ect...and if your part of that group you will reply to posts .

Only if you 'friend' your family and friends Ron. If you click on my icon in Facebook you'll get zilch, as I don't have any friends haha! I use the account solely for following closed groups I'm interested in. I ignore repeated suggestions from Facebook to add more personal details, birthday, work place, schools, and most importantly "link to people you might know". If you don't add any of these details to your account, then there's nothing there for people to see! Unless of course you want to.

dabbler · Guru

Mamil is correct, Don't let Facebook control you. I know people who use it solely for immediate family interaction (its msging features are very good and simple) or to access groups, all under a pseudonym. This forum (and most) has just as many issues as FB really. As for an app, it's not my preferred choice either. Tapatalk and similar apps allow a person to cobble together all the forum they frequent and most importantly, it's geared for mobile devices and screens. The full screen browser isn't friendly now and the mobile skin has crippled functionality.

Olive Oil · Senior Member

This is a predomintly friendly forum, some sites on the internet are no go zones for us & probably many other people of our age group.

Mamil · Senior Member

Olive Oil wrote:
This is a predomintly friendly forum, some sites on the internet are no go zones for us & probably many other people of our age group.

Awww!, are you suggesting we're too old for Tinder biggrin

dabbler · Guru

Olive Oil, Nothing I've read on FB is any worse than I hear on UHF. It's still present here and often with the same meaning just a little more subtle. Anywhere people gather will have issues at some point.