Topic: I'm losing interest...

...in this forum.

Why? Because (and this is purely a personal opinion) I'm finding it increasingly bland.

I visit several times daily and I always go straight to New Posts. Usually about 20 topics have been added / updated since my last visit, but I'm finding that very few grab my attention nowadays. There's an ever-increasing number of 'Another newbie says Hi!' -type posts; more and more great cruise offers from staff; and the inevitable cut-and-paste press releases thinly disguised as news items (I'm not talking about Robinson's posts because at least he finishes his with a question to encourage discussion).

I've enjoyed following the threads in which Gordon et al have engaged in lively debate. Here at least were discussions where the participants were anything but bland. But unfortunately such sparring isn't to everyone's taste. People were actively seeking out this thread in order to declare it 'dead'. Such arrogance!

And then come the rules. Why now? Have people been telling tales to Mummy? Do we really need to be told how to behave? Don't get me wrong - I've long campaigned against nastiness in posts, and I warned about the danger of libel months ago. But I have faith in human nature; I believe that in any large group of people there will be enough decent ones to keep things civilised. Unlike many (most?), I don't feel 'lucky' that this forum has fewer rules than others - I simply wouldn't be here otherwise.

So what now? I don't presume to know what everyone else wants from this forum, but for me I'd like to see far more topics started by its members. Robinson does a sterling job trying to get discussion going, but I'd prefer it if he didn't have to. I'd like an end to cruise deals on the forum - what's the point? Are we supposed to debate the pros and cons of the latest offer? And I'd like to read more, not less, from people who challenge me and interest me and make me want to come back for more.

Rant over. :o

Regards

I too am getting more and more disinterested in the forum. It has become more of a chat room and very few topics started are actually to do with cruising.

The off topic lounge is very popular, but what happens when it gets to the point that its overtaken the very meaning and purpose of this forum. This forum was set up for us to talk, debate and question aspects of cruising.

I have wanted to say something for a while, but not had the courage to speak up, well good on you Dave you've given me the push.
A lot of one liners, no point comments, are made now just to push up the number count on postings (I feel just in the hope that this will put them in the rank for invites to certain cruise events).

Just yesterday, I posted a topic myself to try and encourage some talk about ships and cruising. I dont want to talk about chocolate, chips or sausages. For those that do there must be other forums.

I have also noticed a lack of input lately from certain key long standing forum members, who usually have great knowledge and give some valuable input and insight. Like you I wonder too if they feel the same.

QUOTE:

...in this forum.

Why? Because (and this is purely a personal opinion) I'm finding it increasingly bland.

I visit several times daily and I always go straight to New Posts. Usually about 20 topics have been added / updated since my last visit, but I'm finding that very few grab my attention nowadays. There's an ever-increasing number of 'Another newbie says Hi!' -type posts; more and more great cruise offers from staff; and the inevitable cut-and-paste press releases thinly disguised as news items (I'm not talking about Robinson's posts because at least he finishes his with a question to encourage discussion).

I've enjoyed following the threads in which Gordon et al have engaged in lively debate. Here at least were discussions where the participants were anything but bland. But unfortunately such sparring isn't to everyone's taste. People were actively seeking out this thread in order to declare it 'dead'. Such arrogance!

And then come the rules. Why now? Have people been telling tales to Mummy? Do we really need to be told how to behave? Don't get me wrong - I've long campaigned against nastiness in posts, and I warned about the danger of libel months ago. But I have faith in human nature; I believe that in any large group of people there will be enough decent ones to keep things civilised. Unlike many (most?), I don't feel 'lucky' that this forum has fewer rules than others - I simply wouldn't be here otherwise.

So what now? I don't presume to know what everyone else wants from this forum, but for me I'd like to see far more topics started by its members. Robinson does a sterling job trying to get discussion going, but I'd prefer it if he didn't have to. I'd like an end to cruise deals on the forum - what's the point? Are we supposed to debate the pros and cons of the latest offer? And I'd like to read more, not less, from people who challenge me and interest me and make me want to come back for more.

Rant over. :o

Regards

Hi Dave
I totally agree with everything you say,you put some points far more eloquently than i did on General Rules thread.
So its not just me who is a conspiracy theorist.
Sometimes you just have to be a Devils Advocate to get debate going.
I suspect many threads like the ones you mentioned turn people off.
Its OK celebrating 6000+ members but after 1/2 posts how many stay/contribute,there's probably a hard core of maybe 40 members who regularly contribute.
I hate the posts where somebody asks a question + poster replies,
"dont know the answer,but somebody will".Duh!!
JC

Hi Dave, I have belonged to other cruise forums and only a small percentage of members are ever active in a sense of posting or replying to questions. Therefore you need a hell of a lot of members before things really liven-up. I have posted a number of topics but sometime they often fall flat. (I accept that that it is probably because of my choice of topic)

I notice on this forum (unlike some cruise forums) the members are mainly interested in cruising as a holiday - nothing wrong with that. On other forums people are often interested in ships, their history, the history of the cruise lines and technical issues. There is also a lot of loyalty to particular brands here (nothing wrong with that either). However these factors limit a wider discussions.

I suppose discussing 'Azipods' is a little 'train-spoter ish, though.;-)

I've started a topic about 'Carnival' cruise line. On another forum this topic had over hundred replies. I don't suppose this will happen here?;)

Whilst I take your point, the use of the forums varies from person to person.

I've been here "reading" for ages - didn't sign up until November but that was only to comment on something that got my goat ... then by the time I'd worked out how to do it (techi problems) I'd calmed down and carried on reading in silence...

We should all bear in mind the individuality of the forum's memembers... TIME... it's obvious which people have most of it on their hands... Prolific posters are great but sometimes (as was intimated), alot of it is just banal dribble - no offense to anyone in particular intended of course...

When the debates get interesting - they have usually gone OFF topic and involve members taking offense at each others comments... and often ending up quite personal. I don't like such threads although they do get a lot of views Ive noticed.

Personally - I enjoy logging in a few times a day as I work in IT so have lots of "time" on servers able to scan threads - just not enough time to comment as many of my sessions get cut short by whatever I'm actually being paid to do... I also enjoy the demographic of contributers - I suspect many are "of an age" where their natural language would not be counted as PC, however their open mindedness, judgment and life experience is empowering enough for them to contribute WITHOUT fear of being bigotted... these days too many people are FAR to wary of saying something to offend an ethnic (which I'm classed as) or disabled person etc etc... I've learned that whilst "the oldies" (and this is a term I use in a complimentary fashion) HAVE much to offer in the form of opinions, information and "experience"... who cares if sometimes their wording is a bit direct???


Now I've gone off toppic...

Hello Dave sorry you are losing interest, I enjoyed your guess the ships and where is it photos, I agree the forum does go off topic quite a bit and I plead guilty, however as Malcolm says the majority of cruisers, don't discuss forward thrusters, Azipods, tugs etc or old ships, but as you know from our previous posts I am interested being married to an old sea dog. Here's one that might whet your appetite, I was looking through some old photos and came across one taken on new year's eve 1952 at the Royal Duchy Hotel in Falmouth, and I was only 10 years old at the time, and bringing in the new year was another little girl named Janet Parker I was the old year fairy.

It concerned the ship the Flying Enterprise, and her Captain, Kurt Carlson she had lost her steering some where in the Atlantic, and the tugs went out to tow her into Falmouth, the tug Turmoil being a deep sea tug and the captain being Janet Parker's father. The world descended on Falmouth, radio and press as it was quite a story with the ship battling the elements and only a few crew on board, anyway when she was a few days out the tow wire snapped and the pictures show the I think the last man on board again I think it was the first mate, jumping off and being brought onto the tugs safely, this had been reported daily in all papers and when they came ashore there was
a great welcoming reception awaiting them.

They stayed at the Royal Duchy Hotel, where my mother worked and I was able to meet with the Parker's I suppose he was counting the cost of losing his salvage money, but at least no lives were lost.
Now Dave I might not be accurate on every point as it was a long time ago, but if you look it up it will make interesting reading, sorry for such a saga.

I too am finding that this forum has changed of late and I'm hoping that it's temporary.
Sorry Dave but I hold my hands up to wishing and posting a certain topic dead. My reason was because that thread had gone way off the original topic and had become very confrontational, followed by inappropriate remarks, followed by everyone apologising to each other. What I meant by delclaring it dead (well seconding a proposal actually), was let's move on. It didn't work of course-another lesson learned.
When I joined this forum, I found it to be very informative and still do. What is interesting, is that there are many contributors to the questions/answers page who spend much less time if any at all on the forum. I like to help people with their questions when I can because I was given lots of advice on that page when I was planning my first cruise and found it invaluable. Back then, I hadn't joined the forum.
I am not disagreeing with anything said on this thread so far but just a bit sad that some of us are feeling less interested in the new topics currently on the forum.
Let's all hope that things will pick up-maybe it's the result of a long cold winter.

QUOTE:

I too am finding that this forum has changed of late and I'm hoping that it's temporary.
I am not disagreeing with anything said on this thread so far but just a bit sad that some of us are feeling less interested in the new topics currently on the forum.
Let's all hope that things will pick up-maybe it's the result of a long cold winter.

It is inevitable that the forum will evolve and need pulling back to its original form occasionally. I still think there are important things to discuss - chocolate is possibly not one of them. The foie gras thread has every chance of persuading P & O that it is not acceptable to condone cruelty to animals and the mobility scooter thread may help some people to become more tolerant of their less mobile companions.

Also it gives those of us looking forward to out cruise an outlet for the excitment so that our non-cruising friends still talk to us.

And we want a badge!

Judith

QUOTE:

I too am getting more and more disinterested in the forum. It has become more of a chat room and very few topics started are actually to do with cruising.

The off topic lounge is very popular, but what happens when it gets to the point that its overtaken the very meaning and purpose of this forum. This forum was set up for us to talk, debate and question aspects of cruising.

I have wanted to say something for a while, but not had the courage to speak up, well good on you Dave you've given me the push.
A lot of one liners, no point comments, are made now just to push up the number count on postings (I feel just in the hope that this will put them in the rank for invites to certain cruise events).

Just yesterday, I posted a topic myself to try and encourage some talk about ships and cruising. I dont want to talk about chocolate, chips or sausages. For those that do there must be other forums.

I have also noticed a lack of input lately from certain key long standing forum members, who usually have great knowledge and give some valuable input and insight. Like you I wonder too if they feel the same.

The one liners and the chocolate jokes were funny but enough is enough.

I have enjoyed the amusing banter between certain people and the stories of mishaps and embarrassing moments have made me laugh aloud. Perhaps if an effort is made to keep them in the off topic section they could be avoided by the more serious minded posters. And what about the wonderful photographs we have all appreciated so much ?

Must admit though, I don't mind about rank , numbers of postings or a badge. I doubt many others do either it was simply a little humour to brighten the day, wasn't it?

Some days are unexciting or grey and to share a few remarks with regular posters is harmless.

Is 'off-topic' such a crime? At least people are interacting!;)