Forum Future?

Pete,

I've aired my views on the demise of the forum many times and as previously stated their has been many a post of bigoted, bullish nature that sadly with dwindling numbers are only more and more to the fore. Brexit and COVID threads (neither particularly relevant to fell running) no doubt put the final nails in the coffin.
I applaud your efforts to find a future platform to air our views but let's learn lessons from the past and make sure we have a code of conduct that we all abide by that prohibits all the abhorrent behaviour that has brought about the demise of this forum.

The ones throwing around the bigot accusations seem to be the least intolerant of the opinions expressed by others.

Come on England!!!

I probably can't really comment on the goings on over that side of the forum, as i don't really feature in any of those threads.

Frankly i don't give a toss what anyone thinks about Brexit/covid/the election, so i don't bother to read or comment on those threads. I have probably missed a lot of the "controversy".

As to the new Discord platform.... whilst i'm setting it up, and i'll keep control of things like new member invites and starting new threads initially.... i'd intend to open up those kind of admin features once everyone is used to the format....

I'm not intending to moderate it as such.... we should all be grown up enough to have some decorum (and i have a full time job and train twice a day)... and there is the feature to mute threads that you're not interested in.... but whilst i do have sole control of it, if people resort to off-topic bullshit like apparently goers on in here, i'll just boot them off (and it pains me to even hint at that, as i like to think i generally get on with everyone on here).

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Originally Posted by Travs

Whilst it would be unwise to discount the thoughts of people like yourself and Stanley.... as its clear that to understand why popularity is dwindling, then we need to take on board your opinions.... and its clear that if you think this way, then there are doubtless many others.

But its worth mentioning that those toxic arguments are generally confined to one thread (or section of the forum).

The issue is when the forum is fairly quiet, those discussions become more prominent.

But to say it's nothing to do with fell running anymore and the stronghold of a few opinionated people. Some of them have very provocative, bigoted views and are very rude to people that oppose them. I'm sorry that it's going but its due to a few bigots who have spoilt it for all and put off people who want information and discussion on fell running is a bit harsh to the majority of us.... (well i assume its a majority....! as i mentioned earlier i don't know or care what is posted on the politics thread, and i assume its just a few people... there is no obligation to read that particular thread/section) .... the majority who don't get involved and generally only talk about fellrunning/racing on here.

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I always have a read of the exploits of you Travs, Mike T and others and these are great and what the forum should be all about, after my Daletownrunner log in no longer worked I stayed away from the forum for quite a while due to the toxic nature of a lot of the posts, as Mattpo says things went downhill with COVID and Brexit, I rejoined after my AF ablation mainly for advice from others and the advice and help that I got was really beneficial, as you say as little gets posted about actual Fell running anymore the toxic posts become much more noticeable, this unfortunately makes them more noticeable to potential new people, not a good luck for any organisation, to mirror PeteS I also applaud your efforts to find an alternative, I’m sure you’ll keep things in check and all about the running 😁 there’s certainly a place for ‘other’ threads but posters need to realise that we’re all potentially representing the sport we love when we post anything.

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Originally Posted by Charmian

The bad news is that this Forum does not have a future and it will be closed down shortly. So, I suggest that you say your goodbyes and move on. .

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Wow! About sums it all up.

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Statement from the FRA Chairman:

The forum is a legacy system which we are unable to move to our new platform. With diminishing traffic by a small group of members (and non-members) the existing forum is unsupported in its current form. The FRA is unable to allocate a substantial amount of members funds into a new or upgraded forum when clear alternatives are available and being used.

We are currently running an audit of the threads and posts to determine which ones are to be saved due to historical importance, etc. These will hopefully be archived and available to read in the future.

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The easiest way to save threads of historical importance is to keep a forum open, that way they keep getting added to. My main concern is with how much effort has been channelled into saving the forum, seeking sponsorship or advertising etc. after all the focus group was assured fra support. I can't help thinking we've been sold down the river a bit, and I'm really quite angry it had to end this way, in a 'sod it, we've got Facebook' kind of way. I find it very hard to forgive betrayal, it's something that hurts my soul and leaves a permanent imprint.

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Originally Posted by Witton Park

The ones throwing around the bigot accusations seem to be the least intolerant of the opinions expressed by others.

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I think I take that as a compliment.

Sadly I am out of here for good, so I shall say goodbye before it shuts down on me. I have to accept I shall no longer run on the fells nor race, not that I did much of that anyway in the previous 10 years, prefering solo running. I should add I gave up FRA membership some years ago as it was very race orientated and I wasn't.
Because of this count me out for the new discord site, it is as good a time as any for me to draw a line through fell running as I have little to offer now - other than "Back in the old days we.......".
Had some great times on this site, back when it was booming with ridiculous humour and some great characters on here, sadly times move on and the past drifts away, I feel it time for me to cut the chord rather than dangle halfheartedly forever.
I shall look in and may comment up until "shutdown", but take this is my official end, and happy days for all the rest of you and the future.


Growing old sucks.

Cheers Moley.....don't forget that without this forum we might never have met. Catch you again sometime soon xx

👍 any time you are passing.