The future without a forum

[Travs]

In light of the news that the forum will likely shut down as a usable platform, is there any interest from the regulars (or indeed non-regulars on here) in moving to a new home?

I can see a couple of options....

1) A simple WhatsApp group (not sure this would be massively user-friendly with the wide variety of topics and potential conversations going on simultaneously, but might be worth a try, and easy to set up.

2) I had similar on a music forum that closed down during covid lockdown.... we all re-convened on an app called Discord, and the forum/community still thrives to this day.... you just download the Discord app on your phone/laptop/pc (for free, like whatsapp/facebook/etc), and i would happily set up a fellrunning server... would be similar menus to here... general/racing/kit/training/injuries/other.

It is certainly more user-friendly, and you can post links, photos, videos, etc very easily, there's the ability to "like" posts etc, quote posts.

Requires little admin (i'd happily do the setup and i'm pretty awful on IT matters).... all i'd require is email address (possibly mobile phone number as well) of people who were interested, so that i could send out invite links.

It is a "closed" server so people can't join without an invite from an existing member, so no risk of spam etc.

I'd only be interested in setting it up if at least a decent chunk of the regulars on here were interested.


or

3) Do we just let it go..... personally i know most of the people from here either at races or have them on facebook, and we'll see each other around!

[Witton Park]

I'd be up for it Travs - I still enjoy reading fell stuff and training exploits even though I've nothing lately to report myself on that front.
Maybe we can have a hill walkers section
Another idea I've had is posting running and/or walking route descriptions on our local areas.

We can hopefully drum up more interest and I'm aware of Discord because Timcast, a huge US podcast use it for member discussions on a variety of topics, so it's clearly scaleable.

[BillJ]

I don't post on here very often these days, but I do sometimes, and I regularly browse.
I would join a Discord forum if you set one up Pete.
- Bill Johnson

[Mossdog]

In light of the news that the forum will likely shut down as a usable platform, is there any interest from the regulars (or indeed non-regulars on here) in moving to a new home?

I can see a couple of options....

1) A simple WhatsApp group (not sure this would be massively user-friendly with the wide variety of topics and potential conversations going on simultaneously, but might be worth a try, and easy to set up.

2) I had similar on a music forum that closed down during covid lockdown.... we all re-convened on an app called Discord, and the forum/community still thrives to this day.... you just download the Discord app on your phone/laptop/pc (for free, like whatsapp/facebook/etc), and i would happily set up a fellrunning server... would be similar menus to here... general/racing/kit/training/injuries/other.

It is certainly more user-friendly, and you can post links, photos, videos, etc very easily, there's the ability to "like" posts etc, quote posts.

Requires little admin (i'd happily do the setup and i'm pretty awful on IT matters).... all i'd require is email address (possibly mobile phone number as well) of people who were interested, so that i could send out invite links.

It is a "closed" server so people can't join without an invite from an existing member, so no risk of spam etc.

I'd only be interested in setting it up if at least a decent chunk of the regulars on here were interested.


or

3) Do we just let it go..... personally i know most of the people from here either at races or have them on facebook, and we'll see each other around!

That's a great idea Travs - thank you for considering this. Count me in, and Discord seems particularly suitable, although I'll go with whatever option.

[gazb]

I don't post much but still read the forum regularly. Happy to go on the Discord group

[MattPo]

Yes Please.

[Llani Boy]

discord : lack of agreement or harmony.

Thanks Travs, count me in!

[Mike T]

Good idea Travs - thanks for the suggestion.

[PeteS]

The discord option sounds good and quite appropriately named for some threads (or should we discourage that kind of behaviour?)
Count me in.

[anthonykay]

I haven't come across Discord before. Do posts remain permanently and are they searchable (like the Forum, but unlike Facebook)? If so, I'm in.