Kiss of life?

[Charmian]

Whilst i understand where you're coming from on this point, not everyone on here is ancient....

I'm still in my 30's (for another 6 months anyway!)..... ba-ba is younger still, and maybe in his 20's still (and someone suggested above that there are no high-level runners posting on here, i think they are doing ba-ba a massive dis-service). In the aftermath of the Dragons Back this year, we had very interesting forum posts from two of the top 6 finishers.

Calvin used to post on here, and may still do occasionally, he must be late 20's-early 30's and a regular poster on the facebook page too.

It's certainly true that there is quite a lot of familiarity on here, and indeed i think i've met the majority of regular posters on here at least once.... but even the small number of regular posters on here come from a wide geographical area with a wide variety of backgrounds.

I totally agree on some of the off-topic/political posts and whether we like it or not, this is a forum linked to the FRA and it does not reflect well. However this does seem to have calmed down a great deal, due to either the odd banning, and the disappearance of a couple of the more volatile posters on such subjects.

Also agree on the lack of female voices... but you can't force people to post or join up if they don't want to, and i don't think it's necessarily a stick that can be used to beat the forum down. We could do with more regular posters, male or female...

On the subject of anonimity... i'd have no problem posting under my real name... i think most people on here know who i am, and i know who they are... not sure everyone would be in agreement though.

This is probably an old-fashioned view... but i get the feeling a lot of people would rather spend time on facebook discussing shoes and lightweight jackets... its the easy option, rather than thinking about training harder, learning race routes, losing a couple of kg (would make so much more difference than buying a shoe which weighs 25grammes less!!)...

Part of my point is that to an outsider, there is no indication of who anyone is, how old they are or where they are based. It would be far more welcoming to potential new members of the forum, if all contributors were open about their identity. Many of the 20,843 members of the FRUK FB group are not fell runners and it would be great to make this forum a go-to place for folk who genuinely want to learn about the sport.

Of course, another significant consideration is future moderation as Brett takes a step back.

[Graham Breeze]

Part of my point is that to an outsider, there is no indication of who anyone is, how old they are or where they are based. It would be far more welcoming to potential new members of the forum, if all contributors were open about their identity. Many of the 20,843 members of the FRUK FB group are not fell runners and it would be great to make this forum a go-to place for folk who genuinely want to learn about the sport.

Of course, another significant consideration is future moderation as Brett takes a step back.

This Forum has had some very dark days through several incarnations and I have never read a sound justification to defend anonymity - but I have seen many instances of why malevolent posters wished to hide their true nature.

I may know the names of most of those posting behind pseudonyms but a newcomer to the Forum cannot - and that is a real barrier to the growth and health of a FRA Forum, which some on here claim to support.

[Mossdog]

Part of my point is that to an outsider, there is no indication of who anyone is, how old they are or where they are based. It would be far more welcoming to potential new members of the forum, if all contributors were open about their identity.

I appreciate the positive sentiment behind your reasoning. However, we don't have to be out of favour Russian oligarchs, or political dissenters from totalitarian regimes to want to be cautious about providing that level of personal information online.

I work for/have worked for, a variety of psychiatric services dealing with 'clients' who have significant, long-term, complex, mental health issues and often work alongside colleagues from the criminal justice service, probation, social services, etc. Sadly, as professionals in such fields we have very good reasons to ensure that our personal details are not broadcast and thereby kept separate from our professional identities.

How to contend with such concerns?

[noel]

For me the demise of the forum has gone hand-in-hand with the various episodes of shouty arguments. And some of the main perpetrators of these have been people who have been happy to share their names.

So I suggest there are three issues here:
1. It looking like an old boys club that isn't open and friendly
2. It's a bit dated in the way it handles rich media content (photos and videos)
3. We sometimes get into drawn out debates/arguments that put people off

Mandating us to show our real names would probably help with number 1 (and might address 3 a bit). But we'd need to fundamentally change the way the forum is set up and moderated to fully address number 3.

Also we'd need agreement of why we're doing it. I'm sure there are quite a few of us on here who like (some of the) debates we've had. Where would/should we draw the line?

[mykind]

Part of my point is that to an outsider, there is no indication of who anyone is, how old they are or where they are based. It would be far more welcoming to potential new members of the forum, if all contributors were open about their identity. Many of the 20,843 members of the FRUK FB group are not fell runners and it would be great to make this forum a go-to place for folk who genuinely want to learn about the sport.

Of course, another significant consideration is future moderation as Brett takes a step back.

Or we could all do as Charmian and myself and many others have done - keep the Tag but sign posts with your name and club

[Mossdog]

For me the demise of the forum has gone hand-in-hand with the various episodes of shouty arguments. And some of the main perpetrators of these have been people who have been happy to share their names.

So I suggest there are three issues here:
1. It looking like an old boys club that isn't open and friendly
2. It's a bit dated in the way it handles rich media content (photos and videos)
3. We sometimes get into drawn out debates/arguments that put people off

Mandating us to show our real names would probably help with number 1 (and might address 3 a bit). But we'd need to fundamentally change the way the forum is set up and moderated to fully address number 3.

Also we'd need agreement of why we're doing it. I'm sure there are quite a few of us on here who like (some of the) debates we've had. Where would/should we draw the line?

Good points there Noel.

Correct me if I wrong (gently please as I know you will ) but isn't the forum simply reflective of the direction of fell running in general (from what I've read on here), that it's an increasingly minority sport with a disproportionately and increasingly aged, blokey participants? Of course, it might be argued by some that this is in part the fault of this forum, for driving away a more diverse and expansive range of participants - but I don't really think we're that influential !

[Llani Boy]

Having been a visitor to this Forum and since joining in 2018 I believe it is a welcoming place for new members/posters, even though there haven't been many of them!

Lets be careful what we wish for!

FRUK Facebook page may have 20,843 members but the moderators regularly have to take down posts and have had to put up with personal abuse.

The last 2 years have been difficult for all, with Brexit and Covid causing folk to get hot under the collar, and posting comments, that on reflection, perhaps they wished they hadn't and I include myself amongst them.

However I think we have all calmed down and become more tolerant of others views and Wheeze's "Kiss of Life" appearing to have had the desired effect.

I am all for change and agree that the Forum needs updating but not at all cost's. From a technology point of view I haven't a clue what can and can't be achieved but I'll do my bit by keeping posting.

But remember. Be careful what you wish for!

[Travs]

Yes i think it's a bit of a myth that this place is unfriendly... i can't think of an example of a new poster receiving anything other than friendly comment/advice.

Sadly during testing times (Brexit, Covid, etc), posts relating to those subjects become busier than the fellrunning topics... and obviously contain some heated debate (and worse).... the casual observer would see these and avoid this place... it's quite sad that everybody then gets tarred with the same brush... especially when the majority of those who couldn't stop arguing are no longer active on the forum.

[dnf]

I lurk now and again on this forum, dont run now apart from parkruns following bowel cancer in 2018. I organize a couple of fell races still though. The forum has so much on-line competition now,I bet most new to fell running dont know of its existence.

[PeteS]

I think most people would agree that there have been some pretty objectionable threads and posts over that last few years, none of which show either the forum or FRA in a good light and would no doubt be off-putting to potential new posters. I for one thought about deleting my account and shuffling off during the worst of it.
There's obviously a need and great benefit in sharing information not only on fell running but related topics e.g. training but I think more specific guidance on what is acceptable backed up by appropriate moderation is necessary. I have no problem with not being anonymous - more transparency usually leads to greater accountability. Anyway, there are a plethora of social platforms to air whatever views you may have if you don't like it.

On Facebook - yes it is a good source of information if you can find your way through the dross but I for one refuse to use it and there are others who cannot use it (and other social media platforms) for professional reasons so hopefully it won't be thought of as a potential replacement.

We also need to be mindful that this site is public and if it remains that way, should be inclusive to all users with an interest in fell running and especially welcoming to those users we seek to attract. I don't believe it conveys such as it currently stands.