Ian, having been out all day I have had time to think of something else which is worthy of discussionOriginally Posted by IanDarkpeak
Whilst all the noise has been about identity, there is a part of members details that I think, and at least hope, we can all agree on.
I am talking about 'Location'. Whilst I'm not sure it's the best word, (but I can't think of a better one), that is not my point. What I wish to raise, is that 1) some members leave this blank. 2) Some members put something humorous or accurate-but-not-that-helpful like 'near the dark stuff' 3) Some members, particularly our Welsh members, put their city/town/village, and 4) some people put a general location. I have put 'Flat SE Staffordshire' to identify the roughly 30 square mile area to the north east of Birmingham, and Mossdog has put Teesdale.
My suggestion is that all members should set a location using either the third or fourth option. I can't see any obvious reason why people wouldn't want to use at least the fourth option, although if anyone can come up with a reason please bring it up.
I think this would make the forum friendlier, and more useful, without being controversial. It would also not require an alteration to the forum, and we could do it tomorrow by a voluntary agreement.
I said I thought it would make the forum friendlier and more useful for some clear reasons, car sharing being the obvious one. But there's more. If a prospective member is living in Oldham, and they converse with someone who is from Rochdale, they could go running and training together.
When I moved into fell I was, like Travs, living to the east of Birmingham in the flatlands. Although, (also like Travs), I was a club runner there was no fell culture, knowledge, or known-to-me runners in the area. Running, alone, on the equivalent of CM or CL courses around Cannock Chase didn't really give me much idea as to whether I'd be any good, (or even get around the course). If I had been able to run with a fell runner, even if they were a different level of talent to me, then I think I might have come to the sport earlier.
This leads onto another point, that I'm not sure I've ever seen here before: mentoring. I am not suggesting any organised scheme or anything like that. I think that where there are cases of a novice/inexperienced runner living close to an experienced one, then if reasonably accurate locations were used then some of this would happen naturally. My fell experience is not as great as most people on here, but the people I have met have been warm and friendly, and helpful.
If we wish to attract new members then we have to think about what information they need. The ability to make 'friends' online is not difficult, but the ability to meet people 'in the flesh' is something that is more difficult. Llani Boy has mentioned where his group meet; I don't think he's actually said 'everyone welcome', but I'm sure that is what he meant. If people mentioned where their club's runs met, and when, on here then it would attract some more people into the sport (it was what I was looking for 12.5 years ago). It's a win-win too, it would attract some more members to clubs, and consequently some of them would join the FRA too. Best thing, though, is that it wouldn't cost anything just a bit of time and thought
Sorry it's turned into a book, thanks for getting this far
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