O/T:- New Message Board

[jackal2]

I'd say stick with this one for the time being. It's bloody annoying when it nods off, but it's running ok at the moment for me. Also, it would be difficult to get everyone to migrate en masse to a new board, so I think we'd end up with two half-boards.

I agree. I joined this board 20 years ago and it's had its ups and downs during that time, including spells when it was slow to load, but these problems usually get resolved. It's the only Notts County message board I've ever posted on, and unless the recent speed problems continued for a lot longer I wouldn't seriously consider going anywhere else.

[Jampie]

I should say I would have to research it a trifle first. I have never built a message board but I am sure there is some standard software / plug ins. It would also cost me to host it so you need to click on all the ads please. But yes it has speeded up lol.

PHPBB is the standard and I hate it.

Runs on the LAMP stack though (linux apache mysql php) so very stable.

[Jampie]

FTR this site is using vBulletin 4.2.3, current latest stable version of that is 5.7.1

[Newish Pie]

As others have said, it's a bit of a headache running a forum... funding implications for hosting; technical issues in keeping it running at a reasonable speed and stopping spammers and bots; community issues in terms of deciding on what content is permitted on what isn't and then enforcing that fairly and consistently; and potentially legal issues in terms of liability for what people might post. Fair play to anyone willing to take that on.

When you've got an existing landlord that's providing much of that, at the cost of some annoying ads, innocuous words being **terisked out, and slow loading speeds, well.... they're probably prices worth paying.

I do wonder about backup plans if we're relying on our landlord's continued solvency and goodwill. I guess with twitter and social media it's much easier to keep communities together in the event of forums suddenly vanishing etc, or at least letting people know what succession plans are, where people are going for their County content etc.

[the_anticlough]

This one does the business - tells you what's happening almost as soon as news breaks somewhere else.
I'd add another if the content was decent (but never the big US social media monsters, never bothered with those)

[GranthamPie]

Running like the wind since yesterday… me thinks footymad have picked up on the discontent!

[CheltenhamPie]

Like most things in life, this site could be better. However, Being away from Nottingham, I find the posts most informative and often ahead of regular news outlets. I agree with Elite’s post and hope the site continues.

[magpie_mania]

'a larger team of mods rather than Swale having to referee the usual suspects'

If no-one will come forward on here, why would they on another board? Swale deserves some kind of award for the way this board has been kept going.

I've voted to keep it as it is (I guessed that if it moves you might not tell me where to!). It's not perfect but does the job.

[hissingdwarf]

'a larger team of mods rather than Swale having to referee the usual suspects'

If no-one will come forward on here, why would they on another board? Swale deserves some kind of award for the way this board has been kept going.

I've voted to keep it as it is (I guessed that if it moves you might not tell me where to!). It's not perfect but does the job.

Totally agree mate. Swale does an outstanding job and deals with the Notts Mad bumps in the road.
Don’t disagree regards him needing support on here as is. Problem is we know where we are so to speak. A new start may have meant a few more lines in the sand being drawn.
At the end of the day, it should be down to the individuals to moderate themselves, rather than have someone with a big stick!

[hissingdwarf]

As the vote seems to be swaying more heavily towards us all staying put, then I think in my opinion, we all just keep going where we are and if it dips significantly site wise, we resurrect this conversation again.
If I can figure out how to close the poll, I will. Thanks for all the comments guys and gals.
Problem is always having the critical mass to make such a move and the consensus is we’re not there yet!