What direction should this forum be taking?

[Peter NeillParticipant @peterneill47196]

Honestly, I've been giggling like a girly reading many of these posts

If you make it or modify it with a machine tool, then it fits in here. That's all that really matters.

And for those getting apoplectic, maybe try some Temazepam.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Peter Neill on 14/11/2015 19:39:47:

If you make it or modify it with a machine tool, then it fits in here. That's all that really matters.

.

We also approve the use of hand tools

MichaelG.

[Steve WithnellParticipant @stevewithnell34426]

I think I have a solution. When anyone wants to start a new thread, the poster should post a brief synopsis and rationale for the post, then we can all vote and decide if its in the right direction or not. that way all the posts will in line with the direction of the majority.

Ideally, we should follow parliamentary order where the proposed post should have a proposer and a seconder, proposed amendments will be the subject of votes before the final form of the proposed post is approved. (And of course would require proposers and seconders).

Any seconders?

Steve

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Posted by Steve Withnell on 14/11/2015 21:24:55:

I think I have a solution. When anyone wants to start a new thread, the poster should post a brief synopsis and rationale for the post, then we can all vote and decide if its in the right direction or not. that way all the posts will in line with the direction of the majority.

Ideally, we should follow parliamentary order where the proposed post should have a proposer and a seconder, proposed amendments will be the subject of votes before the final form of the proposed post is approved. (And of course would require proposers and seconders).

Any seconders?

Steve

 

That should kill it all!

Can we claim Parliamentary level Expenses for it as well? 

 

Edited By V8Eng on 14/11/2015 21:37:24

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

If we go Parliamentary the whole thing will be a right dogs breakfast, nobody will get any straight answers to anything , especially the subject under discussion.

Sorry if I'm a bit OT.

Ian S C

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> I think I have a solution.

It looks like we need an 'irony' flag for messages

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 15/11/2015 09:46:33:

It looks like we need an 'irony' flag for messages

.

Would that be cast, or wrought

MichaelG.

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

Good to see this thread is finding its proper level at last.

Perhaps the flag could be a ferrous wheel?

[egaParticipant @ega]

Irony – more likely spheroidal!

[DustyParticipant @dusty]

No one has mentioned the 'thought police' yet, or have I missed it?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Dusty on 15/11/2015 10:14:40:

No one has mentioned the 'thought police' yet, or have I missed it?

.

It was edited-out by the 'Ministry of Truth'

[egaParticipant @ega]

Michael Gilligan:

"It's one of the little luxuries of using an iPad"

Thanks for the tip, which I will mention to an Apple-owning friend. The standard auto-repeat feature seems peculiarly useless and this seems like a much better use for key hold-down whether real or virtual. I don't use my Android tablet for visiting the site but am going to check whether its virtual keyboard has a comparable feature.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by ega on 15/11/2015 11:08:19:

Michael Gilligan:

"It's one of the little luxuries of using an iPad"

Thanks for the tip, which I will mention to an Apple-owning friend.

.

ega … You're welcome

I certainly miss it when I revert to the Computers.

Do tell your friend to check the behaviour of other keys

Example: æ Æ œ Œ are instantly available

MichaelG.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by Clive India on 15/11/2015 10:07:47:

Good to see this thread is finding its proper level at last.

Perhaps the flag could be a ferrous wheel?

.

 

Happens on every forum from time to time when one person throws their toys out the pram and others feel they have to take sides.

 

As you say it levels off, and the forum is usually better off for it. Now is a classic example with new members / lurkers coming forward.

 

Somebody once told me to see how indispensable you are, just put your hand in a bucket of water and then pull it out.

 

Now see how big the hole is.

 

Edited By John Stevenson on 15/11/2015 12:02:02

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, I personally can't understand what the fuss is all about. As has been said, if a thread or post dose not interest you, move on or skip. I think the direction of the forum should fundamentally stay the same and that in my opinion should be to help others with queries and problems (although not for knitting, cooking and such like) and no one should be put off by asking the simplest and most basic questions e.g. what's a dot punch for? Threads do go off topic by a kind of natural relevance, but as long as someone's question has been answered as fully as can be expected, I don't see a problem as long as it does not take over the post, and if someone does have a long winded relevant issue, they ought to submit a link to a new post and that way anyone that has views can then go to that post to discuss them.

Regards Nick.

[D.A.GodleyParticipant @d-a-godley]

It will be noted that I do not post very often , however , I do read every issue and most articles therein.

I have never got to the point of feeling confident enough about contributing, my skills and knowledge fall a long way short of those who do, and who I frankly respect, but I do feel strongly that a magazine/ forum should be true to its title and this is where I feel that since Neil took over from David , it has lost its integrity.

The first issue spelled out its mission, with its accent firmly on making things , concentrating on Workshops and their use , plus making models.

The one good thing which Neil has done in my view is to add the Tea Room thread, which is where any subject not in keeping with the original aims of the magazine /forum should be housed.

Many thanks to those who do contribute articles and suggestions , especially Angels Breath, went out , bought the ingredients , made it used it, Great ! .

I currently have underway at the moment the 7 1/4" Singapore loco and a Stent type T&C grinder, I doubt very much that they will ever be revealed on here, like the Sweet Pea I have already made, they are for my own pleasure regardless of their failings which I am aware of , and wish others not to see.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I can't help feeling that the pots are calling the kettle black:

MEM

"CHatterbox – Feel free to talk about anything and everything in this board."

"Oddball – This is a place to put a small story of things you get up to, other than model engine making, that might be of interest to other members. Please try to keep it fairly short if possible."

Traction Talk

"Jokes and Off Topic Discussions "

Model Engineering Clearing House

"Humour – for those special jokes you really have to share"

"Offchat – for your general observations outside the world of model engineering"

Draw your own conclusions, folks.

Neil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

But you know where it is and can easily avoid it if you want to as its all in one place. And the rest of the topics and posts are far more focused with very little going off topic

And with 500 builds on one of those forums vs. 97 work in progress posts here many of which are not builds on this longer running forum you can see people have a point about going there for build threads, would be even more if they covered TEs and Locos.

Edited By JasonB on 16/11/2015 19:41:10

Edited By JasonB on 16/11/2015 19:42:07

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by JasonB on 16/11/2015 19:32:30:

And with 500 builds on one of those forums vs. 97 work in progress posts here many of which are not builds on this longer running forum you can see people have a point about going there for build threads,

.

So … returning to the headline question of this thread:

I guess that question comes down to: "Should this forum follow the pattern set by others; or should it go its own way?"

Hint: Marketing types like the idea of a 'Unique Selling Point"

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I'm not exercised about the build thread issue – I'm quite happy for people to use this site to signpost build threads on other sites and I can see why some people would chose a specialist site for such threads, though naturally I'm keen to see some more here.

No, my post above is a reaction to those who have essentially been saying that any discussion that isn't model engineering has no place on this forum.

I do accept the point made by you, DAG and several others that it is good to have a place for such things. I think the tidy up that has started, and can continue when the heat has gone out of the discussions and been replaced by light, will do much to address this.

I also appreciate Steve's (I think) count up that shows the overwhelming majority of current threads are on engineering topics. Ironically, at the moment we seem to have real flood of excellent threads developing across a wide range of topics.

Neil

I think that the reason for our problems here has been that, unlike those other forums, we haven't had a 'chat-oriented' space despite occasional calls for one over several years. I think this is why the 'What did you do today' threads went the way they did – a significant proportion of any forum's members want to 'chat' and if we don't provide the space, they will make it for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 16/11/2015 20:46:22:

No, my post above is a reaction to those who have essentially been saying that any discussion that isn't model engineering has no place on this forum.

Wot? They want real engineering and real engineers banned? Just as well most of my real engineering is done under NDA so I can't show it anyway.

Andrew

[John CoatesParticipant @johncoates48577]

As a relative newbie (2009) when I went searching for resources to help me get started with my lathe this site was one of the first hits on Google. I was searching for how to use a lathe to help me build spacers for my motorbike. I've been here ever since. I've bought the full back catalogue of MEW because I like to read magazines in places with no internet and love picking magazines out at random to read.

As a newbie this site reminds me of my local ME club which I have now left. There are the long standing members who focus on what is right and wrong and what the rules should be. There are those who attend but don't get involved in all that stuff. And there are those who stick around thinking "what is all this about? i just wanted to learn about/do XXX !!!"

I'm not going to leave. MEW is still a good read and better under Neil's stewardship IMHO. Forums are open to all and so suffer the random mutterings and meanderings of whomever wanders in. Every web forum I am on has posts about stuff going off topic. On motorbike sites it's about too much politics/religion which is deemed to be anathema to the happiness and freedom of riding motorbikes.

John

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 16/11/2015 19:19:35:
I can't help feeling that the pots are calling the kettle black:

MEM
"CHatterbox – Feel free to talk about anything and everything in this board."
"Oddball – This is a place to put a small story of things you get up to, other than model engine making, that might be of interest to other members. Please try to keep it fairly short if possible."

Traction Talk
"Jokes and Off Topic Discussions "

Model Engineering Clearing House
"Humour – for those special jokes you really have to share"
"Offchat – for your general observations outside the world of model engineering"

Draw your own conclusions, folks.

Neil

And just what conclusions do you think there are here?

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Nothing wrong with this forum, or direction.

We have seen in the last few days 3 or possibly 4 new members who have started posting. Ironically in their introductory post all have said they are not into steam or models but other area's.

This highlights the MEW side of the forum which isn't about steam or models but tools and methods.

The forum is also for ME members as well though so each has to give and take.

Said it in a previous post that there will always be a couple who decide it's not running to THEIR interpretation of what THEY want and get their pants in a twist. That sort always pop up and them move on but they will always move on as they will fall out with the next forum unless they get their ego's stroked.

Amusing really in they they model at 1" to the foot but their ego's are 13" to the foot

[Roger Williams 2Participant @rogerwilliams2]

+ 1 John, couldnt agree more. Why change something that doesnt need changing. Some whingeing ba…..s out there.

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