walkerhill Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Personally I used to be a member here for many years (well over a decade), the forum and members were very friendly and things were bumbling along nicely. A few years back things started to change here and the attitudes changed, I didnt like what I saw and read and jumped ship. I visit here every now and then but just see things degenerating, with people being rude and having a bad attitude on here. Its shame but I guess people and things move on. How to improve things? Well firstly I think its quite a stupid idea not to make the search function available to everyone, as it will just lead to the same questions being asked more frequently as people cannot search for previous entries. The old mantra would be "do a search" - now that simply cannot be applied and so the same question will just have to be asked 1000 times! Non members not being able to pm and respond or place adverts is understandable. If people want to sell their bits to everyone they should put a phone number or email address in the ad, if not then they will get reduced interest. I have to say, it makes no difference to me the search function doesnt work (easily solved using Google), that I cant pm or reply to ads, the benefits the club offers members I do not believe make it worth my while joining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I wonder if the nay sayers here would give an honest answer to a few simple questions? If it was 20 years ago and this was a sports club, or a working mans club or stamp collectors club or a photography club would you pay a sub to be a member because it's your hobby and you like to gather with likeminded people and have a chat? I'm guessing yes. Would you expect it to be run responsibly, indemnifying you against losses suffered by the club? Yup... And would you want the organsers to take the time to impart information by way of printed or faxed media when there was information to be imparted, to keep members up to date with club goings on in some easy to assimilate manner? Again, I'm guessing yes. Would you like to participate in club events at venues hired by the club and for a nominal (probably cost) price without worrying about the organiser profiteering? I'm thinking yes. Would you like to buy gifts, souveniers, shirts, hats key rings, stickers etc to show your allegiance and/or your support? I'll stick my neck out and say yes again. ==================================================== Roll forwards 20 years. This is that club. We just happen to have a web site that is partially available to anyone walking in, something that would not be available FOREVER to anyone wanting to take advantage of clubs in days of yore. You'd be EXPECTED to cough up if you kept on turning up, and you'd have to deal with someone face to face and explain why you think you should be exempt from the (quite ridiculously reasonable) subscription. If you didn't pay, you'd not be made welcome for very long. In fact you'd probably be told to jog on in no uncertain terms. Well guess what? This is a CLUB just like those. It just happens to have a bulletin board on the web that allows non members to register a complaint that they can't get it all for free. Name one place where you CAN get it all for free. And by all, I mean a magazine, AO's and their support, events, venue hire, indemnity insurance and all the other things that the WSCC supply and pay for with Monopoly money, 'cos apparently it's all free on the internet... If you want to be part of it, pay up. If you don't want to be part of it, fair enough you are free to seek satisfaction elsewhere. But remember, there is not one single club or organisation anywhere in the world that would allow an "outsider" to have a say in how it's rules are formed or implemented. I mean really, is there any more ridiculous a suggestion? If I was to log on to [insert bulletin board name here] and tell them it was all rubbish and they should do it in a way that suits me best, just how welcome would I be made to feel? It's not difficult to think that one through, is it? 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveD Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echoz Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 (edited) for a bunch of old men whos hobby is to sit in the shed with an electric heater tinkering with a plastic car i think its brilliant! as many have said, it lacks the max power aspect! which is perfect if you ask me (and i'm 21) as soon as i fall back into regular work i plan on becoming a membership just on the basis of i waste away a big chunk of time reading through things on here and enjoy the banter from the people on the forum. and the only car i own is a burgundy S reg escort estate as blatters said, try walk into a local club and tell them its a sh!t... see how well you get on and besides, for the nominal fee, you even get pictures of steve D and the chairman naked in some stinging nettles! what more could you ask for? Edited February 16, 2012 by echoz 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I wonder if the nay sayers here would give an honest answer to a few simple questions? If it was 20 years ago and this was a sports club, or a working mans club or stamp collectors club or a photography club would you pay a sub to be a member because it's your hobby and you like to gather with likeminded people and have a chat? I'm guessing yes. Would you expect it to be run responsibly, indemnifying you against losses suffered by the club? Yup... And would you want the organsers to take the time to impart information by way of printed or faxed media when there was information to be imparted, to keep members up to date with club goings on in some easy to assimilate manner? Again, I'm guessing yes. Would you like to participate in club events at venues hired by the club and for a nominal (probably cost) price without worrying about the organiser profiteering? I'm thinking yes. Would you like to buy gifts, souveniers, shirts, hats key rings, stickers etc to show your allegiance and/or your support? I'll stick my neck out and say yes again. ==================================================== Roll forwards 20 years. This is that club. We just happen to have a web site that is partially available to anyone walking in, something that would not be available FOREVER to anyone wanting to take advantage of clubs in days of yore. You'd be EXPECTED to cough up if you kept on turning up, and you'd have to deal with someone face to face and explain why you think you should be exempt from the (quite ridiculously reasonable) subscription. If you didn't pay, you'd not be made welcome for very long. In fact you'd probably be told to jog on in no uncertain terms. Well guess what? This is a CLUB just like those. It just happens to have a bulletin board on the web that allows non members to register a complaint that they can't get it all for free. Name one place where you CAN get it all for free. And by all, I mean a magazine, AO's and their support, events, venue hire, indemnity insurance and all the other things that the WSCC supply and pay for with Monopoly money, 'cos apparently it's all free on the internet... If you want to be part of it, pay up. If you don't want to be part of it, fair enough you are free to seek satisfaction elsewhere. But remember, there is not one single club or organisation anywhere in the world that would allow an "outsider" to have a say in how it's rules are formed or implemented. I mean really, is there any more ridiculous a suggestion? If I was to log on to [insert bulletin board name here] and tell them it was all rubbish and they should do it in a way that suits me best, just how welcome would I be made to feel? It's not difficult to think that one through, is it? I don't think anyone is denying the WSCC is an excellent club, that needs funding by membership fees Blatters, it's the rude membership recruitment tactics being employed by some, I find distasteful. Anyway, I'm out of change now. 0p. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lippydave Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 and besides, for the nominal fee, you even get pictures of steve D and the chairman naked in some stinging nettles! what more could you ask for? A blindfold? Something sharp to stick in my own eyes? Trauma counselling? :d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 and besides, for the nominal fee, you even get pictures of steve D and the chairman naked in some stinging nettles! what more could you ask for? Your wish is my command: A blindfold? Something sharp to stick in my own eyes? Trauma counselling? :d And for you Dave, just look for this sign: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echoz Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 And the Lord looked at what he created, and saw that it was ..... good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s2rrr Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Blatman has spoken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I don't think anyone is denying the WSCC is an excellent club, that needs funding by membership fees Blatters, it's the rude membership recruitment tactics being employed by some, I find distasteful Maybe I was a little defensive there, but then I would be. I *love* this place And as Steve D has said, if you tried the same thing (turning up week in, week out) at a "real" club without coughing up, you *would* be spoken to. Chances are the freeloader recipient of that talking to may feel that they have been unfairly treated in being asked, maybe "robustly" to contribute, but I suspect they'd be very much in the minority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Pete Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 blatman has turned into dci gene hunt. hopefully everyone has moved on a lot in 20 years, we even have a strange free resource called the internet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterg Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 hopefully everyone has moved on a lot in 20 years, we even have a strange free resource called the internet! have you missed the point entirely? the 'internet' is NOT and never has been 'free', access to it costs money which is why you have a Broadband contract at home, someone has to host the forum/photo album/wiki/database/online shop resources on a bank of servers - do you think they come 'free'?, someone has to set it all up and support it (ACW and Tigger have done this for free), then it has to be managed/moderated (which in our case are volunteers of the club) the internet is only 'free' if the person/company providing the information online decides to make it so - usually paid for by irritating banner adverts etc As Blatman and others have said, the WSCC membership is not just to allow access to the forum but to allow the club to organise some great events and provide non-internet members with the information that most of us gather from the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Maybe I was a little defensive there, but then I would be. I *love* this place And as Steve D has said, if you tried the same thing (turning up week in, week out) at a "real" club without coughing up, you *would* be spoken to. Chances are the freeloader recipient of that talking to may feel that they have been unfairly treated in being asked, maybe "robustly" to contribute, but I suspect they'd be very much in the minority. Puts on wig and grips both collars.. M'lud, in the afforementioned club scenario, the foul mannered spat twixt "freeloader" and club bouncer, would only be witnessed by the participants. On an internet club forum, the ill mannered interchange is witnessed by many, including potential club members. It cannot be good for member recruitment, can it? ..the defence has a cup o' tea.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 The esteemed Honey Monster is someone whose unique charms we longer term members understand well, usually after having had direct boardroom "contact", and I would not want to change that (not that I think it would be possible anyway!). However, I can understand that to new and uninitiated forum users who don't understand how helpful and experienced he is, Steve's style of being at times, shall we say, more transmit than receive, can cause a variety of reactions. Therefore, I suggest Steve adopts a new signature: CALM DOWN - I'M LIKE THIS WITH EVERYONE Also, having just one "direct" (but incredibly helpful) character on a boardroom is unusual. Most of the other boardrooms I've been on or run have at least three VERY direct people on them and who are as helpful as a hobnail boots at a snail farm. Count yourselves lucky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveD Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 cheers capt'n i dont think i have been heavy handed or even to harsh at all with any new forum freeloaders or old forum freeloaders or even folk who want a pat on the back for things they have done for the club and its members over the years ,folk who come on here wanting everything for nowt then moaning coz they cant get it for nowt i stand by it ,pay or shut up :p thats not to bad is it and if that offends you then ,oh dear its sad 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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