As a relative newcomer, may I just say I would probably still be unaware of the clever work Graham Meek has done with screwthread cutting. I stumbled across it only from this forum.

There is perhaps much that could be improved in the software, my recent inept attempts to add pictures might have been only my fault, but the process was clanky and without any guidance; mis-step once and it all disappears without any hope of retrieval.

I think the forum does serve a purpose for information exchange and ideas, you can be selective in chosing items to look at, unlike the moderators who have to wade through everything. There are new converts to the hobby perhaps only because of these pages.

So on balance it would be a loss for it to go, following John's course would surely just wipe the slate clean by dumping all that has gone before and then finding different bugs in the new software just as irritating as the present ones. .

Brian

Edited By Brian Wood on 18/02/2013 09:31:53

To answer the original question, the forum is not important to me in the sense as my family is, but I do look at it several times a day (usually).

I agree with JS (once again he is 100% right) about this forum software. In the past I have whinged about it but now just tolerate it. To be fair, I once suggested an improvement which at the time seemed it would be an easy thing to get done. It was done so now we have topic titles in browser tab. I doubt anyone making a suggestion nowadays would be listened to, probably just branded as a trouble maker!

Being fair again, there is one other brilliant feature I really like compared to most other forums. I use the email notification a lot most of which I see first on my Android phone, the email contains the text of the new post which saves me having to log on to the website to follow the thread. If I log on using the phone I get logged out of the PC so the way the notifications operate ideal.

Ian

Like I.I., I would be sorry to see this disappear, because apart from the information contained in it, the links to various clever creations which one would not otherwise be aware of would be lost. As I.I. said, the breadth of experience and knowledge contained therein benefits many of us, not necessarily just the members who post.

Dennis

Software can be changed, how seamlessly depends on the people who operate the site.

I think I'm correct in saying that every forum I'm on is not using the same software as when I signed up.

They have upgraded as new software has come out.

I like this forum, and like Joey just above, I like the idea of the messages being sequential and in the centre.

Unlike some people, I do not appear to have had the problems (obscuring ads etc) that other people have had and so find it quite usable. Which I cannot say about other sites which I find extremely difficult to follow and hence seldom visit. I am referring to those sites which appear to use nesting levels of replies with each little offshoot forming one branch.

Would I miss it if it went? Possibly, but like anything else, I would learn to live without it so it is not essential.

Regards,

Peter G. Shaw

I suppose that everyone replying to this thread must like the forum to some extent (software excepted for most folk, I suspect), or they wouldn't have seen the original question. So wholly negative responses are unlikely. But the questions were:

How many people read it ? I think you would need to ask the forum afministrators, who no doubt keep an eye on the hit rate.

Would it be missed if it closed down? I should be sad to see it go, though there are others I would miss more, and I'd soon cheer up.

How vital is it? No forum is vital to me, and I wouldn't go into mourning if any of them died. To be truthful, I do sometimes regret the hours and hours spent at the computer. They could have been devoted to things I enjoy more, or even to chores I dislike.

Andy

>self consciously looks at number of messages…<

I probably spend too much time on this forum! I have considered getting into other forums, but I like the tenor of (most of) the discussions in here, especially the openness to beginners. I suppose this is my 'virtual club' and I enjoy sharing thoughts with like minded folk around the world and the opportunity to use my brain (even if I engage typing fingers first sometimes!)

If the forum went, I would probably off to HMEM or similar, but with a degree of regret.

I think there ought to be closer links between magazine and website, perhaps threads desicated to certain articles and the posting of additional material, errata, comment, build diaries etc. This has to be one way in which ME can help make sure it reaches 200 years old!

Some of this we could do for ourselves, but greater range of file upload capability would help (I know mods can upload pdfs – but where would they put them and how do we link them from threads like this?)

Neil

Vital – it is not.

Indispensable – very much so.

Forums may not necessarily be power-houses when it comes to media ratings and ad. sales….however as has been proved in other areas, a forum can be of use, to many it is of use…and to those that come across it in the future it will be of use…

It is the contributors thatmake up the quality of the forum – and as far as I can tell – thereis a lot of quality on this forum.

Hugs Anna

While I check this forum most days, it is the traction engine and steamboats sites that I would miss if they get pulled.

Mike

If a few of us carry on contributing to the forum, both asking, and answering questions etc., how many non members learn something, get curious, join us, or try and build something. There are regulary new names ariving at the bottom of the page. Ian S C

As a newcomer to the forum, I think it is brilliant, so many learned & generous people on it. Not to mention J.S's wit.

Beginners questions, I find very interesting, and the answers of course.

Whilst I'm not into model making, more maintenance & making bits for my other hobbies.

My long bed ML7 saw a lot of action & abuse before I had it, forty years ago. It is a real friend.

Maybe I should get out more, as they say..

Good luck & best wishes to all.

Regards, Bear..