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Message
Posted
I think the forum is definitely worthwhile, I’ve enjoyed reading many of the threads since I joined in 2021 and value all the advice posted . It would be a shame if it disappeared. I would especially miss the inspiration thread as I’ve been introduced to the work of many great artists through the postings and frequently point ‘non POL’ people to it as a starting point to understanding an artist’s output.
Perhaps a new improved forum guide would help bring in new blood as I’ve also noticed the frequent gallery posters are absent from these discussions.
Posted
I come from a background of rules - specifically, I was an official of the Labour Party, and that organization has so hugely inflated the rulebook that I fail to see how one can possibly be aware of all of them; we've tried to cover every eventuality, and of course - that's impossible. I don't think it's desirable, either.
So I'm a touch resistant to tinkering with machinery that's still working, as on the whole the Forum is. If we wanted to create a new Forum guide, it would require some collaboration between the site owners, its moderators, and ultimately its members - and would people read it anyway? The Forum is not rigorously or oppressively controlled - we take a relaxed view on the whole, and, well - I think that works. It's not the rules or nature of the forum that makes people reluctant to comment, I'm quite sure of that.
Posted
Robert, I wasn't thinking "rules" in the way that you have experienced them, or "tinkering with the machinery" as such. Merely, as Lew put it so well, "guidance in its use", which is what he was expecting when he checked that thread. Surely a post along those lines wouldn't require collaboration between site owners, moderators, and members? Anyone can just post to a thread, and that was all I had in mind.
Posted
No, probably not - a 'point the way' guide might be useful. Though - well, I've said what I've said, and there's no virtue in banging on the same drum.... if members want a useful guide, we'll probably get one eventually; I've nothing against it, just don't think it's what is deterring new people. I do have a bit of a thing about rules, though - I've had 'em up to and beyond my ears....
Posted
You are correct Robert, having a user guide isn’t going to produce a flood of new forum users. The point is there is NO user guide. There is a section, or heading, for it, but it contains no guidelines…just random posts on all art topics that you can think of EXCEPT guidelines on using the forum.
What it does say is ‘important message from forum staff - please read before posting’.
When I first joined POL I looked at the guideline thread and found…NOTHING. It might as well be deleted.
Obviously people use the forum anyway, it doesn’t matter if they use the wrong thread to post their topic. If they discuss using watercolours in the ‘oil painting’ thread, it still gets discussed.
This is a minor point, that doesn’t stop the forum functioning, I just don’t see the point of having a guideline section that isn’t fit for its purpose .
Edited
by Lewis Cooper
Posted
As a point of interest, we say “moderators,” but who exactly are the moderator's, How many are there? Who are they? Are we allowed to know. I know one or two but new ones seem to pop up. Can someone please solve the mystery. I have placed this request here because I do not want to start a new thread. Thank you for your cooperation MODERATOR’S.
Posted
There's Paul Dean; Alan Bickley; me; Norrette Moore - and I'm so sorry to the one(s ) I've forgotten, which I think I have! I had a disturbed night about which I won't bore anyone, and my always rather wobbly memory is paying the price - I remember the ones with whom I'm most often in touch. Step forward, any I've missed...
Modesty forbids I speak for myself, but the others do a fine job; the site's security measures work a lot better than they used to, so we don't get the deluge of spam and attempted hacking we used to get: but they still crop up now and then.