Goodbye UKBF and thanks for all the fish!

[Clinton]

@Clinton also knows this and has sent me some editorial for him to be include as a community writer, but reading his posts above I guess his memory isn’t what it used to be. I take from above he’s no longer interested in being included as a community writer.

WTF is a "community writer"? Actually, don't answer. I don't know and I don't give a sh*t. A while back, I sent you an article I wrote specifically for you. When we spoke on the phone I even explained it was a goodwill gesture and I was neither hoping nor expecting to get any business out of it. I gave it to you and told you to do whatever you want with it and publish it wherever you want. If you still haven't published the article then, yes, please refrain from publishing it and I'll use the article elsewhere as you obviously haven't seen enough value in the article to do anything with it.

I don't need you to publish it as a favour to me, FFS! I certainly didn't send it to you "to be included as a Community Writer" as you claim. In fact, I've contributed articles in the past, before you took over, which articles are now not even recognising me as the author! Example. ChrisGoodfellow is credited with writing that article. I pointed this mistake out over a year ago and it's not fixed but I've not been on your case because, well, being named as the author on a UKBF article is not the amazing recognition you seem to think it is.

I come here for the forum, to chat with friends I've made over the years, to share what I know. If the forum is effectively being wound down, if business related conversations are being moved to Time Out to keep them out of the search engines because they aren't 100% aligned with your woke ideology, if the forum is eventually not going to be a forum any more, if intelligent and informed discussion by experienced business folk is not what's in the forum's future, that's entirely your prerogative! Good luck with that.

There is much else discussed in this thread which I would have, in normal circumstances, replied to. But I'm not here to get back into the conversation. I came for another reason: If anyone has sent me a DM, you'll find that I have replied. Please do not send me any more DMs. If you want to communicate with me, find some other way, it's not that difficult! I'll now modify my profile to explain this.

Good luck to @The Byre, @Financial-Modeller and anyone else who decides to leave or take a break. Your absence, as already been explained by the management, won't be missed. It's all part of the "big plan" and it'll happen eventually anyway.

 

[simon field]

No it isn't. Once you remove the word "general" from your statement, it reads

Who ‘solicits’ advice? Nobody!

Which is laughably stupid.

Then don’t remove it, duh! ?

 

[alan1302]

You may want the business articles to be higher up but in business you deal with reality first. Dismissing discussions as chit chat suggests you've never been to a networking event?

If you deal with reality first then you know the Time Out section is not what you need to make money and keep people - so you get rid of it and move on.

If you get discussions like some of what goes on in the Time Out section you would never want to go to a networking event to hear a lot of monaing and whinging from grown men who are right no matter what.

 

[alan1302]

You need to get out more.

I'm out plenty, that's why I don't pop in here too often! Thanks for caring though.

 

[alan1302]

if business related conversations are being moved to Time Out to keep them out of the search engines because they aren't 100% aligned with your woke ideology,

Because someone had a different opionion to you and has different ideas for what should happen ( to their own forum) then that does not make someone 'woke'.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

If you get discussions like some of what goes on in the Time Out section you would never want to go to a networking event to hear a lot of monaing and whinging from grown men who are right no matter what.

Comparing an online forum with a networking event demonstrates that you understand neither

 

[alan1302]

Comparing an online forum with a networking event demonstrates that you understand neither

I notice you ignored the first part of my reply. Do you agree witht hat part?

I was not comparing the forum to a networking event...just stating I'd hope the discuion at a networing even would not be the same....you mentioned the networking event...what was the point of you mentioning it if they are not comparable?

 

[MOIC]

Go for it Alan, you’re on a roll.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I notice you ignored the first part of my reply. Do you agree witht hat part?

I was not comparing the forum to a networking event...just stating I'd hope the discuion at a networing even would not be the same....you mentioned the networking event...what was the point of you mentioning it if they are not comparable?

I was comparing the content of Time Out which you dismissed as 'chit chat' then went on to describe valid content as moaning and whingeing between old men. Something which your posts cultivate?

 

[alan1302]

Go for it Alan, you’re on a roll.

Bacon, sausage, brown sauce and a coffe, please.

 

[alan1302]

I was comparing the content of Time Out which you dismissed as 'chit chat' then went on to describe valid content as moaning and whingeing between old men. Something which your posts cultivate?

Ok, I do get your point now...but The Time Out forum is often a lot of moaning/whingeing...if it was not I'm sure it would be allowed to stay.

If you reply on this stite to pay you money would you want to keep it?

 

[MOIC]

Bacon, sausage, brown sauce and a coffe, please.

I presume that will be a crusty roll.?

 

[pentel]

Yep, we noticed an increase in search traffic for Tuffnels so to try and capture it we created this article, which we did also link to the thread. We managed to hit front page of Google for the searches;

This article is made up mostly of a precis of the contents of the forum posts on this subject.

A lot of the other articles link to forum posts.

I am struggling to square the circle of articles being derived from or referencing forum posts with the statement that the forums are not a major part of the site.

 

[simon field]

If you get the UKBF newsletter you would know about the articles. If you aren’t interested in the newsletter you aren’t the target. It’s was @Ozzy has been alluding to. Most of the forum old guard aren’t part of the BDG plan.

Is it because we don’t use the word
‘Biz’?

 

[simon field]

I think we might be past our prime Boss
I will be in the White Heart in Cullompton Devon If you make the effort I will pay the bill

Long way from mid-Norfolk kind sir, but if I’m anywhere near you at any point I shall take you up on your offer of a date. Cheerio ?

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Well....this was an interesting read to catch up on

Ultimately, I respect the owners right to do whatever the hell they want with a site and forum that is effectively free. I don't know what % of people pay for business membership but I suspect it's relatively tiny. I don't pay for it - I have recently kept meaning to take a look into becoming a member as I suspected I could get some business for my new position through the forums but I'll admit I've never even got round to looking. So I can't pay absolutely zero for a service and criticise the owner for not doing what I want!

However,the driver for me visiting this site is the forum. I check the forum multiple times daily in general when I am at my desk (much less so when out and about from the office), and try to respond frequently where I think I can give some insight or advice. Ultimately I come here to engage with others - to get specific advice on MY questions, and to give specific advice using my knowledge/experience (not that I have much), and reading other peoples multiple different thoughts/experiences around each topic.

The other sections of the site...well I glance in occasionally. Some of the articles are interesting and/or useful, but when alls said and done that's one opinion and one set of advice. To my point above, I enjoy the engagement, I enjoy hearing a variety of experiences, and I enjoy being able to dip in and out of different discussions with my own comments. The articles don't offer me that.

If the forum as we know it is wound down, I will be sad and will miss it.....and that would be me gone as a user of UKBF also.

I need to make it clear that that last statement is NOT any kind of dummy-spitting or toy-out-of-pram throwing! As I said when I opened, it's not my site, I don't control the direction of it nor has it got anything to do with me. It's just feedback how it would affect me as a user - for whatever that's worth - which I think would be similar for many of the other users already on here.

 

[MikeJ]

FWIW, I agree entirely with Mr Bloodvessel.

 

[ctrlbrk]

If the forum as we know it is wound down, I will be sad and will miss it

I just want to point out, nowhere was it mentioned that the forum is being wound down.

Happy to be proven wrong.

 

[MikeJ]

So that is why the forums are being wound down (disclaimer: being wound down in their current format, not disappearing). It's also why I'm not stressing about people saying their leaving.

Bottom of Page 2.

 

[MikeJ]

Then again, Ozzy said "their" instead of "they're", so maybe we're all better off leaving ??

 

[MBE2017]

Just saw this thread, just wanted to wish The Byre well for the future, we didn’t agree on everything, but that is part of the draw of a forum. Not sure what the answer is to the forum stagnating, it tends to be the usual suspects commenting, and not much new blood.

Whether that is a general malaise or unique to UBF I’m not sure. End of the day this is Ozzys business to run as he sees fit, if things improve then he will have got it right, if not, well it’s down to him. Hopefully some people will hang around.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

I'm late to this party and I only today paid for full membership which may have been a mistake reading through all this.

One of the worst things for a 'writer' is to have their meticulously crafted content 'deleted' along with the feedback with NO opportunity to have 'saved it' for yourself.

It's a bit like writing a thesis and having someone throw your laptop in the canal.

Mr Byre, whomever you are, I never knew you but you sound 'smashing'.

 

[japancool]

A forum is not supposed to be a personal repository. If you need to save something, save a copy in your personal storage before you post it.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

A forum is not supposed to be a personal repository. If you need to save something, save a copy in your personal storage before you post it.

Irrelevant in regard to the sentiment I expressed. People do not routinely copy and paste entire 'threads' for their own personal repository.

 

[japancool]

Irrelevant in regard to the sentiment I expressed. People do not routinely copy and paste entire 'threads' for their own personal repository.

Then you can't really complain if it gets deleted. It's not, after all, your property.

 

[fisicx]

@100xGifts - the posts were deleted because he refused to comply with the forum rules despite being warned.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

@100xGifts - the posts were deleted because he refused to comply with the forum rules despite being warned.

Bah humbug forum rules I get it, just seems a pity. Seems like members valued the content.

 

[Ethan39]

Bah humbug forum rules I get it, just seems a pity. Seems like members valued the content.

We offered to set him up with the privileges necessary to create editorial content in the right place, but he declined. Which was a shame. I said earlier in this thread that we'd welcome The Byre back with Community Writer privileges today, and that's still true.

Unfortunately, we do need to keep content on the site organised. Posting editorial content outside of the editorial pages means that it won't be indexed correctly, which makes it less searchable and therefore less useful and accessible in the future. It also means that we cannot promote the content as part of our weekly newsletters which promote editorial content (including editorial content created by our members).

 

[Deleted member 339964]

Then you can't really complain if it gets deleted. It's not, after all, your property.

We offered to set him up with the privileges necessary to create editorial content in the right place, but he declined. Which was a shame. I said earlier in this thread that we'd welcome The Byre back with Community Writer privileges today, and that's still true.

Unfortunately, we do need to keep content on the site organised. Posting editorial content outside of the editorial pages means that it won't be indexed correctly, which makes it less searchable and therefore less useful and accessible in the future. It also means that we cannot promote the content as part of our weekly newsletters which promote editorial content (including editorial content created by our members).

That makes total sense, thank you for clarifying. Let's hope he has a change of heart.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I'm late to this party and I only today paid for full membership which may have been a mistake reading through all this.

One of the worst things for a 'writer' is to have their meticulously crafted content 'deleted' along with the feedback with NO opportunity to have 'saved it' for yourself.

It's a bit like writing a thesis and having someone throw your laptop in the canal.

Mr Byre, whomever you are, I never knew you but you sound 'smashing'.

No , No, No No!

I have written some stuff on here and its been a positive thing for my business despite the fact that what I say goes against all the advice the theorist give you .
This forum has brought good contacts and sales to our office

The markets love real people
You will be all right
I hope you develop your enterprise further on this forum

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

We offered to set him up with the privileges necessary to create editorial content in the right place, but he declined.

You offered to publish Byres editorial content in a section that few people visited!

 

[ctrlbrk]

You offered to publish Byres editorial content in a section that few people visited!

They covered this. Apparently the UKBF 'regulars', for whatever reason, don't visit that section much but UKBF gets lots of hits from external visitors in that section.

 

[fisicx]

The forthcoming UKBF update makes the articles and guides the centrepiece with the forum pushed to the background. The site isn’t targeting us old crusties. It’s for the young thrusting entrepreneur.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

The forthcoming UKBF update makes the articles and guides the centrepiece with the forum pushed to the background. The site isn’t targeting us old crusties. It’s for the young thrusting entrepreneur.

That's the impression I get
I will have to manipulate the new situation so that my business gets some more enquiries from UKBF .

On reflection we may have shot ourselves in the foot by not having more time and understanding when answering questions that appear stupid to us

 

[Deleted member 339964]

As has already been shared in the past, the forums are not what I bought this site back for. They don’t form an important part of the direction of the site, and they are being changed away from the soap boxing and chitter chatter.

This site is promoted as follows, ie. it is why people (like me) join.

"

UK Business Forums​

Real Community, Whatever Your Business​

Representing small businesses since 2003, join our community with over 350,000 members and counting. Harness the wealth of expertise to help your business grow via our forums or FREE business resources."


There's a contradiction here. But when you change the way you promote the site, perhaps your comments will make more sense, because for now 'your forum members are the BIGGEST selling point.

 

[Ozzy]

There's a contradiction here. But when you change the way you promote the site

Thank you for the heads up, I’ll get that wording changed ?

 

[pentel]

The Motley Fool decided that forums were not their thing and after a while shut them down.

There was an immediate reincarnation of the forums run by some of the forum members and the reincarnation is at least as active as the old one before it was killed off.

 

[Ethan39]

The Motley Fool decided that forums were not their thing and after a while shut them down.

There was an immediate reincarnation of the forums run be some of the forum members and the reincarnation is at least as active as the old one before it was killed off.

I just want to draw your attention to this:

So that is why the forums are being wound down (disclaimer: being wound down in their current format, not disappearing).

We're not shutting the forums down. There are no plans in the future whatsoever to remove the forums from the platform, they just might look or behave differently.

 

[Deleted member 339964]

The Motley Fool decided that forums were not their thing and after a while shut them down.

There was an immediate reincarnation of the forums run by some of the forum members and the reincarnation is at least as active as the old one before it was killed off.

where is that located?

 

[Deleted member 339964]

I just want to draw your attention to this:

We're not shutting the forums down. There are no plans in the future whatsoever to remove the forums from the platform, they just might look or behave differently.

It's shame the owner undervalues them then https://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/...d-thanks-for-all-the-fish.423033/post-3203950