Is UKBF actually useful?

[Flashh]

I have been a member here under 2 guises.

<removed>

So I rejoined when I set up my next business. Which is going rather well. I do my best to contribute, and to do so in a positive, helpful manner. So I answer PM's. I respond to those to whom I feel I can add a positive contribution. I feel a moral obligation to do so.

But the thing is, you get a lot of idiots here who post. They ask for advice. One responds. Do they bother saying thanks? No.

And the quality of questions/input on this site are dire.

This forum is for chancers or for those who don't have the balls, but who want some vindication that they are the next Richard Branson. Even if they are still in their day job dreaming about the riches they feel deserve for their (actually rather crappy, wanky) idea.

'Oh I'm in a job, I hate it. I have a few hundred quid but I have this great idea which will make me millions. Please help'. Well I have a message to all those twats and twatesses who waste their time...

No one ever asks about accounting, about sales generation, about strategy, stock control, HR. About management, the market, the economy, inflation, the exchange rate and so on. It is people asking about some far fetched idea and whether it will make billions.

I've raised millions in my time . £7 million for a retail chain doing very well. £500k for a food brand which failed. 20k for a distribution company performing pretty well. And UK Business forum? Well, I though it would be helpful. In reality it is a total waste of time.

Other than spongebob, the value of UKBF and those who participate, is zero.

Comments welcome!

 

[STDFR33]

Before you criticise others, you were once probably seen as a 'chancer'. Particular during the time of your failure, unfortunate or not.

With 44 comments to your name (at the time of me posting this), it's hard for me to accept your criticism of not just the regular members that contribute to the sections relevant to their field, but that you acknowledge the dodgy Spongebob of some kind of hero.

Wowza.

 

[Flashh]

I acknowledge Spongebob as a person who was helpful enough to spend the time explaining to folk how to extract themselves from a predicament.

If you had a three dimensional view of what happens in business, you'll realise that posters here are not necessarily the culprits....

Would you have spent the time advising others how to extract from a pretty serious situation of financial peril?

I'll buy spongebob a drink anytime. He saved me thousands.

But a fair point you make, and I am glad you have contributed. Thank you.

 

[richofwombwell]

Yeah, i think it's useful. Are there idiots who like making other people feel like dirt? Yeah of course there are but then again who would sit all day on a forum instead of running a business.

If i listened to the advice i had when i was first looking to set up on from this site I wouldnt be in business now.

I think you are trying to boast in some strange way? I'm not quite sure what point you are trying to make there, to be honest.

I do find there are some really helpful individuals on this site and also some rather toxic individuals too but then again there are in most social circles!

 

[Alan]

No one ever asks about accounting, about sales generation, about strategy, stock control, HR.

Not sure what you are looking at - must be a different section

HR question http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/threads/can-a-director-be-self-employed.374061/
Accounting Question http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/t...-to-a-non-business-customer-in-turkey.374129/
etc etc

 

[Flashh]

That's true. One tries to be helpful. It is a bit frustrating that when you are, you get a nil response.

I am not sure I am trying to be boastful. But I am trying to make the point that I find UKBF as useful and as the proverbial 'chocolate fire guard'. It seems to me more like startups.co.uk that a bunch of serious minded folk, if you see what I mean.

The quality of contribution, it seems so poor......

I am grateful for your response however!

 

[STDFR33]

For every Spongebob user, there is at least one creditor that has suffered.

The Spongebob Plan is a godsend to some. For others, it's an easy way to shaft creditors (members of this forum, taxpayers etc). And others, it's a way for them to get out a situation they should never have been in - they were never capable, or responsible enough to be running a company.

The only consistency I see with the SB Plan is that everyone is unfortunate and everyone else is to blame.

The SB Plan aside, this forum thrives on a small collective of dedicated, helpful members that spend time helping members; @UK Contractor Accountant ,@Newchodge , @The Byre , @Employment Law Clinic , @Alan , @Chris Ashdown ,@fisicx , @Gavin Bates ... to name just a few.
People such as these help people build, expand and rescue businesses, as well as keeping them on the right side of the law.

Frankly, your post is insulting.

 

[Flashh]

I don't think my post is insulting, to be frank.

I was making the point that UKBF is perhaps not incredibly helpful, in reality.

Yes, creditors suffer. But so do the founders of businesses, shareholders amnd stakeholders. You forget these people, in your post.

If the post was insulting (which it wasn't intended), that's great. I am delighted. Perhaps more folk will comment.

 

[MikeJ]

Please don't feed the troll.

 

[Pish_Pash]

The probem (in part) is in the naming "Uk Business forum" ....what is a Business?

Apple Inc. ? Yep.

Marks & Sparks? Yep.

Bert's Bacon Butty stall? Yep

Now I don't think the CEO of Marks & Sparks is likely to hang out here much, so it's sort of found itself at the Bert's Bacon Butty Stall level (i.e. small businesses) ....yes, you get a lot of basic questions, which frankly, you'd have hoped the poster(s) would have had enough nous to research themselves ....but that doesn't mean there's no value here....on the contrary, there's a lot of helpful knowledgable folk who are only to happy to either help or chime in ....even just having others in a similar boat chime in can make the journey feel a little less "Whoah, I'm on my Jack Jones here" which for me is enough to give it a thumbs up.

 

[billmccallum1957]

He hasn't posted on here for a while and may well be dead. Who knows. Let us hope he is.

But the thing is, you get a lot of idiots here who post.

And the quality of questions/input on this site are dire.

This forum is for chancers or for those who don't have the balls, but who want some vindication that they are the next Richard Branson.

It is people asking about some far fetched idea and whether it will make billions.

Other than spongebob, the value of UKBF and those who participate, is zero.

If you cant see the insults, you're a moron, if you don't see any value, why are you here?

 

[MikeJ]

Please don't feed the troll.

 

[fisicx]

I've found it very useful. I've discovered I'm a numpty, a troll, a plonker. I know nothing about web design, SEO or marketing and I need to get back in my box.

In short, many UKBF member have told me I'm useless. So a valuable lesson learnt there.

 

[paulears]

I love the notion that somebody needs to have two usernames (which is what I assume is meant by under two guises?)

Personally - I find the spongebob plan to be a problem, because many members on here have trouble being creditors of people who pull up sticks, shrug a lot and walk away, ready to start a new business, and hopefully do it properly the next time. I feel for people who through no fault of their own, fail - perhaps down to others or really unexpected issues. I don't feel sorry for people who appear to be simply reckless and do appear to not even have a smudge of guilt for the problems they then pass to other firms who extended them credit. I do believe that if you are in business, being able to just walk away with a form or two is a cop out and something that needs addressing.

I've seen numerous examples on here of the forum helping people - in fact, virtually every day. Maybe some members are just too experienced, or in too niche a business to need help, or be able to even help others?

So - if you really do hope a member who disagreed with you is dead - then I just cannot even comment on something so crass - even if it was meant to be funny - it wasn't!

 

[Mr D]

I've been reading the forums for quite some time, registered relatively recently. There are some fantastic people giving of their time and experience. People do not always agree and some want to do things a particular way. OK.
Its quite possible for people to learn some HR, accounting, sales generation, stock control etc elsewhere. Its also possible people find the answer already given to someone else without having to ask.

I've seen some HR queries recently on the forum. Could well have been queries on the other stuff you mention. I don't read all threads so won't have your knowledge there.

I find the forum useful. I'm not alone.

 

[Mitch3473]

It really makes me wonder and was thinking about this last week or so.....There are many folks who genuinely want or wish to set themselves up in business but a lot really should not be let out without adult supervision. The basic questions are unbelievable, one a few months ago wanted to start up and ice cream business and so asked on here where to buy an ice cream making machine. There have been a few other classics but obviously never heard of Google. The idea of running a business is to be able to think for yourself. Some you feel as if they want us as a collective to set up and run the damm thing for them. I seriously think a lot would have trouble running a cold water tap. Yes I've PM'ed a few with advise, hopefully good but do they say thanks, no, do we ever see them again, no, so I can only deduce the world is full of tyre kickers and dreamers. Rant over, carry on...

 

[Alan]

Anyway - why do you think there are so many SEO experts, small business marketing advisors, accountancy firms, web site builders and hosting firms hanging around on this forum.

People setting up businesses with no idea need some of this stuff and so are potential clients.

 

[Mr D]

Running a business is easy - just takes more research than a PhD student does and a much longer learning curve. After a couple of hundred years you can probably say you know all you need to know in business, having worn the multiple hats many of us are required to.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I have been a member here under 2 guises.

I had a business which failed. So when I went to Spongebob, I got a lot of guff from two members who were scathing about my attitude to implementing the said plan. One, an old fart with dodgy teeth, made it clear he thought I was behaving like a a conman. I forget his name. He hasn't posted on here for a while and may well be dead. Who knows. Let us hope he is. Because I wasn't behaving that way. I was extracting myself from a situation which he clearly hadn't experienced.

So I rejoined when I set up my next business. Which is going rather well. I do my best to contribute, and to do so in a positive, helpful manner. So I answer PM's. I respond to those to whom I feel I can add a positive contribution. I feel a moral obligation to do so.

But the thing is, you get a lot of idiots here who post. They ask for advice. One responds. Do they bother saying thanks? No.

And the quality of questions/input on this site are dire.

This forum is for chancers or for those who don't have the balls, but who want some vindication that they are the next Richard Branson. Even if they are still in their day job dreaming about the riches they feel deserve for their (actually rather crappy, wanky) idea.

'Oh I'm in a job, I hate it. I have a few hundred quid but I have this great idea which will make me millions. Please help'. Well I have a message to all those twats and twatesses who waste their time...

No one ever asks about accounting, about sales generation, about strategy, stock control, HR. About management, the market, the economy, inflation, the exchange rate and so on. It is people asking about some far fetched idea and whether it will make billions.

I've raised millions in my time . £7 million for a retail chain doing very well. £500k for a food brand which failed. 20k for a distribution company performing pretty well. And UK Business forum? Well, I though it would be helpful. In reality it is a total waste of time.

Other than spongebob, the value of UKBF and those who participate, is zero.

Comments welcome!

Well it helped you a hell of a lot If it was not for Bobs plan you may have had to find a lot of money or worse some uninformed accountant may have personally put you on the block.
So this site helped you for free and you still call us idiots !

I can only speak for myself but my sober ramblings are from the coal face. A life time in business A real business I'm not perfect but I am who I say I am its all real .You can even call me on the phone on the number below

 

[The Byre]

I had a business which failed. So when I went to Spongebob, I got a lot of guff from two members who were scathing about my attitude to implementing the said plan.

That's because -

For every Spongebob user, there is at least one creditor that has suffered.
The Spongebob Plan is a godsend to some. For others, it's an easy way to shaft creditors (members of this forum, taxpayers etc). And others, it's a way for them to get out a situation they should never have been in - they were never capable, or responsible enough to be running a company.

This plan (escape route for freeloaders) allows those who think that others such as creditors, banks, suppliers and employees should suffer for their misfortunes.

Trust me, I've had businesses fail on me, but they always did so on my dime, not on somebody else's.

Then there's -

This forum is for chancers or for those who don't have the balls, but who want some vindication that they are the next Richard Branson. Even if they are still in their day job dreaming about the riches they feel deserve for their (actually rather crappy, wanky) idea.
'Oh I'm in a job, I hate it. I have a few hundred quid but I have this great idea which will make me millions. Please help'. Well I have a message to all those twats and twatesses who waste their time...

Now there I must agree. There seems to be some sort of disease going around where everybody wants to become a millionaire, but without the effort and application required.

There also seems to be some school of thought, in which it is possible to go into business, for example, running a High Street store, without any training or education. It gets worse - they don't even read some basic Mickey Mouse books on the subject. How does VAT work? What do I put into my accounts? Is a company car tax deductible? What laws do I have to follow if I open a restaurant? Where do I buy toys and books?

Those are actual questions that have been asked here - and not just once, but again and again and again and again!

And then we have the real geniuses - the ones who borrow £50k against their houses and buy the first business they find and in an industry they know F-all about. This place is resplendent with those prize individuals. With no training, no industry know-how an no-one advising them on the many, many problems and aspects of taking over an existing business, failure is an almost dead certainty.

"I've bought a long established restaurant and all the contracts have been finalised and now I read somewhere that I have to take over all the staff. Is this really true? Please help!"

No one ever asks about accounting, about sales generation, about strategy, stock control, HR. About management, the market, the economy, inflation, the exchange rate and so on.

Er, well actually, yes they do!

I've raised millions in my time . £7 million for a retail chain doing very well. £500k for a food brand which failed. 20k for a distribution company performing pretty well.

Well aren't you the clever one!

I would have thought, with all that massive business acumen, you should have been able to avoid the ignominy of the Spongebob plan!

 

[MikeJ]

Please don't feed the troll.

 

[Mark T Jones]

It's a (reasonably) open forum.

If you want better content, create better content. Be part of the solution.

If you just want to whine about the bits you don't like, then enjoy being part of the problem.

Easy as...

 

[webgeek]

I've had my doubts from time to time, but I still keep coming back.

No, I don't advertise or look for paid work from UKBF readers - I just enjoy lending someone a hand as a way of giving to the community and hope some small business owner can benefit from my hindsight.

We've all learned lessons from the school of hard knocks - why don't we all give back a few insights to save others and make this a great place to hangout - and a profitable one at that?

 

[pelparc]

Unfortunately the OP makes a valid point (far to extreme but valid). Just because someone has a different option to you doesn't make them a troll. Just because someone makes a spelling mistake or uses incorrect grammar doesn't mean you should ridicule them without even addressing their question. If you do not have anything valid that will help with the question no matter how stupid (you think it is) then do not post anything. I have personally found lots of truly great and wonderful help here and am truly very grateful.
Whats more valid the op that should make every contribute here stop and have a look at what they post, think and then carry on. Someone wanting help in locating a ice cream machine maker or someone repeatedly posting the same don't feed the troll message (sorry deliberately picking on you its just a convenient example, and saying what you believe once is fine, but does it need to be repeated and repeated). Other than self gratification what is the point of ridiculing someone? If you do not feel you have anything that will be of benefit then do not post and get on with some work.

 

[Ian J]

Please don't feed the troll.

I wasn't going to but thought I'd take this opportunity to tell the world that I've had an enormous amount of help from this forum and it's members.

Every time calamity strikes on my website the IT bods here help out with suggestions that invariably include the eventual solutions.

When my laptop developed a problem that necessitated a re-install of Windows but I didn't have a disc one of the forum members kindly sent me an ISO file that enabled me to repair the problem.

When my website crashed whilst I was in Spain and couldn't access it properly it was a forum member who sorted it out for me in my absence.

There are quite a few more occasions when my problems have been solved by forum members over the years but I think you get the drift

 

[Ian J]

I

I had a business which failed. So when I went to Spongebob, I got a lot of guff from two members who were scathing about my attitude to implementing the said plan. One, an old fart with dodgy teeth, made it clear he thought I was behaving like a a conman. I forget his name. He hasn't posted on here for a while and may well be dead. Who knows.

That quote says far more about you than it does about whoever commented on your thread and it sounds like you are not a very nice person

 

[MikeJ]

Just because someone has a different option to you doesn't make them a troll.

Posting a message to deliberately cause disruption, discord or start an argument makes them a troll. He's a desperate little attention seeker that probably still lives with his parents.

Please don't feed the troll.

 

[NCapital]

I've not been a member for very long, but I've read the forums for a while before I signed up, and I find it very useful. I try to contribute where I feel I can, but as a newbie (both to the forums and running my own business) that might not happen very often.

But I'm grateful for the questions that people ask (some of which might be relevant to my own situation, but which I hadn't even thought to ask) and also to the folks who share their knowledge with the rest of the community.

As with any online community, you'll get folks who genuinely know their stuff and are here to help others, and you'll get others that don't offer advice and only leech off of those around them. It's just par for the course on the internet. Either way, though, I wouldn't take any of it personally!

 

[pelparc]

Posting a message to deliberately cause disruption, discord or start an argument makes them a troll. He's a desperate little attention seeker that probably still lives with his parents.

Please don't feed the troll.

This is exactly the type of post that serves no purpose other than to aggravate the OP. you might think they are deliberately attempting to troll, but you do not know. Repeating over and over again your personal opinion is more akin to being a troll than the op. I am very new here although i have regularly read and used information from others for many years i have refrained from posting. The main reason i have not contributed much is because of the arrogance and intolerance to anyone who dare not agree, spell correctly or use proper grammar some members appear to have.
There are a lot of great people here who offer their help, it might be wrong, very disagreeable or the best advise that you could ever possibly wish for but its their advice to give. As a new comer i would prefer non-feared input form anyone rather than pointless posts serving no purpose other than to make the poster feel smug. If you do not have anything that you believe is constructive to say then say nothing, don't just point out an error in spelling, grammar etc. and ridicule them, i would have hoped and assumed we all left the school yard bulling and name calling behind us but then comments like "He's a desperate little attention seeker that probably still lives with his parents." proves that its alive even on here. which ironically adds even more weight to the op.

 

[MikeJ]

you might think they are deliberately attempting to troll, but you do not know.

I forget his name. He hasn't posted on here for a while and may well be dead. Who knows. Let us hope he is.

No further witnesses, M'lud. The prosecution rests.

 

[Mr D]

Oh that's all right then if that is all the prosecution has.

 

[Ian J]

If you do not have anything that you believe is constructive to say then say nothing, don't just point out an error in spelling, grammar etc. and ridicule them, .

I used to be an Admin with a hobby forum about ten times the size of this one. We operated a penalty points system and when people reached the magic number they were banned for a week or a month.

Like yourself I dislike the grammar police so made it a three point offence and people very soon got the message that if they threw out insults like that they would be taking a short holiday from the forum.

I wish that the powers that be would do something similar here as it's the sort of behaviour that puts people off joining and/or posting

 

[pelparc]

Hope someone feels smug....Give yourself a good old arrogant pat on the back. Continuing on this thread is pointless and serve no benefit other than to my own entertainment.

Good idea Ian J.

 

[prutbrk]

@pelparc
Just so that you are aware....newcomer is all one word

Lol...sorry fella....just couldn't resist and have had a crap day

 

[Newchodge]

Just picking on someone's grammar or spelling is rude and pointless. Mentioning that someone's post is written in a way that will achieve little advice is, actually, helpful. For example, a new poster who posts a 30 line post without a single comma or full stop, let alone a paragraph, needs to understand that many people will not read their post, let alone reply to it, lets them change their post to get help.

Someone recently posted a request for help which included what I consider to be blatantly offensively sexist language. I pointed out the offence they were causing and that people may ignore their request for help. They changed the offensive comment and hopefully got the advice they needed. I could have refrained from pointing it out, but I tought it more helpful to mention it.

 

[Pish_Pash]

Just picking on someone's grammar or spelling is rude and pointless.

Ok.

I could have refrained from pointing it out, but I tought it more helpful to mention it.

Nice tinking.

 

[Newchodge]

I always tink well on a Sunday. O damn. wot day is it?

 

[STDFR33]

I tink I've found
Irishbusinessforums.co.uk

 

[Noah]

I am who I say I am its all real

...but you don't really live in a Canadian trailer park, do you?

This is a silly troll thread, but it prompts me to thank in general the members here who do contribute; some of the stuff is useful, some is informative, and much is downright entertaining.

So thank you, UKBF peeps.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

...but you don't really live in a Canadian trailer park, do you?

This is a silly troll thread, but it prompts me to thank in general the members here who do contribute; some of the stuff is useful, some is informative, and much is downright entertaining.

So thank you, UKBF peeps.

Yes in Sunnyvale trailer park but I actually live in a garden shed as it is cheaper