Author Topic: Grumpy expat dead? (Read 12905 times)

Baby Farts · « **on:** December 03, 2009, 10:20:36 PM »

Hardly any posts or anything.

Muulizaji · « **Reply #1 on:** December 04, 2009, 12:20:37 AM »

Why don't you post? See if it works.

Penis Rick · « **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2009, 07:24:13 AM »

It's probably because the majority of its members are posting in the private, members only section and you don't have access to that section. It kind of defeats the purpose of running a forum when almost all of what's written is only accessible by a select few.

Mitraparp Monkey · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2009, 07:54:57 AM »

Could say there must've been nothing going on in Korat to post about on Grumpy, but it seems rather the case that there was too much going on on another local forum: a hot and constructive discussion about what change to bring to the immigration office in Chok Chai and a moral debate on tea money. Eventually that topic might get locked by one of the mods to protect those friendly Thai government officials doing their jobs the way they want to, and people can return to daily posting on the various forums.

sicho · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2009, 09:47:55 AM »

Quote from: Muulizaji on December 04, 2009, 12:20:37 AM

Why don't you post? See if it works.

He can't!

The hacker and the troublemakers that damaged the forum have all been removed and it might take some time for the volume of posts to increase again.

It's a cleft stick, isn't it? People post on forums because other people post on forums. If the others don't post ........... Chicken and egg is probably a better metaphor.

I sometimes wonder what is is that stimulated people to post in community forums. In the case of general expat forums there is much less of a focus than on, say, a sports car enthusiasts' forum. Some Thailand expat forums seem to come to life only when there is a slanging match. KFarang also seems to have the happy knack of keeping threads about dogs and how to dress at the Immigration Office going for many days, weeks even. How do they do that? Why do they do that?

By the way, PR, what makes you think that there are more private section posts than public ones on Grumpy? If you want to be sure, why don't you register?

Penis Rick · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2009, 04:21:34 PM »

He can't!

So why ask me to register?

The hacker and the troublemakers that damaged the forum have all been removed and it might take some time for the volume of posts to increase again.

Which one was the hacker?

It's a cleft stick, isn't it? People post on forums because other people post on forums. If the others don't post ........... Chicken and egg is probably a better metaphor.

Agree with you here.

I sometimes wonder what is is that stimulated people to post in community forums. In the case of general expat forums there is much less of a focus than on, say, a sports car enthusiasts' forum. Some Thailand expat forums seem to come to life only when there is a slanging match. KFarang also seems to have the happy knack of keeping threads about dogs and how to dress at the Immigration Office going for many days, weeks even. How do they do that? Why do they do that?

I sometimes wonder what stimulates people to start forums in the first place, given what you say is true.

By the way, PR, what makes you think that there are more private section posts than public ones on Grumpy? If you want to be sure, why don't you register?

How does one become a member of the private section?

sicho · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2009, 04:44:26 PM »

Some applications for membership are declined - usually spammers. Some members are banned permanently because of they flout the rules too often. Same with most forums, I think.

Members are invited to the private forum when they have shown that they keep to the rules. Again, that's quite usual.

What stimulates people to start forums? Some are asked to do it. Some think that they are providing a service. Some want to make money from advertising. There may well be many other reasons.

dirtydog · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2009, 05:01:26 PM »

And some for the power of being able to ban people.

Signed DrPatPong

sicho · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2009, 05:28:12 PM »

Quote from: dirtydog on December 04, 2009, 05:01:26 PM

And some for the power of being able to ban people.

Signed DrPatPong

Yes, I'm sure!

poshkid · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2009, 12:59:09 AM »

I think its true though that Grumpy started off well and had good contributors then the usual shitbags arrived slagging off everybody
in sight and Saf couldnt or wouldnt get rid off them and the good guys cried enough of this shit....goodbye

Johnnie F. · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2009, 07:47:39 AM »

Quote from: poshkid on December 05, 2009, 12:59:09 AM

I think its true though that Grumpy started off well and had good contributors then the usual shitbags arrived slagging off everybody
in sight and Saf couldnt or wouldnt get rid off them and the good guys cried enough of this sh*t....goodbye

And I think Saf just didn't want to make the same mistake as SR did: too early classification into "shitbags" and good contributors and drive away or even ban the wrong. Some people need a while to develop into a community, and some have temporary problems a community is challenged to deal and help with rather than getting rid of those members.

geordie · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2009, 12:03:07 PM »

I tend to check/view the Korat forums regularly and have found they are all fairly quiet recently, apart from the same members who seem to post topics just to get some reaction or to engage in a electronic conversation which does not interest a lot of people. Not aiming to give out advice, or any important news that affects the farang community in Korat which does interest people, this being what I use these forums for. I have a very active social life and I prefer to carry out my conversations face to face, not through a keyboard to some faceless person, maybe I am lucky that I actually live in Korat and have a good circle of farang friends. I was a early member of Grumpy and happen to know Saf personally and of the efforts he made to keep Grumpy on line. I know he did not do this for personal gratification or glory but as a sevice to the community.
I applaud the efforts of all the guys involved in running these forums and would never think to denigrate them for what they try to do for the community. I think everybody is still wary of posting on the forums after the recent troubles, and this will take sometime to settle back into a routine. Remember if any of the Korat forums close we will be the losers and the mysterious hackers would be the winner. Posting interesting topics or helpful information is the way to get the forums active again, not slagging each other off.

sicho · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2009, 01:44:33 PM »

Thanks for your comments, Geordie.

Mitraparp Monkey · « **Reply #13 on:** December 05, 2009, 02:43:49 PM »

I don't understand either why some people think they have to keep a forum looking alive by chatting about nonsense or repeating the same "arguments" and "counter-arguments" over and over again just to fill the page. As reader of forums I don't want to be forced to wade through insignificant nonsense when there isn't any important information to give. The downside of that nonsensical chatting is that I might look up that forum less frequently and promptly miss something important. Nothing wrong with opening a forum and finding that nobody has made an important post recently. Essential is to me that I can rely on finding important info there when there is any to give.

So don't talk about "dead" forums, "zombie" forums that just look alive but don't actually supply adequate information are less desirable than forums temporarily in "hibernation".

Have a nice Father Day!

Mitraparp Monkey

Penis Rick · « **Reply #14 on:** December 06, 2009, 08:32:09 AM »

And posh is most definetly one of the 'good guys' and not one of those shitbags because he has never ever slagged anyone on the forums

Taser · « **Reply #15 on:** December 06, 2009, 09:41:39 AM »

Is Grumpyexpat dead? Well, it is on life support in a coma and there are no signs of it recovering. The 2 or 3 guys that post on it are obviously trying to salvage something. Why bother when KF is flourishing? By the way, a forum where only a select few can enter a private room is pretty disturbing. I can imagine the bitching and backstabbing that goes on in there. No wonder the site is a big failure.

micetrapper · « **Reply #16 on:** December 06, 2009, 11:04:57 AM »

Quote from: Taser on December 06, 2009, 09:41:39 AM

Is Grumpyexpat dead? Well, it is on life support in a coma and there are no signs of it recovering. The 2 or 3 guys that post on it are obviously trying to salvage something. Why bother when KF is flourishing?

And when will that be? Maybe we need to define the word "flourish":

1. To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

2. To do or fare well; prosper

3. To be in a period of highest productivity, excellence, or influence

4. To make bold, sweeping movements:

from: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flourish

Johnnie F. · « **Reply #17 on:** December 06, 2009, 11:25:20 AM »

I'd say it's a matter of perspective.

Having different forums around gives the information-seeking the opportunity to verify information by looking up more than one source. And especially different forums are needed to supplement each other. Were sad, if they all had the same content and discussions going on. Also they can be active at different moments. Who wants monopolism?

Taser · « **Reply #18 on:** December 06, 2009, 11:38:03 AM »

Quote from: micetrapper on December 06, 2009, 11:04:57 AM

Quote from: Taser on December 06, 2009, 09:41:39 AM
Is Grumpyexpat dead? Well, it is on life support in a coma and there are no signs of it recovering. The 2 or 3 guys that post on it are obviously trying to salvage something. Why bother when KF is flourishing?

And when will that be? Maybe we need to define the word "flourish":

1. To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

2. To do or fare well; prosper

3. To be in a period of highest productivity, excellence, or influence

4. To make bold, sweeping movements:

from: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flourish [nofollow]

Thanks for helping to clarify my original statement (for those who were unsure about the definition of "flourish"). As far as Korat forums are concerned, your four definitions sum up KF very well.

Thankyou

dirtydog · « **Reply #19 on:** December 06, 2009, 12:17:06 PM »

Quote

Who wants monopolism?

Me.

Signed DrPatPong

sicho · « **Reply #20 on:** December 06, 2009, 12:29:31 PM »

I'm told that Korat Farang also has a private forum. I'm a member of Korat Farang but not of the private forum. It doesn't put me off posting once in a while.

Taser, forums do have private sections. It's a fact of life. Some have sections for moderators to discuss problems. Others have sections for private interest groups. Many have sections for members who have established themselves as trustworthy so that they can have conversations away from the public gaze. Remember that the whole world can read a public forum, not just the registered members. The rules for admittance to certain sections of forums vary. You will see some that require a minimum number of posts and in other examples the administrator makes a merely subjective assessment.

The Grumpy Expat forum is a folder of the Grumpy expat blog at www.grumpyexpat.com. The blog came first. I started it as a bit of fun and to add interest to my other activities; prompting me to take more photos when we go somewhere or finding out more about places that we visit, for example. Several people asked me to create a forum and, eventually, I did - www.grumpyexpat.com/forum. The websites are there for people to either enjoy or ignore as they wish. I can't deny that I would welcome some more traffic to the forum but I prefer not to have troublemakers. If that puts off some from joining, that's fine. Big is not necessarily better.

Anyone who has administered a blog or forum knows that it takes time and costs some money. We learn a great deal about the technicalities of the task and something about humanity too. It's easy to knock the efforts of others and I would encourage anyone who is tempted to be destructive of the work of another blog or forum administrator to attempt to run a blog or forum himself.

Johnnie F. · « **Reply #21 on:** December 06, 2009, 12:42:21 PM »

Quote from: Saf on December 06, 2009, 12:29:31 PM

It's easy to knock the efforts of others and I would encourage anyone who is tempted to be destructive of the work of another blog or forum administrator to attempt to run a blog or forum himself.

If you google "free forum" you'll find lots to start with. or you can set up one easily at a free webhost. Many have one-click installation.

But you'll find that the hard part is another: the taking care of the community to make it grow and function and prevent it from becoming an anarchy as thriving as that might be for some.

dirtydog · « **Reply #22 on:** December 06, 2009, 01:16:18 PM »

The trouble with freehost forums is that your on a subdomain, with it being a sub domain you have no control of how google etc view you, ie if someone sets up a malicious script on one of the subdomains the whole domain can get listed as a dangerous site, also seo wise, you have no control over that as your are just a tiny little part of a main domain, really not worth the time and effort.

Baby Farts · « **Reply #23 on:** December 06, 2009, 01:47:27 PM »

My guess is that the private section is the place where the approved can SLAG off the rest of the members without them having knowledge of it.

poshkid · « **Reply #24 on:** December 06, 2009, 01:52:13 PM »

Why bother to SLAG anybody as it only reflects your own insecurities. What a sad life. Question ?? Are Babyfarts, Taser and Penishead
the same person OR simply joined at the hip ?

dirtydog · « **Reply #25 on:** December 06, 2009, 08:40:42 PM »

Never agreed with invite only type forums, well unless it is a specific subject, but on a general forum invite only sections cause more problems than they are worth, ie an invite only member gets banned and then posts all the shite from the secret forum, the forum gets hacked and the invite only section gets opened up to all, nope, not the way for a forum to go, ok private forums based on post count is acceptable, keeps the shite off the main forums, but invite only sections will just end in tears.

Fred · « **Reply #26 on:** December 07, 2009, 08:14:06 PM »

Quote from: Taser on December 06, 2009, 09:41:39 AM

Is Grumpyexpat dead? Well, it is on life support in a coma and there are no signs of it recovering. The 2 or 3 guys that post on it are obviously trying to salvage something. Why bother when KF is flourishing? By the way, a forum where only a select few can enter a private room is pretty disturbing. I can imagine the bitching and backstabbing that goes on in there. No wonder the site is a big failure.

Is KF flourishing? Look at the stats. Nowhere near the level of this time last year - but for sure it's still alive. Grumpy is down on earlier in the year. It's very quiet but still alive. Koratfart is without many posts but still alive. The in place for bitching. Korat-info German is doing OK, Korat-info English and Dutch are on life support, koratwebs had it's plug pulled. RIP.

KF is doing better without trouble makers. The mods and SR have done a good job. Dutch can now post without being jumped on. KF has maintained momentum, Grumpy hasn't, Kfart comes and goes. If there is nothing to reply to, people won't reply. If there's nothing to discuss, people won't discuss. Forums need members who can start an interesting discussion and have a critical mass to help keep them going.

A small private section is irrelevant to the success of a forum. For a forum to grow, it needs an active public section.

dirtydog · « **Reply #27 on:** December 07, 2009, 08:59:49 PM »

Sadly the most popular threads on forums are threads about other forums, can't beat a good slagging session, although these type of threads are not really any benifit to the slaggers and the slaggees.
NB; I think I have invented a new word

Uncle Bill · « **Reply #28 on:** December 07, 2009, 09:55:58 PM »

There's a tradition having "speaker's corners" in public parks. Speakers there are allowed to speak as long as the police consider their speeches lawful. Contrary to popular belief, there is no immunity from the law, nor are any subjects proscribed, but in practice the police tend to be tolerant and therefore only intervene when they receive a complaint or if they hear profanity (Wikipedia)

Should be that way on the forums instead of getting head by self-proclaimed "police" so much.

Jaguar · « **Reply #29 on:** December 08, 2009, 12:10:59 PM »

Quote from: dirtydog on December 07, 2009, 08:59:49 PM

Sadly the most popular threads on forums are threads about other forums, can't beat a good slagging session, although these type of threads are not really any benifit to the slaggers and the slaggees.
NB; I think I have invented a new word

It is sooo much fun that even moderators from other forums show up under an alias to participate in the slagging of a third forum.

News:

Author Topic: Grumpy expat dead? (Read 12905 times)

Muulizaji

Mitraparp Monkey

sicho

sicho

dirtydog

sicho

geordie

sicho

Mitraparp Monkey

micetrapper

dirtydog

sicho

dirtydog

dirtydog

Fred

dirtydog

Jaguar